Raymond Mollyneaux Hughes (1873-1958) was born in Atlantic, Iowa, but grew up in southwestern Ohio. He graduated from his father’s alma mater, Miami (Ohio) University (1893) in Oxford and received a master’s degree in chemistry from Ohio State University (1897).



After further studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he returned to Miami as a professor of physics and chemistry (1898-1904). He became Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (1908-1911) and was named President of Miami University (1911-1927). He was appointed to the presidency of Iowa State College (University) in 1927 and served till his retirement in 1936.



During his time at Iowa State, Hughes guided the college through the difficult Depression years, he brought Iowa State into a more harmonious relationship with sister institutions in the state system; promoted the enrichment of technical curricula; broadened research to focus on problems involving interdivisional efforts; established several research and service supporting agencies, most notably the Statistical Laboratory; and instituted the development of placement and student counseling services.



Hughes received honorary doctorate degrees from Miami University (1927), Coe Collage (1928) and Iowa State (1936). After his retirement, he named President Emeritus and continued to teach and conduct research in Ames. He also remained active in national organizations.



Hughes married Ella Rogers in 1908, and after her death in 1933, he married Helen Richardson Isardi in 1938.