No. 30 Hughes Family
390,000 acres
Patriarch Dan Hughes Sr. was a legend in the oil and gas industry. He began as a roustabout in high school, earned a geology degree from Texas A&M, and then found, financed, and drilled his own wells. He received multiple accolades in his lifetime, including the All-American Wildcatter Award and the Outstanding Explorer Award. Dan Hughes Jr. continued his father’s work both in the industry and as a noted conservationist, serving as the chairman of Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission. The TPWC honored Hughes Sr. by naming a unit of the Devils River State Natural Area in recognition of his efforts to raise over $10 million to purchase and conserve 17,000 acres. “The acquisition of this culturally and environmentally unique piece of Texas likely could not have happened without his spirit of generosity and leadership,” said executive director Carter Smith. The DAN A. HUGHES UNIT has 10 miles of river frontage with spectacular views from mesas and canyons, and a variety of wildlife habitats.
