Honoring a legacy
<p>McHugh</p>
<p>Mary Ann McHugh, widow of John McHugh, reacts after McHugh was posthumously inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame on Friday. Mary Ann accepted the award from Freeman Duncan, right, an Idaho Hall of Fame board member, on behalf of other family members who were in attendance during the Coeur d'Alene Rotary Club's meeting at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE — Mary Ann McHugh's wide smile was indicative of her family's appreciation for her late husband John's prestigious honor of being inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame.
John McHugh, a former Coeur d'Alene mayor and city council member who served on several local and state boards, was inducted posthumously during the Coeur d'Alene Rotary Club's meeting on Friday at The Coeur d'Alene Resort. He died in December of natural causes at 85.
Mary Ann accepted the award on behalf of family members from Freeman Duncan, Hall of Fame board member.
"John McHugh is credited with bringing the city of Coeur d'Alene into the 20th Century," Duncan said. "As mayor of Coeur d'Alene, John created a strong mayor system and reduced the power of the city clerk. He reorganized the city council and created the position of city administrator."
McHugh was Coeur d'Alene's mayor from 1970 to 1974. He served on the city council from 1965 to 1969. He created the first budgeted employee retirement fund and represented the city on the board of the Association of Idaho Cities.
After serving in the Air Force, John and Mary Ann moved to Coeur d'Alene in 1957. He joined the accounting firm of H.F. Magnuson. John became a partner and the name of the firm was to changed to Magnuson, McHugh and Co.
Under McHugh's leadership, the firm became the largest accounting firm in North Idaho.
Community boards and commissions McHugh served on include: Idaho Transportation Board, Centennial Commission, Panhandle Area Council, Coeur d'Alene Rotary, Knights of Columbus, North Idaho College Foundation, Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce, Anchor House, Idaho Youth Ranch, Idaho Humanities Council, St. Vincent de Paul, Republican Central Committee, Coeur d'Alene Lions Club and St. Thomas Catholic Church.
During his 12 years on the transportation board, McHugh was instrumental in the funding and construction of the Sandpoint Bypass and U.S. 95 improvements.
John was the first recipient of the Coeur d'Alene Distinguished Citizen Award.
About 200 people have been inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame.
Barry McHugh, a son of John's and Kootenai County's prosecutor, said his father was a great example of serving the community and his family.
"He is the example we look to as a husband, father and grandfather, and it was a blessing to have had so many wonderful years with him," he earlier told The Press.