“Chances are really good that if you’ve covered education — local primary or secondary schools, or school board meetings — over the last 24 years, you’ve dealt with Brad Hughes,” writes David T. Thompson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Press Association, on his blog dated May 12, 2017. He adds, “Now after 24 years as director of Member Support/ Communication Services for the Kentucky School Boards Association, Brad Hughes has announced his retirement effective June 30.”
While this news has been a long time coming, I hate to hear it and I am quite confident my fellow members of the Kentucky School Public Relations Association agree. Not only is Brad Hughes the leading expert on Kentucky school PR, but also, and with all due respect to official office-holders, Brad is the spiritual leader of Kentucky school PR. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that to many people – including many of us KYSPRA members, Brad Hughes IS Kentucky school PR. (Yes, the last line is a twist on dialogue from “It’s a Wonderful Life”… how appropriate!)
I’m quite confident that if and when my comments reach Brad’s eyes, he will roll them in exasperation and mumble something to the effect of… “That Schaumburg, there he goes again!” But, he’ll get over it and, highly intelligent and perceptive communication professional that he is, he will have to admit in his heart of hearts that my praise is far from empty flattery and is both well-grounded in fact and universally accepted among people who know. As evidence, I refer you to David Thompson’s comments and interview with Brad on the aforementioned blog, “On Second Thought,” on the KPA website: members.kypress.com. It’s very insightful.
“Brad has been the consummate media relations person to deal with, probably all tied to his background as a reporter himself,” Thompson writes. “He knew what reporters sometime faced in doing their jobs and he was more than willing to help them as much as possible…”
When I started as community relations director of the Graves County Schools in 2002, it was not long before I encountered Brad in his role with KSBA. We had worked in Bowling Green radio at the same time in the early 1980s: he at WKCT and me at WLBJ. Some of our mutual friends from radio and Brad all transitioned to WBKO-TV 13 around that time, while I moved back home to Paducah after finishing my bachelor’s degree at Western Kentucky University. So, I always felt a special kinship to Brad because of that connection. In other words, I was actually there, when Brad wore his legendary customized glasses on TV! (If you haven’t heard that story, you should and nobody tells it better than Brad himself.)
Brad is indeed a thorough journalist as well as an excellent observer, leader, teacher, and caring confidante. And, from what I see, he’s that caring confidante to anybody and everybody who seeks his advice. He knows journalism, media, writing, interviewing, schools, boards, and any other aspect of his work as well as or better than virtually anyone else.
His retirement is well-deserved and he very likely will be replaced in his official job, as most of us are eventually. However, as for the roles he fills as the unofficial leader of Kentucky school PR, we, his colleagues, will get along, but I’m not so sure one person really can replace him in that regard on a one-for-one basis, nor should they be expected to do so! I’m referring to his gifts ranging from the vast knowledge he gained from experience and shares so freely and constructively with colleagues to the respect he engenders and the influence he has on others. The massive void he’ll leave is testament to the tremendous contribution he has made.
Having said all that, I simply want to take a moment here and now to say what I know so many of my colleagues are thinking along with me: Brad, you have contributed greatly in shaping Kentucky school PR and you have helped us as a group and me as an individual more than you ever will know. I am blessed to have known and collaborated with you and it is with confidence and pride that I can refer to you in all sincerity with the same accolade with which you always greet me and so many others… Friend… thank you!
Question of the Week
What memories of Brad Hughes and thoughts of his effect on Kentucky school PR do you have?