Chris Jepson: The Cosmopolitan Texan - not an oxymoron

“A good man can make you feel sexy, strong and able to take on the world … Oh, sorry that's vodka … Vodka does that.” – Anonymous

Ha! I’m writing about a good man this week and I Googled quotes on the “good man” and I came across the above, which caused me to laugh out loud.

What makes a good man? The first quality that comes to my mind is kindness. Is he kind? Not only to family and friends, but to strangers as well? Is he generous of spirit? Does he have empathy? Does he connect with humanity and see his story as part of the fabric of life?

Kindness, generosity, empathy and connectedness are often considered more feminine qualities, yet they are the first attributes I would use to describe my good friend and confidant – the quite masculine Louis Hughes.

Mr. Hughes was my age, 64, when he hired me in 1986 to work with him in the development office of Winter Park Memorial Hospital (WPMH). This past Tuesday, he celebrated his birthday. Today, Hughes volunteers three days a week in the WPMH emergency room. We lunch several times a month.

Louis Hughes grew up on a west Texas ranch, during the Dust Bowl days no less. He experienced the greatest gift any of us ever receive, that of good parent(s). That and oil leases, eh, Louis? Hughes left Texas to be educated in the East, served in World War II, eventually living, working and parenting in the Northeast. He worked for Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania’s development offices before arriving in Winter Park in 1984 to become the vice president of development for WPMH.

The first thing I noticed about Louis was his sartorial habit. He wore three-piece suits everyday. A bit of a clotheshorse myself, I judged his ties rather conservative. His attire contributed to an overall initial impression that Hughes was formal, formidable and somewhat unapproachable.

Hughes is a snob. He’ll deny it. He’s well read. He likes art. He’s cultured. He plays the piano. Today, he’s been places, seen things. He appears to be the type of gentleman who will not indulge in small talk. It’s all a façade. Not his cultural attributes, his veneer of aloofness. He doesn’t take himself seriously. Hughes resists, however, sophomoric humor (which I do employ) yet will indulge my uncouth, “common” observations. We both appreciate beautiful (in every sense of the word) women. He’s a wonderful, delightful man with which to enjoy life.

Two closing observations: Hughes married for a second time to Arlene “Petie” Showalter of Winter Park. She was the love of his life, and they had more than two decades of happiness together before her death.

A final story: Louis and I would, upon arriving for work each morning, stand at the development office receptionist counter for 10 or so minutes, coffee in hand, and discuss the “nature” of life. Much laughter ensued. One day, Louis said in passing that at one point in his life he had four children in diapers. You could have picked my jaw off the floor.

I only found out some years later that all four of those once-diapered children were adopted. His love for his four children (Ned, Margaret, Justine and Jeff) has been unconditional and unwavering. They give him much joy.

Hughes is a prince among men, and on his 91st birthday vodka is unnecessary (champagne, perhaps) when singing his praises. Happy birthday, Lad!

Jepson is a 24-year resident of Florida. He’s fiscally conservative, socially liberal, likes art and embraces diversity of opinion. Reach him at [email protected]