Norwich University

November 14, 1941. "Dear Carl: The management of the Detroit Lions has been watching your work on the gridiron this fall with a great deal of interest. We feel that your play is well above the average and that you can carve a great future for yourself in professional football."
That letter was written by the president of the Detroit Lions of the National Football League, Fred Mandel Jr. It says what every Norwich University fan knew about Carl "Carlos" Hughes. Simply put, Carl was one of the toughest running backs ever to play for Norwich.
Unfortunately, Carl was never able to fulfill his dream of playing for the Lions, although he signed a contract with them after he graduated in 1942. Carl, like many of his Norwich teammates, joined the Army after college and distinguished himself with the 28th Infantry Division for nearly nine months of active duty in Europe after D-Day. 
Carl came to Norwich with Coach McCallister after playing for a year at the University of South Carolina. He actually went to Purdue on a football scholarship first, but returned home to Norwich, New York. when his father became ill. At Norwich University, Carl became one of the premier players on the powerful teams that won two Vermont State Championships during the pre-war years. 
Carl was regarded as one of the most aggressive players on the Norwich team. He played fullback on offense and was a mainstay on defense, playing nearly 60 minutes every game. Despite his aggressiveness on the field, he was known as a true gentleman once his uniform came off.
Carl's accomplishment at Norwich were not limited to the gridiron. He was a member of the Glee Club, the Newman Club and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He was also the manager of Norwich's baseball team for three years. 
Following his career in the Army, Carl joined Sintella Magneto Company as Director of Purchasing.  He later worked as a sales engineer for the Avnet Corporation, Howard Hughes Corporation and John Brown Corporation, all three of which were involved with missile programs for the Department of Defense. Carl ran his own real estate business in Plantation,  Florida. He was a member of the Elks Club, the Kiwanis Club, and participated in a number of community charity projects. 
Carl passed away on June 20th, 1992, and is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and their eight children.