Dallas Hughes

Dallas G. Hughes, 77, went home to the Lord on April 6, 2013. Dallas was born in 1935 in Mt. Vernon Indiana to Dallas (Sr.) and Hazel Hughes. He graduated from Evansville’s old Central High School in 1954. Dallas began working with his father during World War II refinishing and selling used furniture, pianos and organs (at the time, no new furniture was being produced, as all raw materials went to the war effort). By the early 1950s, this business had metamorphasized into Dallas Music, a staple for Evansville musicians for the next 50 years. Many local musicians purchased their first guitar or bass from “Mr. Dallas,” as he was known to his loyal customers, and many rock stars visited the shop before their shows at Robert’s Stadium. Mr. Dallas was especially well known for giving fair trades on used equipment, and selling instruments on credit in the pre-credit card era. Dallas retired and closed the store in 2008, and has spent the past five years in “active retirement” buying, restoring, and selling guitars. Dallas served in the National Guard for seven years just prior to the Viet Nam War. Dallas was a gentleman and a scholar, reading himself to sleep with encyclopedias as a young adult, and learning an assortment of trades by following workers around various downtown factories starting at the age of nine. He was also was extremely inventive, building a fully functioning 7’ tall robot named Tobor in 1964, an electronic tic-tac-toe machine in 1968, the world’s first baby-monitor in 1966 (with a 150’ cable, a professional microphone, and a small guitar amp), and a leaf-blowing cart in 1978 with a 5HP gasoline engine, which generated a strong enough air current to topple a man. Dallas attended a number of local churches over the years, including Mill Road Baptist Church, East Gate Baptist Church, and United General Baptist Church. He never spoke much about religion, but Dallas held a strong Christian faith. Dallas is survived by his wife of 52 years, Joyce (Philpot) Hughes, his son Dewayne (who followed his inventive nature to become a patent attorney) and his daughter-in-law Katerina, a practicing CPA who lovingly referred to him as “Dad.” All three were present when Dallas took his final breath at 2:05 p.m. last Saturday. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, who provided the family with comfort and support at the end. Funeral services for Dallas will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 11, 2013 at Pierre Funeral Home, Rev. Ken Raymes officiating. Entombment will take place in Memorial Park Mausoleum. Friends may visit with the family from 3:00 until 7:00 P.M. on Thursday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street. Family requests memorial contributions be made to the Evansville Rescue Mission.

Dallas Hughes

July 20, 1935 - April 6, 2013