Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road in Kansas City.
Hugh was born on August 25, 1925, in Kansas City, Missouri to the late Hugh H. and Helen Libby. Growing up in Kansas City, Hugh graduated from Central High School in 1942. During his high school years, he experienced the privilege of working in his father’s radiator shop as well as caring for ponies, an elephant and a monkey; all entrepreneurial enterprises undertaken by his father. He quickly realized the circus life was not for him.
Hugh, at an early age, desired the excitement for flight. He longed to be a pilot in the Navy. However, Navy counseling led him to a faster track for advancement. He was accepted into the Navy V-12 program and attended Park College in Parkville, Missouri. He was then assigned to the United States Naval Reserve Midshipman’s School at Columbia University in New York. Columbia University was the largest of three midshipman schools. Hugh left Columbia in 1944 as an Ensign at the age of 19. He was assigned to the USS Silver Cloud in the Pacific Theater, a supply ship to our Naval Fleet. He was the Gunnery Officer as well as the Cargo Officer in charge of all fueling operations. He had 60 men under his command, all of whom were older than him; a position he held for two years. Following the war, he attended and graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City in 1948 with a B.A. Degree in Economics.
Hugh was united in marriage to Betty Elinor Boshell on May 15, 1954, enjoying 60 years of marriage prior to her passing in 2014. Two sons, Matthew and Daniel preceded Hugh in death.
Hugh was an entrepreneur before his time. Between the years of 1948 and 1982 he developed and successfully sold four companies; Ozark Welding Supply, Welding Equipment Supply, Spray Paint and Accessories, and Finishing Equipment; all incorporated companies. In 1984 he transformed Libby Welding (a company started by his father in 1924) into Libby Corporation, which became the largest manufacturer of military generators in the world. Products were provided to the U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force and Marine Corps. They manufactured: electric and engine driven welding machines, engine driven electric generator units, ground power aircraft units for high velocity air/electric power for starting military aircraft, large gas turbine generator sets @ 2.8 megawatts, aircraft diesel tow tractors, nitrogen aircraft serving units and air conditioning units for servicing aircraft. He sold the company in 1996.
Philanthropy and community service were foundational pillars of Hugh’s value system. He served on many organizational boards including Stadium Bank, Columbia Union Bank, Centerre Bank, Boatsmens Bank, and the Lincoln Electric Company. He was a major benefactor to the Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer Research at KU Medical Center, Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, KS, Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO., and the Heart of America Council of Boy Scouts.
Fraternally, Hugh was a member of the DeMolay International, Order of Freemasonry, Ararat Shrine, and the Royal Order of Jesters (ROJ). He was a Past Director of Court #54 ROJ and Past Senior Royal Director of the National ROJ. He was instrumental in creating the International Royal Order of Jesters (IROJ) and museum. Hugh was very active in the Boy Scouts of America. He became an Eagle Scout at the age of 14. He was made a Brave in 1940, a Warrior in 1941, elevated to Sachem in 2015 and finally "Chieftain Little Black Cloud” in 2018 in the Tribe of Micosay.
Hugh returned to his teen-age passion for flying by receiving his commercial pilot rating and single/multi-engine land instrument rating for gas turbine airplanes. During his active business operations, he owned and flew 13 different airplanes, logging 7,537.7 hours.
Hugh is survived by his very close friend and partner of several years, Randinne Zuck.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center or The Heart of America – BSA.
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