In Memory Of
Dr. Hughes Loftin
1928
2023
Dr. Hughes Loftin
October 3, 1928 — September 27, 2023
Dr. Lloyd Hughes Loftin, second son of Luther Quitman Loftin and Nellie Hughes passed away September 27, 2023.
Lloyd was born on October 3, 1928 at the Main Carter Oil Camp, 12 miles from Wilson, in Carter County Oklahoma.
He attended Ambrose Ward Elementary School and Good Hope School in Seminole, Oklahoma. In 1938 the family was transferred to a new oil field in central Illinois at Altamont. He attended school at Cowden and then Altamont Community Elementary School. Beginning in the 8th grade and throughout high school he played basketball and baseball. He discovered science, art, and music in high school. Lloyd's high school days were tempered with the hardships of World War II. He graduated with 31 classmates from Altamont High School on June 4, 1946.
Lloyd enrolled at Eastern Illinois State Teachers College, where class space was scare with the return of many GIs. He was fascinated with science so majored in botany with minors in zoology, history, and education. Lloyd helped establish Sigma Pi social fraternity on campus. He was awarded a Bachelor's of Science in Education in June 1950. During the summer months Lloyd followed his dad and worked on oil field pipe lines in Illinois.
In September of 1950 he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma to pursue his master's degree, but with war in Korea becoming more intense, Lloyd enlisted in the United States Air Force in January of 1951. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Having earned his bachelor's degree in science, Lloyd was selected as a Veterinary Technician at Tinker Field, Oklahoma and was assigned to the meat and dairy hygiene school, 5th Army Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois and graduated first in his class of 50 servicemen. Upon his return to Tinker Field, Oklahoma for a new assignment he married Mary Carol Gibson.
He was then assigned to Wright Patterson Air Force Base as an instructor in the veterinarian section. He was moved to Gunter Field, Alabama and completed training in aviation medicine. While in Alabama, his two sons, Steven and Samuel were born. Lloyd received a discharge in January, 1955 and within the week was enrolled at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) at Stillwater. He received his Master's in Education in School Administration. He accepted a contract to teach at Ponca City High School in Oklahoma. In his first 7 years he was named Science Department Head and initiated a senior advanced biology class. Lloyd's love for learning saw him enrolled at classes at Oklahoma State University during the summers taking classes working towards his doctorate. Lloyd and Mary Carol welcomed daughter, Sarah while in Oklahoma.
After 7 years in public education Lloyd and his family - on recommendation from his good friend, Sinclair Orendorff - was offered a position at Casper College. Lloyd and his family came to Casper in August, 1963, where he started as instructor of zoology and microbiology at Casper College.
He was continuing his doctorate in zoology during the summers at Oklahoma State University. He was awarded his Doctorate of Education in 1968. Lloyd served as Casper College's Dean of Students, Dean of Faculty, and as Vice-President of Academic Affairs. Lloyd and Mary Carol divorced in 1974. Lloyd married Beverly Ann Linn in 1975.
In November, 1986, Lloyd was honored by Governor Ed Herschler to serve on the Wyoming Centennial Commission's "Centennial 100." This honorary distinction was bestowed on Lloyd in recognition of his outstanding citizenship and contribution to the community.
Between 1977 and 1986, Lloyd also served as a consultant for North Central Association of Colleges of Higher Education. Along with a team, he traveled to 18 states advising colleges on their accreditation process. In addition to his team visits, Lloyd served as team chairman for 6 college accreditations. He then served on North Central Association of Colleges of Higher Education's Review Committee at their Chicago headquarters.
In 1976 President Tim Aley retired, and the Casper College Board mounted a nationwide search for his replacement. After interviewing four applicants the Board appointed Lloyd the next President of Casper College in 1979.
In the summer 2020 edition of the Casper College Alumni Association's Footprints magazine, Bill Landen wrote: "If Loftin is remembered for little else, he will be remembered as the person responsible for assembling the faculty and staff that helped guide Casper College into the computer age. During his years, student numbers tripled, and more than 20 buildings were erected. Always that growth necessitated finding the right teachers and the right professionals to fill the need." Lloyd was instrumental in forming the college's department of nursing, which maintains an excellent reputation of rigorous standards in education and healthcare.
Lloyd retired in 1988 as President of Casper College and was named President Emeritus. Lloyd's legacy of dedication to the college was reflected in the renaming of the life science building to the Loftin Life Science Building.
Following retirement Lloyd and Beverly traveled, spent time at their lake house at Alcova, where Lloyd loved to fish for hours on his pontoon boat. He loved to hike, be outdoors, and enjoy nature. Beverly and Lloyd were snowbirds for more than 30 years living between Casper and Mesa, Arizona.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Wilbur "Pete" and Floyd "Elwin;" former wife, Mary Carol; daughters-in-law, Cindy and Linda; and grandson, Brad.
Lloyd is survived by his wife, Beverly Loftin of Casper; sons, Steve Loftin of Casper; and Sam (Carol) Loftin of Millcreek, Utah; daughter, Sarah Smith (Ken Truax) of Layton, Utah; grandchildren, Dustin (Lindsay) Tafoya of Lakewood, Colorado; Rebecca Cheff (Kole Bodell) of Sandy, Utah; Laura Loftin of Salt Lake City, Utah; Lonnie Loftin of Casper; , 9 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and of course, many lifelong friends.
Visit youtube.com/@casperfumc9019 to view the live stream of Lloyd's funeral service scheduled for Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 11:00 am.
To share a memory of Lloyd or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.
Lloyd was born on October 3, 1928 at the Main Carter Oil Camp, 12 miles from Wilson, in Carter County Oklahoma.
He attended Ambrose Ward Elementary School and Good Hope School in Seminole, Oklahoma. In 1938 the family was transferred to a new oil field in central Illinois at Altamont. He attended school at Cowden and then Altamont Community Elementary School. Beginning in the 8th grade and throughout high school he played basketball and baseball. He discovered science, art, and music in high school. Lloyd's high school days were tempered with the hardships of World War II. He graduated with 31 classmates from Altamont High School on June 4, 1946.
Lloyd enrolled at Eastern Illinois State Teachers College, where class space was scare with the return of many GIs. He was fascinated with science so majored in botany with minors in zoology, history, and education. Lloyd helped establish Sigma Pi social fraternity on campus. He was awarded a Bachelor's of Science in Education in June 1950. During the summer months Lloyd followed his dad and worked on oil field pipe lines in Illinois.
In September of 1950 he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma to pursue his master's degree, but with war in Korea becoming more intense, Lloyd enlisted in the United States Air Force in January of 1951. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Having earned his bachelor's degree in science, Lloyd was selected as a Veterinary Technician at Tinker Field, Oklahoma and was assigned to the meat and dairy hygiene school, 5th Army Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois and graduated first in his class of 50 servicemen. Upon his return to Tinker Field, Oklahoma for a new assignment he married Mary Carol Gibson.
He was then assigned to Wright Patterson Air Force Base as an instructor in the veterinarian section. He was moved to Gunter Field, Alabama and completed training in aviation medicine. While in Alabama, his two sons, Steven and Samuel were born. Lloyd received a discharge in January, 1955 and within the week was enrolled at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) at Stillwater. He received his Master's in Education in School Administration. He accepted a contract to teach at Ponca City High School in Oklahoma. In his first 7 years he was named Science Department Head and initiated a senior advanced biology class. Lloyd's love for learning saw him enrolled at classes at Oklahoma State University during the summers taking classes working towards his doctorate. Lloyd and Mary Carol welcomed daughter, Sarah while in Oklahoma.
After 7 years in public education Lloyd and his family - on recommendation from his good friend, Sinclair Orendorff - was offered a position at Casper College. Lloyd and his family came to Casper in August, 1963, where he started as instructor of zoology and microbiology at Casper College.
He was continuing his doctorate in zoology during the summers at Oklahoma State University. He was awarded his Doctorate of Education in 1968. Lloyd served as Casper College's Dean of Students, Dean of Faculty, and as Vice-President of Academic Affairs. Lloyd and Mary Carol divorced in 1974. Lloyd married Beverly Ann Linn in 1975.
In November, 1986, Lloyd was honored by Governor Ed Herschler to serve on the Wyoming Centennial Commission's "Centennial 100." This honorary distinction was bestowed on Lloyd in recognition of his outstanding citizenship and contribution to the community.
Between 1977 and 1986, Lloyd also served as a consultant for North Central Association of Colleges of Higher Education. Along with a team, he traveled to 18 states advising colleges on their accreditation process. In addition to his team visits, Lloyd served as team chairman for 6 college accreditations. He then served on North Central Association of Colleges of Higher Education's Review Committee at their Chicago headquarters.
In 1976 President Tim Aley retired, and the Casper College Board mounted a nationwide search for his replacement. After interviewing four applicants the Board appointed Lloyd the next President of Casper College in 1979.
In the summer 2020 edition of the Casper College Alumni Association's Footprints magazine, Bill Landen wrote: "If Loftin is remembered for little else, he will be remembered as the person responsible for assembling the faculty and staff that helped guide Casper College into the computer age. During his years, student numbers tripled, and more than 20 buildings were erected. Always that growth necessitated finding the right teachers and the right professionals to fill the need." Lloyd was instrumental in forming the college's department of nursing, which maintains an excellent reputation of rigorous standards in education and healthcare.
Lloyd retired in 1988 as President of Casper College and was named President Emeritus. Lloyd's legacy of dedication to the college was reflected in the renaming of the life science building to the Loftin Life Science Building.
Following retirement Lloyd and Beverly traveled, spent time at their lake house at Alcova, where Lloyd loved to fish for hours on his pontoon boat. He loved to hike, be outdoors, and enjoy nature. Beverly and Lloyd were snowbirds for more than 30 years living between Casper and Mesa, Arizona.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Wilbur "Pete" and Floyd "Elwin;" former wife, Mary Carol; daughters-in-law, Cindy and Linda; and grandson, Brad.
Lloyd is survived by his wife, Beverly Loftin of Casper; sons, Steve Loftin of Casper; and Sam (Carol) Loftin of Millcreek, Utah; daughter, Sarah Smith (Ken Truax) of Layton, Utah; grandchildren, Dustin (Lindsay) Tafoya of Lakewood, Colorado; Rebecca Cheff (Kole Bodell) of Sandy, Utah; Laura Loftin of Salt Lake City, Utah; Lonnie Loftin of Casper; , 9 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and of course, many lifelong friends.
Visit youtube.com/@casperfumc9019 to view the live stream of Lloyd's funeral service scheduled for Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 11:00 am.
To share a memory of Lloyd or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dr. Hughes Loftin, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Service
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Starts at 11:00 am (Mountain time)
First United Methodist Church
Guestbook
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