Rick Hughes bio

Richard Joseph Hughes was born outside Nashville, Tennessee, on December 28, 1988. He is the younger son of Joe and Betty Hughes, both now retired. His father was a mechanical engineer, and his mother was a legal secretary. Hughes's parents moved to the Oxford area in 2003, citing the low cost of living and the attraction of a small town as their main reasons.

Rick graduated from Yoknapatawpha High School in 2006 and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Vanderbilt University in 2010. Following his college graduation, he did a two-year internship with Newsweek magazine, primarily covering general interest topics related to higher education and American university life.

In the fall of 2012, he returned to school in the Oxford area. He earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Mississippi, during which time he also served as a staff writer for the university newspaper, The Daily Mississippian.

He continued to work full-time as the production manager for The Daily Mississippian for an additional year. In the summer of 2016, he left the university community to become a city reporter for the Oxford Eagle newspaper.

Hughes is single with no children. He has reportedly had romances with various locals and students, none of which ever amounted to much. Friends describe him as outgoing and generous, and his co-workers praise his friendly demeanor and strong work ethic.

It's not uncommon for Hughes to work on the weekends and late into the night on an important story until its completion. Hughes is also well-known for his ability to get in-depth interviews with his subjects, often prying information out of them that has eluded police and other authorities.

Hughes lives in a small, secluded home not far from the Oxford square and is a regular fixture in the taverns, especially if live music is on the bill. He also plays guitar and likes to write songs in his limited spare time.

Hughes's older brother Paul, 40, is a dentist in Memphis, Tennessee.