McHugh Retires from City, Will Remain in Winslow

By Sam Conner
   Fran McHugh has been the executive director of the Winslow Public Housing Department since 1991. He recently retired from that position, and is studying to begin a new retirement career as an assistant physical therapist. He and his family plan to remain in Winslow, and remain busy in city affairs and activities. Much of his time in the near future will be helping his successor, Beth Rice, become acquainted with and proficient at his former position.
   McHugh enjoys a number of activities not related to public housing, such as motorcycling and bicycling. He has expressed a desire to see at least two big bicycling events per year in Winslow. He has also been very active in church work at the First Baptist Church of Winslow and plans to remain so.
   Before coming to Winslow in 1991, McHugh had worked at a variety of positions related to public housing since 1976. His last such position was as Section Eight director at San Diego. He has gained the reputation in Winslow as a very efficient and knowledgeable director.
   Duties at Winslow included directing all activities of the Winslow Public Housing Authority, and keeping it in compliance with all federal, state and local policies, supervising two maintenance workers and two housing assistants, and negotiating contracts with public and private entities, as well as serving as a non-judicial hearing officer.
   He was president of the Arizona chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials from 1999 to 2001, and of the Arizona Housing Authority Directors Association from 2001 to 2005. He retired while serving as vice president of member services for the Pacific Southwest Conference of National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, and vice chair of the Small Agency Task Force for the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 2004 until his retirement.
   McHugh is an Air Force veteran, serving from 1968 until 1972, with overseas duty in Turkey. He was involved in the Air Force security service during this critical period of our history.
   After his time in the service, McHugh earned a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in computer science from National University in San Diego in 1979, attended Project CENTRL, Class XIII at the University of Arizona Leadership Program in 1998-99, and the Arizona State University Community Policing Institute in 2001.
   McHugh says that Winslow is his home and he loves the community. He and his family plan to live here for the foreseeable future and enjoy being active members of the community.