Bill Jay Hugo

Billy (Bill) Jay Hugo, age 79, passed away peacefully on December 7th in Logan, Utah, just 10 months after the passing of his beloved wife, Gloria Joan Hugo, married for 59 years this November. Dad, surrounded by his loving family, departed this life to join his beautiful wife for time and all eternity.

He is survived by his three boys and their spouses and families: William J. Hugo & Gregory J. Sorensen, Robert L. Hugo & Charri Hugo, and Russell N. Hugo & Connie, as well as two grandchildren and their spouses: Colton J. Hugo & Annmarie B. Hugo and Tanner R. Hugo & Haylee M. Hugo. Bill was survived by his two brothers, Tim Hugo and Mike Hugo, while losing his brother Jim Hugo on October 1st, 2023.

Bill was born on August 13th, 1944, in Drumright, Oklahoma, and shortly moved to Oregon City, Oregon, where he grew up. He graduated high school in Oregon City and was a member of the varsity wrestling and football teams. He had a great college football career lined up when he severely hurt his back in a senior varsity football game.

Dad went on to marry the love of his life, Joan, and began their family working for Smucker’s Jelly plant. He quickly became management there. He then began his career as a Manager at Cascade Steel in McMinnville, Oregon. After four years there, they moved to a small Texas town called Jewett. He was invited to work for Nucor Steel in Jewett, Texas, where they continued to raise the boys.

In 1980, they moved to Hyrum, Utah, where Dad was again invited to be a Casting Manager at Nucor Steel in Plymouth, UT. He soon showed his inventive skills by ripping apart a brand new 2-strand caster (upgrading from the single strand caster) to a never done before 4-strand continuous Billet Caster. Facing strong adversity and being told it was impossible, along with an amazingly skilled fabricator Dennis Jones and their team, they made history.

Once the four-strand caster was fully operational, including furnace and ladle upgrades, they broke a company record in 2003, calling it the “Triple Play,” consisting of melting and casting 1,089,158 tons of steel, rolling 1,081,914 tons of re-bar in the roll mill, and shipping 1,109,479 tons of billets and re-bar. Dad also enjoyed working with his brother Jim Hugo at Nucor. He proudly retired after 35 years of very successful management at Nucor Steel.

Dad was a fun-loving gentle giant of a man, always full of joy and laughter. He was the life of the party at anything he was involved in, loved to play pranks, and was a real crack-up at family and friends' get-togethers. Dad loved to go hunting and fishing with his boys and bowl at the bowling leagues. I used to always say he could catch fish in a bathtub! He just knew all the tricks, knots, and ways to catch the fish.

Dad loved his wife Joan so much. He was never selfish and made sure she always had what she needed, taking care of her himself all the way to the end. She loved Dad so much, and it is good that they are together again.

We will truly miss you, Dad, and we know you are with Mom, embracing her again. Find the good places to fish for the rest of us when we meet again.

The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to all those who have offered their support and condolences.

We will have a graveside (Mom’s burial site headstone) service and celebration of his life on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. at the Hyrum, Utah Cemetery. All family and friends are invited who desire to attend and give memories and comments while offering condolences. This is Dad’s wish.