Hugh Elvin Laird was born in Hayes County, Nebraska on June 12, 1930 at the C.O. Laird (Hugh's Grandfather)Homestead to Samuel Marion and Lora WARD LAIRD. Hugh was the fourth of 5 children, including one brother Roy Marion, and three sisters, Gertrude Marie, Zina Lora and Shirley Jean.
Hugh attended elementary school in Hayes County and graduated from the Hayes County High School Class of 1948. He received the Regents and the Salutatorian scholarships. He attended college at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, withdrawing to enter the U.S. Navy in 1949. He was discharged in 1950. Hugh was recalled into the Navy during the Korean War. He served on board ship escorting Korean war prisoners to Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1950.
After the Navy, Hugh returned to Nebraska for a short period but then moved to San Diego, California where he began working at General Dynamics. There he met a smaller version of Rosie the Riveter named Margaret ("Midge") VAUGHN, who was also employed at GD. Hugh and Midge were married in San Diego on August 6, 1955. They spent their honeymoon at Disneyland, a new theme park that had just opened a year before they were married.
Their daughter was born in 1958 in San Diego. They subsequently moved throughout the US as Hugh worked in the Atlas missile silos during the height of the Cold War. The family was in North Plains, New York when the Cuban missiles were pointed in their direction during the Bay of Pigs episode. In 1961, during their time in Lincoln Nebraska their son was born.
Hugh and family returned to San Diego for good in 1962. The couple continued to work in aerospace and aircraft with Hugh ending up at Solar Turbines on Pacific Highway. He worked as a test engineer with turbine engines for more than 30 years, moving with Solar Turbines to Kearny Mesa and seeing the company through several ownership changes.
Hugh retired after many years of service to the organization. He remained active in the Solar retirees group, attending many gathering of the "old timers" from the Solar Pacific Highway days. During Hugh's active retirement he embraced his love of cars, driving, travelling and racing. He was a member of several different Southern California Off-Road Racing Enthusiast (SCORE) teams, performing "chase car" duties, navigating out-back terrain in Mexico, and contributed many hours and dollars supporting off-road trucks, cars and drivers. Hugh continued as an active member of the American Legion Post of La Mesa until the time of his death, where he served as treasurer.
Midge preceded Hugh in death in 2003. After her passing Hugh continued to travel, touring European waterways and countries with family, visiting Mexico with SCORE, joining with the extended Laird family in the mid-west, Oregon and California. With his daughter and son-in-law, they began visiting a new National Park each year. He loved guns-old, new and every other kind-and was a member of the National Rifle Association. Hugh taught many men and boys to shoot and hunt safely.
Hugh passed away at Lemon Grove Care & Rehabilitation on April 29th, 2012, surrounded by loving family and wonderful staff. He is survived by his daughter and son in law, his son and daughter in law, one grandson and one granddaughter, and two sisters. Hugh was a faithful husband, a loving brother, a great Dad, a caring Grandfather, a fun guy and a good friend. He had a warm heart and a tender spirit that came through despite his attempts to conceal this with his unfailing humor. Hugh Laird rarely refused a request for assistance, whether for money, advice, labor or love. He was greatly admired and will be sorely missed…
Hugh attended elementary school in Hayes County and graduated from the Hayes County High School Class of 1948. He received the Regents and the Salutatorian scholarships. He attended college at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, withdrawing to enter the U.S. Navy in 1949. He was discharged in 1950. Hugh was recalled into the Navy during the Korean War. He served on board ship escorting Korean war prisoners to Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1950.
After the Navy, Hugh returned to Nebraska for a short period but then moved to San Diego, California where he began working at General Dynamics. There he met a smaller version of Rosie the Riveter named Margaret ("Midge") VAUGHN, who was also employed at GD. Hugh and Midge were married in San Diego on August 6, 1955. They spent their honeymoon at Disneyland, a new theme park that had just opened a year before they were married.
Their daughter was born in 1958 in San Diego. They subsequently moved throughout the US as Hugh worked in the Atlas missile silos during the height of the Cold War. The family was in North Plains, New York when the Cuban missiles were pointed in their direction during the Bay of Pigs episode. In 1961, during their time in Lincoln Nebraska their son was born.
Hugh and family returned to San Diego for good in 1962. The couple continued to work in aerospace and aircraft with Hugh ending up at Solar Turbines on Pacific Highway. He worked as a test engineer with turbine engines for more than 30 years, moving with Solar Turbines to Kearny Mesa and seeing the company through several ownership changes.
Hugh retired after many years of service to the organization. He remained active in the Solar retirees group, attending many gathering of the "old timers" from the Solar Pacific Highway days. During Hugh's active retirement he embraced his love of cars, driving, travelling and racing. He was a member of several different Southern California Off-Road Racing Enthusiast (SCORE) teams, performing "chase car" duties, navigating out-back terrain in Mexico, and contributed many hours and dollars supporting off-road trucks, cars and drivers. Hugh continued as an active member of the American Legion Post of La Mesa until the time of his death, where he served as treasurer.
Midge preceded Hugh in death in 2003. After her passing Hugh continued to travel, touring European waterways and countries with family, visiting Mexico with SCORE, joining with the extended Laird family in the mid-west, Oregon and California. With his daughter and son-in-law, they began visiting a new National Park each year. He loved guns-old, new and every other kind-and was a member of the National Rifle Association. Hugh taught many men and boys to shoot and hunt safely.
Hugh passed away at Lemon Grove Care & Rehabilitation on April 29th, 2012, surrounded by loving family and wonderful staff. He is survived by his daughter and son in law, his son and daughter in law, one grandson and one granddaughter, and two sisters. Hugh was a faithful husband, a loving brother, a great Dad, a caring Grandfather, a fun guy and a good friend. He had a warm heart and a tender spirit that came through despite his attempts to conceal this with his unfailing humor. Hugh Laird rarely refused a request for assistance, whether for money, advice, labor or love. He was greatly admired and will be sorely missed…
Hugh Elvin Laird was born in Hayes County, Nebraska on June 12, 1930 at the C.O. Laird (Hugh's Grandfather)Homestead to Samuel Marion and Lora WARD LAIRD. Hugh was the fourth of 5 children, including one brother Roy Marion, and three sisters, Gertrude Marie, Zina Lora and Shirley Jean.
Hugh attended elementary school in Hayes County and graduated from the Hayes County High School Class of 1948. He received the Regents and the Salutatorian scholarships. He attended college at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, withdrawing to enter the U.S. Navy in 1949. He was discharged in 1950. Hugh was recalled into the Navy during the Korean War. He served on board ship escorting Korean war prisoners to Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1950.
After the Navy, Hugh returned to Nebraska for a short period but then moved to San Diego, California where he began working at General Dynamics. There he met a smaller version of Rosie the Riveter named Margaret ("Midge") VAUGHN, who was also employed at GD. Hugh and Midge were married in San Diego on August 6, 1955. They spent their honeymoon at Disneyland, a new theme park that had just opened a year before they were married.
Their daughter was born in 1958 in San Diego. They subsequently moved throughout the US as Hugh worked in the Atlas missile silos during the height of the Cold War. The family was in North Plains, New York when the Cuban missiles were pointed in their direction during the Bay of Pigs episode. In 1961, during their time in Lincoln Nebraska their son was born.
Hugh and family returned to San Diego for good in 1962. The couple continued to work in aerospace and aircraft with Hugh ending up at Solar Turbines on Pacific Highway. He worked as a test engineer with turbine engines for more than 30 years, moving with Solar Turbines to Kearny Mesa and seeing the company through several ownership changes.
Hugh retired after many years of service to the organization. He remained active in the Solar retirees group, attending many gathering of the "old timers" from the Solar Pacific Highway days. During Hugh's active retirement he embraced his love of cars, driving, travelling and racing. He was a member of several different Southern California Off-Road Racing Enthusiast (SCORE) teams, performing "chase car" duties, navigating out-back terrain in Mexico, and contributed many hours and dollars supporting off-road trucks, cars and drivers. Hugh continued as an active member of the American Legion Post of La Mesa until the time of his death, where he served as treasurer.
Midge preceded Hugh in death in 2003. After her passing Hugh continued to travel, touring European waterways and countries with family, visiting Mexico with SCORE, joining with the extended Laird family in the mid-west, Oregon and California. With his daughter and son-in-law, they began visiting a new National Park each year. He loved guns-old, new and every other kind-and was a member of the National Rifle Association. Hugh taught many men and boys to shoot and hunt safely.
Hugh passed away at Lemon Grove Care & Rehabilitation on April 29th, 2012, surrounded by loving family and wonderful staff. He is survived by his daughter and son in law, his son and daughter in law, one grandson and one granddaughter, and two sisters. Hugh was a faithful husband, a loving brother, a great Dad, a caring Grandfather, a fun guy and a good friend. He had a warm heart and a tender spirit that came through despite his attempts to conceal this with his unfailing humor. Hugh Laird rarely refused a request for assistance, whether for money, advice, labor or love. He was greatly admired and will be sorely missed…
Hugh attended elementary school in Hayes County and graduated from the Hayes County High School Class of 1948. He received the Regents and the Salutatorian scholarships. He attended college at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, withdrawing to enter the U.S. Navy in 1949. He was discharged in 1950. Hugh was recalled into the Navy during the Korean War. He served on board ship escorting Korean war prisoners to Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1950.
After the Navy, Hugh returned to Nebraska for a short period but then moved to San Diego, California where he began working at General Dynamics. There he met a smaller version of Rosie the Riveter named Margaret ("Midge") VAUGHN, who was also employed at GD. Hugh and Midge were married in San Diego on August 6, 1955. They spent their honeymoon at Disneyland, a new theme park that had just opened a year before they were married.
Their daughter was born in 1958 in San Diego. They subsequently moved throughout the US as Hugh worked in the Atlas missile silos during the height of the Cold War. The family was in North Plains, New York when the Cuban missiles were pointed in their direction during the Bay of Pigs episode. In 1961, during their time in Lincoln Nebraska their son was born.
Hugh and family returned to San Diego for good in 1962. The couple continued to work in aerospace and aircraft with Hugh ending up at Solar Turbines on Pacific Highway. He worked as a test engineer with turbine engines for more than 30 years, moving with Solar Turbines to Kearny Mesa and seeing the company through several ownership changes.
Hugh retired after many years of service to the organization. He remained active in the Solar retirees group, attending many gathering of the "old timers" from the Solar Pacific Highway days. During Hugh's active retirement he embraced his love of cars, driving, travelling and racing. He was a member of several different Southern California Off-Road Racing Enthusiast (SCORE) teams, performing "chase car" duties, navigating out-back terrain in Mexico, and contributed many hours and dollars supporting off-road trucks, cars and drivers. Hugh continued as an active member of the American Legion Post of La Mesa until the time of his death, where he served as treasurer.
Midge preceded Hugh in death in 2003. After her passing Hugh continued to travel, touring European waterways and countries with family, visiting Mexico with SCORE, joining with the extended Laird family in the mid-west, Oregon and California. With his daughter and son-in-law, they began visiting a new National Park each year. He loved guns-old, new and every other kind-and was a member of the National Rifle Association. Hugh taught many men and boys to shoot and hunt safely.
Hugh passed away at Lemon Grove Care & Rehabilitation on April 29th, 2012, surrounded by loving family and wonderful staff. He is survived by his daughter and son in law, his son and daughter in law, one grandson and one granddaughter, and two sisters. Hugh was a faithful husband, a loving brother, a great Dad, a caring Grandfather, a fun guy and a good friend. He had a warm heart and a tender spirit that came through despite his attempts to conceal this with his unfailing humor. Hugh Laird rarely refused a request for assistance, whether for money, advice, labor or love. He was greatly admired and will be sorely missed…
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