Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Condolences to his family

Carson loveless

April 22, 2024

God bless you Gary. I worked with you and Lance at Bank of America in Richmond back in the 70’s. I remember my last words to you were have a great weekend, and I will see you on Monday. I always think of you when I see your name on the freeway sign when I’m going to Vallejo. You were a great human being rest in peace.

Saundra Burton
Friend

May 10, 2023

Still remembered and honored. God bless you and your family. You will never be forgotten.

State Traffic Officer 7185.
California Highway Patrol & US Marine

May 23, 2022

God bless you Gary. We remember you today as we do every single day. God bless your family and every single law enforcement officer in our beloved America. May your family always know we mourn losing you but we don’t mourn your sacrifice and your love for your family and your brothers and sisters in our Beloved Highway Patrol. As we say in our beloved “Corps” “The Few, The Proud, The Brave”!! You fill all three of those words. God bless you and God bless our beloved CHP.......

State Traffic Officer 7185 South LA CHP
California Highway Patrol & US Marine

May 23, 2021

Semper Fi Sharon. We will always remember your husbands service and dedication to our beloved Blue and Gold. Such a great honor to be a member of the worlds premier law enforcement Agency in the world. I respect you and your family for remembering how much your husband meant to all of us. God bless you and your family and God bless the California Highway Patrol.

State Traffic Officer 7185 Mike Becze
California Highway Patrol, South Los Angeles 1969-1971

May 23, 2020

I am awed by the people who have taken time to write a Reflection under Gary’s name. After 43 years, yes his children and I still miss him. Next week he and another officer, both killed in the line of duty out of the Solano County CHP office, will be honored by a memorial at that office. Pretty much everyone who worked with Gary has retired by now and yet there are those who still honor him and other fallen officers. Thank you CHP. You truly are a family.

Sharon Hughes Ketelsen
Wife

July 16, 2019

Rest in peace Officer Hughes.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 22, 2019

Rest In Peace Brother LEO. Thank you and your family for your sacrifice and service.

Officer Mike Robinson (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

May 23, 2018

"When a good man is hurt, all who would be called good must suffer with him.”

Euripides

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

September 24, 2015

I am assigned to the Solano Office and today on the 39th anniversary of his passing I worked the beat where Officer Hughes was killed. Near the end of my shift I stopped by his sign and paid my respects. Thank you for your service Officer Hughes, you are an icon in the office. To Officer Hughes family, I do not know how much contact you have with the CHP anymore, as time passes people tend to forget about sacrifices paid by the people before us. If this is the case I am truly sorry, I hope it is not. I can assure you though that Officer Hughes comes up regularly with the troops, and he is thought of as a true "Highwayman".

Officer # 18192
CHP

May 24, 2015

Time may have passed but you are not forgotten. I believe as long as someone remembers you or speaks your name, you are still with us.
Thank you for your heroism.
God Bless

Detention Officer A.Zambito
Texas

May 23, 2015

I apologize for making a mathematical error of 10 years. I was thinking of the similarities of same name and profession. This is not the same Gary.

Karen McCarthy
High school classmate

March 25, 2015

I graduated from Arroyo High School in 1965 with Gary Lee Hughes from Washington Manor in San Leandro. We were born in 1947 and he would have been 38 in 1976. I believe he graduated from San Jose State and majored in law enforcement. Is this the Gary that I knew?

Karen McCarthy
High school classmate

March 24, 2015

I worked with Gary and Lance at Bank of America in Richmond, Ca. They were both really nice guys. I remember telling them to have a good weekend and I would see them on Monday, not knowing that the next time I saw Gary would be at his funeral. I am happy that a portion of the freeway has been dedicated to Gary. I always think about him when I am on that stretch of freeway.

Saundra Burton
Co-worker

May 12, 2014

I remember the day of his funeral service all those many years ago and often think of his sacrifice, but also the bravery and sacrifice of his wife and children. I was a mere 18 at the time and very close with his oldest son, but his family was so strong. Life is too precious not to cherish every moment with those we love. We should all be thankful for the service of men like Gary Hughes.

Debi (White) Casper, aka duckie
Friend of Family

October 16, 2013

It has been 37 years since Gary passed. There isn't a day that goes by that he is not in my thoughts. I wonder what life would have been like if he had lived. He was the love of my life. Even though life has gone on for myself, I still miss him dearly. Yesterday I attended the yearly memorial service at the CHP Academy honoring the fallen heroes of the CHP. It is a wonderful service. Thank you to those who remember Gary.

Love you always, Sharon
Wife

May 8, 2013

To fully appreciate the heroes of the present, we must recognize our heroes of the past. Your heroism and service is honored today, the 36th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered.

I pray for solace for all those that love and remember you for I know that both the pain and pride are forever. Your family is in my heart's embrace. Thanks to your family and friends for sharing their memories and devotion to you through their reflections.

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

May 23, 2012

Rest in Peace, Officer Hughes. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

October 22, 2009

I met Officer Hughes when I was a child. He was a good friend of my father. My father attended school with him from grade school through Jr College. I have a pleasant childhood memory of him in his uniform when he visited my father in Valejo. I remember him showing me his handcuffs. He is a hero. I was 12 when he died but have thought of him over the years.

Corporal Robert G. COURTRIGHT
Pa State Police

August 28, 2008

Today we passed your memorial sign near Vallejo i wanted your family to know you are not forgotten. We were just in Sacramento and Washington D.C. to honor our son in law and all fallen law inforcement heroes.

Linda
Mother in law to CHP John P. Miller EOW 11-16-07

June 22, 2008

It is 32 years since my father, Gary Lee Hughes, was taken from me and the rest of his family. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him and the example he set for me. My time with my father was much to short, but long enough for me to know him as the hero he was. I strive to live a life worthy of his sacrifice.

If you are a law enforcement officer reading this now, please know that you are appreciated and respected for the oath you have taken. May you serve in a manner that honors those who have gone before you and made the ultimate sacrifice.

Sincerely,
Gary's Son

Hughes

May 23, 2008

Keep resting easy Gary knowing your brothers and sisters of the Blue and Gold Honor you each day of the year and we will NEVER forget our own who have fallen. God Bless All

DB
Calif Hwy Patrol. Ret.

May 6, 2008

"The Badge"
He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.
He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.
Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.
He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.
His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.
He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.
And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.
But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.
Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.
Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.
So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.
In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.
Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.
Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

November 21, 2007

G-d Bless.

May 23, 2007

Rest in peace, Sir! You are not forgotten.

Police Officer

August 12, 2006