Sarah Tilghman Hughes

1984 Inductee
Legal
(1896-1985)

Judge Sarah T. Hughes of Dallas was the first woman in Texas to be named a federal district judge.

She was elected to the Texas House of Representatives (1931-1935), and former Governor James Allred appointed her judge of the 14th District Court in February 1935. She was re-elected every four years until appointed U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas by President John F. Kennedy in 1961.

Judge Hughes was a board member of the Council of World Affairs, Dallas United Nations Association, and St. Phillips Community Center. She was president of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Club as well as the Texas and Dallas chapters. She received 11 awards for service to her community and the legal profession.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, and Doctor of Law degrees from Goucher College, Southern Methodist University, Indiana State University, Iowa Wesleyan College, and Mary Hardin-Baylor College. She practiced law in Dallas from 1922 to 1935.

Sarah T. Hughes died April 23, 1985.