Myron Hughes played for the UC Bearcats in the 1980s.

Many may remember him aggressively manning the low post for the basketball Bearcats in the '80s. Although some players tend to shrink from a challenge in the paint, University of Cincinnati opponents came to realize that Myron Hughes wasn't one of them.

In the 20 years since his graduation, Hughes has maintained that persona. His marketing degree led him to the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, working to recruit business development prospects to Cincinnati -- much like he had been recruited here earlier from Alabama.

After leaving Cincinnati in 1995, Hughes served in leadership roles for the primary business organizations in St. Louis, Memphis and now Tampa, where he is the Greater Tampa Chamber's vice president of economic development. No matter where he lived, though, he continued to follow the Bearcats closely. Fortunately, his work has taken him to cities with universities on UC's schedule.

Hughes, a UC Alumni Association life member, has a balanced view of his UC experience. "More than basketball brought me to UC, and more than basketball kept me at UC even as we went through our own coaching change at the time," Hughes said, recalling the 1983 transition from Ed Badger to Tony Yates.

He has watched the past year of transition at UC unfold with a reassuring perspective. "UC will always be a strong academic university, and it will always be a strong basketball school. What's most important, however, is remembering what makes it truly special.

"UC will always be near and dear to me regardless of who might occupy the most visible positions or what the issues of the day may be. It's really all about the relationships we make through the university and community, and the joy and opportunities they bring."

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