Howard Robard “Sonny” Hughes Jr. W5CY *1906-1976* Our subject W5CY born on Christmas
Eve, 1906 Huston, Texas. Howard was commonly known as Sonny, or Little Howard, despite thefact that he was six foot three by the age of 16. He would become an aviator, engineer, industrialist
and film maker. Of his time W5CY may have been one of the wealthiest men in the world.
Hughes was a student of (7) seven different schools, of which he graduated from none, excelling
only in mathematics. As a young man, Hughes had a penchant for all things mechanical and wasknown to spend hours tinkering on various different devices. Little Howard had few friends but
enjoyed the company of the son of his fathers business partner, Dudley Sharp.
At the age of 6, Howard Hughes Sr. presented his son with the gift of aworkshop, where his son could always be found playing with various bits ofwires and pieces of metal. At the age of 11, Little Howard built his own ham
radio and at the age of 13, when he refused the gift of a motorcycle. Hughes
built one for himself, taking parts from his father’s steam car. Our subject
at an early age was quite deaf and could not hear conversations around him,
yet he told few people of his disability. Consequently he conducted much of
his business over the phone because he could hear much better.
As a graduate of Harvard, Big Howard sought his son to have the sameeducation and sent his son to boarding school in Massachusetts in the fall of1919. After one year had passed it became apparent that Sonny was not going to succeed ingrooming school. Big Howard traveled across the country to collect his son and they attended a boatrace on the way home. After losing a bet to his son on the outcome of the race, Big Howard wasforced to grant Sonny one wish. That summer, Sonny took flying lessons with various crop dusters
against the wishes of both of his parents. It was here that Hughes would develop his love of aviation.
In 1921 oil drilling and prospecting took off in California and Hughes Sr., relocated to Hollywood
and took his son with him. After a generous donation to the California Institute of Technology,
Sonny was able to attend mathematics and engineering courses. In the fall of 1923, Mrs. Hughes
passed away and little over a year later in January of 1924, Big Howard passed as well.
At the age of 17, it would seem that Hughes was not prepared to enter the world of adulthood, but
he would quickly prove otherwise. Sonny was the inheritor of 75% of Hughes Tool, of which hewould be granted control at the age of 21. Eager to be responsible of his own affairs, Hughes
appeared before a Texas judge to appeal the legal
guidelines set forth in dads will. Against the advice ofLittle Howard’s remaining family, the judge granted
Hughes his wish and a great deal of wealth and power were
put into a young man’s hands. Howard took the helm ofHughes Tool at the age of 18. Fully aware that he wasunable of managing a multi-million dollar firm, he set out
to find solid management. Noah Dietrich was that man andmanaged Hughes Tool business affairs for the next 30years. Partially scripted from goldenessays.com
Hughes W5CY being congratulated by FDR on his roundthe-world flight in the late 30's to pass over places ofinterest in the coming war with Germany and Japan.
W8SU 2006