Bob, Pennsylvania, and Arlene, National Honorary Initiate, Hughes are pivotal members of Delta Sigma Pi.
Arlene Hughes was a charter member of The Royal Order of Pink Poodles (Established at the 1949 Baltimore Grand Chapter Congress, Pink Poodles was developed for the wives of members to meet during Congress. Read more.)
In the Spring 2001 The Deltasig magazine, Arlene remarked that the Pink Poodles was more than just a meeting but a friendship, and the early establishment of women into the brotherhood. “It was actually the women who persuaded their husbands
to come to Congress,” Arlene says with a laugh. “We were such a close group—all the women looked forward to coming. We had a coffee hour every morning, and everyone worked as a group to organize shopping trips, sightseeing outings,
dinners, and other events.”
Arlene and Bob can be seen throughout much of Deltasig’s history, specifically in many of the event features. Combined, Bob and Arlene Hughes attended over fifty Congresses! For their dedication, the Robert O. Hughes Alumni Chapter Travel Award
was established and named in Bob’s honor in 1997. This award is presented at each Congress to the one alumni chapter exhibiting the greatest promotion of the Congress through its vigorous attendance. Just like her husband and Congress, Arlene
never missed a meeting of the Pink Poodles.
Both highly impressive individuals, Bob was named the Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree in 2001. This award is presented to a member deemed to exemplify the spirit of Delta Sigma Pi by their lifetime of service, support, brotherhood, and Fraternity,
business and civic involvement. Arlene was then named the 2009 National Honorary Initiate, one of the first woman to earn this distinguish for being a role model of professionalism, leadership, and success through ethical business
practice and service to others.
Arlene and Bob Hughes passed away in 2013, and 2015 respectively. The impact they’ve made on Delta Sigma Pi holds true now and forever. Many of their memorabilia are displayed in the Buzz and Stonie Sutton Archives Room at the Central Office.
Learn more here.
To honor this monumental anniversary, Delta Sigma Pi is providing informational and historical profiles about some of the dedicated Deltasigs of our organization— all throughout the year. Stay up to date for new updates every week! Check back next week to hear about more amazing women in Delta Sigma Pi as we celebrate 50 years of women being initiated into Delta Sigma Pi.
Purchase the 50 years of women pin for only $15 with FREE shipping! Limit quantity. Visit dsp.org/shop
Bob and Arlene attended the 47th Grand Chapter Congress for Arlene’s initiation in 2009.
New members were installed at the Third Kennel of the Royal Order of Pink Poodles in Denver in 1953. Participating in the ceremony are (left) Barbara Merrick, Arlene Hughes and Dorothy Busse.