Hugh Montgomery Long Jr.

Posted

Hugh Montgomery Long Jr., 92, with a strong and powerful mind, passed away at home in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 14, 2017 of natural causes.

Hugh was born June 28, 1924 in Montgomery, Alabama to Hugh Montgomery Long and Zee Vee Roberts Long.

He later moved to the family farm in Bon Secour, Alabama. In high school he moved to Foley, Alabama. Hugh fondly and frequently reminisced about his youth and the Gulf Coast.

In 1941, Hugh entered Auburn University, where he studied physics and joined the Theta Chi social fraternity.

In 1942, Hugh enlisted in the Naval Reserve as an apprentice seaman in the V-12 Program. Initially ordered to active duty in the Naval College Training Program at Georgia Tech, Hugh studied electrical engineering and participated in intramural sports and campus politics.

The U.S. Navy then ordered Hugh to midshipman's school, Columbia University, commissioned him ensign, USNR, and designated him instructor of electrical engineering.

The Navy then assigned Hugh to the Service Force, for duty in the Atlantic Fleet camera party. As Officer in Charge of the Detachment on the USS Wyoming, Hugh directed photographic observations of experiments designed to thwart enemy aircraft.

After World War II, Hugh returned to Auburn, receiving a B.S. in electrical engineering and a master's in physics. Hugh was elected to several scholastic honor societies as an undergraduate and master's student; conducted scientific research on pulse X-ray tubes in his graduate studies and presented his work to esteemed science societies at Yale University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Alabama.

In 1948, The University of Oxford accepted Hugh as Auburn's first Rhodes Scholar, a distinguished honor, of which Hugh was always extremely proud.

Hugh married Frances Elizabeth Garrett Long in 1949 and they moved to England, a place for which Hugh had a special affinity.

Hugh was awarded a doctorate degree in philosophy, with physics emphasis, by Oxford in 1949. After graduation, Hugh regularly attended Rhodes Scholar reunions and events.

Upon return to the United States, Hugh began a distinguished career at Union Carbide Corp. in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Buffalo, New York.

During the 1960s, Hugh led several science exchanges to Russia to study low temperature physics of condensed matter.

Frances died in 1979, and afterward Hugh retired from Union Carbide in 1980. Hugh then moved to Southern California, becoming a principal in a company improving oil and gas property production with innovative science.

Hugh met and married Linda Zeboray in Corona Del Mar, California, 1985. Hugh joined Linda in her importing and manufacturing business for the next 25 years.

Hugh and Linda loved the California lifestyle and traveled widely. Hugh derived great satisfaction from using his mind, and staying active in the business into his mid-80s.

Hugh left a strong legacy of discipline, principle, fun and exceptional intelligence. He cherished his family and particularly liked conversing about current events and politics.

Hugh is survived by his wife, Linda Long; sons, Garrett Long (Keiko and sons, Hugh Long III and Keenen), Frank Long (Debbie and their children, Emily, Julia, Natalie and Austin); stepdaughters, Shelley Kadison (Brian and daughter, Paisley), Wendy Warlaumont (James and sons Andrew, his wife, Monique and great-grandchild, Cora) and Gordon. Hugh is also survived by his stepbrother, Alvin Maxwell Jewell.

Hugh was preceded in death by his father, Hugh Long; and mother, Zee Vee Long Jewell; sister, Velma Corner; and his stepsister, Dorothy Jean Jewell McClellan.

A celebration of Hugh's life and graveside services will be held later this summer in Park City, Utah, where Hugh is to be buried with sprinkles of soil from Alabama, California and England.

We would like to thank Neil O'Donnell and Sons Mortuary for their services.