John Hudgins Jr.

John Hudgins Jr. was the son of Pearl Evans Hudgins and John Hudgins Sr. The oldest of ten children, he was raised in Summit, New Jersey and graduated high school in 1958. He departed this life January 3, 2025, at home with his wife and sisters-in-law; Ms. Michael Hill, April McElroy and niece Dellice (Niecy, Niecy) McElroy. HIS LOVE OF SPORTS AND MUSIC: While attending Summit High School, he was an extraordinary athlete and musician; he loved playing basketball, football and baseball. In addition to playing most racquet sports (tennis, handball, platform tennis, paddleball, table tennis etc.), John also loved to play a good game billiards/pool. John was also a championship bowler with the local league in Linden, NJ. Rounding out his talents, his quiet intellectual game was Chess. He also played the trombone and guitar in the high school orchestra.After high school, John enlisted in the U.S. Airforce, where he served his country, four years as an Air Force policeman. While deployed at Fairfield Air Force Base in England in 1964 he married his first wife Patricia Foster and they had two children; Karen Yvette and Kyle Ian Hudgins. HIS CAREER: Upon returning home to the United States, he spent two years in the Air Force Reserves. After his honorable discharge, he had many career changes, but his true love was in Quality Assurance and Non-Destructive Testing. John was one of only two black men at the time in this field. Men with expertise in ultrasonics, cobalt and iridium metals, liquid penetrants, x-raying, steel structures (bridges) etc. Working for many prestigious companies, such as Peabody Magniflux Corporation, Unites States Testing Company, Inc., Quality Assurance Service Group, Non-Destructive Examination Division (Hoboken, NJ). From the 1970's - 1990's, He worked at Nuclear Power Plants all over the U.S.; Oyster Creek, Millstone Point, Dresden, Indian Point, just to name a few. John was especially proud of his soldering work with the NASA Space Project at Martin Marietta in West Windsor, New Jersey. After many years of experience in the Non-Destructive Testing (NDE) field, he opened his own business for several years, John Hudgins, Jr. and Associates, Inc. for testing and consulting. Because of his military background in weapons and martial arts, he was accepted into the East Coast U.S. Marshals Government Agency Program but turned the position down due to the 1960's riots and unrest going on at the time. Later he became a Real Estate Investor and Agent in Princeton, NJ with Wiechert Realtors. SOME FUN TIME: 1985 Crush Groove movie extra. 1990 Family Feud TV Show Contestant 1992-1996 the Richard Bey TV Show winner of the Sexiest Man in the Tri-State 1997 Mrs. New Jersey Beauty Pageant Escort 2000 He competed in the USA Masters Track and Field, State and National Championships at age 60, winning gold (shotput) and silver (Javelin) medals. Other recreational activities included, joining the local bowling league in Linden, NJ 2022 He also served on the Mercer County College Board of Trustee in Lawrenceville, NJ. FAMILY HISTORY: John is predeceased by his parents Pearl and John Hudgins, Sr.; three siblings, Donald Hudgins, Nancy Thomas and Sandra Fish; brother-in-law, Woodrow "Pete" Horn; two nephews, Kevin Horn and Phillip Smith; and a niece, Debbie Williams, all from New Jersey. John is survived by his loving wife of 37 years Mrs. Johnnie Hill-Hudgins of Princeton, NJ; a daughter, Karen Yvette Hudgins of NJ, a son Kyle Ian Hudgins of FL; four sisters, Vanessa Horn of NJ (Woodrow-deceased) of NJ, Velma Smith of FL, Pearleen Horn (William), and Judy Middleton of TX; two brothers, Roger Hudgins and Kenneth Hudgins (partner Michelle) of NJ. He leaves to mourn his death, a host of grand and great-grandchildren, cousins, nephews, nieces and long-time friendships.