Tug Baughn

Tug Baughn graduated from Beggs High School in 1952 and began his officiating career the following fall. After 51 years of officiating, Tug made the decision to retire in the fall of 2003. Along the way, he witnessed integration of high school and collegiate athletics as well as the introduction of Title IX, which helped to put women’s athletics on the same level as men’s.

Tug officiated 17 high school football state championship games as well as 20 high school basketball state championship games. He also officiated at the collegiate level, which included four National Junior College playoffs, one National Junior College Basketball Championship game, six Oklahoma Collegiate Conference playoffs, six Kansas Junior College playoffs, one NAIA National Football Championship and two NCAA Division I regionals. He was elected to the Oklahoma High School Officials Hall of Fame in 2003.

Tug was also an outstanding fast pitch softball player. He was twice named an International Softball Congress All-American, first in 1957 and again in 1967. He was elected to the Oklahoma Softball Hall of Fame in 1981.

He continued his involvement in sports as one of the most successful baseball coaches in Bartlesville American Legion history. In his four years at the helm his teams won 205 games while only losing 51, which is a winning percentage of .801. His teams played in three state title games, winning two of them. The 1978 team was the last Bartlesville American Legion team to win the state championship. That same year Tug’s team came within one game of qualifying for the American Legion World Series.

Tug was employed with Phillips Petroleum Company for 30 years, while he and his wife Phyllis have called Bartlesville home for 49 years. Together they have three children, Steve, Stan and David as well as six grandchildren and one great grandchild.