THOMAS ALLEN HUGHES
TOP OF HIS CLASS
Thomas Allen Hughes, son of Thomas Newton and Mary Priscilla Gilliam Hughes,
was born 1870 in Dancyville, Tennessee. Thomas Allen was an attorney and in the Graduating
class of 1892, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
He was honored by the award of the Founder's Medal, for the University's School of
Law. The Founder's Medal is awarded for the top student in the class. It is further
described below.
Year
School
Recipient
Hometown
1892
Law
Thomas
Allen Hughes
Dancyville, Tenn.
Founder's Medal
Cornelius Vanderbilt's gifts to the University included endowment of this award, given
since 1877 for first honors in each graduating class. The medal is gold.
Obverse. The profile of Cornelious Vanderbilt is
a replica of the one by sculptor Salathiel Ellis on the gold medal that was presented to
the Commodore by action of Congress in 1864 to express the nation’s gratitude for his
gift of his new steamship Vanderbilt to the government during the Civil War
Reverse. The words "Founders Medal for First
Honors" appear on the reverse of the medal with space below for the recipient’s
name and School or College to be engraved.
THE PRECEDING HONORS RECORD IS FROM THE VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY WEB SITE.