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After graduation from Old Dominion University, Joe began his first teaching position at Fork Union Military Academy in 1971.

He taught World Geography and World History. As Assistant Planetarium Director, he used his Astronomy and Planetarium education to offer planetarium programs at the FUMA Planetarium and sponsored the Astronomy Club. He was a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society.

Joe and his brother Jim on a visit to FUMA:

Joe was Tactical Officer for E Company, housed in Memorial Hall Barracks, seen in the background of the next photo. Cadets are seen formed up on the circle. One-half of Memorial Hall, in the foreground, housed C Company; the other half of the building housed E Company.

(Some photos/videos are provided courtesy of FUMA)

KEVIN C. KOONTZ, CAPTAIN OF

E COMPANY

KEVIN KOONTZ - OBITUARY

CAPT KOONTZ WAS LATER SUCEEDED BY STOVER S. JAMES.

E COMPANY WON COMPANY COMPETITON FOR 1971-72; AND THE COMPANY WAS INFORMALLY KNOWN AS THE "JAMES GANG."

STOVER WAS LATER ACCEPTED INTO WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY. HE IS NOW RETIRED FROM THE U.S. ARMY, WITH THE RANK OF COLONEL.

T.H. LINEBERRY WAS LIEUTENANT OF

3RD PLATOON,

E COMPANY.

FUMA is fortunate to have a Spitz instrument. It is well known that if an institution could not afford a Zeiss Planetarium, the next best was the Spitz. It has high grade optics, much better than other brands; and the dome is constructed without any seams showing during a presentation.

School groups often attended programs in the planetarium:

Photos of Academic Dean and President when Joe was at FUMA:

Fork Union celebrated their 121st Anniversary in 2019

IT'S MORNING AT FORK UNION - AN INTRODUCTION TO FUMA BY A FORMER PRESIDENT

THE FORK UNION EXPERIENCE

WHAT SETS FUMA APART

As a former Instructor at FUMA who used the One Subject Plan, I highly recommend it to any parent thinking of sending their son there. They will not be disappointed in the excellent education their son will receive. I found the student-to-teacher ratio was more efficient and the cadets learned more by staying focused on one subject. My highest recommendation.

-Joe Hughes

Several videos provide information about the school, courtesy of FUMA:

THE ONE SUBJECT PLAN

THE FORK UNION ONE SUBJECT PLAN

THE FORK UNION MILITARY ACADEMY STORY

RETAN RIFLES is named in memory of former Cadet George Retan, who entered FUMA in 1937 and graduated in 1941. He served overseas and was killed in action in 1944.

RETAN RIFLES AT FUMA - AN INTRODUCTION

CADET IN RETAN RIFLES PERFORMS ROUTINE.

TWO CADETS IN RETAN RIFLES PERFORM ROUTINE.

MORNING COLORS FORMATION

CPT LAZIZZA CONDUCTS THE FUMA BAND IN THE DECEMBER 15, 1971 CHRISTMAS CONCERT:

FUMA CHRISTMAS BAND CONCERT - DECEMBER 1971 - RECORDED BY CPT JOE HUGHES

FUMA BAND CHRISTMAS CONCERT PROGRAM

More information about Susie Payne Cooper (mentioned in above FUMA marker); obituary, death certificate, gravestone in the Fork Union Memorial Cemetery: