Column:

Huggans lives life to the fullest

Huggans suggests taking the spice out of life over settling down.

By Jacob Houska

Published March 5, 2009

Sitting by himself in his room, looking at a photo of himself in college 50 years ago, Jack Huggans has seen it all. He's been a student, a dropout, a playboy, a father, a husband, a divorcee, a fraternity member and, his latest, a fraternity director.

Now, at 71 years young, Huggans has time to look back and be proud of where he's been, for better or for worse.

"I've had a really good life," Huggans said. "And I've had an enjoyable life. No great accomplishments, but I've always known how to have a good time."

Huggans uses the lessons he's learned through trial and error to provide guidance for young men on campus serving as House Director, or "House Dad," for three different fraternities. He knows what it's like to go to MU and go through the Greek system, and he knows what it's like to "major in partying," as Huggans put it. Accordingly, he also knows the trend of events that can cause a misguided student to eventually become a misguided dropout.

"I went to Mizzou, was in Delta Chi fraternity, and dropped out after two years," Huggans said. "But in my group, I was still always the leader."

Why he was the leader, he doesn't know, but regardless, it's what has allowed him to see success despite a stint in college that didn't go so well, at least from an academic standpoint.

He had another stint that didn't go so well, one that is impossible for him to forget and even harder not to learn a tough lesson from.

"I was married for 40 years," Huggans said. "The first 35 weren't too bad, but the last five weren't worth a damn."

After this endeavor, Huggans said he learned that nothing could be taken for granted. He also found the key to happiness is seeing the world, not finding a place and a lifestyle to settle into for good.

"I really enjoy going places, whether it's the Cotton Bowl, the Alamo Bowl, a house directors' conference or a cruise to Cozumel," Huggans said. "I love to travel."

But not every experience has been a positive one for Huggans. When it came to raising his kids he might not have realized at the time, but looking back, he knows he had generous room for improvement.

"If there's one thing I'm least proud of in my life, it's that I really wasn't a good father to my three daughters," Huggans said, losing the smile caused by talking about the fun he's had. "I definitely could have been a better father."

For every unfortunate event, there is a silver lining. In Huggans' case, the silver lining of his unfulfilling fatherhood is the motivation to be a father figure for young men at MU in need of a little direction.

"At first, I didn't think I would have the patience to deal with a house full of 18- to 22-year-olds," Huggans said. "But after meeting the first group that wanted me to move in, they seemed like a bunch of good guys, so I decided to help them out."

He originally became Delta Chi's house dad, and enjoyed his two-year stay with them. He said they were nice guys, and he was pleased to be treated with respect.

But then he moved over to Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and didn't like it quite as much.

"That was a wild bunch there," Huggans said chuckling. But now, three years into his stay at my fraternity house, Alpha Kappa Lambda, he has found a little bit of both worlds.

"We got a bunch of really great guys, we really do," Huggans said. "Not necessarily all of them, but almost."

Retiring in a fraternity house hasn't always been an ideal lifestyle for Huggans, as there are quite a few drawbacks for a man his age living with guys 50 years younger than him.

"You lose some sleep, but I take naps to catch up," Huggans said.

Important to keep from going insane with such an age difference and so many living conditions that aren't ideal for a senior citizen, is staying active, Huggans explained.

"I have a real active life by choice, because living in the fraternity house keeps me right in the middle of things," Huggans said. "I have more fun now than I've ever had before."

Without his easy-going temperament, Huggans wouldn't be half as happy in his current situation. He deals with water leaking through his ceiling, stereos bumping above him at ridiculous hours and a fried-food diet that is suited little better for a 20 year-old than a 71 year-old.

But when asked about any drawbacks to his living situation, Huggans offered one complaint.

"Well, I've had problems with my DirecTV," he said. "But that's about it."