Hugh Tarpley Prickett, Jr.

Hugh Tarpley Prickett, Jr., 86, died on Friday, January 20, 2023, in Lanham, MD. He was born on July 29, 1936, in Verbena, AL, to Hugh Tarpley and Mary Adeline (Litaker) Prickett. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Bill (Susan) Prickett. Hugh is survived by his wife of thirty-four years, Jeanne Glidden Prickett; daughters Darlene Prickett, Rosanne (Serifo) Bangura, and Rosalyn Prickett; son Robert (Jill Savin) Cook; grandchildren Elizabeth Bangura, Leo Bangura, Molly Cook, Gunther Landmann, Victor Landmann (Melanie), and Heidi Landmann (Alex Strnad); ex-wife Barbara Jo Cook; and brother Jerry (Ruthie) Prickett.

Hugh received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Auburn University, a master’s degree in Education of the Deaf from Appalachian State University (NC), and a doctorate in Educational Administration at the University of Georgia. The proud son of deaf parents, Hugh dedicated his life to the education of deaf children and to preparing teachers of the deaf, especially deaf teachers.

Hugh was the director of the Center on Deafness at Western Maryland College (now known as McDaniel College) in Westminster, MD from 1974 to 1993, where he built the graduate-level deaf education program into a world-renowned one. According to his count, more than 900 teachers were trained in the program through those years, and over half of those were deaf master’s degree graduates.

Hugh served on numerous boards and committees including for the establishment of the interpreter training program at Catonsville Community College (MD) and advocating for eliminating deaf-related bias in standardized testing. He also advocated for deaf-blind children and adults. Hugh is still remembered fondly by his many students over the years who have gone on to be successful teachers and administrators around the country and the world.  

Hugh’s career included serving as an educational leader at schools for the deaf including North Carolina (Morganton), Florida (St. Augustine), and Mississippi (Jackson). After retirement, Hugh moved to Honolulu, HI, where he enjoyed being an American Sign Language interpreter. Hugh continued to interpret in Council Bluffs, IA, before finally retiring after returning to St. Augustine, FL in 2012.  In November 2022 he relocated to Maryland to be near his children and grandchildren.  

Hugh played football for the legendary Verbena High School (AL) team and was proud to be part of their streak of over 50 consecutive undefeated games. Upon graduation in 1954, he served three years as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army Airborne. He was the unit clerk, and proudly recalled being the first one out of the plane on every jump.

Arrangements are through Beall Funeral Home of Bowie, MD at 6512 NW Crain Hwy
Bowie, MD  20715. Cremation will be accorded.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that gifts in Hugh’s memory be directed to an organization for which he was a founding member and about which he was passionate, CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) International Memorial Fund.  For more information, please visit the CODA International website at https://www.coda-international.org.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7