Procter Ralph Hug Jr. was born on March 11, 1931, in Reno, Nevada. He grew up in the city and attended local schools. He enrolled at the University of Nevada, Reno, and earned a Bachelor of Science in 1953. He joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. After college, he served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1954 to 1955. He then earned a Bachelor of Laws from Stanford Law School in 1958.
Hug returned to Reno and worked in private law practice until 1977. He served as deputy state attorney general of Nevada. He was also general counsel to the Nevada University System from 1972 to 1976. In 1977, he became a civilian aide to the U.S. Secretary of the Army. Later that year, President Jimmy Carter nominated him to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The Senate confirmed him in September 1977. He served as Chief Judge from 1996 to 2000. He assumed senior status in 2002 and retired from active service in 2017.
Hug’s career reflected his long connection to Reno and Nevada. He contributed to local law and education. He served on a national level while maintaining ties to his hometown. Hug died on October 17, 2019, leaving a record of decades of legal and public service.
