William Daniel Hughes

“Go back there. No way!”

William Hughes is a man who loves anything western. In fact, many people only know him by his nickname, “Cowboy.” The wagon wheel outside of his house in Bel Air shows the world that this is William’s home, which he shares with an old friend. Now retired, William has been a hard worker all his life, especially since he moved back to Harford County in the early 1980’s. A proud man, William never saw himself sitting still. When he first retired from janitorial and food service work, William volunteered with Meals on Wheels, receiving a 5 year certificate and pin for his service to the community.  Health issues may have slowed him down, but William is still a man to be reckoned with.

Unfortunately, William was not always free to make these life choices. He lived in the Rosewood Center from 1942 (age 10) until 1973 after being given up by his family. He then moved to the Henryton Center in Carroll County where he remained until 1983. Forty-one years locked away in state institutions.

William doesn’t like to talk about those days. He is a man of few, but well chosen words. “I didn’t like it” is his usual response. And what does he have to say to people who think that institutions should be available as options for individuals with disabilities: “Go back there …no way!”