Carroll Fugate, 78, died on Saturday.  He served as Perry County Judge Executive from 1978 until 1981.  He also served one term as a magistrate.  Fugate fought to have the KRADD building constructed in Hazard and also played a part in the building of the Hazard Nursing Home.  As County Judge, he approved funding to purchase Hazard’s first ladder fire truck and was involved in the construction of the Perry County Park and the county pool.  The county’s first recycling plant was also built during his term in office.  Fugate is the father-in-law of well known Hazard businessman Buddy Turner with Turner Brothers Car Care.

 

Judge Fugate sometimes enjoyed the gag of dressing as Boss Hogg from the “Dukes of Hazzard” television show during the height of its popularity. The white suit, Stetson hat, and shoes were a gift from county employees. The hat was usually mounted on the wall of Fugate’s office in the Perry County Court House. He once drove his white Cadillac to the Circle T Restaurant for dinner. He also appeared in costume at a KRADD meeting. In 1980 Judge Fugate attended the grand opening of the East Kentucky Beverage Recycling Center in full Boss Hogg attire. As for the “Dukes of Hazzard,” the judge said he watched the show each week and thoroughly enjoyed it. “There was a moral to every story ... Uncle Jesse was a good man,” Fugate said. “He tried to show Bo and Luke how to be good young men.” Judge Fugate once received a letter addressed to: The Duke Boys and Boss Hogg, Hazard County, fan mail from a six-year old boy from Knoxville. Fugate said he wrote a nice letter back to the youngster. The Montreal Examiner once contacted Judge Fugate to find out what Hazard was really like. The newspaper ran a front page picture of the judge dressed as Boss Hogg. In 1980, WHAS-TV in Louisville visited Perry County to report on any similarities between the “Dukes of Hazzard” and Hazard, KY.

He is survived by his wife: Lillie Fugate of Hazard, one daughter: Carolyn Sue Turner, three sons: Tony Fugate; Tom Fugate and Ted Fugate all of Hazard.; one brother David Fugate of Hazard, seven grandchildren and nine grandchildren.  The funeral for Carroll Fugate was held at Maggard’s Mountain View Chapel today.