2017 February PASO Magazine

Local Real Estate Agent / Broker and Rancher Will be Honored at
Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala on February 11
HUGH PITTS IS THE 2016 ROBLAN OF THE YEAR
H
"Paso Robles has a welcoming
atmosphere, it’s a nice,
friendly town, and I am happy
to be part of this community.”
ugh Pitts will be the guest of honor as
the community and members of the Paso
Robles Chamber of Commerce officially announce
him as the 2016 Roblan of the Year at the Annual
Gala on Feb. 11 at the Paso Robles Inn Ballroom.
“We are delighted to honor Hugh Pitts as the
2016 Roblan of the Year,” said Gina M Fitzpatrick,
President/CEO of the Paso Robles Chamber of
Commerce. “Hugh’s extensive volunteerism, coupled
with his dedication to keeping agriculture alive
in Paso Robles and reminding us of our roots, makes
him a pillar in our community and very worthy of
this prestigious award.”
Hugh, a Broker/Associate Realtor with RE/
MAX Parkside Real Estate, was nominated for the
honor by his friend and fellow real estate professional,
Elissa Williams.
“Hugh quietly does so much in our community,”
said Elissa. “He barbecues for so many events and
organizations, and donates his time and money to
help various organizations, youth, and friends. He is
just a low-key, nice guy – one of the nicest guys you’ll
ever know – and he’s always willing to help.”
GROWING UP YEARS
He was born to Hugh Sr. and Aniela Pitts in
Houston, Texas. The second oldest of four children,
he grew up with his sister Linda and brothers, Frank
and Jeff. In the early 1960’s, Hugh Sr. used his signing
bonus from the Houston Oilers football team
to purchase his first piece of property in East Texas.
The siblings worked alongside their dad on the
properties that he would purchase, improve, and sell.
It wasn’t all work, though – they mixed in a lot of
hunting and fishing during these weekends!
Hugh played baseball and football as a youngster
and during his years at Cypress Fairbanks High
School. He worked for a framing contractor, a plumbing
contractor, at a welding shop in the maintenance
department, and was involved in vocational ag.
Hugh attended Blinn Junior College and studied
Agriculture Business before earning a bachelor’s
degree from Texas Christian University (TCU). He
was a walk-on at TCU during his junior year; he
played football for the Horned Frogs for two years
as a deep snap center on offense and was a member
of the kick-off and kick-off return teams. Hugh
earned his welder certification, worked at Tapco
International and graduated from the TCU Ranch
Management Program. Nowadays, he tries to attend
at least two or three TCU football games annually.
FAMILY, RANCH & REAL ESTATE
Hugh and his wife Leslie, whose family has lived
in Paso Robles since the 1950’s, dated long distance
for three years before he moved to the area and they
married at St. James Episcopal Church 31 years ago.
They are the parents of Adelaida, 29, and Devon, 26.
Their daughters attended Templeton High School
and graduated from their mother’s alma mater, Cal
Poly SLO.
In 1986, Hugh and Leslie had the opportunity
to lease the ranch that her family had owned since
1957. They purchased part of the late Ray Samp’s
commercial Charolais cow herd, 60 two-year-old
English crossed heifers from Kootch Hillman, and
started raising commercial beef cattle. They live on
the Chimney Rock Ranch, just west of Paso Robles,
where Leslie is the ranch manager and they maintain
a hunt club that has been active for 40+ years.
ASSOCIATIONS, AWARDS, & ACCOLADES
Among his many community involvements,
Hugh is the Past President and Director of the
Adelaida Land Owners Protective Association,
member and Past Chairman of the Adelaida Farm
Center, member of the California Mid-State Fair
Heritage Foundation Board, and the Past President
and Director of the Paso Robles Trail Ride. He is a
member of the California Cattlemen’s Association,
Past President and member of the San Luis Obispo
County Farm Bureau board, and received the 2008
Freddy of the Year Award for Outstanding Service
to Agriculture and the Farm Bureaus.
He hosts the Annual Farm Bureau/Foundation
for Ag Awareness Crab Feed, an event that raises
scholarship funds for CMSF participants. His
awards and affiliations are numerous, including:
2016 Agriculturalist of the Year (Awarded by CA
State Board of Equalization and the CMSF). Hugh
is a SLO County Sheriff's Advisory Council member,
a SLO County Williamson Act Review Committee
board member, and a lifetime member of the
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National
Rifle Association.
Since joining the RE/MAX Parkside team in
2000, Hugh has remained a top agent, specializing
in the farms, ranches, vineyards, acreage and luxury
estates of the Adelaida area and the Westside. His
licensed assistant of 14 years, Kaye Dee Rickerd, said
Hugh has received numerous awards for achieving
yearly sales volumes and has been named several
times on the Top Producers list for the top 100
producers in the RE/MAX CA/Hawaii Region. He
has been named to the RE/MAX Hall of Fame, the
Executive Club, the 100% Club, and was named Top
Producer, earned a Lifetime Achievement Award,
and the Above the Crowd Award. In addition, he
has earned a spot in the RE/MAX Platinum Club
and proudly oversee the barbecue for the annual
RE/MAX client appreciation party.
Hugh enjoys meeting his buddies and colleagues
for lunch at many of the restaurants in downtown
Paso. Annually, 20 of his friends from Texas, SLO,
and Paso gather for an Alaskan fishing trip. In his
office, a photo of Hugh with his 230-pound halibut
catch is displayed alongside numerous photos of his
family, friends, his hunting and trail ride buddies,
and numerous awards.
Finding out about his Roblan of the Year award
came as a “complete shock” to Hugh. “I had no clue,”
he said. “When I received the call I was really surprised
and I am humbled by all of this attention. I’ve
watched Paso Robles evolve over the last 30 years; it
keeps growing and the Chamber has done a great
job with keeping up with that growth. Paso Robles
has a welcoming atmosphere, it’s a nice, friendly
town, and I am happy to be part of this community.”
- By Meagan Friberg
12 PASO Magazine, February 2017