William Lucas, city liquor official, dead at 92
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
William "Huddy" Lucas, former executive secretary of the Honolulu Liquor Commission and once a chief government lobbyist for changes to state liquor laws, died Feb. 1. He was 92.
Advertiser library photo • 1976
Lucas retired from the liquor commission in April 1976 after 35 years of service. He was executive secretary (now known as administrator) from 1949 to 1976. He was president of the National Association of State Liquor Administrators in 1961.
William "Huddy" Lucas joined the Honolulu Liquor Commission in 1941, at a time when alcohol wasn't sold on Sundays.
Lucas was born on March 29, 1911. He graduated from McKinley High School in 1929 and joined the commission in 1941, at a time when alcohol wasn't sold on Sundays.
"He was one of the nicest, most decent men I've known," said Miliaulani Landgraf, his eldest daughter. "He was my hero."
Landgraf said her father lived in Waimanalo from 1944 and was a member of the Outrigger Canoe Club. She said she never heard her father speak ill of anyone and that his one-liners will be sorely missed.
John Carroll, chief investigator for the liquor commission, said Lucas was respected by everyone on both sides of the liquor industry. "I was amazed by his knowledge of the industry, and we learned a lot from him," Carroll said. "He was known throughout the country."
He is survived by his wife, Frances; daughters, Frances M. Landgraf and Wilma L. Putt; sons, Huddy T. Lucas and Emery Lucas; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Mabel L. Davis.
Service will be tomorrow at St. Andrew's Cathedral. Visitation is from 9 to 10 a.m. Service begins at 10 a.m. Inurnment to follow at noon at O'ahu Cemetery. The family requests aloha attire.
