Gene George Emerson Hubbard

Sadly, Downey has lost one of its legends of days gone by. Gene George Emerson Hubbard, “Skip”, passed away on Feb 12, 2026, at home with his wife by his side in Brookings, Oregon.

Skip graduated from Downey High School in 1957. He played Guard for the HS Football team and received All-Coast League Selections in 1956. He went on to play Guard for Long Beach City College, and in 1960 after an undefeated 10-0 season, their team won the National Championship, defeating Texas Tyler 38-16 in the Junior Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Skip also attended the Arizona State University, played defense for the Sun Devils football team, and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternities.

Skip opened his Downey menswear retail store, Hubbard and Brumley, on August 12, 1964. At his leisure, Skip enjoyed the sailor’s life in beautiful California. In 2004, Skip and Cecelia retired to Minnesota, and 15 years later they relocated to Oregon.

Skip leaves behind his wife, Cecelia, of 36 years of marriage, one daughter, Kelly, with three grandsons, three granddaughters, three great-grandsons and three great-granddaughters, one stepson, Patrick, with four step-grandsons and two stepgranddaughters, his sister Jorlaine Cunningham of Laguna Beach, California, with two nephews and one niece, and one grandnephew and five grandnieces.

There will be a Celebration of Life in Newport Beach on Friday, May 1st from 2-5pm. Email jcunningham949@gmail.com for more details.