William J. Hughes

William John "Bill" Hughes (October 17, 1932 – October 30, 2019) was an American politician. He served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1975 to 1995. He represented New Jersey’s Second Congressional District.
After retiring from Congress in 1995, Hughes was appointed by President Bill Clinton as United States Ambassador to Panama, a post he held until October, 1998 leading up to the historic turnover of the Panama Canal to Panama control.
Hughes died on October 30, 2019 in Ocean City, New Jersey, just thirteen days after his 87th birthday.