Wayne Hughes (2012) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Wayne Hughes

Induction:
2012
Class:
1957

Wayne Hughes was one of the USC athletic department’s most ardent fans and generous supporters. The 1957 graduate from the USC Marshall School of Business was a successful businessman and racehorse owner and also a dedicated philanthropist. In 1972, he founded Public Storage, the nation’s largest self-storage company. He also was an active real estate investor and in 2011 he founded American Homes 4 Rent, one of the nation’s largest single family rental owners. He owned and bred thoroughbred racehorses since 1972, with his colt Action This Day winning the 2003 Breeders’ Cup and Eclipse Award and his colt Authentic winning the 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup. Since 2004, he operated historic Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky. He is involved in numerous charitable activities, including with the Parker Hughes Cancer Center. He died on Aug. 18, 2021, at age 87.