Exhibit 5.1
June 29, 2000
Hughes Supply, Inc.
20 North Orange Avenue
Suite 200
Orlando, Florida 32801
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8
Gentlemen:
I am general counsel of Hughes Supply, Inc., a Florida corporation (the
"Company"). I am furnishing this opinion in connection with the registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") of an aggregate of 100,000
shares of its common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), to
be offered and sold by the Company pursuant to the Hughes Supply, Inc.
Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").
I have examined and am familiar with the Plan, copies of the Restated
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company, the Registration
Statement, and such other corporate records and documents as I deemed necessary
to form the basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed. In my examination of
such material, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the
authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, and the conformity
to the original documents of all copies submitted to me. As to questions of fact
material to such opinion, I have relied upon statements of officers and
representatives of the Company and others.
Based on the foregoing, it is my opinion that the shares of Common
Stock being registered will, when issued in accordance with the Plan, be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock of the Company.
I hereby consent to the reference to me in the Registration Statement
and as an attorney who will pass on the legal matters in connection with the
offering and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Benjamin P. Butterfield
Benjamin P. Butterfield
