Class of 1955
Harry
"Rich" Wiggins grew up in Watsonville, attending Mintie White Elementary and E.A. Hall
School prior to his four years at Watsonville High School. As a youth he was active in Scouting, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He was involved in music in high school
and was the President of the Watsonville High Dance Band. He graduated from Watsonville High
School in the class of 1955.
Harry attended California State Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo,
graduating with a B.S. in Printing Engineering in 1959. Concurrent with graduation at "Cal
Poly", he also received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S.
Army through the ROTC program.
His military career as an Infantry Officer included assignments in Korea,
two tours in Vietnam and many assignments in the United States. After graduating from the United States
Army Command and General Staff College, he was stationed with the Embassy in
Manila, Philippines for three years.
From the Philippines he was assigned to the General Staff in the Pentagon
in Washington D.C. where he served four years working on readiness issues with
Army National Guard Commands of all fifty states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands and Guam. While on active
duty, the Army selected him to attend the University of Alabama where he earned
an MBA and Masters in Industrial Relations.
His military awards include the Combat Infantry Badge (only awarded in
combat), paratrooper wings, General Staff Badge, three Commendation Medals, U.S.
Army Air Medal (only awarded in combat), three Bronze Stars, Dept. of Defense
Meritorious Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. He retired in 1984 as a Lieutenant
Colonel.
After retiring from the Army, he began a career managing large Printing
Companies in Alexandria, Virginia and then in San Francisco. For ten years he
has been a consultant specializing in Environment and Government Regulatory
matters.
Harry and his wife, Clarice Giberson, returned to Watsonville in
1991. They are the parents of
Richard Nelson of Phoenix, Arizona and Gina Kennedy of Rome, Italy. They have two
grandsons.
Since returning to Watsonville, Harry has been the Scoutmaster of a Boy
Scout Troop in Pajaro (this Troop was sponsored after a teen-age youth and his
sister were killed in Pajaro). Ten
of these boys have earned their Eagle Rank. He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award,
the highest a volunteer can earn.
He also is involved with the Salvation Army Advisory Board, starting the
"An Evening of Brass" Concert in the Mello Center. He is on the Executive Board of the
Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is responsible for organizing the
community to purchase the U.S. Historical flags and the 50 flags which are on
permanent display in the Mello Center Foyer. He works with community leaders to
organize Veterans Day Ceremonies and helped to organize a special ceremony to
honor police, firemen and paramedics after the 9-11
attack.
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