Roy A. Riggs
March 24, 1913 ~ August 17, 2001
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Dr. Roy A. Riggs, 88, Emeritus Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Professor Emeritus of Literature and Language at UNCA, died August 17, 2001, at the Hospice Solace Center in Asheville, NC.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, he was a graduate of Ohio State University, earning BA (cum laude), MA and PhD degrees there and being elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After teaching at Ohio State and completing his doctorate, he held
faculty appointments at North Dakota State University and Wayne State College, where he was
Professor of English and Chairman of the Division of Languages.
He was founder and served as President of the Nebraska Conference of the American Association of University Professors.
In 1963 he joined President William Highsmith and the faculty at Asheville-Biltmore College when the North Carolina State Board of
Higher Education, with the approval of Governor Sanford and the support of legislative and community leaders, decided to build a first-class liberal arts college in Asheville. He wrote the
statement of aims and objectives for the new four-year institution.
As Chairman of the Division of Humanities from 1963 to 1967, he was leader in the formulation of the interdisciplinary four-course
sequence in the Humanities which is still required of all degree-seeking students at UNCA
and which has been widely imitated.
As Dean of the Faculty from 1967 to 1971 and as Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs from 1971 to 1978, he was a key figure among those who laid the firm foundation for the strong liberal arts university that UNCA is today.
A veteran of World War II, he entered the army as a private and retired as a colonel, AUS. He served in Europe with General Patton’s Third Army.
His wife of fifty-eight years, Edith Riggs, died in 2000. He is survived by son Gregory Riggs, his wife Kaye and granddaughters
Caroline and Kristen of Atlanta,GA; son Mark Riggs and his wife June of Cary, and daughter Deena Riggs of Asheville; brothers Walter Riggs
and his wife Louise of Marengo, OH, Dr. Harry Riggs of Mount Gilead, OH and Donald Riggs of Columbus, OH; sister Doris Fahrenbach and her
husband Fred of Columbus, OH and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home, 1401 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC at 4:00 pm on Sunday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Roy and Edith Riggs Scholorship Fund, University of North Carolina at Asheville, One University Heights, Asheville, NC 28804.
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Deena, Mark, Greg and Family,
You have our deepest sympathies for the loss of such a dear loved one.
You’re ever in our thoughts and prayers.
Always,
Pam, Steve, Elizabeth,
Jonathan, & Mary Catherine Harvey
Dear Greg, Mark & Deena,
My thoughts, prayers, energy and love are with you as you say goodbye to a very special man. I dearly loved your Dad. He was a true hero among men.
I love you all.
Cheri
Dear Deena, Mark, and Greg,
Such a wonderful, wonderful man. He lived like a
gentleman and maintained that dignity to the very
end. He has left a great big empty spot in this world that
shall remain, as there is no one who could fill his
shoes. May fond memories ease your pain.
My love and prayers .
Madeline
Uncle Roy was ‘one-of-a-kind’, he will be missed at all family gatherings. It is reassuring to know that he and ‘Ain’t’ Edith are together now for all eternity. Cherie
Deena, Mark, and Greg,
I was saddened to hear of the death of your father who was a very important mentor and friend in the early days of my career in higher education.
I have thought many times about the lessons he taught those of us who were young and full of ourselves. Roy was able to see men in boys.
I am honored to have had the opportunity to convey his lessons and values to young faculty over the years. I treasure my memories of Roy and your mother.
Take great comfort in having such fine parents who meant so much to so many.
Bob Trullinger