Mr. Higgs is a native of Ladonia, Texas where he attended elementary and junior high school. He later attended and graduated from Center Point High School located in Pittsburg, Texas. Following high school, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served in Japan and Korea from 1950 to 1952. He received an honorable discharge from the service and enrolled in Prairie View A&M College on the G.I. Bill. He later earned the Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Mathematics and Business Administration.
Upon graduation with the Bachelor’s degree, George began employment with the University in records and food service management. He later received his teaching license and became a mathematics instructor in the Waller Independent School District where he taught at the high school level for Prairie View High School and then Waller High School, following integration. He was later promoted to Assistant Principal at Waller High School and the Federal Programs Director, a position he held until his retirement in 1988. He also taught part-time at Prairie View A&M University in the Department of Mathematics.
During his teaching era, Mr. Higgs also served as the Treasurer/Manager of the Prairie View Federal Credit Union and was responsible for building the credit union building on University Drive.
His love of his alma mater drove him to become active in the alumni association. Here, he served as President of the PVAMU National Alumni Association and was the first Executive Director. During his tenure spearheaded the establishment NAA life membership drive, enrolling a total of 300 members within the first two month period. He is also responsible for the establishment of the PVAMU National Alumni Association Teacher Education Endowed Scholarship Fund, providing some of the initial funding for the scholarship by donating the proceeds of a retirement dinner held in his honor. Mr. Higgs was personally instrumental in acquiring the Alumni House (national headquarters building) for the NAA in November 1990. He went on to spearhead the drive that paid off the mortgage in May 1996. Mr. Higgs was honored with the Executive Director Emeritus title of the association and the naming of the headquarters in 2001.
Mr. Higgs held memberships and offices in the following: Chairman of the Board, Prairie View Federal Credit Union Board of Directors; member/former treasurer, Hempstead-PV Alumni Chapter; Prairie View Local Alumni; President, Class of 1956; life member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Phi Delta Kappa; and the All Faiths Chapel Advisory Board. Mr. Higgs is also a member of the Mt. Corinth Baptist Church in Hempstead, Texas. He has received numerous awards and honors over the years, including PVAMU NAA’s most prestigious award, the Prometheus Award (only awarded once, every five years).
He was married to the former Hattie Olivette Jackson (deceased) of Arkansas and from that union they produced two children, Cherie (Calvin Singleton) and Marcus (Amecia Smith), who gave him three grandchildren Carlton E. and Calvin Clinton, III Singleton and Morgan Alicia Higgs. Left to cherish his memory, along with his children and grandchildren, are a host of relatives, friends and colleagues.
Condolences may be sent to: The George E. Higgs Family c/o Singleton & Sons Funeral Home 627 New Orleans St Hempstead, TX 77445 (979) 826-2425
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