Higgins decided to attend Western with his longtime friend Bill Brown (a name that may sound familiar because of the Bill Brown Alumni Football Center on Stadium Drive). They were walk-ons for the freshman football team, and had no idea where it would take them.
Higgins was named the captain of the team in 1952 which led him to the W-Club; a club for Bronco athletes who are letter winners in their chosen sport. He became an officer of the club and was responsible for presenting W-Club rings to graduating seniors. During this time, Higgins was also a proctor for Burnham Hall; a position comparable to a resident assistant.
Of his time at the Western, Higgins describes his favorite memory as the day the Broncos played against Illinois Wesleyan, where he threw four touchdown passes, scored one touchdown himself, and kicked several extra points.
While Higgins had an impressive football career with the Brown and Gold, he had an equally profound impact off the field. Higgins began woodworking as a hobby, and he had no idea that his new pastime would help change lives.
Higgins entered some of his work into an art show in Gulfport, Fla., and was approached by a young girl and her mother who became customers and friends. The girl, Gabby, knew about Higgins’ woodworking experience and asked if he would be willing to help her with a school project; building birdhouses for patients in hospice care.
“Needless to say, it was a worthwhile and rewarding project,” Higgins said. “I was glad and honored to help.”
Higgins’ charitable actions don’t stop there. Higgins recalled a time when he was traveling back to Western with a friend and accidentally ran over a child’s football; something that bothered him for years afterward. Higgins saw an article in the newspaper about a young boy who had lost his father, who was a staunch fan of Florida State, and he got the idea to give back.
“I decided to rectify our error long ago by presenting a needy youngster with a football,” Higgins said.
Higgins kept up the tradition of giving a young girl or boy a football for Christmas for several years. The son of John Gill (Higgins’ football coach at WMU) saw an article about Higgins giving footballs to children in need. He traveled to see Higgins to present him with a check to purchase another ball.
Higgins said that other alumni responded the same way, showing that there are charitable Broncos everywhere.
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Posted by Stan Sulewski