Former USF provost Carl Riggs dies at 81

The researcher and administrator spent 25 years pumping up the university's academic affairs.

By JAY CRIDLIN
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 2, 2002

When Carl Riggs was approached by then-University of South Florida president Cecil Mackey to oversee the university's academic affairs, his response was simple.

"Sir," he said, "I've never heard of the University of South Florida."

Mr. Riggs spent the next 25 years working to make USF an institution that professors everywhere would recognize.

Mr. Riggs, a former provost and acting president at USF, died Sunday (Sept. 29, 2002). He was 81.

"He was probably one of the most respected administrators and faculty members that we've had," said USF provost David Stamps. "He had very high standards. He made sure that other people lived up to those standards. But he was able to do it in a way that people continued to respect him."

Mr. Riggs' career in academia spanned more than half a century. He received three degrees in zoology from the University of Michigan and served as an aviation cadet in the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1942-44.

Prior to coming to Tampa, he spent 23 years at the University of Oklahoma. He was a renowned zoologist, publishing numerous books and articles.

When Mr. Riggs arrived, USF had no structured policies for research, faculty tenure and salaries, and no graduate studies. By the time he retired, he had established them all.

In 1977, Mr. Riggs replaced Mackey as acting president until John Lott Brown took over in 1978.

Mr. Riggs remained active in the college's academic affairs. He became dean of the graduate school and coordinator of university research in 1980 and director of the center for excellence in 1983.

He was active in many community activities, serving as a member of the board of directors of the Boy Scouts of America and the Florida Foundation for Future Scientists.

Mr. Riggs retired from USF in 1996.

His survivors include his wife, Patricia; two sons and one daughter. USF will hold a memorial service at 10 a.m. Oct. 12 in the ballroom of the Marshall Center.

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