Hank Riggs

Feb. 25, 1935–June 10, 2015

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Harvey Mudd College’s Third President

Henry E. (“Hank”) Riggs, past president of Harvey Mudd College, former vice president for development at Stanford University, founder and first president of Keck Graduate Institute, died at his home in Palo Alto on June 10, after a brief illness. His wife and children were at his side. A memorial service is planned for June 23 at 2:30 pm in the Arrillaga Alumni Center on the Stanford campus.

Riggs had a remarkable career as entrepreneur, professor, writer, and leader in higher education. He continually sought out challenges and his vision fundamentally shaped every institution with which he was involved. Throughout his life, his abiding passion was for teaching, and he taught up until a few weeks before his death. He will be remembered for his immense talent, enduring vision, uncompromising integrity and enormous generosity.

After graduating from Stanford in 1957 and Harvard Business School in 1960, Riggs worked as president of Icore Industries and chief financial officer of Measurex Corporation. He began teaching part-time at Stanford in 1967 and joined the faculty full-time in 1974. His best-known course at Stanford was Industrial Accounting (IE 133). From 1978 to 1983 he was chair of the Stanford Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management Department. He held the Thomas W. Ford professorship in the school of engineering. In 1980, he received Stanford’s highest award for excellence in teaching (the Walter J. Gores Award). As he biked through campus to class, he cut quite a figure in his suit and signature bow-tie.

Riggs was named president of Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, in 1988. During his nine years as president, the College expanded its campus, increased enrollment and endowment, and launched new departments in biology and computer science. He and his wife, Gayle, enriched the Harvey Mudd community through a very personal care and commitment to each constituency, strengthening the bonds of the College community. Each received the Harvey Mudd Alumni Association’s Honorary Alumni Award in 1997, and Riggs received an honorary doctorate from the College in 2006.

Riggs’ early career as a Silicon Valley entrepreneur left him convinced that colleges and universities need to be more flexible and entrepreneurial to serve their students and the public good. In 1997, Hank founded the seventh Claremont College, the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences (KGI). He served as the institution’s first president until 2003. His vision for KGI was based on his belief that life sciences would dominate the 21st century and that new institutions were needed to educate future leaders in this field.

Riggs wrote books and articles on accounting, management and finance for students and the general public. His influential 2011 New York Times op-ed “The Price of Perception” challenged the practices by which top-tier colleges set tuition rates. He also served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards.

In his personal life Riggs had two great loves: his family and travel. He and his wife, Gayle, saw much of the world from their bicycles and Eurovan. At age 70, Riggs bought his first boat, “It’s About Time,” and became a skilled captain. Five years later, he solo-captained his boat to Alaska and back.

Riggs was raised in Hinsdale, Illinois, the youngest child of Joseph and Gretchen Riggs. He met Gayle Carson when they were both undergraduates at Stanford and they married in 1958. He is survived by his loving wife Gayle Riggs; his sister Ruth Wendel; his children Betsy McCarthy (Andy) of Seattle; Peter Riggs (Kathleen) of Harstine Island, Washington; Katie Riggs (John) of Burlingame; and six grandchildren: Sarah, Christopher, Carson, Molly, Sam and Gretchen.

Memories of Hank Riggs

Kate Sims-Drew ’00

My college president

Even though I only overlapped with Hank Riggs for one year at Mudd, he made a lasting impression on me. He always went out of his way to get to know the students on a personal level. It was an honor to know him.

David Galas

Colleague and Friend

I met Hank Riggs when he called me to ask if would be interested in helping him start a new kind of educational institution in Claremont. He painted an exciting new picture that fit well with my views and inclinations about how to bring the benefits of the life sciences to society, and we met to discuss the establishment of what became KGI, the Keck Graduate Institute. I quickly realized what an extraordinary person Hank was, imaginative, determined, completely honest and passionate about the possibilities, intensely interested in the future, and the leaders of the future. I came to value both his judgment, his deep integrity, and his dedication to education and to the students he affected. He became a dear friend as we worked hard to forge his initial vision into reality, and I realized how wonderful he must have been in his role as president of Harvey Mudd for the decade before I knew him. Hank Riggs was always aware of the effect of what he did on the people involved, and especially the students he touched. I recall clearly those moments when he would stop to ask, will this really be best for the students? Can we do something better? The students he touched are his true legacy, but he left his mark on many. I will remember him warmly as a friend and colleague of extraordinary value. Many will miss him. I certainly will.

Rachel Bittker ’93

HMC Alumni

In addition to being a great president to HMC in the usual ways on thinks of, I wanted to share this: When I was new to HMC as a freshman, we had quite an earthquake with the epicenter very near HMC. I recall feeling quite uneasy, since this was my first earthquake and I was so newly launched from home/childhood. I also recall Pres. and Mrs. Riggs walking around campus talking to students who had gathered outside on lawns to reassure us. Their caring presence really helped. Thank you for leading HMC so well and taking such good care of us students!

Wah L Lim

HMC President's Advisory Committee member and later HMC Trustee

My sincere condolences to President Riggs’ family.

He was the main reason for my 25 years’ involvement with HMC.

My memory of President Riggs was his calm demeanor, his visions for HMC and his ever present bow-tie. Until he came along, my participations with HMC were limited to hiring of summer interns and funding of clinics. Through him, I joined the President’s Advisory Committee and my association with HMC flourished. He was a visionary, always expected nothing but the best of HMC’s standing among institutions of higher learning and in society. He took what the legendary President Platt left us and created an even better place for HMC students. The great foundation he left for his successors enabled them to continue the grand traditions and to build one of the best institutions not just in the US but the world.

I was sadden when he left to start Keck but happy that he remained within Claremont. I admired his pioneering spirit, willingness to be a trail blazer and left a great legacy at all the institutions he touched. His passing is a great loss to us all.

Rest in peace my friend.

Todd Arris

Student of IE133 (1988) and family friend

Professor Riggs was one of my favorite professors at Stanford – not sure how he made accounting so interesting! I remember the last course lecture – on how to tie a bowtie!

I was always amazed by his energy, intellignence and success in his various endeavours. I particularly liked his NYT article on the cost (price) of a college education – classic Hank insight. We will all miss him- especially at the annual Witte-Riggs Holiday cookie and soup party.
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The world and higher education is in a much better place because of Hank Riggs.