Clyde Griffin Huggins

The Huntsville Times

Mobile, Ala. (November 16, 2003)

Contact: Barbie Oliver, CRNP
USA Medical Genetics, (251) 460-7500, boliver@usouthal.edu

DR. CLYDE G. "SID" HUGGINS DIES AT 81

 Dr. Clyde Griffin Huggins, a charter faculty member and former Dean of Students at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, died Tuesday, Nov. 11 at age 81. As the first Dean of Students at the newly formed College of Medicine in 1972, he played an integral role in developing the curriculum and recruiting faculty and students. Huggins devoted his career to medical education and inspiring future physicians during his lifetime.

"As a builder and a visionary, Dr. Huggins joined our medical school at its very beginning. His legacy is the hundreds of physicians he helped train," said Dr. Robert A. Kreisberg, dean of the USA College of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs. "He was a large part of my decision to join the new medical school. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Huggins."

A native of Watertown, Tenn., Huggins served three years in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, and he was a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. He later received master's degrees in biology and chemistry and a pharmacy degree from University of Mississippi. He went on to earn his doctorate in biochemistry from Tulane University, where he later spent more than a decade as faculty member of the medical school.

In 1988, Huggins retired as professor emeritus from USA and moved to Mandeville, La. During his retirement he became involved with the Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation and served as national president in 1997.

The USA College of Medicine Alumni Association honored him in 1997 with a Distinguished Service Award, and a former student endowed the Clyde G. "Sid" Huggins Scholarship for a rising senior committed to family practice as a career.

Huggins is survived by his wife, Mary Evelyn Cummins and three children: Lydia H. Schmalz (Mrs. Howard M. Schmalz), Peter M. Huggins, and Lisa H. Wilson (Mrs. Peter A. Wilson), and six grandchildren: Matthew Gaines Wilson, Philip Griffin Ranlett Schmalz, Andrew March Wilson, Thomas Pierce Huggins, Dabney De Vaux Huggins, and Peter Anderson Wilson Jr.

The funeral will be held Friday, Nov. 14 at Higgins Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Tenn. A memorial service will be held at a later date at New Covenant Presbyterian Church in Covington, La. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Clyde G. "Sid" Huggins Scholarship Fund, USA College of Medicine, Medical Alumni Office, 247 CSAB, Mobile, AL 36688.

The Huntsville Times,