[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 105 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE HARRY WIGGINS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 2004

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I inform the House 
of Representatives of the passing of my friend, The Honorable Harry 
Wiggins of Kansas City, Missouri. He was 71.
  Harry, a son of Dr. John and Helen Murphy Wiggins, was born in Kansas 
City, Missouri, on August 1, 1932. He spent the entirety of his life in 
Kansas City, attending grade and high schools and then Rockhurst 
College. Harry achieved many honors while at Rockhurst. He was elected 
the president of the student body. He joined Alpha Delta Gamma 
fraternity and was president of his chapter and then national president 
three times. When he was a senior he was chosen to be a member and 
served as president of the university chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, the 
National Jesuit honor society. He also was selected for Who's Who in 
American Colleges and Universities. After he graduated from Rockhurst 
College with an AB, he was awarded a three year scholarship to attend 
law school at St. Louis University.
  From 1957 to 1959, Harry served in the United States Army as a legal 
advisor to the 2nd United States Army Missile Command at Fort Hood, 
Texas. Upon his discharge, he received a Certificate of Achievement for 
Distinguished Service.
  After his discharge, he came back home to Kansas City and began to 
practice law. Soon he became a part of John F. Kennedy's 1960 
presidential campaign, serving as Kansas City's chairman for the 
campaign. It was during this time that he met and became good friends 
with Robert F. Kennedy. Once John F. Kennedy became president, Robert 
Kennedy became United States Attorney General and then appointed Harry 
as the assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. He 
held this position for over five years and during his tenure he handled 
cases involving federal grand jury probes into organized crime. During 
his tenure, he also prosecuted a group of liquor and prostitution 
cases. Then Governor Warren Hearnes appointed Harry as state supervisor 
of liquor control. After serving as state supervisor of liquor control 
from 1967 to 1970, he returned to Kansas City to run for western judge 
of Jackson County and won.
  In 1973, Governor Kit Bond asked Harry to serve in his administration 
as general counsel for the Public Service Commission. After holding 
this post for a year, he came back to Kansas City in 1974 to run for 
the 10th District seat in the Missouri Senate against a two-term 
Republican incumbent. Harry won by 6,000 votes and would be elected six 
more times. After serving 28 years in the Missouri Senate, Harry 
retired in 2002. During his time in the Missouri Senate, he was Kansas 
City's first majority floor leader from 1980 to 1984. He never missed a 
roll call vote during his tenure--logging a total of more than 17,000 
consecutive roll call votes.
  Harry's legislative record is a testament to his commitment to public 
service. During his time in the Missouri Senate, he had many 
legislative accomplishments including the creation of 911 emergency 
calling, laws requiring DNA profiling of convicted felons, anti 
methamphetamine legislation that would become a national model, 
legislation to fund and protect the Truman Sports Complex, the 
establishment of the Parents as First Teachers Program, which would 
become a national model, and many others.
  Mr. Speaker, Senator Harry Wiggins will be greatly missed by all who 
knew him. I know the Members of the House will join in extending 
heartfelt condolences to his family.

                          ____________________