[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 212 (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO DR. HENRY W. WIGGINS, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 16, 2025

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Dr. Henry W. Wiggins, Jr., a physician, honorable veteran, civic 
leader, and social activist.
  Dr. Henry W. Wiggins, Jr. was born on March 18, 1933, in Clearfield, 
Pennsylvania, to Henry and Janie Wiggins. He graduated with honors from 
Clearfield High School (Class of 1951) and lettered in track, football, 
and basketball. He then attended Franklin & Marshall College in 
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology 
(Class of 1955). Following Franklin & Marshall, Dr. Wiggins attended 
medical school at Howard University (Class of 1959), which was followed 
by an internship in internal medicine and radiology at University 
Hospital at the University of Iowa.
  Dr. Wiggins admirably served our country in the United States Navy as 
Chief Radiologist and Lieutenant Commander at Naval Hospital Bremerton 
in Bremerton, Washington. Following his military service, Dr. Wiggins 
served as a radiologist at Michael Reese Hospital, Mercy Hospital, 
Provident Hospital, Roseland Community Hospital, and St. Bernard 
Hospital, where he also served as Chair of the Radiology Department and 
as a member of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Wiggins also served as 
faculty at the University of Chicago Medical School.
  In 1965, Dr. Wiggins marched from Selma to Montgomery in protest of 
voting rights discrimination. An essay he wrote about that experience 
expressed both his fear in facing such hatred and racism as he joined 
others in that march, and his bravery--knowing that it was his 
responsibility to ``stand up and be counted'' as people were denied the 
right to vote. He was always a man of principle who believed in doing 
the right thing, even when it was hard. Personally, Dr. Wiggins was a 
global traveler, an avid golfer, and until the very end, a die-hard 
Chicago Bears and Chicago Bulls fan. He was quite the bookworm, and 
there was not a day that went by that he did not complete the crossword 
puzzle or watch his two favorite shows, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
  Dr. Wiggins was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Wiggins, Sr. 
and Janie Wiggins, and by his siblings, Frances Sellers, Steward 
Wiggins, Nancy Brown, and Margaret Wiggins. He is survived by his wife, 
Carolyn; his children, Kay Lucas, Juliana Echols (Bryan), Lee Anne 
Young (Carl), and Henry Wiggins (Jennifer); and his siblings, Anna 
Wiggins, Sarah Mitchell, Mary Jane Wiggins, and Elizabeth ``Libbi'' 
Graves. He was also the joyful ``PaPa'' to ten grandchildren and two 
great-grandchildren. He leaves behind many nieces, nephews, friends, 
colleagues, and even strangers who benefited from his generosity and 
kindness.
  Dr. Wiggins peacefully breathed his final breath on November 16, 
2025, with his family by his side. They will carry forward his spirit, 
values, and devotion to community.

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