LAKELAND - Dr. Dennis Higgins, 62, passed away on April 18, 2009 of heart failure.
Born January 27, 1947, he was the son of the late Ralph L. Higgins and Mary Kilmer Higgins.
He was a Vietnam War veteran. He proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1972 and held the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base in Miami, Florida and Yozidake Air Force Base in Okinawa.
He received his Master's Degree from the University of South Florida in August of 1974, an Ed.S degree from the University of Florida in June, 1976 and a Doctorate from the University of Georgia in March 1986.
He retired from the Polk County School Board in August of 2006. His professional career spanned over thirty years. During his tenure, he was employed by the Polk, Hillsborough and Pinellas School System as well as the Cobb County School District in Georgia. He began his career as a classroom teacher and served in several leadership roles as Principal/Supervisor. From 1991 to 1996, he was the Supervisor of Exceptional Student Education. From 1996 to 2004, he held the position of Director of Alternative Education. From July 2004, until his retirement in 2006, he served as Senior Director of Alternative Education.
He was a member of several organizations including the Florida Association of School Administrators, Polk Association of School Administrators, Council for Exceptional Children, Council for Children with Behavior Disorders, Boy Scouts of America - District 6 Committee (Scout Master and District Vice-Chairman), Polk County Juvenile Justice Council - District Representative 1997.
He was a member of Phi Theta Kappa - Honor Society at St. Petersburg Junior College and received the Timucua District Boy Scouts of America Award of Merit in 1987.
His hobbies during his retirement years included working in his yard and tending to his numerous plants and flowers. He enjoyed fishing and spending time reading and writing articles. He was both a history and a civil war buff. He was an avid football fan. He loved to spend time with his friends discussing politics and current events. He was known for his story-telling and great sense of humor. He loved animals and enjoyed the companionship of his three dogs.
Dennis is survived by his loving wife and companion of 35 years, Cathy Higgins, son John Higgins of Mulberry and daughter Danilynn Higgins Torres and son-in-law Reynaldo Torres. He also leaves behind his sister Bobbi Jeffries of Clearwater, Florida and niece Jacquelyn Kraig of Clearwater, Florida. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. "Good night sweet prince and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".
Memorial services will be held 4:00 pm Friday at the Mulberry First Assembly of God. Final resting place will be the Florida National Military Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.
Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Dukes-Steen Chapel, Lakeland.
Published in The Ledger April 22, 2009
Born January 27, 1947, he was the son of the late Ralph L. Higgins and Mary Kilmer Higgins.
He was a Vietnam War veteran. He proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1972 and held the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base in Miami, Florida and Yozidake Air Force Base in Okinawa.
He received his Master's Degree from the University of South Florida in August of 1974, an Ed.S degree from the University of Florida in June, 1976 and a Doctorate from the University of Georgia in March 1986.
He retired from the Polk County School Board in August of 2006. His professional career spanned over thirty years. During his tenure, he was employed by the Polk, Hillsborough and Pinellas School System as well as the Cobb County School District in Georgia. He began his career as a classroom teacher and served in several leadership roles as Principal/Supervisor. From 1991 to 1996, he was the Supervisor of Exceptional Student Education. From 1996 to 2004, he held the position of Director of Alternative Education. From July 2004, until his retirement in 2006, he served as Senior Director of Alternative Education.
He was a member of several organizations including the Florida Association of School Administrators, Polk Association of School Administrators, Council for Exceptional Children, Council for Children with Behavior Disorders, Boy Scouts of America - District 6 Committee (Scout Master and District Vice-Chairman), Polk County Juvenile Justice Council - District Representative 1997.
He was a member of Phi Theta Kappa - Honor Society at St. Petersburg Junior College and received the Timucua District Boy Scouts of America Award of Merit in 1987.
His hobbies during his retirement years included working in his yard and tending to his numerous plants and flowers. He enjoyed fishing and spending time reading and writing articles. He was both a history and a civil war buff. He was an avid football fan. He loved to spend time with his friends discussing politics and current events. He was known for his story-telling and great sense of humor. He loved animals and enjoyed the companionship of his three dogs.
Dennis is survived by his loving wife and companion of 35 years, Cathy Higgins, son John Higgins of Mulberry and daughter Danilynn Higgins Torres and son-in-law Reynaldo Torres. He also leaves behind his sister Bobbi Jeffries of Clearwater, Florida and niece Jacquelyn Kraig of Clearwater, Florida. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. "Good night sweet prince and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".
Memorial services will be held 4:00 pm Friday at the Mulberry First Assembly of God. Final resting place will be the Florida National Military Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.
Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Dukes-Steen Chapel, Lakeland.
Published in The Ledger April 22, 2009
LAKELAND - Dr. Dennis Higgins, 62, passed away on April 18, 2009 of heart failure.
Born January 27, 1947, he was the son of the late Ralph L. Higgins and Mary Kilmer Higgins.
He was a Vietnam War veteran. He proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1972 and held the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base in Miami, Florida and Yozidake Air Force Base in Okinawa.
He received his Master's Degree from the University of South Florida in August of 1974, an Ed.S degree from the University of Florida in June, 1976 and a Doctorate from the University of Georgia in March 1986.
He retired from the Polk County School Board in August of 2006. His professional career spanned over thirty years. During his tenure, he was employed by the Polk, Hillsborough and Pinellas School System as well as the Cobb County School District in Georgia. He began his career as a classroom teacher and served in several leadership roles as Principal/Supervisor. From 1991 to 1996, he was the Supervisor of Exceptional Student Education. From 1996 to 2004, he held the position of Director of Alternative Education. From July 2004, until his retirement in 2006, he served as Senior Director of Alternative Education.
He was a member of several organizations including the Florida Association of School Administrators, Polk Association of School Administrators, Council for Exceptional Children, Council for Children with Behavior Disorders, Boy Scouts of America - District 6 Committee (Scout Master and District Vice-Chairman), Polk County Juvenile Justice Council - District Representative 1997.
He was a member of Phi Theta Kappa - Honor Society at St. Petersburg Junior College and received the Timucua District Boy Scouts of America Award of Merit in 1987.
His hobbies during his retirement years included working in his yard and tending to his numerous plants and flowers. He enjoyed fishing and spending time reading and writing articles. He was both a history and a civil war buff. He was an avid football fan. He loved to spend time with his friends discussing politics and current events. He was known for his story-telling and great sense of humor. He loved animals and enjoyed the companionship of his three dogs.
Dennis is survived by his loving wife and companion of 35 years, Cathy Higgins, son John Higgins of Mulberry and daughter Danilynn Higgins Torres and son-in-law Reynaldo Torres. He also leaves behind his sister Bobbi Jeffries of Clearwater, Florida and niece Jacquelyn Kraig of Clearwater, Florida. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. "Good night sweet prince and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".
Memorial services will be held 4:00 pm Friday at the Mulberry First Assembly of God. Final resting place will be the Florida National Military Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.
Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Dukes-Steen Chapel, Lakeland.
Published in The Ledger April 22, 2009
Born January 27, 1947, he was the son of the late Ralph L. Higgins and Mary Kilmer Higgins.
He was a Vietnam War veteran. He proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1972 and held the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base in Miami, Florida and Yozidake Air Force Base in Okinawa.
He received his Master's Degree from the University of South Florida in August of 1974, an Ed.S degree from the University of Florida in June, 1976 and a Doctorate from the University of Georgia in March 1986.
He retired from the Polk County School Board in August of 2006. His professional career spanned over thirty years. During his tenure, he was employed by the Polk, Hillsborough and Pinellas School System as well as the Cobb County School District in Georgia. He began his career as a classroom teacher and served in several leadership roles as Principal/Supervisor. From 1991 to 1996, he was the Supervisor of Exceptional Student Education. From 1996 to 2004, he held the position of Director of Alternative Education. From July 2004, until his retirement in 2006, he served as Senior Director of Alternative Education.
He was a member of several organizations including the Florida Association of School Administrators, Polk Association of School Administrators, Council for Exceptional Children, Council for Children with Behavior Disorders, Boy Scouts of America - District 6 Committee (Scout Master and District Vice-Chairman), Polk County Juvenile Justice Council - District Representative 1997.
He was a member of Phi Theta Kappa - Honor Society at St. Petersburg Junior College and received the Timucua District Boy Scouts of America Award of Merit in 1987.
His hobbies during his retirement years included working in his yard and tending to his numerous plants and flowers. He enjoyed fishing and spending time reading and writing articles. He was both a history and a civil war buff. He was an avid football fan. He loved to spend time with his friends discussing politics and current events. He was known for his story-telling and great sense of humor. He loved animals and enjoyed the companionship of his three dogs.
Dennis is survived by his loving wife and companion of 35 years, Cathy Higgins, son John Higgins of Mulberry and daughter Danilynn Higgins Torres and son-in-law Reynaldo Torres. He also leaves behind his sister Bobbi Jeffries of Clearwater, Florida and niece Jacquelyn Kraig of Clearwater, Florida. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. "Good night sweet prince and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".
Memorial services will be held 4:00 pm Friday at the Mulberry First Assembly of God. Final resting place will be the Florida National Military Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.
Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Dukes-Steen Chapel, Lakeland.
Published in The Ledger April 22, 2009
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