Harry Lewis Riggs, Jr., formerly of Edgewood, Kentucky was born on July 18, 1930 to Harry L. Riggs, Sr. and Madalyn Neese. He passed away on February 16, 2020 in McKinney, Texas. Harry is survived by Joanie, his beloved wife of 64 years; daughter, Holly Riggs Mueller (Don); grandsons, Scott Mueller and Travis Mueller of McKinney, Texas; and sister, Marilyn Riggs Turner of Lexington, Kentucky.
Harry graduated with the class of 1947 from Beechwood High School in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky and graduated with the class of 1952 from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky; where he was a proud member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Upon earning his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he served during the Korean War as an Executive Officer on PCS 1384. He was discharged from active duty in 1954 and then entered the University of Cincinnati Law School, where he met Joanie McNamee. After a short romance they married on August 19, 1955. Harry passed the bar exam in 1957 and became a partner in the family law firm Riggs, Riggs, & Walker. He served the City of Erlanger Kentucky as a prosecuting attorney from 1958-1964, and as the city attorney from 1964-1974. In 1987, he joined with the firm Dinsmore & Shohl in Cincinnati where he was a partner until his retirement, concentrating on aircraft litigation.
Aviation was his passion. Harry was a licensed pilot and ground instructor for over 50 years and a founding member of the National Association of Flight Instructors. Harry held an ATP Certificate and was type rated in several types of aircrafts. He and a couple of associates developed the idea for weekend aviation ground schools and founded Traveling Aviation Seminars which taught FAA exam preparation and recertification courses across the country. He was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and lectured extensively on their behalf. Harry is a past president of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Bar Association and former Chairman of the Legal Advisory Counsel of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). In additions, he was a member of the Quiet Birdmen.
One of his great joys was speaking with and befriending others who shared his love for aviation and HAM radio. And if you were a pilot and a HAM, you were in rarefied air in Harry’s eyes. He was a man of many hobbies and interests, but Ham radio was his biggest hobby. Many were the days you could find him in his office on a band or practicing his Morse code.
Harry was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ Scientist. He was a man of many interests and had an unending curiosity about so many things. Harry was an optimist by nature and spoke of the good in everyone. He was a man of his faith and a man of God. These are the qualities he leaves to his family and those who knew him. May he rest in Peace.
A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, February 29, 2020 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.
Memorial donations may be made to the University of Cincinnati Law School or the charity of your choice.