John Herbert HIGGINS

Herbert Higgins won the AAU title in the 200 breaststroke in 1934-36 outdoors and indoors in 1936-37, and then just missed out on a medal at the 1936 Olympics, placing fourth. Higgins attended The Ohio State University, winning the 1940 NCAA title in the 200 yard breaststroke. After graduating from Ohio State in 1941, Higgins enlisted in the US Navy and served as a flight instructor in Pensacola, Florida. He remained in the Navy until 1954, leaving as a commander. From 1950-73 Higgins served as head swim coach at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, however, he remained a swimming instructor for the midshipmen into the 1980s.

Higgins later took part in masters swimming events and won 18 national titles. He served as President of the College Swim Coaches Association, and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1971. He is also a member of the Rhode Island Heritage and Aquatics Hall of Fame, the Ohio State University Sports Hall of Fame, and the Maryland Swimming Hall of Fame.