Higgins Succumbs After Short Illness

Peter Patrick Higgins, who played an instrumental role in successful Gonzaga high school and university football teams in the 1930s, died in a local hospital early Monday after a short illness.

Higgins, who was 87, played on three straight unbeaten teams at Gonzaga Prep in the early 1930s, serving as captain his senior year.

He played quarterback on Gonzaga University teams that beat Babe Hollingbery-coached Washington State three straight years - 1934-36 - and earned All-West Coast honorable mention his senior year. He also was a boxer at GU.

After college, Higgins played professionally with the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League.

Higgins, named Spokane’s Irishman of the Year in 1990, was associated with Continental Baking Co. and spent 24 years in the beer distributing business.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth; sons Pete Jr., Denny and Rob, the city councilman, all of Spokane; Greg, of New York; and daughters Beth Ann Hyland of Portland and Donna Merkeley of Spokane. He has 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are tentatively set for 11 a.m Monday at St. Aloysius Church, 330 E. Boone.