JOHN HIGGINS

1981 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

John is one of the greatest swimmers that ever was produced in Rhode Island.  He began his swimming career as a youngster in the Arnold Neck area of Warwick, R.I.  From there he gravitated to the Providence Y.M.C.A. and began showing his abilities as a competitive swimmer.  Around 1933, when he was  16 years old, he started swimming for the Olneyville Boy’s Club.  John broke numerous State, New England, and National records.   Joe Watmough coached and brought him to his zenith when he went to the 1936 Olympics and took a bronze medal in the breaststroke.  The war came, and John went into the Navy as a “Tunney Man” and later went to Pensacola Naval Station for the Hamilton program.  Upon release from the service he went to Annapolis and soon became the head swim coach there until his recent retirement.  It should be noted that the first TV coverage of a dual meet in the United States was between Navy and Brown University and it was billed as “Pupil meets the Coach.”  John is a graduate of Ohio State University and swam under the famous coach, Mike Pepi.  John is now retired and is very active as a master’s swimmer.