HIGDON, Earl Terril

HIGDON, MCCALL, GARRETT, GRIER, MCPHERSON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/1/2016 at 11:46:59

Earl Terril Higdon
July 09, 1907 ~ September 15, 1983

Earl Terril Higdon was born in Fort Scott, Kansas, and was a 1927 Graceland graduate. Earl Higdon completed his bachelor's degree from the State University of Iowa and in 1935 earned his master's degree in economics from Northwestern University.

Earl married Faith L. McCall in 1928 and the couple had four children.

Higdon worked as an accountant for the Standard and Shell oil companies and taught in Florida before he returned to Graceland, serving as an accounting instructor from 1935 to 1940. He then entered full appointment with the RLDS Church, but continued to aid Graceland as a member of its Board of Trustees from 1952 to 1964.

After obtaining a leave from his church duties, Higdon then stepped in as acting president of the college on June 1, 1964. That year, he directed the investigation toward expanding the college into Independence, Missouri. He also was pushing for the need of advanced library facilities on-campus. The 1960's were a period of phenomenal educational changes. Toward the end of his two years as president, Higdon was called to the office of apostle in the RLDS Church, a position he held until retiring in 1974.

Earl's son, William, succeeded him both as Graceland president and RLDS apostle. In 1973, the year after Faith died, he married Lucille M. Garrett, who died in 1982. Earl received Graceland's Distinguished Service Award in 1978. In 1983, he married Cleda G. Grier, shortly before both were killed in an automobile accident.

In recognition of the Higdon family's collective service in leading Graceland, the college's first building was renamed the Higdon Administration Building in 1997.

NOTE: Earl died on September 15, 1983. Faith Lucille (McCall) Higdon was born November 25, 1905, the daughter of Emmett Narvin and Ruby Palestine (McPherson) McCall, and died on February 20, 1972. Earl and Faith were interred at Mound Grove Cemetery, Independence, Missouri.

Lucille Margaret Garrett Higdon was born December 13, 1906, and died March 7, 1982. She was interred at Mound Grove Cemetery, Independence, Missouri.

Cleda Grier Higdon was born December 11, 1916, and died September 15, 1893. She was interred at Spring Hill Memorial Gardens, Mobile, Alabama.

SOURCES: Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.” p. 415. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.

Edwards, Paul M. "The Hilltop Where . . . An Informal History of Graceland College." Venture Foundation. Pp. 103, 128-29. Lamoni, IA. 1972.

Transcription & compilation by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

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