Leonard Wallace "Bob" Riggins Jr.

Affectionately called “Dad,” “Bob,” “Robert,” “Bobby,” “Riggs,” and “Grandpa Riggs,” Leonard Wallace Riggins Jr, 94, was born on Christmas Day in 1919 in Lakeland, Florida, the city his grandfather was one of the four founders of, and he passed on October 5, 2014 after an extended illness. He grew up in his family home by Lake Morton where he built sailboats and played tennis on the first court in Lakeland. He attended the University of Florida, where he formed and was captain of the first tennis team and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He left college to serve in World War II in the US Army Air Corps and returned to UF to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Bob enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and completed basic training at Camp Blanding Florida and Montgomery Alabama. He completed flight training in Sumter, South Carolina and advanced training in Moultrie, GA. He was deployed to Hawaii on the “Queen of the Pacific” and completed training at Hilo Air Force Base, Bellows Field. He was trained in P-39 and P-40 aircraft and upon completion took a carrier to the Pacific theater with P-47’s onboard. He joined the 7th Air Force, 7th Fighter Command, 318th Fighter Group “Vampire Squadron” and the 333rd Fighter Squadron founded in Hawaii.

Bob became Flight Commander and fellow fighters named him “Flyboy Riggs”. He completed 11 months deployment, 23 missions and attained the rank of Captain. Riggs flew P-47D aircraft during the campaigns and was checked out in P-38’s in Saipan. His squadron was based in Canton Island, participated in the Marianas campaign and he left Saipan in October of 1944.

Bob married, settled in Jacksonville and was employed for 19 years at Reynolds, Smith and Hills. Most notably he was site selector and a project manager on the Jacksonville International Airport, the Atlantic Blvd Intracoastal Bridge, the Tallahassee Airport and the Tampa International Airport Runway System. He was also a project engineer during the building of the Walt Disney World Orlando theme park until its opening in 1971 and was honored with a Mickey Mouse watch given to him by Mr. Walt Disney for his contributions. He retired from the Jacksonville Electric Authority in 1991.

Dad loved tennis and played on courts throughout Jacksonville, including Boone Park, Las Palmas, Century 21, Huguenot, and Selva Marina Country Club, where he was coach of the city champion “C” Team. He continued playing tennis until age 85. Dad’s second love was flying. He founded Herlong Airport and he enjoyed flying and aerobatics in his plane, a 1934 Davis. He performed in many airshows with the Mel Robinson Air Shows Team at airports all over the south. Bob also loved boating and enjoyed sailing in Regatta’s, winning several Power Squadron events in Jacksonville. He was also known to sail with family and friends in Atlantic Beach on his Catamaran, and loved skiing and cruising on his houseboat on Doctor’s Lake. Vacations were always centered on water and family. He and his sisters started an annual Riggins’ family reunion tradition that has lasted over 60 years.

Bob is predeceased by his father, Leonard Wallace Riggins, Sr., his mother, Mary Virginia Conrad, and sisters, Lucie Bernard Mack (Ted), and Virginia Conrad Hardin. Left to cherish his memory is his sister Mary Conrad Branan (Frank), his sons, Leonard Wallace “Wally” Riggins, III (Ruth) and Thomas Hart “Tommy” Riggins (Debbie), his daughters, Julia “Judy” Bernard Fitzpatrick and Maryanne Hewitt (Brett), his nephews, Ted Mack (Frankie), Buzz Hardin, Charles Hardin, and John Hardin, his grandchildren, Lucie, Katie, Brae, Brooke, Jennifer, Ashley, Mark, Brittany and Matthew Riggs, and his great grandchildren, Ava, Lee, Reagan, Quin, Amelie, Davis, Drew, Courtland and Corbin, plus 3 to be born soon.

An Army Air Corps service with military honors will be held Friday, October 10 at 11:30am at the Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Rd. In lieu of Flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Bob’s name to MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation, whose mission is to develop champions in classrooms, on tennis courts and throughout communities. 1096 W. 6th Street; Jax, FL 32209 www.malwashington.com