Dr. Joseph Hiram Coggin Jr.

Joseph H. Coggin, Jr. – age 73, died at home surrounded by family on August 21, 2011. He was born in Birmingham, AL. He was a long time resident of Mobile, Alabama. He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph H. Coggin, Sr. and Frieda Nolde Coggin, and wife Mary Jane Coggin. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Scroggs Coggin of Mobile, AL; brother, Thomas Nolde Coggin (Cinda) of Charlotte, NC; children, Cindy Segers (Larry) of Dothan, AL, Chris Coggin of Gulf Shores, AL, Kurt Coggin (Judy) of Mobile, AL, and Missy Howell (Tim) of Mobile, AL; grandchildren, Nick and Katie Segers of Dothan, AL, Pierce, Charles and William Coggin of Mobile, AL, and Kris Kenzi Coggin of Gulf Shores, AL; and devoted friend, Joyful Dunn. He received his B.A. in Biology from Vanderbilt University; M.A. in Microbiology from the University of Tennessee; Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Chicago; Postgraduate training from Merck Institute and completed pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships at the U.S. Public Health Service. He served as Professor of the Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee 1966-1977; Professor Emeritus and Chairman of the Department of Microbiology/Immunology at the University of South Alabama1977-2006; served as Associate Dean for Basic Medical Sciences at the USA College of Medicine 1989-1995; Professor of Pathology from 1983-2006. He served in many government research appointments, was a consultant to several pharmaceutical companies and OSHA Biosafety Consultant. He was a member of many professional associations. Dr. Coggin devoted most of his career searching for ways to help the human immune system to battle cancer. His research and ideas helped develop the oncofetal antigen vaccine and cancer detection technology. He holds several US patents for developing monoclonal antibodies to oncofetal antigen and for the use of the oncofetal antigen in cancer detection and treatment. The oncofetal antigen was identified in Dr. Coggin’s laboratory at the University of South Alabama and the gene encoding this auto-immunogen was cloned and sequenced in his laboratory. The family would like to give a special thanks to Wiregrass Hospice. At his request, the graveside funeral service will be held Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at Pine Rest Cemetery in Foley, AL at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the following churches: Ashland Place United Methodist Church, 15 Wisteria Avenue, Mobile, AL 36607 and St. Jude’s Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 1263, Gulf Shores, AL 36547. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com. Arrangements by Radney Funeral Home, 3155 Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama 36606.