On what would have been Lamar P. Higgins 65th birthday, members of Fine Geddie governmental affairs firm remembered their longtime colleague by unveiling a replica portrait of Mr. Higgins on Friday at the firm’s Montgomery offices.
Higgins, who passed away in 2021, enjoyed a long career in government service and was a partner in the firm. A Troy University alumnus and the University’s first African American Student Government Association President serving two terms, Higgins was first appointed to TROY’s Board of Trustees in 1996. During his tenure on the board, Higgins was instrumental in the planning and construction of the Rosa Parks Library and Museum on the University’s Montgomery Campus and for establishing the Leadership Conference Celebrating African American History Month, a partnership between the University and the city of Troy. In 2021, the conference was renamed in memory of the late Congressman and TROY native John R. Lewis.
Members of Higgins’ family and representatives from Troy University joined in the ceremony, along with artist and TROY alumnus Willie Austin, II, who painted the original portrait of Mr. Higgins that hangs in the Lamar P. Higgins Conference Room in the Rosa Parks Museum on TROY’s Montgomery Campus. Austin’s original portrait of Mr. Higgins was unveiled in 2022 with a ceremony held on Dec. 1, Rosa Parks Day in Alabama, an observance established in large part due to Mr. Higgins efforts in lobbying the Alabama Legislature.
“I had the privilege to work alongside of Lamar for 26 years. Lamar just meant so much to all of us – the integrity he had and the character,” said Bob Geddie, a founding partner of the firm. “Every day that I walk into this office, I miss him. Today is all about Lamar and this piece that TROY with the artist’s permission allowed us to have.”
Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., TROY’s Chancellor, thanked members of Fine & Geddie for the love they had for Higgins.
“More than several times over the years, I heard Lamar talk about those things that were most important to him,” Dr. Hawkins said. “Most important to him was his church and his faith and his family. One of the things that was most important and made him extremely proud was the opportunity to serve his alma mater as a Trustee. But, he also loved this firm. I want to say thank you for loving him. This is a testimony to the feelings you had for him. You walk into this building, and you can feel Lamar’s presence.”
Dr. Hawkins said Higgins represented “the best of the human spirit.”
“When he came onto our Board of Trustees, he came with a purpose and that was to make us better, to make us more sensitive, to do what he could do to unite. That is the essence of true leadership, to bring people together,” Dr. Hawkins said. “I think when we lost Lamar, we lost one of the great treasures of this state, but all of us know that his spirit remains. God bless the spirit and the memory that lives on of Lamar Higgins.”
Alabama Rep. Laura Hall said Higgins was like an older brother to her.
“Lamar and I were the best of friends. I was the oldest, but Lamar was really like my big brother. He was like that brother that really looked out for me, and he wanted me to be successful,” Rep. Hall said. “I stand here as a legislator because of Lamar and his work. He really believed in me and supported my campaign. Over the years, my life has been so much richer because of Lamar and even more so because I have had the opportunity to meet so many of you.”
Along with members of the firm, others attending Friday’s ceremony were Higgins’ sisters, Phyllis Jackson and Jacqulyn Rich, his nephew Trevor Jackson, TROY Board of Trustees Vice President Pro Tempore Ed Crowell, TROY Trustee Cam Ward, TROY Vice Chancellor for Government Relations and External Affairs William Filmore, and Rev. Dr. Agnes M. Lover, Lead Pastor of Saint Paul AME Church, where Higgins was a member, among other guests.
You can help continue Mr. Higgins’ legacy by contributing to the scholarship established in his name. Funds from the Lamar Higgins Memorial Scholarship will provide scholarships for Valiant Cross Academy students who will attend Troy University or current Troy University students who are members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
