Background
Wiggins, James Russell was born on December 4, 1903 in Luverne, Minnesota, United States. Son of James and Edith (Binford) Wiggins.
Wiggins, James Russell was born on December 4, 1903 in Luverne, Minnesota, United States. Son of James and Edith (Binford) Wiggins.
Graduated from high school, Luverne. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Colby College, 1954. Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Maine, Bates College, 1968.
Doctor of Letters (honorary), Anna Maria College, 1976. Doctor of Letters (honorary), Clark University, 1977. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Husson College, Bangor, Maine, 1979.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), University New England, 1983. Doctor of Science (honorary), Maine Maritime Academy, 1987. Doctor of Letters (honorary), Bowdoin College, 1988.
Master of Philosophy in Human Ecology (honorary), College of the Atlantic, 2000.
Reporter Rock County Star, Luverne, 1922-1925. Editor, public Luverne Star, 1925-1930. Editorial writer Dispatch-Pioneer Press, St. Paul, 1930-1933, Washington correspondent, 1933-1938, managing editor, 1938-1945, editor, 1945-1946.
Assistant to public New York Times, 1946-1947. Managing editor Washington Post, 1947-1953, vice president, managing editor, 1953-1955. Vice president, executive editor Washington Post and Times Herald, 1955-1960, editor, executive vice president, 1960-1968.
United States ambassador to United Nations, 1968-1969. Editor, public Ellsworth (Maine) American, 1969-1991, editor, from 1991.
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Served to major United States Army Air Force, 1943-1945. Air combat intelligence officer 1943-1944, Mediterranean Theatre of Operations. Member American Society Newspaper Editors (past president), American Antiquarian Society (president 1969-1977), Sigma Delta Chi.
Clubs: National Press, Cosmos, Gridiron (past president) (Washington). Lodges: Masons.
Married Mabel E. Preston, February 8, 1923 (widowed October 1990). Children: William James (deceased), Geraldine Wiggins Thomssen (deceased), Patricia Wiggins Schroth, John Russell (deceased).