Henry E. “Hank” Riggs, the College’s third president, died at his home in Palo Alto on June 10 after a brief illness. He and his wife, Gayle, enriched the Harvey Mudd community through a very personal care and commitment to each constituency, strengthening the bonds of the College community. Each received the Harvey Mudd Alumni Association’s Honorary Alumni Award in 1997, and Riggs received an honorary doctorate from the College in 2006. Here we celebrate Hank’s legacy and give a nod to the couple’s arrival on campus (8/8/88) by sharing eight major accomplishments that took place during Hank’s nine-year tenure at Harvey Mudd.

1. The Campaign for Harvey Mudd College exceeds $70 million goal ($75.5 million in 1994), even during California’s economic downturn
2. Campus construction: F.W. Olin Science Center completed with support from the F.W. Olin Foundation; Beckman Hall—classrooms, labs, computer facilities and 75-seat auditorium—completed in 1993 with funds from Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation; Ronald and Maxine Linde Residence Hall built in 1993 with funds from then Trustee Ronald Linde and his wife, Maxine; Parsons Wing added to Parsons Engineering Building, 1991
3. Biology major is official, 1989
4. Establishment of new major in computer science, 1993
5. Enrollment increases from 550 to 640 students
6. Gift received for Ronald and Maxine Linde Activities Center (completed in 1998)
7. U.S. News and World Report names Harvey Mudd No. 1 “engineering specialty school,” 1988
8. Bridge Program (now Summer Institute) created in 1990 to ease transition from high school to college for selected students