Guy Riggs
| Guy Wadsworth Riggs | |
 | |
| Chair Mid Hudson Libertarian Club | |
| 1973—? | |
| Personal Details | |
| Birth: | July 1, 1923 Sacramento, California |
| Death: | May 20, 2017 (aged 93) Buffalo, New York |
| Party: | Libertarian Party |
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Guy Wadsworth Riggs (July 1, 1923—May 20, 2017) was the first Libertarian candidate to run in New York State.
Biography
Riggs was born in Sacramento, California, son of Joseph Quire and Ruth Wadsworth Riggs. He graduated from Patagonia High School in 1942 and enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. He served in Africa and Italy and was awarded three battle stars. In 1944, he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, graduating in 1948. He remained with the Navy as a commissioned officer until 1952. After his service, he began working for IBM.
Riggs became active in politics in the late 1960s, running for office in Binghamton. He moved to Poughkeepsie, where he joined the Libertarian Party. In 1972, he became the first Libertarian candidate to run for office in the state of New York. He ran for State Assembly, but failed to get enough signatures to get on the ballot. His campaign committee went on to form the Mid Hudson Libertarian Club following the end of his campaign in September 1972. He went on to Chair the committee, and by September 1973, he considered running for Governor in 1974. In 1975, it was reported that Riggs announced his intentions of running for President in 1976.[1] He ran, but lost to Roger MacBride.
Riggs also wrote Letters to the Editor for the Poughkeepsie Journal. He also wrote for the New Libertarian. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Poughkeepsie and later joined the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Riggs was married Selma Hubka to February 22, 1958 and they raised seven children. He retired from IMB in 1986. Riggs passed away on May 20, 2017 in Buffalo at the age of 93.[2]
Political Campaigns
1972 New York State Assembly Campaign
In 1972, Riggs ran for New York State Assembly in the 99th District.
1976 Presidential Campaign
- Presidential candidate (1976)
Organizational Positions
- At-Large Committee Member (1976—1978)
- Chair (1973—?)
References
- 1923 Births
- 2017 Deaths
- Biographies
- Infoboxes with birth information
- New York Party Activists
- Party Activists from the 1970s
- Authors
- New York Candidates for State Assembly
- 1976 Candidates for Presidential Nomination
- 1972 Candidates
- 1976 Candidates
- Active Military and Veterans
- New York State Party At-Large Representatives
- State Party At-Large Representatives
- Notable Firsts
- New York 1976 National Convention Delegates
- 1976 National Convention Delegates