John W. Haigis, Sr. | |
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Treasurer and Receiver General of Massachusetts | |
In office 1928–1930 |
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Preceded by | William S. Youngman |
Succeeded by | Charles F. Hurley |
Massachusetts State Senate | |
In office 1923–1927 |
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Massachusetts State Senate | |
In office 1913–1915 |
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Massachusetts House of Representatives 3rd Franklin District |
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In office 1909–1913 |
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Town of Montague, Massachusetts Board of Water Commissioners |
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In office 1910–1915 |
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Town of Montague, Massachusetts Assessor |
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In office 1908–1908 |
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Town of Montague, Massachusetts Auditor |
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In office 1907–1907 |
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Town of Montague, Massachusetts Treasurer and Collector |
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In office 1903–1906 |
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Personal details | |
Born | July 31, 1881 Montague, Massachusetts Turners Falls |
Died | 1960 |
Resting place | Green River Cemetery, Greenfield, Massachusetts |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Rose Grace Luippold |
Children | Elizabeth Lucretia Haigis, John William Haigis Jr. (19 Feb 1917 - 27 Oct 1988), Rose Margaret Haigis (23 May 1920 - 25 Apr 1992) |
Profession | Publisher and Banker |
Religion | Lutheran |
John William Haigis, Sr. (July 31, 1881 – 1960) was an American newspaper publisher, businessman and politician. Haigis was the editor and publisher of the Greenfield Recorder. Haigis was the founder of WHAI radio.
On December 3, 1913, Haigis married Rose Grace Luippold, daughter of Johann Martin Luippold and Elizabeth E. Jacobus, in Montague, Massachusetts. They had three children Elizabeth Lucretia Haigis, John William Haigis Jr. and Rose Margaret Haigis.
From 1903 to 1908 Haigis served in various town offices in the Town of Montague, Massachusetts. He successively served in the capacities as the town's Treasurer, Tax Collector, Auditor, Assessor and Water Commissioner.
Haigis served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Massachusetts State Senate, the Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts and as Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1929 to 1933.
In 1934 Haigis was the Republican party nominee for Lieutenant Governor, and in 1936 for the Republican nominee for Governor, he lost both elections.
Haigis also served as a trustee of the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1940-1956. Haigis Mall on the campus is named for him.
On March 1, 1937, Haigis applied to the FCC for a permit to construct a radio station, the application was to construct a radio station in Greenfield that would operate on 1210 kHz, 250 watts power daytime.
Haigis was granted a license for a radio station call sign WHAI. According to the Springfield (MA) Republican, the station made its debut on March 16, 1938.
In 1938 it was recommended that WHAI be allowed to broadcast on unlimited basis, instead of being restricted to daytime broadcast.
Haigis died in 1960, and was buried in Green River Cemetery, Greenfield, Massachusetts.