Gary Gene Biggers

 

Gary Gene Biggers, 74, of Amarillo, TX passed away on January 31, 2022.

Memorial services will be at 4:00 P.M., Friday, February 25, 2022, in the Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

Mr. Gary Biggers was born in Hobart, OK, lived all over the world, and eventually arrived at AHS where he graduated in 1964. While at Amarillo High School, Mr. Biggers was a member of the Dukes of Sandieland, the jazz band, the tuba player in the orchestra, and the tuba section leader in the band. He represented Amarillo High School in All-State Band and was 6th chair out of 26. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and Biology in 1968. Mr. Biggers also completed his master’s degree in English in 1970.

Following the completion of his master’s, he served in the Army as an Executive Officer of a 155 Howitzer battery and Adjutant of the 1/92nd Field Artillery Battalion during the Vietnam War era. After his service in the Army, he taught English at Crockett Middle School and at Tascosa High School before arriving at Amarillo High School, where he taught for thirty-four years. While at AHS, he developed curricula for junior and senior English, vocabulary, humanities, reading improvement, consumer English, and film analysis as well as sponsored the National Honor Society, Key Club, and the Creative Writing Club. Mr. Biggers also started the AHS Academic Decathlon team, which won the right to compete at State. As an adjunct professor at WTAMU, for twenty-four years he instructed many Amarillo High School students in comparative cultures, culminating in a summer tour in Europe with college credit.

Mr. Biggers was the recipient of many teaching awards including The Texas Excellence Award from the University of Texas, AHS Teacher of the Year twice, and AISD and Regional Teacher of the Year. In 1992, he was included in Who’s Who Among American Teachers. He is also responsible for writing Amarillo High Schools’ application to offer the International Baccalaureate Program. He served as the International Baccalaureate Coordinator and founded the International Forum. Mr. Biggers served as the caretaker of the AHS Art Collection since 1988, which is one of the top public high school art collections in the nation. Mr. Biggers and the Rehm Family bestow the “Passion for Learning” Scholarship, annually awarded to a college-bound senior.

Mr. Biggers’ contribution to Amarillo and Amarillo High School will forever be remembered and valued. Without him, the school would not have the burgeoning art collection that is nationally ranked and would not be the only International Baccalaureate school in Amarillo. The impact Mr. Biggers made on Amarillo High’s students and faculty is hard to measure, but he will be remembered as being one of the most influential teachers in the history of Amarillo High School.

Please use this link to view the funeral via livestream: https://www.facebook.com/BoxwellBrothersFuneralDire…/live/

16 Replies to “Gary Gene Biggers”

  1. Mr. Biggers was a true light in my years at AHS. He helped me see how wonderfully big the world was. Dedicated teacher. Still fondly think of our European vacation in Summer 1996 with his tour group.

    My condolences to his family.

  2. “Mr. Biggers” and our son’s (Grant Snell, 2000) time at Amarillo High were a most respected and meaningful connection,
    The dedication to education and students made an impact and a legacy of quality most treasured. May God’s comfort be yours.

  3. Little did I know, while slogging through Mr. Biggers’ AP English class at AHS, that I’d end up pursuing a career in English. Yet I cannot doubt that his classes – his infectious love of literature, of analysis, of artistic endeavor – had an impact on me far greater than I understood at the time. Some part of him lives on in me, and in so many others like me. Could any of us ask for more in this life?

  4. Gary Biggers was my honors English teacher my junior year at Amarillo High School in 1992. I had him during “zero hour” first thing in the morning, and he was hard. He had very high expectations, but he was also fun, and insightful, and one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met.

    He was also the humanities teacher at school. I didn’t take the class, but I did get to go to Europe with him for a month. We went to six different countries. I learned about architecture, art, culture, and language, and it opened my eyes to other ways of thinking.

    His impact on the thousands of students whom he taught could never be measured. I’ve never met anyone like him before or since.

    Rest In Peace, Mr. Biggers.

  5. I was saddened at the passing of Mr. Biggers. Of all the teachers I enjoyed in my time at AHS (’77), I’ve always considered Mr. Biggers to be my favorite. I’ve told my wife more stories about my senior year in his English class.
    One of my favorite stories was the day he told us about nearly biting his tongue off while playing hockey way up north somewhere. Well, the class wouldn’t just let him get away with the story. No, we egged him on until he finally stuck his tongue out at us and, sure enough, the scar on his tongue could still be seen. Such good memories.
    I’m even more sad that I cannot be at his service. We have a funeral in Snyder, TX that we must attend.
    Thank you, Mr. Biggers, for the memories!

  6. Gary was always making an impression on me as a child. He could beat my sister at Monopoly and that was fun to watch.

    The first time I was on WT campus was when Gary was in school there. Mom was so excited for him. She would talk about what all he was doing. As time went on Gary became involved with his teaching and I was so busy working that I lost touch with him. That I do regret. Mom would keep me informed as to what he was doing and where he had been every time she had a chance to visit with him.

    I’m thinking there is a really good game of Monopoly going on in Heaven right now. I can hear the laughter. The cousins will miss you deeply. God bless you for being in our lives and making a significant difference in this world. We are all proud of you.

  7. Mr. Biggers and I taught together for many years. I have so much respect for his talent and his knowledge. We will miss you looking over our art.

  8. I was blessed to have Mr. Biggers while at AHS. His standards were high, and we all knew it, which pushed us to rise to the occasion. The invaluable imprint he left on my education will never be forgotten….what a legacy!

  9. I had the pleasure and great honor to work with Gary Biggers at Amarillo High. My son was also fortunate to have Mr. Biggers as his Junior AP English teacher. Gary Biggers is an iconic figure in the history of AHS. He was inducted in the Sandie Hall of Fame in 2012, awarded the Amarillo ISD Bod Ashworth Award for Outstanding Service and received the Texas Humanities Teacher of the Year award during his illustrious career. A few additional awards to add to the list in the obituary.
    Gary was a good friend and helped me immensely during my years at AHS. He never left something just good enough. He held himself to the highest possible standard and he passed that dedication to excellence along to his students.
    Gary loved the AHS Art Collection and work diligently to preserve and grow that part of Amarillo High history. Gary loved books and a well-crafted story. He was the most well-read person I have ever known. He loved learning and never stopped. He was always sharing the new passions he was exploring during his years after retirement.
    Gary loved many things: literature, art, music, history, culture, languages. But what he loved most of all was his students and the lucky friends whose lives he touched. We will greatly miss him.
    Rest in Peace, My Dear Friend.

  10. Mr. Biggers-
    Thanks for making all of us in the teaching profession better at our craft.
    You always set the standard!

  11. Gary was such an inspiration to me as a beginning teacher all those years ago. I know students that had him thought it an honor to be in class. His contagious laugh will be missed.

  12. Mr. Biggers was such an impactful teacher to so many of his students. Mr. Biggers was a true academic – he challenged us all to think and work hard. There were no short cuts with Mr. Biggers. He made us study and never accepted anything but the very best from his students. He will forever be remembered as one of the best teachers of all time!

    1. My husband Robert and I knew Gary Biggers in his retirement years as a neighbor. He was an exceptional neighbor in that he held our neighborhood close by providing a roster of names, addresses, and telephone numbers to each neighbor on the cul-d-sac. He kindly updated and distributed new rosters as changes occurred. Because of his efforts we always knew our neighbors’ names and how to connect with them. This practice was such a helpful and reassuring gift to everyone. We all need to know our neighbors, don’t we? The roster was especially welcoming to new neighbors.
      Then, every Christmas brought a special Bigger’s gift to his neighbors’ door steps. This past Christmas presented a big red Santa stocking filled with goodies our entire family enjoyed during that week. Gary showed his love for his neighbors in his own unique way. We loved him too and will greatly miss him.

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