Sheriff Edward Riggs

Sheriff Riggs served as Sheriff of Grant County from 1959 to 1966

Chronicle-Tribune

March 22, 1977

Leukemia Victim

Riggs, ex-sheriff, dies in Colorado

Former Grant County Sheriff Edward C. Riggs, 64 died Sunday of a rare form of leukemia at the Colorado General Hospital in Denver, Colo.

Riggs had been ill for the past four years, but was not hospitalized until a week before his death.

He was the son of the late Clarence and Cleo Riggs and was married to the former Betty Jo Nicholls.

Riggs, who moved in 1966 to Estes Park, Colo., was Grant County sheriff for two terms, winning the election on the Republican ticket in 1958 and 1962.

The 1958 successful bid for sheriff was Riggs’ first try at an elective office.

Harold Ash, who succeeded Riggs as sheriff in 1966 said upon learning of Riggs’ death, “He was a fine man and a good friend. We were state troopers together before he became sheriff and I always knew if I was ever in any kind of trouble during those yeasrs – in danger of any kind – Ed would have been the first one I’d call on to help me.”

He was a dependable man, a friend to everybody, and I’m sorry he’s gone.”

Riggs, a birthright Quaker, was born in Logansport, but lived in Grant County most of his life. He lived in Marion 37 years before moving to Estes Park where he conducted his own business, Riggs Police Equipment Co.

He graduated from Marion High School, attended Indiana University and was a member of the Indiana State Police force for 13 years. He retired to enter his own business of selling and servicing fire extinguishers.

He was a past member of the Society of Former Indiana State Police Officers, the Indiana Sheriffs Association and the Marion Elks Lodge.

Survivors in addition to his wife, are a daughter, Mrs. Paula Jo Zetlmaier, Littleton, Colo; one sister, Mary Hobbs, Marion; two brothers Joseph O. Riggs and William R. Riggs, both of Marion; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at the Drinkwine Chapel, Littleton, Colo. Burial will be in the Resthaven Cemtery in Loveland, Colo.

The family has requested that memorials be made in the form of donations to the National Leukemia Foundation.