John W. Haigis

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.

John W. Haigis, Sr.
Treasurer and Receiver General of Massachusetts
In office
1928–1930
GovernorAlvan T. Fuller
Frank G. Allen
Preceded byWilliam S. Youngman
Succeeded byCharles F. Hurley
Massachusetts State Senate
In office
1923–1927
Massachusetts State Senate
In office
1913–1915
Massachusetts House of Representatives
3rd Franklin District[1]
In office
1909–1913
Town of Montague, Massachusetts
Board of Water Commissioners
In office
1910–1915
Town of Montague, Massachusetts
Assessor
In office
1908–1908
Town of Montague, Massachusetts
Auditor
In office
1907–1907
Town of Montague, Massachusetts
Treasurer and Collector
In office
1903–1906
Personal details
BornJuly 31, 1881[1]
Montague, Massachusetts Turners Falls
Died1960
Resting placeGreen River Cemetery, Greenfield, Massachusetts
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Rose Grace Luippold
ChildrenElizabeth Lucretia Haigis,
John William Haigis Jr. (19 Feb 1917 - 27 Oct 1988),
Rose Margaret Haigis (23 May 1920 - 25 Apr 1992)
ProfessionPublisher and Banker

Marriage and family

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.

Town of Montague public offices

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.

Massachusetts State offices

Haigis served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Massachusetts State Senate, and the Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts from 1929 to 1931.

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.

WHAI

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.[2]

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.[3]

Death and interment

Haigis died in 1960, and was buried in Green River Cemetery, Greenfield, Massachusetts.[4]

References
  1. Who's Who in State Politics, 1911, Boston, MA: Practical Politics, 1911, p. 170.
  2. Christian Science Monitor (March 1, 1937), Haigis Asks Radio Permit For Greenfield Station, Boston, MA: Christian Science Monitor, p. 11
  3. Christian Science Monitor (December 29, 1938), More Time for WHAI, Boston, MA: Christian Science Monitor, p. 9
  4. Fritz, Anita (October 27, 2007), Family of late Gov. Washburn attends graveside rededication, Greenfield, MA: The Recorder, p. 11

Bibliography
Party political offices
Preceded by
Gaspar G. Bacon		 Republican nominee for Governor of Massachusetts
1936		 Succeeded by
Leverett Saltonstall
Political offices
Preceded by
William S. Youngman		 Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
1928 – 1930		 Succeeded by
Charles F. Hurley
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