George Wigton — a noted multi-sport coach at the University of Connecticut and Bates College, who got his start at Staples High School — died last week. He was 93 years old.
The Oberlin, Ohio native married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor Mahan. He served 4 years in the Navy, then attended Ohio State University where he played basketball and ran teams. He graduated in 1956.
Wigton coached basketball at Staples High School in the early 1960s, then headed to UConn were he coached basketball, track and football.
From 1965 to 1996, he was an integral part of the Bates athletic department. He was the longest-serving basketball (20 years) and tennis (31 years) coach in the school’s history. He also coached men’s soccer, and men’s and women’s squash. He was assistant director of athletics from 1974 to ’84.
Wigton was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Intercollegiate Squash Racquets Association Hall of Fame.
He is survived by Eleanor, his wife of 70 years; daughters Christy (Ray) and Sue (Ken); sons Jeff (Michele) and Andy (Christine); 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers Charles and William.
A celebration of life will be held in June. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a gift in George’s memory to the Androscoggin Hospice House, 15 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston, Maine, 04240, or the Maine Veterans’ Home South Paris Activity Fund, 477 High Street, South Paris, Maine, 04281. Memories may be shared at www.wilesrc.com.
George Wigton