James Robert Riggs

James Robert Riggs, 69, died on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.

Born on Aug. 14, 1950, in New York City, N.Y., he was the son of the late Thomas Riggs and Noel Mills Riggs. Shortly thereafter, he lived in Birmingham, Ala., for a couple of years before moving to Pittsburgh, Pa., where he grew up and became a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

After graduating from Carnegie Tech with a lighting degree in 1972, he worked in theatre and met his wife at Stage West in 1974, where they both worked. They married in 1975. They moved to Milwaukee and along with theatre, Jim taught at the University of Wisconsin for several years and then moved to Winston-Salem, N.C., to teach at the School of the Arts. As a lifelong fan of hockey, he found out that the local hockey team needed an announcer, so he added that to his plate. After five years he shifted into a hockey career with the Baltimore Skipjacks and then was called upon to be the general manager for the start-up Memphis Riverkings and ran that team for 10 years. Then he segued into sports management consulting, did a two-year stint as the general manager for the Evansville IceMen and then to consulting.

James is survived by his wife, Stacey MacArthur Riggs.

Services are pending for a later date. Memorials may be made to The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach or your local humane society.

A guest book is available at www.leefhandcrematory.com.

Lee Funeral Home and Crematory of Little River/North Myrtle Beach is serving the family.