Robert Christy HAGGARD M.D.

HAGGARD, Robert Christy, MD
U.S. Air Force Colonel
June 8, 1929 - May 30, 2013

Born in Needles, CA, to Harmon and Mary Ann (O'Connell) Haggard, Bob Haggard learned to be an excellent caretaker at the age of 6 years when his mother became disabled. He took care of her when his father was away on the railroad and received a driver's license at age 11 to drive her to medical appts. He starred in football and track at Needles High School and went on to attend St. Mary's College where he played trumpet in the college band at the Rose Bowl Parade. His best friend in college, Jim Lonergan, introduced him to his bride to be, Mary Alice Lonergan.

He attended Creighton University Medical School and with his wife, Mary Haggard, RN, delivered medical care to the orphans at Father Flannigan's Boys Town in Omaha, NE until he graduated in 1955. He joined the army and served as Captain in Yuma, AZ and Fort Knox, KY. He practiced one year in Concord, CA, before opening a 19 year practice in Loyalton and Downieville, CA in 1959 where he and his partner were the only physicians in the county. Many of the current Sierra County residents were delivered by Dr. Bob and were loyal patients for his entire practice.



Bob and Mary raised their 3 children in Loyalton. In 1978 Bob signed on as a Lt Col. in the Air Force, trained as a flight surgeon and served as Chief of Aerospace Medicine and Family Practice at Langley
AFB in Virginia, where he received two meritorious service medals. He was given the honor of serving as flight surgeon for senators on a flight to Canada for parliamentary proceedings. In 1981, he was transferred to Travis AFB and later to McClellan AFB in CA as Chief of Family Practice. He was promoted to full Colonel just before he retired from the military in 1984, a very rare honor. Col. Haggard received commendations from the Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop and from the Presidentof the United States upon his retirement from the Air Force. He remained at McClellan in the same capacity as a civil servant for another 10 years.

Dr. Haggard loved being a doctor because he always loved helping people. Everyone he touched was better off for having known him. Unfortunately for all of us, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2000. He suffered with this disease for 13 years but still managed to take loving care of his wife through her struggle with pulmonary fibrosis until she died in 2008. He rarely complained and remained the kindest, gentlest man until he died peacefully in his sleep holding his daughter's hand. An earthbound angel received his wings on that day and returned to heaven. The world is a sadder place for his loss and he will be greatly missed by all the people whose lives he touched. He leaves behind 3 children: Mark (Debbie) and Mary K. Haggard of Roseville, CA and Rob (Lisa) Haggard of Lebanon, PA; 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Services will take place Tuesday, July 2, at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Loyalton, CA, starting with a Rosary at 11:00 am, a Memorial mass at 11:30 am. Inurnment will be at Mountain View Cemetery in Loyalton in the Haggard/Lonergan plot.