Shauney O'Leary HIGGINS

1948-2024

Shaun was born to John F. and Laura D. Higgins in Princeton, Indiana on March 22, 1948. He was the eldest of four brothers.

His early years were spent on a hardscrabble farm in the limestone country of Monroe County, Indiana. After the farm was sold, his father bought a country store nearby. This was where Shaun's journalism career began at age eight. He witnessed a car crash outside the store, wrote a news story, and distributed it to his rural neighborhood.

When the store failed, the Higgins family moved to town in Bloomington, Indiana. There Shaun did odd jobs and worked in grocery stores while attending junior and senior high schools. He played American Legion baseball and excelled in debate and theatre.

He also began reporting for an upstart Bloomington paper, writing on local teen drug culture and other youth topics.

He majored in communications at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, graduating in 1971. Simultaneously, Shaun edited and reported for a series of small newspapers including the Greencastle Banner-Graphic in his campus town, and later, The Brazil Daily Times located several counties away from campus. His desk there came equipped with a gun to quell irate readers. During this time Shaun investigated Ku Klux Klan activity and interviewed the Grand Wizard who mistook him for a "good old boy" and potential recruit. This reporting earned him many years of death threats! He also covered racial unrest in Detroit and civil rights issues generally in the Midwest.

In late 1971, although underage, Shaun announced his candidacy for Indiana's 7th Congressional District seat. At a Christmas party to celebrate this move from journalism to politics he met Ann Glendening. Though Shaun lost the election, he found the love of his life. Shaun and Ann married in 1975.

Shaun returned to journalism serving as national editor for the Roanoke Times in Virginia. Next, he freelanced in New York City. He worked temporary labor to make ends meet and his experiences provided the basis for his contributions to Congressional testimony on abuse in that industry.

In 1975, Shaun became news editor for The Billings Gazette. After that, he was tapped to run Lee Newspapers State Bureau in Helena. He supervised reporters covering all things Montana-in state government, in Washington, D.C. and around the world. With Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield representing the state, there was lots of news to break.

During this time, Shaun began to travel extensively. He taught regularly at the Associated Press Institute in New York City and then in Reston, Virginia.

In 1979, Shaun came to Spokane and joined The Spokesman-Review as sports editor charged with revitalizing coverage. He then moved on to Sunday editor where his team investigated the notorious "South Hill Rapist" and recognized that the location of rapes matched to South Hill bus stops. This information was key to the eventual arrest of Kevin Coe.

Shaun made the transition to business operations of the newspaper eventually moving through all the revenue departments and finally becoming Director of Marketing and Sales. He remained with the organization for 31 years.

In addition to his work at The Spokesman-Review, Shaun served as Chairman and CEO of Print Marketing Concepts, Inc. of Houston, as COO of New Media Ventures and as owner of the Oxalis Group. He also held leadership roles in international media organizations, including past president of the International News Media Marketing Association (INMA) and executive member of the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers (WAN). Shaun's career achievements earned him two Emmys and many advertising awards.

Shaun played an important role in Spokane's economic development efforts giving hundreds of speeches in support of the Momentum initiatives to revitalize the local economy. He started presenting annual economic forecasts for the region to help Spokane gain a clearer understanding of its economic outlook even writing Measuring Spokane, a book on the topic.

Shaun was also an accomplished author, designer, editor, and publisher. His first publishing credit was It's Just Grass and Water by noted cowboy poet Wally McRae. Over the years, he contributed to and created an impressive body of work. His other book credits include Movies For Leaders; Movies For Business; Leadership Secrets of Elizabeth I; Never Give a Sucker an Even Break: W.C. Fields on Business; The Newspaper in Art, Press Gallery; The Newspaper in Modern and Post-Modern Art; Vachel Lindsay: Troubadour in The Wild Flower City; Ice Storm '96 and George Flett, Ledger Art.

Shaun supported many community projects and cultural causes. He served as the past chair of the Spokane Area Economic Development Council and as a trustee of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. He was actively involved with Connoisseur Concerts, Humanities Washington, and served on the advisory board for DePauw University's Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media. A passionate fan of cinema, Shaun began hosting the popular KSPS tv show Saturday Night Cinema in 2013, continuing until his death. He also presented the Third Thursday Matinee series at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

Outside of his professional life, Shaun built a scholar's library and a robust wine cellar. He was an enthusiastic member of the Falkland Islands Philatelic Society and a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees. In retirement he always made sure to get his daily 10,000 steps and took on personal projects such as writing a new translation of Psalm 119. His grandchildren will fondly remember their Poppy-his stories and corny "Dad jokes", postcards from his travels, "The Claw", and trips to Graeter's for ice cream.

Shaun died unexpectedly on October 1 in the hospital. His cause of death was unclear. He was preceded in death by his brother, David Higgins. He is survived by his wife, Ann Glendening; his daughter, Flannery Higgins; son-in-law, Todd Ellis; and son, Ian Higgins; as well as his cherished grandchildren, Teigan, Lathan, and Lincoln Ellis. He is also survived by his brothers, Danny Higgins and Jim Higgins. He leaves many cousins, nieces, nephews, and other family.

Shaun was interesting and fun, and one always learned something from him. He saw the absolute best in people and made every place better by just being there. He lived each day with curiosity, a relentless work ethic, and a generous spirit. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the many people whose lives he touched.

The family will hold a private ceremony to honor Shaun's life. Donations in his memory can be made to SpokAnimal, 710 N. Napa St., Spokane, Washington 99202, or other favorite charity.