118:. In 1946 at the age of 16 he enlisted in the United States Army and was sent overseas to Europe. Though without musical background, he started to learn the saxophone and became so interested in music that a few months later, when the Army announced a need for bandsmen, he requested transfer and was sent to the U.S. Army Band School in
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music building to be named in his honor as well as a nearby intersection to be known as "Gigger Square". On the wall of the music building a 55-foot-long mural was painted depicts a banner for each of his 13 championships, along with band members, a roaring tiger and "Gig", as Gigger was known to his
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At the dedication ceremony for the music building to be named in his honor, former students noted that the "tribute was greatly deserved. Mr. and Mrs. Gigger were a true inspiration for all the Tigers," "To many students they were mentors and sometimes even parental figures. They devoted themselves
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Many of Gigger's students followed in their teacher's footsteps and went on to careers in education. Others became band directors and school principals. Others are civic leaders including members of the Los
Angeles City Council and California state government. Many credit Gigger for setting them on
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in 1982 there were only six students in the band. Gigger built up the program to include three band classes and led the marching band and drill team to 11 consecutive city championships, a record 13 championships overall. Gigger and his wife Ellen, who led the Drill Team, were known for taking care
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of student needs, from providing meals to counseling on academic and personal issues to ensuring members of the band went on to college. Gigger and his wife were known to "hand out their phone number at the beginning of the term so that students can get in touch with them any time, day or night."
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Annual Band and Drill Team
Championships from 1987 to 1999. Gigger was renowned for his devotion to all aspects of his students' lives, including that they continue on to college. Many have gone on to positions of prominence in education and civic leadership and credit him with inspiring them to
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in 1955. These tests were “designed to familiarize military personnel with the effects of atomic weapons". Soldiers were placed in various locations during the explosions, and bands were there to play music. Soldiers witnessing the explosion were not provided with protective equipment. “After
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Gigger retired from teaching in 1999, having affected the lives of hundreds of students and their families, including 10 of the 11 children of one Los
Angeles family, the Perez's. Despite Gigger having retired years earlier, his lasting influence was such that former students arranged for the
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finished playing, they were told to get into a trench behind them, bend down and cover their eyes.” Only posthumously, more than a half-century later, was his widow awarded compensation for fatal radiation injuries he suffered as an
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209:, a 1992 San Fernando graduate, wrote that the Giggers “wholeheartedly devoted themselves to their students, holding them high expectations and encouraging them to strive for greatness."
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In 1962 Gigger assumed duties as bandleader of the 389th Army Band at Fort
Monmouth as a Sergeant First Class. From 1962 to 1965 he served with Army bands in Korea, Japan, and on
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Richard Gigger died on
November 13, 2016, from complications of intentional exposure to radiation while serving in the United States Army.
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in
California as bandleader of the 433rd Army Band. While there he participated in several U.S. Army above-ground nuclear tests, including
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165:. Gigger then returned to Germany in 1957 and toured with the 84th Army band in their public relations jazz tour program.
632:"Secretary of State Alex Padilla to Visit his Alma Mater San Fernando High School :: California Secretary of State"
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where he was a member of the Fort Dix TV Band, which had been formed for weekly TV performances. The band appeared on
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whose band and drill teams hold the record for the most victories—thirteen, eleven of which were consecutive—in the
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180:. Gigger received undergraduate and master's degrees in music focusing on education. When he arrived at
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412:"For the principal with the most homeless students in L.A., the reality of poverty is personal"
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704:"San Fernando High music teacher's legacy of 'greatness' honored with mural, building"
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to their students wholeheartedly and made their students strive for greatness.”
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683:"Pacoima corner dedicated to San Fernando High band and drill team directors"
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534:"Pacoima intersection dedicated in honor of band, drill team instructors"
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Two
Citations in Celebration of Richard Gigger and his wife Ellen by the
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was designated Gigger Square to honor
Richard Gigger and his widow Ellen.
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Richard Gigger Jr. was accorded many honors during his life including:
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and
Chamberlain Street as Gigger Square, Los Angeles Councilwoman
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where Gigger taught was named the Gigger
Building in his honor.
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441:"San Fernando High Alumni Pay Homage to Beloved Band Director"
342:"Popular Retired San Fernando High School Band Director Dies"
722:"Remembering Richard Gigger, Jr. | Obituaries and Services"
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Certification of Appreciation for Dedicated Service to the
656:"Principal has walked in his students' shoes, defied odds"
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Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the
89:(July 6, 1929 – November 13, 2016), was an American
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Philadelphia, the Army's weekly "GET SET GO" show and on
201:In her 2017 motion designating the intersection of
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189:the right course and inspiring them to succeed.
114:Richard Gigger Jr. was born on July 6, 1929, in
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805:United States Army non-commissioned officers
750:San Fernando High School Band And Drill Team
366:"Teacher Uses Music as Means of Inspiration"
795:Los Angeles Unified School District faculty
498:Atomic Veterans: I HAVE SEEN THE DRAGON (1)
519:The Daily Record (Long Branch, New Jersey)
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559:"Band Teachers Are Team on and Off Field"
775:20th-century African-American educators
461:"Fort Monmouth Gets a New Bandleader".
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316:U.S. Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
584:"Rivals Are Closely Matched on Issues"
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273:Certificate of Commendation from the
267:Certificate of Commendation from the
133:In 1953 Sgt. Gigger was stationed at
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800:People from East St. Louis, Illinois
785:21st-century African-American people
780:20th-century American male musicians
478:"Globe Man In Charge Of Army Band".
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297:Certificate of Recognition from the
291:Certificate of Recognition from the
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257:Los Angeles Unified School District
135:Fort Irwin National Training Center
103:Los Angeles Unified School District
745:The Gigger Tribute (Facebook page)
391:"Dedication Paying Off In Degrees"
27:American band director (1929–2016)
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340:Terry, Mike (November 16, 2016).
285:Certificate of Appreciation from
810:San Fernando High School alumni
532:Sklar, Debbie L. (2017-10-13).
439:Garcia, Alex (August 9, 2017).
324:References/Notes and references
279:Certificate of Honor from the
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612:Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez
251:U.S. House of Representatives
198:students, in his tiger robe.
557:Wedner, Diane (1998-09-09).
495:Cowden, Brian (2018-05-06),
310:U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal
304:U.S. Army Commendation Medal
287:United Teachers Los Angeles
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517:"Sgt, Gigger New Leader".
293:California State Assembly
153:In 1955 Gigger served at
93:, musician, educator and
364:Bond, Ed (Nov 7, 1996).
246:He is the recipient of:
241:San Fernando High School
230:San Fernando High School
195:San Fernando High School
182:San Fernando High School
116:East St. Louis, Illinois
99:non-commissioned officer
53:East St. Louis, Illinois
582:Fox, Sue (2002-03-03).
445:San Fernando Valley Sun
347:San Fernando Valley Sun
299:California State Senate
203:Laurel Canyon Boulevard
126:, the site of a former
69:Los Angeles, California
708:Los Angeles Daily News
687:Los Angeles Daily News
660:enewspaper.latimes.com
228:The music building at
269:County Of Los Angeles
139:Desert Rock Exercises
790:American bandleaders
281:City of San Fernando
163:The Ed Sullivan Show
689:. October 13, 2017.
481:Arizona Silver Belt
275:City of Los Angeles
235:An intersection in
106:achieve and excel.
18:Richard Gigger, Jr.
710:. August 10, 2017.
128:concentration camp
95:United States Army
87:Richard Gigger Jr.
34:Richard Gigger Jr.
588:Los Angeles Times
563:Los Angeles Times
467:. April 27, 1962.
464:Asbury Park Press
416:Los Angeles Times
395:Los Angeles Times
371:Los Angeles Times
239:, CA adjacent to
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725:. Retrieved
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141:held at the
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64:(2016-11-13)
50:July 6, 1929
770:2016 deaths
765:1929 births
220:Recognition
759:Categories
727:2022-12-14
665:2022-12-20
641:2022-12-20
617:2022-12-20
593:2022-12-20
568:2022-12-20
543:2022-12-20
504:2022-12-13
422:2022-12-20
75:Occupation
46:1929-07-06
174:Manhattan
110:Biography
155:Fort Dix
237:Pacoima
159:WFIL-TV
97:senior
124:Dachau
120:Munich
59:Died
40:Born
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