John Harrigan 1932-2025

John Harrigan, 93, passed away at his home in Boynton Beach, Fla., November 15. Originally from Waterloo, Iowa, Harrigan graduated from Stillwater High School and spent his summers caddying at the Stillwater Country Club and the White Bear Yacht Club. He played on the University of St. Thomas golf team from 1951 to 1954, after which he served a three-year stint in the U.S. Army.

He completed his J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota in 1959 and spent the next 38 years in general practice rising to managing partner of the Lowry-Hill firm. During his legal career he also served as an administrative law judge and arbitrator-mediator.

Aside from his competitive talents – he qualified for the 1992 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at the Loxahatchee Club in Jupiter, Fla., -- Harrigan also participated in the administrative side of the game played mainly outside of the ropes.

“I realized very early in my golf career that I owed a lot to the game. Warren Rebholz [then MGA executive director] got me started back in the 1980s, when I was elected to the MGA’s Board of Directors. I also got involved with the State Public Links Association [MPGA], and for six years I was working with the Florida Golf Association too,” Harrigan was quoted in a magazine profile appearing in the Minnesota Golfer in 2011.

After a seasonal move to Florida, Harrigan would serve another six years on the FSGA board.

In 1987 Harrigan won the MGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball championship with partner Bill Feehan. That same year he joined the American Society of Seniors eventually being named its executive secretary in 1999. In 2013 he was named by Golfweek as its Yancy Ford Award winner, for individuals who have made significant contributions to senior amateur golf.

In addition to his contributions at the state level, Harrigan served on the USGA’s Senior Amateur committee, from 2004 to 2011. Harrigan is pre-deceased by his wife, Mimi Villaume, and brother Tom. He is survived by three children, Anne, Michael and Steven; three grandchildren, Erin, John J. and Sophia and ex-wife Eleanor Hendrickson. He is also survived by three step children and six step grandchildren. No services are planned. Memorials can be sent to the Evans Scholars Foundation, care of the Western Golf Association.