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Robert Maclary Diggs '33

Jan. 14, 1912-Feb. 22, 2005

Robert Maclary Diggs, Valedictorian ’33, a lawyer, devoted alumnus, and former national president of Theta Delta Chi fraternity, was born on January 14, 1912, in Tulsa, OK. A son of James B., also a lawyer, and Edith Maclary Diggs, he came East to prepare for college at the Tome School in Maryland. Influenced by a classmate, the son of a Hamilton alumnus, “Mac” Diggs came to College Hill in 1929. Engaging in a variety of activities while also compiling an impressive academic record, he lettered three times in soccer and became managing editor of Hamilton Life as well as president of Psi Charge of Theta Delta Chi. Elected to Quadrangle, DT, and the journalism honorary Pi Delta Epsilon, he was also awarded the Oren Root and Huntington Mathematical Scholarships and the Tompkins Mathematical Prize.

Following his graduation Phi Beta Kappa and as head of his class, and with honors in mathematics, Mac Diggs went off to New Haven and Yale Law School in 1933. Awarded his LL.B. degree summa cum laude in 1936, he began his law practice in association with the Wall Street firm of Cravath, de Gersdorff, Swaine & Wood. In 1940, he was elected as the first vice chairman of Hamilton’s newly established Alumni Council. He returned to Clinton in 1941 as assistant to President William H. Cowley, but after a year, in which he taught English composition on the side, he left to join the U.S. Army. He served in military intelligence in Washington, DC, through the end of World War II, was awarded the Legion of Merit for his contributions to the Allied effort against the Japanese in the Pacific, and attained the rank of captain. After the Japanese surrender he was assigned to the Congressional Pearl Harbor investigation as counsel to General George C. Marshall.

After his return to civilian life in 1946, Mac Diggs set up his law practice in Olean, NY, in the southwestern part of the state. A partner in the firm of Hornburg, Diggs & Dwyer (later Hornburg, Diggs, Backhaus & Simon), he became highly active in the community, serving as president of the Olean Public Library, a longtime trustee of Olean General Hospital as well as president of its board, vice president of Randolph Children’s Home, and a trustee of the Olean YMCA. In addition, he was a vestryman and senior warden of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and counselor to the bishops of the Diocese.

Mac Diggs, known as “a man who gets things done,” was also exceptionally active on behalf of the College and his fraternity. Several times over the years a member of the Alumni Council, he served as president of the Alumni Association in 1958-59. That same year he was elected as the 39th president of the Grand Lodge of Theta Delta Chi, having already served as its treasurer. A recipient of the John A. Evans Theta Delt of the Year Award, he also served as a director of the fraternity’s Education Foundation and took a keen interest in the Psi Charge at Hamilton as president of the house corporation. He negotiated the settlement that led to the College acquiring the Theta Delt house in 1993.

Mac Diggs, who paid frequent visits to College Hill, often driving up in his RV, continued to practice law despite frailties of health and the loss of sight in an eye, until the age of 90. A general practitioner who specialized in oil and gas as well as business and taxation law, he often appeared before state and federal trial and appellate courts, and he was appointed by Governor Rockefeller as a consultant in drafting the state’s first oil and gas law. At the time of his retirement he was the oldest practicing attorney in Cattaraugus County.

Robert M. Diggs died on February 22, 2005, in Olean, at age 93. Predeceased in 1992 by his wife, the former Clara Curtis McLeod, who was a widow when they were married in 1952, he is survived by two stepsons, George C. ’54 and Douglas S. McLeod; an adopted son, Andrew R. Diggs, and a son, Lawrence T. Diggs; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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Note: Memorial biographies published prior to 2004 will not appear on this list.



Necrology Writer and Contact:
Christopher Wilkinson '68
Email: Chris.Wilkinson@mail.wvu.edu

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