Thomas F. Higgins, '72, '96

The Sheriff Thomas F. Higgins Endowed Scholarship Fund was established by Sheriff Higgins to recognized outstanding students majoring in criminal justice or history at Buffalo State.

Thomas F. Higgins spent his career as a distinguished member of the Western New York law enforcement community. He was a member of the Buffalo Police Force from 1956-1976, retiring as a Lieutenant. He joined the Erie County Sheriff’s Department in 1977 as an undersheriff and from 1986-1996 served as Erie County Sheriff.

Recognizing the importance of education, he received an Associate Degree in criminal justice from Erie Community College in 1964, and graduated from Buffalo State College in 1972 with a bachelor degree in criminal justice. He returned to Buffalo State to pursue his interest in history, earning a master of arts in 1996.

Sheriff Higgins remained part of the campus community, serving as president of the alumni association and as a member of the Buffalo State College Foundation Board of Directors. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1990 and was honored by the Buffalo State Criminal Justice Alumni Chapter with the Outstanding Professional in the Criminal Justice Field Award in 1998.