Former USM professor dead at 69

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — Gene Wiggins, who was director of the University of Southern Mississippi's School of Communication for 20 years, died Thursday at his home in Hattiesburg. He was 69.

His death was announced Friday by USM in a news release. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The cause of Wiggins' death was not released.

Wiggins joined the USM faculty in 1973. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from USM and his doctorate from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He previously worked at the Jackson Daily News and the Hattiesburg American. He also was as a public information officer in the Air Force.

He became director of the School of Communication in 1981. He taught graduate and undergraduate courses in communication law, public relations, media writing and ethics.