Gen. William R. Bigler passes

Brigadier General (Retired) William R. Bigler passed away Monday.
He was born on Aug. 4, 1923 to the late Henry M. Bigler and Alice Kappel Bigler, and died unexpectedly but very peacefully at home Monday.
Bigler attended LSU for a time, and was in ROTC when the military became a calling for him. He won an appointment to West Point and was on their boxing team where he won many bouts. He was also a Company Commander in the Cadet Corps, a huge honor. He graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1946.
In 1953 he earned a Master’s degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He first served in Germany, Korea, Vietnam and the Pentagon. He retired to Franklin in 1973 and built a home on Bayou Teche.
Bigler served one term on the Franklin City Council from 1978 to 1982. He later co-chaired the committee that helped change St. Mary Parish government from a police jury to a council body ruled by a home rule charter.
His complete obituary can be found in the obits section.