William G. Higgs

William "Bill" Garland Higgs (born c. 1952) is an American businessman and co-founder of Mustang Engineering. He credits the lessons he learned in his involvement with Scouting for the ability to get his company going. He believes that Scouting helps a boy throughout his life by improving family communication, values, service, and achievement.[1]

William Higgs cadet yearbook photo from West Point in 1974.

Higgs got involved in Scouting as a nine-year-old Cub Scout in Cleveland, Ohio. He became an Eagle Scout in 1967 and later earned three palms. Higgs stayed active in Scouting as an adult and was recognized with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA) in 2004.[1][2] He was admitted to the United States Military Academy (West Point) and graduated as a Distinguished Graduate (graduated in the top 5% of his class) in 1974.[2] He noted that on the application to West Point three of ten background questions related to Scouting: "Were you a Scout? Were you an Eagle Scout? Were you a senior patrol leader?"[1] While there he was active in soccer, judo, and wrestling. He was also a semi-finalist for a Rhodes Scholarship. Upon graduation he served five years in the Army as a combat engineer and Ranger. He used skills he learned in Scouting such as carving and using rope in and outside the Army.[1]

Higgs co-founded Mustang Engineering in 1987 in Houston, Texas despite the oil and gas industry's struggles at the time.[3][4][5] The company focused on engineering, procurement, and construction management to offshore oil and gas platforms. The company used computer-aided design when most were still doing manual drawings.[6] Mustang Engineering is now a business unit of Wood Group, based in Aberdeen, Scotland.[3] The company also works in pipeline, automation, and nonenergy process markets. In 2004, Higgs and Paul Redmon received the Industry Achievement Award from the Engineering and Construction Contracting Association.[1][7] In 2016, Higgs published a book called Mustang the Story that detailed the founding and ultimate success of Mustang Engineering.

Personal life

Higgs has been married to his wife Ann for over 30 years. In the mid-2000s they moved from Houston to Waxhaw, North Carolina. They have two grown children: Greg, who is also an Eagle Scout and a graduate of Texas A&M University, and Stephanie, who was attending the University of Texas at Austin as of 2007. Higgs continues to support Scouting.[1]

Mustang the Story

Mustang the Story is the true story of how Mustang Engineering was founded during an economic downturn and thrived to become an exemplary engineering firm in the 80s. The book is not only autobiographical, but also contains "Higg-isms," or lessons learned by Bill during his tenure at Mustang Engineering. These lessons are practical and universal, applicable to a broad spectrum of business endeavors.

Notes
  1. "Distinguished Eagle Scout Award Profile: William G. Higgs" (PDF). Eagletter. Irving, TX: Boy Scouts of America. 33 (1): 9. Spring 2007.
  2. "People: William G. Higgs, SPE" (PDF). Society of Petroleum Engineers. June 2005. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  3. "Mustang Engineering names new president". Houston Business Journal. March 21, 2006. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  4. "Steve Knowles named president of Mustang Engineering". Oil Online. March 21, 2006. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  5. "Distinguished Eagle Scouts" (PDF). Scouting.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
  6. Burck, Charles (August 9, 1993). "Launching in a Storm". Fortune. 128 (3): 100.
  7. "Mustang Engineering Co-founders to Receive ECC Achievement Award". Wood Group. September 15, 2004. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
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