Ted Higgins is a Buford High School graduate from the Class of 1975. He is the son of Hubert “Flap” and Grace Higgins. Ted and his sister, Tammy Higgins England (BHS Class of 1978), were born and raised in Buford. They are Buford “lifetimers” as they attended Buford City Schools from kindergarten through high school with Ted starting kindergarten in 1963. To say Buford runs deep in his blood would be an understatement. His father was a member of the school board and his children and grandchildren are still rooted in the Buford community.
Sports consumed a significant portion of Ted’s time growing up, especially during his tenure at Buford High School. He was active in a sport in all three seasons. He played football in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring for BHS. In 1974, Ted was named the most valuable player for baseball and the best defensive player in basketball. He also received the best defensive back award in football in 1973 and 1974. Buford made it to the state playoffs in all three of the sports he participated in during the 1974-75 school year, as well as the girls’ basketball team.
History was by far Ted’s favorite subject at Buford High School. A particular faculty member really stands out to him as having the most significant influence on his life, Mrs. Dorothy Retzlaff.
“Her ability to involve each and every one of her students,” Ted said. “She made you dig deep to grasp what she was teaching.”
More than just academics are taught in the classrooms and hallways at Buford High School. Teachers and staff alike have poured more into the youth of Buford. Ted said the most significant lessons learned while at BHS that he took with him into adulthood is that Buford is family and family is everything, as well as to never give up on worthy causes.
One such worthy cause came up in 1974 when Buford residents had the opportunity to vote to dissolve Buford City Schools and become a part of the Gwinnett County School District. Ted remembers this well because he helped to convince others to vote against dissolving the city schools.
“The students went out and walked door to door asking citizens to keep the school system and not consolidate,” Ted said. “The vote was 3-1 to keep the schools separate. That was the start of Buford City Schools being what they are today.”
Following graduation from Buford High School, Ted attended North Georgia College on a baseball scholarship. He worked for General Motors for decades and retired in 2007.
Perhaps Ted’s greatest accomplishments have been in his family life. He is happily married to Anita Higgins. Ted has four children who are all graduates of Buford High School. He is a proud papa to eight grandchildren, seven of whom attend Buford City Schools. They range from the first grade all the way to the 12th grade.
“My dad coached me (from) the time I was 4 all the way to middle school in softball at Buford,” said his daughter, Heather Higgins Brown. “My papa Flap came to all my softball and basketball games. Now, he (her father Ted) comes to see Brynlee (Heather’s daughter) play in all of her middle school games. So in a way, I know my daddy is following in my papa’s footsteps. It’s just very special to see my dad becoming the exact person my papa was. My papa was my best friend.”
Ted is a die-hard Buford Wolf still to this day. He and two of his friends he played football with at Buford are staples at all of the Buford High School football games. They will load up and travel to all away games, as well as the home games. An added bonus for Ted going to the football games is that he never misses a chance to watch his son Jason’s daughter, who is a senior cheerleader, cheering for the Wolves.
Ted lives and breathes for two things — Buford and his family. He pours his heart and soul into his community through his unwavering support and by raising the next generation of Wolves. Once a Wolf, always a Wolf!
The Buford High School alumni spotlights are made possible by the generosity of the City of Buford.
