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ESG 50 Anniversary Fellow Profile
ROBERT MORGAN PIGG, Jr.

Robert Morgan Pigg, Jr., HSD, MPH

Professor Emeritus of Health Education and Behavior
Department of Health Education and Behavior

University of Florida Gainesville

Dr. Morgan Pigg retired on May 15, 2014, following a 40- I obtained my first faculty position at the University of
year career in higher education. Dr. Pigg holds B.S. and Georgia. At that time, Dr. Warren Schaller, Co-Founder
M.Ed. degrees from Middle Tennessee State University, and National President of Eta Sigma Gamma, asked me to
and H.S.D. and M.P.H. degrees from Indiana University. Chair a new Professional Development Committee for Eta
He held faculty positions at Western Kentucky University, Sigma Gamma. Dr. Schaller gave our committee the
the University of Georgia, Indiana University, and the ambitious charge to create new ways to recognize our
University of Florida. Dr.Pigg’s professional interests members, and to help Eta Sigma Gamma to grow in
include child and adolescent health, philosophy and ethics, membership and national visibility. Among our
scientific writing, Health Behavior Genomics, and effects accomplishments, the committee created procedures and
of the entertainment culture on youth development. Dr. documents for the first Chapter Development Handbook,
Pigg holds lifetime memberships in Eta Sigma Gamma, and several new national awards including the Gamman of
and the American School Health Association. He served the Year Award, the McGovern Scholar Award, and the
for 20 years as Editor for the Journal of School Health. Chapter of the Year Award. The Committee also proposed
Recognitions include the Willard W. Patty Distinguished the first model for a National “Chapter at Large”.
Alumnus Award from Indiana University; the
Distinguished Service Award and the National Honor Please describe your most meaningful contribution –
Award from Eta Sigma Gamma; and the William A. Howe your legacy so to speak – to Eta Sigma Gamma.
Award from the American School Health Association.
Early in my career, I was honored with an invitation from
How did your involvement with your local Eta Sigma the National Office to serve as Guest Editor for the first Eta
Gamma begin? Sigma Gamma Student Monograph. The Student
Monograph was a new publication, so I developed the call
My involvement with Eta Sigma Gamma began in 1972, for papers, frequently asked questions, author guidelines,
when I completed my tour in the U.S. Army and began peer review process, and peer review panel. One of my
doctoral study at Indiana University. I remember clearly goals as Guest Editor involved including undergraduate
the day I heard about a new organization – Eta Sigma student authors in the first edition. After peer review of
Gamma – an academic honorary just for Health submitted papers, one undergraduate remained in
Educators. A classmate and I completed the arduous consideration. We could publish her paper if she
process to establish a chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma at completed revisions by the due date. Tragically, during
Indiana University, and I subsequently was initiated with that period her father died. She asked to withdraw her
22 others in the first class of inductees for Nu Chapter at paper, but I encouraged her to persevere. The final week
Indiana University. to receive revised papers arrived. Late on Friday
afternoon, I checked my mailbox one last time – and there
What led to your becoming involved in national-level was her paper. She made the deadline! Thus, some 33
leadership of Eta Sigma Gamma? years ago, she became the first undergraduate student to

THE HEALTH EDUCATION MONOGRAPH SERIES, Volume 34, Number 1, 2017 35