John P. Kiggins was a movie theater magnate, and mayor of Vancouver, Washington

Vancouver, Washington

Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...

.

Kiggins was born in Tennessee, but eventually moved to Vancouver, and with the exception of his service in the Army during the Spanish-American War

Spanish-American War

The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...

, and a few years following that in Alaska, Kiggins made Vancouver his home until his death.

Kiggins was first elected as Mayor in 1909, and finished his final term in office in 1938. Numerous landmarks in Vancouver bear his name, most notably the athletic facilities at Leverich Park, which are known as Kiggins Bowl. Additionally, Kiggins Theatre

Kiggins Theatre

The Kiggins Theatre is a single-screen movie theater in Vancouver, Washington. Named for former Vancouver mayor and businessman John P. Kiggins, it opened in 1936. It is located at 1011 Main Street in downtown Vancouver.-Architecture:...

in downtown Vancouver was the final movie theater built by John P. Kiggins.