One of the prominent young men of Lackawanna County, interested in educational work, is Mr James R Gilligan, who is the superintendent of the Dunmore Public Schools. Mr Gilligan was born in Dunmore 8 Jun 1891, a son of Richard and Hannah Scanlon Gilligan.
Richard Gilligan, deceased, was a native of Dunmore, where he spent his entire life. He was an expert telegrapher and was employed for many years as train dispatcher for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. Mr Gilligan died 30 Apr 1911, and his wife died 1896. To Mr & Mrs Gilligan the following children were born: John H, who resides in Carbondale, PA, is a yardmaster for the Delaware & Hudson Railroad; Grace, deceased; James R, the subject of this sketch; and William T, a World War veteran who resides at Avon Park, FL.
James R Gilligan received his elementary school training at the Lincoln (No 4) School, Dunmore, and graduated from the Dunmore High School. He received his degree from the Pennsylvania State College in 1912, and began his teaching career as head of the Latin Department at the State College High School during the school year of 1912-1913. Mr Gilligan was a teacher of Latin at the 1912 and 1913 summer sessions of the Pennsylvania State College. During the years of 1913 to 1915 he was head of the History Department, and coach of the football, basketball and baseball teams at Bellafonte High School. His football teams won the championship of Central Pennsylvania for two successive years. He returned to Scranton in 1916, was assistant principal of the Lafayette (No 16) School for one year, and for nine years was principal of the Whittier (No 2) School. During the year of 1924 Mr Gilligan was president of the grade department of the Pennsylvania State Education Association; in the same year he was elected president of the teachers of Scranton; and in 1927 was president of the Dunmore teachers.
In May 1926 Mr Gilligan was elected to his present position as superintendent of the Dunmore Public Schools.
During the World War Mr Gilligan was first stationed at Camp Lee, Virginia. Later he was transferred to the Artillery Officers Training School at Camp Taylor, KY, where he received his honorable discharge on 22 Dec 1918.
Mr Gilligan was married on 22 May 1926 to Miss Marie C Fleming, of Scranton.