LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -

UNLV Athletics is mourning the loss of longtime team physician Dr. Gerald Higgins, who passed away this weekend in Las Vegas.

Higgins, 79, served as the department's primary orthopedic surgeon for four decades and was inducted into the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002 as a Distinguished Contributor. He was inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

"Dr. Higgins was a beloved member of the UNLV family and we were deeply saddened to hear the news," said UNLV Director of Athletics Tina Kunzer-Murphy. "He was one of a kind and our thoughts are with his wife, Lucia, and the entire Higgins family."

A native of Wisconsin, Higgins attended high school in Madison. He went on to attend the University of Notre Dame and then entered the U.S. Army. He attended the Scritch School of Medicine at Loyola University and in the summer of 1969, Higgins relocated his family to Las Vegas.

While serving as the program's primary team doctor, Higgins spent countless hours providing medical care to student-athletes both at home and during road competition. Aside from contributing his time, he founded and funded the Gerald Higgins Annual Student Athletic Trainer Scholarship. Also, the athletic training room in the Thomas & Mack Center was named in his honor.

"Doctor Higgins would come over to the school every day of the week after hours," said UNLV Director of Athletic Training Kyle Wilson, who knew Higgins for 30 years. "It didn't matter what time of day or night, if something happened to a Rebel student-athlete, he was always available to help. He was extremely personable and liked to talk to the players not just about their health but also about their studies and their future after graduation. He also was extremely generous not only by starting the scholarship but anytime we needed something in the training room, he found a way to get it for us. Even though he graduated from Notre Dame, Doc Higgins certainly loved the Rebels and he will be missed."

Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at Our Lady of Las Vegas Catholic Church, 3050 Alta Drive, Las Vegas, NV, 89107. Private burial will be in Sun Valley, Idaho, surrounded by his family. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Gerald L. Higgins Student Athletic Trainer Scholarship Fund at UNLV. Make checks out to UNLV Foundation, with a notation for the Higgins Scholarship Fund, and mail to UNLV Athletics, Box 450030, Las Vegas, NV, 89154-0030. Or you can call the Rebel Athletic Fund at (702) 895-1533.