Ex-NYSEG leader to receive honorary degree

James Carrigg, retired since 1996 from his position as chairman, chief executive officer and president of New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG), will receive an honorary degree during Fall Commencement ceremonies Sunday, Dec. 16, in the Events Center.

A founder of the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Carrigg is a past chair of the Harpur (now Binghamton University) Forum and a past member of the Binghamton University Foundation Board of Directors.

He attended Union College for two years before serving in the U.S. Army in Korea, then earned his associate’s degree from Broome Community College and began his career in the energy industry as a safety cadet at NYSEG, where he remained until his retirement.

Carrigg and his late wife, Loretta, established the Thomas L. Carrigg ’64 Scholarship in honor of his brother, Thomas, an alumnus who died at the age of 50. He has also supported the Binghamton University Libraries, the Anderson Center for the Performing Arts, athletics, the Institute for Child Development and scholarships to honor the retirements of Watson Dean Lyle Feisel, Vice President Thomas Kelly and President Lois B. DeFleur.

His community service has included membership on the boards of Broome Community College, Broome County Community Charities, the Broome County Chamber of Commerce, the Dr. G. Clifford and Florence B. Decker Foundation, the Broome County United Way, the Blind Work Association, the United Health Services Foundation, WSKG Public Radio and Television, and the Southern Tier Independent Living Center.

Carrigg has been honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Association of Boards of Trustees of the Community Colleges of SUNY, the Distinguished Service Award from the Broome Community College Alumni Association, and the Distinguished Citizens Award from the Boy Scouts of America, Susquenango (now Baden-Powell) Council.