Raymond P. Kaighn

General Facts

Born: December 8, 1869, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Raymond was the son of William Lewis and Elizabeth Victoria Pimlott Kaighn. He had two sisters, Blanche Pimlott Kaighn and Corrinne Pimlott Kaighn.

Died: August 16, 1962, at the age of 92 of a heart attack at Cashierfs Inn in Cashiers, orth Carolina

1st wife: Pearl M. Benham Kaighn (1874-1948)

Raymond and Pearl were married on June 26, 1901, in Holyoke, MA. They are both buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia.

Both Raymond and Pearl were graduates of Hamline University in Minnesota.

No Children

2nd wife: Stella Taylor MacNaughten Kaighn (1886-1979)

Raymond and Stella were married on May 17, 1951, in the chapel of New York City's Union Theological Seminary. 

Stepson: Richard MacNaughten (who was the adopted son of Stella and Raymond MacNaughten)

Items of Interest

  • Attended the International YMCA Training School (now Springfield College) before enrolling at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1894 where he graduated from there in 1898.
  • Inducted into the inaugural class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the Original Team in 1959.
  • Attended the dedication of the new Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on November 6, 1961, on the campus of Springfield College in Massachusetts.
  • Was the second-longest surviving member of the Original Team members (Ernest G. Hildner passed away in 1968.)

Important Dates

1891-1892: Attended the International YMCA Training School (now Springfield College) 

1892-1893: General Secretary, YMCA, Rice Co, Minnesota

1893-1898: Student at Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota. Worked for state committee during two or three summer vacations. Served as the physical director during college.

1898: Graduated from Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota

1898-1899: Boys work director, YMCA, Haverhill, Massachusetts

1899-1901: General Secretary, YMCA, Holyoke, Massachusetts

1901: Appointed Managing Editor of "Association Men," a publication popular with members of the YMCA

1901-1902: With International Committee associated with Frank Ober in “Association Men”

1902-1905: Instructor in Pratt Institute High School, Brooklyn, New York, while also in graduate school at Columbia University. Earned a Master of Arts degree in 1905

1905-1911: Educational Director, YMCA, Bedford Branch, Brooklyn, New York

1911-1916: Industrial Secretary, International Committee of the YMCA

1917-1918: Director of the Personnel Bureau, War Work Council, New York City, New York

1918-1928: Personnel Secretary, International Committee, YMCA, New York City, New York

1921: Recipient of the Master of Humanics award presented to him by Springfield College)

1925: Named the first Secretary of the YMCA Retirement Fund

1926: President of the National Alumni Assoviation of Springfield College

1928-1940: Secretary, Retirement Fund, Young Men’s Christian Association

1935: Among the inaugural recipients of Springfield College Tarbell Medallion with Dr. James Naismith (Class of 1891), Martin I. Foss (Class of 1899), and Carl D. Smith (Class of 1914) *

* The Tarbell Medallion is given annually to an alumnus or alumna out of school at least twenty years who has demonstrated varied outstanding service over a period of time to his or her alma mater. Candidates will have also demonstrated dedication to the Humanics philosophy.

April 1, 1940: Retired from the YMCA Retirement Fund at he age of 70

1940: Chairman of the Instruction Committee of the Springfield College Board of Trustees

1941-42: Involved with the National YMCA Council in New York City

1942: Moved to Greensboro, North Carolina 

1942: Wrote the book "How to Retire abd Like It" (Association Press)

1945: Chairman of the Services and Miscellaneous Panel of the Greensboro, North Carolina War Price and Rationing Board.

1951: Revised second edition of "How to Retire abd Like It" (Association Press)

1952: Moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina with his second wife Stella.

General Facts