Western Massachusetts political leader, publisher, and banker John W. Haigis Senior (1881-1960), a Trustee of the University of Massachusetts 1940-1956, was the founder, editor, and publisher of the Greenfield Recorder, 1912-1928; founder of radio station WHAI, Greenfield, 1938; Director and President of the Franklin County Trust Co.; President of Massachusetts Trust Company Association; and Treasurer and Trustee of Deerfield Academy. In his political career he was successively Town Treasurer, Tax Collector, Assessor, and Water Commissioner for the town of Montague, 1903-1908; State Representative, 1909-1913; State Senator, 1913-1915 and 1923-1927; and State Treasurer, 1929-1930. He was the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1934 and for Governor in 1936 when Alf M. Landon was the Republican candidate for President of the United States.