The eight years George Biggs spent as a teacher and coach guide the way he approaches his position as director of the Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department.
"It was during that time that I established my creed for living: have your ducks in a row, choose your battles and be proactive," Biggs said.
For Biggs, coaching a winning team and running a whole department for a city with more than 30,000 people are remarkably similar. The different parts of his creed share common themes - planning, working with others and reacting to change - strategies that work on and off the field.
"Keeping your ducks in a row means developing a game plan. When you're in the middle of a game, you're working with other people and things are changing constantly throughout the game, and you really have to have a plan to start with and be continuously altering it to keep up with those changes," Biggs said. "Life is full of swift transitions, and you have to be ready for what comes at you.
"Being proactive means thinking ahead. When you're calling plays on the sidelines at a football game, you can't be thinking abut how the last play went wrong.
You still have to be prepared to call that next play," Biggs said. "So even when things don't go as planned, you have to move forward with the next event or activity or project." It has been one event, activity or project after another for Biggs since he became Parks and Recreationdirector in 1998. Biggs said he is proudest of projects like the Splash Zone aquatic park, dog park and disc golf course because they serve the entire community.
Jacksonville residents approached Biggs about building the disc golf course, and Biggs worked with them to get it constructed.
"I definitely enjoy working with the citizens. They come up with some great ideas," Biggs said. "We were actually approached about building an archery range, but we couldn't quite make that one work." For proof of the good Biggs has done for the community, City Administrator Jay Whisker pointed to another of Biggs' projects, the skate park outside of the Jacksonville Community Center.
"When parents come to use the center, they can leave their teenage kids outside, and they'll have something to do," Whisker said. "It creates a family atmosphere, and it's just a phenomenal thing that George has brought to the city of Jacksonville." Whisker said it only takes one look to tell that parks and recreation are more than just a job for Biggs.
"I mean, if you've seen George, he isn't somebody that takes parks for granted. If you've seen his physique, it's obvious that he believes that fitness is important," Whisker said. "He's this huge, towering, fit guy, so you know it's not just lip service.
"You know when he says something, you need to take it seriously. If he says to me I need to drink this or start lifting that, I say, 'OK George,' and I do it, because he knows what he's talking about."
Beyond his commitment to community projects and practicing what he preaches, Whisker said Biggs is just plain good at his job.
"Directing a whole parks department isn't easy in itself," Whisker said, "but George handles all of it, and problems don't make it over to the our office because he's already taken care of them."
If the mayor's office has gotten the impression that Biggs is on top of everything, he has certainly found a way to do so without putting that stress on his staff. The department's programs and services manager, Kristen Griggs, said Biggs is a great director who does not micro-manage. But Biggs isn't just a boss for Griggs, he's a mentor.
Griggs worked for the department in a part-time summer position, but little did she know that meeting Biggs would change her life. Griggs ended up switching her major to recreation for her bachelor's degree. To do so she had to change schools to Biggs' alma matter, Henderson State University, and is now pursuingher master's there.
"After that summer he would even call me while I was in college to see how I was doing. He took me under his wing and is one of my favorite people," Griggs said. "George once told me that all he asks for in return from me is that I help someone else - that alone shows his true character."
The people who fulfill that mentor role for Biggs are his family and his former high school and college instructors Kathy Muse and Alvin Futrell. Biggs joked that he was in such bad shape as a youngster that he needed two mentors instead of one.
"Them and my mom, my dad, my sisters - I can call on them today if I need advice, help or recommendations. They've always been there for me," Biggs said.
Outside of the office, Biggs has found other ways to serve the community over the years. He is on the Jacksonville Senior Center board of directors, the Jacksonville Community Bank advisory board and has been president of the Jacksonville Sertoma Club. He is vice president of the Jacksonville Hometown Health Coalition and adeacon at St. Mark Community Church.
He graduated from Henderson in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in education and in 1984 with a Master of Science in education. He coached at schools in Texarkana, Texas, and Queen City, Texas, where he also taught health, theater, arts and physical education. He was athletic director at Arkansas Baptist College and came to the Jacksonville Community Center in 1995 as a fitness specialist.
There is no real spare time for Biggs because he spends it in the gym, working out alongside his friends and neighbors.
"Gyms are a great place to meet people - dentists, doctors, lawyers - they all end up in the gym at some point or another, and you get to interact with them in a different venue," Biggs said. "It strengthens relationships, and you always want to build, strengthen and foster relationships." - awidner@ arkansasonline.commatter of fact Birthdate: 06/16/61 Occupation: Director of Parks and Recreation Family includes: Gail and Patrick Hobbies: Resistance training, reading, traveling My name comes from: My father Most people don't know I'm: Afraid of mice I cannot live without: Dessert My favorite memory is: The birth of my son, Patrick The world would be a better place if: We would love thy neighbor as thy self Favorite quote: Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
My goals for the future: Reach out and help someone along their journey
Three Rivers, Pages 125, 126 on 05/18/2008