The Warren County Commission showed its appreciation for newly retired TCAT Welding Technology instructor Raymond Rigsby Tuesday night.
At the County Commission meeting, Rigsby was in for a bit of a surprise. He was under the impression one of his students was being recognized, but that was just a clever way to get him to the meeting. Commissioner Randy England acted like he was going to recognize student Jacob Blankenship, but then called Rigsby to the podium.
“I had to do that, because I am going to be in a lot of trouble. I guess when you tell someone a story you have to answer for it. I am going to ask Raymond Rigsby to come up here,” said England. “I have a resolution expressing appreciation to Raymond Rigsby for his years of service in Warren County.”
England presented Rigsby with a resolution expressing appreciation for all he has done for the community. Rigsby served as instructor in Welding Technology at TCAT for 14 years and retired on Jan. 3. Before that, Rigsby owned and managed his own welding business based in the Walling community for more than 30 years.
The resolution states, “Mr. Rigsby served his country honorably in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War, where he applied his skills with patriotic devotion in assuring the fitness, readiness and proper maintenance of combat operation vehicles to support America’s military mission during the years 1966 to 1969; and whereas, after graduating high school, he enrolled in the venerable Nashville Diesel College, where he studied the most advanced technology in automotive mechanics while supporting his education by working a number of after-school jobs including washing dishes at restaurants; and whereas, he was engaged as the first full time employee of the locally-owned Bouldin and Lawson Company in the manufacture of specialty nursery industry equipment, thereby promoting local and area economic progress and employment opportunities; and whereas, Mr. Rigsby, with the courage, confidence and work ethic of the American entrepreneur, established his own business in metal fabrication and welding in the Walling community of White County and successfully managed that enterprise for more than 30 years, during which time he freely and generously donated much of his time and material to help neighbors and strangers, especially the elderly and disadvantaged; and whereas, although he was entitled to an honorable and untroubled retirement, he accepted duties as an instructor in welding technology at TCAT-McMinnville, an obligation he fulfilled with the highest level of professionalism, commitment and integrity until his recent retirement, during which time he worked tirelessly to train his students not only in the manual and mental discipline of welding but also in the moral and ethical obligations of good citizenship and American character; and whereas Mr. Rigsby was a role model and inspiration to students by virtue of his exceptional genius in metalworking design and construction, always with total commitment to quality, durability and service; and whereas he was a driving force and architect in the creation and successful operation of the welding technologies program at Warren County High School as well as the TCAT expansion in Coffee County, creating the skills-training advantage that continues to support high-quality employment in our area, with benefits enriching individuals, families and communities far into the future; and whereas the Tennessee Board of Regents, in a resolution adopted Dec. 12, 2023, honored Mr. Rigsby with the highly distinctive and prestigious Faculty Emeritus designation in recognition of “his exemplary service to TCAT McMinnville;" and whereas, in additional to his instructional duties at TCAT, he supported the business and public-service community as he offered expertise in repairing and fabricating highly specialized industrial components not readily available through normal commercial channels; and whereas Mr. Rigsby was one of those extraordinary and gifted teachers who served out of a deep personal commitment to the success and wellbeing of all of his students and who spared no effort or time to help those students, especially the ones burdened by difficulties and challenges in their personal lives.”
After the reading of the resolution, Rigsby received a standing ovation. “I want to thank everyone for this. I don’t deserve it,” said Rigsby. “When I start a job, I want to finish it. Most of you know I have a health problem that is causing me to stop. I was planning on retiring in April, but I don’t think I would have retired when April got here because I love what I do. I love my students. They are number one in my book.”
Rigsby then thanked his wife for all she does for him. “My wife can tell you that. They are number one and she is number two,” joked Rigsby. “I take that back. Through all these problems I am having she is helping me so much. There is no man that can have any better woman. She has been a wife and now she is nurse. I thank her and I thank every one of you.”
