History made in Greenwood

Double amputee finishes half-ironman on prosthetic legs

October 2, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

Completing a half-ironman triathlon is a grueling process.
First, you have the 1.2 mile swim. Then it’s on to the 56-mile bike ride. Finally, you finish the race off with a daunting 13.1-mile run.
Now imagine how tough it would be if you were a double amputee.
Such was the case Sunday afternoon at Greenwood State Park. Scott Rigsby, of Atlanta, completed the fourth annual South Carolina Half-Ironman Triathlon in just more than seven hours, marking the first time in history that a double amputee has finished a half-ironman on prosthetic legs.
Rigsby was one of 400 athletes, male and female, that competed in the event organized by the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce. That number represented a sharp increase from the 250 who participated last year. Tri-athletes from 15 different states competed.
The overall male winner was Steve Riddle, of Atlanta, who came in at 4 hours, 15 minutes. The overall female winner was Christine Kester, of Duluth, Ga., who raced across the finish line in 4 hours, 42 minutes.
But the story of the day was the historic performance of Rigsby. Rigsby, who lost his legs because of complications following a car wreck several years ago, was the first man to complete an Olympic distance triathlon on prosthetics last year. Now, he can add a half-ironman to his credit.
“I feel absolutely fantastic,” Rigsby said. “My coach and I worked so hard for this. I’ve had so much support, really. A lot of people came up from Atlanta to support me and I really appreciate it.”
Rigsby said he hopes his first-ever performance will be an inspiration to other double amputees that would like to get into triathlons.
“I want people who are in my same situation to have the door opened for them,” Rigsby said. “It’s fine to ride a bike with a hand crank or use a wheelchair. But you have a choice in the prosthetics. I hope I was able to be a good example.”
Rigsby was more than a good example to those in attendance Sunday. As he came down the home stretch, running along at a steady clip, Rigsby received a thunderous ovation, one that continued for several minutes after he crossed the line. After a few minutes of medical treatment, Rigsby was up and around looking like he was ready for another go-around.
Besides his participation in triathlons, Rigsby is also a member of the Achilles Track Club, of New York, an organization that is a service to wounded veterans of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rigsby helps other amputees adjust and get active after returning home.
With Sunday’s race behind him, Rigsby has his next goal in mind already.
“I’m going to do an ironman in June in Idaho,” Rigsby said. “The people in that town really get into that race and I’ve had a goal of finishing that one for a while.”

Chris Trainor covers area sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com.

Opinion

Credibility, accountability must always go together

October 2, 2006

Credibility and accountability. Those are at least two crucial qualities South Carolina’s voters expect from the people they elect to represent them, from the White House all the way to city halls of every community in the state.
Actually, those two things have been under discussion in this state for years ..... especially accountability. However, accountability just won’t work in the absence of credibility.
That’s not something new, to be sure. It has been a factor in politics from the git-go. What is credibility? It’s simple. The dictionary defines it as “the quality or power of inspiring belief ..... capacity for belief.”
It’s not all that difficult for constituents to recognize those qualities in the people they elect.
Neither is it all that difficult to recognize when they are not there. President Abraham Lincoln was right. You may fool all of the people some of the time. You can even fool some of the people all of the time. But you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.

Obituaries

Joseph Wesley Brown

HONEA PATH — Joseph Wesley Brown, 83, of 308 Samuel Road, husband of Martha Wilma Sorrow Brown, died Saturday, September 30, 2006 at Hospice House of Anderson.
Born in Lincolnton, GA.; a son of the late George W. and Marie Henderson Brown. He was retired from Winn Dixie and was a U.S. Navy Veteran of W.W. II, where he served in the Pacific Theater. He was a member of First Assembly of God of Honea Path and the Sr. Saints Sunday School Class.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are a son, Tim Brown of Honea Path; a daughter Becky Brown of Honea Path; two sisters Earline Gaskin and Kathleen Cannon both of Greenwood; a brother Billy Brown of Greenwood; five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Memorial services will be 3:00 p.m. Monday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Harmon Adkins officiating.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home where the family will receive friends Sunday night from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Bessie Roe

WARE SHOALS — Bessie Collins Roe, 93, of 11240 Indian Mound Road, widow of Clarence Roe, died Sunday, October 1, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center. She was born in Spartanburg County, a daughter of the late Ira Hezzikiah and Lillie Thompson Collins. She was a member of Mt. Gallagher Baptist Church.
Surviving are: one son, Herman Noland, Ware Shoals, two daughters, Mrs. Edwin “Frances” O’Dell, Ware Shoals and Mrs. Al “Pearl” Muggie, Warner Robbins, Ga. and a sister, Elizabeth Siegel, Chesnee, S.C. Also, 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 pm Tuesday at Mt. Gallagher Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Marcus Bishop officiating. Burial will follow in church cemetery.
The family will be at their respective homes and will receive friends Monday, 7-9 pm at Parker-White Funeral Home.