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Posted: Dec 31, 2019 8:03 AMUpdated: Dec 31, 2019 9:03 AM
Best of 2019: Community Supports Rigdon Family
Over the next few days we will highlight some of the best stories from the calendar year across Osage, Washington and Nowata counties, as our year in review will continue until 2020.
The passing of Bartlesville High Athletic and Activities Director Spence Rigdon was one of the stories that defined sports in the Bartlesville area the past year.
Rigdon passed away on Nov. 4 after a multi-year battle with stage four colon cancer.
Rigdon had been serving as AD at Bartlesville since the early summer of 2018. He had taken a similar job at Collinsville before the Bruin job opened up.
Rigdon had spent 13 years as the head coach of the Bartlesville baseball program before his stint as AD. He as a Bruin to the end, a 1991 Bartlesville High graduate. He was also a Doenges Ford Indian in his playing days, and had spent time on the legion staff as well.
There was a terrific outpouring of community support for Rigdon’s family in his final days, as his friends started a fund to raise money to take care of his medical bills. About 100-thousand dollars were raised. During a Bruin Football Coach’s show at Dink’s Pitt BBQ, Rigdon’s son Bradee thanked the community.
The search for a new athletic director is underway, but Rigdon will not be forgotten, as BPS announced that the new turf at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium will now be called Rigdon Field going forward.
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