Coach Don Riggs

Don Riggs, 73, longtime Jonesboro High School coach and athletic administrator, died at his home Friday.

Riggs spent more than 40 years at JHS, serving as head football coach from 1965 until 1987. During that span, his teams won two state championships, were three time state runner-ups and won eight conference championships. He was head coach of two state all-star teams, winning both times and was selected as the state coach of the year in 1970. He retired from coaching in 1987 after 26 years as the winningest active football coach in the state and became Jonesboro School District's athletic director. During his 21 year tenure in that role, he oversaw many improvements in facilities district wide including building a new baseball field; improvements to Cooksey-Johns Football field; the building of an indoor football/band facility; and improvements to athletic facilities at all the elementary schools. Prior to coming to Jonesboro High School, Riggs served five seasons at Mountain Home High School as head football coach. His first team there finished 10-0.

As a player, Riggs excelled in all sports and was a four-sport letterman at Jonesboro High School and Arkansas State University. He was widely known as one of the outstanding high school football running backs in the country, being chosen to the Arkansas all-state team as a junior and was named to a high school All-American team as a senior. He was also a member of the famed 1954 undefeated basketball team. He was widely recruited and ultimately chose Arkansas State College (ASU) where he played football as a running back, fullback and kick returner. At ASU, he also played baseball as an outfielder with a career .309 batting average; ran track, running the 100 and 200 dashes, routinely running the 100 yard dash in 9.8 to 9.9 seconds; and basketball in which he lettered. He was selected to the Arkansas State University Hall of Honor in 1986 where he was honored as one of the few four-sport lettermen in the schools history. He was a member of Magnolia Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Kay Riggs of the home; four daughters and two step-daughters, Donna Wilson, Pam Troutt, Libby Mackey, all of Jonesboro and Dee Dee Sparks of Kennett, Mo.; Hali Weeks of the home; and Elyse Weeks of Maynard; nine grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Dustin Miles, Scott Troutt, Amanda Troutt, Brynn Beck, Samantha Mackey, Hope Sparks, Darby Sparks, Mason Taylor and Quinton Taylor. He was proceeded in death by one daughter, Mary Ann Riggs; one brother, Bill Riggs; two sisters, Georgia Gaither and Lois Brown; and his parents, Simon and Zona Riggs.

The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 at Emerson Funeral Home with Rev. Emil Williams presiding and Steve Ewart giving the eulogy. Visitation will be held Saturday evening from 6-9 at Emerson Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will include Dick House, Gary Pitts, Gaylon Pitts, Jim Devazier, Terry Trotter and Jeremy Moore. Honorary pallbearers will include all coaches, past and present at Jonesboro High School and all players of Riggs coached teams.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that contributions be made to the Jonesboro High School Athletic Department or to the Magnolia Bapitst Church.

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