WS Chronicle

Over the years, Ben Piggott has been honored many times for his work in the community.  Now that he is retired from the Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department, the honors have not stopped.  Piggott was honored with the Rhythms of Triumph Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of service Friday, Feb. 2 at the Greensboro Coliseum.

The Rhythms of Triumph, a celebration of Black History Month, has held this annual event for 18 years.  It is sponsored by McDonald’s and 97.1 WQMG in order to merge the concepts of music and community but more importantly to honor the unsung heroes in the community.

Piggott was honored along side three other Triad winners.  Phyllis Ann Bridges was the High Point winner, Nora Jones was the Greensboro winner and Precious Quire-McCloud was the Winston-Salem winner.

During his acceptance speech, Piggott touched on his focus of helping children and the elderly throughout his time with the Recreation and Parks Department.  He said he was humbled by the award.

“It feels good and it is a mission for people to do certain things,” Piggott said.  “You don’t do things for awards, you do things to help people, and I am honored.

“I think that it is everyone’s mission, to try and find a way to make matters better for the calling you have from God,” he continued.  “Everyone has a calling and I feel that when you do things from the heart, it’s not about the money; it’s about changing lives, and that makes me feel good.”

For Piggott, he thinks receiving this award just confirms his need to work harder to help others.  Even though he is retired he says this will give him more time to focus on helping even more people.

As a young man, Piggott says, he thought he was going to be a longtime teacher in the school system.  Once the opportunity at the Recreation and Parks Department opened up to him, he took full advantage.

“When I first started I never thought I would end up here, but to be honest, this is very nice and humbling,” he said.

Joining Piggott at the ceremony was Recreation and Parks Department District Supervisor Gary Lash.  He says this was an award well deserved for Piggott.

“This honor for Ben Piggott is a culmination of everything he has always done,” he said.  “This is a lifetime achievement award and he has spent a lifetime going out and helping people in anyway he can.

“He has been such a positive influence on the community and it is good to see him recognized by others outside of those who are close to him,” he continued.

Another guest of Piggott’s was Gregory Hunter. He added, “Mr. Piggott is a walking legend and we are all here to celebrate him.  I could not think of anyone more deserving of this honor.”