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To name the baseball field associated with the Calhoun Community Center and located at 300 Calhoun Street in the city of Richmond as “William ‘Bo’ Jiggetts Field.”
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WHEREAS, the City Council has from time to time found it appropriate to name or rename City-owned streets and facilities for historic and honorific reasons; and
WHEREAS, naming athletic fields after prominent individuals is a noted way to commemorate the lives and contributions of certain individuals; and
WHEREAS, William Jiggetts, a late citizen of Richmond’s Jackson Ward community, showed exemplary leadership and commitment to the City of Richmond and the youth of Jackson Ward and especially Gilpin Court, through his many endeavors including service as a coach, mentor, friend, and father to those in need; and
WHEREAS, William Jiggetts, known as “Coach Bo” throughout the Gilpin Court neighborhood, began volunteering as a youth sports coach with the Calhoun Community Center in 1982, and passionately taught respect for sports and the life lessons derived from them; and
WHEREAS, a highlight of his youth coaching career came in 2014 when he was part of the coaching staff of the Calhoun Cougars football team, who, as perennial underdogs, became the champions of the junior division in the City’s recreation center youth football tournament; and
WHEREAS, for over 37 years, William Jiggetts was dedicated to the children of the community, not only as a coach but also as a provider of supplies, shoes, clothes, rides, and sound advice, and never received a penny for his dedication, as his acts of service came from his heart; and
WHEREAS, while William Jiggetts passed away in 2020, his legacy and spirit will always be present at the athletic fields of the Calhoun Community Center and in the lives of the many young people whose lives he touched; and
WHEREAS, sections 8-7 through 8-10 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, generally prescribe a process for the naming of City facilities, including recreation facilities such as the baseball field associated with the Calhoun Community Center and located at 300 Calhoun Street; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes that it is in the best interests of the citizens of the City of Richmond that the baseball field associated with the Calhoun Community Center and located at 300 Calhoun Street be named as “William ‘Bo’ Jiggetts Field” without the necessity for strict compliance with the requirements set forth in sections 8-7 through 8-10 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That, notwithstanding the provisions of sections 8-7 through 8-10 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, or any other law to the contrary, the baseball field associated with the Calhoun Community Center and located at 300 Calhoun Street in the city of Richmond be and is hereby named as “William ‘Bo’ Jiggetts Field.”
§ 2. That, in order to effectuate the provisions of section 1 of this ordinance, the Chief Administrative Officer shall (i) cause the appropriate City agency to prepare and erect signs appropriately marking “William ‘Bo’ Jiggetts Field,” (ii) request that all City agencies note such naming in the records maintained by each such agency, and (iii) take all other appropriate actions to effectuate the naming of the baseball field associated with the Calhoun Community Center and located at 300 Calhoun Street as “William ‘Bo’ Jiggetts Field.”
§ 3. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.