Living the Message... Honoring those who show Respect, Dignity,
Respect
Tony Riggs is a lifelong McKeesporter who goes above and beyond his neighborly duties to keep his part of the city’ s Seventh Ward in order.
Riggs, 64, is a jack of all trades – having worked in every field from carpentry to steel production to public transportation. But when he retired from the Port Authority of Allegheny County two years ago, Riggs started spending more time in his neighborhood.
“ About a year ago, I welcomed a new dog into my home,” he said.“ We go for walks every day, and I’ ve started paying attention. To be honest, there are times when I don’ t like what I see.”
Rather than complaining about the decline of his neighborhood, Riggs took it upon himself to turn negative emotions into positive action. Not only did he continue to maintain his property at a standard of which he can be proud, Riggs sought to help his neighbors do the same. He began mowing lawns for elderly and disabled neighbors, and he went on to trim grass and shrubs around abandoned homes and vacant lots.
“ It means something to me,” said Riggs,“ I do this on my own to make things easier and to make things better in my neighborhood.”
During the winter months, Riggs shovels paths for his neighbors – even paying close attention to rough spots in the road where snow plows can’ t quite navigate effectively.
“ That’ s the way it’ s supposed to be,” he said.“ When I came up, my mother and grandmother instilled in me to love and respect everybody. I can’ t make a person do what they don’ t want to do, but I will help anyone when I can.”
In his spare time, Riggs enjoys horticulture and jazz music. He has grown up to 75 varieties of plants in his home and yard, and he is learning to read music while sharpening his skills on the tenor saxophone.
“ You’ re only as young as you feel,” Riggs said.“ If you keep it moving, keep it real, and keep it honest, you will last a long time.”
cKeesport CITY OF MCKEESPORT NEWS
Dignity
42 McKeesport Area
In his youth, Ty-Meer Brown was a star McKeesport Area athlete who excelled on the football field and basketball court, as well as in the classroom. Today, he has returned to his home district to serve the community that helped to build his character.
When he graduated from McKeesport Area High School in 2010, Brown went on to earn a bachelor’ s degree in sociology at the University of Connecticut and a master’ s degree in sports administration at Boston College. He played football at both schools, and even joined the coaching staff in Boston.
“ That was one of the hardest things I’ ve done in my life,” Brown said.“ I commuted from Rhode Island seven days a week – waking up at 4 a. m. to go work 16 hours a day. I used to look forward to a 12 hour day, which felt like a break. I knew I had to stay dedicated and keep pushing toward what I wanted to accomplish.”
Brown knew he wanted to return to his hometown to work in his community. He presented an idea to the school board and athletic committee with a vision to mentor student athletes and kids enrolled in other extra-curricular programming.
“ These activities make students more well-rounded,” Brown said.“ Playing football focuses on discipline. It develops hard work and determination. Playing an instrument works a different part of your brain. It inspires creativity.”
As the Student Affairs assistant and a leader in the high school’ s new mentoring initiative, Brown works on personal development with his students. He attends games and events, and he is supportive of extra-curricular activities. He also monitors academics – making sure incoming freshmen understand the weight of their high school grades in terms of pursuing higher education.
“ A lot of kids quit when things get hard, but I want to tell them that it’ s not going to be hard forever,” he said.“ You have to push through it, and that’ s when you become successful.” Brown can relate to McKeesport Area students on a personal level.“ I can show kids that being present is half the battle,” he said.“ If someone from a different place comes in and reads them a rule book, it’ s different than someone who walked these halls telling them how it is.”