AHOSKIE – Despite eight months removed from his death, Arthur Lee Wiggins remains alive in the minds of those who fondly cherish the life of this hard-working public servant.

Wiggins, Ahoskie’s longtime Chamber of Commerce Director and a former four-term Mayor of the town, passed away in May of last year. Now, his former colleagues and friends are planning an annual event where his name will live forever.

Plans are underway for the inaugural Arthur Lee Wiggins Memorial Golf Tournament. Proceeds from this first-time event, scheduled for April 8 at Tuscarora Greens near Winton, will benefit the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce.

&uot;There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t stop and think of Arthur Lee and what he meant to this town,&uot; said current Ahoskie Chamber Director Phyllis Frymier. &uot;Arthur Lee loved Ahoskie and the people here loved him right back.&uot;

With that in mind, Frymier set out on a quest of how to keep Wiggins’ memory alive.

&uot;I wanted to come up with an event that would keep Arthur Lee’s name out in front of the public,&uot; she stated. &uot;Judging from the way he always kept busy promoting Ahoskie, I don’t think Arthur Lee had time for golf, but he did enjoy the spirit of competition and he did enjoy seeing people have a good time.&uot;

Thus, the idea of the Wiggins Memorial tournament was born.

At a meeting last week, tournament organizers joined with Frymier in finalizing the details of the event. Tee time for a shotgun start at Tuscarora Greens is set for 12 noon on April 8. There will be 18 holes of &uot;Superball&uot; golf for four-person teams. Entry fee is $200 per team.

All participants will receive a golfer’s gift, use of a cart and two meals – a bagged lunch and a catered awards dinner. Prizes will be awarded for first and second place, gross and net. Other prizes include closest to the pin and longest drive.

The field is limited to 20 teams. As of last week, three teams had already entered. The registration deadline is April 1.

In addition, the Ahoskie Chamber is seeking hole sponsorships. Those are priced at $25 or $50. Also, items are being sought to offer in a raffle.

To register a team, contact either the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce at 332-2042 or Tuscarora Greens at 358-4671.

For more information concerning hole sponsorships or to donate a raffle item, call Frymier at the Chamber office (332-2042).