Frank Bigger: ‘I can't believe I’m the mayor’ By George Jared, The Jonesboro Sun
Jan. 4, 2010 POCAHONTAS — Early in Frank Bigger’s career he got a profound piece of advice from a man who would become the founder of one of the largest companies ever created. At the time Bigger [Iota Theta 168] worked at Magee Frames and was making a sales call on Sam Walton, who would build Wal-Mart stores all over the globe. “I said to him, ‘Mr. Walton, you don’t want to buy some picture frames, do you?” Bigger said. “He told me ‘no,’ and that the next time I came to see him, I needed to be positive and bring him something unique.” Bigger said he hopes his positive management style will settle well in Pocahontas, where on Monday he served his first day as mayor. He replaces 2-term mayor Gary Crocker, who opted not to seek a third term. It’s the first political office the 67-year-old has ever held, he said. “I know its sounds corny, but I love this town, and my family has been here for generations,” he said. A graduate of Arkansas State University, Bigger retired as president from what is now Pinnacle Frame and Accent in 1996. During his career he was also a part-time bank owner and has owned cattle farms. Bigger has also served in several civic capacities including a stint on the Black River Technical College board of trustees. Over the next few years Bigger said he thinks many counties, cities and states will have severe financial problems, and he wants to make sure Pocahontas continues to have balanced budgets. “We’re going to be challenged,” he said. Fewer grants and other programs will be available as state and federal budgets tighten, he said. Rumors that some city employees may be fired are false, he said. Toward the end of this week he said he’ll meet with department heads and conduct and evaluations. Bigger said he thinks Crocker did a good job as mayor, and he likely would not have run if Crocker wanted another term. Besides fiscal responsibility, Bigger said his other primary goal is job creation. Attracting a major manufacturer may be difficult, but warehousing and distribution jobs are a possibility, he said. “I’m going to work closely with the Chamber of Commerce and the Intermodal Authority,” he said. Bigger’s wife, Sandra “Kaye,” is a retired school teacher. The couple has two sons, Ben and Brock, and four grandchildren. In his spare time Bigger collects Civil War firearms. One of his revolvers belonged to his great-grandfather, B.F. Bigger, who delivered mail across Northeast Arkansas during the war. B.F. Bigger was 12 when he started making his rounds from rural Randolph County to Salem in Fulton County. Sitting in the mayor’s office just moments after officially taking over Monday morning was “surreal,” Bigger said. He said he thinks this might be the last great chapter in a full life. “I can’t believe I’m the mayor,” he said, grinning. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
