By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Dr. James Driggars received the Clanton Evening Lions Club’s Pillar of the Community on Feb. 18 during the Miss Chilton County pageant.

“This award is one of the most precious awards that I have ever received,” Driggars said.

Clanton Evening Lions Club president Glenda Strength presented Driggars with a plaque of appreciation.

“He has also done a lot of service for our community and he has been in the background helping with a lot of things that go on in our county that we don’t know anything about,” Strength said.

Driggars, a member of the daytime Lions Club, said the Evening Lions Club does a lot for the community.

“To be mentioned in the same breath as these people of the Lions Club is an honor that is just a wonderful thing to me,” Driggars said. “I accept this very gratefully, and I accept it very humbly.”

Driggars recently retired after 41 years in optometry.

“There are a lot of people out here that were patients of mine,” Driggars said. “It was a pleasure for me, but it was also an honor for me, for you to allow me to take care of you and to take care of your most precious possession, and that’s your vision.”

During the presentation, Driggars also had some advice for the younger members of the audience. He encouraged them not to let anyone stop them from pursuing what they want to do.

Driggars said from fourth grade he “struggled with what we know now was a very serious learning disability.”

“Each day has been a challenge. I was told to quit a lot of times,” Driggars said.

He said despite it being hard good teachers and friends helped him through.