Bigfork walker has lifetime of ideas

By ALEX STRICKLAND - Bigfork Eagle

Don Diggins is an idea man.

The 79 year-old Bigfork man's life is filled with one innovation after another that has taken him across the world and through a variety of industries.

Diggins is a familiar face to those around town. He walks everywhere he goes and spares no passing car from his friendly wave.

"I wave because it could be someone I know in that car," he said.

Diggins, who moved to Bigfork 14 years ago from Southern California, has worked a variety of jobs in his life but usually in systems design. His work at the Burroughs Company, now UNISYS, produced the first check sorting machine and paved the way for checks to become an everyday part of life. His work revolved around the small magnetic numerals at the bottom of checks and variations of his work are still in use in banks around the world today.

Growing up in Hollywood, Diggins had an eye for hot cars and pioneered the "chop top" style on a 1934 Ford. Another of his inventions was the "Aussi-Cat," a small catamaran sailboat with a pop-up shelter built into the deck.

But just because Diggins has retired from the working world doesn't mean he's given up thinking about the future and ways to make it better.

"One idea I have is a mister for the forests in Montana," he said.

The idea is to float ice crystals on sound waves to cool temperatures and prevent rampant wildfires.

"My brother and I worked for a company in Hollywood and felt sound waves," he said. "It was so strong I couldn't open my eyelids."

When Diggins made the move to Bigfork he had never laid eyes on the place, relying instead on his brother's assessment of a number of small towns around the West that might be good spots to retire.

He arrived hoping to move into the Little John Apartments, but found himself on a waiting list. Just glad to be in Montana, Diggins spent the next three months camping in Wayfarer's State Park until an apartment came up.

Now, halfway between the market and the Village with a head full of ideas, Diggins is content to walk nearly everywhere. "It's the only thing that really keeps me alive," he said. "I hope that's another 20 years."

Though he isn't as involved in the community as he used to be - he did the community players for seven or eight years - Diggins still enjoys being a part of what he calls a "great volunteer community."

"I moved in and have been happy ever since," he said.

And the best part? No surprise here: "I can walk everywhere."