By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

A long-time staple in the community may be retiring but his replacement is no stranger to Bucyrus.

Scott Arnold became the new owner of the accounting and financial planning firm, Pigman & Company. Jim Pigman retired after serving the financial needs of the community for over 40 years.

“I’m really glad to be back in town because I was born here and my family’s from here,” Arnold said during a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday. “The town’s been really giving me a warm welcome. It’s just nice to take over a quality practice that Jim’s had for so long. I appreciate that.”

Arnold is a certified public accountant and a certified management accountant. He also owns Tax Pro Accounting Services in Mansfield.

Pigman officially handed over the company on Oct. 3 but the transition has been bittersweet.

“I’ve had 41 wonderful years here,” Pigman said. “I truly love my clients. The hardest part of passing it on is clients become friends. I’m very concerned about them, both financially as well as health-wise and on down the line.”

Though Pigman has had many happy moments during his 41 years in Bucyrus, he said there are disadvantages to living and working within a community that long.

“Make too many trips to the funeral homes anymore,” Pigman said. “A lot of these people were not young when I came to town. I’ve found there are very loyal people in Bucyrus. They’re extremely loyal to me and to my team here. It’s hard; it’s really hard to walk away from it. I never dreamt it would be this hard.”

Pigman said the accounting and tax side of things change every day and he began to question whether he could continue to be at the top of his game.

“I guess at 67 (years old), I said how fast can you deprogram and reprogram. It’s time. It really is.”

As Pigman enters retirement he said he will take the time to spoil his six-month-old granddaughter as well as his three older grandchildren. Though he also has plans to travel, Pigman said he will still be looking for ways to stay active in the community.

“I’m not going to abandon our community. It’s been a great place for our family and to raise my children. We’ve been extremely happy here.”

Pigman may want to stay active within the community but he isn’t making any concrete plans right now. As he said, he won’t be “making any decisions until the last snowflake melts in the springtime.” During that time he will be taking the time to reflect on what he really wants to do and to set some goals.

Deb Pinion, Director of the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce, said the community appreciated what Pigman had done over the years and congratulated Arnold on taking over the business.

Pigman & Company is located at 201 W. Charles St., Bucyrus. For more information call 419-562-6286 or visit http://www.pigmanandcocpa.com/.