Ollie Toomey dies
By Dennis Hill
Published in News on March 15, 2015 1:50 AM
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Ollie Toomey
WINSTON-SALEM -- Oliver "Ollie" Toomey, a former director of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and a fixture on the county's business and civic scene for half a century, died Friday.
He was 96.
Toomey died in hospice care following a stroke last week. He was remembered by friends and colleagues as a smiling, gentle, unassuming man with a strong work ethic.
He served as director of the Chamber of Commerce from 1963 until 1984.
"Ollie was just a wonderful person, dedicated to our community, just a fine gentleman," said Dr. Ed Wilson, former president of Wayne Community College and a former president of the chamber. "He brought a lot of professionalism to the chamber."
"He gave his heart and soul to this community," said Jimmie Edmundson, another former chamber president. "Whether it was education or business development, he was always looking for the best solution for the community. He never took credit for anything. He was the salt of the earth."
Toomey had the ability to get people motivated, to get things done, said Keith Gunnet, who also served as president of the chamber.
"Ollie had a really great demeanor," Gunnet said. "He always had a smile on his face. He was a rare bird, really. He really pushed this community forward."
Toomey was so well thought of by chamber officials that they named an award after him. The Ollie Toomey Outstanding Service Award, created two years ago, recognizes someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to Wayne County.
Toomey was a native of Dover, Ohio. After graduating from Colgate University, he served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Later, he worked in his family's business, but decided to eventually sell it and moved to Savannah, Ga., his wife's hometown. There he began working for the Savannah Chamber of Commerce, which he did for a number of years.
He and his wife, Betsy, eventually decided to move to Goldsboro, where he became head of the chamber here. He is credited with strengthening the organization, including helping create and foster its Military Affairs Committee.
Following his retirement, Toomey remained involved in the community. His love of volunteering came naturally. He told The News-Argus soon after his retirement that he learned to love volunteering while he was still in private business.
"It was service over and above the work-a-day world," Toomey said in 1985. "I felt I would be fulfilled a great deal by serving the whole community rather than just a family business venture."