Park in honor of memory of revered Beckley supporters

Village builds pocket park

Dr. Thomas Warren Jarrett lived a rich, full life.

When he died on October 22, 2023, Jarrett left the loving family, friends and colleagues and a community that was blessed and strengthened by his presence – as well as a litany of professional and personal achievements that were achieved during a successful journey through life.

For the former orthodontist and long -time community leader of Daniels, however, an impressive curriculum vitae was almost as important as his friends and his community, Dr. Mike Kominsky, one of these friends, on Thursday.

“He was exactly the guy who liked to do things under the cover of darkness,” said Kominsky, who over the years made a friendship with Jarrett, based on a common love for nature and gardening. “He did not look for the awards or did not want to be honored for what he did.

“He was always instrumental in embellishing Beckley; Beckley was his passion.”

“He was really in family and hometown and really wanted to see how Beckley manages it,” added Kominsky. “He was a wealthy man, but his wealth was really his friends. He never always wanted to lose contact. … friendship was everything for him.”

Pete Torrico II – another friend of Jarrett, Kominsky and others helped to manage Tom Jarrett Memorial Park on the Raleigh County Memorial Airport Property under the patronage of the Beckley Area Foundation, and in connection with Bob Runion and the airport, the park said a suitable commemorative memorial to Jarrett in which it has an impact to recognize the Becky area, and in the pelvis in which he had in the area of ​​the companion.

Torrico, a lifelong resident of Beckley, who had a permanent friendship with Jarrett, said that he and Jarrett are simply “just good buddies”.

According to Torrico, the first phase of the recent project of the Beckley Area Foundation included a gravel property at the Raleigh County Airport pond with paving, installation of a robust, bear-resistant garbage, which by J & J production by Beckley, a new hand-pier pier with jarretts, a new hand and a new man Handics pier can recognize. The installation of a waterfall in the middle of the pond is also included in the efforts.

The pond is a special regulatory area that is monitored by the WVDNR Wildlife Resources section. “This is a DNR-saxony pond,” said Torrico. “They came in, lowered the lake, cleared it out and took out the entire vegetation.” The DNR regularly offers the pond.

Phase 2 includes protection that is available, but is waiting for the placement of a metal roof. The terrain will finally include a 4 -foot hiking trail around the lake, Torrico said.

The parking project was financed by an earmark (on site) from the BAF, which is based on 250,000 US dollars, which was talented by the organization from Jarrett's will and quickly matches the public. Family and friends for future work have recently collected more money, said Carrico.

Teamo, who helped Jarrett to form the popular chili night in Beckley, said that the goal was to insert the facility for children, disabled people and veterans for fishing. “Everything is handicapically accessible,” he said.

Torrico emphasized that an organization called SAW (service and witness), a group of pensioners who build handicap ramps free of charge for people who cannot afford themselves, built the 8-foot pier of 50 feet and the protective helper without working, whereby the locals made the materials available.

The project “fits all passions from Tom: fishing, flying, only outdoors outdoors,” said Kominsky, who added that Jarrett was “somehow just an infectious type”.

“We were after neighbors,” added Kominsky. “Our gardening brought us together. He had a small garden in Glade Springs and I went through every spring and helped him start. He invited me to work with him. That was just our passion, gardening and enjoyed life and also hiked.”

In the future, wildflowers and some trees or bushes will be added to the project, said Kominsky.

Tom Jarrett Memorial Park will be inaugurated on June 27 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Dena Cushman, Executive Director of BAF, said it was a worthy project for the organization and the community.

“It is one of our larger projects we carried out and we were looking for larger, effective projects,” she said. “Dr. Jarrett was one of our former board members and a friend. So that means a lot for the foundation to do this in his honor.

“It also helps people who want to use the park.” She also said that the project benefits the airport because it serves as a successful embellishment project.

Cushman said Jarretts wanted to deliver 250,000 US dollars to the foundation with the determination that it corresponds to the public. In addition to the expression of some funds for the Memorial Park project, the remaining means are used to use more foundations, she said.

Jarrett's children also created a fund on his name at the time of his death.

Further information on Thomas W. Jarrett Memorial Fund, which was founded by his children in memory of Jarrett or to start a similar fund or to leave a legacy in the name of a family member or friend, contact BAF at 1210 South Kanawha, Beckley, WV 25801, call BAF at 304-253-3806 or email info@bafv.org an.

A local fisherman, the 25-year-old Brendon Mann from Beckley, was out of the new pier in the park among the fishermen on Thursday. Mann, who has been tied to wheelchair users since 2021, said he appreciates the improvements in the park and explains that fishing is easier for him.

“I love to fish,” said man. “This pond taught me patience. Because they don't catch one every time they fishing. They just have to hold out.

• • •

In 1977 Jarrett, a graduate of the Greenbrier Military School, moved to Beckley and opened his orthodontic practice in 1968, who pursued his post -notary training at the WVU and at St. Louis University. According to his biographical information, he was an active member of the tooth community and the area of ​​Beckley. He was a member of the American Dental Association and the WV Dental Association as well as a member of the American Association of Orthodontics and former President of the WV Association of Kiefer Orthopedics. Jarrett was also in the committees of the New River Dental Society and the Southern Association of Orthodontics, diplomat of the International College of Dentists and diplomat of the American Board of Kieferkopedia. He was also a faculty at the WVU School of Dentistry in the orthodontic department for over 30 years.

Apart from the academics, he loved his community and wanted to see them blooming, friends remember. He was a member of the Beckley Area Foundation Board of Director, which was decisive in the construction of the YMCA Youth Soccer Complex, the founder of the Citizen Southern Bank and the developer of the Brookshire Professional Park. He was also involved in the WV striker as an economic development tool. He was a author of Chili Night, a volunteer for Mac's Toy Fund, who was involved in the Friedens -Totem, the Hardware -Restaurant from Foster began, contributed to the Folk project and the Operation backpack, as well as a lawyer and supporter of the Humane Society in Raleigh County Humane Society.

Both Torrico and Kominsky showed Jarrett's love for nature and nature this week. He was appointed DNR commissioner by the governor. He loved fishing, hiking, golf and bike. He was the founder of the Glade Creek Trout Association, a master golfer, a youth sports trainer and a devoted father.

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