A motivator who has tremendously impacted the direction of the business community in Rocky Mount, Fred Turnage has been a difference maker, said area business leaders.

His involvement in economic development and recruiting new business and industry to the area has positioned the city of Rocky Mount and the Twin Counties to move forward.

Telegram file photo (ENLARGE)

Rocky Mount mayor Fred Turnage addresses the crowd during a ceremony at Tarrytown Mall. The ceremony marked the beginning of the demolition of the mall to make way for construction of a Sam's Club.

Telegram file photo (ENLARGE)

Rocky Mount Mayor Fred Turnage, left, speaks at the groundbreaking for the first home at Ford's Colony Rocky Mount as Richard J. Ford Jr., chief executive of the Ford's Colony Communities, listens during the ceremony.

Carolinas Gateway Partnership President John Gessaman said Turnage was instrumental in helping form the partnership.

"He was one of the first people I met in the community," Gessaman said. "As it turns out, that was really in the last third of his tenure as mayor."

Gessaman said significant economic development events involving Turnage had transpired even before the partnership was formed.

"From my perspective, the formation of the partnership and Mayor Turnage's hand in that is most significant to me personally, but that was really only one thing that he had a hand in during his tenure as mayor," Gessaman said.

Turnage helped attract major employers to the city and had a hand in many of the other economic events that were positive, Gessaman said.

"The cooperation that exists among all of the jurisdictions in the Twin Counties has to be owed in some measure to Mayor Turnage's efforts and skills in bringing different parties together," Gessaman said. "The fact is that the reach of the city's utility system is far greater than it has ever been, and the city has expanded greatly – most recently through the addition of Ford's Colony and also New Standard, which is an economic development project that was annexed into the city recently."

Gessaman said he believes Turnage's skills as a negotiator, a leader and a doer have served the Twin Counties area in "an outstanding way" to bring about industrial growth.

"We can't forget the setbacks that we've had in the past decade, which have included the off-shoring of the textile industry and the devastation of the flood in 1999 to the point where now the economy in the area appears turned around," Gessaman said. "I think there are a lot of remarkable accomplishments for the mayor."

Boddie-Noell Enterprises Chairman Mayo Boddie Sr. said Turnage has always been a great ambassador for Rocky Mount.

"He has represented Rocky Mount very well," Boddie said. "He is a man of great integrity, morals and values.

"He will be truly missed by everyone. He is highly respected, a good communicator and a great negotiator – not like a lot of your typical politicians. He is just very well liked."

Boddie said he believes that no one could have served the city as mayor in the last 30 years better than Turnage.

"He leaves a real great legacy," Boddie said. "I hope whoever follows him will try to take some lessons from the things Turnage has done and accomplished."

Barden Winstead, manager of A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc.'s Rocky Mount office, moved to Rocky Mount in 1984 during Turnage's tenure as mayor.

"I have never known any mayor other than Fred," Winstead said. "I don't think there could be a city anywhere in America, similar to our size, that could have had a mayor who had more of a positive impact on the overall community than Fred Turnage."

Turnage understands the business world, Winstead said.

"Not only has Fred understood and made an impact on our business community, particularly in the area of economic development and recruitment, but Fred also is a friend to every other sector of the Rocky Mount community, especially the nonprofit area, as he has tirelessly given of his time, energy and counsel."

N.C. Rep. Bill Daughtridge, R-Nash, owner of Rocky Mount-based Daughtridge Gas, said Turnage is recognized in North Carolina as a leader.

"As I travel across the state, Rocky Mount is known for a number of things," Daughtridge said. "One of the things it is known for is Mayor Fred Turnage, who has a great reputation across the state.

"He's not only been our mayor but a leader of a variety of other issues throughout the state."

Having a stable political and business climate allows industries and people looking at opening new facilities in Rocky Mount to feel comfortable that they will be in good hands, Daughtridge said.

"Fred Turnage has provided us with that level of stability," Daughtridge said. "I think he has left the city in very good shape as far as a balanced economy, and that will be good for us pointing to the future."

Chambliss & Rabil Contractors Inc. Vice President Norman Chambliss III said there have been a lot of men and women who have had a major impact over the years on the direction of the business community in Rocky Mount.

"Fred Turnage would be at the top of the list of real difference makers when it comes to impacting business growth in a positive manner," Chambliss said.

The vitality of a community, from a business standpoint, is predicated on a perception of stability in government and a forward thinking attitude of progress, Chambliss said.

"As mayor, Fred Turnage has both created and projected a level of confidence in Rocky Mount that told the existing business community and prospective local businesses that we were headed in the right direction, and we were committed to doing things the right way," Chambliss said. "To be such a quiet man, Fred is one of the best I have ever seen at motivating those around him to find solutions to challenges in a forum where everyone was made to feel that their voice was heard and their positions were welcomed and appreciated.

"His gavel was no more than his genuine polite manners and not a wood hammer banged from the mayor's seat. As a businessman in this community for over 30 years, I owe a debt of gratitude to Fred for his role in making Rocky Mount a wonderful place to start and operate a small business."

Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman Russell Proctor said Turnage has played a valuable role in job creation and economic development in his 34 years as mayor.

"I can distinctly remember the valuable role he played in recruiting Consolidated Diesel Co. (located in Whitakers). He has been an integral part of ElectriCities," Proctor said.

"Fred has always worked with the business community. He played a unifying part in the creation of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership, which helped consolidate economic development between the two counties (Nash and Edgecombe) and the city of Rocky Mount. He has always provided a respected voice in Raleigh when needed," Proctor said.

Bill Batchelor, a former Rocky Mount city manager, said Turnage, during his tenure as mayor, was devoted to Rocky Mount and its well-being.

"In my view, Fred was the best ambassador the city ever had," Batchelor said. "He never missed a ribbon cutting, important meeting or a group coming to town.

"He gave of himself tirelessly to cut ribbons, to welcome people, to express condolences when needed and just generally served as the personification of someone who loved his city and represented it well."

Batchelor worked for the city for 37 years and for Rocky Mount-based Tuscarora Corp. for 17 years.

Batchelor said Turnage catapulted the city's best interest to the forefront.

"Probably to the detriment of his law practice, he gave of himself tirelessly," Batchelor said. "He was always available whenever he was needed in any situation.

"He always conducted himself in a manner that brought credit to both he and the city he represented."