By: Jennifer Britt
The Parsons Advocate
After 12 years of service to Tucker County residents Commissioner Lowell Moore is retiring from his seat on the Tucker County Commission. During those 12 years his fondest memory is the support of citizens of Tucker County and being elected to serve two terms as their commissioner.
Moore was raised on Pifer Mountain by his parents Engle and Gaye (Fitzwater) Moore, attended Pifer Mountain School, which he now owns, and graduated from Parsons High School. After high school Moore married his wife, Donna, and together they would raise a family of two sons and a daughter while continuing to live on Pifer Mountain. Those children would later bless the couple with eight grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren.
He was motivated to run for Commissioner by his desire to continue to serve the public after retiring from his 32 years in employment with the West Virginia Department of Highways as the Tucker County Maintenance Supervisor and then the Highway Maintenance Assistant at District 8 in Elkins.
Other motivation came from wanting to improve the medical coverage, in Tucker County, due to the loss of the hospital and finding funding for the Tucker County EMS service. Moore was saddened when the EMS ordinance was abolished but has hopes that the future funding for EMS will be able to support three crews 24/7 with wages comparable to other occupations. Moore said, “My goal in life was to serve the public and that has not changed.”
Moore believes the biggest supporters during his two terms were the citizens of Tucker County and his greatest accomplishments were the passing of the EMS Ordinance, repairing of the Parsons dike, and instillation of the Information Board in front of the courthouse. Moore did not do all of this alone and has worked with six different Commissioners as well as many others during his two six-year terms.
Moore said, “I want to thank each of the six different commissioners I have served with and the two different commission administrators, all the elected officials in the courthouse and all the county employees, past and present, all that have been part of the improvement of Tucker County.”
Moore continued by adding thanks to, “All EMS employees and all First Responders for keeping us safe, and all county board members who serve and are never recognized. I want to also thank Parsons Fire Chief/OEM Director Kevin White for his support and direction.”
Moore’s fellow commissioners and co-workers wished him well and thanked him for his years of service to the county and its residents. Commissioner Mike Rosenau said, “Thank you for all of your years of service to Tucker County and its residents. You have done a great job through your hard work and dedication.”
Commissioner Fred Davis said, “I enjoyed working with Lowell. He taught me a lot. He put a lot of time into this in the county. I wish him well.”
Commissioner Elect Tim Knotts said, “Thank you for a great job. You will be truly missed, and I wish you well on your next endeavors.”
Tucker County Administrator Shelia DeVilder said, “It has been a pleasure working with Lowell for the past few years and I thank him for sharing information and knowledge from his experience in County government and business. I appreciate his hard work and dedication to the citizens of Tucker County.”
Tucker County Clerk Sherry Simmons said, “I have had the honor of working with Lowell for 12 years, his dedication to Tucker County is greatly appreciated. I wish Lowell and Donna many years of happy retirement, traveling and spending time with their family”.
In his 12 years as a commissioner Moore has worked as a team on the following projects that have been accomplished in Tucker County and he said, “I am proud of being part of these accomplishment’s.”
Improvements made in Tucker County the past 12 years:
- New Annex
- Courthouse restored inside and out
- New concrete cake walk pad at the courthouse
- New donated animal shelter house, also one extra building at the shelter
- Paved driveway to the shelter
- New septic system at the shelter
- New VA Clinic
- Old VA Clinic remolded for the T. C. Health Department
- New lighting for the Senior Center
- Paving of the Senior Center Parking Lot
- Purchased property behind the Health Department to accommodate a larger parking lot and drive through for vaccinations if needed
- New EMS Station II, at Davis, purchase of four acres behind Station II
- Major improvements to 911 parking lot with drive around the building
- Upgrading and updating of the communication equipment in the 911 Communication Center
- Passing of the EMS ordinance
- Repair of the Parsons dike
- Information sign at the courthouse
- Regaining ownership of Camp Kid
- Purchase of John Coopers Law Office building
In the upcoming years Moore would like to see the completion of the Corridor H, the population of Tucker County to grow with more available housing and industry. He would also like to see broadband available for all residents of the county. Moore’s future plans include continuing to farm and serve his new appointment as Pastor of Sycamore Grove Church as well as advocating for the citizens of Tucker County in Charleston with the state legislature.
- Moore said, “I am very proud of Lowell for the way he has served the Citizens of Tucker County, he has always wanted the very best for our county, Lowell always gives 110% in whatever he does, and I feel he has given 110% and more as a commissioner. I am very proud of what he has been able to accomplish in his 12 years as a commissioner. I think it is the right time for him to move on and focus on the new job the Lord has placed him in.”
Moore wished to convey to his loved ones, family, friends, co-workers, supporters, and citizens of Tucker County to work hard, be honest, treat people with respect and live a Godly life. Moore said, “When making a decision make the best one you can make with the information you have at that time. Later if you look back on your decision you made and it was right, that is good, but if you feel it might have been the wrong decision you will still know that you made the best choice at the time.”
