MOOMAW, Edward Cline, Sr., (Ted), of Highland Avenue SW, Roanoke City, and Craig County, died Sunday, July 30, 2000, at age 98. He was retired Executive Vice President of the Merchants Association of Roanoke Valley (now Equifax) and Treasurer of World Travel Service, Inc. He was born in Roanoke in 1902, son of Cary A. Moomaw of Bonsack (who's brother, John C. Moomaw, was instrumental in having Roanoke selected as a railroad junction) and Matilda Ankeney Moomaw of Hagerstown, Maryland. He attended Roanoke City schools and Davidson College, as well as several civilian and military professional schools. He was a lifelong member and former secretary of the Board of Deacons of Second Presbyterian Church. During World War II, he served briefly in the Army Air Corps before receiving a commission in the Navy where he operated as an Intelligence Officer. Following more than twenty years of service, he retired from the Navy Reserve with the rank of Commander. During the Florida Boom of 1925-26, he managed a tourist camp there while he wrote and published, "The Florida Sketch Book". Upon returning to Roanoke in the late twenties, he became credit manager for Hobbie Brothers Piano Co. and Le Grand Jewelry Co. In 1930, he was elected president of the Merchants Protective Association. In 1931, he was named its full-time executive secretary, with a staff of two to serve 43 member firms. By 1940, the Association had grown to 400 members and merged with the Retail Merchants Association to form the Roanoke Merchants Association. Moomaw was named Executive Vice President to manage the new organization. In 1970, when he retired, the Merchants Association had 375,000 credit file records and a staff of 49, producing 200,000 credit reports annually for its 850 members. Moomaw played a leading role in the planning and marketing effort required to erect the Mill Mountain Star in 1949, enabling Roanoke to proclaim itself as "The Star City of the South". Other Merchants Association activities under Moomaw's direction included the operation of a debt-collection service; marketing and sales promotions for area merchants; Christmas parades and street decorations; selection of "Mothers and Fathers of the Year"; promotion of the first public parking garage downtown; street flag displays; assistance in integrating downtown lunch counters and theaters. He was instrumental in forming the Better Business Bureau, Downtown Roanoke Inc., the Credit Women's Association, and the Roanoke Distributive Education Program. Moomaw served as president of the Virginia Retail Association Executives and the Associated Credit Bureaus of Virginia. He was director of the Virginia Retail Merchants Association and the American Retail Association Executives. He was a member of the planning committee for Roanoke's 1957 Diamond Jubliee celebration. He was a member of the Lions Club, the Elks Club, Roanoke Country Club, the American Legion and the Reserve Officers Association. He is survived by his wife, Gwen Moomaw; son and daughter-in-law, Ted Jr. and Terry Moomaw of Roanoke; daughter and son-in-law, Ginny and Lon Savage of Salem; grandchildren, Mandy Moomaw, Abby Moomaw, and Edward Moomaw (Ned) Savage; sister, Catharine Moomaw Morgan of Madison, Wisconsin; two nephews and four nieces. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery.
MOOMAW, Edward Cline, Sr., (Ted), of Highland Avenue SW, Roanoke City, and Craig County, died Sunday, July 30, 2000, at age 98. He was retired Executive Vice President of the Merchants Association of Roanoke Valley (now Equifax) and Treasurer of World Travel Service, Inc. He was born in Roanoke in 1902, son of Cary A. Moomaw of Bonsack (who's brother, John C. Moomaw, was instrumental in having Roanoke selected as a railroad junction) and Matilda Ankeney Moomaw of Hagerstown, Maryland. He attended Roanoke City schools and Davidson College, as well as several civilian and military professional schools. He was a lifelong member and former secretary of the Board of Deacons of Second Presbyterian Church. During World War II, he served briefly in the Army Air Corps before receiving a commission in the Navy where he operated as an Intelligence Officer. Following more than twenty years of service, he retired from the Navy Reserve with the rank of Commander. During the Florida Boom of 1925-26, he managed a tourist camp there while he wrote and published, "The Florida Sketch Book". Upon returning to Roanoke in the late twenties, he became credit manager for Hobbie Brothers Piano Co. and Le Grand Jewelry Co. In 1930, he was elected president of the Merchants Protective Association. In 1931, he was named its full-time executive secretary, with a staff of two to serve 43 member firms. By 1940, the Association had grown to 400 members and merged with the Retail Merchants Association to form the Roanoke Merchants Association. Moomaw was named Executive Vice President to manage the new organization. In 1970, when he retired, the Merchants Association had 375,000 credit file records and a staff of 49, producing 200,000 credit reports annually for its 850 members. Moomaw played a leading role in the planning and marketing effort required to erect the Mill Mountain Star in 1949, enabling Roanoke to proclaim itself as "The Star City of the South". Other Merchants Association activities under Moomaw's direction included the operation of a debt-collection service; marketing and sales promotions for area merchants; Christmas parades and street decorations; selection of "Mothers and Fathers of the Year"; promotion of the first public parking garage downtown; street flag displays; assistance in integrating downtown lunch counters and theaters. He was instrumental in forming the Better Business Bureau, Downtown Roanoke Inc., the Credit Women's Association, and the Roanoke Distributive Education Program. Moomaw served as president of the Virginia Retail Association Executives and the Associated Credit Bureaus of Virginia. He was director of the Virginia Retail Merchants Association and the American Retail Association Executives. He was a member of the planning committee for Roanoke's 1957 Diamond Jubliee celebration. He was a member of the Lions Club, the Elks Club, Roanoke Country Club, the American Legion and the Reserve Officers Association. He is survived by his wife, Gwen Moomaw; son and daughter-in-law, Ted Jr. and Terry Moomaw of Roanoke; daughter and son-in-law, Ginny and Lon Savage of Salem; grandchildren, Mandy Moomaw, Abby Moomaw, and Edward Moomaw (Ned) Savage; sister, Catharine Moomaw Morgan of Madison, Wisconsin; two nephews and four nieces. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery.
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