OWENSBORO—Jerry Tooley retires this month as director of missions for Daviess-McLean Baptist Association. His last day in the office will be Oct. 23, following the association’s annual meeting.

A member of First Baptist Church of Owensboro, Tooley has served Daviess-McLean Baptists for 19 years and was named DOM of the Year for Kentucky in 2010.

A graduate of Cumberland College and Southern Seminary, he has served on the Mission Board, been a member of its administrative committee, and was a two-time chairman of the KBC’s business & finance committee. He was one of 15 members and the lone director of missions to serve on the executive director search team that brought Paul Chitwood to the position.

Jerry Carter, pastor of Apollo Heights Baptist Church in Owensboro for 23 years, said fellow ministers have a “high regard” for Tooley’s ministry, crediting him with “working hard to bring the association back” when it was down.

“He’s very close to the churches, his people, the pastors. He did an excellent job of bringing us together,” Carter said. “He mixed well with people.

“He’s the type of person that a pastor could go to and talk with confidence about any subject—trials, tribulations, good or bad, whatever,” he added. “He wants to help you, encourage you. … He was a pastor at heart.”

Scott Ford, pastor of Maceo Baptist Church for the past 31 years, agreed. “Anytime I’ve need him, he’s been there.

“He has a love for our association, and he helped to get it back on track financially and otherwise,” Ford said. “The majority of pastors really like him and hate to see him go, but they understand.”

Previously, Tooley served as pastor of four Kentucky churches, including Bellfield Baptist church in Henderson for more than 11 years and Millville Baptist Church in Frankfort for more than six years. He was elected as vice president of the KBC Pastors’ Conference in 1996

In addition to serving as Daviess-McLean’s DOM since 1999, Tooley has been a trustee of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College and served as executive team pastor leader for the Ohio Valley Will Graham Celebration in 2015. (WR)