Community and coworkers remember beloved late First Federal president, CEO
Charles W. Trump Jr.鈥檚 ascent to the top of a distinguished bank had a humble beginning. Fresh out of Waynesburg University with a master鈥檚 in business administration, this former Yellow Jackets wrestler was grappling with his future.
鈥淚 thought a career in business banking or something similar would be worth considering,鈥� he said, reflecting back to 1999. That鈥檚 when an acquaintance intervened.
Scott S. O鈥橬eil, then president and CEO of聽First Federal Savings and Loan Assoc. of Greene County, was a wrestling aficionado with whom Trump had remained in contact. 鈥淪cott said, 鈥榃e have a position open in our loan signature office,'鈥� referring to First Greene Mortgage in Morgantown, W.Va. 鈥淗e approached me and asked if I was interested in interviewing for it.鈥�
The young MBA recipient was more than interested. He aced the interview, was hired, and 21 years later, Charles W. Trump was promoted to company president and CEO. These were positions previously entrusted to Scott O鈥橬eil, a man for whom he has considerable gratitude for his demeanor and due diligence.
鈥淢y career has been here, and I have to give Scott credit for that,鈥� Trump said of O鈥橬eil, who died in Waynesburg on July 6 at age 78.
For 48 years 鈥� nearly two-thirds of his life and half of the bank鈥檚 98-year existence 鈥� this Point Marion native served First Federal聽as an employee, officer and director. He was president and CEO from 1991 to 2008, and was instrumental in the association鈥檚 growth.聽
O鈥橬eil joined the bank in 1969, following a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam. At that time, according to Trump, 鈥渨e had two offices and $61 million in assets. More than 50 years later, our (chief financial officer) shared with the board that at the end of the second quarter (of 2022). We had over $1 billion in assets,鈥� along with nine offices 鈥� eight spread among Greene, Washington and Fayette counties, and one in Morgantown.
鈥淲e are grateful for the growth, and Scott helped to etch that growth, but he would tell you it takes a team to do that.鈥�
O鈥橬eil, according to Trump, was the consummate team leader. 鈥淧eople revered Scott. He was a confident leader who maintained the same philosophies that his predecessor (as president/CEO), James Brewer, had. He鈥檇 hear people鈥檚 views and opinions and move confidently forward with their input. He was balanced in his decision-making.鈥�
Trump, of course, was introduced early on to one of O鈥橬eil鈥檚 trademark leadership traits. 鈥淪cott maintained a high level of confidence in the people he hired. He was very much NOT the micromanager. He put people in a place and let them do their jobs.鈥�
Scott O鈥橬eil and First Federal was a strong marriage, but not comparable to the 55-year union he shared with Peggy Williams O鈥橬eil. They met at what was then Waynesburg College, a young woman from the borough and a member of the first graduating class 鈥� 1961 鈥� at Albert Gallatin High School.
鈥淪cott played football and basketball in high school,鈥� Peggy said. Waynesburg recruited him for football, but a knee injury ended that endeavor.聽
Their lives were enhanced by the two sons they raised: Michael of Peters Township and Patrick, who resides in Texas. 鈥淭hose boys were the light of his life,鈥� Peggy said over the telephone, relating that he passed onto the sons his passion for trout fishing and bird hunting.
O鈥橬eil also was into wrestling, coaching his sons at the local level. He was active in the Waynesburg Wrestling Association and various other community pursuits:聽Waynesburg Elks; Waynesburg Moose; Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful; the Fairchance Exchange Club; and youth baseball leagues.
As for the association, Peggy said her husband 鈥渕et a lot of wonderful people at First Federal. He got a lot of satisfaction out of working there.鈥�
Lanfer Simpson has a keen appreciation for Scott O鈥橬eil, and not just because of his athletic ties 鈥� even though Simpson was a multi-sport standout at Waynesburg Central High School who played football at West Virginia University. Simpson, pastor of Mapletown United Methodist Church, handled O鈥橬eil鈥檚 eulogy.
鈥淪cott was pretty influential in my life,鈥� said Simpson, who as a freshman wrestled for one year at Waynesburg Central with Michael O鈥橬eil. 鈥淪cott was heavily in wrestling. He was president of the wrestling association and my mom raved about him. He set clear objectives and you could tell he was passionate about everything he pursued.
鈥淗e was the epitome of what you want your business leaders to do in a community. He gave back so much of his time.鈥�
John E. Mariner and Judi Goodwin Tanner, the two president/CEOs between O鈥橬eil and Trump, likewise praised their recently deceased colleague.
In an article the bank submitted for publication in the 翱产蝉别谤惫别谤-搁别辫辞谤迟别谤,听Mariner said of his decades-long co-worker: 鈥淭he motto we have, 鈥楾he People You Know, The People You Can Trust鈥� 鈥� that was Scott. You may not have agreed with (a decision he made), but you could trust that he made that decision for the benefit of First Federal.鈥�
Tanner, president/CEO from 2012 to 2020, said: 鈥淔irst Federal was lucky that Mr. O鈥橬eil shared his life with us. Scott was not only a mentor, but a great friend. He was very community-oriented and loyal to his family and friends.鈥�
O鈥橬eil joined the bank in 1969, following a one-year tour in Vietnam. He started as a mortgage loan officer in Uniontown, a location he would later manage, and eventually worked up to vice president and executive VP with First Federal. O鈥橬eil was appointed to the bank鈥檚 board of directors in December 1990, and a month later was named president/CEO.
He became board chairman in February 2006 when his immediate predecessor, the late James L. Brewer, retired, and maintained the position for 11 years. O鈥橬eil retired as an employee in July 2008. He was director emeritus on the board when he died.
鈥淭he world seems smaller that he is no longer among us,鈥� Tanner lamented, 鈥渂ut he will live on in our memories and our hearts.鈥�