(Place of Birth, Family, Education, Hobbies, and Interests)
LeRoy was born to Wilomine & Benedict Tomes on November 11, 1953 in Seward, Nebraska. He was the oldest of eight children (four brothers and three sisters). He lived on three different farms near Utica & Seward Nebraska until moving to Lincoln, where he graduated from St. Pius X high school in 1972. He majored in business administration and minored in culinary arts at Lincoln Community College.
LeRoy married Judy (Occhipinti) Tomes and they have nine children, and as of 2011, ten grandchildren. LeRoy enjoys family, food and cooking, which explains why he pursued a career at the VA as a chef from 1972 to 1987, and at the age of 26 he became the youngest person ever to achieve the title of the Chief of Food Production & Service out of all the VA Medical Centers. He served at both the Lincoln, Nebraska and White City, Oregon VA Medical Center facilities. He has worked at and managed several restaurants and currently is a Sales Rep for a Portland-based company. LeRoy also enjoys gardening and is very knowledgeable when it comes to plants and trees. LeRoy began growing and studying Palm trees in 1982. He is the founder and owner of the largest palm tree distribution company in the Pacific NW having several franchises and called Hooked On Palms www.HookedOnPalms.com .
Service Activities:
(Church, Civic, Community, Family, etc.) LeRoy has received many awards from the VA(Department of Veterans Affairs) and the Knights of Columbus, http://www.kofc.org/en//index.html, including the Knight of the Year Award in 1987-88. He was an officer and knight in the 4th degree as well as a past Grand Knight. LeRoy was an active member of St. Vincent DePaul. In 1986 after attending a Life in the Spirit Seminar and accepting the gift of God the Holy Spirit and Jesus as his Lord and Savior LeRoy became very active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. In 1991 he served as Director of the Portland Metro area Catholic Charismatic Praise & Prayer Group Leaders Board. He also served on many parish committees and ministries over the years such as a Eucharistic minister and in parish music ministry. In 1986 LeRoy was one of the three founders of the Sacred Heart Catholic Charismatic Praise and Prayer Group in Medford. He was also an Associate of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregonwww.ssmo.org. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Dove Catholic Charismatic Renewal Center from 1988 to 1999 and founded the Dove Renewal Center's music ministry that later became the Created To Worship music ministry (a Catholic ministry promoting true Spirit-filled praise & worship music in the Catholic church)www.CreatedToWorship.us. LeRoy was the group’s main Praise and Worship leader and listed on the NSC (National Service Committee to the Catholic Charismatic Renewals) List of proven Praise and Worship Leaders and Teams in the United States www.nsc-chariscenter.org/resources_PW.htm.
LeRoy is a webmaster and has helped many people & Catholic ministries put together and maintain their web sites. He also has attended and helps promote the Marriage Encounter and Cursillo movements and retreats.
LeRoy was an active supporter and volunteer of St. Rita's Retreat Center www.StRitaRetreat.org from 1986 to 2012 and was in charge of promotions and the coordinator of volunteers at St. Rita Retreat Center from 2004 to 2012.
