Lonnie Poole Jr.

Lonnie Poole Jr. is the founder of Waste Industries,[1] one of the largest waste and recycling companies in the Southeast United States with approximately 2 million service points. Poole is also known as the largest contributor of all time to North Carolina State University.[2]

Lonnie Poole Jr.
OccupationFounder and former CEO of Waste Industries
Spouse(s)Carol Lynn Johnson Poole

In February 2011, Lonnie Poole was listed by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as number 27 on a list of philanthropic individuals in 2010.[3]

Waste Industries

Lonnie C. Poole Jr. was a graduate of North Carolina State in 1969. Shortly after graduation, he moved to Ohio to become an engineer, but he longed for his opportunity to move back to Raleigh. The initial idea of Waste Industries stemmed from market research Poole conducted while developing a concept for a new landfill compactor. The compactor idea failed, but Poole soon discovered his passion and moved back to Raleigh, North Carolina and launched Waste Industries in 1970.[4][5]

After a few years of stagnation, the company grew in the 1970s and quickly expanded past Wake county and the city of Raleigh. By 1980 the company had reached 10 million dollars in revenue. Soon thereafter, Jim Perry, their first employee (hired in 1971), was named President and Chief Operating Officer.

The company experienced rapid growth, surpassing revenue of $600 million. It is managed by Lonnie's son Ven Poole. Lonnie Poole served as the firm's CEO from its creation in 1970 until 2002. He served as chairman of the board of directors from 1970 until 2008 and remains on the company's board.

NC State

As Poole successfully grew Waste Industries, he decided to give back to the college that helped make him the person he is today. In 2010 Poole contributed $40 million to the school, with $37 million designated for the College of Management, which was established in 1992.

Shortly after the donation, NC State renamed the school The Lonnie C. Poole College of Management. To acknowledge Poole's gift, a permanent wall display now honors the college's benefactor.[6]

The gift included $2.5 million to fund The Carol Johnson Poole Club House at the NC State Lonnie Poole Golf Course, which was named for Poole who provided a naming gift for the course in 2007.[7]

Other Organizations

In addition to being a major supporter to NC State, Poole's charitable causes extend to other organizations. For instance, through his affiliation with Epic Flight Academy, Poole supports Boy Scouts of America.[8]

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References
  1. Kellie Slappey. "Waste Industries USA, Inc - North Carolina History Project".
  2. "Largest Gift to NC State includes $37 Million Endowment, Naming of the Poole College of Management - News at Poole College - NC State University". 17 December 2010.
  3. "The Philanthropy 50: Americans Who Gave the Most in 2010". 6 February 2011.
  4. "Our History, Our Future - Waste Industries". wasteindustries.com.
  5. "Executive Profile Lonnie C. Poole, Jr". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  6. Poole College installs wall display to honor benefactor Lonnie C. Poole, Jr., NC State University, 3 March 2014
  7. "Our Namesake: Lonnie C. Poole, Jr". Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  8. "SE Volusia County Golden Eagle Dinner". Retrieved 2019-04-04.
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