Former Cumberland County Commissioner Virginia Thompson Oliver was honored with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) Hall of Fame Award on Aug. 15.
The award honors Oliver for her “outstanding leadership as the association’s first female president,” county officials said last week. She served as the NCACC president from 1985-1986.
“Part of what makes our organization so strong is we remember our past and particularly those leaders who came before us who make a difference,” said Kevin Leonard, NCACC executive director. “During the past year we have experienced many firsts and realize how important it is to take a moment and reflect on other firsts that matter to us,” 
Oliver was the first woman elected as a commissioner in Cumberland County, according to a prepared press statement. She was appointed as a commissioner in 1978 after the untimely death of her husband, Larry Thompson, who was serving as a Cumberland County commissioner. 
Oliver was encouraged to complete her husband’s term and she accepted the appointment. She then ran for office and was elected to the position for three additional terms. She was also the first woman to serve as chairman of the Board of Commissioners. She is known to have been instrumental in the development of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, the county library and the merger of the city and county school systems in Cumberland County,” Leonard said during the association’s annual conference held in Wilmington.
Oliver was unable to attend the banquet and Cumberland County Vice Chairman Glenn Adams accepted the award on her behalf. He made a brief presentation to the Board of Commissioners Aug. 16 during their regular board meeting about the honor.
“This is a remarkable honor for one of our own and we are very proud of former Commissioner Virginia Thompson Oliver,” Adams said. 
About the NCACC: The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) is a non-partisan organization representing the official voice of all 100 counties on issues considered by the General Assembly, Congress and federal and state agencies. The Association provides expertise to counties in the areas of advocacy, research, risk management and education and leadership training.