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For the past 10 years, Pam Roman has been the driving force behind the Clay County Chamber of Commerce. After years of doing a lot of heavy lifting to keep the chamber thriving, Roman is retiring this month. She had a heart attack a few months ago and decided she needed to cut back on work.
Roman has literally done everything from hauling truck loads of gigantic pumpkins for Punkin Chunkin, to setting up and decorating Christmas trees on the Hayesville Square. She has marked parking spots in event fields and prepared snacks for get-togethers. It would probably be easier to define what Roman has not done for Clay County in the name of the chamber.
Because of Roman’s efforts over the past decade, a reception is being held in the gazebo of the Hayesville square to honor her from 5 -7 p.m. Tuesday, June 15. Despite her preference not to be the focus of news articles, Roman has a lot to be proud of.
Over the years, Roman was an integral part of the Clay County Travel and Tourism Board, while she also planned parades and Fourth of July fireworks. She started a Miss Clay County pageant for girls and young women, but also helped the chamber relocate to its current site.
Several years ago, she and Clay County Commissioner Clay Logan led the effort to help flood-ravaged Clay County, West Virginia. After collecting donations in a large moving truck beside the former chamber office for several days, she, Logan and several volunteers carefully packed the truck and her van. Then they headed north to personally deliver the items, with a banner which read, “Clay County, N.C. Making Donations to Clay County, W.Va.”
Roman’s favorite event is Punkin Chunkin. “I love the excitement it brings during the fall months and to see cars from 27 different states is one of the biggest rewards,” she said. “The Clay County Chamber brings a huge economic impact not only our community, but in the surrounding counties. We fill the hotels, motels, airbnb, vrbos not to mention all the restaurants and local shops that benefit from our festival. I want it to stay as a family festival and gear more hands-on events to the kids. I would like to spearhead a ‘Kids Competition’ that would require the kids and parents to be a part of this and some day they may move on up to the big time competition. The sky's the limit when it comes to the Punkin Chunkin Festival and I am always searching for something different to add.”
Roman came to Clay County 17 years ago and started leading the Chamber of Commerce 10 years ago, when the Punkin Chunkin was small. Usually only 25 to 50 people attended to watch the machines which were all locally built. “When I came to the chamber, we were in the third year of Punkin Chunkin and it was held downtown near Riverwalk,” she said. “Then we moved it out to Tusquittee where it stayed for two years, but then it was congesting the area and we had to move it to Settawig which is where it has been for the past six years.”
She continued, “I believe during 2014 I was contacted by three of the machines featured on the Travel Channel for Punkin Chunkin in Delaware and they wanted to participate in ours. At any given year, we have had anywhere from eight to 12 machines participating in the championship throw off. We have accumulated upwards of 10,000 spectators at the last 2019 event. We are expecting a huge crowd this year since COVID is pretty much over.”
In retirement, she plans to stay very busy. She plans to thoroughly clean every room of her house and redo some of them. She may take up golf again and she will visit her three grandkids in Murfreesboro, Tenn. She will also spend many Thursdays and Fridays taking drives with her husband, Don, on his days off work. She plans to continue volunteering her time recruiting other volunteers and planning events.
“I am so proud we have now captured the country's interest and have people from all over the United States coming for a vacation during Punkin Chunkin,” she added. “In 2019, we had a family plan their reunion event around Punkin Chunkin. We also have had brides that came with their bridal party to the PC field and I had her escorted by our emcee Keith Christensen down the middle of the field. We have had loved ones that passed away and some of their ashes were put into a pumpkin and fired into the field as a memorial to that person. Anything can and has happened at the Punkin Chunkin and it has become one of the largest family events in Clay County. I feel it was a privilege to be a part of growing this spectacular festival and hoping one day it might become the WNC Punkin Chunkin Festival.”
She hopes to bring the pageant back so the queen may represent the Punkin Chunkin Festival in the future, maybe as soon as this year or 2022. In addition, she has enjoyed the annual Easter Egg Hunt. “I loved the Easter Egg Hunt we inherited from a local family. It gives all the children a fun day hunting eggs, winning prizes and meeting the bunny rabbit, Sherry,” Roman smiled.
Clay County Chamber president Chris Morhardt expressed his appreciation for what Roman has brought to the community. He said her chamber input has helped institute a calendar of events, a community welcome center, a website and directory listings for members and visitors alike and local business referrals. “It has been a true pleasure to work with Pam as a chamber board member,” he said. “Her passion and enthusiasm have been such a positive impact on our business community and her legacy will continue on through the terrific events she has created like the highly esteemed Punkin Chunkin festival. Pam does a great job getting a volunteer staff to work with her to keep all this going. We appreciate everything Pam has done for Clay County and the surrounding area over the last 10 years.”
Chamber members, as well as all residents are invited to stop by and wish Roman the best. In addition, attendees can meet the new Clay County Chamber of Commerce Director, Laura Kleisshoeft.
For those people Roman may not see in person, she shared this message for all Clay County residents. “Thank you, Clay County, for making my 10 years here at the chamber a memorable one,” she added. “All the local people and new move-ins that I have come to love as my own family. Your kind words, encouragement, love and support have meant the word to me and made my job an incredible experience.”