Spirit of the County winner has worked in the community for more than 40 years

By MIKE BOLLINGER

Kyle McDermott has been giving his time to his community in Johnston County for 40 years through organizations such as the Johnston Health Foundation and the Clayton Chamber of Commerce.

For this longtime work, he has been chosen as the Johnston Now Honors Spirit of the County Award winner.

He began his community work in 1983 as a volunteer with the United Way. After serving with the United Way until the mid 1990s, he began working with the Johnston County Educational Foundation. In 1992, he was asked to help with the formation of a foundation for the county’s hospital. “I continue to be involved with the hospital foundation,” he said.

With the Clayton chamber, he has chaired the annual golf tournament and assisted with many projects out of the public eye. “I prefer to work behind the scenes,” he said.

McDermott is now in his seventh year on the Clayton Chamber board. He serves as vice-chair this year, and next year will take over as chair.

In addition to his community involvement, McDermott has worked for UNC Health Johnston for almost 40 years.

He will celebrate his 40th anniversary Aug. 15. He started there as the director of environmental services and is now site administrator for the Clayton hospital, serving in various positions along the way.

While work keeps him busy, he said it’s not hard to find time to help in the community.

“I like to be involved with things and work with people who have a passion for things in the community,” McDermott said. “Being part of the bigger picture is extremely rewarding. I just really enjoy being around people and doing things.”

He oversaw the construction of both phases of the Clayton hospital. He said the need for another facility besides the one in Smithfield was driven by the rapid growth in the Clayton area. “The population growth of that part of the county demonstrated a need for a healthcare facility. It was a good business decision as well. There were a lot of people who were going to Raleigh for basic care. When we put the hospital there, they no longer had to do that,” McDermott said.

He said his love of service comes from his father, who was a Marine pilot in Korea. “In civilian life, he decided to bring up his boys in that fashion at home,” McDermott said.

From his mother, he said, he took her desire to make sure everyone else was taken care of. He credits his wife, Irene, for being able to continue his community work. “I’m extremely fortunate to have a wife who supports me in the way she does. There are a lot of work hours and community activity hours,” McDermott said.

He and his wife have two children, son Hasten and daughter Kylie Cox, who both live in Johnston County. They have three grandchildren.

McDermott worked with organizing and starting the Johnston Health Foundation. “We worked on getting community leaders together. It was a matter of getting the right people and getting community backing to support the hospital. The foundation financially helps support it,” he said.

Once organized, the foundation turned to raising money to support the hospital. It also helped start the SECU Hospice House. McDermott said the Johnston Health Foundation provides more than $500,000 per year to support patients and help with needed capital equipment purchases.

During his years working with the Clayton Chamber, the number of activities and programs it has been able to provide have grown. He credits executive director Dana Wooten for much of that growth.

“The chamber has really helped increase the value of Clayton businesses, both downtown and around town. It has really taken off in a positive way. We work closely with the town of Clayton and other Johnston County chambers,” McDermott said. “Dana and the board do a great job. They have developed strong relationships with other chambers and businesses throughout the county.”

He gives credit to UNC Health Johnston for allowing him to be involved in the community. “I have been extremely fortunate to be allowed to participate in all these outside functions by the hospital leadership all during my tenure. They have seen the value of employees participating. I have been in the right place at the right time,” McDermott said.

“The relationships I’ve been able to build over 40 years is not something you can measure. I think it’s just something that was meant to be,” he continued.

McDermott said he intends to continue helping in the community as much as he can as long as he can. That desire helps show why he embodies the “Spirit of the County.”