Timmons was recognized for his contributions and community involvement within Washington Township with the Rick Zammer Award
Robert Timmons of Timmons Barber Shop and Avalar Atlantic Properties in Sewell was named Washington Township’s Man of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce Executive Board earlier this month.
Also known as the Rick Zammer Award, the recognition goes to a businessman in Washington Township who is greatly involved in the community. According to Timmons, former president of the Washington Township Chamber of Commerce, members of the chamber’s board select names, the nominees are then discussed and the decision of the winner is made through a secret ballot vote.
“It’s one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me on a personal basis, especially since I knew Zammer since I was 9 years old,” Timmons said. “He was so involved with the community. Everything he did, he did because he had a passion for it. He was a good-hearted man. I’m pretty humbled.”
Timmons served in the U.S. Army, is on a number of boards within the township — such as the Veterans Advisory Board, Senior Advisory Board and Board of Economic Development — is the former chair of the Washington Township Historical Society and has worked with local Boy Scouts on approximately seven Eagle Scout projects involving veteran parks and historical sites within the township.
“My passion is the history and future of Washington Township,” Timmons said.
Timmons and his family moved to Washington Township in 1963 when the area had more than 200 farms and just a number of gas stations, one of which was owned by the Zammer family where the two met as kids.
“It was a smaller place; people knew each other and not much happened in town that everybody didn’t know about. It was a closer-knit community back in the day. In a way, on a larger scale, it’s still like that in some of these smaller communities,” Timmons said. “I grew with the town. It’s the only place that I will ever call home.”
Timmons told the story of how he came across every issue of the Cam Glo newspaper, known as The News Report for Washington Township, from 1963 to 2008 while performing a walkthrough for the property’s buyer, Pete Sanders of Sanders Home Services.
“It’s like a personal diary since we moved here in 1963,” Timmons said. “I feel like I’m not only reliving my past, but creating an interest in what has happened in Washington Township history for everyone else.”
Timmons takes photos of the newspapers and posts them on his Facebook page for others to identify themselves in photos and relive their past. He said he gained thousands of friends on the social media site since then, and has people email him requesting specific dates to share online often.
“We kind of lost the little pieces of fabric that make us a community,” Timmons said. “My goal would be to show Washington Township how great it was, and how great it could be.”
On March 9, Timmons’ friends, family and fellow community members gathered to celebrate his recognition at the Wedgwood Country Club. Presenting him with his award were state Sen. Fred Madden, Mayor Joann Gattinelli, Gloucester County Freeholder Heather Simmons and several others.
“I’d like to congratulate Bob on this recognition he received from his colleagues and the praises that have been said about him by the citizens throughout all areas of Washington Township,” Madden said. “As a resident, I thank him for being the person he is — just an overall good neighbor to the people of our community.”
Madden and Timmons met about 55 years ago when they were in the same first-grade class in Philadelphia.
“Rick Zammer was such a giving person himself, and Bob Timmons emulates those same traits. He volunteers for causes within Washington Township that can help people,” Madden said. “If Rick was able to pick someone to receive an award in his name, he’d be thrilled with this year’s recipient.”
Zammer was a founding member of the Washington Township Rotary and was the first to be named into the Washington Township Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame. Timmons is the 22nd recipient of the Rick Zammer Man of the Year Award honoring Zammer’s contributions to the community.
“It gives you a sense of accomplishment. It’s pretty humbling to have people gather together and praise you for things that you have accomplished through your life. It’s a great honor to be in this sorority of people that have won this award,” Timmons said. “I’m still on cloud nine.”
