Executive also served as trustee at BGSU

2/24/2008

Norman J. Rood, 78, a former bank and gas company executive and Bowling Green State University trustee, died of an apparent heart attack Monday at his winter home in Bradenton, Fla.

Mr. Rood of Perrysburg was retired chairman, treasurer, and chief executive officer of Suburban Natural Gas Co. of Cygnet, Ohio. In 1959, he joined that firm and Consumers Natural Gas Co., both of which were owned by Carl H. Schwyn, who was the father of Mr. Rood's late first wife.

In 1953, after Army Signal Corps service in Europe, Mr. Rood joined Cygnet Savings Bank Co. He attended American Institute of Banking courses and was promoted through the ranks to comptroller, operations and personnel officer, and assistant vice president and was named a director. At Mr. Schwyn's death in 1967, Mr. Rood succeeded his father-in-law as president and chairman of the board. The bank later was sold to the former Trustcorp. Mr. Rood was a founder and former chairman of the former Towne Bancorp.

"He was driven," his sister, Nola Shiets, said. "He was a super businessman. We used to joke back and forth growing up, and he said, 'I'm not going to be poor. I'm going to do things.'•"

After graduating in 1948 from Bowling Green High School, he joined his father, Lloyd, in the building business.

Mr. Rood was a former president of the Wood County Democratic Club. He was a BGSU trustee in the 1970s.

"He was a socializer," his sister said. "He loved being out in the public."

He liked to golf and was a former president of McComb and Hillcrest golf clubs. He was a member of Brandywine and Belmont country clubs.

He married Roselyn Schwyn in 1951. She died Jan. 16, 1979.

Surviving are his wife, Joan; son, Bryan Rood; daughter, Laura Rood; brothers, James and Stan Rood, and sister, Nola Shiets.

The body will be in the Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, Perrysburg, after 4 p.m. Monday, with Scripture services at 7 p.m. Monday in the mortuary. Funeral services will be at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday in St. Rose Church, Perrysburg, of which he was a member.

The family suggests tributes to a charity of the donor's choice.