William Tolar Nolley Jr.

1957 - 2024

NOLLEY, William Tolar Jr., died on April 28 after a courageous battle with prostate cancer. He was predeceased by his mother, Staige Davis Nolley, and survived by his father, William Tolar Nolley, and sister, Elizabeth Ashton Nolley, (Terri), and special companion and love, Jerri Leake.

Mr. Nolley was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1957. The family returned to Richmond, and he graduated from St. Christopher's where he excelled in Cross Country Track and in his senior year with other Saints was ranked in the National Junior Olympics. Tolar entered the Virginia Military Institute and graduated in 1980 with a BA in Economics. He later served as Director of Alumni Affairs at St. Christopher's and manager of the VMI Keydet Club.

Mr. Nolley began his interest in land development and conservation as a Developer & General Partner of SCRN Associates in Richmond. He was the Developer of the Ragin' James Complex, Richmond's first major recreational riverfront project, leading to what is now Rockets Landing. He acquired South Garden, a 1703 circa home in New Kent County, and developed adjoining property. He later was the Founder and President of the Oyster Company of Virginia, LLC. Tolar successfully certified the world's first term nutrient credit generating facility using oyster aquaculture nutrient reduction science which he believed in and had already independently verified years earlier. He believed that the most economical and efficient tool in restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay was to empower the independent watermen families and boost the native Virginia oyster production.

He is a member of the Sons of the Revolution, and former President of the Freedoms Foundations, Mary Ball Washington Chapter. An avid golfer, he spent time in Knysna, South Africa playing at the Pezula Championship Golf Club overlooking the Indian Ocean.

A memorial service will be held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 12291 River Road at a later date. Internment is private Contributions should be made to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, the VMI Foundation, P.O. Box 932 Lexington, VA., or a charity of one's choice.