But he’s the man, say people who know, who brought Fiber Industries, which is now KoSa, to Rowan County.

And the All America Cities celebration.

He’s the man, say people who know, who came into this community as an executive with Wachovia and — always an optimist, a teacher, a worker — left it a vastly different place when he died Saturday.

His death shocked those who knew him. He entered Rowan Regional Medical Center three weeks ago for routine surgery, but unexpected complications developed and his condition worsened. He died Saturday evening at the age of 78.

“My relationship with R.O. was multifaceted,” says Catawba College President Fred Corriher. “He was the banker I did business with. We were political allies over many years, co-conspirators in the Spencer Shops venture for quite a while, and he was always supportive of Catawba College.

“But if I had to characterize him it would be as a very forthright person, a person committed to civic responsibility and also one who was deeply committed to his family.”

He was also a man who took care of himself.

“We were in a little coffee group together,” says the Rev. Bob Lewis, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, “and we had become fairly close. I didn’t know anything was wrong, and the next thing I knew he was in the hospital. He had had some heart problems some years ago.”

But he participated in the Heart Care group at Catawba College, “watched what he ate, was an excellent patient — and a mighty good man.”

Lewis says Everett was always engaged in the affairs of the community.

“He knew what was going on and was interested in Salisbury, yet he was able to not get so embroiled in the issues that he lost his cool. Politically and socially, he was able to deal with the issues and still be a gentleman.”

A native of Greenville, he was a navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II and was taken a prisoner of war after he was shot down over Berlin.

After the war he joined Wachovia and came to Salisbury in 1961 as vice president and trust officer. Three years later, he was named head of the local operation and retired in 1986 as executive vice president.

Throughout those years he left his mark.

Jim Brewer of Winston-Salem, now a retired executive vice president and trustee emeritus of Wachovia, feels he was fortunate to be assigned to Salisbury to train under R.O. Everett, who was mentor to a cadre of young bankers training with Wachovia

“He was one of the warmest human beings I’ve ever known, one of the most genuine, so even-keeled, so genuinely interested in customers, the community and young bankers — and he taught us that,” Brewer says.

He’ll never forget riding with Everett to look at the Wright farm, which became the site of Fiber Industries.

“He did all the work on Fiber,” says Jim Hurley, former publisher of the Salisbury Post. “He pretty much got that.”

With all the work and all the high-powered involvement with the community, Hurley says, “he was just a fine man and a good friend. He never said anything about anybody.”

Charlie Peacock, who spent 25 years as a railroad mediator after 25 years as a conductor, had worked with Everett on numerous projects through the years and gathered with him and others in a coffee group at the Carousel each morning.

“He was more faithful than any of the rest,” Peacock says. “You could depend on R.O. being there about every day.”

Still shocked at his death, Peacock says he thinks of Everett as a visionary.

“He saw the possibility of burning garbage, turning it into steam and furnishing it to Fiber” when he helped bring Fiber to Rowan County, Peacock says. It didn’t work, “but I still think it’s a good idea. R.O. had vision. He could look pretty good into the future.”

And often did — for the betterment of Salisbury. Peacock points to Everett’s work as a member of the board of the N.C. Transportation Museum.

“With his background, we imposed on him and asked him to be the treasurer, and he did. He took a real keen interest in it. He was a supporter of the Salvation Army. He was as civic-minded as anybody I ever knew. He was a strong supporter of Salisbury-Rowan County.

“And he was extremely family oriented,” Peacock says. “He recently took his 16-year-old grandson (Simon Everett) to Myrtle Beach, and let the boy drive his car, and that was a big thrill for him.