Dois I. Rosser Jr.
Dois Irvin "D.I." Rosser Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Hampton, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | November 12, 2019 (aged 98) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Years active | 1948–2019 |
| Known for | Founder of POMOCO Auto Group and International Cooperating Ministries |
Dois Irvin "D.I." Rosser Jr. (August 12, 1921 – November 12, 2019) was an American entrepreneur recognized primarily for establishing the POMOCO Auto Group in the Hampton Roads/Tidewater region of Virginia, as well as for founding International Cooperating Ministries (ICM).
Biography
A native of Hampton, Virginia, Rosser launched his business journey by owning an insurance firm before acquiring a modest automobile dealership in Poquoson, Virginia, in 1948 for $35,000. This initial investment grew into the POMOCO Auto Group, which became one of the leading dealership networks in Newport News and Hampton, boasting at least 27 franchises by 1996. That same year, he inaugurated a $10 million sales facility and oversaw three other enterprises—Pomoco Life Insurance Co., Key Finance, and Pomoco Development Inc.—which collectively employed approximately 350 individuals and produced annual revenues exceeding $150 million. The company’s name transitioned from a local term to stand for "Peace of Mind of Course."
In 1986, Rosser created International Cooperating Ministries (ICM), a Christian nonprofit dedicated to constructing churches internationally. By 2019, ICM had completed or was in the process of building 8,543 church projects worldwide. The inaugural church was erected in India at a cost of $5,000 and was dedicated to his father. Until his passing, Rosser held the title of chair emeritus at ICM.
His leadership extended to board memberships with several organizations such as the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, Leighton Ford Ministries, Youth Focus, Prison Fellowship, the Overseas Council for Theological Education and Missions, Hampton University, and the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula.
Rosser was honored with the "Unsung Virginian" award in 1986 for his contributions to business and community service and received the Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award in 2000.
He resided in Hampton with his wife Shirley Sutton Rosser (married from 1943 until 2019) and was father to three daughters: Pamela Minter, Cindy Higgins, and Janice Rosser Allen—the current president and CEO of ICM.