The new Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River will be named after Leonard G. “Bud” Lomell, a decorated World War II Army Ranger from Ocean County. President Donald Trump signed the bill to officially name the facility for Lomell, following efforts led by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Toms River). The move comes after months of advocacy, including a request from former Toms River Mayor Maurice Hill in 2023.
The naming was not finalized before the clinic’s ribbon-cutting in November 2024 but has now been secured. The announcement coincided with the 104th birthday of Lomell’s widow, Charlotte.
“One of the most decorated Army Rangers of World War II, Bud Lomell served our nation and its veterans with enduring courage and selflessness, and is exceedingly deserving of this posthumous honor,” Smith said.
A date for the official naming ceremony has not yet been set.
The Toms River clinic opened in late 2024, replacing the James J. Howard Clinic in Brick, which had served local veterans for more than three decades. The new facility offers expanded services such as primary care, specialty care—including dental and women’s health—mental health counseling, physical therapy, and laboratory services. Improved parking addresses longstanding concerns at the previous location due to increased demand from veterans in Ocean County and nearby areas.
“This clinic, which has already done so much for the veterans of Ocean County and beyond, will be a lasting testament to Bud’s life of service on behalf of his country, community, and fellow veterans,” Smith said.
Lomell had strong connections to Ocean County; he grew up in Point Pleasant Beach and later settled in Toms River after his military service. He was active in several local organizations including the Dover Township Board of Education and the Ocean County Bar Association.
Chris Smith currently serves as U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 4th district—a position he has held since 1981 after succeeding Frank Thompson (https://www.house.gov/smith/biography). Born in Rahway in 1953, Smith resides in Manchester Township and graduated from The College of New Jersey with a BS degree in 1975.
