They also insist he had a big heart to go along with his big personality, and if he was your friend, he remained so for the rest of his life.
Somewhere, somehow, the young man who carried with him that radiant smile and a football field full of friends is pleased that his friends and family continue to remember the "Big O" 19 years after his death at the hands of 9/11 terrorists.
The oldest son of Nancy and Otis 'Butch' Tolbert and brother to Chris and Dan and father of Amanda, Brittany, and Anthony, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery now, just a heartbeat away from the Pentagon, where he died on Sept. 11, 2001, when a terrorist laden jet crashed into the wing where, as a Lt. Commander, he worked for the United States Navy.
He had many friends – lifelong friends – many of whom, despite the specter of COVID-19, came together Friday to celebrate his life and dedicate a small garden and monument on the Lemoore High School campus. They also pledged to renew a scholarship in his name and inaugurated an annual golf tournament to raise the needed scholarship funding.
The garden is located adjacent to the school's Naval Junior ROTC building. A smaller version has existed on the site for several years. His friends and family figured it was time to expand the memorial and renew the annual scholarship.
Steve Speak, one of Tolbert's best friends in high school and an offensive guard who opened up many holes for the former Lemoore fullback who helped lead the Tigers to a football championship, helped to organize this year's memorial.
"The turnout was amazing. Even though we were limited on the amount of people we could have here today, the love for Otis is just amazing," said a pleased Speak who helped organize the event from his home in Colorado. "The site came out beautiful, and the Tolbert family really appreciated what we've been able to accomplish."
On Friday, Speake took on the unofficial role of the event's master of ceremonies and spoke fondly of his high school friend. "He meant the world to me. It was really hard to hold it together (speaking of his words at the event). I really had to muster up the strength just to carry on because he means that much to me, but to our community, too, the community of Lemoore and beyond. He's an infectious person who brings joy. He brings charisma to people that's really hard to find today. "
Speake, following the ceremony, spoke with The Leader and recalled the moment he realized that his friend had died at the Pentagon.
"I received a phone call, and then I saw it on television right as it played out," remembered Tolbert's friend. "I was just praying at that moment that he wasn't there, and it turned out that he was because I knew that he worked in that building.
"That's like it was just yesterday. It's something that affects the whole world, and here we are in Lemoore and how it touched a small town of Lemoore. But look at the spirit we have here. That spirit lives on. Here we are in 2020, and it's amazing the strength and the positiveness and the turnout (for Otis) we had here today."
Tolbert's talents earned him a scholarship and a spot on the Fresno State Bulldog's team, where he played fullback and linebacker. Later, he followed in his father's footsteps and joined the United States Navy, where he worked in naval intelligence, his last duty in Washington, D.C.
Tolbert graduated in 1985 with a degree in criminal justice, and shortly after that, he joined the United States Navy, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, his last job in the Pentagon.
The young naval officer was also a veteran of the Persian Gulf War and was known as a hardworking officer who always showed up early for his job. Tolbert was among 125 military personnel and civilians who lost their lives that day while serving their country in the Pentagon.
Residents will always be reminded of Tolbert's service. Seven miles of Highway 198, between Lemoore High and the gate of Lemoore Naval Air Station, bears Tolbert's name as a symbolic memorial to the naval hero.
The U.S. Navy was also named an intelligence center after him. The Lt. Cmdr. Vincent Tolbert Joint Intelligence Operations Center, with more than 270,000 square feet of administrative and specialized space for the collection, processing, generation, and storage of classified intelligence data, is located at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.
Tolbert's family members, including mom Nancy, his father Otis, and brother Chris, were on hand to celebrate a life well earned.
"I'm overwhelmed by the number of people who showed up, and I'm very, very appreciative of what the class of '80 has done in rejuvenating the monument and the memorial area and also rejuvenating his scholarship in his honor," said his mother, Nancy. "It has been an uplifting day, and usually I'm a little down, but today, just seeing his classmates has uplifted me today, and the positive things that they said."
The Tolberts live in Fresno County now. "This has been uplifting because I'm quarantining myself for the last six months, and the only people I've been around are my children and grandchildren."
Late that day, Speake told The Leader that the first of what they hope are many fundraising golf tournaments was held at the Lemoore Municipal Golf Course to raise funds for the Tolbert's scholarship.
It turns out the scheduled golf tournament, despite getting a late start in organizing it, attracted 37 players and ten teams. Winning honors went to the group of West Ray, Jason Lopes, and Michael Neal.
