Order of the Long Leaf Pine
Encyclopedia
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, created in 1965, is an honor that can be granted in the U.S.
state of North Carolina
. The Longleaf Pine
is the official state tree of North Carolina
. As of Dec 31, 2006, the Order
has been awarded to 6,672 individuals.
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina
. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service
to the state. Contributions to their communities, extra effort in their careers, and many years of service to their organizations are some of the guidelines by which recipients are selected for this award. The honor is most often presented when a person retires
.
A state employee can be awarded The Order if the employee has contributed more than 30 years of dedicated and enthusiastic service to the state of North Carolina.
The Order is similar to honors bestowed in other states, such as the Kentucky colonel
and South Carolina
's Order of the Palmetto
. Originally, the Order was a symbolic honor for visiting dignitaries, but later it became an honor for notable North Carolinians. Although sometimes called the state's highest civilian honor, that distinction legally belongs to the North Carolina Award
.
"Reposing special confidence in the integrity, learning and zeal of [honoree], I [the Governor of North Carolina] do by these presents confer The Order of the Long Leaf Pine with the rank of Ambassador
Extraordinary, privileged to enjoy fully all rights granted to members of this exalted order, among which is the special privilege to propose the following North Carolina toast in select company anywhere in the free world:"
This is the first verse of the official toast of North Carolina
, from a poem by Leonora Martin and Mary Burke Kerr.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The Longleaf Pine
Longleaf Pine
Pinus palustris, commonly known as the Longleaf Pine, is a pine native to the southeastern United States, found along the coastal plain from eastern Texas to southeast Virginia extending into northern and central Florida....
is the official state tree of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. As of Dec 31, 2006, the Order
Order (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
has been awarded to 6,672 individuals.
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
to the state. Contributions to their communities, extra effort in their careers, and many years of service to their organizations are some of the guidelines by which recipients are selected for this award. The honor is most often presented when a person retires
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
.
A state employee can be awarded The Order if the employee has contributed more than 30 years of dedicated and enthusiastic service to the state of North Carolina.
The Order is similar to honors bestowed in other states, such as the Kentucky colonel
Kentucky colonel
Kentucky colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the Governor and the Secretary of State to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation...
and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
's Order of the Palmetto
Order of the Palmetto
The Order of the Palmetto is the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina. It is awarded to persons who make contributions of statewide significance. An auxiliary honor is "The Order of the Silver Crescent." Today it is awarded to persons who make community or professional...
. Originally, the Order was a symbolic honor for visiting dignitaries, but later it became an honor for notable North Carolinians. Although sometimes called the state's highest civilian honor, that distinction legally belongs to the North Carolina Award
North Carolina Award
The North Carolina Award is the highest civilian award bestowed by the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is awarded in the four fields of science, literature, the fine arts, and public service....
.
Notable recipients
- Maya AngelouMaya AngelouMaya Angelou is an American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer" by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first and most highly...
- Jack BettsJack Betts (journalist)Jack Betts is a journalist and columnist for the Charlotte Observer, where he holds the title Associate Editor. He is based in Raleigh, North Carolina and writes primarily on topics related to North Carolina government and politics....
- Dan Blue
- George W. BonDurantGeorge W. BonDurantGeorge William BonDurant is a retired American preacher who was influential in the Restoration Movement of Christianity during the 20th century. He was the founder and first President of both Atlanta Christian College and Mid-Atlantic Christian University...
- Joseph M. BryanJoseph M. BryanJoseph McKinley Bryan was an American insurance executive, broadcast pioneer, and philanthropist.Born in Elyria, Ohio, Bryan was the second son of Bart and Caroline Ebert Bryan. After serving overseas in World War I, he returned to New York City to take a job with a cotton firm. In 1923 he became...
- Fred ChappellFred ChappellFred Davis Chappell is an author and poet. He retired after 40 years as an English professor at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He was the Poet Laureate of North Carolina from 1997-2002...
- Janice ColeJanice ColeJanice McKenzie Cole is an attorney who served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina under President Bill Clinton....
- Bonnie Ethel ConeBonnie Ethel ConeBonnie Ethel Cone was an American educator best known as the founder of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.-Early life:...
- William C. FridayWilliam C. FridayWilliam Clyde "Bill" Friday He was born in Raphine, Virginia and raised in Dallas, North Carolina. He served as the head of the University of North Carolina system from 1956 to 1986....
- Danny GloverDanny GloverDanny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
- Billy GrahamBilly GrahamWilliam Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
- William A. Griffin
- Lloyd V. HackleyLloyd V. HackleyLloyd Vincent “Vic” Hackley is an educational administrator in North Carolina who was named in July 2007 as the interim chancellor of Fayetteville State University. He was previously chancellor of FSU from 1988 to 1994....
- Rick HendrickRick HendrickJoseph Riddick Hendrick III , better known as Rick Hendrick, is the current owner of the American NASCAR team, Hendrick Motorsports and founder of the Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Marrow Program. He attended Park View High School in South Hill, Virginia, and began his career in auto...
- Michael JordanMichael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
- Coretta Scott KingCoretta Scott KingCoretta Scott King was an American author, activist, and civil rights leader. The widow of Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King helped lead the African-American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.Mrs...
- Charles KuraltCharles KuraltCharles Kuralt was an American journalist. He was most widely known for his long career with CBS, first for his "On the Road" segments on The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, and later as the first anchor of CBS News Sunday Morning, a position he held for fifteen years.Kuralt's "On the Road"...
- I. Beverly Lake, Jr.
- William Ivey LongWilliam Ivey LongWilliam Ivey Long is an American costume designer for stage and film. His most notable work includes The Producers, Hairspray, Nine, Crazy for You, Grey Gardens and Young Frankenstein.-Early life and education:...
- Doug Marlette
- Carmen Hooker OdomCarmen Hooker OdomCarmen Hooker Odom is the former secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Governor Mike Easley appointed her Secretary in January 2001. Odom, a former Massachusetts legislator and health care lobbyist, has spent her professional life working in health and human...
- Benny ParsonsBenny ParsonsBenjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
- Art PopeArt PopeJames Arthur "Art" Pope is a North Carolina political figure, businessman, attorney and philanthropist. He is CEO and Board Chairman of Variety Wholesalers, Inc and President and Chairman of the John William Pope Foundation....
- Nido QubeinNido QubeinNido Qubein is a businessman, motivational speaker, and has been President of High Point University since 2005. He received his Associate's Degree in Business from Mount Olive College, where he was a member of Delta Pi Delta fraternity. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Human Relations from High...
- Peter RomaryPeter RomaryPeter Romary is a British born American attorney, mediator, arbitrator and diplomat living in Greenville, North Carolina. He is a lawyer, and trainer in the United States...
- Bob TimberlakeBob Timberlake (artist)Bob Timberlake is an internationally-acclaimed realist artist known primary for his watercolor paintings as well as for designing and licensing lines of home furnishings, clothing and various other products. He began his career as an artist in 1970 and began his home furnishings line in 1990. He...
- Patricia Timmons-GoodsonPatricia Timmons-GoodsonPatricia 'Pat' Timmons-Goodson is an American judge, currently an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court....
- James WorthyJames WorthyJames Ager Worthy is a retired Hall of Fame American college and professional basketball player. Named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, "Big Game James" was a seven-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA champion...
Certificate
The certificate reads in part:"Reposing special confidence in the integrity, learning and zeal of [honoree], I [the Governor of North Carolina] do by these presents confer The Order of the Long Leaf Pine with the rank of Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
Extraordinary, privileged to enjoy fully all rights granted to members of this exalted order, among which is the special privilege to propose the following North Carolina toast in select company anywhere in the free world:"
- Here's to the land of the long leaf pineLongleaf PinePinus palustris, commonly known as the Longleaf Pine, is a pine native to the southeastern United States, found along the coastal plain from eastern Texas to southeast Virginia extending into northern and central Florida....
, - The summer land where the sun doth shine,
- Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great,
- Here's to "Down Home," the Old North State!
This is the first verse of the official toast of North Carolina
North Carolina State Toast
"A Toast" was adopted by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1957:"A Toast" was adopted by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1957:"A Toast" was adopted by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1957:...
, from a poem by Leonora Martin and Mary Burke Kerr.