Order of the Long Leaf Pine: A history of the award program, Roster of award recipients, and link to the Governors website where nominations may be submitted for The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award. Roster of Recipients. The Society. A state employee can be awarded with the order if the employee has contributed more than 30 years of dedicated and enthusiastic service to the state of North Carolina. the Old North 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 Society was founded and is directed by Phillip T. Fisher. Contributions to their communities, extra effort in their careers, and many years of service to their organizations are some of the guidelines by . The poem became almost instantly ubiquitous in association with patriotic and nostalgic feelings for the state, and within a few years it appeared on postcards and in anthologies. Whether you are a tree farmer, a hunter, a hiker, an environmentalist or a combination of these, you can enjoy the many superior qualities of a longleaf forest. Neath the murmuring pines of the Old North State! It also seeks to raise awareness of "The Longleaf Pine" ceremonial anthem and otherwise instill and foster pride in The Great State of North Carolina. Student Excellence Award recognizes outstanding service by an individual student to their school or community beyond academic achievement. 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 Monteiro Martin. This would also seem consistent with two August 7, 1963 newspaper articles found by Stanly County Historical Society volunteer researcher Lewis P. Bramlett which reported that on August 6, Lexington Kentucky farm editor John Jenks (who was visiting North Carolina at the time) became the first person in the United States to be named to the newly created Order of the Long Leaf Pine. It appears that the award probably originated in the spring of 1963 during the administration of Governor Terry Sanford (1961-1965). The records from the Sanford administration also refer to two other awards and designations under the aegis of the governor during this time the Honorary Tar Heel award which, according to Governor Sanford, was an organization formed in 1946 whose membership consisted mainly of practitioners male in the communications media; and the Ambassador of Good Will designation which probably originated during the administration of Governor Clyde R. Hoey (1937-1941), if not earlier. Since 1963, North Carolinas governors have reserved their highest honor, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, for persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great, The qualifications criteria for membership inThe Order of the Long Leaf Pine are within the sole discretion of the sitting Governor and were not set forth in any of the records examined. A request for the award must be submitted by a human resources officer for state employees. From that point, generations of North Carolina school children learned the song before the General Assembly officially recognized the combined creations of Martin and Kerr as the state toast in 1957. As of 2021, it was believed the Order had been awarded to more than 21,000 people.[1]. Asheville Citizen-Times, Jon Ostendorf, Jan 5, 2007. The award celebrates contributions to communities and North Carolinas cultural heritage. ', Last edited on 1 September 2022, at 21:07. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, created in 1964, is an honor that can be granted in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Most often, cutover longleaf forests were replaced by farmland or other forest types due to a lack of knowledge of how to regenerate the longleaf forest. Award recipients are honored at a recognition ceremony and receive a medallion signifying their community service accomplishments. Nominations are made to the Office of the Governor. The Order began as a symbolic honor for visiting dignitaries, but later it became an honor for notable North Carolinians. The use of the terms visitors and friends together with the fact that only fourteen of seventy-six persons named by Governor Sanford toThe Order of the Long Leaf Pine were North Carolina residents implies that the award was, at least in the beginning, primarily intended to promote North Carolina to persons outside the state. Nominations are made to the Office of the Governor. They may live for as much as five centuries just to put that into perspective, there are longleaf . One can only imagine that with the elimination of the Ambassador of Good Will and short-lived Prodigal Son designations and the diminution of the Honorary Tar Heel status, and the popularity in other states of awards programs like the Honorary Order of Kentucky Colonels, and the recent adoption of the (longleaf) pine as the state tree, Director Parker with the blessing of Governor Sanford conceived The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award primarily to promote the state to its visitors and friends. Your work is very good and I appreciate you and hopping for some more informative posts. The certificate for The Old North State Award reads as follows: For dedication and service beyond expectation and excellence to the Great State of North Carolina, on behalf of the citizens of this state, I bestow upon: 'Working together, we can make North Carolina the place of unlimited opportunity---- a place where anyone who studies hard, works hard and lives a life with high values can fulfill and even exceed their potential. North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, An official website of the State of North Carolina, Awards Presented by the State of North Carolina, Advisory Council on Film, Television, and Digital Streaming, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion. A special license plate is now available to state troopers and other law enforcement, designating their honor. [citation needed]. Medallion Award recipients are nominated at the county level by a panel of community leaders from across the state. *While contributions to The Society are not deductible as charitable contributions, contributors may wish to consult their tax advisors regarding their deductibility on other grounds. A member of the Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies, The Society is responsible for compiling and preserving the history of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award program. No mention of how Gov. Upon being named to The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the honoree receives a certificate by which the Governor confers upon the recipient 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: Heres to the land Up to six awards may be presented each year. A lock icon or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. In fact, it appears from the records that the first listing of persons (and entities) named toThe Order of the Long Leaf Pine did not occur until 1983 twenty years after the program was established. For their cooperation and valuable assistance in furnishing these lists, Mr. Fisher gratefully acknowledges the efforts of Archivist William H. Brown, Governors Records Archivist Mark Valsame and the Search Room staff at the Office of Archives & History. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina. And he had some news for them. This honor is reserved for individuals who have shown courage and compassion under extraordinary circumstances, such as those who have saved the life of another person. By the early 2000s, less than 3% of the historic acreage of longleaf pine forest remained. This website is undergoing design changes. News: A listing of Long Leaf Pine recipients deceased during the previous year and other news regarding The Order and The Society. Despite their exclusive membership rosters at the time, today being named an Honorary Tar Heel is intended as a comical way to make a nonresident an honorary citizen, and the Ambassador of Good Will designation and Prodigal Son award soon ceased to exist. Did you forget that? During the terms of earlier governors it was awarded without an explicit requirement of service duration . Contact your county forest ranger if you're interested in managing your land for longleaf pine. The NCWorks Commission, appointed by the governor and operating as the states official workforce development board, recognizes these outstanding individuals and businesses at a fall ceremony. On May 21, 1957, the General Assembly adopted an official state toast. Conversations about issues affecting our city, region and country. Based upon these records, they appear to have been the first recipients ofThe Order of the Long Leaf Pine award which Governor Sanford and his Press Secretary described at the time as being given to distinguished visitors to our State, a very select group of friends of North Carolina, and our highest honorary for special friends of North Carolina. A lock icon or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. ", "Ellington awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine", Hackley to Serve as Interim Chancellor of FSU, "Former Chapel Hill Mayor Jonathan Howes dies at 78". Recipients omitted from the list may, by mail or e-mail, furnish The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society a copy of their certificate clearly showing their name and award date, and their information will be added to the Roster. This award is administered at the Governors discretion. Where the soft southern moss and jessamine mate, A member of the Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies, The Society is responsible for compiling and preserving the history of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award program. Laurel Wreath Award is granted to those that have made outstanding contributions to sports or athletics. Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great, 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.