Meet recent recipients of the Order of the Longleaf Pine

Oct. 18--Even when it's not a surprise, it's a surprise.

The Order of the Longleaf Pine, one of North Carolina's highest civilian honors, has become a crowning cap to a career of social service. Since its inception more than 50 years ago, more than 15,000 men, women, businesses and animals have received the award.

Yet, the award's recipients are almost universally surprised by the honor. Part of that uncertainty is in how the award is decided.

For Fayetteville ophthalmologist J. Wayne Riggins, the award came during what was supposed to be a routine insurance meeting.

"I should have known something was up when I arrived and everyone was all dressed to the nines," Riggins said. "I was wondering why everyone was so dressy for a meeting.

"Afterward, I was truly speechless. Truly."

At least Charles Kemp had a reason to be dressed up. He was invited to give a speech about one of his projects, the Border Belt Farmers Museum in Fairmont.

"Never, ever, dreamed in my life that I would receive such an award," Kemp said afterward. "In North Carolina it's the Mount Everest -- or I guess I should say Mount Mitchell, since we're in North Carolina -- of honors."

While hundreds of people are nominated each year for outstanding service to the state or long records of public service, only the governor may designate who will receive the award.

Some recipients are famous, certainly at the state level. Some quietly make a difference with little more than a quick thanks from those around them.

But both Kemp and Riggins note that the Order of the Longleaf Pine is often given to those who aren't seeking recognition -- and that's why it can be such a surprise.

"I told someone there that I'd never in my life been looking for glory," Kemp said. "To be honored like this is beyond words.

"I often say community service is the dues you pay for enjoying life on Earth. We're all born, and we all die: What's important are the things we do in between."

Riggins agreed.

"I try to move the meter from behind the scenes," he said. "I find you can get much more done when you don't put yourself in the forefront.

"The goal of service is to provide for those who otherwise have nothing. If more people would take part, we could do wonders."

Margaret Wood, who received the award with her husband, Worth, said the key was seeing volunteer work as an opportunity, rather than an obligation.

"We retired after more than 30 years of service at the Cumberland Regional Juvenile Detention Center," she said. "It was the greatest blessing we could ever receive. Those young people were so important to us.

"It was wonderful to receive the award, but seeing so many of those young people turn their lives around; that was the real reward."

Award recipients

Here are recent recipients of the Order of the Longleaf Pine from the Cape Fear region:

Name: Paul Brooks

Home: Pembroke

Age: 75

Reason for receiving the award: Brooks was honored for 40 years of public service, improving the lives of Lumbee Indians in education and health care. He served as chairman of the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs before leaving the commission in 2013.

Name: Lew Brown

Home: Southern Pines

Reason for receiving the award: Brown, a former city manager of Southern Pines, retired as an associate professor at UNC-Greensboro after 28 years. In all, he had 45 years of public service before retiring in 2013.

Name: Charles Kemp

Home: Fairmont

Reason for receiving the award: Kemp taught public school for 40 years, served on Fairmont'sBoard of Commissioners for 28 years, and was the town's mayor for eight years until 2013. He is also a curator at the Fairmont Border Belt Farmers Museum.

Name: Mike McIntyre

Home: Lumberton

Reason for receiving the award: McIntyre was honored for a career of public service, including serving nine terms as the representative from the state's 7th Congressional District. He announced his retirement earlier this year.

Name: Aaron Meredith

Home: Lillington

Reason for receiving the award: Meredith, a sergeant with the Harnett County Sheriff's Office, was honored for outstanding community policing and extended community service. One example is Shop With a Sheriff, which allows deserving young people to shop for Christmas treats at no cost to themselves.

Name: Leon McLean

Home: Lumberton

Reason for receiving the award: McLean, a former superintendent of Fairmont schools from 1963 through 1989 was also headmaster at Avalon Academy and a school principal in Garland and Fairmont.

Name: Walter McNeil Jr.

Home: Sanford

Reason for receiving the award: McNeil served as a teacher and assistant principal in Lee County for 31 years. He also served on Sanford's city council for 33 years. He passed away earlier this year.

Name: J. Wayne Riggins

Home: Fayetteville

Reason for receiving the award: Riggins is a practicing physician and a former president of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County board of directors. He has been involved in a variety of public service organizations and was a driving force in Fayetteville's downtown revitalization.

Name: William Thompson

Home: Lake Waccamaw

Reason for receiving the award: A career of service to the Boys and Girls Home of Lake Waccamaw and promoting the state. He retired as president of the Boys and Girls Home in 2007.

Name: Kent Wrench

Home: Mingo, Sampson County

Reason for receiving the award: His life of service to the people of North Carolina and his efforts to collect, preserve and share the history of Sampson County. In addition, he has written several books of local history.

Name: Margaret and Worth Wood

Home: Hope Mills

Reason for receiving the award: The couple spent more than 30 years as volunteer counselors for troubled youth at the Cumberland Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

Staff writer Chick Jacobs can be reached at jacobsc@fayobserver.com or 486-3515.

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