[Note: In 1971, the State of South Carolina established the Order of the Palmetto (its state tree) no doubt patterned after North CarolinasThe Order of the Long Leaf Pine awards program.]. Here's to "Down Home," the Old North State![15]. Consequently, despite the best efforts to compile the most complete and accurate listing of recipients possible, the award certificate itself remains the best, and sometimes only, reliable evidence of membership inThe Order of the Long Leaf Pine and should, therefore, be treated by the recipients with the care it properly deserves. Nominees are reviewed by the North Carolina Awards Committee with the final slate submitted to the Governor for their final approval. However, the North Carolina Award remains the highest honor the State of North Carolina can bestow. Functionality of the site should not be affected, but things may look different. The toast was first read by the Rev. *, Although intended primarily for use by recipients of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, all interested persons are invited to visit this website where you will find . This lack of information is further documented in a January, 1975 letter from Governor James Holshouser, Jr. who, in responding to an inquiry regarding the origin of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, wrote I regret that we do not have any information concerning the history, purposes, rights and duties of the members of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. This website is undergoing design changes. 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. Nominations are made to the Office of the Governor. of the long leaf pine, No mention of how Gov. Here's to the land of the long leaf pine, Due to its value as a home for a diverse collection of plants and animals as well as its value as a source of high-quality, sustainable forest products, many organizations, including the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS), have made increasing longleaf . A review of this supplemental information suggests, as previously surmised, thatThe Order of the Long Leaf Pine may have been originally designed and intended to promote and generate interest in North Carolina with persons visiting the state, often in connection with meetings, conferences, conventions, public appearances or similar functions. On May 21, 1957, the General Assembly adopted an official state toast. It is the highest award for state service granted by the Office of the Governor. To learn more, view our full privacy policy. However, it is clear that over time, the process for nominating and evaluating candidates became increasingly stringent, further solidifying its reputation as among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina. Television and motion picture personalities Andy Griffith and Anne Jeffreys and network news anchor David Brinkley were among the honorees present for this April 28 televised event hosted by Governor Sanford. Individuals can be nominated by a teacher, coach, counselor, school administrator or community leader. Longleaf Pine Ecosystems, North Carolina 2023 State and Private Forestry Fact Sheet. Beginning in May 1904, lines of the poem appeared in newspapers in accounts of tributes and toasts given at other occasions. Although sometimes called the state's highest civilian honor in an order of precedence, that distinction legally belongs to the North Carolina Award. Where friends are true and cold hearts rare, 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. Anthem: Downloadable recordings and sheet music for The Longleaf Pine anthem. Nominations are made to the Office of the Governor. 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. Heres to the land where the galax grows, The summer land where the sun doth shine, Hunt, Jr. (1993-2001), Governor Michael F. Easley (2001-2009), Governor Beverly E. Perdue (2009-2013), Governor Pat McCrory (2013 2017), and Governor Roy Cooper (2017-present). But despite its popularity and prestige, little could be found in the public records regarding the origin ofThe Order of the Long Leaf Pine or its recipients. The Society. 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. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the state and nation in the areas Literature, Science, the Fine Arts and Public Service. Award recipients are honored at a recognition ceremony and receive a medallion signifying their community service accomplishments. 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 Restoring and Managing The summer land where the sun doth shine, ', Last edited on 1 September 2022, at 21:07. 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. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society Roster. Hunt, Jr. (1977-1985), Governor James G. Martin (1985-1993), Governor James B. N.C. Rep. Bill Brawley joined a packed room full of recipients of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine at The Levine Museum of the New South on Sunday. It was compiled by Phillip T. Fisher from a myriad of documents found in the Governor's Records at the North Carolina Office of Archives & History and . It appears that the award probably originated in the spring of 1963 during the administration of Governor Terry Sanford (1961-1965). Among the most prestigious awards conferred by the Governor of North Carolina is The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. The Old North State Award is presented by the governor to recognize dedication and service beyond expectation and excellence to the Great State of North Carolina.Nominations can be made for individuals who have20 or more years of servicein the State of North Carolina. "Joe King et.al. Where the scuppernong perfumes the breeze at night, The highest civilian honor the state can bestow. The summer land The Order of the Long Leaf Pinehas not, however, been the exclusive domain of the famous and influential. Additionally, longleaf was harvested for its dense, strong wood and was used to construct many of the Souths cities and towns. 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. 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. It has been a tradition in our state to present these to our friends; however, we can find no information concerning the background. However, a researcher at the Department of Cultural Resources was probably correct when he observed that Since the law establishing the long-leaf pine as the state tree was passed in [March] 1963it was believed that the significance of the order was in large part based on that fact.. OnMay 21, 1957,the General Assembly adopted an official state toast. Governor Sanford and his staff may have also taken note of several awards programs in place in other states at the time most notably, the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel awarded by the Governor of Kentucky entitling those commissioned by him to become members of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels (to which Governor Sanford himself was named in 1961). News & Observer: And his little dog, too "What is the Order of the Long Leaf Pine? The near land, the dear land, whatever fate, They may then enroll in the Societys Directory entitling them to display Society insignia. Heres to the land where maidens* are fair, Contact your county forest ranger if you're interested in managing your land for longleaf pine. 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. 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 North Carolina native, lifelong resident and former state government executive, he has been honored by North Carolina governors with both The Order of the Long Leaf Pine and The Old North State awards. In the eighteenth century, naval stores (tar, pitch, and turpentine used in shipbuilding) made from the abundant pine resin of longleaf trees were the colonys most important industry. Here's to the Land of the Longleaf Pine. Community Hero Award recognizes North Carolinians for outstanding acts of heroic service to others. They may live for as much as five centuries just to put that into perspective, there are longleaf . Roster of Recipients. The fact that no mention was made of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine during these ceremonies nor any reference found in records preceding them, at least suggests that this awards program was first implemented sometime immediately prior to June 18, 1963, although no more specific information could be found. This award may be granted for any number of reasons. the Old North State!. A lock icon or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Conversations about issues affecting our city, region and country. North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, An official website of the State of North Carolina, Advisory Council on Film, Television, and Digital Streaming, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion, interactive timeline of North Carolinas state symbols. 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. He is composer of The Longleaf Pine. In 1961, the North Carolina Awards were established by the North Carolina General Assembly recognizing the notable attainments of North Carolinians in the fields of Literature, Science, the Fine Arts, and Public Service. 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. Here's to the land of the long leaf pine, While this would appear to have been an opportune occasion for the awarding of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, those honored were instead given silver cups (which Mr. Martin, on behalf of Governor Sanford, personally delivered to North Carolina native Ava Gardner during his good will mission to Spain). The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society, L3C is a non-governmental organization, administered for charitable and educational purposes in accordance with North Carolina law establishing low profit limited liability companies. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is an honor granted by the State of North Carolina to individuals who have shown extraordinary service to the 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. 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. The Order. N.C. Rep. Bill Brawley joined a packed room full of recipients of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine at The Levine Museum of the New South on Sunday. Asheville Citizen-Times, Jon Ostendorf, Jan 5, 2007. Heres to down home, Although the absence of any listing or directory of persons receiving the award before 1983 made identifying recipients more difficult, the notes and correspondence naming them did provide some useful insight into why they were awardedThe Order of the Long Leaf Pine information not available later from the mere listing of names and dates. This award is administered at the Governors discretion. 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 was compiled by Phillip T. Fisher from a myriad of documents found in the Governors Records at the North Carolina Office of Archives & History and, beginning in 1983, from lists provided by Archives & History and the Office of the Governor. Among the honors and awards the Governor of North Carolina can bestow, none is more valued than The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. It covers the period June, 1963 (when, according to the records, the first certificate appears to have been issued) to the present. During the terms of earlier governors it was awarded without an explicit requirement of service duration . 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. The Order is similar to honors bestowed in other states, such as the Kentucky Colonel and South Carolina's Order of the Palmetto. Contributions to their communities, extra effort in their careers, and many years of service to their organizations are some of the guidelines by . [citation needed]. Among his special contributions to the State, Mr. Fisher and his wife created the first North Carolina Motion Picture Database. In 2002, North Carolina had approximately 293,000 acres of longleaf pine forest remaining. Since its creation in 1963, it has been presented to honor persons who have a proven record of service to the State of North Carolina or some other special achievement, and to others as a gesture of friendship and good will. The blest land, the best land, the Old North State! News: A listing of Long Leaf Pine recipients deceased during the previous year and other news regarding The Order and The Society. Easley, a Democrat, gave the "award" to all of his close friends and donors? 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. Moore's toast came from "The Old North State," a poem, written by Leonora Monteiro . Submissions must include a biography and a statement of service from Human Resources on letterhead, if available. 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. Click on the scroll (at right) for the most recent and only comprehensive listing of recipients of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, or what might otherwise be called the "membership roster" for "The Order". To receive these updates automatically each day, make sure you subscribe by email using the box on the right, and follow us onFacebookandTwitter. The Levine event was the first ever gathering of recipients of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state's highest civilian honor. Instead, the identities of recipients during the 1963-1983 period were discovered in miscellaneous correspondence, memoranda, even on napkins and the backs of envelopes. Click on the scroll (at right) for the most recent and only comprehensive listing of recipients of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, or what might otherwise be called the membership roster for The Order. This website is undergoing design changes. Secure websites use HTTPS certificates. To nominate a non-state employee three letters of recommendation are required. The list contains the recipients name (typically as it appears on the award certificate) and the month and year of the certificate or presentation date. A longleaf pine forest is well-suited for the woodland owner who wants to manage for multiple uses including aesthetics, wildlife, recreation, and forest products (timber, pine straw). Non-state employees are also eligible for the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. A request for the award must be submitted by a human resources officer for state employees. Nominations are made to the Office of the Governor. Among the recipients, you will find the familiar names of the following North Carolinians: Maya Angelou, Shirley Caesar, Charlie Daniels, Dale Earnhardt, John Hope Franklin, William Bill Friday, Roman Gabriel, Billy Graham, Andy Griffith, Jim Catfish Hunter, Junior Johnson, Michael Jordan, Alexander Julian, Fred Kirby, Ronnie Milsap, Hugh Morton, Gaylord Perry, Richard Petty, Earl Scruggs, General Henry Hugh Shelton, Enos Slaughter, Arthur Smith, Dean Smith, James Bonecrusher Smith, Bob Timberlake, Randy Travis, and Arthel L. Doc Watson. One of the newspaper articles also credited then State Advertising Director Charlie Parker with conceiving the award program. & the Sultan of Kuwait and a lot more ", "Scotty McCreery's latest honor is a matter of state pride", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Order_of_the_Long_Leaf_Pine&oldid=1107975044, This page was last edited on 1 September 2022, at 21:07. The toast was first read by the Rev. A special license plate is now available to state troopers and other law enforcement, designating their honor. Where the weak grow strong To learn more, view our full privacy policy. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Interestingly, two other awards programs were created at or about this same time. Moores toast came from The Old North State, a poem, written by Leonora Monteiro Martin, which was reportedly commissioned for the event. Did you forget that?