Local residents receive prestigious award

Two North Carolina residents with Lenoir County ties have received one of the highest awards in the state.

Ethro Hill and Dennis Branch recently received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award from Gov. Pat McCrory.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is given to individuals with a proven record of extraordinary service to the state, contribution to their communities, extra effort in their careers and business activities and years of significant service to community and civic organizations. The award is considered the state’s highest civilian honor.

“I couldn’t believe I received the award,” Hill said. “I didn’t think I qualified for it.”

Hill, 89, was born in Pink Hill and spent 12 years on the town board — including 10 as mayor — from 1956 to 1968. Hill also served as a state magistrate from 1968 to 1996.

Hill has also been a member of Pleasant Hill Masonic Lodge since 1949, an active member of Pink Hill Ruritan Club since 1968 and an American Legion member for more than 20 years, amongst other accolades.

Hill said he has done a lot during his lifetime, but was glad to have assisted his community for many years.

“It’s been a busy one, but I just enjoyed what I did,” Hill said. “My saying is ‘I’m Ethro Hill from Pink Hill; always worked, always will.’ I grew up to work.”

Branch, 54, was raised in La Grange and is a 1977 graduate of North Lenoir High School. He received his award after spending 30 years as an employee of the N.C. Department of Commerce.

“I felt very humbled and honored to have been acknowledged and presented such an award of distinction,” Branch said. “I felt highly respected for the commitment and obligation of public services that I have tried to provide to citizens of the great state of North Carolina.”

Branch, who lives and has done most of his work in Raleigh, graduated from Johnson C. Smith in 1981 with a degree in political science and is a member of the Alpha Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Branch is an active member of his church, First Baptist, volunteering tutorial services and is serving as a trustee. Branch has also worked with Habitat for Humanity, which provides affordable housing for low-income persons and families.

Branch said one of the biggest highlights of his career came with the organization after many people were affected from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

“The division of community assistance where I worked implemented that this was an urgent need category, and we had set money in the state budget used for disaster or recovery needs for the infrastructure movement,” Branch said. “We were able to make funds available to individuals living in the Edgecombe County area, Princeville and Tarboro, giving temporary housing to those who lost their homes in the flood. We were able to give them a temporary shelter so they’d have adequate temporary living quarters.

“I’m thankful to have been able to assist.”

Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.

Breakout Box

The N.C. State Toast:

People inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine become cultural ambassadors of the state and can propose this state toast at any time:

Here’s to the land of the long leaf pine,

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

Here’s to the land of the cotton bloom white

Where the scuppernong perfumes the breeze at night,

Where the soft southern moss and jessamine mate,

’Neath the murmuring pines of the Old North State!

Here’s to the land where the galax grows,

Where the rhododendron’s rosette glows,

Where soars Mount Mitchell’s summit great,

In the “Land of the Sky,” in the Old North State!

Here’s to the land where maidens are fair,

Where friends are true and cold hearts rare,

The near land, the dear land, whatever fate,

The blessed land, the best land, the Old North State!