Former Kannapolis mayor receives Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Bachman Brown, Kannapolis' first mayor, listens to a toast that was given in his honor during the Fire and Ice ball on Friday night. Rachel Anders/Kannapolis Citizen

By Hugh Fisher

hfisher@salisburypost.com

Bachman Brown, longtime attorney and first mayor of Kannapolis, added another achievement to his resume last week.

Local leaders and friends nominated Brown for the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian award the state of North Carolina extends to its citizens.

"It was a complete surprise," Brown said. He was surprised with the presentation of the award during a regular meeting of the Cabarrus Senior Democrats at Troutman's Barbecue in Concord.

"They went on with the regular program, the regular business," Brown said.

But then Estus White was recognized and began introducing his friend and naming his accomplishments.

Brown, 82, first arrived in Kannapolis as a 23-year-old attorney, fresh out of the Duke University School of Law.

A past president of the Cabarrus County Bar Association and the 19-A Judicial District Bar, he is currently president of Alexander, Brown & Dameron, P.A.

After working on the task force to incorporate Kannapolis, he served as mayor from 1985 to 1993.

He has been a member of Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church for more than five decades, serving as congregational president, Sunday school teacher and on other committees.

Brown and his wife, Mabel, live in Kannapolis. They have a son, a daughter and four grandchildren.

Looking back on all he has done, Brown said he was glad to have been a part of all that has happened in Kannapolis.

"I feel certain that we got the city off on a solid foundation," Brown said.

But he gives most of the credit to his colleagues on the city staff and the City Council.

"I was there as a spectator, primarily," he said.

Kannapolis' current mayor, Bob Misenheimer, credits Brown's leadership with giving the city a strong, independent start.

"He brought a great deal of prestige to that office," Misenheimer said. "He led this city extremely well."

Brown's wife knew in advance about plans to give her husband the award.

"He's been a wonderful servant to the community," she said.

"He's never been out to do anything for honors for himself. People ask him for help, and he always says yes."

Looking ahead, Bachman Brown said he hopes the city's growth will provide a brighter future for many of his fellow citizens.

"The first 100 years, the city grew and became an industrial center," Brown said. He was a guest Monday at the opening of the N.C. Research Campus.

"I hope that in the next 100 years, the city will become one of the scientific centers of the state and the nation."