John Samuel Brawley Jr., of Mt. Ulla, was presented the North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Tanya S. Blackmon, president of Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville.
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, created in 1965, is an honor granted in North Carolina. As of Dec 31, 2006, the Order has been awarded to 6,672 individuals.
Notable recipients of the honor include Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Billy Graham and Benny Parsons.
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. 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.
Brawley retired from the N.C. Department of Corrections in 2010, having served the state for 32 years.
He is married to Debbie Jackson Brawley and has two children, Kristen and Trey. He is the son of the late Sam and Christine Brawley of Mooresville.