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Ray White, whose dedication to public service and the nonprofit community of northeastern North Carolina has spanned more than five decades, has received the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine award.

The award – which is considered to be North Carolina’s highest award for state service granted by the Office of the Governor – was presented to White by Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard during a Dare Board of Commissioners meeting held in November.

Since its creation in 1963, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine has been awarded to individuals whose exemplary service, extraordinary achievements and substantial contributions to both their communities and the state of North Carolina go above and beyond the call of duty, making a significant impact and ultimately strengthening the state as a whole, noted a Dare County press release.

“For nearly 50 years, Ray has faithfully demonstrated how volunteer service benefits communities,” said Woodard. “He’s helped the people of the Outer Banks by generously sharing his time and talent with many grassroots organizations and advisory boards. He’s a retired banker and has been a role model by inspiring generations of his neighbors to give back to others.”

White served on the Dare County ABC Board for 49 years, many of which were spent serving as its chairman. “Under White’s leadership, the Dare County ABC Board safeguarded the local community by implementing effective policies and procedures that enforce the North Carolina’s ABC Board’s rules and regulations,” stated the release.

In addition to the role he played on the Dare County ABC Board over the years, White is also well-known for being a founding member of the Outer Banks Community Foundation. Established in 1982, the Outer Banks Community Foundation is a public charity whose mission is to help meet local needs in Dare County and across all Outer Banks communities from Corolla to Ocracoke Island.

White worked alongside author David Stick, actor Andy Griffith and others to establish the Outer Banks Community Foundation. He is credited with being the board’s longest-serving director, having served for three separate terms for a total of 16 years throughout its 40-year history. Over the years, the organization has awarded more than $12 million in grants, scholarships and disaster relief funding to those in need in the Outer Banks community.

Woodard also highlighted the fact that White was “an early, insightful visionary who foresaw the economic and cultural opportunities that tourism could bring to the coastal communities of the Outer Banks,” noting how he has helped to strategically guide the Dare County community through times of unprecedented growth through his involvement with local organizations such as the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce.

“I cannot think of a more deserving individual than this man who stands before you today,” said Woodard. “This is about respecting and honoring our citizens who do good work for our county, and that’s what this is all about, Ray. It could not be more well deserved by anyone else other than you. Congratulations!”

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