Dr. Clark receives Governor's highest honor

Shelby Powell, News-Topic, Lenoir, N.C.
·2 min read

Apr. 12—LENOIR — It was a pleasant surprise to Dr. Dana Clark, chair of the Lenoir Tourism Development Authority, when he received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine while attending the 2024 NC tourism conference in Greensboro. The award is the highest honor that can be given by the office of the Governor of North Carolina, and was presented to Clark by Dr. Carol Kline, his successor as director of the hospitality program at Appalachian State.

Clark served on the Charlotte Convention and Visitors Board as Vice President for approximately 10 years before starting at App State. He first became involved with the university's hospitality program in 1991, serving as the program's director for his last ten years. Clark has also served on the Lenoir Tourism Development Authority as Chair since its creation in 2009, which directs funds raised from the hotel occupancy tax to implement projects and develop programs designed to maximize the economic impact of tourism on Caldwell County. The authority's goals are to "get people off the highway, and then to get them to stay and visit," according to Clark.

Clark has received a number of other awards throughout his career, including the Sywassink Excellence in Service and the Spirit of Walker awards from the Walker College of Business at App State. According to his App State faculty profile, he is also the only individual to receive all three of North Carolina's most prestigious tourism awards: the Barentine Special Achievement Award, the Tourism Excellence Award for Public Service, and the Tourism Excellence Award for an Individual.

The Order of the Long Leaf pine was created in the 1960s, and has since become one of the most prestigious awards and individual can receive in North Carolina, with prominent recipients including Maya Angelou, Dale Earnhardt (and Jr.) and Andy Griffith. The award may be issued at the govoner's discretion to any individual with 30 or more years of experience serving in the state, along with a nomination, biography and multiple letters of recommendation. Clark says he was nominated by Kline.

Lenoir Mayor Jo Gibbons, a fellow recipient of the award, extended his congratulations to Clark during the March 19 city council meeting and again in comment to the News-Topic, saying "we are very proud for Dr. Clark and what he's accomplished. It's great to have him involved in our community. He gives a lot of himself."