For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Contact:
Nazneen Ahmed (919) 716-0060
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein today honored six North Carolinians in western North Carolina with the Attorney General’s Dogwood Award. These awards are given out annually to recognize people who are working to improve the health, safety, and well-being of their fellow North Carolinians.
Recipients in western North Carolina are:
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch
“Drug traffickers have flooded western North Carolina with illicit, deadly drugs,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “District Attorney Welch has made it clear that she will not tolerate these drugs on our streets and is fighting to hold accountable the criminals who traffic poison.
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch represents Prosecutorial District 43 (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties.)
Philip Cooper
“As founder of Operation Gateway in Asheville, Philip helps people who are re-entering society find resources they need to rebuild their lives,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “He has used his own lived experiences to help others lead successful lives.”
Philip Cooper is the founder and executive director of Operation Gateway, which works to address recidivism and support people leaving incarceration.
Mayor Preston Blakely
“As both a local and statewide leader, Mayor Blakely is working to help local communities create a fairer criminal justice system,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “His work and input on the Governor’s Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice is making a difference.”
Mayor Preston Blakely is the mayor of the town of Fletcher.
Sheriff Lowell Griffin, Henderson County
“Communities across North Carolina continue to face public safety challenges,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “Sheriff Griffin has worked to recruit and retain officers who will serve as guardians of their communities.”
Sheriff Lowell Griffin leads the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.
Mayor Zeb Smathers, Haywood County
“Long before we heard the Canton paper mill’s last whistle, Mayor Smathers has been helping his community,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “His leadership and optimism have been invaluable for the people of Canton through difficult times.”
Mayor Zeb Smathers is the mayor of the town of Canton.
Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock (Posthumous), Appalachian State University
“Dr. Peacock devoted decades of his life to App State, and the university and its students benefited greatly from his service,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “He helped strengthen the university into a leader in many areas of study, including health care, energy, and economics.”
Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock served as chancellor of Appalachian State University from 2004 to 2014. He passed away in October 2023.
The 2023 Dogwood Award recipients are:
- Lynn Guilliams, Fuquay-Varina Middle School
- Baker Burleson, parent advocate
- Survivors of sexual assault, Accepted by Amy Feath, Carousel Child Advocacy Center
- Sen. Tom McInnis
- Nidhi Sachdeva, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners
- Diannee Carden-Glenn, ekiM For Change
- District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch, Prosecutorial District 43
- Detective Tori Kennedy, Burlington Police Department
- Detective Josh Schultz, Burlington Police Department
- Jan and Ron Kimble, Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage
- Rashida Gittens, domestic violence victor and advocate
- Catherine Johnson, Guilford Family Justice Center
- Philip Cooper, Operation Gateway
- Mayor Preston Blakely, Town of Fletcher
- Officer Robert Daughety, Jacksonville Police Department
- Officer Sarah Butler, Jacksonville Police Department
- Sheriff Lowell Griffin, Henderson County
- Sheriff Clee Atkinson, Edgecombe County
- Kara Fox, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Maria Teresa Maza, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Ryan Etheridge, Cleveland County Schools
- Kimberly Jones, Chapel Hill High School
- Mayor Zeb Smathers, Town of Canton
- Rep. Kyle Hall
- Cady Thomas
- Cassandra Brooks, Medicaid Expansion advocate
- Firefighter Kevin Murphy, on behalf of the Charlotte Fire Department
- Captain Jeff Bright, on behalf of the Charlotte Fire Department
- Senator H.M. Michaux, Jr.
- Judge Shirley Fulton, North Carolina Superior Court
- Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock, Appalachian State University
- Chancellor Harold L. Martin, Sr., North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
- Jonas Swartz, MD, MPH, Duke Health
- Ernestine Bryant, Brunswick County
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