For more than 50 years, Bobby White has been a leader in economic development, playing vital role in growing Caldwell County and the Unifour. For his years of service to the area, White received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine at a ceremony recently.

During his public service career, White has served as Caldwell County Manager, Burke County Manager, Grant Administrator for Caldwell County Economic Development, and in leadership roles with Western Piedmont Council of Governments. As Caldwell County Manager, White helped bring the first data center to North Carolina with Google.

White has been part of projects to improve the Caldwell County School System and Caldwell Community College. He assisted with the creation of the Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy, the first academy of its kind in the state and a precursor to what are now known as Cooperative Innovative High Schools. He also helped pave the way for the Caldwell Early College and the Faye Broyhill Appalachian State Building on the Caldwell Community College campus.

Other projects White played a key role in include preventing the loss of the National Guard Armory in Caldwell County. White, with the help of North Carolina Representative Cass Ballenger, secured an $8 million grant to demolish the aging armory structure in Lenoir and rebuild it on newly purchased property near Gamwell. He was also involved in the expansion of the Morganton-Lenoir Airport and the construction of the Sheriff’s Office and Health and Human Services Building on Morganton Boulevard.

Since 1963, North Carolina’s governors have reserved their highest honor, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, for persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.