Governor Roy Cooper named Mike McGaha on October 1, 2017 as a the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary in North Carolina's highest civilian fraternity, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.  The award was presented by Secretary Larry Hall to the Local 391 President in a ceremony at the Raleigh Union Hall on October 21 at the membership meeting.

Governor Cooper was scheduled to present the award, but was attending the funeral for the fallen correctional officers who died during the attempted prison break in Pasquotank County.  

"Among the most prestigious awards conferred by the Governor of North Carolina is the Order of the Long Leaf Pine," said Secretary Larry Hall, who oversees the Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs for Governor Cooper.  "It is awarded to persons for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina."

Hall said President McGaha's work over a career at UPS, a steward, business agent, and officer in Local 391 and at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters qualified him as a member of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.  

"North Carolina's motto is 'to be, rather than to seem,'" said Hall.  "Think about it, our state's motto could be Mike's motto."   

As Ambassador Extraordinary, President McGaha is privileged to propose the following North Carolina Toast in select company anywhere in the free world:

Here's to the land of the long leaf pine, the summer land where the sun doth shine, where the weak grow strong and strong grow great, here's to down home, the Old North State. 

See the video below to watch the induction ceremony.