Who I Am

I am a farmer, an architect, a businessman, a father, and husband. My wife, Dr. Kate Queen, is a rheumatologist for MedWest and my daughter Sara and son Charlie are recent graduates of the UNC system. A United Methodist, I’ve taught Sunday school for over 20 years, led Boy Scouts and coached youth soccer. And, like my granddaddy before me, I call the Appalachian Square Dance.

For 3 terms in the NC Senate, I’ve worked for a stronger economy and better life for all Western North Carolinians.

Elected Office

• North Carolina Senate Member, 2006-2010
• North Carolina Senate Member 2002-2004
• Voted Most Effective Freshmen Democrat in the North Carolina Senate

Awards

• North Carolina REAL Advocate of the Year for Rural Entrepreneurial Education
• North Carolina Business Incubator Society Legislator of the Year
• Legislative Advocate Award for Mountain Micro Loan Enterprises
• North Carolina Legislative Advocate Award for Civic Education

Civic and Cultural Boards Served

• President, Haywood County Arts Council
• President, Voices in the Laurel Youth Choir
• Director & President, Haywood 2000
• Director, Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation
• Director, Appalachian Music & Dance Preservation Society
• Director, Folkmoot USA
• Director, Western North Carolina Tomorrow
• Director, Haywood Arts Repertory Theatre (HART)
• Director, Friends of Mountain History
• Director, Advantage West, North Carolina
• Director, North Carolina Progress Board
• Director, Daniel Boone Council of Boy Scouts of America
• Member, Haywood Heritage Council
• Member, Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Membership

• Sons of the American Revolution
• Downtown Waynesville Association
• Haywood County Chamber of Commerce
• Wilderness Trail, Inc.
• Haywood Historic Society
• Leadership Giving Circle of United Way
• Friends of Scouting
• North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry
• Other Civic Activities & Accomplishments
• Director of the Smoky Mountain Folk Festival for over 30 years
• Producer of the Summer Street Dances on Main Street, Waynesville
• Coordinator of the Haywood County Visioning Process as Haywood 2000 board member
• Campaign Chair, HRMC Fitness Center, raising over $3 Million
• Member and Paul Harris Fellow, Waynesville Rotary
• Scout Master, Troop 321, Waynesville
• Blue Ridge National Heritage Area participant and contributor
• Member, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Swain County Chamber of Commerce

Professional

• Architect, AIA
• Other businesses include farming, property management

Professional Accomplishments

• Architect for HRMC Fitness Center, Haywood Arts Repertory Theatre, Maggie Valley Country Club and Carolina Conveying Corporate Headquarters in the East Haywood Industrial Park
• Designed the Composer in Residence building at the Brevard Music Center and The Nags Head Woods Nature Center for the North Carolina Nature Conservancy at the Outer Banks

Education

• Tuscola High School, Class of 1968
• North Carolina State University, Architecture, 1972
• North Carolina State University, Master in Architecture, 1974

Education Accomplishments

• President of the Student Body; co-captain of the wrestling team, Tuscola High School
• President, Design Council, NCSU School of Design
• Member, NCSU Student Senate
• Teaching Fellow , North Carolina State University