Distinguished Service Award Goes to Martha Johnson

ASHEBORO (July 17, 2009)

Community leader Martha Johnson was honored with the RCC Board of Trustees Distinguished Service Award on July 16.

Martha L. Johnson was the recipient of the Randolph Community College Board of Trustees 2009 Distinguished Service Award, presented at the Board's annual meeting on July 16 at the Foundation Conference Center on the Asheboro Campus.

Johnson, longtime community leader and former RCC trustee, and several of her family members were present for the award presentation. Also attending were North Carolina Representatives Pat Hurley and Harold Brubaker and North Carolina Senator Jerry Tillman.

Johnson was originally appointed to the RCC Board in 1976 by N.C. Governor James Holshouser Jr. to replace her father (the late Ivey Luck) for the 6 1/2 years remaining on his term. Johnson was then reappointed to the Board for one eight-year term and four four-year terms by the Randolph County Board of Education. Her total service as a member of the RCC Board was 31 years and six months; she retired on June 30, 2007, and she was awarded the status of Trustee Emeritus in November 2007.

RCC Board Chair Jim Campbell presented the award, noting that Johnson saw many changes in the College campus as well as its curriculum offerings during her tenure on the Board. "Martha saw the College's name change from Randolph Technical Institute to Randolph Technical College to Randolph Community College and she witnessed the development of two off-campus centers," said Campbell. "When the RCC Foundation began its campaign to build the Foundation Conference Center in 2000, Martha was a major donor for this project. She is currently a member of the Foundation's President's Circle and is recognized as a member of the Platinum Donors' Club on the Foundation's donor wall…We certainly appreciate her dedication to RCC and its endeavors."

RCC President Robert Shackleford said, "If you searched the entire county, you could not find anyone with a kinder heart or a more giving soul than Martha Johnson. We are honored to have her as a friend and supporter of RCC."

The Randolph Community College Board of Trustees Distinguished Service Award was established in 2002. The nomination criteria states that an award recipient must be an individual, group, or organization that has made a long-term, consistent commitment that is extraordinary and has had visible impact or result directly related to support the mission of Randolph Community College.

Previous recipients include Senator Jerry Tillman, former trustee chair and retired educator, 2008; Charles W. McCrary Sr., posthumously honored as the "Father of Randolph Community College," 2007; the Randolph County Board of Commissioners for past and continued support, 2006; Marvin T. Caviness, long-time RCC supporter, 2005; instructors Robert A. Heist Jr. and, posthumously, Cecil P. Allen and Jerry W. Howell, for developing RCC's Photographic Technology Program, 2004; retired RCC President Dr. Larry Linker for his long-time service, 2003; and RCC's first long-time leaders, M.H. "Mert" Branson, RCC president, and J.W. "Willie" Plummer, RCC board chairman, both posthumously honored in 2002.