In a celebration of exceptional achievements and community contributions, nine distinguished individuals were awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Josh Stein in North Carolina. This prestigious honor recognizes their outstanding accomplishments in sports and their dedication to their communities.
“These exceptional North Carolinians have excelled in sports and, beyond their wins, demonstrated deep commitment to their communities,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I am honored to recognize them today for their athletic excellence and community contributions. We are proud to celebrate their success.”
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Honorees
- Greg Biffle, Iredell County – A 19-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race champion, Biffle was a dedicated supporter of Hurricane Helene rescue and recovery efforts, flying numerous lifesaving missions in his helicopter (posthumous).
- Shawn Clark, Watauga County – Known as the Appalachian State University head football coach and former All-American offensive lineman (posthumous).
- Rodney Rogers, Durham County – Former Wake Forest men’s basketball standout and ACC Player of the Year, Rogers was also an NBA Sixth Man of the Year and an advocate for people with disabilities (posthumous).
- Debbie Antonelli, Wake County – A Hall of Fame basketball analyst and former NC State women’s basketball forward, Antonelli is the main play-by-play voice for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever and founder of the “24 Hours of Nothing But Net” free throw marathon benefiting the Special Olympics. She is also a board member of the Kay Vow Cancer Fund.
- Kayden Beasley, Harnett County – A gold medalist in the Paralympic and World Para Ice Hockey Championships.
- Bob McKillop, Mecklenburg County – Former Davidson College men’s basketball coach, McKillop was the 2008 NABC National Coach of the Year and a nominee for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Mystique Ro, Mecklenburg County – An Olympic Team USA skeleton athlete and former Queens University heptathlete, Ro is a gold and silver medalist in World Championships and founder/CEO of the Project Push Gold Fund, which provides resources for those in sliding sports.
- Martin Willard, New Hanover County – A competitive sailor and mentor at Wrightsville Beach for over 50 years, Willard is a four-time top-10 finisher in World Championship regattas and a member of the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust and the North Carolina Coastal Federation.
- John Wall, Wake County – The No. 1 NBA Draft pick and five-time NBA All-Star, Wall is the founder of the John Wall Family Foundation, which supports disadvantaged families through events such as school supply distributions in Raleigh. He is also a sponsor of the nationally recognized John Wall Holiday Invitational basketball tournament in Raleigh.
Additionally, Governor Stein acknowledged the accomplishments of North Carolina Central University Chancellor Karrie Dixon and the university’s men’s tennis team, led by Coach Curtis Lawson, for their victory in the 2025 HBCU National Tennis Championship. The team also achieved the highest GPA among all Division I men’s tennis teams nationwide.
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