In December 2014, Gov. Pat McCrory honored two area residents with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s most prestigious civilian honor. They were Jon Rosborough, Wilmington International Airport’s (ILM) former airport director who retired at the end of the year, and Thom Goolsby, who stepped down in August from his seat on the N.C. Senate, representing New Hanover County.
 
Conferred by the governor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award is presented to state residents who have provided outstanding service to North Carolina. Rosborough and Goolsby are among approximately 15,000 recipients since the award's creation in 1965.
 
Rosborough worked for ILM for 16 years, becoming airport director in 2000. Prior to his employment at ILM, he served for 15 years as vice president of human resources and operations at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
 
“It is with great honor and humbleness that I accept this prestigious award. My career has been very fulfilling, and I am so grateful to have been able to give back to this wonderful community and state of North Carolina,” Rosborough stated in the news release. “Though I am retiring, I will continue to be in the Wilmington community and am looking forward to spending more time with my family and friends, as well as staying involved in our beautiful community.”
 
While serving in the senate, Goolsby co-chaired a Senate judiciary committee. He was instrumental in repealing the Racial Justice Act and successfully promoted tougher legislation against human trafficking.
 
Upon receiving the Long Leaf Pine award, Goolsby wrote on his Facebook page, “It made my year.”