September 16, 2008

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners recently presented its highest honor to T. Cass Ballenger, a retired County Commissioner, state senator and representative, and United States Congressman, with its highest honor...the Catawba County Spirit Award. 

Ballenger is seen second from left in the photo, at right, along with the members of the Board of Commissioners

"Cass Ballenger is known by those who live in Catawba County as a champion for school children, a long-time public servant and a respected business owner," said Board of Commissioners Chair, Kitty Barnes, reading from the proclamation.  "He has worked tirelessly to ensure the success of The No Child Left Behind legislation and has made accountability and flexibility in our school systems a lifelong priority. In his roles as a County Commissioner and Congressman, serving in both the North Carolina House and Senate, Cass was an exemplary representative of the people of this County and State. His efforts reached far beyond the borders of the State of North Carolina and the United States in his position as Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee where he promoted political stability in Latin America. Even after retiring from his congressional seat, Cass continues his education, housing and healthcare efforts in these Third World counties through the Ballenger Foundation."

The Catawba County Spirit Award has been given only five times since it was first created in 1998.  Recipients receive a specially made plaque symbolizing the "Catawba County Golden Nugget".

The Board of Commissioners chose the golden nugget because of the County's history and its relevance to the word "spirit". Catawba County is located in one of the largest gold producing areas in the entire country. The largest reported nugget found at the Shuford Gold Mine in Catawba County was a honeycombed nugget about one-half inch thick and about three inches long.

The word '"gold" is associated with something regarded as having great value or goodness, such as a person with a "heart of gold".  The word "golden" means lustrous, radiant, resplendent, or precious, marked by peace, prosperity, and often creativeness.  The "Golden Rule" is the maxim or teaching that one should behave toward others as one would have others behave toward oneself.

"Cass Ballenger has lent his leadership abilities to various committees and organizations within the County throughout the years," Barnes added.  "He has been well known for his forthright, principled and humorous approach in both politics and business. He has been generous with both his time and resources for the benefit of North Carolina citizens and is the true definition of a selfless, public servant."

Mr. Ballenger said he very much enjoyed working as a member of the Catawba County Board of Commissioners in the same building where the award was presented, the 1924 Courthouse in downtown Newton, albeit in a smaller room on the ground floor of the courthouse instead of the main upstairs courtroom where the Board of Commissioners has met since the opening of the Catawba County Justice Center in the early 1980s.  He said he believes the highlight of his time as a county commissioner was the work done by the board to improve education.  He thanked the Board of Commissioners for the award and said it has always been his honor to serve the citizens of Catawba County.