September 2, 2008

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners paused at its meeting on September 2, 2008 to present its highest honor to W. Stine Isenhower, a retired County Commissioner and representative from Catawba County to the North Carolina House of Representatives, with its highest honor...the Catawba County Spirit Award. 

Isenhower is seen fourth from left in the photo, at right, along with the members of the Board of Commissioners.

"Stine Isenhower has long been an established, respected leader in Catawba County," said Kitty Barnes, Chair of the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, reading from the Award proclamation. "The impact of his efforts and commitment to seeking the best for our citizens will be felt by generations to come. Stine has worked tirelessly throughout his life to ensure Catawba County grew, excelled and prospered in all aspects including education, industry, faith and community. His public service, as a County Commissioner for eight years and three terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives, has been selfless and instrumental in achieving equity in funding for all public school children in the County, regardless of the school system attended, as well as implementing county-wide zoning to ensure controlled growth and continuity."

The Catawba County Spirit Award has been given only four 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.

"Stine Isenhower has given limitless hours to boards, committees and organizations throughout the county, including his roles as President of the Chamber of Commerce and founding director of the YMCA," Chair Barnes said.  "He has lent his ability to bring people together for a common goal and achieved results that would not have been possible without his leadership, honesty and forthrightness. He has never lost sight of what is best for Catawba County and has always strived to ensure that ideal is kept in the forefront of every initiative."

Mr. Isenhower told the Board of Commissioners, and many family and friends assembled for the ceremony, that he was honored to receive the award and had always considered himself "blessed" to live and work in Catawba County, and to represent the county across the state and nation.  He thanked friends and famliy in attendance and especially noted his gratitude to his wife of 57 years, Carolyn, noting that her kindness and grace had often helped smooth situations when constituents may have been upset with an action Isenhower was involved with as an elected official, and also noted her patience during the years when the family moved to Raleigh for Mr. Isenhower's service in the North Carolina House of Representatives.