County native named ‘North Carolinian of the Year’

By Joy Scott, Shelby Star staff writer, Shelby, NC

RALEIGH — Bluegrass legend and Cleveland County native Earl Scruggs has been named “North Carolinian of the Year” by the North Carolina Press Association. He will receive the award in a ceremony in July.

“It makes me feel good that they think that much of me,” Scruggs told The Star from his Nashville, Tenn., home Thursday.

The award is presented to a person who “reflects pride in North Carolina” and “has brought honor and recognition to the state,” according to the press association Web site.

Scruggs defined a style of banjo picking that made him famous in the genre. His style has often been imitated, but never duplicated, by followers over the decades. Scruggs has made it known in many ways — including his biography on his Web site — that his heritage lies in rural Cleveland County.

The NCPA president chooses the annual award recipients. This year’s president is Jennie L. Lambert, publisher of The Star.

“This was a wonderful opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of someone from Cleveland County, and Earl Scruggs came to mind immediately,” Mrs. Lambert said. “His talent and his accomplishments are well known in this country and abroad. He has reached the pinnacle of fame in his music genre.”

Mrs. Lambert said she’s flattered Scruggs and his wife, Louise, will return to North Carolina to receive the honor in her year as president.

The award will be presented July 22 at the President’s Banquet of the NCPA’s 131st annual convention. The event will be held at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville.

Previous award recipients include the Rev. Billy Graham, Gen. Hugh Shelton, Meadowlark Lemon and Elizabeth Dole.

There’s also a local push to honor Scruggs.

A group of residents gathered in February 2004 to develop The Earl Scruggs/Don Gibson Southern Heritage Music Center. Gibson was another Cleveland County native and bluegrass legend. He died Nov. 17, 2003.

The group plans to have the center in the old courthouse in uptown Shelby and use Leatherwood Trading and Coffee Co., already a bluegrass hotspot, and Rogers Theatre as performing arts venues.