Raleigh – Sixteen state employees with 45 years of public service have been honored with the Richard Caswell Award. The recipients, who work at five state agencies, join the distinguished ranks of long-serving employees who have earned the award since it was established in 1998 in tribute to North Carolina’s first governor.

Collectively, the 16 state employees have devoted more than 720 years to public service. “Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are grateful for the deep institutional knowledge and steadfast experience of our Caswell Award honorees,” said Barbara Gibson, Director of the Office of State Human Resources. “They can truly say they’ve ‘seen it all’ in a career that spans a stunning scope of work across five decades. We are grateful for their enduring commitment to public service as state agencies remain focused on providing needed public services in challenging times.”

An in-person ceremony to celebrate these extraordinary employees had been scheduled for April but was postponed due to pandemic guidance and restrictions. Honorees will receive their framed certificate, letters of commendation, and a gift card to choose a keepsake from the N.C. Museum of History Shop in the coming days.

Recipients of the 2020 Richard Caswell Award include:

• Department of Administration: Jerry S. Rogers of Four Oaks

• Judicial Branch: Robbin R. Creech of Stanfield, Mabel H. Lowman of Connelly Springs, Richard McCollister of Rockwell, Linda L. Thorne of Spring Hope, Nell F. Wiggins of Gates

• Department of Justice: Phoebe H. West of Salemburg

• Department of Health and Human Services: Joyce W. Gardner of Princeton, Judith Isom of Goldsboro, Elaine Kistler of Shelby, Melvin Lynch of La Grange, Lynn Pressley of Brevard

• Department of Transportation: Deborah Jernigan of Raleigh, Donald King of Raleigh, James Michael Mills of Burlington, Jerry A. Parker of Summerfield.