I am a farmer, an architect, a businessman, a father, and husband. My wife, Dr. Kate Queen, is a rheumatologist for MedWest and my daughter Sara and son Charlie are recent graduates of the UNC system. A United Methodist, I’ve taught Sunday school for over 20 years, led Boy Scouts and coached youth soccer. And, like my granddaddy before me, I call the Appalachian Square Dance.

For 3 terms in the NC Senate, I’ve worked for a stronger economy and better life for all Western North Carolinians.

Elected Office

North Carolina Senate Member, 2006-2010

North Carolina Senate Member 2002-2004

Voted Most Effective Freshmen Democrat in the North Carolina Senate

Awards

North Carolina REAL Advocate of the Year for Rural Entrepreneurial Education

North Carolina Business Incubator Society Legislator of the Year

Legislative Advocate Award for Mountain Micro Loan Enterprises

North Carolina Legislative Advocate Award for Civic Education

Civic and Cultural Boards Served

President, Haywood County Arts Council

President, Voices in the Laurel Youth Choir

Director & President, Haywood 2000

Director, Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation

Director, Appalachian Music & Dance Preservation Society

Director, Folkmoot USA

Director, Western North Carolina Tomorrow

Director, Haywood Arts Repertory Theatre (HART)

Director, Friends of Mountain History

Director, Advantage West, North Carolina

Director, North Carolina Progress Board

Director, Daniel Boone Council of Boy Scouts of America

Member, Haywood Heritage Council

Member, Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Membership

Sons of the American Revolution

Downtown Waynesville Association

Haywood County Chamber of Commerce

Wilderness Trail, Inc.

Haywood Historic Society

Leadership Giving Circle of United Way

Friends of Scouting

North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry

Other Civic Activities & Accomplishments

Director of the Smoky Mountain Folk Festival for over 30 years

Producer of the Summer Street Dances on Main Street, Waynesville

Coordinator of the Haywood County Visioning Process as Haywood 2000 board member

Campaign Chair, HRMC Fitness Center, raising over $3 Million

Member and Paul Harris Fellow, Waynesville Rotary

Scout Master, Troop 321, Waynesville

Blue Ridge National Heritage Area participant and contributor

Member, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce

Member, Swain County Chamber of Commerce

Professional

Architect, AIA

Other businesses include farming, property management

Professional Accomplishments

Architect for HRMC Fitness Center, Haywood Arts Repertory Theatre, Maggie Valley Country Club and Carolina Conveying Corporate Headquarters in the East Haywood Industrial Park

Designed the Composer in Residence building at the Brevard Music Center and The Nags Head Woods Nature Center for the North Carolina Nature Conservancy at the Outer Banks

Education

Tuscola High School, Class of 1968

North Carolina State University, Architecture, 1972

North Carolina State University, Master in Architecture, 1974

Education Accomplishments

President of the Student Body; co-captain of the wrestling team, Tuscola High School

President, Design Council, NCSU School of Design

Member, NCSU Student Senate

Teaching Fellow , North Carolina State University