By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — With quips from Mark Twain and admiration for the namesake of the honor, Blowing Rock resident and former member of the Board of Commissioners, Albert Yount accepted the Paul H. Broyhill Community Service Award on Aug. 20, presented by the Blowing Rock Civic Association at the organization’s annual meeting.
BRCA hosted the meeting at what has become known as the Perry Car Barn in Blowing Rock, a museum of classic cars, principally manufactured by Porsche and collected by Chip Perry, the founder of AutoTrader.com among other business interests.
“The Broyhill Award honors the legacy of Paul H. Broyhill,” said BRCA board member Laura Bingham in describing the award and introducing the 2024 recipient, “whose service and philantrophy to Blowing Rock and beyond are notable and lasting. This award is given to someone who exhibits the spirit of the Broyhill Family legacy.”
With the late Paul Broyhill’s son, Hunt Broyhill, looking on, Bingham rattled off a lifetime of information about Yount’s life and service, initially in Catawba County then in Blowing Rock.
“In work and in life, this year’s honoree took to heart the advice of an English teacher, ‘Just be yourself.’ Over decades of service in his native Catawba County and right here in his adopted home of Blowing Rock, he has put authentic characteristics of patriotism, integrity, discernment, wisdom and moral courage to work. Work to benefit others and work for the benefit of all,” said Bingham.
“It was worthwhile work, too,” noted Bingham. “He was a two-time business owner and entrepreneur. He was a 24-year member of the Catawba County Board of Elections and later as chair of the Hickory Planning Commission. He is a devoted graduate of Lenoir Rhyne University. He is a church goer and dedicated supporter of church ministries and numerous charities. Remarkably, he was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years.”
Bingham continued by disclosing that Yount and wife, Martha, first came to Blowing Rock for a holiday, with friends, like so many current homeowners.
“He spotted a small cottage and Martha only had to look in the window before proclaiming, ‘We’re buying this house!’ And so they did, 30 years ago,” said Bingham.
Once the late Ginny Stevens took him under her wing, said Bingham, “… before long he was serving on the Blowing Rock Board of Adjustments, the Planning Board, and for 16 years on the Town Council, a role from which he has recently retired.”
Bingham went on to describe Yount’s service as Commander of the American Legion Post in Blowing Rock, “… and remains in the throes of organizing and recognizing veterans in our community.
“He did the work and took pleasure in bettering our Town,” said Bingham, “and his contributions were recognized statewide by induction into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor awarded to North Carolinians.”
Bingham acknowledged what she termed his “trademark sense of humor”.
“It may be summed up by this bit of wisdom from Mark Twain that he relishes,” said Bingham. “‘If you find yourself in the majority, it is time to stop and reflect.'”
Bingham went on to list events and experiences that shaped Yount’s years of service, including his enlistment in the U.S. Navy, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
“He served six years as a naval yeoman, adjudicating disciplinary actions and witnessing characteristics which — often hard-earned — make one true to self and true to others,” Bingham said.
“Reflecting on his life,” said Bingham, “our Awardee knows he was ultimately spurred along to public service from the heart. With some hesitation, he shared a deeply personal motivation that fuels his sincerity and passion to lead this life of public service. His father came home from the Navy and became a deputy sheriff while Albert was in his formative 20s. In one of those senseless, life-altering tragedies, his father died at age 56, in the line of duty. His son pledged to himself to lead a worthy life, to serve from the heart, and to be himself. That he does, with grace and humility.”
In other segments of the annual meeting, emceed by president Jean Kitchin, board member Tom Barrett discussed the results of a survey BRCA distributed to its members as well as the broader community, asking them to prioritize the most important issues facing the town. Barrett did not reveal the number of respondents, but reported that 80 percent of the responses came from non-BRCA members. A 24/7 Watauga County ambulance service and deterring short term rentals in neighborhoods were among the most pressing topics.
Last on the agenda was Barry Buxton, author of Village Tapestry detailing some of Blowing Rock’s history and, more recently, his new book, “The Queens of Blowing Rock,” which describes the lives and impact on the community of eight notable women.
The Blowing Rock Civic Association website is www.brcivic.org.
