Pittsboro, NC – Chatham County Manager Renee Paschal, who retires on October 1, 2018 with 30 years of public service, received several unexpected honors at her last meeting with the Board of Commissioners on September 24, 2018. One of included earning the state’s top honor, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
“I was overwhelmed with Monday night’s presentations,” said Paschal. “In truth, my career here has been successful because of amazing partners like the school system, amazing mentors and leaders, and, most of all, because of our incredible employees who everyday provide great service to our residents. I appreciate the faith the Board of Commissioners put in me by appointing me manager three years ago. It has been very rewarding to be able to finish my career by leading this great organization.”
State Senator Valerie Foushee announced that Governor Roy Cooper had selected Paschal for the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian award. Since 1963, this honor has been reserved for “persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.”
Persons named to The Order of the Long Leaf Pine become North Carolina “Ambassadors” with their names and award dates recorded on a roster.
The Chatham County Board of Education and Superintendent presented a resolution recognizing Paschal’s vital role in the strong relationship between leadership of the county and the school system. They applauded her role in securing funds for school facilities and priority school programs. They also presented artwork created from letters in the signage titles of all the school facilities.
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution, “The Pursuit of Excellence,” to express the county’s appreciation of Paschal’s many contributions to Chatham County. Much of her time in public service has been in various Chatham County management and budget positions.
Several of Paschal’s family members were able to attend, including her husband Warren, daughter Slone, father Kyle Fuller and mother-in-law Rebecca Cogan.
husband Warren Paschal; daughter Slone; father Kyle Fuller and mother-in-law Rebecca Cogan.
At a separate event on September 25 at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center, current and former county commissioners, department heads and many others announced that a stone bench and an engraved boulder honoring Paschal will be placed at the front of that facility in Pittsboro. Hurricane Florence delayed the production of these items.
The bench and stone acknowledge Paschal’s vital role in the construction of so many county facilities. This included schools, parks, judicial facilities and the Agriculture & Conference Center itself. The county’s office of Cooperative Extension will be landscaping around the bench area with flowers and shrubs, including pollinator plants.
The text of the resolution is:
THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
A Resolution Honoring
Renee Fuller Paschal
WHEREAS, Renee Fuller Paschal has devoted nearly all of her career in public service to Chatham County Government, starting in October 1993 and concluding October 1, 2018 with her retirement; and
WHEREAS, Renee held several Chatham County management positions during her tenure, including being selected as the first female County Manager by this Board of Commissioners in November 2015; and
WHEREAS, regardless of her position, Renee modeled and inspired the pursuit of excellence throughout all of county government and our Chatham community; and
WHEREAS, several vital county facilities are due in great part to Renee’s extraordinary budgetary leadership and vision, including several new K-12 schools, the Judicial Center, four county parks, County Agriculture & Conference Center, CCCC Health Sciences Building, Joint CCCC and Community Library, Joint School & County Garage, and the reconstruction of our beloved Historic Courthouse; and
WHEREAS, her fiscal leadership led to Chatham County becoming and remaining the smallest size county in the state to earn a AAA Bond Rating in 2014 from Standard & Poor’s, which saves tax dollars on new facilities; and
WHEREAS, Renee’s forward thinking has helped our county government prepare for the future in many ways, from developing the successful Chatham Leadership Academy for employees, now in its 16th year, to championing the Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2017; and
WHEREAS, these are but a few illustrations of Renee’s enduring commitment to the pursuit of excellence throughout her career in public service.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Chatham County Board of Commissioners honors the tremendous service of Renee Paschal for her legacy of excellence that will continue to benefit all of Chatham County for generations to come.