[August 31, 2011] Local man receives state's highest honor Tweet PEMBROKE, Aug 31, 2011 (The Robesonian - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- One of Pembroke's most prominent businessmen recently received the state's highest award for a civilian -- five months after his death. The family of the late Curt Locklear Sr. was recently presented with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine for his service in the community. "We were blessed to have a father that was a very humble person," said Curt Locklear Jr., his son. "In life, he would've never wanted anything like this." "His personality was not one that he wanted to be the center of attention," said Rep. Charles Graham, who hosted the ceremony. Locklear Sr. was the founder and operator of Pembroke Hardware Company, which he opened in 1963. In 2010, the business won the "Best Hardware in Town" award from True Value in a competition for the Southeastern United States. "The best way to describe him is a business icon in the Pembroke community, and he assisted with a number of community events over the past 40 years," Graham said. "He did not just limit himself to his business, he was a humanitarian." Along with running his business, Locklear Sr. was involved in numerous civic and community affairs, like the Pembroke Chamber of Commerce, the high school booster club and the Pembroke Veterans of Foreign Wars. Sharon Hunt, the chairman of the Lumbee Tribal Council, presented the family with a tribal proclamation naming Aug. 20 as Curt Locklear Day. Known as "Mr. Curt" by many in the area, Locklear Sr. was a veteran of World War II, serving in the European theater. "Mr. Curt was a wonderful person and a wonderful human being and a wonderful family man," Graham said. "I think a lot of people over the years have been able to see him as a concerned individual not only for the Pembroke area, but for Robeson County as a whole." As an alumnus of Pembroke State College and the quarterback of its first football team, Locklear Sr. was a lifetime supporter of the university. Stadium Drive and Legacy Court at the football stadium at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke are named for Locklear Sr. and Catherine Locklear. "You take somebody who lived to be 87, he met a lot of people, and if he didn't know them, he took the time to get to know them," said Catherine Locklear, his wife of more than 60 years. "He was just one of a kind. You don't meet people like him every day." -- Features Editor Amanda Munger can be reached at (910) 272-6144 or [email protected]. ___ (c)2011 The Robesonian (Lumberton, N.C.) Visit The Robesonian (Lumberton, N.C.) at www.robesonian.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]