William Fletcher Absher, Jr.

• Year Inducted: 2017
• What made him so effective as a community leader though was not his titles but his genuineness. He was a true friend and offered support to all who asked. Though always a leader, Absher never considered himself above others.

James Nielsen Andrews

• Year Inducted: 2017
• Andrews also started a research program to improve the feed performance and promote the healthy growth of chickens. The time required to bring the chickens to market was reduced from ten to six weeks, and the size of the chickens increased from two to four pounds.

Earl Thomas Eller

• Year Inducted: 2017
• Eller has been and remains active in the North Wilkes community, Wilkes County, and across the state. He is a charter member of the Mountain View Ruritan Club, served on the Wilkes Community College Board of Trustees, and volunteers as a lunch buddy for Communities In Schools.

Thomas Cameron Finley

• Year Inducted: 2017
• Awards received by Finley include the Governor’s Award for Heroism after helping save a boy from drowning, BSA Silver Beaver Award, Rotary Club Citizen of the Year, Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award, Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award, Friends of Scouting Chair, and the Celtic Cross Award by the National Association of Presbyterian Scouters.

Robert Hege III

• Year Inducted: 2017
• Hege has served as Chairman and President of the Wilkes Education Foundation and President of the N.C. State Alumni Association in 1988 and 1989. He has been a member of the Wilkes Community College Advisory Council, Vice President of the Society of Preservation of Old Mills, and has served on the Wilkes County Extension Advisory Board since 2007.

Maurice Benfield Phillips

• Year Inducted: 2017
• From his youth and through each professional position, Phillips continued to keep a sense of humor and positive attitude. He believed in treating people fairly, searching for each individual’s unique genius, listening and helping people succeed.

Larry D. Stone

• Year Inducted: 2017
• Stone received the North Carolina’s Longleaf Pine Award from Governor Beverly Perdue in 2011. Also, he received an Honorary Alumni Award from Appalachian State University where he served as a member of the ASU Foundation Board of Directors.

James 'Jim' Bradley Wilcox

• Year Inducted: 2017
• Wilcox Marketing won The Small Business Award, chosen by Wilkes Chamber of Commerce in 1990. He served as President of the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club in 1993. Wilcox has won numerous “Broker of the Year” Awards for Wilcox Marketing, representing such lines of products such as Butterball, Smith eld, Bob Evans, and Nathans.