By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine was presented to Clay County resident Brian Burch on Monday, Oct. 3 following a groundbreaking ceremony in Robbinsville. Burch was given the prestigious award for dedication to his career with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
The lifelong Clay County resident retired from NCDOT on March 31, 2022, but had been employed with them for almost 29 years.
Most of that time was spent working in western North Carolina. "But not exclusively," Burch explained. "The first 28 years of my career were spent in the 10 westernmost counties of Division 14. However, the last year of my career, I served as Western Deputy Chief Engineer covering the western half of the state. This area included Orange County (Chapel Hill) and counties west, which include Mecklenburg, Guilford, Forsyth, Wilkes and others."
Prior to working for NCDOT, Burch spent nine months of his professional engineering career working with an environmental engineering firm. He was based in Raleigh, but did work in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Burch is not staying retired though; he has already joined an Atlanta engineering firm, HNTB. With that, he works on transportation projects with departments of transportation from Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
When asked what he is most proud of from his career, Burch replied. "The honor to serve the people of my community-which is all of western North Carolina and the relationships I have built with my NCDOT co-workers, local citizens and elected officials across our region. I was blessed to be a part of a team that delivered so many great transportation projects that enhanced the lives of my family and neighbors. From conducting snow and ice operations on countless days and nights, removing rockslides, reconstructing the highway system after natural disasters, to the roundabout at US 64 Business and NC 69, the widening of NC 175 that provided bikeable shoulders, the construction of portions of the ADHS (Corridor A & K) - a 57 year old promise to the Appalachian people."
He continued naming projects. "The sidewalk from the Town of Hayesville to Veterans Recreation Park, the addition of a climbing lane on Chunky Gal and the list goes on and on from Hayesville to Elf to Sylva and Raleigh," he said. "I realize that we weren't able to deliver all that our people needed, but I can take tremendous satisfaction in knowing that we did our best, worked together as a community better than ever in our history and accomplished more than I or anyone else could have imagined."
Burch has been married to Kelly Allison Burch for 26 years. The couple has three daughters: Alyson and Emma are 24 and both Doctor of Physical Therapy students, while Gracie is 21 and recently graduated from UNC-Charlotte. His parents are Ronnie and Grace Burch.
"I appreciate all of the support and encouragement from my family, community and co-workers during my career," Burch added. "I can never repay them or the State of North Carolina for what they have given to me and my family. This award is more of a reflection of their efforts and sacrifice than it is of mine — I have been blessed beyond measure."
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award was created in 1963 for people who have made a significant impact to the state through exemplary service and accomplishments. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society is a non-governmental organization administered for charitable and educational purposes.