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Rockingham County manager Lance honored with Order of the Longleaf Pine
Summary
County Manager Lance received the Order of the Longleaf Pine from the state and was recognized by the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners for his long public‑service career; commissioners and former colleagues praised his leadership.
Kevin Berger, chair of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners, presented County Manager Lance with the Order of the Longleaf Pine during the board’s Feb. 3 meeting, calling it “a tremendous honor” signed by former Gov. Roy Cooper.
The honor recognizes lengthy, distinguished service to the state. Lance’s civic career, Berger said, included roles as a town manager in Kingstree, South Carolina, and West Point, Virginia, and his first county manager post in Montgomery County before he joined Rockingham County in December 2011. Berger noted Lance holds a bachelor of science from East Carolina University and a master’s in public administration from Appalachian State University.
Why it matters: The award signals statewide recognition and the board used the meeting to publicly thank Lance for long service and leadership that county officials said they regularly consult on statewide matters.
Commissioners and former colleagues praised Lance’s experience and accessibility. One commissioner said the breadth of respect Lance receives from other county managers “speaks higher than even Governor Cooper could have said.” Former Commissioner Keith Duncan and other family members attended the surprise presentation; Berger said Lance’s family arrived about 10 minutes before the ceremony.
Lance accepted the honor briefly at the podium. “I’m humbled, obviously,” he said, and credited his staff and his faith for guiding his public‑service career. He described his path through urban and regional planning into local government and thanked his staff: “A good manager can’t be good without a strong staff.”
The presentation included photographs with attendees and brief remarks from several commissioners acknowledging Lance’s role in onboarding and advising new commissioners. The remarks also highlighted Lance’s long tenure and frequent consultation by peers across the state.
