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Apodaca awarded Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Sen. Apodaca accepts the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Senate Leader Phil Berger

By Lightning Reports, Published: June 23, 2016

RALEIGH — Sen. Tom Apodaca was honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in recognition of his extraordinary service to the state of North Carolina.

Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), a long-time close friend of Apodaca, presented the award on behalf of Gov. Pat McCrory. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is the highest honor the governor can bestow on a North Carolina citizen.

Apodaca, who has served 14 years in the state Senate and currently holds the powerful post of Senate Rules Committee chairman, announced last fall that his current term would be his last. During his tenure, Apodaca has been a tireless advocate for the people of western North Carolina and the author of countless bills to improve the quality of life all across the state, including the nation’s first comprehensive response to leaking coal ash ponds and a proposal to make college more affordable and accessible for students and their families.