Wallace Nelson was recently awarded the Order of Long Leaf Pine on behalf of Gov. Beverly Perdue.

Nelson, pharmacy manager at Chowan Hospital, received the honor Nelson at a state Pharmacy Board dinner. He was tapped for the honor because of commitment to community service.

“I was very surprised to receive this recognition,” Nelson said. “I never expected it, but it does affirm that efforts to help and make things better for people are worthwhile. I am a firm believer that we should all give back to our community.”

In April, Nelson completed 10 years of service protecting the health and safety of North Carolina’s citizens on the Board of Pharmacy. He served as board president in 2003-2004 and 2007-2008. Nelson and other members commit a minimum of 50 to 60 days per year to board business. The Board was formed to protect public health, safety and welfare in pharmaceutical matters.

In addition to his work on the Board of Pharmacy, Nelson has served as a member of the Perquimans County Board of Commissioners and College of the Albemarle Board of Trustees, with two years as chairman. He is currently a member of the Perquimans Board of Education, Perquimans County Planning Board and the Albemarle Regional Health Services Board.

“Wallace is in short, a pillar of his community,” said Jay Campbell, executive director of the N.C. Board of Pharmacy. “His lifetime of service makes him a most deserving recipient of this high honor.”

Mike James, president of Peoples Pharmacy in Raleigh and an active member in legislative state and national affairs, bestowed the honor to Nelson on behalf of Perdue.

Nelson has been with Chowan Hospital for 32 years. He is married to the former Freda Godwin and they have two children, Ethan and Lauren. In addition to the many boards he serves on, Nelson is active in his church and is a long time leader in prison ministry.