| The Sam Ragan Award was created in 1981 to honor Samuel Talmadge Ragan, North Carolina’s first Secretary of Cultural Resources. It is presented annually to one or more persons for outstanding contributions to the Fine Arts of North Carolina over an extended period --including, but above and beyond -- the recipient’s own primary commitment.
Mr. Ragan received the North Carolina Award, the State’s highest honor, as well as the Morrison and Parker Awards and the DAR Medal of Honor. He received honorary doctoral degrees from St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Atlantic Christian (now Barton) College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Methodist College.
For 20 years he edited the News & Observer in Raleigh. He was then owner and editor of The Pilot in Southern Pines until his death in 1996. He authored six award-winning volumes of poetry and a number of works of nonfiction. |