WHEREAS, Robert Lewis Johnson, will leave service to the Town of North Wilkesboro on December 7, 2021 after twelve years as Mayor and twenty years as Commissioner and;

WHEREAS, Robert was born in Wilkes County on April 30, 1943, and grew up in a household with four brothers and two sisters. During his youth he and his siblings toured the region as The Johnson Family Singers gospel group;

WHEREAS, in 1961 Robert joined the United States Army and served with distinction in Munich, Germany for two years in the Battery and Arms Room. He was honorably discharged in 1964 and;

WHEREAS, after his military service Robert plied his trade as an electrician, installing the wiring on some of the area’s most prominent properties and;

WHEREAS, in 1981 Robert won a seat on the North Wilkesboro Board of Commissioners where he served three consecutive terms and;

WHEREAS, after eight years off the board, in 2001 Robert again won a seat on the Board of Commissioners, serving in that capacity until 2009 and;

WHEREAS, in 2009 Robert ran for and became Mayor of North Wilkesboro and;

WHEREAS, as Commissioner and Mayor, Robert was active with the High-Country Council of Governments, the Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership, and the North Wilkesboro Housing Authority and;

WHEREAS, Robert was a diligent promoter of the Town as an area for film and television, with many productions completed here during his term, and he was a strong champion for the revitalization of North Wilkesboro Speedway and;

WHEREAS, Robert’s mayoral tenure saw the creation of the Wilkes Industrial Park, a long-term lease agreement between the Town and Wilkes Medical Center, the opening of notable businesses including Copper Barrel Distillery, Walgreens, Key City Antiques, Rose Glenn Manor, Anchor Coffee, and others and;

WHEREAS, Robert’s career has been long and fruitful, and his leadership honorable. His work for the people of North Wilkesboro personifies the spirit of public service and is worthy of recognition.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Marc R. Hauser, Mayor of North Wilkesboro, on behalf of the Board of Commissioners of the Town of North Wilkesboro, past and present, do hereby proclaim December 8, 2021 as

Robert Lewis Johnson Day

in the Town of North Wilkesboro and commend its observance to all residents.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this proclamation, suitably engrossed, be given to Robert Lewis Johnson, former Mayor of the Town of North Wilkesboro.

PROCLAIMED THIS 7^th day of December, 2021

Mayor Marc R. Hauser, Town of North Wilkesboro