Kenneth M. Hill received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award Dec. 1 after working 30 years with the state.

Hill began his career with NCDOT in the Right of Way Unit in Division 10 in 1993 as a right of way agent. He progressed through the Department of Transportation where attained the position of division right of way for Division 10.

Under his leadership, the Right of Way Office participated in several major projects to the Charlotte Metropolitan area including the Monroe Bypass in Union County. This project was one of the largest projects in length and scope the department had undertaken.

Hill oversaw the acquisition of 460 parcels utilizing two consultant firms. He worked on projects such as moving a candle factory from the path of a new highway and the right of way acquisition on the I-485 Charlotte project.

I-485 was more than 60 miles in length and Hill acquired many of the distressed properties on that project.
He also led efforts to procure corridors for rail projects in Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties including the Rogers Lake Road Project in Kannapolis, the purchase of the Railcar and Locomotive Maintenance Facility in Charlotte and the acquisition of the property needed for the Charlotte Gateway Station, in addition to thousands of other parcels he worked or managed during his career.

Prior to coming to work for the department, he started his service to the citizens of North Carolina and Stanly County by working as a firefighter in his hometown of Albemarle.

Hill was also a Boy Scout and attained the designation of Eagle Scout. He continued his service to the Boy Scouts by becoming part of the Stanly County Boy Scout’s Eagle Candidate Interview Board.

Hill has continued his public service to the citizens of North Carolina by serving as a member of the Stanly Masonic Lodge for 37 years. He also became a Shriner, where he is currently a 2nd degree Shriner.

In addition, he is a member of the Stony Hill United Methodist Church in Albemarle where he is the chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is an active participant in the public outreach of his church by leading or attending missions to reconstruct buildings in hurricane damaged areas and fundraising for the School Backpack Program at Stony Hill UMC.

Hill is an active volunteer for OASIS of Stanly County where he volunteers to build handicapped ramps and remodel projects that would enable older adults to continue to live in their homes independently.

Hill is an active sportsman and hunter and is a sponsor of the National Wild Turkey Federations Wheelin’ Sportsman Event in Stanly County where 65 disabled hunters are selected to spend a weekend with a local guide.

Service runs in the family as his father, Carl “Buck” Hill, received the award in 2016.