Applications for the MC Hall of Honor Class of 2025 will be open from January 1 - April 1, 2025.
Montgomery County Hall of Honor
Class of 2021
Almetta Armstrong
Almetta Armstrong is a Candor native. She is a graduate of Peabody High School. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Shaw University and a Master of Science in Elementary Education from North Carolina A & T State University.
Armstrong is a retired educator that taught for 33 years, 19 of those serving children in Montgomery County Schools. During her educational career, she served as the Montgomery County NCAE President and District NCAE President. Mrs. Armstrong also served on the Montgomery County Board of Education for 19 years.
In addition to local leadership roles, Mrs. Armstrong served as a board member on the NC School Boards Association and served as the Board President. She served as an Education Advisor to Governor Jim Hunt and State Superintendent Bob Etheridge.
Mrs. Armstrong has a true passion for children to excel academically.
Julius Chambers
Julius Chambers was born and raised in Mount Gilead. He remembered when his father, an auto mechanic, had a white customer who refused to pay for repairs, and none of the white lawyers in the town would take his case. The experience led Chambers to want to become a lawyer.
Chambers was one of the first African Americans to attend the University of North Carolina Law School, where he graduated first in his class and was editor-in-chief of the North Carolina Law Review, becoming the first African American at a predominantly white school.
After law school, Chambers worked with Thurgood Marshall at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He then returned to North Carolina and opened a civil rights law office in Charlotte that became the state's first integrated law firm. With his partners, Chambers then lead the most important civil rights litigation in the nation's history, including groundbreaking cases involving school integration, employment discrimination, and voting rights. Chambers later served as Director of the Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Chancellor of North Carolina Central University (his Alma Mater), and the founder and Executive Director of the UNC Law School Center for Civil Rights.
Chambers was a mentor to generations of civil rights lawyers.
Earle Connelly
Jean Connelly
Mr. and Mrs. Connelly moved to Troy in 1959 and became active members of the community. They were faithful members of Trinity United Methodist Church.
Together they established the Earle and Jean Connelly Endowment to the North Carolina Community Foundation. They were also awarded the Montgomery County College Foundation Humanitarian of the Year award in 2014.
Mr. Connelly was instrumental in the establishment of the Leroy and Teresa Robinson Scholarship, which selects Montgomery County High school graduates for a partial or full scholarship to Wake Forest University, his alma mater. He also served as Trustee and Vice Chairman of Montgomery Community College, President and Director of Montgomery Community College Foundation, and was a member of the Montgomery County Board of Education.
Mrs. Connelly had a love for music and was active in the formation of the Trinity Music Academy.
The Connelly's involvement in Montgomery County made lasting impacts on business, education, and the arts. They were an extraordinary couple that touched many by their kindness.
Howard & Louise Dorsett
Howard Dorsett is a Mount Gilead native and graduated from Mount Gilead High School in 1930. He attended Duke University, putting himself through school during the height of the Great Depression. After graduating from Duke, Mr. Dorsett enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. During World War II, Mr. Dorsett served in the famed Second Armored Division of the U.S. Army, participating in campaigns in in North Africa, Sicily, and Europe. He participated in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, and the occupation of Berlin. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Belgian Fourragere, and the European Theater Ribbon with five Battle Stars. At the end of the war, he held the rank of Major, was a Battalion Commander, and Quartermaster of the Division. He was one of the first 25 Americans to enter Berlin.
Upon the entry of the United States into World War II, Mrs. Dorsett entered the U.S. Navy. She was the first woman from North Carolina to become a Naval officer, entering the second class of women to begin Indoctrination School of Holyoke College. She served with the Bureau of Ships in Washington, DC throughout the war, achieving the rank of Lieutenant with a Letter of Commendation.
Mr. Dorsett was a member of the Montgomery County Board of Education for 33 years, 21 of those years as Chair. During his years of service to Montgomery County Schools he led the consolidation of five high schools into two and continued with the integration of schools. He was also active in the community serving on the Board of Directors for Fidelity Bank, as the Director of the Mount Gilead Museum, and in numerous leadership positions at First United Methodist Church in Mount Gilead.
Mrs. Dorsett, also a Mount Gilead native, worked as a social worker and high school teacher. After her retirement, she became a member of the Board of Trustees of Montgomery Community College.
Throughout their 58 years together, the Dorsett's formed a dynamic duo and worked effortlessly in serving their community. Both were recipients of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for their service.
Robert Winston "Bob" Dozier, Sr.
Bob Dozier was an influential businessman in Montgomery County. He founded and operated Montgomery Foods, Inc., Quik Chek, Inc. and Quik Chek Fuels, Inc., the first supermarket and convenience store in the county. He opened the door of equality in employment by hiring the first African American retail employee in Montgomery County and first African American store manager in North Carolina.
Mr. Dozier was a graduate of Clemson University. He was a starter on the basketball team and always shared a love of sports. He donated generously to athletics in Montgomery County. The Dozier Field for little league baseball is a valuable resource for youth in the county. He also gave generously by sponsoring a scholarship at West Montgomery.
Mr. Dozier was active in the community serving on various boards. He served on the Rotary Board, the Montgomery County Hospital Board of Directors, and Montgomery County Economic Development. He also held leadership positions at Trinity United Methodist Church. In addition to his service locally, Mr. Dozier also served on the Board of Directors for the NC Food Dealers Association and for the National Convenience Store Association.
The Honorable
Robert B. "Bob" Jordan, III
Bob Jordan was a Mount Gilead native and was married to Sarah Cole Jordan for 61 years. He is a 1954 graduate of Mount Gilead High School and received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from North Carolina State University.
Bob Jordan served as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina from 1984 to 1988, and as a State Senator from 1976 to 1984. He served as President and CEO of Jordan Lumber and Supply, Inc. His interest in caring for the natural resources and growing a better pine tree is evident. Jordan Lumber has received national awards for innovation, marshaling of resources, and protecting natural resources, earning it the distinction of the largest independently owned lumber wholesaler/manufacturer in the world.
Bob Jordan was a self-described "private person". His life was about service to the people. His contributions to Montgomery County were endless, including assisting local government with such endeavors as business recruitment, infrastructure needs, economic development, transit issues, etc. He was quoted many times saying, "Montgomery County is a good place to raise children and pine trees".