Distinguished Person of the Year reception honors Allen VanNoppen

A crowd of friends and family gathered Thursday evening at the Burke Arts Council to honor the Rotary Club of Morganton’s 2024 Distinguished Person of the Year, Allen VanNoppen.

The informal reception included a short ceremony. The Rev. Tom Bland, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church of Morganton, gave the invocation, followed by remarks by VanNoppen’s longtime friend, Sam Avery.

Avery spoke of their days as young men and the many twists and turns that led to VanNoppen’s founding of VanNoppen Marketing and The Paper. Over the decades, his dedication to his wife, Jean, and their family never wavered.

VanNoppen credited his wife and reiterated that any perceived successes of his was thanks to a team, and not to his individual efforts.

Amy Jackson-Kincaid, the 2023 Distinguished Person recipient, then passed on to him the award, which he will keep until next year.

Each year, the Rotary Club of Morganton collects nominations and selects one person who has contributed significantly to the betterment of our community. It is a special honor that transcends politics and personalities, and it is reserved for those individuals whose leadership and service extend far beyond the range of the average citizen, exemplifying the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”

Kim Van Sickler is the current president of the Rotary Club of Morganton. For more information on the club, visit www.morgantonrotary.org.