From an early age, Andy Stokes wanted to be a law enforcement officer.

To be more specific, he wanted to be a North Carolina Highway Patrolman – a state trooper.

And at age 21, after completing the requirements to become a trooper, he got his first assignment – Davie County.

“He loved the people of Davie County, but wasn’t sure he wanted to live here,” State Rep. Julia Howard said at a recent county commission meeting in which she was presenting Stokes the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state.

He worked his trooper career here, retired and became a Davie County magistrate. He’s now the sheriff.

Stokes said he’s “humbled and proud” of the honor.

It was July 7, 1967 when he first drove into Davie County.

“I knew the minute I got to Mocksville that I was not going to like Mocksville. There were more cows than there were people.”

Six months later, his love affair with Davie County began. “It hasn’t ended yet,” he said. Davie’s best is yet to come. I’m honored to think I have a small part in the way this county has progressed.”