Greensboro, N.C. – Carruthers & Roth attorney Ron Johnson has received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award, the highest honor for service to the state granted by the Governor of North Carolina. Sen. Michael Garrett presented the award during a March 17 ceremony at AuthoraCare Collective’s Lusk Center in Greensboro, where Ron has long served as a board member.
Considered the state’s most prestigious civilian award, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine is presented to individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to their communities and to the state of North Carolina.
“Ron has dedicated his life to making our communities stronger, healthier, and more compassionate,” Garrett said during the ceremony. “His selfless contributions have created a legacy that will continue to inspire and benefit generations to come.”
A practicing estate planning attorney for over 50 years, Ron has built an outstanding reputation for his service to both clients and the community. Throughout his career, he has founded nonprofit organizations, served on many agency boards, and earned kudos for leadership in causes including HIV/AIDS, hospice care, domestic violence prevention, and services for women and families.
Ron worked to incorporate Triad Health Project, an agency that supports those living with HIV, and helped create the state’s first inpatient hospice unit for people with AIDS. In addition to generously donating personally, he has been instrumental in raising more than $1.5 million through Triad Health Project’s annual Red Ribbon Day advocacy walk, which now bears his name. His efforts earned him the Greensboro Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Triad Society of Professional Fundraisers and the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.
“Ron is a man of selfless service, caring, and boundless energy,” said Adriana Galdo Adams, Executive Director, Triad Health Project. “His tireless efforts in raising awareness for our cause have lowered stigma, promoted prevention, and brought joy as we remember those who have passed from what is now a preventable and treatable disease.”
Ron has also supported The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Family Service of the Piedmont, the Guilford Green Foundation, the Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood, the Women’s Resource Center of Greensboro, and the Greensboro Commission on the Status of Women.
“Ron has taught me what it means to show up for your community day after day, year after year,” Garrett said during the awards presentation. “He has an ability to identify practical needs and address them directly. He’s never forgotten his roots, understands the value of hard work and perseverance, and has a special way of connecting with people.”
A graduate of the University of South Carolina and its School of Law, Ron helped found the firm Johnson Peddrick & McDonald before he and his partners joined Carruthers & Roth in 2021. He is board certified in estate planning and probate law and is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Legal Practice Hall of Fame. His current practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration, and business law.
“There isn’t another person who thinks more about this community than Ron,” said H. Walker Sanders, President of The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and one of those who nominated Johnson for the award. “Our city would not be the same without Ron Johnson, and North Carolina has been forever improved because of his leadership.”