2009 North Carolinian of the Year

JERRY RICHARDSON

During the 2009 Winter Institute and Annual Meeting, the North Carolina Press Association bestowed its annual North Carolinian of the Year award on Jerry Richardson. The Spring Hope native is a former Baltimore Colt, a restaurant chain leader and the current majority owner of the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

Due to a heart transplant operation on Feb. 1, Richardson was unable to attend the presentation ceremony on Feb. 12 in Cary.

Below you may watch the presentation ceremony, a video tribute to the honoree and the acceptance remarks given by Richardson's wife, Rosalind.

Majority owner of the Carolina Panthers
Jerry Richardson
Richardson joins a distinguished list of former winners including journalist Gene Roberts, NASCAR legend Richard Petty, former Gov. Jim Hunt, former UNC system President Bill Friday, artist Bob Timberlake, music legend Earl Scruggs, famed photographer Hugh Morton, women's golfing icon Peggy Kirk Bell and others.