Nc outdoors hall of fame

Johnny Hutchins is a proud lifelong resident of Cleveland County, North Carolina, and a graduate of Kings Mountain High School. Following graduation, he honorably served his country in the United States Army for three years, an experience that helped shape his strong sense of service and commitment to community. Upon returning home, he began his professional career with Martin Marietta while continuing his education at Gaston College, where he earned a degree in Blueprint Drafting. 

Mr. Hutchins went on to dedicate 25 years of service to FMC Lithium before retiring, building a career marked by hard work, reliability, and leadership. He was married to the late MaryAnn Hutchins and is the proud father of three children—Tammy, Buffy, and Chris. His greatest joy comes from his growing family, as he is a proud grandfather of seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Since 2004, Mr. Hutchins has faithfully served the citizens of Cleveland County as a County Commissioner. His leadership was further recognized when he was selected by his fellow Commissioners to serve as Chairman of the Board from December 2010 to December 2012. Throughout his tenure, he has been actively involved in numerous boards and organizations, including serving as Captain of the Kings Mountain Rescue Squad, and contributing to the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership Board, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Cleveland County Health Board, Kings Mountain Chamber Advisory Council, and the Council on Aging.

He currently continues his service on the Veterans Advisory Council and the Foothills Public Shooting Range Board. In his spare time, Mr. Hutchins enjoys volunteering at the shooting range, where he remains engaged with the community, and most importantly, spending quality time with his family, who remain at the heart of all he does.

Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Bill Prestage was a visionary entrepreneur, a devoted family man, and a pioneer in American agribusiness. He left behind an extraordinary legacy and is survived by his beloved wife and lifelong partner of 68 years, Marsha; their three sons, Ron, Scott, and John; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Bill's remarkable 60-year career in agriculture began in 1960. After co-founding Carroll’s Foods and helping to revolutionize the industry through vertical integration, Bill, Marsha, and their sons founded Prestage Farms in 1983. Known as the "gutsiest guy in the pig business," Bill grew the company from just 22 employees into one of the largest family-owned animal protein producers in the United States. Today, the Prestage Farms and Prestage Foods family of companies spans seven states with three processing plants collectively employing more than 2,300 people and contracting with over 450 farm families. The “P-Team” produces 1.4 billion pounds of healthy, wholesome pork and turkey annually. Despite this incredible success, his greatest professional passion remained his people—he deeply respected and loved the employees and farm families that made up his team.

Beyond his businesses, Bill’s most cherished days were spent fishing with family, riding horses at his Texas ranch, and hunting quail with his dogs and best friends at his South River Quail Preserve in southern Sampson County. Bill admired the great outdoors, and he encouraged his children and grandchildren to enjoy the outdoors the same way he did.

Selfless to the very end, Bill lived his life entirely for others. He will be remembered for his unwavering dedication, his visionary leadership, and the immense love he gave to his family, friends, and community.

Albert McCauley was born in Harnett County, NC in October of 1940. After losing his father to an automobile accident he was moved to Fayetteville as a young boy. With few financial resources and little means of travel, he was forced to quench his thirst for the outdoors by roaming the woods of the sandhills on foot or horseback, fishing local ponds and very occasionally shooting upland birds. With a very keen mind, shear determination and a strong work ethic, Albert started two local businesses which began to thrive.

Always curious and looking for new experiences and friendships, Albert began offshore fishing. Soon the bug had bitten and warm months were filled with dreams of marlin and the thrill of tournament fishing with and against friends. Albert and his friend Warren claimed the 1986 Big Rock title – but it was never really about trophies or competition for Albert. It was about nature and the avenue it provides for the development of friendships. Those friendships led Albert to Hyde County where he ended up purchasing a farm and placing it into a permanent wildlife easement. There he was able to pursue his passion for quail hunting and the joy of seeing bird dogs work, which has always his most favorite kind of hunting.

In later years, Albert spent his summers in the highlands of NC, where he pursued his lifelong passion for riding horses. He built a home on the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. From there he would ride into the park with pack mules, often staying for a week or more. Fishing for trout and sleeping under the stars became the summer activity of choice, both in the Blue Ridge and at Yellowstone.

Few people have enjoyed the full diversity of the incredible outdoor experiences in NC the way Albert McCauley has. For Albert, it has never been about accomplishing in nature, but always about experiencing nature. Mostly it's about the relationships he has built along the way. Not just with his hunting, fishing and riding friends, but also with the local people who give these incredible places such a unique and special flavor. Those friendships now span generations as children and grandchildren maintain special relationships born out of Albert's time spent outdoors.

Bob Barnhill is Chairman of the Board of Barnhill Contracting Company (“Barnhill”), headquartered in Rocky Mount, NC and one of the Southeast’s leading contractors. Bob was named President of the company in 1987, then Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in 2000 until 2010 when his son, Rob, succeeded him. Bob has continued to provide a firm vision and legacy for the company. 

Bob is honored to have been recognized with the following awards: North Carolina Industrial Development Association’s Volunteer of the Year (1988), Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of Year (1993) Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Living and Giving Award (2015), Champion for Children Award by the Boys & Girls Club of Nash/Edgecombe Counties (2015), North Carolina Business Hall of Fame Inductee (2015), Triangle Business Journal CEO of the Year (2016), Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award – Tar River District (2017), Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award (2018), Lee Greenwood Patriot Award of the Helping Hero Awards (2021).

He served on the Wildlife Resource Commission in the late 80’s and early 90’s and two of those years he served as their chairman. As an avid hunter, he sponsors an annual dove hunt on his farm in Edgecombe County for the past 40 years, encouraging invited guests to have their children attend alongside them. He also hosts an annual youth duck hunt for children of employees as well as community youth. At both hunts, local NC Wildlife officers are invited to present on safety and hunting regulations and the skeet range is opened for teaching and practice. Through Barnhill’s children and grandchildren, as well as children in the community, there are many youth hunting and fishing each year. It’s rewarding to teach the next generation what it means to enjoy, fully experience, appreciate and be safe in the world of the outdoors. Mr. Barnhill is proud to be a part of that.

Richard Childress has grown Richard Childress Racing from a one-man team in 1969 into of the most-respected organizations in NASCAR. The Welcome, N.C., team has nearly 400 employees supporting full-time operations in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series plus other special projects outside motorsports.  

Childress has more than 200 victories in NASCAR’s three national series, 16 championships, three Daytona 500 wins and three victories in the Brickyard 400. Six of RCR’s Cup championships were earned with Childress’ best friend, Dale Earnhardt, over a dominating eight-year span (1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994).

Away from the track, Childress’ efforts as a conservationist were recognized by the Dallas Safari Club in 2023 when he was named recipient of the Peter Hathaway Capstick Hunting Heritage Award for the promotion of responsible hunting and wildlife conservation. Capstick stepped away from a successful Wall Street career to become a professional hunter and author. 

Childress enjoys spending his free time outdoors and has been an avid hunter and fisherman since he was a child. Having traveled to many parts of the world, he became an activist for the conservation of our natural resources. He is Chairman of the Board of the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation. Childress also supports the Boone & Crocket Club as well as non-government organizations like Ducks Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation. He is the former second vice president of the National Rifle Association. In 2021, Childress became the recipient of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Lynn Boykin Hunting Heritage Award for his example, effort and support in preserving our rich hunting heritage.

Eddie Smith is the Owner, Chairman and CEO of Grady-White Boats, the premiere builder of outboard powered sport fishing boats, located in Greenville, NC.  He has held this position since 1968 when he purchased the company.

Some of his numerous industry and charitable affiliations include:  past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Marine Manufacturers Association and is in the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s Hall of Fame; past board member of the Recreation Roundtable; past board member of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council; past board member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.  He is also a past member of the Board of Trustees of the International Game Fish Association; past board member of the Sport Fishing Institute; past president of the Shooters’ Council, Grand National Waterfowl Hunt.  Mr. Smith is also a past area Chairman of Ducks Unlimited.  He has been inducted into the NC Business Hall of Fame; was the first recipient of the American Sportfishing Association Lifetime Achievement Award; named the 1998 Ernst & Young Carolinas Master Entrepreneur of the Year; recipient of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission’s Lawrence G. Diedrick Small Game Award, the Billfish Foundation Rybovich Lifetime Conservation Award, and the NC Wildlife Federation Governor’s Sportsman of the Year award.

Mr. Smith is a lifelong hunter and angler and enjoys using his shooting pavilion at his farm to teach youth gun safety, shooting sports, and hunting opportunities.  Through his Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation he has made significant investments, especially in eastern North Carolina, in preserving and increasing public hunting opportunities, protecting the rights of hunters and anglers, and vast fishing conservation efforts.