Governor McCrory Announces Appointments | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Raleigh, NC     The Office of Governor Pat McCrory announced the following appointments today:

    U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship Commission

   •  Samuel Southern (Wake County) - Southern has three decades of experience in health law and trial and appellate practice. He will be serving as chairman for this board.

   •  Wilbur Jones (New Hanover County) - Capt. Jones has 28 years of active and ready-reserve experience in the US Navy. He is also an author and military historian. Jones will serve as vice-chairman of the commission.

   •  The Honorable Sandra Ray (New Hanover County) - Ray is a district court judge in Wilmington.

   •  Rob Cooley (New Hanover County) - Cooley is the owner of Apple Annie's Bake Shop in Wilmington.

    Dr. Michael Wilkinson (New Hanover County) - Wilkinson is the executive vice president and chief information officer at PPD in Wilmington.

   •  Tom Evins (Granville County) - Evins is a former naval officer and owner and president of W.A. Adams Co. in Oxford, NC and president of Standard Commercial in Wilson.

   •  Beck Smith (New Hanover County) - Smith works for GriffinEstep Benefit Group Inc. in Wilmington.

   •  Jordan Davis (New Hanover County) - Davis is the business manager for Atlantic Marine. Atlantic Marine is a waterfront dealer for Grady White and Chris Craft boats and also stores and services boats.

   •  David Gross (New Hanover County) - Gross served in both the Air and Army National Guard. In 2011, he formed Gross Law Group where he practices criminal defense in New Hanover, Pender and Onslow counties.

   •  William Pully (Wake County) - Pully is a law student at Campbell University.

   •  Gary Winstead (New Hanover County) - Winstead is president of LoadMatch Logistics, Inc. in Wilmington.

   •  George Marion (Sevierville, Tenn.) - Marion is a former North Carolina senator and deputy insurance commissioner. He is currently in real estate in Tennessee.

   •  Deirdre McGlone-Webb (New Hanover County) - McGlone-Webb is the manager at the Wilmington Branch of SunTrust.

    The commission adopts rules and regulations for proper maintenance and operation of the ship as a permanent memorial and exhibit. Members work with the Department of Cultural Resources to manage and maintain exhibits, activities and records pertaining to marine and naval history of North Carolina and the United States. Each member serves a four-year term.


    Contact: Crystal Feldman
       govpress@nc.gov