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RALEIGH — State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell presented The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society to Forsyth County Chief Financial Officer Paul Fulton Jr. on Dec. 16. Fulton is retiring Dec. 31 after 47 years of service. He is the head of the county’s finance department, which manages the county’s revenues, payments, investments, payroll, fixed assets, debt, financial record keeping, risk management and internal and external audits.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is awarded by North Carolina governors. Since 1963, the award has gone to those that “have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.” After being named to the order, members become North Carolina “ambassadors” with their names and award dates recorded on a roster maintained by the society.

“I literally see thousands of facial reactions every week,” Folwell said. “But the looks of joy and admiration for Paul’s public service are ones that I’ll never forget.”

Fulton is native of South Carolina native who moved to Winston-Salem in 1961. He attended Elon College, where he earned bachelor degrees in accounting and business administration in 1971. He then worked as a controller for a small firm before joining Forsyth County in 1974 as an internal auditor.

He then pursued additional education opportunities while working, including graduating from UNC Chapel Hill School of Government County Administration Program in 1975 and getting his master’s degree with a concentration in financial management from UNC Greensboro in 1977.

Fulton became assistant finance director for Forsyth County in 1976 and became chief financial officer in 1988. He has certifications as a certified public accountant, certified local government finance officer, certified government financial manager from the Association of Government Accountants, certified public finance officer from the Government Finance Officers Association and chartered global management accountant from the American Institute of CPAs.

“North Carolina, as well as Forsyth County, citizens are forever indebted to his and his family’s public service,” Folwell said.