Hands in the Air: Rich Brown Wins Volunteer of the Year

Picture this: a packed banquet hall, the Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce ready to hand out its big awards, and me sitting at a back-corner table with a secret I’d been carrying for a month.

That secret? Rich was about to be named the 2025 Fred Eargle Volunteer of the Year. My one job was to get him to the event without spilling the beans. Simple, right? Except this is the same man who once surprised me with UNC–Duke basketball tickets, so I felt like I had to come up with an equally epic reveal. Spoiler alert: I failed. After weeks of trying to convince him to come with me to this event in the middle of his work day, I finally confessed, “I’m tasked with getting you to the event.” Not exactly the dramatic reveal I’d envisioned.

If you know Rich, this recognition won’t surprise you. He has always been the kind of person who steps up, gets things done, and makes sure every detail is in order. For the past two years—and now heading into his third—Rich has served as the Parade Director for the Fuquay-Varina Christmas Parade. Originally, he was recruited because of his loud drill-sergeant voice and his no-nonsense approach—people knew he could wrangle parade groups into place without hesitation. But what started as a need for someone to “keep order” quickly turned into something much more.

Rich has poured his energy into the operations side of the parade and beyond: working logistics, coordinating with town leaders, and finding smart ways to leverage resources. He thrives on making sure things run smoothly, and he’s really good at it. He’s the person you want in charge when it matters most.

Fast-forward to the event. They seated us at the back-corner table—you know, the kind usually reserved for people who snuck in without paying (oh wait, I guess that was us). The moment Rich's name was called, he launched out of his chair with both hands in the air, cheering all the way to the stage like he’d just been called down on The Price is Right. All he was missing was someone shouting, “Come on down!” Honestly, I half-expected him to start high-fiving strangers and tossing out parade candy on his way to the podium. 

Always the comedian, always making sure nobody forgets that moment.

The Chamber recognized not only his leadership with the parade but also his all-around dedication and service to the community. This award shines a spotlight on the countless hours he has given, the relationships he’s built, and the deep love he has for Fuquay-Varina.

I couldn’t be prouder of my husband with this award. Rich has invested so much into this town, and it means the world to see him honored as a leader who makes a difference. Congratulations, Rich—you truly deserve it (and thanks for always making every event a little more fun).

Back to the Starting Line

Pole Green Park felt familiar. Just a year ago, TJ ran that same grassy path as a high school senior. Back then, he was one of the oldest on the line, full of confidence and experience. Fast forward to this weekend: same stretches of grass and turns I've walked as a spectator before, but this weekend, everything felt different. 

This time, TJ wore his college jersey. He lined up as a freshman, one of the youngest in the field. And while the course may have been steady and predictable, what wasn't was the shift in perspective. He is no longer the big fish in the high school pond. Now he is stepping into the deeper waters of college athletics. And as his mom, I felt every ounce of that weight and possibility with him. 

And what a stage it was. TJ raced against teams from all three divisions, including powerhouse programs like UVA. Last fall, I watched Gary Martin win the ACC championship on TV, and the fan-girl in me would have loved to see him in person. Maybe it was just as well that he wasn’t racing, because all my focus stayed on TJ, right where it belonged. Still, to picture my son standing on the same line as athletes of that caliber was surreal. Equal parts intimidating and inspiring. And yes, my chest was tight watching him. 

And he did it. He held his own. TJ finished in 20:42.1, placing 97th overall, 28th among Division III runners, 10th among Division III freshmen, and 1st for CNU freshmen. More importantly, he was CNU’s 7th man, just behind upperclassmen Kevin Farnsworth and Tom Foti. As a team, the Captains finished seventh overall and were the top Division III program in the race. And just like that, its offical. TJ competed in his first collegiate meet. He is on the record as an NCAA athlete. How cool is that? 

Now, here's something I didn't realize until I became a cross country mom: that 7th runner can really matter. Only the top five officially score, but the 6th and 7th can change everything. If your 7th runner finishes ahead of another team’s 5th, you raise their score and strengthen your own team. That’s a big deal, especially for a freshman still finding his place.

That is what this weekend was about. Not winning. Not even setting personal records. It was about showing up, finding his rythm, and learning how to compete at this level. He belongs here. He matters on this team. His contribution-- even as the 7th runner-- helps the team succeed. He is a part of the engine that brings in wins, maybe even championships. 

For TJ, it was both a return and a beginning. A familiar park, a familiar course, but the start of an entirely new chapter for this NCAA college athlete. 

...And I cannot wait to see what comes next-- for him, for his teammates, for this season that has just begun.