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).