Centennial celebration under way

Published 10:35 am Tuesday, February 26, 2013

CONWAY – Happy birthday Conway!

Wednesday will mark 100 years since the Town of Conway became an incorporated municipality.

To kick off the town’s Centennial Celebration there will be a reading of the town charter by special guest Mark D. Martin, Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Conway Middle School.

Following the reading, special birthday cakes and refreshments will be served in the school’s cafeteria.

With over 20 years of judicial service, Justice Martin is the only active member of the North Carolina state judiciary with experience on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Superior Court. Before his installation to the Supreme Court in 1998, Martin had served on the Court of Appeals beginning in 1994, and as Resident Superior Court Judge in Greenville from 1992 to 1994. Prior to his judicial service, Martin served as legal counsel to Governor James G. Martin (no relation), practiced law at the McNair Law Firm in Raleigh, and clerked for United States District Judge Clyde H. Hamilton.

Martin has served in a number of leadership roles within the North Carolina Bar Association, including as its Vice-President. He has taught law courses at the University of North Carolina, Duke University, and North Carolina Central University.

Martin graduated summa cum laude from Western Carolina University. He received his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He later earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Judicial Process from the University of Virginia.

To continue its centennial celebration, Conway will host a larger event on Saturday, May 18. A 5K run and parade is scheduled to start the day followed by musical entertainment, activities, food and craft vendors on the fairgrounds behind Conway Middle School. A fireworks display will wrap up the day’s festivities.