Homegrown professionals: the key to prosperity

The Philosopher Goethe’s advice many years ago is sorely needed today, “What from your father’s heritage is lent; earn anew to truly possess it.”     

We should slow down enough to realize we are the beneficiaries of the efforts and sacrifices of our forbearers. Totally self-made folks are rare. With those thoughts in mind, I would like to expand that concept and consider how earning anew our heritage can help us to prosper.  We often hear about the urban/rural divide as it relates to the availability of goods and services.   

“Dr. Hervy B. Kornegay Sr., of Calypso passed away at home on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2024 at the age of 90.”  The last phrase of that line in his Obituary was, “surrounded by family.”  I hope to connect my introductory remarks with Dr. and Mrs. Kornegay and their family. How can we, in non-urban North Carolina, increase the availability of goods and services that require advanced training?  

I have heard for almost 14 years now in the General Assembly various ways and concepts on how best to attract doctors and other medical caregivers to non-urban areas.   I think the example of the Kornegay  family gives us a strong clue if not and absolute answer to the above query. 

 Let me explain.  One of the most urgent needs in non-urban areas of our state is adequate medical services. Consider Dr. Kornegay’s heritage which was lent to four of his sons. They are doctors and practice in Eastern North Carolina; three of them practice locally.

They are earning anew the heritage which was first lent to them. Certainly, they now own that heritage themselves through their rigorous efforts to prepare themselves in their chosen profession. What would medical services here in Duplin and Wayne Counties be minus four good doctors?  

Though we are not fully blessed with all the doctors we need, it would be worse without those four. The Kornegay’s prove we can grow our own professionals who will be happy and satisfied to live and work where they were raised.

I thoroughly believe with the right kind of unity across our county and the right kind of unity across Eastern North Carolina we can grow our children to become the various professionals needed for non-urban areas to prosper, compete, and thrive.  We have done it in other professions. 

  Former Duplin School Superintendent Mr. L. S. Guy whose daughter has now earned anew the heritage of an educator comes to mind.  Mr. and Mrs. Dexter Edwards have covered two areas; a son who farms and a daughter who is a physical therapist.  Both live and work and are rearing their next generation in Duplin County.

Reginald Kenan, Anita (Powers) Branch, and Dr. A. J. Connors are now earning anew the heritage of their parents and grandparents. They live and work in Duplin County. 

Our farming community has long practiced successfully the transferring of our agriculture heritage from one generation to the next. Wendell Murphy, Marvin Johnson, Bill Prestage, and Paul Phillips all have children or grandchildren who have or are currently earning anew their agriculture heritage. 

I started this discussion with Dr. Kornegay’s profession because it represents an area of critical concern for all the other professions. It takes long and difficult efforts to prepare for a successful practice. But the principle is the same for all professions.  

Recall with me the last phrase in his Obituary; “surrounded by family.”  From the Bible we learn, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it. 

We, the people have the God given ability to grow our children to become any of the professionals needed to help non-urban North Carolina prosper if we seek and heed Heavenly guidance. 

Jimmy Dixon (R-NC04) represents Duplin and Wayne counties in the N.C. House of Representatives.