A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring the memory of george foster peabody and james beard and expressing appreciation for their contributions to and influence on american culture.
Whereas, George Foster Peabody was a successful investment banker, philanthropist, and benefactor of the University of Georgia; and
Whereas, the Peabody Award, named for George Foster Peabody, acknowledges excellence in radio, television, and Web storytelling and is considered by many in the broadcast industry to be the equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize; and
Whereas, the prestigious Peabody Award is awarded each year by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia; and
Whereas, James Beard was a renowned cookbook author, cooking show host, restaurant owner, and cooking instructor, whose name is synonymous with American cuisine; and
Whereas, James Beard served as the host of the first television food show and went on to inspire countless others to take an interest in the culinary arts; and
Whereas, each year, the James Beard Foundation Awards are given for excellence in the food and beverage and related industries; and
Whereas, the legacies of George Foster Peabody and James Beard have made it possible for people like Vivian Howard and Ben Knight to be inspired to create delicious foods with local agricultural products and to share their creations with others through their restaurants and television show; and
Whereas, in 2006, Vivian Howard, a native of Deep Run, North Carolina, and her husband, Ben Knight, a Chicago native and professional artist, opened a high‑end, farm‑to‑fork restaurant in Kinston that serves seasonal and creative cuisine with more than 70% of the restaurant's food supplied by local farmers; and
Whereas, in 2013, Chef Howard and Ben Knight opened a second restaurant in Kinston and aired the first season of their television show, "A Chef's Life," on PBS; and
Whereas, "A Chef's Life" is a documentary that follows Chef Howard and Ben Knight in their farm‑to‑fork restaurant and examines the traditional and modern uses of classic southern ingredients; and
Whereas, in 2014, "A Chef's Life" was awarded a Peabody Award and named a finalist for the James Beard Foundation Awards; and
Whereas, the success of Chef Howard and Ben Knight has brought great honor to the State of North Carolina; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives honors the memory of George Foster Peabody and James Beard and expresses its appreciation for their lasting legacies, which are recognized through the Peabody Award and the James Beard Foundation Awards.
SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives congratulates Vivian Howard and Ben Knight on being awarded a Peabody Award and for being named a finalist for the 2014 James Beard Foundation Awards.
SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to Vivian Howard and Ben Knight.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.