A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of stanley "Stan" Walker Bingham, former member of the general Assembly.
Whereas, Stanley "Stan" Walker Bingham was born in Clemmons, North Carolina, on December 29, 1945, to Hal Johnson Bingham and Edna Walker Bingham; and
Whereas, Stan Bingham received a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from North Carolina State University in 1968. After graduation, he worked with the United States Forest Service and fought forest fires in the Pacific Northwest. Being an adventurer, Stan then traveled the world for 18 months, starting in Australia, where he taught High School Math and worked as a surveyor. Following Australia, he hitchhiked through Turkey, India, Pakistan, Greece, Egypt, and many other countries before returning to the United States and settling in Denton, North Carolina; and
Whereas, upon returning to North Carolina, Stan Bingham worked with his father managing timber and founded Bingham Lumber Company. In 1995, he established the Denton Orator, a weekly newspaper, and served as its publisher. During his lifetime, he also founded other numerous businesses; and
Whereas, Stan Bingham was a member of the Davidson County Board of Commissioners from 1990‑1994, during which time he served as vice‑chair in 1992 and chair in 1994; and
Whereas, Stan Bingham served with honor and distinction in the General Assembly for eight terms as a member of the Senate from 2000 to 2016. Senator Bingham was a member of a number of committees, including the Child Fatality Task Force, Health Care (cochair), Judiciary II, Legislative Study Commission on Children and Youth, Mental Health and Youth Services, Program Evaluation (cochair), Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (cochair), Appropriations on Department of Transportation, Education/Higher Education, Agriculture/Environmental/Natural Resources, Appropriations/Base Budget, Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety, Judiciary, Pensions, Retirement and Aging, Rules and Operations of the Senate, and Ways and Means. During his tenure, Senator Bingham played a major role in incorporating two towns, Midway and Wallburg; and
Whereas, Stan Bingham's creative mind led his interest in many things, including energy conservation. His ingenuity in implementing that interest in his own life resulted in his purchasing a windmill to generate electricity for his home in the early 1980s and converting his Volkswagen Beetle to run on cooking oil in the 2000s; and
Whereas, Stan Bingham was also an accomplished musician, he played a 5‑string banjo in a bluegrass band, a ham radio operator, an avid motorcycle rider, a member of the First United Methodist Church, earned his private pilot license as well as owned his own plane and was a passionate lover of antique cars and trucks. While growing up, he was a member of the Boy Scout Order of the Arrow; and
Whereas, Stan Bingham was recognized for his many contributions to his community. He was the recipient of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the State's highest civilian award, a resolution of appreciation from North Carolina Sheriffs' Association for his fundamental role in implementing the "No Convicted Felons for Sheriff" Amendment to the State Constitution as well as the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association's Defender of Public Safety. He was awarded the North Carolina Forestry Association Heritage Award, Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina Legislative Leadership Award, the Myers/Huneycutt Award for Outstanding Citizenship from the Thomasville Chamber of Commerce, Public Service Award from the Lexington Area Lions Club, Distinguished Citizen of the Year from the North Carolina District West Civitan International, 4‑H Alumni Award, North Carolina Prenatal Association of Baby Booties Award, Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina (APPCNC) Nick Jeralds Award for advocacy and commitment in the prevention of adolescent pregnancy, among many others. He was posthumously inducted into the Davidson County Republican Party Hall of Fame; and
Whereas, Stan Bingham was recognized by Prevent Child Abuse of North Carolina for legislative leadership in supporting safe, stable, nurturing, and healthy relationships for all children, North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force for legislative active for students and staff of Valley School, Board of Directors of the Public School Forum of North Carolina for dedicated service, and North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents for support and commitment for workforce preparation and economic development; and
Whereas, Stan Bingham was active in his community, serving as a member of the Boards of Directors for the American Children's Home, the Board of Directors of Davidson County Economic Development Commission (vice‑chair), Junior Achievement (chair), Davidson County Animal Center (president), Triad Tarheel Girl Scouts, First Bank, Communities in Schools (director emeritus), and the United Way. He also enjoyed teaching personal finance to high school age students through Junior Achievement for many years, was an EMT, a Guardian Ad Litem, and a volunteer firefighter; and
Whereas, Stan Bingham died on October 27, 2022, leaving to cherish his memory his wife of over 50 years, Lora Faley Bingham, his daughters, Andrea Honeycutt (Travis), Heather Winslow (CJ), Claudia Bingham, Natasha Sartin (Dustin); his grandchildren, Cole, Raine, Carter, Elliana, Bingham, Levi, Analeigh, and Juliana; sister, Diane McGee (WC) and brothers, Steve and Jim Bingham; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
SECTION 1.  The Senate honors the life and memory of former State Senator Stanley "Stan" Walker Bingham and expresses the deep gratitude and appreciation of this State and its citizens for his life and service.
SECTION 2.  The Senate extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Stanley "Stan" Walker Bingham.
SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the family of Stanley "Stan" Walker Bingham.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.