Durwood Cooper Sr. was presented the Scuppernong River Festival Distinguished Citizen Award by Commissioner Nina Griswell (left) in a ceremony Oct. 12. Cooper was a Gum Neck farmer for more than 50 years and a tireless supporter of Gum Neck Community Development, fire department, EMS and 4-H programs. He is a U.S. Army combat veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the boards of education and county commissioners, each for 12 years. He and his wife of 67 years, Alma Dean Cohoon Cooper, have five children, and they attend Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church.