For 28 years, I have enjoyed writing about Fayetteville and Cumberland County and the people, places, events and organizations that make our community unique and contribute to our quality of life. Organizations like the Fayetteville Rotary Club and long-time Fayetteville residents like Steve Driggers, Paul Johnson, and Charles Koonce ideally make our community more livable.
I have known all three of these gentlemen for decades, so it was no surprise when I found out all three were recognized for their dedication, contributions and outstanding service to the Fayetteville Rotary Club and the Fayetteville community. For their accomplishments they were awarded Rotary International's highest and most distinguished honor, the Paul Harris Fellow award.
Named after the founder of Rotary, this designation symbolizes a commitment to the Rotary ideals of positively impacting communities both locally and worldwide. It's a distinction that signifies an individual's proven commitment to humanitarian services, and quantified community impact.
Steve Driggers currently serves as Athletic Director for Fayetteville Technical Community College. For years, he led the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program. In 2024, he sponsored 15 students from seven Cumberland County High Schools to participate in a Rotary Youth Leadership program where they interacted with local community leaders, developed communication and problem-solving skills, and learned strategies for becoming dynamic leaders in their school and community.
Steve served as Rotary President from 2021-22 and will always have the heart of a Rotarian while continuing to support Rotary projects and programs.
Recipient Paul Johnson is the freshly retired soft and soothing voice of Beasley Media Group's Sunny 94.3 radio station. He recently completed an accomplished 50-year career in radio broadcasting.
A valuable member of the Fayetteville Rotary, Paul was ideally suited to be the organization's program chair, where he consistently provided a variety of interesting and educational programs that were both interesting, informative, and entertaining to members.
Charles Koonce, known as the voice of Cumberland County High School Friday Night Football for decades as the Play-by-Play announcer for Mid-Sports South, has been a Rotarian for over five decades. He has filled numerous leadership roles in the former West Fayetteville Rotary Club. Charles is a lifelong educator and served many years on the faculty of the Methodist University Golf Program, where he nurtured the program to PGA prominence, annually graduating students prepared to play golf or golf management at the highest levels.
All three distinguished gentlemen exemplify the spirit and commitment Rotary founder, Paul Harris, had to humanity. In addition to the recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow comes a donation of $1000 to the Rotary Foundation in support of a variety of programs, grants, scholarships, and efforts to eradicate diseases like polio. Collectively, the members of the Fayetteville Rotary Club contributed a $3,000 donation to the Foundation honoring these individuals.
Good things last, and Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper wholeheartedly supports organizations where professional businessmen and women dedicate themselves to providing community services and collectively addressing humanitarian needs and challenges. There are many wonderful service organizations in the Fayetteville and Cumberland County area.
I urge our readers to search one out and get involved in building a better community. The Fayetteville Rotary Club is only one of many service clubs doing great things in our community. I would be remiss if I did not invite you to check them out every Thursday at 1 p.m., at The Venue, 3302 Fort Bragg Rd. They always welcome visitors and guests.
To visit as a guest or learn more about the Rotary organization here in Fayetteville, visit www.fayettevillerotaryclub.org or call 910-308-6956.
Tell them I sent you!

(Photo:Left to right: Steve Driggers, Paul Johnson, and Charles Koonce are honored by the Fayetteville Rotary Club as Paul Harris Fellows.)