The Stanley Frank Class Award is presented annually in honor of the late Stanley Frank, chair of the LNC founding committee, who gave his time, talents, and resources to make our state a better place to live and to work. Mr. Frank was a Greensboro businessman and a civic giant who was one of the earliest and strongest supporters of LNC. There are many organizations in the Greensboro community on which Stanley Frank left his mark. He was known as a compassionate, modest, and generous gentleman

Mr. Brown’s fellow LNC participants shared the following comments in nominating him for the Stanley Frank Class Award:

“After serving on the town council as an elected official, Schumata decided that he could better serve the town and its residents by accepting the responsibility of town manager. Under Schumata’s leadership, Maysville was one of 24 smaller communities across North Carolina that were awarded participation in Governor Roy Cooper’s Downtown Strong Initiative. To do this, Schumata had to galvanize disparate interests in Maysville’s downtown. This included business owners, building owners, local activists, and average residents with a big stake in urban renewal.”

“I knew Schumata was a guy with high integrity and a deep love for his family and community. Today I know Schumata to be a strong leader who selflessly helps others reach their highest potential.”

“We need more Schumata Browns in North Carolina.”

Shawan Gabriel, president and chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters Services, Inc. and the 2016 recipient of the Stanley Frank Class Award, presented Mr. Brown with a Waterford eagle during the ceremony in the Old House Chamber of the North Carolina State Capitol.  A North Carolina flag was flown over the Capitol in Mr. Brown’s honor as a commemoration of his selection as the Stanley Frank Class Award recipient.

A roster of previous Stanley Frank Class Award recipients can be found here.

Photo credit: Becca Mill