▁was ▁a ▁delegate ▁to ▁the ▁Republican ▁National ▁Convention . ▁Loc ally , ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁Franklin ▁Chamber ▁of ▁Com merce ▁and ▁as ▁Honor ary ▁Chair man ▁for ▁the ▁Rel ay ▁for ▁Life . ▁He ▁worked ▁on ▁beh alf ▁of ▁community ▁colleg es , ▁serving ▁ 2 0 ▁years ▁on ▁the ▁South western ▁Community ▁College ▁Board ▁of ▁Trust ees ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁North ▁Carolina ▁Association ▁of ▁Community ▁Colleg es . ▁Car p enter ▁received ▁many ▁awards ▁and ▁recogn itions ▁including ▁the ▁State ▁of ▁North ▁Carolina ▁Dist ingu ished ▁Service ▁Award , ▁the ▁NC ▁Kn ights ▁of ▁Columb us ▁Knight ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁Award ▁and ▁Ma con ▁County ▁Cit izen ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁recognition . ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁recip ient ▁of ▁the ▁Order ▁of ▁Long ▁Le af ▁P ine ▁Award , ▁awarded ▁by ▁the ▁governor ▁of ▁North ▁Carolina . ▁Car p enter ▁spent ▁many ▁hours ▁volunte ering ▁his ▁time ▁to ▁baseball ; ▁he ▁started ▁Franklin ' s ▁Little ▁League ▁Baseball , ▁co ached ▁Little ▁League ▁Baseball ▁for ▁ 3 0 ▁years , ▁and ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁coach ▁to ▁rec ruit ▁African ▁Americans ▁to ▁play ▁Little ▁League ▁Baseball ▁in ▁As he ville . ▁For ▁his ▁work ▁with ▁baseball ▁he ▁received ▁the ▁Co ach ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁award ▁and ▁the ▁Franklin ▁Little ▁League ▁award . ▁Car p enter ▁was ▁involved ▁in ▁many ▁local ▁organizations ▁including ▁the ▁Opt im ist ▁Club , ▁Rot ary ▁Club , ▁Jay ce es ▁and ▁Kn ights ▁of ▁Columb us . ▁He ▁was ▁on ▁the ▁Sm o