Public service is a true calling. No one knew of that calling better than former Congressman Bill Hefner. He understood the basic principle that a public servant must put the needs of the people first.

I was honored to have many conversations with Mr. Hefner that I will always treasure.  He was gracious enough to share with me his wisdom and stories of his experiences representing our district for 24 years.

His guidance was invaluable to me as I began serving as the Congressman for the Eighth District. He was quick to remind me that the people of North Carolina’s Eighth District must always come first. He counseled me that a vote must not just be examined for what it will mean today, but what effect it will have on our district and our citizens a year, 10 years or even 20 years from today.

The wisdom and knowledge he imparted kept giving me the courage to fight so hard for “Buy American”. I want to protect our manufacturing industries for the future. I want our district to have a sustainable economic future and to once again thrive. He made sure I understood that I had to work hard to do what was right for our people and to fight for our district.

He taught all of us by example to honor and care for our military, our veterans and their families. His unwavering devotion and tireless efforts on behalf of our soldiers and their families is the gold standard we must all strive to achieve. He treated all our heroes the same no matter if it was a soldier on the front line, a wife trying to manage back home or a World War II veteran. 

Mr. Hefner came from a show business background, but he was a work horse, not a show horse. He worked hard for the people of North Carolina’s Eighth District.

His legacy is easily visible across our region. I see it when I pass by the Stanly County Airport, the Bill Hefner VA Hospital in Salisbury, the Bill Hefner Elementary School in Fayetteville or any of the hundreds of other projects that he brought to reality during his tenure.

He was an amazing wealth of knowledge for a freshman congressman. I will miss his counsel, and I will miss his humor. Our district has lost one of its dearest friends and staunchest allies.

Personally, I will remember him as smart and funny, and tough. He continued to care about our nation and our district even after his retirement. It means so much to me that he took the time to speak with me and offer guidance on how best to help our district.
It is my distinct honor to serve in Congressman Hefner’s seat in Congress.
On behalf of everyone in the Eighth District, I thank Congressman Bill Hefner for his lifetime of service and offer our deepest sympathies to his wife Nancy and his daughters Stacye and Shelly and the entire Hefner family.