Page 16 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Third Quarter 2020

Piedmont Membership Spotlight (Part 3 of 3)
Stewart Gregg
Forester shares lessons learned from a life dedicated to forest management
Forestry students at Rolleo in the George Watts Hill Demonstration Forest in 1958. Below: Stewart Gregg as a young man.
“The altruism of foresters can serve as a motto for humanity in general: ‘We reap what we have not sown. We sow what we do not reap.’” ~ Léo Errera
BY AMY JULIANA
Foresters know the results of their work may not
be seen in their lifetime, but will have long-term beneficial impacts. One individual who displays
this selfless approach to the environment is Stewart Gregg. A longtime member of the North Carolina Forestry Association (NCFA) and a forester for over 60 years, Gregg sees the big picture.
“Trees are our most important renewable resource,” said Gregg, who has dedicated his life to forest management. We sat down with him to learn more about his remarkable life, his pathway
to forestry, and his commitment to the forest sector.
Joining the Service
Born in 1932 in Lenoir, North Carolina, Gregg grew up in a large family. His mother had high expectations for him and his 10 siblings, so she instilled a strong work ethic from the start: “We all had part- time jobs. I delivered the paper and had to bring home a percentage of my earnings each week to contribute to the family.”
In high school, Gregg struggled with his coursework. After graduation, he attended Mars Hill University, but for only one semester. In 1951, the Korean War broke out and Gregg joined the United States Air Force. There, Gregg attended weapons school at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California. Gregg spent 18 months overseas fighting for his country. “I was in charge of 10 airplanes, keeping the guns loaded and [the tanks] full of fuel,” he said.
This proved to be a difficult task, as combat fighters had to fly over two hours to the combat zone, and the duration of
each engagement with the enemy was unknown. As Gregg summed it up, “It was a mean fight, but we did better than they did.” In 1953, with the signing of the armistice, the Caldwell County native returned home.
University Life
In 1956, Gregg transferred to North Carolina State University. His poor grades in math initially held him back. Under the excellent guidance of professors, he brought his grades up and was advised to major in engineering. Gregg decided to pursue forest management instead, as it incorporated math and science into one field.
At State, Gregg was an active student and immediately became involved
in university life. As a freshman, he participated in the 24th Annual Rolleo, a forestry and timbersports competition. This event would become an annual tradition for Gregg throughout his college experience. His first year, Gregg won first place in the
14 ncforestry.org / THIRD QUARTER 2020
COURTESY OF GREGG FAMILY
COURTESY OF NC STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES’ DIGITAL COLLECTIONS: RARE AND UNIQUE MATERIALS