Chapel Hill Educator, Historian and UNC Statistician Freddie Kiger Inducted Into Order of Longleaf Pine

A Chapel Hill institution and longtime community contributor was recent recognized with the highest civilian honor in North Carolina.

Members of the East Chapel Hill Rotary Club surprised Freddie Kiger with his induction into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine during its holiday party on Dec. 5. The award is given to North Carolinians who have made “significant contributions to the state and their communities” by displaying exceptional service. Kiger — who is a longtime educator, Civil War historian, associate producer with ESPN and a former radio personality — had finished sharing his “153-Year-Old Christmas” special to the crowd when he was joined on stage by Dick Baddour, Jim Heavner, Joe Jenkins, Christy Jones and Bob Ward, who all helped coordinate Kiger’s nomination.

“The Order of the Longleaf Pine is the governor’s highest recognition, given to those who have truly excelled in their communities…and Freddie, you have truly excelled,” Baddour said while presenting Kiger the award and its plaque.

Kiger is a two-time graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, holding two degrees in history, and began teaching the subject in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system not long after earning his masters. He went on to have two-decade career as a teacher to hundreds of students — including North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein when he was in school — and continues educating others with his lecture series on the Civil War and podcast called “Threads from the National Tapestry: Stories from the American Civil War.” Kiger also lectures through the UNC General Alumni Association, which occasionally includes leading trips through its Tar Heel Travelers program.

Freddie Kiger addresses the crowd at the East Chapel Hill Rotary Club’s holiday party on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo via S.P. Murray.)

In addition to his vast knowledge of American history, Kiger also has an expertise in state history — and with that, UNC sports. Kiger has worked around the UNC men’s basketball program for decades, first being hired by then-head coach Dean Smith to be a statistician before eventually becoming an associate producer for television broadcasts and the Tar Heel Sports Network on radio. Many fans can still often see Kiger sitting courtside at the Dean Smith Center’s scorer’s table where players check into the game as he works for ESPN. He also won three Emmy awards for his contributions to ESPN’s “SportsCentury” documentary series at the turn of the 21st century. Kiger also became a daily on-air staple of WCHL and “The Ron Stutts Show” for more than a decade, as he would present the morning trivia question to listeners.

With his induction, Kiger joins a list of other North Carolina dignitaries, ranging from Michael Jordan to Andy Griffith. He is the seventh Chapel Hill-Carrboro community member inducted in 2025 — following former Chapel Hill Mayor Howard Lee and his wife Lillian Lee, former Carrboro Alderman Braxton Foushee, Carolina basketball legend Phil Ford, UNC women’s lacrosse head coach Jenny Levy, former UNC women’s soccer star Heather O’Reilly, and UNC researcher and entrepreneur Jim Johnson.

Those awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine received a certificate signed by the governor, which confers to them “the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary” to represent the state of North Carolina. It also means the members can lead the official North Carolina Toast at events.

Featured photo via S.P. Murray.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

‹

Bill Raising Juvenile Prosecution Age in NC Gets Final OK

Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON The North Carolina legislature agreed on Tuesday that only children 8 and older can be prosecuted in the state’s juvenile courts — up from the current age of 6. The bill, which the Senate approved unanimously after the House made significant changes last week, would end North Carolina as having the lowest age for […]

Appeals Judges Skeptical About Reinstating NC Abortion Ban

Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON Federal judges expressed skepticism on Thursday about reinstating North Carolina’s ban on abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, especially after state officials have acknowledged that the prohibition hasn’t been enforced. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, heard remote oral arguments from attorneys […]

NC Judge Blocks Governor's Virus-related Orders on Churches

A federal judge in North Carolina on Saturday sided with conservative Christian leaders and blocked the enforcement of restrictions that Gov. Roy Cooper ordered affecting indoor religious services during the coronavirus pandemic. The order from Judge James C. Dever III came days after two Baptist churches, a minister and a Christian revival group filed a […]

Stanford Prof Again to Review N Carolina Legislative Maps

North Carolina judges who ruled the state’s legislative district maps were drawn to unconstitutionally favor Republicans are hiring a familiar expert to review how state lawmakers fix the problem. The three-judge Superior Court panel on Friday appointed Stanford University law professor Nathaniel Persily to check the state General Assembly’s revisions. He may also redraw legislative districts himself […]

N Carolina Trial into Partisan Gerrymandering Wrapping Up

A three-judge North Carolina panel was considering Friday whether politicians can be too extreme in drawing legislative voting districts to their advantage, a judgment the U.S. Supreme Court refused to make about congressional elections. The judges start deliberating at the end of a two-week trial examining North Carolina legislative districts that redrawn in 2017 to […]

Court to Decide if Cutting Governor's Powers Violated Rights

North Carolina legislators were not just sneaky when they took surprise action and cut Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s powers before he took office, they violated the state constitution, plaintiffs told a state appeals panel Thursday. The case centers on a decision by Republican leaders to wrap up a December 2016 special legislative session to approve […]

Court: Application for Poor to Get Lawyer Can't Be Evidence

An appeals court says prosecutors can’t use the document needed to get a court-appointed defense lawyer guaranteed by the Constitution to prove a North Carolina man’s relationship with a teenage girl was illegal. The state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that Raul Diaz must be retried on statutory rape and child abduction charges after the […]

The Carolinas Emerge as New Population Boom States. Affordability and Lifestyle Drive Growth

Written by MIKE SCHNEIDER ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Move over Florida and Texas. The United States has new hot spots for growth, and they both have Carolina in their name. North Carolina last year attracted more new residents, 84,000 people, from other parts of the country than any other state, a title held by Texas in 2024 and Florida […]

Four-Term North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt, a Leader in Education Reform, Dies at 88

Former Gov. Jim Hunt, a towering figure in North Carolina politics in the late 20th century who helped leaders from both major parties strive for public education reform, died Thursday at the age of 88.

Chapel Hill Educator, Historian and UNC Statistician Freddie Kiger Inducted Into Order of Longleaf Pine

Members of the East Chapel Hill Rotary Club surprised Freddie Kiger with his induction into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine during its holiday party on Dec. 5.

›