Western North Carolina Native

Roy Carter grew up in rural North Carolina and has lived in various North Carolina mountain communities all of his life. The son of Marion “Bill” Carter, a tobacco farmer, and Jessie Buckner Carter, an assembly-line worker, Roy Carter had a childhood rich in the traditional Democratic values of hard-work, fellowship, love and prayer. Family, faith and athletics played key roles in Roy’s upbringing, providing him a solid foundation on which to survive tragedy, achieve his goals and grow into a man of character and integrity.

Husband, Father, Grandfather

In 1965, Roy married Patricia Burleson of nearby Barnardsville, N.C. Upon graduation Roy embarked on a coaching and teaching career that has spanned forty years. Pat, also a career educator, recently retired after twenty-two years as an elementary school teacher. Roy and Pat have three children: Todd Carter, Andrea Carter Gimlin, Stacey Carter, and son-in-law Wiley Gimlin. They also have a grandson, Tristen Carter Gimlin, and recently welcomed a granddaughter, Eva, into the family.

Athlete

Despite working on the family farm, Roy was a three sport letterman in High School and excelled on the football field. Roy followed his passion for athletics and learning to East Tennessee State University. At that time, ETSU offered lower tuition than in-state schools, thus affording low- income students like Roy the opportunity of a college education. Roy worked his way through school, often commuting over the mountain in an old car, determined to fulfill his dream of earning a college degree. Informed by his experience, Roy strongly believes that low interest loans and need-based grants must be expanded in order to allow all young people the opportunity of a higher education.

Teacher, Coach, Farmer

Roy has dedicated his life thus far to educating young people, motivating them to achieve their goals and being a positive, affirming influence in their lives. Throughout his career as Educator, Football Coach and Athletic Director, Roy has always considered community involvement crucial to student success. Leading by example, he has consistently volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, working to build homes for hard working families. Through his leadership and innovation several student and community programs were created to combat drop-out rates, drug and alcohol abuse, and illiteracy. In 1997, one such program was instrumental in Andrews High School naming Roy as its Teacher of the Year. Roy has been a member of the North Carolina Coaches Association for over thirty years, being chosen as Conference Coach of the Year in 1993 and Coach for the annual East / West All-Star game in 1998. Additionally, Roy has been actively involved in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, and was elected to the North Carolina High School Association Re-Alignment Committee in 1999, receiving the Merit Award and receiving the Award of Achievement in 1995.

After many years as a science teacher, Roy transitioned into teaching agricultural science and woodworking. In-between the various family, religious, and community activities, Carter maintains a crop of 4,000 Fraser Firs.

Roy has taught and coached in Ashe, Wilkes, and Surry counties—all of which are in the 5th Congressional District. He currently resides with his wife in Ashe County, near the Wilkes County line. The Carters proudly attend First Baptist Church of West Jefferson.