Lee Tillery, the director of the High Point Parks and Recreation Department, has been elected to serve as president of the NC Recreation and Park Association for 2021.
That association is a statewide, nonprofit education and advocacy organization founded in 1944 that’s dedicated to “the advancement of the park, recreation and leisure professions in the state.”
The group Tillery will lead next year, which represents over 5,400 parks and recreation professionals, is overseen by a five-person Board of Directors elected by the organization’s membership. Tillery currently serves as the group’s president-elect, and, after serving his term as president in 2021, he’ll serve as a past president in 2022.
Tillery was thrilled about his selection.
“It is a professional honor of a lifetime to be appointed the Board of the North Carolina Recreation and Park Association and to serve as the Association President in 2021,” Tillery stated in a Tuesday, Dec. 1 press release. “I am humbled by this appointment and appreciate the membership’s confidence in me leading the organization in the coming year. I also appreciate the City of High Point being so supportive of professional development and encouraging employees, like myself, to work toward the advancement of their profession, locally, statewide and nationally. I look forward to representing the City of High Point and those in the NCRPA membership to not only better the field of Parks and Recreation, but to highlight the many leisure, economic and quality of life benefits this profession brings to local governments across the state of North Carolina as well.”
The people Tillery works with in High Point city government certainly speak well of him.
High Point Assistant City Manager Greg Ferguson, said that Tillery is an excellent choice.
Ferguson said, “Lee has a deep commitment to providing parks and recreation opportunities for all our residents and we are happy to see him serve in this important role for the statewide association.”
Interim High Point City Manager Randy McCaslin concurred.
“We are excited to congratulate Lee on his election as President of the North Carolina Recreation and Park Association,” McCaslin said. “I know Lee will bring the same leadership, warmth, energy and new ideas to this statewide position that he dedicates to our community as the Director of Parks & Recreation here in High Point.”
Tillery, who’s originally from Statesville, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management from Western Carolina University and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Appalachian State University. He has previously served as Director of the City of Lenoir Parks and Recreation Department and Director of the Town of Matthews Parks and Recreation Department.
Tillery joined the City of High Point as assistant director of Parks and Recreation in January of 2013.
