FAYETTEVILLE—A former Terry Sanford High School coach recently received one of the state’s most prestigious honors, according to the Fayetteville Observer.

Former Terry Sanford teacher and coach Gil Bowman recently received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in a ceremony at the school.

Former North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue recognized Bowman with the honor in one of her final acts as governor for his 41 years of service as a teacher and coach at Terry Sanford. It is one of the highest awards the governor can bestow on a citizen of the state.

Bowman recently retired from the school because of his battle with leukemia.

Bowman was an outstanding coach in both tennis and women’s basketball at Terry Sanford, competing in state championships in both sports, winning NCHSAA dual team women’s tennis state crowns from 1991 through ’94.

He had previously been elected to the Fayetteville Sports Club Hall of Fame.