A PEACEFUL WARRIOR
John F.A.V. "Jack" Cecil - Centered, Confident, Calm
This week the Brown Family was invited to a small gatherings at NC State University's Hunt Library to celebrate the dedication of the John F.A.V. Cecil Library inside the Institute for Emerging Issues.
Kind words and reflections where given by Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Warwick A. Arden and Sarah Hall, Director for IEI. It was a special event to honor a special human.
While planning Jack's dedication/ribbon cutting, I was asked to prepare a few words to say for those in attendance. Happy to do so, I sat down and reflected on the time/experiences I've shared with Jack ... and here's what I had to say:
JACK CECIL WORDS on October 27, 2025
Thank you for this opportunity to say a few words about/to Jack.
I met Jack in early 2000s when Public Consulting Group (PCG) opened our Technology Center in Asheville at Jack’s Biltmore Park.
Over 25+ years, from our front row seat, we have watched Jack work tirelessly to support NC State University, MyFutureNC, Chamber Commerce, Community Foundation of WNC, and a long list of non-profits, government agencies, and business startups.
We come away with a singular fact: Jack Cecil is a peaceful warrior.
One of the last, true, and admirable warriors left in Western NC: centered, confident, and calm …
Jack Cecil is not a military warrior only concerned with conflict and conquest.
Jack Cecil is a peaceful warrior dedicated to “surviving and thriving” and frankly avoiding the inefficiency/destruction of conflict. Let me explain …
CENTERED
When I met Jack … he and his father had just opened up Biltmore Park.
Their stated goal/purpose was CENTERED on bringing high-paying, high-tech jobs to WNC.
Our firm and our family totally bought into their vision and approach.
Today, based on Jack’s continued efforts … Pratt & Whitney is investing another $300m in their Asheville Plant … and PCG folks remain committed to living/working in WNC.
CONFIDENT
Jack is a CONFIDENT leader that empowers those fortunate to work with him.
He’s a great listener, hard thinker and understands the value of collaboration.
Folklore has it that Gov. Hunt told Jack that he needed Jack at IEI because he was a Republican he could work with on a wide-variety of topics/challenges.
Gov Hunt was correct … emerging issues deserve the best of us all regardless of political orientation.
CALM
When times are toughest, it’s my observation that Jack is the calmest.
He has helped lead NC, WNC, NC State, and his companies through 2008 Financial Crisis, 2020 Global Pandemic, and Hurricane Helene
In 2008, he said, “Tony we are going to keep investing”,
in 2020 he said, “Tony, we’re going to protect our people,” and
after Helene he said, “Tony, we are going to rebuild.”
And that’s what he has calmly done: invest, protect, and rebuild.
Jack you are a great leader, great citizen, great neighbor, and we are humbled by your commitment to WNC, NC State, and the State of NC. Thank you very much.
WES HARKINS PHOTOGRAPHY
Wes Harkins grew up in Candler, NC in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. His art is displayed prominently in WNC in fine homes, office building, and written publications.
Wes donated his work to NCSU IEI Jack Cecil Library in honor of his brother Steve Harkins (June 14, 1959 — July 29, 2022) who graduated from NC State and was a beloved bartender at Edwards Grocery on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, NC. Don't forget "It's not the meat, it's the motion".
Photo/video credit @KelliDarlin
Photo credit @WesHarkins
This blog was not generated by A1 ... #oldschool
Here's today's vid clip:
Tony McLean Brown
A Western NC hillbilly through and through, Tony McLean Brown was born in the small town of Enka-Candler outside of Asheville. His parents re-named him when he was 3 years old to Tony (a nickname provided by his grandfather) McLean (middle name of his Uncle Michael) while retaining his legal surname Brown.
Throughout his career, Tony McLean Brown worked as a farmer, computer programmer, and management consultant – in his adventurous years – author, song-writer, bass player, poet, pilot, mountaineer, certified scuba diver, and competitor in professional bull riding, NASCAR late model racing, Toughman boxing, Crossfit Open, Ironman, pole vaulting, marathon and ultra-marathon running, as well as parenting.
www.HappyGuidetoaShortLife.com has been leveraged to help charities and non-profits across the globe, USA, NC, and Lake Norman area. If you, your family, school, church, or charity has been supported, please take the time to share, like, subscribe, comment, and provide a 5 star review!