The family of a former Onslow County attorney has asked the Board of Commissioners to allow a portrait of him to be displayed in the Onslow County Courthouse.
Roger Alston Moore was born in Charlotte but went to Woodberry Forest Prep School in Virginia, according to his wife, Lynda. He then went to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill before serving in the US Army’s 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam. Lynda said she was even awarded the Bronze Star.
After serving in the Army, Moore headed to law school at Chapel Hill where he and Lynda met. Moore graduated from law school in 1973 and clerked for the United States District Court Judge John Larkins in Trenton, North Carolina, according to Moore’s obituary.
He then partnered with Jim Strickland in Jacksonville. After Strickland was nominated as a Superior Court Judge, Moore became a solo practitioner for the next 40 years where he helped hundreds of clients navigate personal bankruptcy.
His obituary said he received the highest accreditations for bankruptcy law and even served as president of the Onslow County Bar Association. Moore served as Onslow County attorney for nearly 30 years, which included a term as the president of the North Carolina Association of county attorneys.
He was also named North Carolina’s outstanding county attorney in 1987.
Moore passed away on Dec. 7, 2022, at the age of 76 from complications of advanced Parkinson’s Disease. He and Lynda were married for more than 50 years and had two children: Jimmy and Alston. Lynda said Jimmy is a lawyer in New York City and Alston lives in Chapel Hill.
Lynda and Roger also have five grandchildren.
Because of his dedication to his profession and to Onslow County for so many years, Moore’s family and colleagues felt something should be done to honor him. Lynda said she loved the courthouse, and her office was even located across from the courthouse, so that seemed like the best place to display her portrait.
The Onslow County Board of Commissioners approved displaying the portrait in their June 21 meeting agenda approval.
As per the policy, a vote of the county commissioners is required, the agenda item said. The family will cover the cost of the portrait, while placement location, portrait size and specification will be at the discretion of the county.
“It will mean a lot because he gave his whole life practically to Onslow County,” Lynda told The Daily News. “He could have gone back to Charlotte or somewhere else, but he really loved the Onslow County people. He enjoyed helping people. He was all for trying to do the best for his clients.”
Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at [email protected].