Walker and Katie Morris made history tonight.

The couple received the Conerstone Award, the highest award for volunteerism presented by the United Way of Moore County.

Friends and family gather at Little River for the 10th annual banquet that honors an individual or in this case individuals who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment, creativity, leadership, inspiration and sustained service and broad scope of impact on the quality of life in the community.

Friends Missy Quis, Charles Frock, and former Gov. James E. Holshouser, and Charlie Morris and Kate Morris Stanley, two of the couple's three children, offered some gentle jabs and plenty of high praise for the honorees.

Pat Corso, executive director of Moore County Partners in Progress emceed the event.

The Morrises were praised for their commitment to the community, their teamwork, and their continuing efforts to "make Moore County a better, more compassionate place."

Past winners of the Cornerstone Award include Ernest "Ernie" Hanford; Dr. John Dempsey, president of Sandhills Community College; women's golf legend Peggy Kirk Bell; Felton Capel, a well-known business and civic leader; FirstHealth CEO Charles Frock; David Woronoff, publisher of The Pilot; the Rev. Dr. Hal Hyde, a retired minister and civic leader; Dr. David Bruton, a longtime pediatrician and community activist; and Linda Hubbard, a former Moore County Schools employee, who founded BackPack Pals, and community volunteer.

Bruton, Hanford and Frock attended Thursday's banquet.

For more on this story, see Sunday's print edition of The Pilot.