Thomas Moore’s parents always asked him a question that has driven his life’s work: “What are you doing for people?” He took their inspiring challenge to heart, becoming a celebrated leader in the state of North Carolina and a musical inspiration for generations of children in our communities and on military installations worldwide. Along the way, Dr. Thomas Moore became one of a dozen Southminster residents to be acknowledged with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
Among the honors and awards the Governor of North Carolina can bestow, none is more valued than The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Since 1963, North Carolina’s governors have reserved this, their highest honor, to those who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. Those named to The Order become honorary North Carolina “Ambassadors” with their names and award dates recorded on a roster maintained by the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society.
“The Order of the Long Leaf Pine” Honorees at Southminster:
Lila Brown (father, Erwin L. Laxton, is an honoree), Ed Williams, Jane London “Janie” McIntyre, Curt Walton, David Ward, Ralph “Ed” Shelton, Thomas Moore, Ray Farris, William “Bill” Claytor, Ashley Hogewood. We would also like to honor the late Major General Gerald A. “Rudy” Rudisill, Jr. and Hugh B Campbell Jr.
Setting Childhood to Music
Born in Gastonia, Moore studied at Johnson C. Smith University, then earned a Bachelor’s Degree in voice/opera from Manhattan School of Music, followed by a Master’s in Education and a Ph.D. in Elementary Education with Early Childhood specialization from Indiana State University. He worked as Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Southern Mississippi and took his talents to Georgia Southern University and Benedict College in Columbia, S.C. He also served as State Director of the North Carolina Head Start State Collaboration Project.
Over his career, Moore became nationally recognized as an early childhood consultant, author and children’s recording artist, producing nine educational recordings and a DVD. His recordings are used in early childhood classrooms throughout the world. Some of his most requested songs are “Humpty Dumpty Dumpty,” “I Am Special,” “Rock ‘n Roll Patacake,” and “Dream for Children.” His DVD, “Come Sing and Dance with Us,” includes dance moves to favorite children’s songs.
In the early 80s, Moore became “Mr. Keys,” host of the beloved local children’s television program E-Z Street that aired on WBTV in Charlotte. The show functioned as a regional equivalent to Captain Kangaroo, using music, puppets, and life lessons to engage young viewers. He knew and collaborated with legendary local media personalities such as Loonis McGlohan, Ty Boyd and Larry Sprinkle, as well as national children’s programming pioneers Bob Keeshan and Mister Rogers.
For three decades, generations of local children eagerly anticipated his self-financed New Year’s Show, an idea he first brought to life at just 29 years old. Originally staged at Children’s Theatre and later moved to CPCC, the show became a beloved tradition. “Something gets into a person’s heart, and in my case, you can find a lot of what’s in my heart by looking at what I have done with young children. I had to make a decision about whether I was going to focus on older people or young children — I found a way to include both in my New Year’s Eve shows,” Moore said.
Global Reach
From a keynote address to 1200 K-12 teachers at Harvard University, to a study tour of child care in China, to teacher-training workshops in Nigeria, St. Croix and Germany, and Denmark, to a solo voice recital at Carnegie Recital Hall, Moore created learning experiences that educated and encouraged those who teach young children. After joining Sounds of America in 1966 and becoming its director in 1971, he played saxophone and performed at military installations across the country.
He continued to make his mark in the Carolinas too, serving as emcee, guest composer, and narrator for the first Charlotte Symphony Lollipops concerts for children, serving as a pianist for Charlotte Rotary, and performing at the Dilworth Jubilee. He was also the Music Director for “Church in the Round,” the contemporary service at Myers Park United Methodist Church, where he led music and worship for 15 years.
Moore even took on the role of the Big Bad Wolf in the North Carolina Opera production of Little Red Riding Hood, and even started a choir that included Southminster residents and formerly homeless men. “They took good care of each other, and when we were all dressed up in black and white, you could never guess who had once been homeless,” Moore said.
That spirit of a caring community has always shown up in deeply personal ways. When Moore came across a social media post from a woman having a particularly difficult day—someone who said she “would do anything” to hear him sing Perhaps Love—he didn’t hesitate. He stopped what he was doing and recorded the song just for her. Today, that video lives online, continuing to reach anyone who might need a moment of encouragement. For Moore, it has never been about the performance itself, but about meeting people exactly where they are—with kindness, with presence, and with heart.
Inspiring Younger and Older Alike
Throughout his life, Moore has been intentional about bringing people together—children and older adults, families from different parts of Charlotte, and communities who may not have otherwise crossed paths. His programs were never just performances; they were spaces where relationships could form naturally. What looked like simple joy on the surface often carried something deeper: a sense of belonging, connection, and shared humanity.
“I first experienced the community here at Southminster almost 30 years ago. I visited a resident named Fannie Blackwelder, who had been my Children’s Library supervisor at the Charlotte Public Library. Her daughter, Louise Sanford, owned Black Forest Books, which sold tickets to our New Year’s Show.”
On his long-ago visits here, Moore apparently saw evidence of a community based in what his parents had described as “doing for other people,” because he chose to become a resident of Southminster himself six years ago. He especially recalls the effect that being with people like the late Betty Evans had on him. “She never spoke—she only sang, and she had a look of love that would just knock you over.”
Here at Southminster, Moore continues to do what he has always done—create moments that bring people together. He still frequently entertains and participates in programming that involves children, often leading them in song and offering words of encouragement. He works with students from our Greater Enrichment Program, who visit onsite monthly during the school year to participate in our Reading Buddies program—where residents help them with reading—and joins us for their holiday and end-of-year celebrations. He also brings joy and light by directing our Neighborhood Singers, playing for memorial celebrations, birthdays parties and other events. Residents and families alike are drawn not just to his music, but to the warmth and encouragement he so naturally shares.
Although Moore’s honors and awards include Charlotte Jaycees Young Man of the Year, the Charlotte NAACP Humanitarian Award, Indiana State University’s Distinguished Alumni Award and the N.C. Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service, he says his most prized accolade is the “Angel Among Us” award, presented to him by a kindergarten through 2nd grade class in Laurinburg, N.C.
“I guess the best way to describe it is that I help people use skills and do things they are called to do,” Moore said. “There is so much more in all of us—so much we can learn and experience. There’s a lot we all learn from our childhoods, but we tend to throw it away as we try to fit into society. I believe the Long Leaf Pine Award recognizes the good in people, and celebrates the reality that achievement is never all about one person. We’re ultimately all in this together.” In many ways, his life’s work is a reflection of that simple question his parents once asked—answered not in words, but in the countless lives he continues to touch.
Learn more at www.welovethomasmoore.org