On May 17, 2017, Thomas Hanchett received the Order of the Longleaf Pine. It is conferred by the governor to “persons for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina.”

An event to mark the occasion was held at the Levine Museum of the New South, where Tom served as Historian from 1999 to 2015. Among the speakers were Emily Zimmern, retired President of the Musuem, and Ed Williams, retired editor of the Charlotte Observer  and former Library Trustee.