Born May 4, 1940, in Cabarrus County. Good health. Life-long resident of
Kannapolis. Married to the former Marlene Johnson in
1967; has two children and two step-children, all of whom live in the area.
Three step-grandchildren.
Educational Background
Graduated A. L. Brown High School, Kannapolis, in 1958.
Attended UNC at Chapel Hill from 1958-1965, with A. B. Degree in 1962
and Law Degree in 1965.
Professional Background
Practiced law in Kannapolis with Bedford W. Black in 1965 and 1966. Appointed
Judge of the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court for Cabarrus County in
1966 and served until December 31, 1967. Began private practice of law in 1968.
Engaged in general practice of law from 1968 through 1970, with an emphasis
on trial and appellate litigation. Taught course in Income Tax law at
Barber-Scotia College in Concord. Specialized in criminal law and in Social
Security Disability Claims, then a relatively new area of practice, from
1971-1981. Presented paper entitled "Social Security Can Pay Its Way," to
North Carolina and Oklahoma Trial Lawyers. From 1971 through 1975, instructed law
officers at community colleges throughout state in the law portion of the
Breathalyzer course. Passed examination and placed on national register for
federal Administrative Law Judge position in 1982.
Appointed to the District Court bench by Governor Jim Hunt in early 1981
to fill vacancy caused by death of L. F. Faggart of Kannapolis. Served
on Endangered Children Committee of district court judges in 1983-1984, and
authored "Coercive Governmental Intervention and the Family: A Comment on
North Carolina's Proposed Standards," for the Campbell Law Review (Fall, 1984).
As district court judge has been active in judicial education, serving
on the Education and Bench Book Committees. Frequent presenter at
seminars and judges' conferences, primarily on family law and court delay
topics. Lectures on interstate custody disputes and on equitable distribution
at the annual school for newly appointed or elected district court judges.
Wrote "Principles of Valuation in North Carolina Equitable Distribution Actions"
for publication by Institute of Government in 1989 (Revised in 1993;
presently under further revision). Has now completed "Pension and Retirement
Rights in North Carolina Equitable Distribution Cases."
Served as chair of the Custody Mediation Advisory Committee since 1988,
assisting in drafting legislation to implement program statewide. Drafted
procedures for mediation program, "Custody and Visitation Mediation
Program Procedures Manual." In 1994 drafted "A Decade of Custody Mediation," to
submit to legislature. Appointed to Supreme Court ADR Committee by
then Chief Justice Exum and appointed to serve as Chair of Subcommittee on
Custody Mediation by Justice Henry Frye. Drafted Standards of Practice for
Custody Mediators. Recently re-appointed as Chair of Custody Mediation Advisory Committee.
Has been concerned with improving the unfavorable image of the courts caused by
a public perception of excessive delay and expense in the trial of civil
cases, particularly family law cases. Was appointed in 1994 by the
President of the District Court Judges' Association to serve as chair of
special committee to investigate delay in the trial of equitable distribution
cases. Drafted report, "A Search for Solutions," which suggested standards
for the disposition of equitable distribution cases and recommendations for
improving the delivery of legal services in this area. The report was submitted
to the legislature and published by the Family Law Section of the Bar. Over half
of its recommendations have been implemented at this time. Appeared on
several occasions before the Family Issues Study Committee, which was considering
new legislation to deal with unnecessary delay in the trial of equitable
distribution cases. Together with Education Committee Chair Judge Kimberly Taylor,
organized a Special Topic Seminar for district court judges in April 1995
entitled "Managing [Equitable Distribution] Trials Effectively," secured a
nationally known expert as head of faculty for the seminar; served as a small
group leader and presenter; led discussion on pending family law legislation.
As a result of the special topic seminar, a joint committee [Bench-Bar Committee]
was formed to jointly address problems of delay in family law matters,
develop statewide forms, and advise the legislature on new legislation
in the family law area.
Presently serving as Chair of Custody Mediation Advisory Committee. Acted
as one of advisors to the Family Issues Committee of the North Carolina
Futures Commission.
Appointed to fill vacancy on the Court of Appeals on December 30, 1997.
Took oath of office on January 2, 1998, at the Cabarrus County Courthouse
in Concord. Retired Superior Court Judge James C. Davis administered oath
to W. Erwin Spainhour newly appointed Senior Resident Superior Court Judge
for Cabarrus County and immediate past president of the North Carolina State
Bar, and Judge Spainhour then administered the oath to Judge Horton.
Church & Community Involvement
Active in the Methodist Church. Served as Sunday School Teacher since 1981,
Chair of Administrative Board, Chair of Staff-Parish Relations Committee,
Chair of Missions Committee; has served as member of Commission on Archives,
and as delegate to church's Annual Conference; elected Lay Person of Year in
his home church for 1996. Wrote short history of church in 1984, now expanding
it to a booklength study, "These Sacred Walls."
Extensive public speaking to school, church and civic groups, particularly on theme
of the responsibilities of citizenship. Teaches the three Citizenship merit badges
to local Boy Scout Troop. On faculty of Leadership Kannapolis and Leadership
Cabarrus, local leadership development groups sponsored by Kannapolis Chamber
of Commerce and Cabarrus County Chamber of Commerce. On faculty of "Meet
the Courts," a local program about the courts, drinking, and driving,
for ninthgraders in Cabarrus County, developed by Judge Adam Grant and
nationally recognized as a model for similar programs.
Serving on Board of Directors of Historic Cabarrus, Inc., Cabarrus Genealogy
Society, and Kannapolis History Associates. Served on boards of Cabarrus
Cooperative Ministries and One-on-One, Inc. Named a Grand Marshal in local
Martin Luther King parade in 1993. Recently named to six-year term on
Cabarrus Morehead Selection Committee. Writes extensively on local and
church history. Published "A Century of Service" in 1992 and "An
Historical Sketch of Olde Concord," in 1994, with second volume
in progress. Served as co-chair of the Cabarrus County Bicentennial
Committee from 1989-1994, organizing year-long celebration in 1992,
and from 1995-1996 as Chair of the Concord Bicentennial Committee,
organizing month-long celebration in April 1996. Published "A Bicentennial
History of Concord" in 1996.
Honored by the North Carolina District Court Judges' Association in 1989 and
again in 1997 for service to the organization; Toastmasters International
presented him its Communication Achievement Award in 1991; honored by
Historic Cabarrus, Inc. and by Kannapolis History Associates in 1996, and
by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1997, for community service in
area of historic preservation.
