Business owner gives back through Clayton Rotary Club

CLAYTON — Many folks know Leigh Hudson as the owner of Hudson’s Hardware in Garner and Clayton. While he wears that hat well, he also serves the Clayton community as a member of the Clayton Rotary Club.

“Rotary has a unique ability to serve the community, and the world, by leveraging the time, talent and assets of its members,” he said. “We develop trusting relationships through serving together and coming together every week for fellowship and community presentations.”

It’s an association that dates back to 1981 for Hudson, and he’s as passionate about it today as he was almost four decades ago.

In addition to leading the rebuilding of the morning club membership from 19 to more than 70 members from 2008-2015, he’s also helped to shape the organization’s mission of service to the people of Clayton.

“From 1990 to 2000, I founded and served as chairman of the Johnston County Drug Action Committee that worked with local communities to combat drug abuse issues,” he said. “Early on, I wrote, and received, an $11,000 N.C. Juvenile Justice grant that employed a part-time employee to focus primarily on diversionary programs for youth offenders. The committee nurtured this program that continues to serve our county as Johnston County Youth Services.”

A desire to help young people, and keep them away from drugs, is visible in the club’s work. One such project was helping to stem the tide of drugs, particularly crack cocaine, in the Austin Acres neighborhood.

“Mayor Doug McCormick created a 12-citizen committee, Clayton Concerned Citizens Against Drug Abuse, in 1989 to deal with the significant rise in crime related to the sales of crack cocaine, centered primarily in Austin Acres and the surrounding neighborhood,” he said. “As chair of the committee in 1990,

I partnered with Willie Henderson, a local church leader, to run a weekend (Friday and Saturday nights) recreation program.

“(We did that) over a four-year period at the Cooper School gymnasium for around 65 kids in that community, while pressuring all other relative agencies to assist in the removal of drug crime from Clayton. Crime fell 43 percent, with violent crime down 66 percent, over this period, according to SBI records relayed to me by the Clayton Police Department.”

Rotary depends on the volunteerism of its members, and Hudson’s platform as a business owner allows him to spread the word about the organization to potential new members.

“My position as a known business owner certainly gives me added accessibility but believing strongly in Rotary’s ability to serve as a significant asset in our community has motivated me to share this special opportunity with those seeking to serve,” he said. “As someone who grew up in a small business environment, I have a real understanding of how valuable local businesses are to smaller towns and communities.”

It goes deeper than that for Hudson, however. He feels a responsibility to give back to the community in which he lives.

“Business owners and managers are called upon daily to share their time, talent and assets for the benefit of many churches and civic organizations that support many needy individuals in our communities,” he said. “These organizations are the fabric of thriving communities.”

“When we opened our business in Clayton in 1985, it was a much slower time and the volunteer spirit was everywhere. While the pace of our neighbor’s activities has sped up significantly, I believe the civic engagement I have enjoyed over the last 34 years is important and I will continue to encourage others to take part.”

No matter which hat he happens to be wearing.

For more information about the organization, visit www.hudsonshardware.com or call 919-553-3030.