A native of Waynesville, NC, Joe Sam Queen has an an extensive past of serving North Carolinians. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a Master in Architecture in 1974, and he has become a successful architect, farmer, and businessman.

Queen’s involvement and leadership in civic activities are evident in the numerous community boards that he has served on, including the Appalachian Music and Dance Preservation Society, Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation, and Folkmoot USA. He has also served as president of several boards such as Haywood 2000, Voices in the Laurel Youth Choir, the Smoky Mountain Folk Festival and the Haywood County Arts Council. Furthermore, Queen dedicates time as a member to the Downtown Waynesville Association, Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, Waynesville Historical Society, Leadership Giving Circle of United Way, and the Waynesville Rotary. Although not all-inclusive, this list shows how broad Queen’s community and professional commitments and engagements are.

While serving in office Queen took seriously his responsibilities as an elected official and initiated innovative legislation. While he was the Senator representing the 47th district, which constitutes Avery, Haywood, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties, Queen pursued solutions to improve conditions for his constituents and North Carolinians as a whole. He continues to work toward a better educated and more cohesive state through his efforts.

Queen is also a devoted husband and father. His wife, Dr. Kate Queen, is a Rheumatologist, his daughter Sara is a graduate of North Carolina State University’s School of Design and is now an intern architect, and his son, Charlie, is a student at the NC School of Science and Math.