Margaret Highsmith Dickson is a life-long resident of Fayetteville. She received her BA in 1971 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA, and also did her graduate work in Communications at UNC-CH.

For 25 years, Margaret was a driving force behind Cape Fear Broadcasting, a multi-million dollar company that grew to employ over 250 men and women. At Cape Fear Broadcasting and other related family businesses, Margaret worked--- as many do in a family-own business---at many positions in the company. Currently, Margaret serves as the Secretary/ Treasurer of Cape Fear Broadcasting Company, Fayetteville, NC

In 2002, Margaret ran successfully for a seat in the North Carolina General Assembly. She is currently serving her third term in the House of Representatives.

During her first term in the GA, Margaret served on committees that tackled tough issues:
House Interim Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, Foster Care, and Adoption, the House Select Committee on Domestic Violence, the Joint Select Committee on Economic Growth and Development, the House Interim Committee on Expanding Rail Service, the House Blue Ribbon Task Force on Medical Malpractice, the House Select Committee on Street Gang Prevention, and the Study Commission on Worker Retraining.

In her second term, Margaret chaired the influential Education Subcommittee on Universities and was selected to serve on the House Select Committee on the Lottery, which created the North Carolina Education Lottery.

Margaret served on the Joint Legislative Corrections, Crime Control, and Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee, where she introduced tough legislation that guarded our children from predators, protected women from domestic abuse and strengthened the domestic violence laws.

As a member of the House Standing Committee on Military, Veterans and Indian Affairs, Margaret was the prime sponsor of the 2005 Military Support Act, a measure which afforded our military, and their families, an honorable quality of life. She also sponsored legislation to give military families instate tuition at North Carolina community colleges and universities.

In the current session, Margaret is chairs the House Committee on Commerce, Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the University Board of Governors Nominating committee.

Only 26% of the North Carolina General Assembly is made up of women, and Margaret’s leadership, dedication and political savvy has made her a model legislator and mentor for other women in public office.

In the community, Margaret’s service is equal to her service at the General Assembly. She currently serves on the Board of Directors, Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation, and is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville. She is on the Board of Directors for the Cumberland County Education Foundation, and a member of Networth and the Cumberland County League of Women Voters. And, community members can read Margaret’s weekly column in Up & Coming Magazine.

Margaret’s past community activities include serving on boards for Cumberland County Business Council, the Carolina Horse Park, and the State Capitol Foundation, Inc. Margaret also served on the Executive Committee of the Fayetteville State University Foundation, on the Board of Visitors at UNC-Chapel Hill Member of the Legislative Research Commission’s Study Committee on the Impact of Military Bases on Public Services and Taxes, Board of Directors, Cumberland Community Foundation, Trustee of the Fayetteville Museum of Art, Member of the Board of Visitors, St. Mary’s College, Board of Directors, Fayetteville Kiwanis Club, and PTA Treasurer and various school volunteer positions.

Margaret’s efforts to mentor other women are most noteworthy. She was a long-standing member of the Junior League and she was a steady force behind the Rape Crisis center in Fayetteville. Margaret works tirelessly with women who have political aspirations through Lillian’s List of North Carolina, an organization dedicated to supporting women who want to run for public office. She is also a frequent public speaker to young women and student groups around the state, offering them supervision, guidance in the public service arena, and cultivating their leadership potential.

In 2007, Margaret was awarded the Cumberland County Business Center’s prestigious Athena Award, given to her for her work in helping to support the goals of professional women.

Finally, writing about Margaret would not be complete without mentioning her family. She is married to District Court Judge John Dickson, has three terrific children—Wyatt, Bright and Seavy, and will soon have a lovely daughter-in-law, Caroline.