By Mary Jekielek Insprucker

You won’t find folks rocking to her music in a nightclub or her album at the top of the charts. However, Grammy winners may be envious of North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall’s Gold Record. The Recording Industry of America presented Marshall with a special addition of its Gold Record Award in honor of her work to fight music piracy in North Carolina.

Some may not even realize the scope of duties the Secretary of State’s office encompasses. Under its guard, the department watches over trademarks and the enforcement of laws aimed at stopping the manufacturing of counterfeit brand name products. In fact, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) presented Marshall with a plaque honoring her efforts in this area.

Marshall, who in 1996 became the first woman ever elected to a statewide North Carolina executive branch office and is now in her third term as North Carolina Secretary of State, learned down on the farm the essence of responsibility.

Born in 1945 and growing up in Maryland, her first serious charge was hardboiled. “My specific job was to grade, wash, and get eggs ready for market,” said Marshall, who said her tomboy nature would have preferred, “mucking out the stables.”

Elaine F. Marshall

Teaching home economics at North Lenoir High School, Lenoir Community College, and Johnston Technical School was her first career after college. Her talents with design, color, and fabrics lead her to start her own decorating business. It was actually a form of exasperation that led Marshall into the field of law. “I was frustrated with laws affecting women,” she said, adding the divorce laws at the time were horrible for women. “I applied for a line of credit for the shop and bankers only wanted to talk to my husband. I felt very second class citizen like.”

Therefore, when the wife of a law school dean came to her shop for decorating services, Marshall was primed when the two spoke of a law career. Once she spoke to the dean of Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, it was a done deal. “He stimulated interest in politics and law,” said Marshall. “He hit a chord with me and encouraged me.”

While an attorney in Harnett County, Marshall also tackled major civic needs that surrounded her. She served on the county’s United Way Board of Directors for 10 years, directing a wide range of aide to families in that area. “There was no United Way in the county at the time, so it was challenging and stimulating,” said Marshall, who addressed domestic, sexual assault, dysfunctional family, child concerns, and other related problems she saw.

Prompted by these and other issues, she knew she could make a difference. Marshall put in a bid for North Carolina state senator. “I was always interested in politics,” said Marshall. “I was involved in student government in high school and college and active in campaigns. In my work as a lawyer I was problem solving, but on a one-on-one basis. Rather than one-on-one, I went into legislature so I could do things on a larger scale.”

When a reelection bid for senator in 1994 failed, she could have left the government arena. “If I would have quit politics, no one would blame me,” said Marshall, who holds seats on the Boards of the N.C. 4-H Development Foundation, and Masonic Home for Children. “But I knew I was good in legislature.” Therefore, when political operatives approached her concerning the Secretary of State, she answered the call.

Unlike some states, the Secretary of State of North Carolina does not oversee motor vehicles or elections. Instead, they are heavily involved in other areas. “I have law enforcement authority for trademark infringement,” said Marshall who added,” we get leads on counterfeit music and DVDs, which has become a popular cottage industry. This is the new cocaine – the new cash crop.”

Marshall guards most heavily against safety related counterfeiting such as non-protective sunglasses and defective Christmas lights. She said people think counterfeiting can sometimes be a victimless crime but points out that in addition to its dangers, many counterfeit rings are supporting such organizations as Al-Queda.

One of her proudest achievements, in addition to lobby reform, are her strides in technology for the department, for which she has received many awards. “The agency was operating with clip boards and filing cabinets when I came here,” Marshall said, which is not acceptable when you consider the purpose of the department as a record keeping agency.

Where did she think she would be at 50? “I thought I would be a schoolteacher or a 4-H agent.”