To mark Eco King Solutions’ decision to locate its international company in Robbinsville, NC, a Cherokee Ant Mask carved by Billy Welch was presented as a thank-you gift. In that single piece of carved wood are layers of connection between culture and commerce, history and reinvention, and the people who have shaped this place across generations.
“This gift was more than a gesture of appreciation to Eco King.”
Who Is Billy Welch?
Billy is a nationally recognized artist whose works are displayed at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian and is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Billy’s path as a master carver began humbly and locally. His roots go back to the former Stanley Furniture building in Robbinsville, where he taught himself the art of carving traditional Cherokee masks, using scrap wood left behind on the factory floor.
It was there that Billy refined his craft, earned his living, and met his wife, and now that same factory stands renewed as Eco King’s facility, carrying forward a legacy of work, creativity, and community.
Cherokee Ant Mask History
In Cherokee Tradition, the ant represents hard work, perseverance, and a strong, cooperative spirit. The Cherokee Ant Mask symbolizes the power of small individual actions coming together to create something strong, enduring, and that progress isn’t achieved alone, but through working together for the common good.
A Lasting Symbol of Partnership
This gift was more than a gesture of appreciation to Eco King. It’s a reflection of Robbinsville’s story—a community that honors its past, values its people, and embraces partners who contribute to a shared future.
