Wayne Horne, originally from Lumberton, began his career in government as a tax collector and assistant to the city manager in the late 1960s. He then dedicated 30 years to serving as the Town Manager of Red Springs before taking on the role of city manager for the City of Lumberton in 2005. Horne holds a degree in business administration from Pembroke State University, as well as a master's in administrative services from East Carolina University. He also obtained an associate degree in civil and sanitary engineering from Fayetteville Technical Institute. In 1984, he received the Outstanding Manager Award from the Lumber River Council of Governments, and then was awarded The Region “N” Manager of the Year in 2021.