Percy Flowers

Joshua Percy Flowers (1903–1982) was a moonshining kingpin during the middle of the twentieth century. He operated a moonshining empire from his 5,000-acre (20 km2) farm in Johnston County, North Carolina. During the 1950s and 1960s, he was indicted ten times by federal grand juries, and eighteen times at the state level on various charges related to the illegal production of alcoholic beverages and tax evasion. He was well connected in the local community, being a deacon at his church and a contributor to local politicians, and all of the indictments except for one resulted in acquittals, small fines, or suspended sentences. He is reputed to have made over a million dollars a year with his moonshining operation. His "occupation" was well known in the local community, but for the most part, local authorities turned a blind eye to his illegal activities. At one point he was producing alcohol on such a large scale that he purchased sugar by the train-car load.

In 1957 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms launched an investigation of Flowers. The trial, in 1958, ended in a mistrial. However, he still faced prosecution at a local level in Johnston County. He entered a "no plea" to the charges and was sentenced to a $150 fine and 18 months in prison. The prison sentence was later reduced to 12 months.

In recent years, Rebecca Flowers, Mr. Flowers' daughter, has developed Percy's 5,000-acre (20 km2) farm in Johnston County into a planned community with neighborhoods, a golf course, and shopping. Its location along the banks of the Neuse River has made it a prime real estate location. "Flowers Plantation", as it is known, is one of the fastest growing areas in North Carolina.

The unincorporated community of Flowers, North Carolina is named after Percy Flowers.