We acquire the strength which we have overcome.—Emerson. Tir«$lon« GASTONIA Goodness is the only investment that never fails.—Thoreau. VOLUME IV GASTONIA, N. C., AUGUST 25, 1955 NUMBER 15 O THESE EMPLOYEES, who completed 20 years’ service with the Company in August Were photographed with the General Manager and other representatives of management who Were present for the awarding of 20-year pins and watches, August 16. Front row, from left: Vina D. Robinson, Spool ing; General Manager Harold Mercer; Norma Beaver, Weaving; Robert Davis, Spinning; Rose- velt Rainey, Warehouse. Back row; W. G. Henson, Sr., Plant Engineer; Wade H. Stiles, Rayon Twisting; Julius C. Wilson, Shop; William B. Buchanan, Rayon Weaving; Francis B. Galligan, Superintendent of the Cotton Division; Clyde Moss, Sr., Assistant to the General Superintendent and Frank W. Davis, of the Cotton Department. Not present for the photograph were, Jim Bates, Carding; William S. Guffey, Spinning; and Myrtle Bradley, Main Office. Indian Educator Visits Firestone Plant Miss Shiva Dua, a staff member of the Women’s College of the University of Delhi, India, went on a conducted tour of the plant here August 10. Miss Dua, honorary secretary of the All-India Women’s Cultural Food Council, is in the United States studying cafeterias and their operation. The information she collects on her visits in Kentucky, Iowa, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania through October 5, will be used for improvement of cafeterias in schools and universities in India. The visitor, who has been in this country since June 5, was much impressed by her tour of the plant. “Most fascinating and instructive” was her comment. On this, her first trip to the United States, Miss Dua “liked the country fine” and thought that Gas- tonians were “very friendly,” MISS SHIVA DUA of Delhi, India, chats with Canteen Manager Luther Foy, during her recent visit to Firestone. 20-Year Employees Get Pins, Watches To honor them for having completed a score of years’ service with the Company, General Manager Harold Mercer presented pins and watches to those employees who became eligible for the awards during August. The presentations were made August 16 in the plant conference room. Assisting Mr. Mercer were department heads and others of plant management in whose depart ments the 20-year persons are employed. Those honored on August 16 brought the number of 20- year record holders to 128, representing a total of 2,560 years of service to the Company. Plant Officer, Section Man Aid Hurricane-Stricken Coast Plant Officer Charles M. Fergu son is beginning to think that fate is gearing his annual vacations to coincide with hurricanes off the coast of the Carolinas. Last Oc tober during his vacation, as an officer in the Civil Air Patrol, Ferguson found himself giving emergency communications aid in the wake of Hurricane Hazel. This year he spent another vaca tion on the job as a communica tions officer during the fury of Connie and Diane. FERGUSON, a Major in the CAP and North Carolina Communi cations Officer for that organiza tion, was accompanied to the hur ricane area by First Lieutenant John W. Freeman, CAP, section man in the Spinning Department here; and Major C. F. Rose, com mander of the Gastonia squadron of the CAP. These men followed Hurricane Connie up the coast from Wilming ton to Morehead City, then on to New Bern, where communications —Turn to Page 2 Youngsters Eat Watermelon At Closing Of Playground A watermelon feed for the youngsters brought to a close the summer season of the Firestone playground, Wednesday, August 17, The treat was given by the Rec reation Department, in coopera tion with the playground super visors. The recreation area, between Franklin and Second in front of the plant, is operated during the summer season by the City of Gas tonia, as a public playground fa cility. It is opened soon after the schools close each spring. AT BOTTOM LEFT—Dozens of youngsters enjoyed the swings, seesaws, ping pong and a final dip in the pool on the closing day of the playground season. Then, as a fitting conclusion, they set at naught a supply of one of South Carolina’s most famous products. MIDDLE—Joe Bill Green figured the popular Southern berry was right palatable all the day down to the bottom. RIGHT—Sherry Queen brought Brother Michael along. Both appeared to agree that the trip was worth-while.