Newspapers / Firestone News (Gastonia, N.C.) / March 1, 1971, edition 1 / Page 3
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Some Mondays Are Brighter Than Others A procession of animal critters has paid unscheduled visits to the Firestone Gastonia plant across the years—among them a wandering pig, a skunk, a ’possum, a mama cottontail and her babies; and of course, any number of dogs, cats and kit tens. Back in the days of the old water pond, ducks and geese often decided to “take up” resi dence. But Feb. 22 was the first time ever that a monkey decided to "tour" the facilities. Scott McCarter of the shop coaxed a ringtail monkey from one of the fabric-treating units and gave him the security of a cage which was iias.tily devised. Of the simian visitor, stories went about fast. “You see what I just saw?” asked one woman of her neigh bor on the job. ONE TALL hilarity had the animal “doffing twisters until his curiosity led him to another job.” Plant visitor Chico with friend McCarter. The ringtail examin ed a shuttle quill, and moments earlier was introduced to a pair of ear protectors for noise safety in industry. Went one rumor: “A strange, unauthorized visitor is wander ing hereabouts.” “There’s a super - size rat jumping through a window into the weave room,” the word went around. As the red-brown ringtale— hardly more than a foot high— romped down an aisle between machines, one man on his job yelled: “Now I’ve seen it ALL!” And everybody around stopped a moment to get an unbelieving look. • The industrial relations de partment sent out a “missing animal” radio bulletin. Within a few hours Chico was back home with his.keeper, Earl Bragg, The, monkey’s week-end adventure in the plant had begun when he decided to wander from the parked car in front of the Braggs’ house on W. Sixth Ave nue. The Braggs acquired two- year-old Chico on a vacation trip to Miami. These Retired since jan. i When Fred E. Deal officially finished his work career at the Gastonia Firestone plant Feb. 1, his relatives helped make the occasion even more memorable by giving him a party at Ray’s house. (Ray is Fred’s son). What’s more, they’d baked a giant celebration cake which was a striking likeness of the Firestone plant. The tasty repro duction was colored to look like the red walls, and white icing gave the mill windows a “night- shift” glow. Deal is one of four who re tired here since Jan. 1, each having at least 35 years of serv ice. The others are Hattie E. Stacy, Tom Snipes and Oliver M. Taylor. SINCE the new year began, there were 10 others who closed long work careers here, and rep resenting service records of from 16 to 31 years. All 14 of them marked up a total 404 years (11 of them had some months service beyond the year figures listed here). Those with 16 to 31 years and retiring here during January and February: Dixie M. Brockman, 28; R. B. Burleson, 28; Otho Chambers, 31; Royal G. Chandler, 16; Edith P. Colvard, 18; Otto Davis, 28; Curbie McGhee, 30; Mable Han na, 31; Arlecy H. Hogan, 23; Raymond Varnadore, 26. Looking Ahead • Deadline for filing income tax returns: April 15. • April: Beginning of 37th anniversary year of Firestone Textiles in Gastonia. • National Mailbox Improve ment Week; May 2-8. Rural Firestone families make this yearly observance an opportun ity to improve their mail de livery service, add attractive touches to the roadside and ex hibit citizenship pride. • These worth considering as stops on your upcoming vacation travels: Lion’s Club American World Rodeo at Jasper, Texas, May 14-16; NC Coastal Festival at Morehead City, May 20-23. Parades, air shows, displays of ships; other events. Families of NC servicemen missing in ac tion or prisoners of war will be honored guests. Tire$tone SilWi recent bloodbank DONORS At the Red Cross blood collection at Firestone Recreation Center in February, 153 pints were added to the regional bloodbank. The majority of productive donors were Fire stone people, and the others mostly from the plant com munity. The mobile unit visit in Feb ruary was the first of two stops a year at the Firestone location. Ralph Johnson, manager of industrial relations, is coordi nator of the plant’s continuing blood-donor project. F. B. Gal- ligan, division factory manager, is chairman of the Gaston Coun ty Red Cross blood program. People who gave at the Feb ruary visit here: A & B David Adams, Jer ry Alford, Arthur Allen, Charles F. Allen, Larry B. Baker, Lu cille Baker, Stephens G. Barber, Donna Barker, J. C. Barnes, Glenn H. Bell, Harry Bell, Robert H. Blalock Jr., Ralph Bolding, Carroll G. Boulware, Nancy Bradley, John D. Bridge- man, David R. Britton, Robert C. Brumley, James G. Burr, Gladys Butler, John E. Butts, Ida W. Byers. C, D & E Helen D. Cal lahan, Frank E. Capps, Johnny G. Carpenter, Melvin W. Car penter, Cornelia Carringer, Ray mond R. Cline, Paul G. Clonin- ger, Gradie C. Cook, Minnie Cook, Christine Cooper, James E. Coxey, Eva Nell Crawford, Samuel E. Crawford, Dezaree Crisp, Edward A. Crisp, Gary B. Crisp, Eugene Crumpton, Earl A. Cunningham, Ralph Dal ton, Fred J. Davis, Roy L. Da vis, James G. Dixon Jr., June B. Dobbins, Marcus L. Dobbins, Bobby J. Duncan, Larry G. Dun can, Russell S. Duren, John E. Elmore. F, G&H Jack W. Faile, Jack E. Faile, Bernie R. Farmer, Nora F. Flanagan, Ira Foote, Morrison E. Ford, William H. Ford, Ronald L. Franks, Wil liam H. Galloway, Steve Gam mons, Dorothy Goodson, Thomas A. Grant, Betty J. Green, Ross Gregory Jr. Robert F. Hager, Charles W. Hamrick, James L. Haney, Fred A. Hardee, Sandra Hargrove, Joseph R. Harrison, Jesse E. Harwell, Dlyde H. Hayes Jr., William J. Herndon Jr., George C. High, Hazel Holloway, Ray mond J. Hoots, Theron D. Hous er, David L. Huffstetler, Louise M. Huffstetler, Ronald H. Hus key. J, K, Li & M Alene A. Jackson, Thomas L. Jackson, Roosevelt Jamison, Ronnie L. Jarvis, Bertha Jolly, Herschel Jordan, Vivian P. Jordan, Charles R. Keaton, Lennell Keenum, Sandra G. Keenum, Alfred C. Kessell, Mason King, W. Jerry Kirby, Sylvester Lind say, Nova H. Lowe, Samuel T. Lowery, Charles R. Lunsford, Archie Lynn. John W. McAllister, David G. McCarver, A. D. McCarter, Helen L. McCarter, Clarence McCombs, Marvin W. McCurry, Cramer J. McDaniel, Henry M. McDaniel, Harvey A. McDon ald, Juanita McDonald, Nathan McFalls, William McGinnis, Earl W. McMillan, James R. McMil lan, Richard A. McMillan, Em- mitt McNeil, James C. Martin, YMCA Busy Bee Day Nursery March, 1971 Page 3 Need a good place to “bu^v’' your youngster during working days? The Gaston County YMCA Busy Bee Day Nursery provides physical and mental development for children who must spend most of the day away from home. During the weekday nursery hours, 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., chil dren are directed in fun projects, games and other activities. A recently-added physical program in the Y gym conducts daily classes in tumbling, tram poline, rythms, organized games of ball and other play. If par ents request, children are pro vided swimming instruction. The outside fenced-in play area is well-equipped for use when weather is suitable. Leon, Deon & Kin Come Dec. 17, this year, Leon and Deon Dunn will celebrate their third birth anniversary. The twin brothers are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Dunn of Gastonia. On their family tree are some people—current ly employed at the Gastonia Firestone plant— with close to 109 years of service. The twins’ grandfather is James M. Smith Jr., who has 25 years service; and the grandmother, Mrs. (Wilma) Smith, with an almost 20-year em ployment record. Both are in TC twisting (ply). Leon and Deon’s maternal great grandmother, Mrs. John H. (Mamie) Stevens of TC twisting (ply) has 29 years service. The boys’ paternal great grandfather, James M. Smith Sr., has al most 35 years service. He is in carding. Additional information; Ask of the Y at 615 W. Franklin Blvd., or call 865-8551. Benjamin F. Massey, John R. Mercer, Miles T. Michaels, Jerry I. Mitchell, John S. Mitchell, Collie B. Moore. N, O, P, Q & R Bobby D. Neal, Paul D. Neal, David Nichols, William D. O’Neal, Mattie Passmore, Gor don C. Patterson, Betty A. Phillips, Billy G. Phillips, Claude D. Phillips, Henry Phillips, Charlie M. Plyler, John Porter, Alfred J. Queen, Bobby R. Queen, Colin L. Quinn, Christo pher L. Rabb, James L. Ramey, James R. Reel, Kathryn Rhyne, Alvin V. Riley, Jerry D. Rim- mer, Harold M. Robinson, Bar bara J. Rogers, Bobby A. Rog ers, Roger G. Rosser. S, T, W & Y LukeF. Sadler, Larry W. Sanders, Betty Sawyer, Dorsel J. Saylor, Wil liam C. Shull, Bertha Sosebee, Pauline Spencer, Larry H. Ste vens, Elton L. Still, Buster Stiles, Chester M. Tate, John L. Thomas, Clyde Thomasson, Wil liam Tomerlin, Robert C. Turn er, Thomas W. Turner, Franklin D. Walls, Ray Whisnant Jr., Floyd H. Whitaker, Tracy Whitener, Brady L. Whitesides, Mary M. Whitesides, Paul C. Whitfield, Coy Willard, George D. Williams, Eula Wilson, John A. Wilson, Thomas Yelton. Speech Winner Barry Robinson won his fourth trophy in February for being top orator in the Gastonia Evening Optimist Club’s speak ing competition. He spoke on the Optimist-designated subject, “This I Believe.” Barry, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Robinson, is an honor student in the 10th grade at Hunter Huss High School. His father is warehouse manager at Firestone. Besides being a four-time winner locally, Barry once won on the zone level and advanced to section level in the national Optimist Club speaking com petition. Looking back on 1970: The Firestone company last year made charitable contributions amounting to $1,732,662, with more than half this money going to higher education. Aids to education included direct grants to institu tions, association grants, employee gifts-matching, fellowships, scholarships, cost-of-education supple ments, special programs, minority training programs, and the Army’s “Operation Transition” (job place ment for mustered-out servicemen). Other gifts were to hospitals and health research, community and citizen participation, United Funds, humanities and fine arts; and local contributions by plants. The twins have a great-great grandmother liv ing—adding up to five generations. She is Mrs. Addie Johnson, Mrs. Stevens’ mother.
Firestone News (Gastonia, N.C.)
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March 1, 1971, edition 1
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