MARCH, 1963
THE PIEDMONITOR
PAGE THREE
PtEDMONT PRESS NOTES
NORFOLK — The ground hog didn’t see his
shadow around ORF on February 2, reports Bob
Wylie, with the weather there being so foggy lately
you can’t see anything very clearly. Congratulations
are extended to F/0 John Best and former Stewardess
Eberly Smith, who were married the first of the year.
ORF’s bowling team is still in first place, says Bob, but
is holding forth by a slim one-game margin. A recent
holiday-er was Larry Redden, who spent several days
in the Sunshine State. A future date to keep in mind
—Norfolk’s International Azalia Festival in April.
CHARLOTTE-F — “CLT has had another wed
ding,” writes Johnny Newell. “Bobbie Rippy married
Eastern Agent Ray Holston on January 26. They
spent their honeymoon in Paris and had a wonderful
time. Another “tripping around” is Blanche Kuhlhoff
who is spending her holidays with her son and grand
daughter in Madison, Wis. Look for an announcement
from Bill Dunlap and Salem Beamer for spring. Our
training program in CLT is off to a wonderful start,
having had our last session in the training room at
the airport. We are delighted with the new schedules
for March, and are looking forward to the two F-27’s
back here and the new trip to CMH. Jean Winslow
and Madge Lanier came back from Paris via Air
France in great style. Soon the NRSA season will be
upon us and we’ll be looking for you all.”
AUGUSTA — Manager Dave Smith has been ex
periencing those “moving headaches,” but since he’s
now in his new home maybe they’ll be over soon. Chief
Agent Jack Cluck has started plans for his spring
planting — apple trees and rose bushes. Liberace re
cently rode Flight 65 to ATL and had 931 pounds of
excess. Anyone top this? A special event coming on
the AGS scene — the Master’s Tournament beginning
March 31.
RALEIGH-DURHAM — This communique comes
from J. P. Wheeler: “Old 40V looked mighty nice and
shiny as it pulled up to the ramp here on the last
scheduled DC-3 flight. It was good to have Mr. Davis
and his group passing through that day. Chester Nutt,
our Division Station Supervisor, found himself in a
strange predicament a few days ago. While he was
venturing out to visit his newly-acquired stations in
the northern division, RDU had seven inches of snow
and his trip was prolonged due to weather conditions
in the “sunny” south. Gene Shaw’s proposed Las
Vegas trip was postponed due to a change in our dates
for compensating days. However, Dale Dean got his
as scheduled and he and Mrs. Dean took off for the
West Coast. We were all saddened by the death of
Maurice Sinclair’s father. Maurice left Piedmont March
15 to take over his father’s motel and restaurant busi
ness. Any Piedmont employee in need of food and
lodging at Yaupon Beach, N. C., be sure to stop at the
Coastal Motel and Restaurant and the red carpet will
be rolled out.”
SHENANDOAH — SHD boardings saw a high for
February this time, due in part to new snow removal
equipment and fewer idle days due to weather. (Ed.
note—the boarding record mentioned for SHD last
issue was for the month of January only, not for the
year). Roger Greenlaw writes that Buddy Robinson
is back from his tour of Germany and says it was
a wonderful experience. Chief Agent Jim Dallas and
his family have Air France passes and plan to visit
Paris this summer. Agents Guy Rawley and Doelph
Pitcock passed the five-year mark last rnonth and are
looking forward to their pins. This gives SHD an
overall experience average of better than seven years
per man.
CHARLESTON — “The change in flight schedules
and a slight letup in bad weather helped CRW start
the month of March out with a bang,” writes Ruth
Shumate. “Selling has been spirited by new papa Bill
Grubbs. Mother Elinor had a girl, Tammie Lynne,
weighing seven pounds, two ounces. The last flight of
our faithful lady was met by all sorts of VIP’s from
CRW and the area. Never has any such event had so
much good publicity. A special passenger out of CRW
to HTS this month was Miss Laura Young, Miss Oc
tober of Playboy Magazine. She arrived from CLE to
board Piedmont — bunny suit and all. Our steak din
ner will be held May 14. Special to this day too is the
fact that it will be the 15th anniversary of service
into CRW. Enjoyed visiting with Irene Blake who was
enroute to NYC on an EAL plane that had a mechani
cal. It was one of our very busy evenings, and Irene
came to the rescue and worked a few messages and
answered some phones.”
WASHINGTON-CTO — Much happiness goes to
our DCA-CTO reporter, who has recently changed
from Miss Sauser to Mrs. Peggy Edmondson. Peggy
writes that DCA seems to be a place of promotions
and transfers lately. Bob Sudderth is off to TRI as
Sales Rep., Jeannie Dial has left for ROA, and F. L.
Burner has transferred to ILM as Lead Radio Man.
Get well wishes go to Duane Carpenter who recently
had a stay in the hospital. Washington is proud of
its recent on-time record of 72 per cent for the month
of February.
BLUEFIELD — Reporter Joe Robertson took the
week of the 15th to battle with the struggles of mov
ing into his new house. Other vacationers include
Adron Woodruff, who drove to Tampa in his new
“U-2” and then flew to Los Angeles and back. R. B.
Bennett took off to Tampa also to join relatives there.
The BLF crew is quite proud of their new Class A
station and invite everyone up to see them and their
“air-conditioned city.” With the spring travel season
coming up they’re looking to meet 1000 passengers a
month.
PULASKI — Manager Milt Ward has rid himself
of his dying Chrysler and replaced it with a new
Rambler, reports Glen Shanks. Glenn Walters and
Ronnie Price are back from their vacations. Both
dreamed of far-away places but neither made it out
of town. The wife of Agent Dan Love has returned
from the hospital after undergoing an operation and
is doing fine. Glen Shanks is still looking for a three-
bedroom house to buy or rent and has a two-bedroom
mobile home for sale. PSK saw a nice turnout for the
last DC-3 flight and some good publicity from it.
MYRTLE BEACH — This news comes from our
MBC reporter Gene Shore; “Everyone is down in the
dumps over the February passenger boardings. We
only boarded 159, which is really low we think. With
beach season around the corner we are hoping to get
our boardings up and are planning on records break
ing this summer. With all the new motels, hotels, res
taurants, and amusement attractions, we don’t think
anyone could find a more pleasant spot for vacation or
weekend trips. For beach lovers MBC is the spot. The
entire Grand Strand should be in swing by Easter
weekend. We’d like to welcome new Agent Wayne
West. He is a local boy and says he’s proud to be in
the Piedmont family.
PARKERSBURG-MARIETTA — The last flight of
“Peggy Pacemaker” was celebrated with the presence
of five Mayors from the five local cities served by
Piedmont, says Virg Flinn. There were approximately
100 people at Wood County Airport for the event, plus
many dignitaries from area businesses and Chambers
of Commerce. The station crew is now in the process
of celebrating their eighth year of service to PKB
with a window display at a Parkersburg bank. Agent
M. L. Oxley is transferring to AVL. His strong arm
will be missed at PKB but all feel “Big Mo” will be of
much use at Asheville.
LYNCHBURG — “The new tower at LYH is final
ly complete and in full operation,” reports Frank
Reynolds. “The old tower and terminal building are
being destroyed. We here at LYH feel we have an
other record which will go unbroken for some time—
that of moving 8800 pounds of cargo in a 24-hour
period. It really took some doing, as all flights had to
be reworked to accommodate on-going loads. Another
record we’re bragging about is a four-minute fuel
stop for an F-27, which with all due respect we feel
will go unbroken. Speaking of records, this northern
district will certainly have its fill of beef if we can
continue winning incentive award dinners. Just about
everyone in this district won on the last round. We
are glad to see C. R. Blackmon back at work after
being out for a couple of weeks with back trouble.
We’d like to welcome Larry Fuda to our staff. Larry
was formerly with Alleghany. And another bit of good
news — by the time this reaches the press. Manager
Ed Best should be a proud papa.”
RICHMOND — Marie Prillaman writes; “Anyone
have any ramp equipment that needs painting? RIC
does a real nice job, according to Mr. Turbiville. He
should know. He stood back and watched the Agents
here paint and repair two — yes, two — Hobart units,
knowing all along we were to keep only one unit!
Our office remodeling has been completed and looks
good. Seems everyone here has buying fever. Don
MacPherson and Jim Thompson are owners of new
homes, and Pete Grey, Gene Jarvis, and Bob Bullock
have new cars. Vacationers include Don MacPherson,
who went to Florida and battled seven tornadoes;
Addie May Lammey, who’s off for Saranac Lake,
N. Y.; plus Bob Bullock, Ken Edwards, Tom Farmer,
and Pete Grey.
ASHEVILLE — Speed fans Eddie Gabriel and
John Queen were off to the races at Daytona recently,
reports Naomi McGuinn. Washington holiday-ers in
clude Parm Johnson and his wife who had a reunion
with his father after many years, and Howard Meece
and his family. Evon Whitacre and husband Bill are
making hasty preparations for a trip to Europe via
Lufthansa. Manager Jack Gwennap has dropped a
vice, says Naomi. He’s smoking less and enjoying it
less, and is now eating more and enjoying it more.
Since he can’t seem to grow taller, he’s trying to get
wider.
CHARLOTTESVILLE — A warm welcome is ex
tended to new reporter Don Pierce, who writes that
by exceeding their quota by ten per cent or more dur
ing the past six months, another steak dinner is in
the making for CHO. For February they exceeded
quota by 200 passengers, an excellent start on the cur
rent period. Lance Anderson is congratulated for his
completion of two courses in first aid, making him a
qualified instructor. Because of his work he’s been
voted into the local Rescue Squad, quite an honor.
Deepest sympathy is extended to Manager Dick Mahn
and his family on the loss of Dick’s father February
10.
HICKORY — Reports Fred Classey: “Hickory
welcomed a special guest recently. Cleta Covington
paid a brief visit to interview HYK personnel and
photograph those Agents on duty at the time. Those
not on duty were interviewed by telephone. For the
interview the question asked was ‘What do you think
has been the greatest milestone in Piedmont’s history?’
Tom Pennell recently sold his house in Lenoir and
moved to Hickory where he is now much closer to
work. HKY was 26.34 per cent over passengers board
ings for the last six months of 1962 as compared to
the same period in 1961. All of us here hope we can
top that for the first six months of this year.”
CINCINNATI-F — Our CVG reporting duo, Elaine
Sturr and Bob Steppe, send congratulations to Stan
Gartner who is now the very happy father of a baby
girl. The Piedmont Employees Club there recently
held their annual election and steak dinner and desig
nated the following as officers: President, Jim Villella;
Vice President, Rose Ann O’Hara; Secretary, Jan
Tuemler; and Treasurer, Bob Steppe. Steppe, inci
dentally, on February 19 bowled a 644 series. Holidays
are the topic at CVG, with Steppe and A1 Anness
going to Florida, Villella going home, Charlene Seaver
journeying to Iowa, and Elaine Sturr off to New York.
ROCKY MOUNT — Frank Slone says “hats off” to
the local high school basketball team for winning the
Class 4-A championship. The school also won the foot
ball 4-A honors, so it’s a champion all around. Slone
had a hand in the win, since he has been coaching
the local city recreation department basketball team,
which finished first in regular season play. Joan, the
wife of Agent E. B. “Bo” Fields, gave birth to a seven
pound, five ounce girl March 10. They’re both fine,
and even the father is expected to survive. RMT’s
special dinner was planned for March 13, with every
one looking forward to it.
COLUMBIA — “We regret to say the March 1
schedule change meant a reduction in personnel,”
writes Flo Merritt, “and Ashlyn Hammett and Bill
Taylor will soon be rendering their service for Pied
mont in FLO. Recent holiday goers have been basking
in the Florida sun with Flo Merritt and son in Clear
water and Joe Frick in Ocala. Manager Bill O’Bryan
and his family returned recently from ROA. Barry
Hurley and his family are getting settled in a new
home. Belated congratulations to Agent Gary Callicoat
and his wife Kirsten on the arrival of their daughter,
Whitney Lynn, November 17, 1962. Construction has
finally begun on the lengthening of runways for the
long-awaited new airport.”
ATLANTA-O — There’s a new arrival at ATL in
the person of Agent D. A. Wilson, who transferred
there the first of March from CMH. K. W. Dennis has
returned from his holiday repayment and advises that
his wife is glad to see him back and out of the house.
ATL-0 has taken on DCA-0, says correspondent Tom
my Young, in an on-time departure race. This is to
see which station can have the least ramp delays on
all flights during April. Sounds like a good contest!
ATLANTA-R — This communique comes from
Peg Pequignot: “Vacations and transfers are the two
biggest news items this month. Louise Ramsey was
the lucky recipient of a five-day trip to Rome, com
pliments of TWA. Carol Watts journeyed to gay Paree
on the Air France interline weekend tour. Leonard
Martin has been getting up unusually early recently
to give those new golf clubs a workout. We have two
new Agents in reservations. Bernie Blair has trans
ferred from ATL-0, and we welcome Levy Heath who
has transferred from LYH. Iona Carr is returning to
ROA and yours truly is going back to CVG-C. We
exceeded quota again in February. We boarded 3619—
219 over quota. We’re working hard for a steak dinner
sometime soon. Sincere sympathy is extended Agent
Mack Culp on the recent loss of his father.”