PAGE THREE - THE COUGAR CRY, NOVEMBER IS, 1984
W.C.C. Singles
Ping-Pong
Tournament
On Thursday September 13th,
the annual Singles Ping-Pong
Tournament got underway. After
the elimination of many
contestants, the tournament grew
with excitement.
In the first round, Bradley
Stokes beat Bill McClean (21, 13).
(21, 16). In the second round
action Barry Triplett defeated
Bradon Stokes (21, 16), (21, 14). In
the third round Ronnie Walsh
defeated Ed Hamous (21, 18) to
(21, 19) and advanced to the
championship match to play
Bradley Stokes for the trophy. Tlie
match was filled with excitement
as it extended into 3 games with
Bradley, the singles tournament
winner for the second year in a
row. The scores of this game was
Bradley over Ronnie (21, 15).
Ronnie over Bradley (21, 18) and
the final match Bradley over
Ronnie (21, 12)
by: Barry Triplett
Fontana Village To Host 40th Reunion of Fontana Dam Construction
Workers
FONTANA DAM, N.C.-
Construction workers and
employees of the Tennessee Valley
Authority during the building of
Fontana Dam will convene at
Fontana Village Resort in
November for the 40th anniversary
of the completion of the massive,
480 foot structure.
The first reunion of its type since
the completion of the dam in 1945,
the workers will gather
November 6-8 at the Village that
once was home to some 5,000
men and women involved in the
wartime project.
“Many of the same buildings
and cottages that housed the
workers on the dam are still being
used here at Fontana,” said John
Watts, who organized the reunion
and is Director of Marketing for
Fontana Village. “We feel it will be
a memorable event for all who
labored on the project and we’re
looking for a great response.”
Watts said Fontana has been
working for more than a year on
the organization of this reunion. A
package rate of $75 per person (tax
included) will give former workers
two nights and three days at the
resort. Thisincludesall meals, with
dinner in the Cafeteria November
6, breakfast and lunch in the
Cafeteria November 7, a special
banquet dinner on November 7,
featuring George Kimmons as
guest speaker, and breakfast on
departure November 8th. Mr.
Kimmons was Director of
Construction on the Fontana
project.
In addition, a film documentary
of the construction will be shown,
tours of the Dam will be held, and
free use of mini and Par-3 golf will
be offered.
“This is our way of
commemorating the brave
workers who fought the
wilderness in building this Dam,”
Watts said. “To be built in the40’s
Fontana Dam is an architectural
marvel.”
Indeed it is doubtful if any
concrete dam as large as Fontana
was ever constructed in so short a
time. TTiree years after work began
in 1942, its first generator was
contributing 67,500 kw of power
for national defense. A second
generator started a few weeks later.
Finally a third 67,500 kw generator
was installed, and Fontana
reached an output capacity of
75,000 kw per hour, making it one
of the main sources of power for
Western North Carolina and East
Tennessee.
On December 17, 1941,
Congress authorized construction
of the Dam. Construction actually
began on January 2, 1942 on what
was then the fourth highest and
largest concrete dam in the world.
TTie mixing plant contained five
mixers of fourcubic yardscapacity
each, and the conveyor lines
stretched for over two miles. On
February 26, 1943, the first
concrete was placed, and in July
1944 a concrete placing record was
made when 10,755 cubic yards
were poured and placed in 24
hours. One eight-hour shift placed
3,828 cubic yards with an hourly
average of 479 cubic yards per
hour. On April 3, 1944, the last
concrete form was filled, and the
huge spillways were placed. On
November 7, 1944 the dam was
“closed.” Finally, on January 18,
1945, the number one unit was
placed in commercial operation
and on March 21, 1945, unit
number two went to full power.
Fontana Dam is located on
Little Tennessee River in North
Carolina’s Swain and Graham
counties. It is 1/2 mile upstream
from the head of Cheoah l^ke; 20
air miles west of Bryson City,
North Carolina; and 6 and 3/4
miles east of the North Carolina-
Tennessee line.
Watts added that names of
former workers and their
addresses are still being sought.
For further information about the
reunion, contact Fontana Village
at (704) 498-2211 ext. 257, or toll
free 1-800-438-808, outside of
North Carolina and east of the
Mississippi.
Army’s Newest
Incentive Is Its
College Fund
Charlotte, N.C. — A recent
increase in the Army College Fund
(ACF) has direct application to
college students by offering them a
way to accrue money to meet the
costs of completing their higher
education.
The monetary return a two-year
college graduate gets for devoting
just two years to army service can
result in direct payments of
SH.17.50 per month lor 24academic
months; a four-year enlistment
nets $733.33 monthly for 36
academic months.
The United States Army is
actively seeking the finest young
men and women foractive military
service and recognizes the value of
having soldiers who have achieved
a two-year degree.
lo acquaint students with the
benefits and opportunities
available through army enlistment
an Army College Recruiting Team
is vi'iiting college campuses. Ihe
team was at Wilkes Community
College on Monday, Nov. 5, to
interview students beginning at 9
a.m.
The team is headed by Captain
Wayne Davies, a 1979 gradute of
Western Carolina University.
Initially an enlisted service-
member. Captain Davies joined
the R.O.r.C. and was the
distinguished military graduate of
his class. An army aviator, he has
served at Fort Bragg, Fort Rucker
and in Korea.
According to Davies, students
will have an opportunity to gain a
deeper insight into Army life
through the use of computerized
equipment, including a video
display and information
processing system.
"We will show two to three
minute video segments depicting
army training and benefits, giving
an accurate picture of what the
Army is really like." Davies said.
“Finding the right job for the
right person reduces any possible
job-related frustrations and
disillusionments,” Davies said.
“We will provide individualized
printouts, summarizing financial
benefits,” he added.
Two-year college graduates are
offered an advanced promotion
when they enlist in the Army,
meaning entry at a higher grade
level-and more pay. The monthly
pay for a single person is $695;
$ 1077, if married.
“From their monthly pay, a
voluntary contribution to the
Veterans Education Assistance
Program (VEAP) of up to $100 per
month begins their educational
nest-egg,” Daves said.
Under the VEAP the soldier’s
voluntary contribution is matched
by the government on a two-for-
one basis. To the maximum
contribution of $2400 which is
matched by the government’s
$4800, the Army will add the new
incentive of $12,900 which makes
it possible for a soldier during a
two-year enlistment to accrue
$20,100 for college.
A four-year enlistment reaches
$26,400 by the soldiercontributing
a maximum of $75 monthly for 36
months, matched on a two-for-one
basis and augmented by the
Army’s new incentive of $18,300.
“This is an exceptionally good
return on the soldier’s basic
investment," Davies said. “And the
ACF benefits can be used for any
educational program which is
approved by the Veteran’s
Administation,” he added.
To participate in the ACF, one
must score above 50 on the Armed
Forces Qualification Test, be
enlisting for the first time and
choose one of a number of selected
Military Occupation Specialties
(MOS). Many of these MOS offer
cash bonuses, usually paid upon
successful completion of training.
The amounts vary, dependent
upon the specific MOS and the
length of enlistment, from $1,500
to $8,000.
“We are not encouraging
students to drop out of college,"
Davies said. “We are encouraging
them to think about enlisting
through the Army’s Delayed Entry
Program which allows them to
enlist now, but not leave for duty
until after they graduate. This
assures them that they will get the
training of their choice and gives
them up to a year before they
report for training,” Davies said.
“Students who talk with us and
get their individualized printout
are under no obligation to enlist,”
Davies concluded.
Society for the
Historical Pre
servation of the
26th North
Carolina Troops,
Inc.
The Society for the Historical
Preservation of the 26th North
Carolina Troops, Inc., is a
statewide non-profit, tax-exempt
organization dedicated to the
continued research into the history
of this most famous regiment,
which honorably served in the
Army of Northern Virginia during
the War between the States. The
Society is also engaged in the
preservation of property relating
to that era of our history. Recently,
the Society successfully pressed for
funds from the NC General
Assembly to restore the North
Carolina monument at Gettys
burg.
To accomplish the goal of
fostering public understanding of
the role of the regiment during the
war, the Society sponsors a re
enactment unit that participates in
living history demonstrations,
battle re-enactment and
encampments at national, state
and local parks. The fully
uniformed members of this re
activated unit strive to provide an
authenic impression for the public
in regards to the everyday life of
the common soldier during the
Civil War.
The original regiment was
composed of 10 companies of 100
men each. Men from Ashe, Wilkes,
Caldwell, Union, Anson, Moore
Chatham and Wake counties
rallied to the call of their State and
fought in many severe battles and
campaigns.
Tlie Society for the Historical
Preservation of the 26th NC
Troops currently has re-enact
ment units representing
Companies F & I. Efforts are now
underway to establish re-activated
units in each of the above counties
which originally provided troops
to the regiment. Requirements for
joining the Society as a uniformed
member can be obtained from the
local representative provided
below. All uniforms and equip
ment needed can be obtained
through unit sources and are tax
deductable.
We encourage persons in Wilkes
County and the surrounding area
who are sincerely interested in this
period of our history to join the
ranks of Company C, which was
formed locally. Enjoy a unique
way to experience life in the I860’s.
It’s part of your hentage.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT:
Cpl. Dale Sherrill
Rt. 3, Box 241D
Taylorsville, N.C. 28681
Home: (704) 632-5739
looooooociocooooooeosoooooecoooooooooooocoooooooc
I pooocooooc
X: UNKNOWN QUANTITY
Wilhelm Roentgen is remember
ed because he discovered rays of
something that could penetrate
metal as well as human flesh and
leave a record of that penetration
upon a photographic plate. It was
valuable, therefore, for both
medicinal and commercial
purposes.
But what does one call such
amazing rays?
When Roentgen reported his
discovery to the Physicomedical
Society of Wurzburg in Nov. 1895,
reporters asked him if the rays
were composed of light or
electricity. Roentgen replied that
the rays were neither.
“Then, how do you explain it?”
asked one.
“I don’t know,” replied
Roentgen, and he concluded, “X
stands for the unknown, the
invisible. So I... call it the X ray.”
REMEMBER!
“How come you know so much
stuff?” said the student to the
professor.
“I’ve asked questions all my
life,” replied the professor.
“So have I,” said the student,
“and I still don’t know anything.”
“Make an effort, then,” said the
professor, “to remember the
Politics, 1984
• Politics is the art of saying
sweet somethings.
• Vote for me. I need a job.
• This government of the people
cannot be for those people who
neglect to vote.
• Run for office. Get to your
desk on time!
• The fault is not in our stars -
but in our politicians.
• In a planned society, the
government answers the questions
of the people. In a free society, the
people question the answers of the
government.
• Be an informed citizen. Vote
no on propositions.
• The New Deal has been dealt..
The Old Deal has been dealt. ..
The Square Deal has been dealt...
The Fair Deal has been dealt.. The
Bare Deal has been dealt . . . The
Raw Deal has been dealt... Even
No Deal has been dealt ... Oh
where, oh where is the Honest Deal
• Bad politicians are elected by
good people who don’t bother to
vote.
• Vote for Khomeini! He kept us
from giving more foreign aid to
Iran.
• Said Plato: “The punishment
of wise men who refuse to take part
in affairs of government is to live
under the government of unwise
men.”
• Any politician who can’t strike
oil within five minutes of a speech
had better quit boring.
• If you would like to know
more about your ancestors, run for
political office and your opponents
will tell you.