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GA DEMOCRAT
An Independent Weekly Newspaper . . . Seventy-Sixth Year of Continuous Publication
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BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, IMS 10 CENTS PER COPY 20 PAGES ? 3 SECTIONS
University Of Grandfather Mountain
Dr. H. R. Totten, nationally known botanist from the Uni
versity of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, moved his Botany
135 class to the peaks of Grandfather Mountain this week
for a special study of tree* and shrub* at hiih elevations.
The group also engaged in botanical inspections at Cling
man's Dome and Mount Mitchell. Next week their field
trips will take them to North Carolina's Coastal Plain.
J. W. NORJUS
J. W. Norris
Is Named To
Vet Position
J. W. Norris, retired Boone
postal employee, and long-time
leader In American Lesion ac
tivities has been named Watauga
County Veterans Service Officer
by the County Commissioners,
and has entered upon bis new
(inties in the new office formerly
used by the county agent.
Mr. Norris succeeds l.ionel
Ward, who died recently.
A native Watauga county citi
zen, Mr. Norris worked aa a
dierk la the Boone postofHce far
thirty years. Be la a veteran
of the first World War, has been
District Commander of the De
partment of North Carolina
American Legion, has held every
office in Watauga Post 1M, and
Is now Post Adjutant. He Is a
member af the Baptist Church,
Assistant Department Sunday
School Superintendent; has been
State President at the Pootal
Organization, is a member of the
Chamber of Commerce, Junior
Order and Is a Mason. Be was
Civil Defenae Officer for Wa
taagla county during the lact
world war.
Mr. Norris, whsse appointment
came about an recamaaeadaUoa
af local veterana, says he la
pleaaot to be aMe to aerve in
thia Important capacity. "I wil
give my (all attention to serving
to the best of my ability an sur
veterans, without regard U race,
creed or color, and without par
tiality." he added.
Stop Sign
For 321-105
The State Highway Commis
sion has approved the Installs
tion af stop signals at the later
section of highways 321-221 and
1M, and they will be Installed
in the near future, accordiaf to
word reaching the Democrat
Kennedy To Speak At ASTC
As 333 Grads Get Degrees
A total of 333 persons will
be graduated from Appalachian
State Teachers College tomor
row (Friday) night at the sum
mer commencement exercises,
scheduled to iMfta^at 7 o'clock
in the auditorium of the Health,
Physical Education, and Recre
ation Building. The total num
bers 32 greater than last year's
graduating classes.
Speaker for the occasion will
be John Pressley Kennedy Jr.,
an official of the Department
of State in charge of the Di
vision for Americans Abroad.
Dr. D. J. Whitener, dean of
the college, will present 124
candidates for the Bachelor's
degree; 209 Master's degree
candidates will be presented by
Dr. Cratis Williams, director of
graduate studies.
President W. H. Plemmons
will confer degrees and award
diplomas. H. R. Eggers, regis
trar, will present the diplomas.
Invocation and benediction
will be offered by the Rev.
Richard Crowder of the Boone
Methodist Church and the Rev.
George B. Hyler of the First
Baptist Church of Blowing
Rock, respectively.
Chief marshal will be Chet
Hill, recently elected president
of the student body. Marshals
include Judith Ann Abernethy,
Larry Allen, Joseph Brugnolot
ti, Fred Bynum, Gloria Church,
Robert Clayton, Annette Corri
gan, Reba Hawkins, John Knox,
Frances Kovachi, Diane Lefler,
Beverly Lingle, Virginia Palmi
eri, Bobby Tate, and William
? -W. WaUace.
Music will be provided by the
Summer School Choir under
the direction of W. Hoyt Safrit.
Organist will be Earny Hotard.
B. S. and M. A. candidates
are as follows:
Bachelor of Science Degrees:
Alexander County: John Mau
rice Gwaltney, Taylors ville.
Ashe County: Evelyn Dillard
Baker, Jefferson; Joseph Tatum
Brown, Jr., Todd; Sara Ann
Lawson, West Jefferson; Carol
Ann Hardin Perkins, West Jef
ferson; Olive Pierce Wiles,
Grassy Creek.
Buncombe County: Helen Carol
Stradley, Asheville.
Burke County: Kathryne Bren
dle Duckworth, Drexel; Frances
Maxme Grady, Morganton ; Julia
Anne Harris, Valdese; Richard
Neal Lane, Morganton; Emma
Settlemyre O'Kelly, Drexel; Don
ald Kelly Poteat, Morganton; Wil
liam Loyd Settlemyre, Valdese;
Joanne Smith, Morganton.
Cabbarus County: Wiliard Du
val Christy, Kanoapolis; Floyd
Edward Foil, Kanoapolis; Martha
Rae Mills, Concord; Joyce Ann
Newton, Harrisburg; Linda
Yates Tate, Harrisburg; Larry
Neal Vaughn, Kannapolis.
Caldwell County: Loraine B.
Beach, Lenoir; Kenneth Law
rence Beard, Lenoir; Benjamin
Lawreooe Brown. Rhodhiu; Mar
(CQttUnued on page 8, sec. C)
Broyhill Not
Planning Try
For Governor
MOCKSVILLE ? Congressman
James T. Broyhill, considered a
potential candidate for governor
by many North Carolina Repub
lican*, insisted Thursday that he
doesn't want the 1964 nomina
tion.
"Sure, lots of people want me
to run," Broyhill said in response
to a question. "But I'm not. at
all interested in that office. If
I run for anything, it'll be for
Congress."
GOP leaden have regarded
Broyhill as a likely second choice
for 1984 if Eighth District Rep.
Charles Raper Jonas, the party'*
strongest vote-getter, should de
cide not to run.
But Broyhill, visiting . here
Thursday to speak at the annual
Masonic Picnic, made it clear
be has no gubernatorial aspira
etions ? regardless of Jonas'
decision.
Whad'ya Mean, I Can't Graduate?
With commencement exercises dated at Ap
palachian State Teacheri College for to
morrow (Friday) night, it seems that every
one it wanting to get in on the act. Wearing
her faithful old ASTC bootees (a black "A"
on gold thread, no less), a five-months old
lass from a neighboring county peers up
with inquiring eyes as if to say, "But why
cant I graduate too!?" Well, maybe in
1969 or there abouta, honey? but tf* a loaf
crawl! Meanwhile, the little Hiaa (who.
Incidentally, has an aunt and two ancles at
the Boone college) will have to compromiae
thif rammer by seeing 124 peraona receive
their B. S. degrees am) 304 others receive
their M. A. diplomas. ? Sta if photo.
REGULAR BOARD , PERHAPS
Question Of Who Holds
Bond Election Resolved
N. Y. Attorneys,
State Official
See Differently
The question of who's to
have the authority to hold
the special school-hospital
bond election on September
17th seems to be resolving
in favor of the regular Coun
ty Board of Elections after
advices from the State At
torney General's office had
caused the County Commis
sioners to take the first
steps toward handling the
details incident to the bal
loting.
When County Attorney Sta
cy C. Eggers, who is also a
member of the County Board
of Elections, was questioned by
the Democrat, he said that when
word reached him that the At
torney General's office had
opined through Mr. Ralph
Moody, that the Commissioners
were to hold the election, that
he had written the State Elec
tion Board. They said for the
County Attorney to rely on the
Attorney General. Mr. Eggers
called Mr. Moody, and he gave
him the opinion.
Later, after the Commission
ers had set themselves to the
task of getting ready for the
election, Mr. Eggers received a
facsimile of the required ballot
from the New York bond at
torneys, which Indicated they
should be signed by the Chair
man of the County Elections
Board. Mr. Eggers then called
the attorneys who said they had
handled these matters in North
Carolina for years, that the elec
tions hhd always been held by
the County Elections Board, and
that If any other procedure was
followed, they could not okay
the bonds lor sale. Then Mr.
Eggers relayed the word to Mr.
Moody, whom he said, express
ed the opinion that the New
York attorneys were In error,
but that "you'd perhaps have
to. go along with them."
So as this is written, Roby T.
Greer, Elections Board Chair
man, is waiting to hear from
the proper authorities before
proceeding.
Books To Open
The registration books for the
special election, however, will
be open at the various polling
places in the county August 24,
August 31 and September 7, for
the purpose of registering those
who are entitled to vote, and
who haven't previously been
registered in a county election.
Challenge Day will be Septem
ber 14. Voters may also regis
ter at the homes of the Regis
trars, it is said.
Election Officials
Following are the names of
the election officials in the last
General Election who will also
hold the special election. The
first named in each case is the
Registrar, the others are the
Judges:
Bald Mountain Township: J.
B. Ragan, Todd; Leslie Norris,
Todd; and John Trivette, Todd.
Beaver Dam Township: Fred
Tester, Reese; Ray Stout, Reese;
and Ivan Dlshman, Sugar Grove.
Blowing Rock Township:
Daniel Klutz, Jr., Blowing Rock;
Marion Ford, Blowing Rock;
and Charlie Hatten, Blowing
Rock.
Blue Ridge Township: Mrs.
Rodney Greene, Blowing Rock;
George Keller, Rt. 4, Boone;
and Marion Coffey, Rt. 4, Boon*.
Boone Township: George
Thomas, Booae; Ralph Greene,
Boone; and Custer Wallace,
Brushy Fork Township: M.
i. Williams, Vilas; Ralph Wll
C Continued on paft two)
i
Twin Citians Guests At Dinner
Enjoying a dinner at the Daniel Boone Inn
on August 7 were a group of businessmen
and development leaders from Winston
Salem who had made a tour of the natural
and industrial resources of Watauga County.
During the dinner a quartet from "Horn in
the West" entertained the visitors. After
wards, they attended a performance of the
local outdoor drama. ? Staff photo.
Winston-Salem , Business . Men
Impressed With Watauga Co.
Inspection Team
Reports On AHS
By GUY ANGELL
County Superintendent of
Schools
An inspection team from the
North Carolina State Depart
ment of Public Instruction com
pleted an examination of the fa
cilities of Appalachian High
School July 31.
The examination was made
upon request of school offici
als for the purpose of determin
ing the potential use of Appa
lachian High School as a sec
ondary school for the district
and as a demonstration school
for Appalachian State Teachers
College.
The State Department staff
members participating in the
study were John W. Sherman,
engineer; Dr. Dwayne Gardner,
educational consultant; N. K.
Lee, engineer; and Dr. J. L.
Pierce, director, Division of
School Planning.
The Appalachian High School
facilities and site are owned
by the State of North Carolina
and Appalachian State Teachers
College. The school serves a
dual purpose in providing high
school facilities for students re
siding in the Boone, Green Val
ley, and Parkway districts as
well as the needs of the college
In the teacher education pro
gram. The school was originally
designed and equipped to serve
a maximum of 390-400 students.
Some of the highlights of the
inspection report are being pub
lished in an effort to inform
the citizens of the Boone dis
trict of existing conditions In
the present school facilities.
On the basis ?f information
furnished by public school offi
cials and observations of the in
spection team, the following rep
resents some of the highlights
of the observations reported by
Dr. Pierce and his staff:
? The main building appears
to be structurally sound but is
otherwise obsolete. This 1? par
ticularly true with regard to the
following areas: electrical sys
tem, heating and ventilating sys
tems, lighting, sanitary facil
ities, floors and windows.
? The main building is not
functional for a modern day
program of secondary educa
tion.
? The space for use of the
library, administration, music
program, and science laboratory
instruction is below minimum
acceptable standards for a
modern secondary school pro
gram. The physical education
program is necessarily curtail
ed due to the inadequate gym
nasium-auditorium combination.
? The vocational agriculture
shop building, which includes a
room used as a student center,
is in poor condition in every
respect. This building in no
way meets acceptable standrrds
for a secondary school program.
? The high school students
(Continued on page 9, sec. C)
Wilson Gets
Jeep Franchise
Wilson Used Cars, of Boone,
has been franchised by Kaiser
Jeep Sales Corp. to. handle the
famed 'Jeep' family of vehicles
and approved special equip
ment.
Signing of the franchise was
announced today by Guy Wil
son, owner of the new dealer
ship, who said the firm will
market the full line of 'Jeep'
vehicles and equipment in this
area. The dealership also will ;
offer complete parts and ser- i
vice facilities for the famed
"go-anywhere" vehicles.
Key personnel of the dealer- :
ship, located at Highway 421 i
West, are Guy Wilson, owner, i
and Ronnie Wilson, sales man
ager. I
The 'Jeep' line of vehicles is i
designed to serve a wide range i
of purposes from six-passenger
family service to the roughest :
kind of off-the-road hauling ;
with gross vehicle weight* up i
to 8.600 nonntls
A bus-load of Winston-Salem
businessmen and development
leaders paid Boone a visit last
Wednesday, making a thorough
study and tour of Watauga
County and returning to the
lowlands with the impression
that the county's present boom
ing operations are a guideline
to a successful future.
Neil Bolton, secretary of the
Northwest N. C. Development
Association, said that the group
noted the impact of the tourist
trade and Boone's multiplying
industries as prime boosters to
the economy of Watauga.
"That mountain section is
cashing in fast on its natural
resources for recreational at
tractions," he said after the
tour, "and business leaders
there are solidly bulwarking
the fun-side with new industry
and renewed emphasis on Boone
as an educational center."
The group toured the con
(Continued on page 5, sec. C)
Blowing Rock
Man Said To
Have Drowned
William Leon Coffey, 71, of
Route 1, Blowing Rock, drown
ed Sunday morning in a pond
near his home.
Richard E. Kelley county
coronor, quoted Coffey's son.
Wade, as saying his father
had been under medical
care for hardening of the art
eries and related diseases. The
family thought he may have
suffered a stroke or heart at
tack and fallen into the pool.
Mr. Kelley said his investiga
tion was continuing.
Coffey was born in Watauga
county to William L. and Sa
lome Moretz Coffey. He was
> fanner.
Surviving are his widow,
Mrs. Marian Norris Coffey;
four sons, Wade and Homer
Coffey, both of Boone, Owen
Coffey of Blowing Rock, and
Wayne Coffey of Fort Bragg;
Five daughters, Mrs. Odell Deal
of Hickory, Mrs. Vernon Woods
of Lenoir, and Mrs. Max
Moody, Mrs. Jack Triplett and
Mrs. Ralph Broyhill, all of
Blowing Rock, Route 1; three
listers, Miss Edna Coffey ot
(Continued on jftg* * sec. C)