North Carolina Newspapers

1? THUBSDAY, APRIL, 25,1957 the pilot—Sonthern Pines. North Carolina Page NINETEEN Sketches of Candidates In The Municipal Primary Election To Be Held Monday M a ^ J A— * A * t * AA4« »4I « « - 'To help inlroduce the can didates in Monday's town primary to the public. The Pilot brings readers the fol lowing items about each. The items appear in no par ticular order. The Pilot has attempted to treat each of the candidates alike, using information provided by the candidates themselves, with no word limit on what each has to say in behalf of his candidacy. Waller E. Blue der this form if it is efficiently administered, with a view to the needs of aU the people. “I believe that as a resort we can attract good industry, and that as the center of suitable in dustry, we can also grow and de velop as a resort. I am for the kind of vision and cooperative .spirit which will accomplish these aims. '■‘Women are here to stay, and I believe that the viewpoint of a business woman will help to balance it up to date with mod ern thinking.” D. E. Bailey W. E. Blue, owner of Modem Market here and a councilman since 1949, is a native of Moore County. He moved to Southern Pines in 1927. Mr. Blue helped to organize and build Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Churchj of which he is an elder, clerk of the Ses sion, and superintendent of the Simday School. He is a former director of the Chamber of Commerce, • two terms, and was the first presi dent of the Southern Pines Mer chant’s Association. He is an ac tive Mason. He is married to the former lola Poole Currie and they have five children. At present Mr. Blue is serving as treasurer of the town. He re ceived the greatest number of votes in the Council race in 1955. He says of his present candi dacy: “I am a candidate for re-elec tion subject, of course, to the will of the voters. In making this an nouncement, I do not pretend to possess unusual or outstanding qualifications; however, I feel that seven and one-half years of experience on the Council will be very helpful in the future. “I am very proud of Southern Pines, its wonderful people, love ly churches and outstanding schools. If re-elected, I will serve to the best of my ability, striving at all times to make it a better place in which to live. “Good government demands oim very best.” Mrs. John Buggies D. E. Bailey, a native of 'Vass, retired from his position as a tick et agent with Seaboard Airline Railway in 1955 after 44 years with the company. Most of those 44 years were spent in Southern Pines. Now 66 years of age, he is the father of 13 children, several of whom make their homes in this area. He is also a retired Justice of the Peace, an appointment he held 24 years. Mr. Bailey attended a one-room schoolhouse in 'Vass. He has seen Southern Pines grow from a small village that depended for its live lihood almost entirely on tourists and other non-residents, and says the changes have been good. He is an elder and one of the charter members of Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church, and has served as assistant super intendent of the Sunday School there for iliany years. He is a member of the Wood men of the World and recently received a 40 year pin for mem bership in the Masonic Order. He says of his candidacy in the elections: “If I am elected as CouncilnSan I plan to keep, as I always have, the welfare of the Town and its citizens as my primary concern. “I expect to examine ail ques tions and projects with the ut most care, using all available in formation so that the best inter ests of the greatest number of our fine citizens shall be served, re gardless of personal prejudices and animosities.” he is a charter member of both I union in theatres, clubs or on tele' the Sandhills Kiwanis Club and vision. He describes Southern of the Southern Pines Lions | Pines as “the first town I have Club. He has also been a Shriner and is a past Master of the Ma sonic Lodge. At one time he serv ed as president of the Chamber of Commerce. He has been a merchant, peach grower, and a real estate devel oper. In the latter category he was instrumental in the develop ment of Knollwood. At present he is with the E. C. Stevens Real Estate and Insurance Company in Southern Pines. In a statement issued several weeks ago when he announced he would seek election to the Council, Mr. Richardson said: “. . . The present Coimcil has started several major projects which I think we should feel some responsibility toward see ing through to completion. This is my only reason for running. .” Harry H. Pethick liked well enough to settle down in.” Mr. O’Neil is also the owner and operator of the Hillendale Little Nine golf course on Mid land Road, a layout that is light ed for night, play. The candidate’s wife is the former Eleanor Barron Knight of Southern Pines, daughter of John C. Barron and the late Mrs. Bar ron. Mr. Barron has been a resi dent of Southern Pines for many years. 'The O’Neils have three children—^Fraser, 11, Michelle, 19 months, and Michael, 11 weeks old. One of the first things he would like to see done by the town council, Mr. O’Neil says, is establishment of a fire .station on the west side of the Seaboard Air ] Line Railroad tracks. It would also be wise, he thinks, to keep a police car on the west side of the tracks. Both the fire protection and police protection are needed on the west side, he says, in case of an ( emergency that might arise for either department while a long ,j freight train is blocking all rail- I road crossings on Broad St. James B. Tollison First Baptist Church of 'West r with the modern way of living, ■ Leland Daniels, Jr. Sam Richardson - . ^ if'''-'* 5- Harry Pethick, present Mayor Pro Tom', was first elected to the Council last term. He has lived in Southern Pines at various times since 1939 and steadily since 1952. Prior to his retirement he had served in the Far East 26 years as a represen tative of Standard Oil Company. Mr. Pethick is a member and treasurer of the Church of 'Wide Fellowship. He is also a member of the Sandhills Kiwanis Club. He was active in several Masonic or ganizations while in the Far East and is Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Hospital in .London. He and Mrs. Pethick, who live here on E. 'Vermont Ave. have two married daughters. A son was lost in action while serving with the Navy in 1944. “As a candidate for re-election to the ^Town Council I have no particular platform to offer,” he says. “I believe it unwise to make any promises other than the promise to use my best judgment in voting for those things that, in my considered opinion, would be best for the Town of Southern Pines and its welfare.” Rev. Tom OTJeil Mrs. John Ruggles, the only woman candidate for Town Council in the election, has been living in Southern Pines since 1946. A native of Jacksonville, Fla.; she came here originally to be near members of her family. She was employed for two years with the Red Cross, resign ing her position when she War- ried Mr. Ruggles. During 'World War 2 she was with the Red Cross overseas as a club director. She is a gradu ate of the University of Georgia with a degree in fine arts. In Southern Pines she has been active in the Sandhills Mu sic Association, serving as co- chairman of ticket sales, and in the BPOE Does. She is a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. At present she is associated with Mr. Ruggles and others in Bamum Realty and Insurance Company. This is her first experience in politics. She says of her candidacy: “I am for progressive council- manager government, and be lieve that our community can reach its best development un- U k ■ Sam Richardson, 76, a member of the present Town Council, is one of the “oldtimeijs” of South ern Pines. He came here from his native Jefferson, Maine, 51 years ago as part owner pi Patch’s De partment Store. He was mayor for seven years and a member of the Town Com missioners eight years. His pres ent membership fon the Council stems from an appointment made more than a yeiar ago when he was named as replacement for L. T. Clark, who resigned. He is a member of the Baptist Church and a Deacon. He has taught in the Sunday School there and has ' taken an active role in the church’s develop ment. Mr. Richardson has one dis tinction that peilrhaps belongs to no other person in the Sandhills: A resident of the Sandhills for the past six years, the Rev. Tom O’Neil lives at 110 Highland Road. He is seeking political of fice for the first time in a va ried life that began in St. Louis, Mo., in 1911. He is minister of the Universal Church of Divine Healing, the first church of this denomination that has been established in North Carolina. He conducts a radio program each morning from a Fayetteville station. ’The program was formerly broadcast from Southern Pines. Most of Mr. O’Neil’s adult life, before he came to Southern Pines, was spent in show busi ness. As an entertainer and mas ter of ceremonies, he has been around the world twice and has played in every state in the Leland Daniels, Jr.. 32, is a li censed general contractor who maintains his business in South ern Pines. A World War 2 veteran (Army) he is a native of South ern Pines eind now makes his home here at 660 N. Ridge Street with his wife, the former Mar- quita jKing of Packanadt Lake, N. J., vand their four-year-old daught ;r. Mr. Daniels is a member of the Church of Wide Fellowship and the local Elks Lodge. He is a graduate of Southern Pines High School and is the youngest of the candidates in the forthcoming elections. ^ Of his candidacy, he says: ‘T feel that having lived aU of my life in Southern Pines, being a property owner and taxpayer, and having to earn my living lor my family here, that I could ably and honestly represent the needs and interests of the majority of the people in our town, those in the same situation as I. “I feel that more citizens— both men and women—should take an active interest in the policies and problems of the town as they are brought to the Ck)un- cil. We should attend the meet ings, study the problems, be able to ascertain the Council’s views, and vcnce our own. In this way only can we jnsure that our in terests are best served. I would like the opportunity to help rid Southern Pines of its apathy in the matter of civic affairs, to awaken a town-wide interest in town-wide problems. “I believe that the Town Coun cil, in conjimction with the Town Manager, could be an ef fective instrument in inducing industry to this locale. I am firm ly convinced that Southern Pines needs industry to survive, and imless we imdertake an active James B. Tollison, 41, is a na tive of South Carolina but has been living in this state most of his life. He is presently serving as Division Manager of Amero- tron MUls Corporation. He is married to the former Elizabeth Cobb of Burlington and they have three children, James, Jr., 15, and Jerry and Geraldine, 14-year-old twins. Mr. Tollison, who has lived in Southern Pines two years, is a graduate of N. C. State College, class of 1938, and holds a degree in textile management. Prior to joining the Amerotron firm he was a superintendent with the Deering-Milliken textile miU chain. He is a member of the Metho dist Church, a lay speaker, Sim day School teacher, president of the church’s Men’s Club, a mem ber of the choir, and a member of the Board of Stewards. His civic activities include membership in the Elks Lodge, the Masonic Lodge, the Kiwanis Club, the PTA, and president of the Band Boosters Club. He is a Navy veteran of World War 2 and served as a gunnery officer in the North Atlantic and Euro pean Theatres. This is his first venture into politics. Of his candidacy, he says: “I am running for the Town Council because of my interest in the civic affairs of the town, and a desire to actively partici pate in the administration of the community. “If elected, I will, to the best of my ability, uphold the follow ing principles: apply sound busi ness principles to the town af fairs; further the efforts to im prove the economic position of our town by developing a weU balanced and selective growth of business enterprises; continue to encourage the development of Southern Pines as a tourist and retirement resort; and give sup port to improving the recreational facilities for all ages, especially the teen age and the retired groups.” Southern Pines, and a member of the West Southern Pines Civic Club. Of his candidacy he says: “When I announced my inten tion of running for the Town Council in 1955, I made one promise: to furnish within the very best of my ability clean and efficient government for South ern Pines. I reiterate that prom ise at this time, and add one other. This is a growing town and, like aU others where its cit- iezns are in a constant struggle to make it a better place in which to live, it has growing pains. It will require ev'ery in dividual effort in this town to accomplish that aim. If elected, I will continue to cheerfuU:^ as sume my share of those respon sibilities.” Robert S. Ewing “My filing for Town Council indicated that I meant what I said in a recent Moore County News editorial: Tt behooves the many who have cheered or booed from the sidelines to step for ward and take their turn at bat. Civic duty should not be looked upbn as an onerous task, but one that every citizen should under take at least once so that he or she would understand the com plexities of nmning even a small town.’ ” Gen. Pearson Menoher T. T. Morse ^Robert S. Ewing, 37, is the son of a well-known official of the duPont Company. He was bom in Wilmington, Del., and gradu ated from' Princeton University in 1941. He has been engaged in the textile industry, with duPont, Robbins Mills and Amerotron, for the past 10 years. He came to live in Southern Pines in 1955. A veteran of four years in the Navy, he was discharged as a Meutenant after combat duty in the South Pacific, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. Now living at 220 Valley Road, he is one of the owners and bu^- ness manager of the Moore Coun ty News and manufacturers agent for a packaging company. He is chairman of the Moore County Republican Executive Committee, a member of the county’s Industrial Development Committee and publicity chair man of the Finer Carolina Con test in Carthage. Mr. Ewing is also a director of the Blue Knights Booster Club and a member of Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church. Married to the former Ann Ma son of Wilmington, they have five daughters, three of whom are attending Southern Pines schools. Of his candidacy, Mr. Ewing says: f'j “Although transferred here ; . originaUy against my will, we have found this area offers more 4 solid ‘living’ than any other place i we have ever been. And, now . that we have decided to remain ; here, I desire to enter into every phase of this community’s activ ities, to participate in its trials and tribulations as well as its rewarding dividends, and make Brig. Gen. Pearson Menoher has lived in the Sandhills about six and one-half years following his retirement after 41 years of Army service that included com bat duty in Mexico, Europe in World War 2, and in Korea. He became a citizen of South ern Pines when the Knollwood area, in which he owns a home, was annexed. A former commanding general and deputy post commander of Fort Bragg, Gen. Menoher had a distinguished career in the Army. He was chief of staff of the 15th Corps of the 7th Army, and was assistant division com mander—and later commander— of the 24th Division in Japan and Korea. Bom in Virginia, he is a grad ate of the U. S. Military Acade my. He is a member of the /American Legion and the Veter ans of Foreign Wars. Since com ing to Southern Pines he has taken an active role in Boy Scout work, serving at one time as; chairman of Moore District. He has also been active in Red Cross work and is presently dis aster chairman for the Moore County Chapter. He places much emphasis on his interest in recreational activ ities of the town and served last summer as co-commissioner of the summer softball league. He and R&s. Menoher have a daughter and a son, both of whom live in California. Of his candidacy, he says: “With my backgroimd of long administrative experience in the Army, I am confident it could be of value to the Town and tis ad ministration. The town has many problems that will require care ful and conscientous thought. I was of the opinion that Knoll wood should have had represen tation on the last Cotmcil. I still hold that view. “I have the time to participate in the affairs of the town and would welcome such an oppor tunity, as everyone should par ticipate in the Town’s govern ment. “I have no political ambitions and, if elected, ■wiU not become whatever contribution I can to' embroiled in politics of any na- preserve the pleasant and genial ture. There is no room for such atmosphere and yet help the town and its citizens keep pace actions ment.” in the Town govem- T. T. Morse is the first Negro ever to hold public office in program to bring it here, we will I Southern Pines. Several weeks soon have no “young blood” in I ^So he was honored by the Moore this town. I would like to be * County Citizens Club as their able to insure our children being able to grow up, become educa ted, and return to our town to earn a living and in turn raise their families here. This need not hurt our tourist industry, but should supplement it, and take some of the people off the Thurs day morning unemployment line. I would work in every way pos sible to cany out such a program. “■Whether you vote for me or not, I sincerely hope that you will ALL gei out and vote—^both in the primary and general elec tions. Exercite your privilege and make 1957 a good year for South ern Pines.” Man of the Year. He was endors ed for the Town Council by the West Southern Pines Civic Club. Morse, an insurance and real estate agent, lives in West South ern Pines where his wife, the former Edna West, has been a teacher in the public school for the past several years. They are the parents of one daughter, who is 15. I He is a native of Aberdeen and attended Berkley High School! there. He lived in Durham and was active in the insurance busi ness. He nioved to Southern Pines in 1944. He is a Mason, a member of the NEW Mid Pines Golfotel (R) Sotithern Pines. N. C. and 18 Hole Golf Course OPEN ALL YEAR