Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Jan. 26, 1984, edition 1 / Page 2
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...Around (Continued from page 1A) the graveside service of J.L. McNeill and was returning to my car at the cemetery, Lauchlin Mac Donald walked along with me go ing to his car. He stated that dur ing his days in high school there was no football coach at the school and that Willie Walters and Lawrence McNeill came out every afternoon to coach the high school football team. Now this left an impression of Lawrence McNeill on Lauchlin that he will never forget. I began to think of the things that J.L. McNeill did during his lifetime, like coaching, that most folks don't know about in Hoke Coun ty I will not go into detail because his obit will appear elsewhere in this paper. In sports: At his pond and most ly at his expense a supper was given and the Hoke High Booster Club was organized. All meetings were held in his office for the first year, but he would not be an officer in the organization. He was one of the leaders that got Para-Thread to come to Raeford, now JRa industries' Robbins Mills purchased White Tex Cotton Mill and expanded after the Hoke Development Co. built the 100 or so houses in Rob bins Heights. He was a driving force in this project. Lawrence was the first campaign chairman for the Hoke United Fund and along with H.L. Gatlin, Jr., Israel Mann, Crawford Thomas and Paul Dickson, got the organization started in the county. The work and effort, along with many others, that he did saved the Hoke Corridor from becoming a part of Fort Bragg. These are just a few things that 1 know much about concerning his work for the county. There are many others. Hoke County is a better place in which to live today, because J.L. McNeill lived here. Say You Saw It In The News-Journal A.A. Meetings Wed. 8 p.m. Nursing Home Dining Room DID YOU KNOW 7 *5.00 A Month Will Buy *20,000. OF NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE If Age 21 Or Younger (Only A Little More tf Over 21) Vardeil Hedgpeth AGENT 875-4187 i Construction begins Bulldozers and other heavy machinery were poised and modernization program. Work on the project is at the Burlington 's Raeford plant this week as con- expected to be completed in 18 months. struction begins on a multi-million dollar expansion UCB Closing Downtown Branch By Sherry Matthews Although United Carolina Bank (UCB) announced this week that it would be closing the Raeford Main Street Branch, Hoke Chamber of Commerce Director Earl Fowler does not see the future vacancy as a "bad sign." ''I think overall, this will be a plus for Raeford and Hoke Coun ty," Fowler said. "It will be sad to see the branch close, but we have known for a long time that it was inevitable," he added. "When they built the new of fice, everyone knew that the Main Street branch would eventually shut its doors," Fowler said. Although Fowler said he was "sorry" to see the branch, which was the main office for the old Bank of Raeford, close, he was op timistic that another "good use" would be made out of the building. "We have been looking at that building very strongly for use as our satellite of Sandhills Com munity College," Fowler said. ftiAiij * o Fuiriy Problem? AL-ANON MEETING WED. -7:30 p.m. i?f Hoke Co. Health Dept. PHONE FOR FOOD Fish. Shrimp. BBQ. Chkkvn . . . SPECIALS DAILY 875-5752 Wagon Wheel Restaurant "Should this materialize, I see UCB's closing as an overall plus for this city and county," he add ed. Fowler and members of the Pro gressive Action Committee (PAC), which was set up by the Chamber in August, have been investigating possible ways to develop a local community college branch. "An evaluation is still being worked on," Fowler said. "The group should be pulling together again in the near future to determine what possibilities we have," he added. If the community college becomes a reality, Fowler believes UCB is ready and "willing" to turn the building over for that pur pose. "They are very concerned about this community. They want to see it utilized in the best way possible," Fowler said. "I think a community college in that location would assist this area in many ways. It could even help strengthen downtown revitilization efforts," he added. The News-Journal The News-Journal is publish ed every Thursday by Dickson Press Inc. at 119 W. Elwood Avenue, Raeford, N.C. 28376. Second Class Postage is paid at Raeford, N.C. (USPS 388-260). Subscription rates are payable in advance at $10 per year in Hoke County and $12 per year outside of Hoke County. BORDEAUX DINNER THEATRE Bordeaux Motor Inn Village Er Owen Drives ? Fayetteville Celebrate Those Special Days With Us Box Offica Open Noon to 6 P.M. Daily Reservations 323-1114 Senior Citizan and Group Discounts Don't stumble around blind to what is happening. Read The News-Journal for the best coverage of what's going on in Hoke County. Subscribe today. The News-Journal CaU87ft?B21 Even if plans for the satellite col lege fall through, the Chamber director does not see the UCB building lying dormant for long. "I don't think it will be vacant for very long... absolutely not," Fowler said. "I think it will be utilized in some way, if not as a community college then for something else that will benefit the community," he added. "In the long haul, 1 think this vacany can be a benefit to the en tire community," Fowler said. "Nothing is certain now. ..there are a lot of if's," he noted. UCB's Main Street Branch is scheduled to close its doors March 16. BUSIEST AIRPORTS. Nine of the world's ten busiest airports are in the United States. The top three are Chicago's O'Hare, Atlanta's Hartsfield International, and Los Angeles International. London's Heathrow is the only foreign air port among the world's ten busiest. * Hoke County Leader Dies Of Heart Attack One of the driving forces behind the development of Hoke County, John Lawrence McNeill, died at his home Qf an apparent heart at tack last Wednesday. He was 78. McNeill was buried Friday after noon in the Raeford Cemetery dur ing well-attended graveside ser vices conducted by Raeford Presbyterian minister Dr. John Ropp. Prior to his retirement several years ago, McNeil! served as the eighth president of The Bank of Raeford and Chairman of the Board. ' The Hoke County native also owned and operated the McLauchlin Co., serving as presi dent of the firm from 1945 to 1972. In 1933, when banks were clos ing all over the country, McNeill, R.B. Lewis and Jessie Bright Ferguson got customers to promise not to withdraw funds and were able to keep The Bank of Raeford solvent. While the nation struggled in the throws of World War II, McNeill headed up a local war bond drive. Under his leadership, Hoke Coun ty exceeded its quota of bond pur chases. McNeill was a visionary. He helped organize the Hoke County Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in the drive to bring outside industry to Raeford. Along with the aid of other Chamber members, McNeill successfully landed the Para Thread Corpora tion, a textile firm which brought new life to county's employment picture. In the early 1950's, McNeill, Crawford Thomas and others formed the Hoke Development Corporation. The group con structed 130 dwellings in Raeford to provide housing for employees of Robbins Mills. Without the housing, the firm would not have located in the county. In an effort to assist athletic pro grams at Hoke High School, McNeill help organize and served as the first president of Booster Club. John Lawrence McNeill During 1953, McNeill again joined with other county leaders and stopped a move by the U.S. Army to develop a corridor con necting Fort Bragg and Camp MacKall. After a six-month battle by the local leaders, which included trips to Washington and extensive lob bying, the Defense Department abandoned the plan. McNeill and the others felt that had the Army move succeeded, it could have meant the end of Hoke County. In addition to his other duties, McNeill served as an Elder in the Raeford Presbyterian Church and was an accomplished golfer. For his contributions to the community, McNeill was awarded the Raeford Kiwanis Club's Citizenship Award as man of the year. Many county residents sought his counsel on business and other matters, which he gave freely. "One of the best ways to characterize Lawrence McNeill is to say that he tried to teach pride and accomplishment," one close associate said. McNeill is survived by his wife Edna Adams McNeill; one son Dr. Lawrence McNeill Jr., of Southern Pines; three daughters: Mrs. Virginia McNeill Maddry of Nor folk, Virginia, Mrs. Evans McNeill Clark and Mrs. Anne McNeill Brisson, both of Fayetteville and six grandchildren. During the service Friday, City Councilman Benny McLeod, Neill A. McDonald, Crawford Thomas Jr., Jake Austin, Younger Snead Jr. and Neill McFadyen Jr. served as pallbearers. Sullivan 's 12 5 S.Hf. Broad Street, Southern Pints Monday-Saturday 8:30-5:30 Footgear 3 BIG DAYS! THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 72 HOUR PRE-INVENTORY This is the beginning of our Greatest Pre-lnventory Sale Everl Further markdowns have been taken on almost all sale merchandise so that we can clear out as much merchandise as possible before inventory. Saturday night, January 28th. Special Group Ladies' DRESS and CASUAL SHOES 1 990.2990 Special Group of Suede Wedges by FABULAIRE and BROWSABOUT Rag to *34 99 ADORE and AMALFI SHOES SAVE UP TO 1/2 Entire Stock HANDBAGS 15-50% Off Entire Stock of NIKE AND ASAHI 15% Off Specie! Group Ladles' TASSEL & PENNY LOAFERS SAVE Entire Stock 15-65 % OFF Entire Stock AIQNER SHOES Reduced 1 5*33% AND MORE Entire Stock Leather & All-Weather AIQNER AND BORELLI COATS Now 20-50% Off Entire Stock of AIQNER HANDBAQS REDUCED! Entire Stock AIQNER & BORELLI SWEATERS NOW 1/3 OFF Entire Stock Of Borslll Quilted Coats toons* 24,0-2990 Entire Stock MEN'S SHOES All Ouf Famous Brands 15-50, Vo Off Entire Stock of BASS 1 5-40% off Entire Stock Ladies' BOOTS Western, Dress and All-Weather Boots SAVI UP TO AND MORE THAN 50% Entire Stock E.T. SNEAKERS NOW ONLY gso Dress t Casual CHILDREN'S SHOES SAVE UP TO 20% PLUM MANY UNADVERT18ED *****
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Jan. 26, 1984, edition 1
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