“The happiest men in the
world are those who are making
their jobs mean more than sim
ply an endless routine of work
and wages”
—Harvey S. Firestone.
Tiire$ton«
NEWS
GASTONIA
Names make news and news
will be welcome by your Fire
stone News reporters. Names
of departmental reporters listed
in masthead on page 2.
VOLUME I
GASTONIA, N. €., MAY 5, 1952
NO. 1
Progress Marks Firestone’s 17 Years In Gastonia
YOUR PAPER
To the Meti and Women of Firestone Textiles:
We are proud to present to you this first issue of your plant
newspaper. It will be published twice each month for the purpose
of bringing to you interesting news of your fellow employees and
of the Firestone Community. Also its columns will inform you of
company activities, products and processes, safety achievements,
recreation, and other items of general interest and importance.
In order to make the Firestone News as attractive as possible,
our editor and staff of reporters solicit your help in supplying them
with interesting stories and pictures. Also, your frank suggestions
for improvement will be appreciated.
Again, we say this is your paper and your wholehearted
cooperation will insure its success in bringing a measure of
enjoyment to your fellow employees. The Management pledges
its best efforts in this direction.
General Manager
Firestone Textiles
See Insert Page of Selected Picture Highlights
Covering Important Activities and Events at Firestone
Textiles Since 1935.
THE STORY of Firestone’s operations in Gastonia is a story of unbroken progress!
Paralleling an era of general improvement and modernization in the textile industry,
these 17 years envelop a program of change that in many respects overshadows the typical
textile plant progress story.
Thus in this first issue of our plant newspaper, we pause to review the outstanding
milestones of this period. A period that has left the certain marks of progress in the plant,
the community and in the large family of people, who ever the years, have found employ
ment here.
It goes without saying that these*^
things didn’t just happen as simply
the natural course of events.
They were “caused”, or perhaps
better said, “planned for”, by the
men and women of the Firestone
organization whose vision and skill
have made this a better day for all
concerned.
Among others, the group pictur
ed on this page shares the credit
for providing the leadership during
this period. . . . the kind of leader
ship so vital to progress in any
organization. These men and
women of the administrative and
supervisory staffs hold the distinc
tion of having joined FirestoneV
Gastonia plant during the first
year of operation in 1935.
*
NOT ALL the milestones of
progress that stand between the
years 1935 and 1952 can be dated,
inasmuch as some came about
gradually. But, to the extent pos
sible, these events will be reviewed
(Continued on page 2)
MORE than one half million (an estimated 650,000) rolls of tire
fabric like the one above have been produced here since operations
began in June 1935. Balers Jesse Crane, left, and Hampton Howell
are putting the final banding seal on this roll making it ready for
shipment to one of Firestone’s domestic or foreign tire plants.
LEADERSHIP that spans the years from 1935 to 1952: Assembled above are
Tnehibers of the administrative and supervisory staffs of Firestone Textiles who
were'employed (or transferred here) during the year 1935. Reading left to right,
front row are: W. G. Henson, plant engineer; Mrs. Clayton Wilson, supervisor payroll
and time keeping; Harold Mercer, plant manager; Nelson Kessell, general superin
tendent; and F. W. Davis, cotton buyer.
Second row (L to R): Ben Davis, men’s club; Ray Thomas, second hand spin
ning; Charlie Ferguson, plant officer; A. 0. Ammons, second shift superintendent,
and F. T. Morrow, warehouse overseer.
Third row (L to R): R. E. Conrad, weaving overseer; R. L. Tompkins, purchas-
AERIAL VIEW OF FIRESTONE TEXTILES PLANT
ing agent; Coy Bradshaw, carding second hand; R. F. Piercy, spinning second hand;
and Hazel Cauthen, assistant plant engineer.
Fourth row (L to R): H. T. Aldridge, overseer twisting; J. E. Spencer, em
ployment interviewer; Paul Walker, supervisor roller shop; and W. B. Ward, spin
ning second hand.
Fifth row (L to R): Hugh Wright, cable respooling second hand; Sam Guffey,
overseer spinning; and Dr. W. B. Parks, plant doctor.
Sixth row (L to R): Grover Hollifield, twisting second hand; Vernon Lovingood,
twisting second hand; Jess Parks, spooling second hand; Milton Nichols, spooling
second hand; Sam Honeycutt, quality control second hand; and W. H. Dilling,
weaving second hand.
Seventh row (L to R): Claude Taylor, twisting second hand; Ti’acy Whitner,
weaving second hand; Raymond Mack, weaving second hand; Robert Spencer,
supervisor receiving and stores; and Odis Thompson, twisting second hand.
Eighth row (left): Ralph Johnson, recreation director; and (right) S. L. Owens,
carding overseei*.