Many fire tragedies result from
the increased hazards which exist
only during the Christmas season,
and from carelessness that would
not be tolerated at any other time.
Read the fire safety rules, page 4.
Tir«$lon«
GASTONIA
Wintertime driving calls for
extra care of your car and for your
good conduct on the highway.
Helpful suggestions for your safe
ty will be found on page 4.
VOLUME III
GASTONIA, N. C., DECEMBER 10, 1954
NO. 19
William A. Karl (right), President of Firestone Textiles, Gas
tonia, division 'of The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, received
congratulations and a diamond-studded service pin from Lee R.
Jackson, President, as he completed 35 years of service for the
Firestone Company December 1.
Purchase Of Christmas Seals
Aids War On Tuberculosis
A new case of tuberculosis is reported in the United
States every fifth minute, and every 22nd minute one life is
taken by this insidious killer, the Tuberculosis Association
l^vealed at the opening of its 1954 Christmas Seal campaign,
"he Association pointed out that tuberculosis, a disease that
can be prevented and can be cured, costs this nation approxi
mately $600,000,000 annually.
-— o
feature Farmers
Pay Tribute To
a Firestone
Haymond C. Firestone, Ex-
^utive Vice-President, The
^ ifestone Tire & Rubber Com-
P^iiy, and five other outstand-
industrialists received
®^gnal tribute at the 27th Na-
^oiial Future Farmers of
^merica convention held in
^ansas City, Mo., October
^i~l4.
The farm youth group hon-
^^d the six men who have
,^ch served as Chairman of
Sponsoring Committee of
PFA Foundation. The
, ^^ndation, now perpetuated
^r^ore than 230 donors, pro-
pQes prizes and awards to
A. members for achieve-
. ^nt in competitive agricul-
5al events and activities.
Pi
Of expressing appreciation
tet demonstrating the in-
'^^pendence of industry, busi-
and agriculture were present-
to Raymond C. Firestone,
Jenks, Vice-President, In-
Jqi ^tional Harvester Company;
Kraft, President, Kraft Foods
idp Roger Kyes, Vice-Pres-
General Motors Company;
H. Lang, Vice-President,
Electric Company; Wil-
Roberts, President, Allis-
^^ers Company.
Presented
boys in farming and
in the United States,
and Puerto Rico. Burd W.
Star Farmer awards
to the four most
(Continued on Page 3)
The Associaton, a voluntary
organization supported by the sale
of Christmas seals, cooperates
closely with local and state Health
Departments and other agencies in
the fight against tuberculosis.
In connection with the Christmas
Seal campaign—which began in
late November and will continue
through December—Dr. J. W. R.
Norton, North Carolina State
Health Officer, stated:
“Tuberculosis remains our most
serious communicable disease prob
lem in North Carolina. We can be
(Continued on Page 3)
William A. Karl Honored For
35 Years Service To Firestone Co
President Of FiresWne Textiles Since 1940
William A. Karl, President
of Firestone Textiles, Gas
tonia, was honored Wednes
day, December 1, as he ob
served his 35th anniversary
of service for The Firestone
Tire & Rubber Company.
Mr. Karl received congrat
ulations and a diamond-set
service pin and $100 check
from Lee R. Jackson, Presi
dent of the Company; many
flowers and dozens of mes
sages from other associates
and friends,
Mr. Karl joined the Firestone
Company in 1919 in the Akron
Textile Laboratory. In 1927 he
joined the Purchasing Department
in connection with the purchase of
textiles and the operation of Com
pany textile plants.
In 1937 he was placed in charge
of textile operations and in 1940
was elected President of Firestone
Textiles. In this position he heads
the operation of five plants, located
in Gastonia, N. C.; Bennettsville,
S. C.; Woodstock, Ontario, Cana
da; Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Buenos
Aires, Argentina.
The production of these plants
includes cotton, rayon and nylon
textiles for use in Firestone tire
manufacturing and for sale to out
side consumers.
Mr. Karl has been a member of
the New York Cotton Exchange
since 1940. In 1953 he was named
to the Board of Trustees of the
Textile Research Institute, a non
profit organization with head
quarters at Princeton, New Jersey.
The Institute is composed of rep
resentatives of textile mills, sup
pliers and research organizations,
for the purpose of conducting
Throughout the Nation. , - .
SAFE DRIVING DAY DECEMBER 15
President Eisenhower has called on Americans to help make
December 15 a day without a single traffic accident throughout the
entire country. December 15 has been designated “safe driving day”
by proclamation of governors, mayors and county officials.
Brice T. Dickson, secretary of the Gastonia Chamber of Com
merce, has urged every motorist and pedestrian in the community
to lend personal support to “National Safe Driving Day.” The com
munity goal will be to eliminate all traffic accidents for the 24-
hour period of December 15.
The Chamber of Commerce of the United States and its member
organizations throughout the country are cooperating.
S-D Day is sponsored by the President’s Action Committee
for traffic safety in cooperation with other national organizations,
with the support of President Eisenhower.
In calling on every one to do his part toward making “safe
driving day” a success, the President made this request:
“Won’t you do your part to help stop death and injury on the
highways and roads of America? Let’s make safe driving day an
overwhelming success, and our nation’s standard for the future.”
President Eisenhower pointed out these essentials:
“First, let’s each of us make sure that we obey traffic regula
tions,
“Second, let’s follow common sense rules of good sportsman
ship and courtesy.
“Third, let each one of us resolve that, either as drivers or
as pedestrians, we will stay alert and careful, mindful of the
constant possibility of accidents caused by negligence.”
long-range research for the benefit'
of the textile industry.
A native of New Bedford, Mass.,
Mr. Karl attended New Bedford
High School and the New Bedford
Institute of Textiles and Techno
logy, where he received the bronze
medal of the National Association
of Cotton Manufacturers, an a-
ward for highest excellence, upon
graduation in 1919.
Last June Mr. Karl was again
honored by the Institute when he
was the recipient of an honorary
Master of Science degree at the
Institute’s 1954 graduation ex
ercises, where he gave the prin
cipal commencement addi’ess.
Before joining the Firestone
Company, Mr. Karl was employed
at the Butler Mill in New Bedford.
Mr. Karl is a member of the Na
tional Council for the Young Men’s
Christian Association and is on
the Board of Trustees and a past
President of the Akron Y.M.C.A.
He is well known throughout the
South and particularly in the Gas
tonia area where he has numerous
business and social friends. He is
a familiar figure in the Gastonia
plant and has contributed substan-
(Continued on Page 3)
CHILDREN'S PARTIES
DECEMBER 18
A visit by Santa Claus him
self, and a movie of one-hour
length will highlight the annual
Firestone Textiles Christmas
parties to be given for children
of plant employees, at the Webb
and Palace theatres, Gastonia,
Saturday, December 18.
Duplicate programs are sched
uled for 9 and 11 a. m., at the
Webb Theatre, 182 South Street,
to accommodate children of white
employees.
At 10 a. m., the same day, an
identical program will be given
for children of colored employees,
at the Palace Theatre on North
York Street.
As a traditional feature of the
annual event, gifts will be dis
tributed to all children who
attend.
Bowl Contest Winners
Will Receive $30
Prizes amounting to $30 will be
awarded to first, second, and third
place winners in the annual Foot
ball Bowl Contest which closes De
cember 30, Director of Recreation
Ralph Johnson has announced.
Johnson said that all employees
of Firestone Textiles are invited
to participate in the rivalry which
consists of predicting winners and
scores of the nation’s top football
teams scheduled to clash in six
major bowl games on January 1,
with the exception of the Gator
Bowl game, to be played Decem
ber 30.
Prizes will be given the three
top entries, as determined by the
highest number of game winners
picked correctly, and, in case of
ties, the most nearly accurate pre
diction of total scores of the
games.
Prizes are. First, $15; Second,
$10; and Third, $5.
Entry blanks and instruction
sheets may be obtained at the
Personnel Office, Men’s Club,
from the Refreshment Wagon, and
from the Director of Recreation.
Entries may be submitted to the
Director of Recreation, Men’s
Club, or Personnel Office, not later
than December 30. Each contestant
is limited to one entry only.
Military Simplifies
Address Form
The military has announced a
new method of addressing over
seas mail to Army and Air Force
personnel. The latest method
makes use of three lines instead of
four, dropping the use of the line
"c/o Postmaster.” An example of
the new address form would be:
Pvt. John Doe, RA 00000000
Co. X, No Such Infantry
APO 000, New York, New York
21 Service Pins Awarded Employees
Marvin Benton, carding; John
W. P. Motes, cotton weaving; and
William F. Hogan, shop, were each
awarded a service pin upon com
pletion of 15 years in the employ
ment of Firestone Textiles, Gas
tonia, in December.
Additional awards were, for ten
years service: T, J. Neesmith, card
ing; Joseph A. Martin and Arthur
C. Spencer, rayon twisting; Ray
mond H. Vernadore, rayon weav
ing; John R. Carson, skop; Frank
A. Jolly and L. C. Hartgrove,
plastic dip; and Ernest C. Kennum,
supply.
And for five years service: Edith
K. Bryson, spinning; Kathleen H.
Hodge and John R. Anthony, ray
on twisting; Betty G. Martin,
Adam F. Carpenter, and Lillie V.
Crain, cotton weaving; Robert P.
Wallace, W. H. Huffstetler and Al
fred G. Crawford, shop; and Mon-
teen B. Cloninger, quality control.
Including those awards in De
cember, the total number of 15
year pins given stands at 363. For
10 year pins the total distributed is
808; for five years, 1,851.