We remember belter the weak
ness in which a man started, than
the strength to which he has
grown.—Baltasar Gracian
Tir«$ton«
MJIW
GASTONIA
A man who lives by himself and
for himself is apt to be corrupted
by the company he keeps.
—Walter Scott
VOLUME V
GASTONIA, N. C., MAY, 1956
NO. 5
Purchase Of Bonds
Now 97.1 Per Cent
☆
☆
☆
PRIZE-WINNING CONTESTANTS — Cramer
Little. Shop lathe operator, receives from Plant
Engineer W. G. Henson, Sr., a Savings Bond for
$100 for his first-place letter in the Savings Bond
Contest. Others in the picture, Mrs. Rosie Fran-
cum. Shop clerk; and Earl Clark, Rayon Twisting,
each received a $50 Bond for their second and
third-place letters on "Why Firestone Employees
Should Purchase U.S. Savings Bonds."
Have Your Car Safety Checked, May 14-19
May 14 through 19 is a good
time for employees to take a
look at the equipment on the
family car. This is the time
period set for the free, voluntary
ft^otor vehicle safety check pro
gram in Gastonia.
The safety check program is
being sponsored by the Gastonia
City Police Department, in co
operation with the North Caro
lina Motor Vehicle Department,
the Inter-Industry Highway
Safety Committee, Look Mag
azine, and the National Safety
Council.
Items included in the inspec
tion are: Brakes, front and rear
lights, steering, tires, exhaust,
glass, windshield wipers, rear
view mirror, and horn.
Five inspection stations have
been set up throughout Gas
tonia. At each station a qualified
mechanic and helper personnel
from Gaston Technical institute
will carry out the car check.
The following inspection sta
tions have been announced:
West Franklin avenue, 1600
block; East Franklin avenue. 100
block; West Second avenue, 600
block at Todd Field; North
Chester street, 300 block; Jack
son Road. 1200 and 1300 block.
SEVERAL PRIZES will be
awarded on lucky numbers from
tickets given the car owners at
the time of inspection.
Slogans for the car-check
week are; “Check your car—
check accidents,” and “Today’s
inspection — tomorrow’s protec-
tection.”
The car examination is for
the purpose of looking over the
10 items likely to cause acci
dents. Cars which pass the 10-
point exam will be provided
with a windshield sticker. Others
whose cars fail to meet the
standards may correct the faulty
equipment and have the cars
inspected again.
—Turn to page 2
Three Win In Contest
The March 26-April 4 drive at the plant brought to 97.1 per
cent employees’ subscription to the Payroll Savings Plan of pur
chasing U.S. Savings Bonds. This attainment set an all-time record
here. The recent campaign was the second Company-wide bond-
selling effort in which the plant has participated.
In 1951 employees subscribed 80 per cent to the Plan and for the
accomplishment received the Treasury Award. A plant-wide drive
conducted in 1953 boosted participation 22 per cent over the high
level attained in 1951.
In the bond-sales effort recently ended, 26 volunteer workers
from among the employees helped to contact in person every em
ployee.
THIRTEEN DEPARTMENTS subscribed 100 per cent to the
drive. They are: Spooling, Winding, Nylon Treating, Ply Twisting,
Ply Respooling, Shop, Warehouse, Laboratory and Quality Control,
Cotton Office, Shipping, Personnel, Recreation, Refreshment.
“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to everyone at the
plant for the splendid cooperation during the Bond campaign,”
said O. K. Forrester, overseer in Spooling and Winding and chair
man of the drive.
“We did not set a goal to be reached, and the response indi
cates that our people are convinced of the wisdom of saving a
portion of their earnings through the systematic payroll Plan,” Mr.
Forrester added.
IN THE LETTER-WRITING contest during the drive on “Why
Buy Bonds”, three winners of prizes were named. They are: Cramer
L. Little, Shop, first prize; Mrs. Rosie Francum, Shop clerk, sec
ond; and Earl Clark, Rayon Twisting, third. Contest rules allowed
that if winners were Bond subscribers the amount of the prize in
—Turn to page 5
Sii^estion On Waste Control Pays $850
When James Reel, 1219 South Madison street,
turned in his first suggestion to the Company
Suggestion Awards System, he “never dreamed”
it would pay him off at the rate of better than
$53 per word.
His suggestion, which will help reduce waste
in the creeling operation for weaving rayon and
nylon cord fabrics, was contained in just 16
words.
The payment of $850 is the highest monetary
award for a single suggestion ever to be given at
any textile plant of the Firestone Company.
The suggestion winner is a head creeler on the
first shift of Synthetic Weaving. He first came
to work at Firestone in 1937. For a time he was
a weaver in the plant, but has been on his present
assignment approximately 5 years.
His check was awarded at the 20th Annual All-
Sports Banquet, April 14. Up to that time the
high-paying suggestion was the only one he had
ever made.
Company Offers Dormitories
For Use As YMCA Facility
The Company has announced that it is willing to donate
Its two dormitory buildings, center recreation building and
Wd on which they are located to the citizens of Gastonia to
provide a Young Men’s Christian Association here.
General Manager Harold was made public on April 18, it
Mercer in making the announce
ment of the Company offer, said:
“We believe that the people
Gastonia will profit immeas-
^^'eably by a community YMCA.
will contribute to the mental,
Physical, and spiritual welfare
both its youth and adults.”
The Company property, in
^^ont of the plant, includes the
t^Vo buildings formerly used as
dormitories, the center structure
^onnecting them. The land runs
feet on Dalton Street and
I4 feet on Firestone Boulevard.
Firestone’s gift offer includes
buildings and equipment.
When the gift announcement
appeared that the next step in
providing a YMCA for Gas
tonia would be the appointment
of a citizens’ committee and the
making of plans for a fund-rais
ing drive.
Named Officers
In Woman’s Club
Two women from Firestone
families are among officers re
cently named by the welfare de
partment of the Woman’s Club.
They are Mrs. James M. Cooper,
chairman; and Mrs. E. J.
Mechem, treasurer.
AN IDEA PAYS OFF—General Manager
Harold Mercer presents a check to James Reel,
second from left. Synthetics Weaving head creel
er, for his suggestion on waste reduction in rayon
and nylon cord. Looking on are, at left, Clyde
Moss, Assistant to the General Superintendent:
at right, William Gates, Assistant Superintendent,
Synthetics Division.