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7ii‘«^#one S3SWI
DECEMBER, 1957
FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
As Of Old, Wise Men Still Follow The Star
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Reeves have moved into their new house on
Chapel road. Mr. Reeves is an intermediate frame tender in Card
ing. Mrs. Reeves is a weaver in SYC Weaving.
Bobbie Jean Ballew, daughter of James Ballew, fixer, and
Mrs. Ballew, Spooling, received treatment in a York, S. C., hospital
in November.
Leon Dawkins, fixer, recently spent a weekend at Kure Beach,
S. C. He went there to do some deepsea fishing.
Card Tender Roscoe Westmoreland and Mrs. Westmoreland
had as guests on a recent weekend Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Parson of
Gillsville, Ga.
Mrs. Andrew Davis, mother of Marion Davis, can hauler, was
a recent patient at a hospital in Bryson City, N. C.
Main Office
Mary Johnson, Payroll, spent a recent weekend visiting rela
tives in Greenville, S. C.
Beairice McCarier, Payroll, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brandon
took an automobile trip to Baltimore, Md., in November. They
traveled across the Skyline Drive into Virginia, stopping for a night
at Natural Bridge. Another point of interest on the way was Shen
andoah National Park. In Baltimore, they visited Mrs. Alfred
Moulder, Sr., a former employee of Firestone here; and Mr. and Mrs.
Edward Kehoe. Mrs. Kehoe is a sister-in-law of Mrs. McCarter.
Gene Alexander. Accounting, underwent treatment in a Gas
tonia hospital in November.
Mrs. A. T. Newton, third shift First Aid nurse, returned home
in late November, after having undergone a major operation in
Gaston Memorial Hospital. She was reported as making good
progress in her recovery.
Mr. and Mrs. C. V. Queen marked the 24th anniversary of their
wedding on November 11. Mrs. Queen is Cable Twisting and Re
spooling inspector.
Charles Hipps, second hand, and Mrs. Hipps are back at
home after a week-long November vacation in Florida. While in
that state, they visited a son and his family in Miami. By making
the trip by airplane, the Hipps’ had more time to spend under
Florida sunshine.
—More On Page 7
Football Contest Offers Cash Prizes
A round of seasons, and God in His provi
dence has brought us “safely through an
other year.” With the Christmas season near,
I am sure that each of you is planning to ob
serve the holidays in your own way, with
family and friends.
As we review the year now ending, each
one of us can see much for which to be
genuinely thankful. Of our almost countless
list of blessings, this one stands oiit clearly:
Our future in America is hopeful.
In the warmth and gaiety of the Yuletide
season, it is altogether easy to forget that
there are millions of people across the earth
whose most-desired gift this Christmas is
freedom—freedom to work, to speak, to
worship, to bring up their families in their
own way, without fear of tyranny.
For the people who are denied the basic
human freedoms, no material blessings can
provide a substitute for those benefits which
we in America so often take for granted.
As we enjoy the holiday season, let us re
member the first Christmas almost two mil-
leniums ago, when angels spoke words
that have been an inspiration to mankind
across the years: “Glory to God in the high
est, and on earth peace, good will toward
men.”
Let us remember, also, the example of the
shepherds on that Night long ago, when
they followed the star to Bethlehem, seeking
the newborn King. Today, wise men still
follow the same Star of Hope. By living in
this spirit, we can have a blessed Christmas
and a better world for ourselves, members
of our families and for our fellowmen every
where.
At our Gastonia plant during the past
year, we have set an example of how men
and women can work together, each respect
ing the other’s talents—all benefiting from
each other’s accomplishments and attaining
a common goal.
Let us pray sincerely that the day will
soon come when the whole population of
earth will know more of the blessings that
we Americans have shared in 1957, and shall
enjoy during 1958.
In this spirit, I extend to you and your
family my sincerest wishes that this Christ
mas will be the most meaningful you have
ever known, and that the New Year will
bring you hope, happiness and peace.
General Manager
GOING PLACES. . . SEEING THINGS
December Good Time To Visit Outer Banks
December fare for traveling and sightseeing
adds up to a variety listing of places to go and
views to enjoy on a short trip, a week-end
journey, or a wintertime vacation. Attractions
make up a lively schedule, beckoning with appeal
to almost any fancy for the Firestone traveler in
early winter “down South.”
This note comes from the Travel Information
Service of the Recreation department, which each
month presents this column of suggested places
for you to spend some off-job hours in pleasant
experiences along highways and byways of the
Mid-South.
North Carolina has winter vacation spots which
are at their best from autumn through spring.
Prominent among them are the Sandhills resorts
of Pinehurst and Southern Pines, reached by
US Highway 1, the resort of Tryon in the “ther
mal belt” of the Blue Ridge foothills, and the all-
year community of Sedgefield in the Piedmont.
BECAUSE of several events scheduled, this
season of the year is a good time to visit the
historic, picturesque Outer Banks of North Caro
lina, advises the Travel Information Service. A
stop at Hatteras and other communities along the
Banks will long remain a pleasant memory.
Hatteras on the Outer Banks is 60 miles below
Manteo. There is daily bus service and free ferry
service to the Manteo and Nags Head area. This
colorful fishing village of Hatteras is the largest
community on Hatteras Island. In this region
you will find that many native “Bankers” are
descended from ship-wrecked sailors, a fact which
is reflected in the native speech. Hatteras and
other villages along the Banks—Frisco, Avon,
Salvo, Buxton, Wayne, Rodanthe—are yet rela
tively obscure from mainland influences.
A hard-surfaced road extends from Hatteras to
Oregon Inlet at the north end of the island. In
addition to a year-round hotel, there are several
guest houses operating in winter.
WHILE in this area, two of your main points
of interest will be the Maritime Museum at Cape
Hatteras Lighthouse and the Museum of Natural
History at nearby Bodie Island Lighthouse. Both
museums in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Recreational Area are open to the public all sea
sons of the year. This, the only national seashore
park in the United States, is now accessible by
hard-surfaced highway and free automobile ferry.
One of the outstanding events on the Decem
ber travel calendar is the Celebration of the
54th Anniversary of Powered Flight, at the
Wright Brothers National Memorial, near Kill
Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk and Nags Head. The
program each year commemorates the Wright
Brothers’ first successful flight in a powered
aircraft. Here, amid restless mountains of sand,
shifting constantly with the winds and tides, one
of the dunes has been “anchored” with tough
grasses to serve as the base for the Wright
Monument. On the anniversary program this
year, a formation of military aircraft will climax
ceremonies at the monument.
At the Kitty Hawk memorial are authentic rep
licas of the hanger, workshop and living quarters
used by Orville and Wilbur Wright when they
made their conquest of the air, December 17, 1903.
ALSO in the Outer Banks area during the
holiday season, you can take a journey into the
past by attending the “Old Christmas” festivities
at Rodanthe on January 5. Residents of this
community on Hatteras Island have observed this
date for generations. Appearance of the legendary
figure known as “Old Buck” is a highlight of
the evening celebration which includes singing,
dancing and an oyster roast.
At the Chapel Hill Morehead Planetarium, Uni
versity of North Carolina, travelers may see the
Christmas story in the splendor which the Bibli
cal account gives it. “Star of Bethlehem,” which
runs nightly through December 31, is a celestial
pageant which recreates the skies of Judea on
the planetarium dome, just as astronomers say
they appeared in the year 7 B.C. The presenta
tion is based on the King James version of the
Christmas story.
Winter Calls For Extra Driving Care
Your accuracy as a football
score prophet can win you some
money. When you enter the an
nual winners-and-scores contest
of major bowl football games
this year, you stand in line to
take home one of these prizes:
First: $15; Second; $10; Third:
$5.
All employees are eligible to
enter the competition which con
sists in attempts at predicting
winning teams in the nation’s
five major gridiron clashes, most
of which are scheduled for New
Year’s Day. An exception is the
Gator Bowl game, which will be
played December 28.
The guessing rivalry has been
sponsored by the plant Recrea
tion service for the past several
years. Winners are determined
by the highest number of team
victors picked correctly. In event
of ties in the guessing, the em-
ployee-contestant having the
most nearly accurate prediction
of total scores of the games will
be declared the winner.
ENTRY blanks and instruc
tion sheets may be had at the
office and the concession counter
of the Recreation Center, the In
dustrial Relations office, and the
refreshment wagon.
Deadline date for entries is
December 28.
First-place winner in the con
test last year proved that you
need have no “inside track” in
formation in order to carry away
the prize money. Vernon
Lovingood, overseer in Sales
Yarn Twisting, received the $15
after having matched pure luck
against facts and figures of seri
ous football fans. He had gone
down the list, picking scores “out
of the air.”
The top winner last year pro
fessed to know almost nothing
about football, and at that time
had never watched a game other
than on television.
The other two winners—James
Cooper, Time Study, (second)
and J. C. Crisp, Ply Twisting
(third), were more scientific in
their predictions. They had kept
close tab on the games and
based their entries on winning
averages of the teams involved.
“This all goes to show,” said
Recreation Director Ralph John
son, “that somewhere in be
tween pure guesswork and score
records to guide you, anyone
stands a good chance to win.”
TO OUR EMPLOYEES
The month of December
brings wintertime — officially —
to the Mid-South, and with it,
winter driving conditions. Care
ful observance of simple, sound
suggestions, made by the Na
tional Safety Council’s commit
tee on winter driving and by
the N. C. Department of Motor
Vehicles, can prevent injuries
and loss of life on the highways
during the hazardous months
ahead.
Here is a listing of the sugges
tions:
Remember that the increase in
hours of darkness adds to driv
ing hazards.
Accept personal responsibility
for keeping your car safe for
driving under all winter condi
tions.
Keep windshield and windows
clean at all times. Keep head
lights and windshield wipers in
good working order. A depend
able defroster is often necessary
equipment for safety.
Make sure that tires are in
good condition. Use tire chains
when necessary. A bag of sand
carried along can also help you
out of sleet, snow and ice.
Pump brakes for stbpping on
snow or ice.
Adjust speed to road and
weather conditions after getting
the “feel” of the road.
Follow at a safe distance.