SUPREMACY—Production manager F. B. Galligan (left) pre
sents Supremacy Trophy to Carl Rape, carding overseer. Carding,
which captured the top laurels for its record of the highest number
of departmental accomplishments in sports last year, broke a
long-term winning streak between the spinning and twisting de
partments.
IN APPRECIATION—Banquet speaker N. V. "Swede" Nelson
(left) was delighted with his gift of a Firestone outboard motor, as
token of the company's appreciation for his third visit to the
annual event since 1950. With him are Firestone Textiles presi
dent W. A. Karl (center) and Gastonia plant general manager
Harold Mercer.
Voted Ideal Athletes on the
basis of their recreation partici
pation. sportsmanship and in
dividual achievement, were
(from left, top - to - bottom);
James Hager, Weaving (cotton);
Melvin Morrison, Weaving (syn-
thetics); Annette Owens, wife of
John Owens, Shop; Gene Walk
er, Carding; Lenore York, Spool
ing; James Reel, Weaving (syn
thetics).
☆
☆
☆
5 Adult Scholars
Get Certificates
All work and no play makes
Jack a dull boy. All play and no
work—not so good either. A
sensible balance between play
and work puts Jack on the road^
to a better life.
Thus Firestone Textiles presi
dent W. A. Karl revised the 0I4
adage, in remarks which were sii
part of his introduction to the
presentation of certificates to
five Firestone men at the All-
Sports Banquet in April.
The certificates recognized
completion of courses in thei
adult-learning program of Gas
ton Industrial Education Center.
Courses of study, those receiving
the certificates, and their de
partment at the plant;
Developing Self-Expression —
24TH ALL-SPORTS BANQUET
Another Year—Another Harvest Of Stars
James M. Cooper, methods-
standards; Charles Hamrick,
roller shop.
Supervisory Training—Wood
row Wooten, quality control;
Ray Thomas, spinning.
Conference Leadership —
Homer G. Hall, synthetics di
vision.
ARRIVALS...
• Cynthia Darlene, daughter
of Bobby Jo Smith, twister-dof-
fer in Twisting (synthetics),
April 17.
• Laura Nell, daughter of
Claude Callaway, editor of Fire
stone News, April 23.
• Jackie Lee, son of Marion
G. Davis, sliver handler in Card
ing, April 3.
• Myra Elizabeth, daughter of
Joe A. Canipe, yarn hauler in
Twisting (synthetics), March 14.
• Odell III, son of Odell Clin
ton II, Warehouse trucker, April
13.
Participants in the plant recreation program
shone as the stars, and the featured speaker
handed out enough of his distinctive humor to
last a whole year through. It was the 24th con
secutive All-Sports Banquet, staged each spring
to pay tribute to employees, members of their
families, and people of the plant community
who excel in the company’s recreation program.
For the second time in history, the annual event
moved away from the plant—to the new Gas
tonia YMCA, in order to accommodate the large
number who came for one of the greatest events
of its kind in the Southeast.
HONORS passed around ranged from the one
which went to the person who brought ashore
the biggest fish last summer, to the Supremacy
Trophy, traditional departmental symbol of ex
cellence in the greatest number of recreation ac
tivities during the past year.
Among the long roster of awards was a sweater
with the company “F” for each of two women
and four men—employees representing all three
shifts, and designated by their fellow sports as
“Ideal Athletes of 1959”. And there were two
“Most Competitive Athletes.” For their all-round
achievement in the greatest variety of sports-
recreation activities, they each received the
Johnson Cup, sponsored for the past 14 years
by Ralph Johnson, who was for 15 years super
visor of recreation here. He is now supervisor of
safety.
In addition to the top department and in
dividual awards, trophies and Firestone jackets
were presented to teams, leagues and individuals
for outstanding records in all major activities—
billiards, bowling, basketball, softball, bocce,
baseball, shuffleboard, table tennis, golf, putter
golf, checkers, pinochle, fishing, horseshoes, col
lege football score contest, and garden club ac
tivities.
The 16-member Recreation Council was honor
ed. Retired carding overseer S. L. Owens was on
hand as the only honorary life member of the
Council which is the guiding hand of the plant
recreation program.
And there were civic, industrial and sports-
recreation leaders there as special guests of the
company.
Firestone Textiles president W. A. Karl came
down from Akron, Ohio to make some special
awards. Retired general superintendent Nelson
Kessell was there too. . .
FEATURED SPEAKER N. V. “Swede” Nelson
filled his third engagement, counting his first
banquet visit in 1950. The renowned Boston wit,
one-time coach at Harvard and mentor of the
famed College Allstars, wove a fabric of laugh
ter for the audience. But into its warp and woof
he worked some serious threads.
Recreation supervisor Bob Purkey was master
of ceremonies. Others taking part on the pro
gram; Industrial relations manager T. B. Ipock
Jr.—invocation; general manager Harold Mercer
—welcome; Doris Corella—response; Production
manager F. B. Galligan—presentation of Su
premacy Trophy; safety supervisor Ralph John
son, buyer R. L. Tompkins, industrial relations
assistant manager A. V. Riley, Firestone Tex
tiles president W. A. Karl, and Mr. Mercer—other
special awards.
"FOR SERVICE"—R. L. Tompkins (left), presi
dent of the Recreation Council, and safety su
pervisor Ralph Johnson look at the plaque which
was a gift of the Council to Mr. Johnson in April.
It was in recognition of his more than 15 years
of outstanding service to Firestone's Gastonia
recreation program.
COMPETITIVE—Ann Hubbard, spinning, and
Payton Lewis, carding, won the title "Most
Competitive Athletes of 1959." The honor is
perpetuated by two loving cups sponsored for
the past 14 years by Ralph Johnson. This title
honors individuals for all-round excellence in
the greatest variety of sports participation.
Fishing Contest On
Many years ago, Izaak Walton
wrote a fisherman “bible”, and
his own name later came to
mean “any devotee of the an
gling art”. At Firestone in 1960,
hook-and-line devotees may try
for prizes for landing the big
gest catch, and for spinning the
broadest yarn about their fish
ing experience. This is the 24th
year the contest has been a part
of the recreation program.
Competing from April through
October are members of the two
fishing clubs representing em
ployees from all three shifts
here. Prizes: Fishing equipment.
Besides recognition for the
biggest fish in any single cate
gory, an award will go to the
member of each of the two clubs
who brings ashore the most
hefty largemouth bass.
Applications furnished by
plant recreation are turned in to
that department as fish are
caught during the season. En
tries are filed and tabulated
when the contest ends — this
year, October 31. Any entry
after that date becomes eligible
for the 1961 contest.
Top “Izaak Waltons” for 1959
were: Payton Lewis, who had
the biggest catch in six cate
gories—smallmouth bass, blue,
black drum, crappie, smallmouth
bass and white bass; and James
Barker caught the biggest carp.
Tire$ton«
MAY, I960
PAGE 3
Your America—Share In It
Anybody lately been urging you to register and vote?
It’s a reminder worth taking seriously.
Exercising your voting privilege is the one way you can
help make the rules of government which vitally affect our
lives.
Of air years, 1960 should find us taking an active in
terest in politics, or public affairs—or whatever we may
call it. For 1960 is a year of great decision.
Find out who is running for what office, what his quali
fications are, and how he feels about the things that count
most in our democratic way of life. Be sure you’re regis
tered. Check deadline date for registration in your own com
munity.
Then, on election day, go to the polls and speak your
convictions. It’s your America. Share in it.