GASTONIA • NORTH CAROLINA
AN ALL-AMERICA CITY
VOLUME XIV - NUMBER 4
MARCH • 1965
Tir«$ton«
Your Symbol
of Quality
and Service
ei
sMgew*®
Rubber Demand Grows
in international markets
THE
FIRESTONE
WORLD
lookeng around
Historic Charleston
Charleston, founded in 1670 as capital of
the Province of Carolina, was the chief
6arly settlement from which English-speak-
people moved out to populate other
Parcs of the country. For many years she
tanked as one of America’s four leading
cities, rivaling Boston, New York and Phila-
'^elphia in commercial importance and cul-
^^ral significance.
Charleston is today a progressive port
city with a rich history. Along with her
^any historic landmarks are the famed
Public and private gardens in the vicinity,
especially inviting from spring through
autumn.
The many places of interest include St.
Michael’s Church, built in 1752 and con
sidered the oldest location south of Virginia
continuously in use as a place of worship.
The tower bells, having crossed the Atlantic
five times, were preserved in Columbia
during the Civil War and finally returned
to the church in 1867. Washington, Lafayette
and Lee were notables who have worshipped
here.
This Firestone News photo shows the
massive gates of the church’s courtyard
and cemetery main entrance. The gates are
a fine example of the artistry in iron which
abounds in the Port City and contributes
to her distinctive atmosphere.
Two thirds of the world’s motor vehicles ten years from
now will be in what we now call foreign markets, predicts
Raymond C. Firestone. The chairman of the executive
committee and chief executive officer of the company made
the observation at a convention of the National Foreign
Trade Council.
total registrations, which are
now only one-half of the U.S.
total, will equal or exceed ours
by 1970.)
After outlining problems to
be met in both developed and
less-developed countries abroad,
he said the company is not dis
couraged by adverse influences.
“We know that risks are inevi
table in a private-enterprise
system and that successful ac
ceptance of these risks can yield
substantial rewards,” he said.
"The Firestone organization
believes firmly in the prospects
for rising living standards
throughout the free world. We
intend to participate fully in
the growth of the world econ
omy as American business be
comes world business."
Rubber consumption in the
rest of the free world is growing
more than twice as fast as in
the United States, he said,
noting that with these trends,
it is easy to see why the rubber
industry looks forward to fur
ther expansion in its interna
tional operations. The interna
tional expansion trend of the
rubber industry is paralleled by
other American industries, with
more than 2,000 U.S. companies
starting new operations in Eu
rope in the last six years alone.
There are many problems to
be met in foreign operations if
we are to take part in the
growing market for rubber
products, Mr. Firestone ex
plained. (At the present rate of
growth, cars on the road in
Western Europe will double in
less than six years, and their
-more on page 4
Awards To Truck Operators
son, Firestone manager of em
ployee relations. Blue Division;
ani Plato Pearson, Jr., Red
Division.
The two divisions will com
pete with each other in trying
to recruit the most members.
In the membership campaign
organization, each of the two
generals will have five colonels
and each colonel will have five
captains. Under each captain
will be five commandoes.
FIRESTONE people working
as colonels in the Blue Division
are Mrs. H. A. Cauthen, wife
of the retired assistant plant en
gineer, and L. B. McAbee, pro
duction staff assistant. Among
captains and commandoes there
will be several Firestone people
contacting fellow employees and
acquainting them with the
YMCA, its program and a d -
vantages of membership in it.
Altogether there will be some
250 persons working to enlist or
renew memberships. A report
meeting is scheduled for March
29 and another on April 5. At a
“Victory Dinner” April 12 the,
volunteer workers expect to
turn in the 2,000 or inore re
newals or new memberships.
Join The YMCA And You Buy A Bargain
A fellow-worker or a
l^eighbor soon will be point
ing out what YMCA mem
bership has to offer you and
your family. A general mem
bership campaign for Gaston
^MCA begins March 22 and
at 2,000 renewal or new
^ames added to the Y roster.
March-April is the period each
^ear when Y memberships run
and if the Gaston Y is to
Maintain its place as one of the
I^Hree largest in North Carolina,
must reinstate or add at
^6ast 2,000 members to offset
'-he outgoing number.
CHAIRMAN GENERAL of
membership effort is Ted
^Umner, official of First Union
National Bank. Serving with
in an ‘army-type’ organiza
tion is a general for each of two
'divisions. They are Ralph John-
Warehouse forklift and
towtruck operators estab
lished a good safety record
while moving materials in
1964. Three of the drivers
earned awards for excep
tional work in operating
safety and work perform
ance.
Israel Good and George Harp
er Jr., tying for first place, each
received a $25 U.S. Savings
Bond. Next was Arthur Gordon,
who received a check for $5.
All three of then\ were re
peaters for the driver awards.
Good was first-place winner in
1962 and the same year Gordon
was second-place winner; then
won first place in 1963. Harper
took first place in 1958.
Eight years ago the Gastonia
plant set up its truck-safety pro
gram, realizing the major prop
erty investment in forklift and
towtrucks in service, and the
potential danger involved in
their operation.
The program emphasizes
maintenance, with special at
tention given to operation safety
and performance efficiency.
The three awards presented
early each year are selected on
the basis of such features as
individual driver’s familiarity
and practice of safety rules as
apply to his job, alertness, work
attitude, maintenance of his as
signed vehicle, and efficiency of
operation.
Tallying is based on points
earned and demerits scored, ac
cording to a set of rules having
to do with all phases of safety
and truck operating procedures.
Safety manager Raymond
Mack keeps the operators up-to-
date on their individual stand
ing, and award v/inners are
chosen when scores are added
up at the end of a one-year
period.
Fleet Operators Choose Firestones
An exclusive Automotive Fleet magazine survey recently re-
''^ealed that fleet operators—the men who measure their cost per-
*^ile down to the fraction of a mill—select Firestone as their
*^umber-one choice in tires. In the survey, broken down according
^0 type of fleet and manufacturer. Firestone exceeded or tied every
'^iher major competitor and led in the total for all types with a
^core of 326 buyers, compared with the nearest competitor, which
Scored 310.
Warehouse
manager Fred
Morrow pre
sented awards
for truck-oper-
ating safety
and efficiency
to (from left)
Israel Good.
George Harper
Jr.. and Arthur
Gordon.
Awards honor-
ed them for
their excep
tional work last
year.