ALONG
CAMP
firestone
trails
They
passed
• SomG BmployGGS and lYiBinbGrs of th6ir families who
^isit Camp Firestone at Bridgewater, like to make the com
pany’s Lake James retreat a beginning place for hiking into
^ield and forest of surrounding Blue Ridge countryside.
Along a trail or in a forgotten field they may chance upon
a mountain graveyard such as this one, with the familiar
time-marked memorials to many an erstwhile sojourner.
Such gravestones are rich sources for the epitaph collector.
(Two here; “She Hath Done What She Could” and “Weep
Not For Me, Dear Clem.”)
New Production Planning
Department And Control
Production Planning and
Control, with headquarters
Gastonia, is Firestone
Synthetic Fibers and Tex
tiles Company’s newest de
partment.
It functions for the efficient
®^heduling, output and delivery
cord fabric from the com-
textile plants at Gaston-
Bowling Green, Ky., and
^ennettsville, S. C.; also for the
^^ttipany’s synthetic-fabric
'^eating units—two at Gastonia,
in Memphis and another in
^kron.
Leonard B. McAbee, with the
Gastonia plant for more than 30
has been named manag-
of the new department,
forking with him are James L.
barney and Charles P. McArver.
Robert W. Rice, division presi-
®^t, announced the three as-
^^gnrnents last month.
central function of the
*^ewiy. created department is
^^ogramming fabric output at
the
div
follow-through on product flow,
and product inventory.
Leonard McAbee, the depart
ment manager, came to work at
the Gastonia plant almost 32
years ago. He spent nearly 10
years in production jobs, fol
lowed by six years in quality
control.
From 1951 to 1956 he was
the plant director of safety In
July of 1956 he was appointed
assistant manager of industrial
relations, and remained in that
assignment until his transfer
to production management in
late 1959. He next became assist
ant manager of the cotton di
vision and worked in that ca-
• More on page 3
• 1968
S5J31W
/5a
GASTONIA
NORTH CAROLINA
Winner Of Firestone Medallion
JOSEPH MARC
MiCONNAUGHEY
“A fine young man,” said
Scoutmaster Tommy Rankin.
“An excellent student,” add
ed Harry Rogers Jr., prin
cipal of W. P. Grier Jr. High
School.
They were speaking of Joseph
Marc McConnaughey, the 1968
Gaston County winner of the
Harvey S. Firestone Jr. Scout
ing Award.
The 13-year old member of
Gastonia Troop 21 is an Eagle
Scout. He lives with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. William J. McCon-
nanughey, at 960 Churchill
Drive, Gastonia, N. C. The Mc-
Connaugheys are members of
First Presbyterian Church.
Joseph became the 23rd boy
chosen as Gaston County's most
outstanding scout. His award,
the highest Firestone makes for
Boy Scout achievement, is nam
ed for the company's honorary
chairman.
Presentation was made at the
annual Scout Awards Dinner in
Firestone Recreation Center
May 29.
The top winner has completed
eighth grade at Grier School.
During the period in which he
was in competition for the Fire
stone award, he attained 17
merit badges and his Eagle
Rank.
He has an excellent church,
school, and Scout record. As his
project for the Firestone compe
tition, Joseph did a mile swim,
and served as den chief.
Besides Joseph’s recognition,
34 other Boy Scouts from six
Gaston communities were each
awarded a Certificate of Merit
and a gift check, in recognition
of outstanding achievement. The
check is suggested for expenses
toward a summer stay at
Schiele Scout Reservation near
Tryon, or for scouting equip
ment of the recipient’s choice.
John V. Darwin, plant man
ager, presented Joseph the Sil
ver Medallion symbol of the
Firestone award, a Certificate
of Merit, a $100 U.S. Savings
Bond, and a check for expenses
at Schiele Reservation, or for
scouting equipment.
For Merit—34 More • In ad
dition to the Certificate of Merit
awarded as part of Joseph’s
More on page 2
• Along with prized Silver Medallion, plant manager John V.
Darwin presented Scout McConnaughey a letter of congratulations
from Robert W. Rice, division president.
Firestone News In 17th Year
Firestone News of Gastonia
marked its 16th anniversary of
publication last month. Initial
issue of the plant employee pub
lication was dated May 5, 1952.
Firestone News’ first editor
was Robert H. Hood. Claude
Callaway has been editor since
1954.
Since 1955, Firestone News
has received several awards
from South Atlantic Council of
Industrial Editors. With other
Firestone employee publications
it has shared in Freedom’s
Foundation awards for ‘ contri
bution to the American Way of
Life.” Once the National Wild
life Federation cited Firestone
News for promotion of natural-
resources conservation.
In recent months the Gastonia
plant paper began including
some material from the com
pany’s textile operation at Ben-
nettsville, S. C.
three textile plants of the
^sion, detailed planning and
Generous
With Blood
Add names of ten more
Firestone people to the list
those who have donated
two and three gallons
blood through the local
^nit of American Red
Cross.
Donors honored at a
late-May dinner meeting
(one gallon) Pauline H.
Sttoupe, Mason King, Eula
Uunlevy; (two gallons)
lo:
es Burr; (three gal-
ns) Ben T. Hanna,
jalph Dalton, Alfred C.
^®ssell, Horace R. Hughes,
red Davis, James O.
^ "oinas.
Above; The 52-year old building with mansard roof of slate,
and walls with high poriholes, was in service right up to April 28
this year. Wire and cable supports at right were also taken down
when station was demolished. This last photo of building was made
just before fabric-treating tower was erected on reservoir site.
A LANDMARK GONE
AND NOW . . .
New
Lines of POWER
'wecjr-*,
Age yielded to progress when the old electric station
near the plant east gate was toppled into history last month.
Its going recalled the day when it became a link to the clos
ing age of steam power at old Loray Mill, as the plant was
originally named.
Plant engineer J. G. Tino Jr. dates the station back to
around 1916, when steam “muscle” was retired and wheels of
production were hitched to electric current. At that historic
turning point, Duke Power Company—in business a while
Right: Workmen cleared brick and rubble, while others were
busy at constructing new outdoor electric station (portion at left
in picture). This one, at site of old welding shop, will have greater
capacity than its predecessor. New installation will be teamed with
existing station off Vance Street.
before that—brought in the energy supply at 44,000 volts.
The station’s huge transformers “tamed” the power to
600 volts to be further “tailored” according to need through
out the plant.