Gastonia
North Carolina
JULY 1975
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Textiles Company
25 YEARS AGO
Many Will Remember ...
• It was 1950. Barnum & Bailey Circus,
“the greatest show on earth,” gave ex
clusive performances to more than 100,000
Firestone employees and members of
their families in celebration of the com
pany’s 50th anniversary.
The shows, paid for by the company,
played for employees in Akron, Ohio;
Gastonia, N. C.; Bennettsville, S. C.; Des
Moines, Iowa; Fall River, Mass.; Lake
Charles, La.; New Castle and Noblesville,
Ind.; Pottstown, Pa.; Wyandotte, Mich.;
and Memphis, Tenn.
The midway and menagerie, clowns,
and animals with their trainers and riders
highlighted the exciting shows.
At all performances in the different
• Elephants and their riders entertained
Firestone Gastonia and Bennettsville people at
Southern States Fairgrounds 25 years ago.
plant locations a baby elephant wearing
a banner proclaiming “Firestone 1900”
followed by a full-grown animal with
“Firestone 1950” told of the company’s
growth in a half century.
Gastonia and Bennettsville people were
transported by chartered bus to the cir
cus at the Southern States Fairgrounds
near Charlotte.
Richard Cernik of the company’s Ak
ron public relations department made
many photographs of the historic event.
A quarter-century later, the company is
marking its 75th year of “quality and
service” business—“making and selling
useful things for others,” as Founder
Harvey S. Firestone said.
A Summer Place
TO
PLAY
Firestone Playground 1975 season which
opened in mid-June will continue through
August. The facility in front of the Gastonia
plant serves youngsters in the plant com
munity and West Gastonia.
The company-owned playground for
many years each summer has been operated
as a part of the City of Gastonia Dept.’s sys
tem of parks and playgrounds.
An announcement in May listed the Fire
stone facility as one of 16 in the city system
MANAGER
Industrial Relations
• • Samuel E. Crawford has been
appointed manager of Industrial Re
lations at the Gastonia plant, the an
nouncement from Philip R. Williams,
factory manager. Crawford, who be
gan working in the refreshment serv
ice, had been advanced to several as
signments since his employment in
early 1950.
IN HIS JOB as manager of
Industrial Relations, he succeeds
Ralph F. Johnson who died
June 8.
Crawford is a graduate of
Clover, S. C. High School and
earned a diploma in business ad
ministration from Evans College
of Commerce, Gastonia.
After two years as a refresh-
ment-service clerk, he took a
leave for service in the Air
Force. He returned to Firestone
in 1954 and soon thereafter was
appointed plant protection of
ficer.
After nearly eight years in
that assignment he was made
employment manager, staying in
that job three years. For two
years he was Zero Defects co
ordinator, followed by two more
years as waste control manager
in Quality Control.
IN 1971 he was promoted to
supervisor of training and em
ployee relations, the assignment
he had until May this year,
when promoted to assistant
manager of Industrial Relations.
Mr. and Mrs. (Eva Nell) Craw
ford are active members of
Linden AR Presbyterian Church,
Gastonia. He is an elder and a
past president of the men’s Bible
class.
Crawford is a member of Op
timist Club of Firestone and has
served on the board of directors.
He is active in Boy Scouts,
and in programs of YMCA and
United Appeal.
Savings Bonds
100 PER CENT
AT BENNEnSVILLE
that would not operate in summer, because
of recreation budget cutbacks. But by mid-
June, money was allocated for its operation
“as usual.”
Three City Recreation employees oversee
the playground operation Mondays-Satur-
days in daylight hours.
Besides the wading pool as main attrac
tion, there are seesaws, horseshoe pits and
swings. On designated days during the sea
son, the supervisory personnel offer crafts
instruction.
City Recreation employees for the play
ground are Ellen Lowery, Audrey Miller
and Antwone Camp.
Firestone people at Ben
nettsville have completed
their 1975 Savings Bonds
Campaign with 100 per cent
participation of all clock and
salaried employees.
Bennettsville has maintained
this Bonds-purchase level in
campaigns for the past several
years.
“We are proud of our em
ployees’ achievement in the
‘Take Stock in America’ pro
gram,” said Frances Fletcher,
who was leader of the Bonds
effort. Ms. Fletcher is senior
payroll clerk.
Plant manager Edwin E. Ful
ler and these of the supervisory-
management staff were canvas
sers: O. E. Frye, J. A. Anderson,
J. W. Mudd, Henry J. Odom,
Lemont F. Williams and M. D.
Coleman Jr.
The Bulletin Board
• In case you didn't notice
this on the plant News Center
boards in June: "Look out to the
Future. It's made of many To
days. The 'Boss of the Universe'
has delegated you the job of
making the most of it."