OCTOBER, 1962
THE PIEDMONITOR
PAGE FIVE
P/EDMONT PRESS NOTES
(Piedmont Press Notes encountered a problem last
month when there was more station news than space
Consequently items submitted by reporters at FAY
PKB, GSO, CHO, BLF, CRW, and TRI were not
printed. Herewith, their ne\vs:)
FAYETTEVILLE—“We are proud to announce
that we are among the stations receiving a free steak
dinner,” says June Greer. Manager Bill Wooten is
back from vacation, she reports, ditto Robert Jackson
and Carl Bruden. It’s bowling time and the men are
out there scrapping again. Operations Agent Dwayne
Jones and spouse have been taking dancing lessons
and have been “volunteered” to give a demonstration
of their accomplishment at the next party.
PARKERSBURG-MARIETTA—Writes Virg Flinn:
“PKB is getting ready for winter with a paint-up-fix-
up month, all outside. Equipment is getting a fresh
coat of Piedmont blue, waxing the old snow shovel
and checking the tire chains. Our high intensity lights
will be installed by the end of September. This will
be a great help to winter operations. Jim “Peachie”
Kendrick has returned to work after spending his va
cation at his Atlanta plantation. Jim says he looks to
the day when he can retire to Atlanta and just grow
peaches. Those of you who like to hunt, don’t forget
the season's opening in W. Va. soon and there’s lots
of game in these hills. If you come up soon bring a
paint brush — we can use some help.”
GREENSBORO-HIGH POINT—Don Tate reports that
things are once again looking a trifle normal since
EAL resumed flights. “We have experienced almost a
complete change-over of personnel here,” he writes.
“Gene Shore to MBC; Richard Smith to DAN; C. R.
Blackmon to LYH; Tom Crouch promoted to Chief
Agent at GSO; and Lyle Cox promoted to Chief Agent,
a new position for our station. We have also welcomed
new Agents in the persons of Ray Lapairie, Bob Plum
mer, John Hanner and Ted Buchanan. On September
2 we gratefully accepted our second steak dinner for
increasing our boardings. All the Agents attending en
joyed it thoroughly with your reporter and Ralph
Cashatt as usual eating everything in sight.”
50 years of Piedmont service are represented by these
Roanoke Agents, seen receiving their 10 Year pins from
President T. H. Davis. Sporting the nev/ emblems are (left
to right) W. R. Taylor, Bob Stepp, James Wilson, Bessie
Zerbee, and Virginia Price.
CHARLOTTESVILLE—Reports on new employ
ees, transfers and vacations comprise this month’s
news from CHO via Libby Reed. Don Pierce has joined
the staff and readily made a place for himself. Leonard
Martin is missed after transferring to ATL. Manager
Dick Mahn and family vacationed in ILM; the Warren
Foster family in Kansas City and Albuquerque; A1
Norvelle in Lovington; and Howard Tail in Virginia
Beach. Tommy Durrer and his wife are expecting a
visit from the stork in late autumn.
BLUEFIELD—Reporter Joe Robertson interrupts
his preparations for ole man winter long enough to
send the following: “Vacations are still in full swing—
Ted Farrington and family just returned from Florida
and Woody Woodruff headed north. A big welcome
extends to our two new Agents, Sonny Bennett and
Gene Elmore, both local area residents. We’re proud
of our other local personnel with Piedmont — Dottie
Elmore and Ella Shaffer as Stewardesses, Marie Leedy
as an Agent in TYS, and Howard Thompson as co
pilot. We want to express our sympathy to the family
of Mrs. Marion Wall who passed away August 28. I’m
sure many of you read her famous “Sky Lines” col-
ums in the local papers. Mrs. Wall contributed more
than any other individual to the building and expan
sion of the Mercer County Airport and we feel sure
there will never be another individual so devoted
and interested in aviation in this vicinity.”
CHARLESTON—Record boardings have been
made lately, with CRW in August missing 3,000 by
just 90 passengers. Ruth Shumate says if 628 had
gone to BLF and they’d had fewer mechanicals they
just might have hit the magic mark. Irene Kiser spent
her vacation lolling in Florida, and Elinor and Bill
Grubbs took a brief trip to BLF for a steak dinner.
Best get well wishes go to Ronald Abshire who’s been
showing up on the sick list lately.
TRI-CITIES—These musings come from Ray Nor
ris: “It would be easier to write station news if some
thing spectacular happened. We have all the everyday
things. For instance: Hugh Sluder’s appetite for'four
VJW LE
mmm
pieces of pie after a full-course meal; Don Woods
working hard in his office; A. L. Brown trying to
drum up trade; Howard Galloway not getting his fuel
report from the hangar on time; Jennie Fincher physi
cally but not mentally back from vacation; Brad
Moody keeping the bowling team going; Charlie Mor
rison killing off the squirrel population; and Paul
Puckett typing passenger schedules. These are not
very outstanding things but it does make work at
TRI real interesting. Come by and see for yourself.”
COLUMBUS—Bert Carlos sent in his last article
for a while as he marches off to spend six months
with his Uncle Sam. CMH got their steak feed Oc
tober 13 at a new restaurant in town. Bill Cash spent
his recent vacation at home, much to the delight of
his family. A welcome is extended new Agent Keith
Douglas, who came to Piedmont after working in CMH
with Eastern.
LYNCHBURG—The station has reached 100 per
cent in the United Fund drive, according to Frank
Reynolds. The ATL personnel should be commended,
says Frank, for the help and cooperation they ex
tended those attending the airline ball where every
one had quite a blast. The new LYH tower is nearly
finished and should be ready by December. The sta
tion has passed air mail and express boardings figures
for the past year with air freight close behind. Con
gratulations are due the C. R. Blackmon family since
the doctor says C. R. should be a pop for the second
time when this goes to press. Get well wishes go to
Joan, wife of Levy Heath, home after recent surgery.
BALTIMORE—Writes Gary Schuman: “From the
number of get well cards and wishes received, I’d
say everyone on the PAI system is rooting for a fast
recovery for Agent Robert Gilley, who was injured
in a ramp accident October 3. We wish to thank all
of you for your kindness. Bob is doing very well and
we expect him back on the job sometime in December.
Don Shanks had a recent surprise party and present
were all the BAL gang plus Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Clark
from DCA. A Piedmont Employees Club is being
formed here with election of officers to be held at
the next station meeting.”
DANVILLE—Congratulations to Linda and Jerry
Cox, proud parents of a boy born October 8. DAN is
now handling Eastern business, and two former EAL
employees, Joe Burton and Leon Jayne, have joined
the group. “We enjoyed our steak dinner last month,”
writes Bob Price, “and we are looking forward to our
next one. Our new terminal was dedicated this month
and was described as one of the finest in Virginia.
We again went over our quota for boardings this
month, and expect to do the same in the months to
come.”
LOUISVILLE—Reporter Howard Hughes does the
honors and brings everyone up to date on SDF: “The
stork has left another bouncing bundle at Mechanic
Earl Tompkins’ house, and is scheduled soon to return
to Agent Mack Moore’s house. From there he will
make his first visit to Carol and Paul Masterson.
Agent Bob Gilbert and family are back home in In
diana on vacation. Our summer picnic was a huge suc
cess, thanks to LEX. They came over and worked for
us while we all had a grand time. Our food was so
good, thanks to all the ladies, that we didn’t have
enough left to offer the LEX Agents a sandwich. We
hear Mr. Turbiville would love to have a spaghetti
dinner. Now we won’t feel badly when he comes to
SDF. We’re so poor we’d be doing a big trick to pull
that off!”
SHENANDOAH—Several records have been set
of late at SHD. They have set a record for total board
ings in one calendar year as of October 1, and exceeded
the air mail record by 3,000 pounds and the air ex
press by 7,000 pounds. Doelph Pitcock reports the
Piedmont Bowling Team is leading the league and is
headed toward the Championship. Correspondent
Roger Greenlaw notes recent visitors Pete Ginter of
Lufthansa, and Ed Best, Les Watson, and Mitch Ever
hart. And he says if all goes well the outer marker
should be completed by the end of November.
KNOXVILLE—Two employees have been added at
TYS. Marie Leedy, new to Piedmont, and W. D. Mer
cer, a transfer from ATL. Sam Vance and Norman
Miller were presented their Ten Year Pins by Presi
dent T. H. Davis, reports Carl Simpson. Stewardess
Eberle Smith is now recuperating after an accident
injuring her eye. The airport expansion project has
been completed with TYS Mayor John Duncan cutting
the ribbon to dedicate the improvements. Manager
Ted Arnold and Carl Simpson are making a good will
trip to LOZ so Roy Caldwell and Jim Minnix can at
tend their steak dinner. F/0 Gene Sharp has completed
training and is now on regular trips, and Bob Connor,
formerly with EAL, has joined Piedmont ranks with
Maintenance.
ATLANTA-O—“We have added a new position to
our operations here,” writes Tommy Young. “Due to
the work load on the supervisors we now have an
acting Lead Agent. His job, when neither of the regu
lar supervisors is on duty, is to give us supervisory
coverage at all times. He is Norman Hase, who came
to us from NW. Our blessings go to him and brother,
he’ll need them. I don’t know where all the upline sta
tions get all the air mail, freight, express, etc., but
if you could see some of the flights you’d think it was
a mule train for sure. With the October 28 schedule
it looks as if we’ll have to rent a stacker for our air
craft here. We hope to continue then as well as we’ve
done before. Just squeeze in. Our Great White Father
here is still kicking in case anyone is wondering. We
really put him through the mill sometimes. ‘He. good
boy . . .’”
NEWPORT NEWS—New office space at PHF is
almost finished, complete with new reservations table
and headsets. Agents from ORF were over October 17
to sub while the crew enjoyed steak. At the ATL air
line ball, reports Fred Smith, were Manager Doug
Guin and Agent Henry Poole. Doug took a vacation
and after ATL visited relatives in Shreveport, La.
RICHMOND—Vacations are about over, says Marie
Prillaman, with Gene Jarvis the only one lucky enough
to visit the Seattle World’s Fair. Jerry Barger took his
holiday in the Carolinas. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Query be
came the parents of a girl in September. Recent visit
ing celebrities in RIC include Danny Thomas, Ray
mond Burr, Robert Cummings, Ray Charles, and Pearl
Bailey’s dog.
COLUMBIA—The following comes via CAE cor
respondent Ashlyn Hammett; “All of the Agents here
are very happy for Flo and Herman Merritt who have
a new baby boy. Recent vacations include Manager
Bill O’Bryan who visited Richmond, and Lead Agent
Johnny Lawrence who went to BLF. We’re all proud
of the display Joe Frick has in the Belk’s Department
store window for the Piedmont/TWA window display
contest. Joe’s providing stiff competition for other en
tries and we’re all rooting for him. Our best wishes
for a speedy recovery to Bob Gilley of BAL.”
ATLANTA-R—Peg Pequignot says their biggest
news item was the annual airline ball held October
6. Over 1200 airline employees attended with Piedmont
represented by 75 people from all over the system.
Bill Robertson, ATL-0, won a trip to Bangkok or Lon
don, whichever he chooses. Vacations are underway
in the reservations department. Louise Ramsey spent
two weeks in N. C.; Bob Walls and family went to
SDF; Robert Talley spent his vacation moving to his
new home; and Iona Carr took two weeks of just plain
“R and R.” W. D. Mercer has transferred from ATL
to TYS and all the staff send him best wishes.
ASHEVILLE—“A man chases a girl until she
catches him,” writes Naomi McGuinn, “and ’tis true.
Res. Agent Joyce London did just that with Julian
Putney, and they were' married October 5. A grand
time was had at the ATL ball, especially by Jane
Kienker and yours truly. Our Manager Jack Gwennap
had a few days of vacation recently. We found out he
was only resting up for the dilly of a station meeting
we had afterwards.”
Oversold by 4,660 — What a load factor on this flight!
Sightseers lined up several deep at the open house in
Baltimore held during the Skyshield military exercise. Pied
mont's 404 proved a popular exhibit with the line of pros
pective viewers at times extending 200 feet from the gate
entrance.
PARKERSBURG-MARIETTA—Virg Flinn reports:
“We wish Bob Gilley a speedy recovery and hope he
is soon back at work. The station meeting this month
was held at the airport with a theme of ramp safety
and better passenger service. Our thanks to Mrs. Dot
son for very fine pie served afterwards. Wedding bells
will soon be ringing with bachelor Charlie Hall plan
ning a late November wedding. No facts and figures
yet but from the sore backs it looks like the best
month in air freight yet.”