A gull's eye view — from the
Sheraton's high rise balconies —
was as close as many people
got to the beach during the
management meeting at
MYR. Story and pictures of
the gathering are on pages
four and five.
April/May, 1976
Vol. XXVII, No. 3
Employee subscriptions
to stock purchase plan
include 50% at maximum
The stockholder approved employee qualified
stock purchase plan was 97.8 per cent subscrib
ed. In other words, out of the 250,000 shares of
Piedmont stock set aside by the Company for
the plan, participants signed up to buy 244,422
shares.
Of the 725 participants, 369 or 51 per cent,
subscribed for the maximum amount for which
they were individually eligible.
All full time employees with two years of
continuous service were eligible. Basically the
Plan allowed employees to buy Piedmont stock
at 85 per cent of the fair market value as of
April 21, 1976. That worked out at an option
price of $4.04 per share.
Payments are made only through payroll
deductions spread over a 24 month period which
started June 1. All participants had to sign up
by May 21, 1976. They may withdraw from the
Plan at any time. Should they do so, the Com
pany will refund contributions plus 6 per cent
annual interest.
Widener wins FAA safety award
A veteran Piedmont employee has received
the Aviation Mechanic Safety Award of the
year for North Carolina.
Vestle L. Widener was recently honored by
the Federal Aviation Administration for demon
strating skill and imagination in developing the
Steven Boynton of the FAA presented Vestle with the
award as President Davis admired the plaque.
outstanding contribution to safety in general
aviation through maintenance practices in
North Carolina during 1975.
Steve Boynton of the FAA District Office in
Charlotte presented the award to Widener on
behalf of FAA Administrator John L. McLucas.
The annual award program is sponsored by the
FAA and the Flight Safety Foundation. The
recipient is chosen by his peers in his FAA
district. In giving the plaque Boynton said,
“Widener started young and aimed for excel
lence. His honor is also an honor for his Com
pany.”
Director of Aviation for North Carolina
Will Plentl, Jr., also had an award for Widener
from Governor James E. Holshouser. Widener
was named an outstanding citizen of the State
and received membership in The Order of the
Long Leaf Pine.
A native of Forsyth County, Widener joined
Piedmont in 1949 as a line crewman. He is cur
rently an inspector in the propeller shop. He
is married to the former Hilda Rowe of Win
ston-Salem. They have one son and live in
Pfafftown.
Ricbmoncl fixed base operation is officially opened
With the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon
across the hangar door by Virginia’s Lt. Gover
nor John Dalton, Piedmont officially opened
its fourth general avaition operation in the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
Actually the operation had been underway
L
for a couple of weeks before all the dignitaries
could gather for the opening ceremonies. On
hand for the occasion in addition to the Lt.
Governor were Piedmont President Davis,
Executive Vice President Magruder and Senior
Vice Presidents Northington and Saunders.
Virginia's Lt. Governor
Dalton and Piedmont
President Davis
cut the ribbon to
officially open the
Richmond operation.
General Aviation's new
headquarters at Richmond
Beech’s Eastern Regional Manager, Will West
also came in from Wichita. Mingling with these
and other Piedmont folks were Richmond area
pilots, bankers, airline personnel, politicians,
customers and newsmen. About 150 guests were
invited for the social hour and ribbon cutting
festivities.
The Richmond Division of Piedmont Avia
tion, Inc. offers Beech aircraft sales, mainten
ance and parts sales and service, air taxi and
charter services, fuel sales and avionics services.
George Tucker is the manager of Piedmont’s
newest general aviation operation at Rich
mond’s Byrd Field.