JXfK
Adams-Millis
Amco News
Vol 38, No. 4
October 1982
> * >
J. H. Millis, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Adams-Millis Corporation, is shown above, left, accepting a
50-year plaque from Frank J. McGrath, Jr., of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S. The plaque commemorates
Adams-Millis’ pioneering in the benefits field. In the center photograph are John Stockton of Kemersville and Norma Dutton of
High Point, the only two Adams-Millis employees who participated in the original plan and who still are participating. Both
have been retired a number of years. At right is a photograph of the plaque which will hang in the Adams-Millis administrative
offices in High Point.
fur'
Equitable Honors 50-year Association With Adams-Millis
The Equitable Life Assurance
Society of the U. S., underwriter
and administrator of the Adams-
Millis Corporation group life and
health care plans, recently
honored the Company upon
completion of its ^th.year i&.
employee benefit plans. The
occasion was marked by a
luncheon, hosted by The
Equitable, at the Top-of-The-
Mart in High Point, with Adams-
Millis’ officials and its employees
who administer the benefit plans
as guests.
According to research done by
The Equitable, Adams-Millis has
the distinction of being the second
company, and the first hosiery
company, in North Carolina for
which they set up a group in
surance plan.
Frank J. McGrath, Jr. of Pitts-
hiifgh- pa., and Vice President
^f The Equitable, presented a
plaque to J. H. Millis, Chairman
of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of Adams-Millis, com
memorating the Company’s 50
years of participating in
employee benefit plans.
“It was in September of 1932
that Adams-Millis Corporation
made a promise to its employees
by establishing what has become
an extraordinary 50-year rela
tionship with The Equitable Life
Assurance Society to insure the
lives and families of its
workers,” Mr. McGrath said.
“With plaquCj^we are renew
ing bur commitment to Adams-
Millis employees and their
dependents. Everyone wins
through the kind of concern and
commitment that this anniver
sary signifies.”
Mr. McGrath traced the history
of the Adams-Millis group policy,
recalling that 50 years ago, in
1932, the country was in the
Mr.Mewborne Discusses Industry
For National Hosiery Week
(The following article is a
portion of a newspaper feature
written by Jeff Cohen, Assistant
Sunday Editor of the HIGH
POINT ENTERPRISE, and is
used here with the permission of
that paper. The story was one of
several events in High Point
during National Hosiery Week
which focused attention on the
hosiery industry.)
William B. Mewborne, Jr.,
President and Chief Operating
Officer of Adams-Millis, was
among those interviewed for
THE ENTERPRISE story and
excerpts from his remarks
follow:
International trade, energy and
productivity were cited by Mr.
Mewborne as among the most
pressing problems of the hosiery
industry today. “The textile
industry is getting ahead of the
problems,” he said, but added
that the “tough times are not
over and there will be more
failings in the textile industry.”
He added, however, that on
balance, the industry has
identified the problems.
One of the most publicized
problems has been cited as
foreign competition. Mr.
Mewborne said, however, that
despite the common belief that
imports tend to pose one of the
biggest threats to the textile
industry, the problem actually is
one of international trade.
“We need a stronger posture at
the negotiating table when
talking international trade,” Mr.
Mewborne said. “For example, I
want the exact same privilege as
that given another country. Do
not protect me, but give me the
same opportunity. Give me an
even shot at it.”
As for the problem of energy,
Mr. Mewborne said the industry
has responded well. “We have
done the short range things that
make us more efficient,” he said.
Mr. Mewborne spoke highly of
hosiery woriiers, calling them
people with “a strong work
ethic.” He added that
“(hosiery) people want to work.
They believe in work. They have
the ability to be as skilled as our
work demands.”
“Overall, hosiery industries
are in good shape,” Mr.
Mewborne said, and added that
although there are problems all
around and the current economic
conditions appear to be a fact of
life indefinitely, the industry has
positioned itself well.
Also during National Hosiery
Week, Sid Smith, Senior Vice
President of the National
Association of Hosiery
Manufacturers, spoke at a
meeting of the High Point Rotary
Club. He noted that slightly more
than half of the United States
hosiery manufacturers are
located in North Carolina. He
also said that “the hosiery
industry is not without
problems...but continues to hold
its own when other industries
have fallen off drastically.”
Mike Rakouskas, of the
Economic Development Division
of the North Carolina
Department of Commerce,
reported that there are 302
hosiery manufacturing
companies, employing some
63,000 persons, in this state. Last
year, he said, 310 million dozens
of pairs of hosiery were shipped
by the hosiery industry. He added
that hosiery production is
expected to increase through the
year 2000 and the industry is
likely to remain North Carolina’s
largest employer.
throes of “The Great Depres
sion,” and that to offer its
employees a group insurance
plan was a very bold step for a
company in those depressed
economic times.
^gjnning,
however, Adams-Millis has con
sistently expanded its benefit
plans until today not only is life
insurance included, but also a
comprehensive health care plan,
a pension plan and a stock option
plan are among the benefits of
fered to employees.
Included in the guests at the
limcheon was Mr. W. J. Fraley,
who was The Equitable represen
tative who first negotiated the
plan with Adams-Millis when the
late J. E. Millis was president of
the company.
Also attending from The
Equitable were Clyde Jennings,
Jr., of Atlanta, Regional Sales Of
ficer; Oscar L. Shoenfelt, Jr., of
Richmond, Group Sales
Manager; L. E. Sigmon of
Greensboro, District Manager;
C. E. Williamson, of Richmond,
Group Benefits Manager; and
William A. Weaver, of Charlotte,
Group Representative who has
serviced the Adams-Millis ac
count for the past 30 years.
Mr, Mewborne Resigns;
Will Remain Board Member
James H. Millis, Sr., Chairman and Chief Executive Of
ficer of Adams-Millis Corporation has announced the
resignation of William B. Mewborne, Jr. as President and
Chief Operating Officer effective October 15, 1982. He will
continue to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of
Directors.
Mr. Millis issued the following statement, on accepting
Mr. Mewborne’s resignation;
I regretfully announce the resignation of William B.
Mewborne, Jr. as President and Chief Operating Officer, ef
fective October 15,1982. He will continue to serve as a direc
tor on our Board.
Bill’s new position is President and Chief Operating Of
ficer of PCA International, Incorporated in Matthews,
North Carolina. PCA International is the world’s largest
producer of retail color photographic portraits.
Since joining Adams-Millis in 1970, Bill has made signifi
cant contributions to our success and he will be missed. We
wish him and his family every success as they embark on
this new endeavor.
Effective with Bill’s departure, I will assume the respon
sibility of President and Chief Operating Officer in addition
to my present position as Chairman and Chief Executive Of
ficer.