VOL. XIV
Spray, N. C., Monday June 11, 1956
NO. 24
578 Have Retired
Under Pension Plan
Nineteen Fieldcrest employees retir
ed June 1 to make a total of 578 per
sons who have retired with a monthly
pension for life, paid for by the
Company, since the pension plan was
established in December, 1943.
Of the newest retirees, 15 were from
the North Carolina mills, three were
from the Towel Mill at Fieldale, Va.,
and one from the Karastan sales office
in Chicago.
The retiring employees were honored
in ceremonies in the Nantucket con
ference room on Friday morning, June
1. During the program, their first pen
sion checks were presented.
E. J. Hoechst, director of industrial
relations, presided. He told the re
tirees that “As senior Fieldcresters,
you are joining a very select group.”
He pointed out that the Governor of
North Carolina, the Mayor of Draper,
and two Spray commissioners are re
tired Fieldcrest employees. Other re
tirees are engaging in a variety of ac
tivities in which they are especially
interested, including some who are
ministers or businessmen. He predict
ed that the present retirees likewise
will find retirement a happy and satis
fying experience.
In a brief address, Harold W. Whit
comb, president of Fieldcrest, praised
(Continued on page two)
Guinan Will Be Speaker
At Meeting In Chicago
Walter B. Guinan, vice-president in
charge of Karastan sales, will speak
at a meeting of the Frederick ,A.tkins
buying office at the Bismarck Hotel in
Chicago on Wednesday, June 20.
“Trends in Carpets” will be Mr.
Guinan’s subject at the meeting, which
takes place during Chicago’s semi-an-
nual home furnishings market.
Exemption Changes
If you have had a changre in the number
of exemptions you list for federal in
come tax deductions, you will want to
notify the Payroll Department before
July 1 so that the changes can be put
into effect. See page four for detailed
information concerning: such changes in
status.
Record Vote Given To Luther H. Hodges
GOV. LUTHER H. HODGES
. . . As he voted at Spray Precinct . . .
Law Named To New
Position At Mills
Appointment of Marvin A. Law as a
member of our manufacturing organi
zation has been announced by Vice-
president E. W. Medbery. Mr. Law
will be responsible for coordinating
and expediting mill and staff functions
involved in the development and styl
ing of our domestics products.
Responsibility for styling and product
development of each line remains un
changed; namely, with the department
sales manager and the mill manager
concerned, Mr. Medbery said.
new p r o d u c t de-
M. A. Law A native of Meck
lenburg County, Mr. Law is a grad
uate of the Textile School of North
Carolina State College and has been
associated with leading textile com
panies, including Burlington Indus-
(Continued on page four)
Former Fieldcrest Executive
To Continue As Governor
Of North Carolina
Luther H. Hodges, former Fieldcrest
executive, has been nominated for re-
election as Governor of North Carolina.
He overwhelmingly defeated three
opponents in the Democratic primary
May 26. Since Democratic nomination
is equivalent to election in North Caro
lina, Governor Hodges will continue
in office for a full four-year term fol
lowing the November election.
He was elected Lieutenant Governor
in November 1952 and as Lieutenant
Governor presided over the State Sen
ate in 1953. He became Governor No
vember 9, 1954 following the death of
Gov. William B. Umstead.
Governor Hodges was associated with
Fieldcrest for 31 years and was vice-
president of Marshall Field & Com
pany and general manager of Fieldcrest
Mills when he took early retirement in
1950 to become Chief of the Industry
Division of the ECA in Western Ger
many.
His continuous service with the
Company dated from 1919 when, just
(Continued on page four)
Rug Sales Meeting
Set For This Week
The semi-annual rug sales meeting
will be held at the Karastan Mill Thurs..
day and Friday, June 14 and 15. Eight
een of our road salesmen for rugs from
all parts of the U. S. will attend the
meeting together with mill and sales
officials and members of general
management.
During the two days of planning and
discussion, the group will view our new
merchandise for fall, observe manu
facturing processes and establish our
Karastan sales program for the fall and
winter season.
The meeting precedes the Chicago
Furniture Market which opens in the
Merchandise Mart Monday, June 18.
Our new rugs will be introduced to
the trade at this international home
furnishings market which attracts up
wards of 40,000 exhibitors and buyers.
Management officials and representa
tives of the Karastan sales force will
attend the market opening.