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SIXTV-SIXTH YEAR? NO. 44. BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1954. 12 PAGES? TWO SECTIONS
KING
STREET
BY .
ROB R1VE1RS
SPEAKING AWARD
From Principal S. F. Horton, of
the Cove Creek High School, we
learn that the late Eddie B.
Hagaman, well-known resident
of Laurel Creek township, set
aside a $100 fund, from which
each year for ten years a ten
dollar award is to be made for
public speaking at Cove Creek
School . . . The dissertations
which are to compete must be on
some phase of the constitution,
or on world peace topics . , . This
gesture on the part of one of our
most public-spirited citizens will
doubtless promote a good deal of
interest in public speaking in
that section of the county, and no
doubt provide the basis for in
creased interest in problems of
national and world concern.
MILE HIGH KITIN'
Hugh Morton, owner of the
Grandfather mountain, who has
built a highway to the top of
the massive peak, and mad* it
possible for all and sundry, tc
. look over the country from the
towering heights, has a new
notion ... He told the Demo
crat the other day that he's
making plans for a mile-high
kite flying contest on the
Grandfather this summer. A
thousand kiddles are likely to
be present, the price of admis
sion will be a kite, and those
who don't bring 'em along can
buy one at the entrance . . .
Fox movietone has agreed to
film the novel event, and each
contestant will be given a big
badge, noting "t flew a kite a
mile high." . . . This new Mor
ton promotion will get a lot of
national publicity for the reg
ion. and Linville can't do well
without spilling some of the
prosperity over In this locality I
McRAE DESCENDANT
In answer to some questions
dealing wi<h the early days of
Linville a? a tourist resort, Mr.
Morton tells as that Hugh McRae
(his grandfather) graduated from
Carnegie tech in 1885 and came
to Linville soon thereafter, bring
ing with him Alexander McRap,
of Fayetteville (no kin), who was
employed to construct the Yon
ahlossee Highway . . . Mr. Mc
Rae formed the Linville Improve
ment Co., which pioneered the
development at Linville, and re
sulted in the construction of the
old Eseeola Inn, which catered to
the select tourist trade more than
sixty years ago, and which later
burned . . . Morton fell heir to
the Grandfather and his continu
ing effort in the development of
the peaks as tourist attractions
mark the culmination of efforts
started by others of his family in
another century ... At any rate,
Grandfather Mountain, Linville,
Blowing Rock and Boone should
be considered all the same in the
matter of tourist promotion . . .
Together they offer wide variety
and an unparalleled vacation
land.
WE MAYBE LIVE LONGER
Folks hare contended in
these parte from Urn* imme
morial thai the mountain air
and the pattern of hill country
living combine to bring about
a longer life (pan . . . That Wa
iaugani invariably live longer
, than people who inhabit the
regions down below the State's
roof top.
AND A VERIFICATION
of this claim comes to Watt
Gregg from the Security Life and
Trust Co. . . . Twepty years ago
Witaiiga Building and Loan de
positors began to buy policies to
protect their savings and the
hom^ they built through the B
& L plan. That is, in case of
death, the insurance company
would lift the mortgag#*on the
home ' and everything would be
fine . This is good, and the
stockholders liked it But back
to the beginning, the insurance
company says that in the entire
twenty years they have never
paid a death claim through the
local Building and Lqan, which
they say is "nothing short of
phenomenal." It is added that no
such record exists in any other
building and loan served by Sec
urity i . . And this is good news
to the folks who like to stay
around!
Tri-County Lamb Show 1
To Be Held Here May 28 1
Rites For Senator Hoey
Are Held Oh Saturday
Final rites for Senator Clyde
R. Hoey, 78, of Shelby, senior U.
S. Senator from North Carolina,
were held at 2:30 o'clock Satur
day afternoon from Central
Methodist church, Shelby.
The pastor, the Rev. J. G. Hug
gin, Jr., officiated and burial was
in Sunset Cemetery.
Senator Hoey, who reached the
age of 76 last December 11, ap
parently died in his sleep of
heart failure at 2:45 p. m. Wed
nesday, while resting in an up
holstered armchair in his private
office in Washington.
The capitol *h y s i c i a n, Dr.
George CalVer, was called by
Spain. The doctor's official bulle
tin stated that the senator had
died of "coronary heart disease."
Dr. Calver later stated that the
left side of Senator Hoey's face
was drawn when he arrived at
the office, and the senator's left
hand clutched the arm of his
chair. "But I doubt," Dr. Calver
added, "that he had a stroke. His
heart just went back on him."
The capitol physician further
revealed that Senator Hoey had
had a heart condition "for several
months. We tried to get him to go
to a hospital but he wouldn't
quit. He wanted to keep on with
his work."
Until his death. Senator Hoey
had followed his regular sched
ule of work. During the morning,
he spent three hours with the
Senate finance committee, of
which he was a member, work
ing on the new tax bill. He made
a recorded radio broadcast with
Senator George Smathers of
Florida, then lunched with Sen
ators Burnett itaybank of South
Carolina and Spessard Holland of
SENATOR HOEY
Florida. All who had associated
with him during the day reported
he had been in good spirits.
The House of Representatives
heard tributes by its North Caro
lina members after the news
reached the House chamber, and
then adjourned in token of re
spect. Speaker Joseph Martin ap
pointed all twelve of the North
Carolina members as an official
committee to join the official
Senate committee in attending
final rites.
Mrs. Hoey, the former Mifcs
Bess Gardner of Shelby, died
February 13, 1942.
Surviving are: two sons, Clyde
R. Hoey, Jr. of Canton, and
Charles Hoey of Shelby; one
daughter, Mr*. Dan Paul of Ral
eigh; a sister, Mrs. John Shan
nonhouse of Shelby; and six
grandchildren.
161 Given Degrees
At College Finals
President B. B. Dougherty of
Appalachian State Teachers Col
lege granted degrees and present
ed diplomas Friday to 161 grad
uates, including 22 who received
the master of arts degree.
Students who were graduated
with honors included the follow
ing: Barbara Bingham of West
Jefferson, cum laude; Clara Lee
Brown of Mocksville, cum laude;
Jane Bullock of Albemarle, cum
laude; Alma Thrift Carpenter of
Shelby, cum laude; Gaynelle
Chandler of Albemarle, cum
laude; May Frances Cochrane of
Charlotte, cum laude; Rita Faye
Crowell of Charlotte, cum laude;
John P. Coulter of Catawba, cum
laude;
Boyd Daugherty of Boone, cum
laude; Barbara Davenport of
Mount Holly, cum laude; Jane
M. Dixon of Pleasant Garden,
cum laude; Lenna Duncan of
Todd, cum laude; Isabel Anne
Egger? of Boone,, magna cum
laude; Euvallea Kimball Gibson
of China Grove, cum laude; Carol
Good rum of Belmont, cum laude;
Jo Anne Graybeal, of Creston,
cum laude;
Jo Anne Hardin of Boone, cum
laude; Floyd Bryan Houck of
Todd, cum laude; Mary Frances
Kilpatrick of Asheville, cum
laude; James Moffett of Charlotte,
magna cum laude; Ann Marie
Moses Goldson, cum laude; Joyce
Putnam of Kannapolis, cum
laude; Ruth Yancey Ray of
Boone, magna cum laude; Rebe
kah Robertson of Winston-Salem,
cum laude; Betty Ann Robinson
of Hickory, oum laude;
Ray Shrum of Newton, cum
laude; Naomi Ruby Smith of
Rockingham, cum laude; Harold
Songer Of Sherwood, magna cum
laude; Myzelk Rosa Ruth Stubbs
of Shelby, cum laude; Vera Ber
nice Troutman of Barium Springs,
cum laude; Alice Ann Wilde of
Asheville, cum laude; and Rich
srd Zuber of Hickory, magna cum
laude. <
Dr. Harley Fite, president of
Carson-Newman College of Jeff
erson City, Tenn., was the 'com
mencement speaker, talking to
the graduates on the subject of
"The Beginning of Wisdom."
He said, "Let me begin by ask
you to question, and to question
seriously and soberly, the pre
sent-day purveyors of gloom and
the counsellors of despair.
"Since Hiroshima," he said,
"there have been a great many
people who are honestly convinc
ed that this old world is bent on
its own destruction. I don't be
lieve that for a minute. You see,
I happen to have a great deal of
confidence in the architect who
built this world in the first place,
and I do not believe that mere
mortals will ever succeed in de
stroying his hard work.
"Ever since the invention of
gunpowder, some seven centuries
ago, man has engaged in an un
successful effort to destroy him
self and I do not think he is big
enough, smart enough, or al
mighty enough to do so now in
spite of all the progress he has
made," the speaker said.
He continued, "If ever there
was a good day to be graduating
ffom college, this is it. If you had
tried for a thousand years to pick
an age in which to live, you could
not have chosen a better one. In
no other day could you have se
lected more interesting men and
women as your associates or been
exposed to a better education. In
no other hour in the world's his
tory that I know of could you
have picked a better time to grad
uate and to start wrestling with
more really fine opportuniUes or
more really dangerous problems
crying to be solved.
"May I just call your attention
to a few opportunities," Dr. Kite
said. "The plastic industry; the
glass industry; the ittanium in
dustry, and many many pthers.
and last but not least the great
forward movement in religion."
He continnued, "Herein lies the
greatest opportunity for growth
and advancement. Life is primar
ily an adventure of the spirit.
The greatest opportunities for pi-'
oneering in the world today lie
not in the field of science but in
the realm of the spirit.
"We are 100 years behind in
social, political, and spiritual
thinking," he said.
1 (Continued on page seven)
The Tri-County Lamb Show
will be held in the Burley Ware
house No. 2 in Boone Friday,
May 28. at 1:00 p. m? W. C.
Richardson, assistant county ag
ent, announced this week. Lambs
will be exhibited by 4-H and
FFA club members from Watau
ga, Ashe and Alleghany coun
ties. The show is sponsored by
the Business and Professional
people of Watauga, Ashe and Al
leghany counties, the N. C. Ex
tension Service and the American
Hampshire Sheep Association.
Listed below are the classes to
be shown:
1. Individual lambs.
2. Pen of three lambs (owned
by one club member).
3. County group of five (shown
by three club members).
'4. Lambs sired by registered
Hampshire ram.
5. Registered ewe lamb.
6. Registered ram lamb.
7. Fitting and showing.
THe rules that will govern the
show are: ,
1. Exhibitor must be a bona
fied 4-H or FFA member and be
the owner of lamb from birth to
bhow date.
2. Members may feed and show
a total of four lambs. Three of
these may be shown as a pen and
any two as individuals.
3. The Grand Champion and
Reserve Champion individual*,
Grand Champion and Reserve
Champion pens must be sold.
4. The Grand Champion and
Reserve Champion cannot com
pete in the pen of three lambs or
county group of five.
5. All lambs entered in the fat
class must weigh at least 70
pounds and not more than 120
pounds.
6. Registered lambs may show
in either the breeding or fat
classes but not in both.
7. F*t lambs will not be block
ed, but may be trimmed around
the dock.
8. Blocking of registered lambs
optional.
9. No prize money will be
awarded to lambs that do not
grade good or better.
10. County groups must contain
lambs from at least three exhibit
ors.
11. Fitting and showing class ?
To show in this class the lambs do
not have to be owned by exhibi
tor, but if registered and owned
by exhibitor may compete in
registered classes.
12. To compete in the class,
lambs sired by Registered Hamp
shire Ram, club member must
have the number of the ram at
the show or forfeit prize money.
13. To compete in the registered
classes the lambs must be regis
tered in the owner's name and
have the registration nunjber in
lamb's ear on date of show.
Funeral Is Held
For Father Of
Guy W. Hunt
Mr. Lee Hunt, resident of the
Laurel Springs section of Ashe
county, and father of Guy W.
Hunt of Boone, died at the home
Thursday, following ^ long ill
ness.
Funeral was held Saturday at
the Ebemexer Presbyterian
Church near the late residence,
and interment was in the church
cemetery. Rev. John W. Luke,
the pastor, was assisted in the
rites by Rev. J. K. Parker, Jr.,
Presbyterian minister of Boone.
Mr. Hunt was a pioneer mer
chant of Afhe county, and had
spent his entire adult life in that
activity until hi^ retirement ten
years ago. He was active in the
affairs of his church until his
health was impaired.
Survivors include the widow,
five sons and two daughters: John
Hunt, Williamson, W. Va.; Guy
W. Hunt, Boone; Charlie. Wil
mar and Edward Hunt of Laurel
Springs; Mrs. Ruth Sheets and
Miss Georgia ' Hunt of Laurel
Springs.
ALL Or CLASS AT REUNION
Rocky Ford, Col. ? A reunion
of the class of 1898 of the Rocky
Ford High School was held re
cently with all four members pre
sent. The class had only four
girls, do boys.
Davenport Will
Appear At Meeting
Of Boy Scouts
JOE DAVENPORT
The regular monthly meeting
of the Watauga District Commit
tee for the Boy Scout will be
held on Thursday, May 20, at the
Gateway Restaurant at noon. Joe
Davenport, new field executive
for Watauga, Ashe, and Wilkes
cotinties. will attend the meeting.
Mr. Davenport has recently
taken up residence at North Wil
kesboro after the completion of
a training course in New Jersey
for scout field executives. A for
mer student at N. C. State and a
resident of Raleigh, Mr. Daven
port has had years of practical
experience with scout work.
At the Thursday meeting, plans
will be further discussed for the
Watauga district camporee to be
held at Tater Hill Lake on May
28, 29 and 30. A bulletin on the
camporee has been issued by
Fred Gragg, chairman of the
camping committee.
The monthly round table on
scouting problems will be held
on Thursday at 7:30 at the Leg
ion Hut.
Dr. Lee Reynolds, chaitman cf
the advancement committee, will
discuss promotion as a result of
the camporee, as will Mr. Gragg.
Mr. Davenport will discuss the
summer camp program of Old
Hickory Council.
Further discussion of the camp
oree and camping program will
be made at the district round
table Thursday night at 7:30 at
the Scout Hut, over which Mr.
F. C. Miller, assistant district
commissioner, will preside.
Every troop in the Watauga
District is expected and urged to
rend representatives to tnese two
meetings, so that the summer
scouting program will benefit
scouts as much as possible. A
door prize will be given to a lucky
scouter.
First Lamb Pool
Next Saturday
The first 1954 Iamb pool for
farmers in this area will be held
at West Jefferson on Saturday,
May 20, it was announced this
week by L. E. Tuckwiiler, county
agent. Farmers who plan to sell
lambs in this pool should notify
the county agent by Monday, May
24, so that cars may be ordered
for the lambs. It will be neces
sary that farmers give the num
ber of lambs they expect to sell \
in the pool.
Lambs will be weighed from
7:00 a. m. until 10:00 a. m. and
will be loaded at once, Mr. Tuck
wilier. said.
Akron, Ohio ? A thief, using a
blue gill hook, fished about $400 |
from a safe at a local bakery com
pany. The hook was lowered
through a deposit slot and two
bags of money hauled out. Police
found the hook inside the slot.
Weather
By DR. ARNOLD VAN P?LT
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednes
day saw an end to last week's
scattered showers, and produced
slightly rising temperatures.
However, rains began again on
Thursday afternoon arfd lasted1
until Saturday morning, giving a
total rainfall of 3.38 inches.
Max. Min. 6 p.m. Date
51 31' 42 May 1<\
57 33 55 May 11
64 39 59 May 12
-59 44 46 May 13
47 42 43 May 14
54 41 51 May 15
66 45 63 . May 16
Precipitation: May 10 ? 0.05 In.;
May 14 ? 2.55 in.; May 15?0.82
in; May 16-0.01 in.
Hunter Says Horn Has
Essentials Of Success
F rank Baird Named
Democrat Chairman
D. Frank Baird. Drominent
Sudderth NaiAed
Commander For
American Legion
George Suddreth, Jr. of Blow
elected Commander
of the thirtieth District at 'the
American Legion district meet,
rng at the Legion Hut here Fri
day night.
Representatives from all of the
P?sts in the district except New
land were present. William H
Greene of Deep Gap was named
Vice-commander. Wade E. Brown
was elected delegate to the na
tional convention and Edwin
Dougherty is alternate.
J w. Norris, District Com
mander presided over the meet
mg and gave a brief review of the
years work in the district. Wade
speaker" ** ?"****>
Watauga Post No. 130 was host
to the meeting with dinner serv
ed by the post and auxiliary
members.
Wool Pool Sold
For Good Prices
The 1954 Watauga Wool Pool
has been sold to James H. Cald
well and Company, Philadelphia
Pa., according to L. E. Tuckwill-j
er, county agent, for the follow
ing prices:
Clear tied wool 61.70c per
pound, \clear untied wool 60.70c
per pound, light burry S3.70c
medium burry 49.70c, heavy bur
ry 41.70, stained wool 41 70c
coarse wool 35c per pound, ' re-'
jects. dead, grey and black 50c
douhlT 10C Per pound' with l
tare on small bags. ?Wet
wool will not be purchased.
According to the county agent's
announcement, Mr. Caldwell
promised to send wool bags
at once and they will be available
at the county agents affice as
soon as they arrive. More bags
win be available at the pool so
t"?erS Ca" reb#g the"- wool
The wool will be weighed in
Boone on Wednesday and Thurs
day, June 2 and 3. and the place
will be announced later Mr
Tuckwiller urges that wool b^'
ept dry and as clean as possible.
Medical Society
Meets Wednesday
The Ashe-Watauga County
Medical Society held its regular
monthly meeting May 11 at the
Old Towne Restaurant in Jeffer
son. Dr. Mary B. H. Michal, sec
retary, reported on the house of
ZVrnh' the State <"
L? 1??'h anniversary meeting
held at Pinehurst, N. C.
Valle Crucis farmer, was elected
chairman of the Democratic Ex
ecutive Committee at the county
convention held in Boone Satur
day.
Mr. Baird succeeds Mr. W. R.
Winkler, who has served as chair
Photo Paul Weston's Studio.
D. FRANK BAIRD
man for ten years.
Miss Helen Underdown was
named vice-chairman and Mrs.
Rob Rivers, secretary.
Mr. Winkler, local automobile
dealer and State Highway Com
missioner, who had notified pre
cinct leaders of his inability to
serve further, due to the pressure
of both private and public busi
ness, told the Democrat that he
felt Mr. Baird would make a fine
chairman, and added: "Mr. Baird
will have my fullest support in
his activities in behalf of the
Democratic party, and I bespeak
for hinT the cooperation of the
people of the county."
On motion of Dr. H. B. Perry
it was voted that any Democrat
in Raleigh at the time of the
State convention would be a del
egate and be able to cast his pro
portionate share of Watauga's
convention vote.
Dr. D. J. Whitener presided at
tbe convention which was largely
attended, every township being
well represented. Mrs. Rob Riv
ers was secretary of the conven
tion.
The session adjourned out of
respect to the late Senator Clyde
R. Hoey on motion of Dr. H. B.
Perry.
Draft Quota For
May Is Filled
The local draft board has an
nounced that the following in
ductees constituted- the Watauga
County Selective Service quota
for the month <Jf May. The first
three named are Selective Ser
vice Volunteer inductees:
Tony Greer Cook, Zionville;
James Charlie Mitchell, Zionville;
James Junior Lewis, Todd; and
Charles Stanley Townsend, Ban
ser Elk.
Historical Body
Holds Meeting
At Rock Monday
By VIRGIL ROLLINS
Deqiocrat Staff Writer
K e r m i t Hunter, author of
"Horn in the West," said Monday
night that the outdoor drama,
which opens its third season here
June 25, has all of the essential
ingredients for success, and "that
is why I think the show will
never fail."
Mr. Hunter, addressing more
than 100 members and guests of
the Southern Appalachian His
torical Association, producers of
the play, who were gathered in
the dining room of the Ranch
Motel near Blowing Rock for
their annual spring dinner meet
ing. said Horn in the West is one
of only four surviving outdoor
dramas in America, and outlined
a 4-point formula for the lasting
success of any such project,
namely: (1) Right location; (2)
Good script; (3) Good production
and promotion; and (4) Com
munity and area backing.
The speaker modestly dis
claimed credit for the excellence
of the Horn script, citing invalu
able contributions and coopera
tion from Paul Green, author of
"The Lost Colony" and other
succcssful plays, Samuel Selden,
head of the dramatic department
of the University of North Caro
lina, the people of Boone, and
others.
"Plays are not written; they
are rewritten," he said, adding
that constant revisions are being
made in an effort to implement
the theme of the drama.
Dr. I. G. Greer of Chapel Hill,
(Continued on page seven)
Stallings Slates
Third Annual
Fishing Rodeo
The third annual Fishing Ro
deo, sponsored by B. W. Stallings,
Boone jeweler, for children 1 to
10 years of age, will be held Wed
nesday, May 26, from 3 to 5 p. m.,
at Diamond S Lake, Mr. Stallings
has announced.
Only poles, hooks and worms
may be used, and no children will
be entered in the contest unless
accompanied by their parents, he
said.
Many valuable prizes will be
awarded, with two new prizes
added this year, and a special
feature will be refreshments
served to all who register for the
event before May 25.
About 75 contestant participat
ed in each of the first two rodeas,
and Mr. Stallings said he is ex
pecting 100 to register this year.
Diamond S Lake is dedicated to
the youth of Watauga County,
and is closed to the public all
year because of this special an
nual event.
, GREEN VALLEY VISITORS. ? The Sixth grade of John Marsh, of Green Valley School, is shown as
they pauied during their trip to Blowing Rock at the Watauga Democrat office, where they were shown
several mechanical operations used in the production of the county newspaper. They were enroute
j to the ute of their data picnic laat Tuesday .?Staff photo by Joe Minor.