Over 5,000 Gather For Blue
Ridge Electric Co-Op Meet
More than 8,000 were in at
tendance at the twenty-seventh
annual Membership meeting of
the Blue Ridge Electric Mem
bership Corporation held In the
William J. Conrad Stadium on
the campus of Appalachian
State Teachers college in
Boone Saturday, August 24.
The keynote address was de
livered by the Honorable Nor
man M. Clapp, Administrator
of the Rural Electrification Ad
ministration of Washington, D.
C. Mr. Clapp went to great
lengths to attend this meeting.
He flew in from Wisconsin
Saturday morning where he at- i
tended a memorial service for ;
his deceased brother, the late i
Gordon Clapp, former Director <
of the Tennessee Valley Auth
ority. He left immediately fol- (
lowing the meeting to keep an- (
other engagement in Nebraska (
on Monday. Mr. Clapp was in- (
troduced by Mr. Gwyn B. Price, |
Chairman of the North Caro- .
Una Rural Electrification Auth
ority.
Mr. Clapp told how the Rural
Electrification program was
itarted back in 19S5 while we
were struggling to get out of
the depression. The Emergency
Relief Act and Public Works
Acts were passed and one
hundred million dollars was
appropriated to help get elec
tricity into rural areas. The
Honorable Morris Cook was the
first administrator of this pro
gram and tried hard the first
year to get power companies to
do this job. Without avail ef
forts were directed to forming
cooperatives in rural areas and
helping the rural people do the
job for themselves.
Mr. Clapp stated that a tre
mendous job has been done but
hastened to add that much was
yet to be done. Where one per
son out of ten had power in
rural areas in 193S, today 97%
of all rural people have ser
vice. Rural electrics are serv
ing 3,000,000 rural people. Five
billion dollars has been loaned
to cooperatives, four million of
which has been advanced. Over
one billion dollars has been re
paid with interest He remark
ed that out of one thousand bor
rowers only one is delilHtttlttt
but is catching up fast.
Many are saying that the co
operatives have done a good
job and now it is time that they
roll up the rugs, cart their re
cords off to the warehouse and
go home and let private power
monopolies take over. "These
systems belong to you and I
hope you will never agree to
this," Mr. Clapp said. We are
victims of our success. We have
good facilities and efficient
staffs, we are paying our bills
and some think we are a Con
Edison, that we should play by
the ground' rules of the profes
sionals. "Let's see," he said,
"why we can't play by these
rules." "The average number
of consumers per mile of line
on Rural Electrication Admin
istration financed systems is
3.3 consumers and the average
gross revenue per mile of line
is $414 per year, while on Class
A and B utility systems there
are 33 consumers per mile of
line with an annual gross re
venue of $6,580. In North Caro
lina the density is 4.7 members
per mile of line and $453 gross
revenue per year, while power
companies have 19.7 consumers
per mile and $3,879 revenue.
The job was tough in 1935 and
is tough today. We haven't the
resources of the giant utility
companies, therefore, we
shouldn't be expected to play
by the same rules of the game."
Mr. Clapp asked, "What is
the job of Sural Electrification
today, now that 97% of the peo
ple have service?" He stated the
Job ii to get electric power to
all who want it and need it at
a cost they can afford ? at a
cost comparable to urban con
sumers. Rural people are pay
ing 20% to 40% more than ur
ban people are for their ser
vice. There is mnch to be done
if we are to complete this task.
He pointed out the fine job
that is being done to' get indus
try into this area and remark
ed that some 8, MM people have
been able to remain here be
cause of jobs made possible by
low cost power.
He pointed out that we must
have some equalizers if we are
to continue to serve these rur
al areas. They are: 1. Two per
cent financing, 2. Technical as
sistance provided by REA, 3.
Non-profit operation, and 4. A
generating and transmission
program which is very vital as
a source of power and as a bar
gaining tool for wholesale pow
er rates. W? must fight to keep
these equalizers if we are to !
meet the needs of our rural
people for abundant low cost
power.
Registration for the members
began at 9:M a. m. Many ar
rived early to register and
pick np their capital credits
cheeks which totaled nearly
?SMM this year. The refunds
this year were the member
contributed capital accumulat
ed in 1994.
A luncheon- was held at noon
for directors, their wives,
management staff personnels
out-of-town guests, local guests,
members of the General As
sembly and others connected
with the rural electric program.
Ur. W. B. Austin, President
if the Cooperative, reported
the organization had completed
mother good year. He gave
ividence that the area served
t>y Blue Ridge Electric Mem
lership Corporation is growing
ind progressing. Members were
jrged to support the Coopera
ive's program of civic, educa
ional, religious, and industrial
ieveioment of the area it
lerves.
Mr. D. R. Moore, treasurer,
-eported that a review of the
Mlance sheet of Blue Ridge
Slectric's financial report indi
cates that our assets stand at
nore than twelve million four
lundred and seventy-four thou
and dollars.
Mr. Moore went on to explain
low much of this the members
ictually owe now, how much is
itill owed to the Rural Elec
rification Administration and
raw much is held as operating
:apital.
Mr. C. E. Viverette, General
Manager, told of some of his
experiences in Bolivia where
ke has been helping to estab
Jsh an electric cooperative. He
minted out that people around
the world are seeking the same
privileges our cooperative
?embers enjoy ? those of work
ing together to provide them
?elves with goods and services
they could not have except
through cooperation.
Mr. Viverette made a special
effort to be here for the annual
meeting. He is currently on
leave of absence for six months
helping to organize and estab
lish electric cooperatives in
Bolivia, South America. Mr.
Viverette will be returning to
Bolivia around September 1 to
complete his assignment with
the aid to international deve
lopment program.
Scholarship were awarded to
four outstanding students In the
amount of $6*0 each. The re
cipients were: Glenda Ann Kll
by, Boomer, N. C.; Earlie Rash,
Glade Valley, N. C.; Ralph
Prestwood, Jr., Lenoir; and
Judith Ann Henson, Vilas.
The scholarships were award
ed on the basis of ability, need,
willingness and desire for fur
ther education beyond the high
school level.
During the business session
several resolutions were adopt
ed by the members present.
The resolutions commended
the members of the 1963 Gen
eral Assembly of North Caro
lina who supported and fought
with vigor for the cause of
rural electrification in North
Carolina; commended the
Board of Directors and the
management of Blue Ridge
Electric Membership Corpora
tion for their efforts directed
toward achieving such legisla
tion during the 1963 General
Assembly as would provide
needed territorial protection
of the cooperative's system and
urged the Board, the Manage
ment, and all interested per
sons to continue such efforts as
may be necessary to obtain ade
quate protection in the 1965
session of the General Assemb
ly of North Carolina; that the
membership oppose any in
crease in interest rate and any
decrease in the repayment per
iod of Rural Electrification Ad
ministration loans, and re-em
phasize the necessity for main
taining the interest rate at two
percent in order that low cost
dependable electric service
may be available to all rural
Americans who want and need
it; urged the Congress of the
United States to oppose any
amendments to the Rural Elec
trification Administration Act
which would require any
change in the present policy of
the Administration to make
generation and transmission
loans; urged the Congress of
the United States to insure an
effective generation and trans
mission loan program by ap
propriating adequate Rural
Electrification Administration
loan funds to meet the needs
af rural America for electric
power. Urged the Board of Di
rectors and other interested
parties to continue such studies
ind to make such plans as will
assure the cooperative that it
shall always be in a position to
wcure an adequate power sup
ply at the lowest possible cost
ind have the most possible con
trol over such source of power;
Reaffirm our long-standing pol
icy to aggressively promote the
full development of the service
ire* of the cooperative, and
:ommend the Board of Direc
;ors and Management for their
eadership in this respect and
irged the continuation of this
eadership role In the orderly
levelopment of all phases of
irea and community programs
ind activities.
Honored guests at the meet
ng were: The Honorable Jam
's T. Broyhill, United States
Congressman; The Honorable
Korman M. Clapp, Administ
rator of the Rural Electrifies
ion Authority; North Carolina
Senator, John R. Jordan, Jr.;
Mr. Walter Jones, Farmvllle,
4. C., Legislative represents
lve lor Tarheel Electric Mem
tershlp Association; Mr. Arthur
Kyers, operation field repre
entative, SEA; and Mr. Mag
ius Hoyle, field engineer, SEA
leathers of the Tarheel Elec
ric Membership Association
taff, elected officials, local
tnsinessmen, past directors
nd many other friends of Rur
i Electrification were also In
ittendance.
4SC Voting
(Continued from page one)
convention where the ASC
ounty committee will be
ihosen.
A person may vote in the
community election if he or
ihe is of legal voting age, is a
'arm owner, tenant, or share
:ropper, and is taking part or
s eligible to take part in one
>f the farm programs admin
stered by the committee. Also
sligible is a person not of legal
roting age, but in charge of the
farming operations on an en
tire farm. In the case of joint
ownership by two or more in
dividuals, each is an eligible
voter.
Because of the vital part that
the ASC community and county
committees play in the farm
ing affairs of the county Chair
man Tugman said, it is import
ant that each farmer give seri
ous consideration to the men
elected to these posts. It is
highly desirable that the com
mitteemen be currently active
farmers who are best qualified
for the committee work and
who will be representatives of
the various and types of agri
culture in the community.
Marsh Urges
(Continued from page one)
the first year, and then a steady
drop until the bond indebted
ness is paid, you can have a
part in this great county-wide
project," Marsh said.
The Hospital Steering Com
mittee chairman urged the peo
ple of the county to figure out
what the new hospital would
cost them daily. Then compare
this cost to the least luxury that
they enjoy and ask yourself the
queston ? Can I do anything ex
cept vote "Yes" on the hospital
issue?"
Harsh said, "We all live in
Watauga County and most of
us earn our living here. We
all agree that it is the best place
in the world to live! This is
your opportunity to make it an
even better place to live!"
Register Books
(Continued from page one)
Heat Camp No. 2: Luther
Horetz, Carson L. McNeil, Wade
Horet2.
New River: James H. Dug
ger, Coaker Tripletf, G. Perry
Greene.
North Fork: W. C. South, Sam
South, A. J. Wallace.
Shawneehaw: Ed Chappell,
Willie Rupert, William Town
stnd.
Stony Fork: Edgar B. Hardin,
Hilton W. Horetz, Walter
Greer.
Watauga: Arlle B. Hodges,
Frank Taylor, Stanford Coffey.
QUICK REACTION
Secretary of Defense Hc
Namara says the United States
can make a "quick expansion"
of iu nuclear testing if Russia
suddenly should break the pact
which bans all but underground
testing.
Educators Chat After Meeting
Educator* chat after school meeting in the
Boone elementary school. In the picture
(1-r) are Dr. D. J. Whitener, dean of ASTC;
Dr. Charles Carroll,' State Superintendent of
Public Instruction; W. Guy Angell, superin
tendent of Watauga County Schools; and
Barnard Dougherty, vice president and comp
troller of ASTC. ? Larry Penley photo.
Given Citations
Some of those who received citations for
service as school board members and county
superintendents at the meeting held Friday
night.
Former School Officials Are
Honored; Dr. Carroll Speaks
(Continued from page one)
ers College and a former mem
ber of the Watauga County
Board of Education.
The program wu designed to
pay tribute to those who have
been instrumental in the growth
of public education in Watauga
county during the period of
1885-1959. The present mem
bers of the Board of Education
were host to the occasion aimed
to give due recognition to all
former supernitendents and
board members for the dedi
cated service and leadership
rendered the youth of this coun
ty during the seventy year per
iod ending in 1955.
One of the major features of
the program was the presenta
tion of a Certificate of Merit to
all former superintendents and
board members or members of
the Immediate family repre
senting the honorees.
W. Guy Angell, Superintend
ent of Schools, presented the
certificate of merit to forty
five honorees. Prior to making
the presentation, Mr. Angell
pointed out that the format of
the certificate was designed to
accomplish two main objectives:
First, to produce a permanent
directory of all former super
intendents and board members
serving this county during the
seventy year period, 1885-1955.
This was accomplished by list
ing the names of those serving
each two year term beginning
in 1885. These names and dates
formed a border around the cer
tificates. The year 1885 was
chosen because this it the first
year any records on the work of
an active Board of Education In
the county were available. This
should be significant inforaia
tion, Mr. Angell said, not only
for the honorees, but for every
one interested in the history of
education In Watauga County.
Second, to serve as a means
for the present Board of Edu
cation and the citizens of Wa
tauga County, to honor and rec
ognize the service and leader
ship rendered by previous sup
erintendents and board mem
bers from the time our public
school* were organiMd to the
i
completion of elementary school
consolidation in the early 50's.
Listed are the honorees and
their term of office. Except
where specified the honoree
was a board member.
Tarlton P. Adams, 1889-1919.
Thomas Bingham, 1885-1897.
J. M. Brown, 1885-1891.
Thomas H. Coffey, Jr., 1929
1938.
Thomas J. Coffey, 1885-1889.
W. Columbus Coffey, 1885
1897.
Calvin J. Cottrell, 1889-1891.
Raleigh Cottrell, 1941-1849.
Harvey A. Davis, 1893-1897.
Dr. W. A. Deaton, 1941-1947.
Dr. B. B. Dougherty, superin
tendent, 1899-1915.
W. H. Farthing, 1897-1899.
John W. Farthing, 1903-1923.
W. Monroe Francum, super
intendent 1891-1897; board mem
ber 1899-1903.
Collis Greene, 1941-1955.
Roby T. Greer, 1935-1937.
Alexander Hagaman, 1889
1897.
Smith Hagaman, superintend
ent, 1915-1934.
Wiley Hartzog, 1949-1951.
Lloyd M. Hodges, 1923-1925.
Jack B. Horton, 1929-1945.
Samuel F. Horton, superin
tendent, 1943-1946.
Newton Howell, 1911-1923.
Tom Jackson, 1947-1951.
J. Bert Johnson, superintend
ent, 1897.
G. P. Jones, superintendent,
1897.
Howard W. Mast, Sr., 1949
1991.
Tarlton L. Mast, 1947-1849.
L. G. Maxwell, 1897-1903
L. H. Michael, superintendent,
1897.
Cicero Miller, 1903-1911.
Troy Norris, 1951-1958.
Millard Norris, 1897-1899.
Clyde Perry, 1835-1955.
Wiley F. Sherwood, 1919-1929.
Robert T. Taylor, 1925-1929.
James H. Taylor, 1889-1895.
J. W. Thomas, superintendent,
1885-1893.
Charlie Triplett, 1939-1941.
Larkin M. Trivette, 1897-1899.
Howard Walker, superintend
ent, 1934-1955.
Will C. Walker, 1929-1941.
Chappell Wilson, 1937-1941.
Dr. D. J. Whitener, 1955-1960.
Of the 45 honored, fifteen are
living and 30 are deceased. In
cases of the deceased, the cer
tificate of merit was presented
to a relative.
Funds Sought
(Continued from pace one.)
lotte, Grady Farthing, Dr. I. G.
Greer, James Marsh, Dr. W. H.
Plemmons, Mrs. B. W. S tailings,
Ralph Winkler, Wade E. Brown,
Herman Wilcox, A. T. Adams,
Mrs. Russell Hodges, Mrs. Hom
er Brown, Mrs. A. E. South,
Mrs. Dave Mast, Mrs. Maxle
Edmisten, Dr. J. C. Yoder, and
W. Guy Angell.
1
Monuments ? Markers ? Mausoleums
Get The Best ? For Less ? From A Manufacturer
BARNEY S. HAMPTON
At Reim-Sturdivant
Phone 264-8866 or 264-2328 ? Boone, N. C.
Special Factory Representative of
Salisbury Marble & Granite Co.
INCORPORATED
Since 1919, Builders of Memorials That
"Last Til Everlasting"
GRANITE - MARBLE - BRONZE
Largest Manufacturer in the Carolina*
Salisbury, N. C.
Winners Chosen In
' Horn 9 Photo Contest
Winner* of the 1983 "Horn
In the Wert" contest for the
beet published photographs and
television film clip* of the out
door drama, representing three
states, were announced today
by Herman W. Wilcoi, execu
tive vice president of the
sponsoring Southern Appala
chian Historical Association.
$90 first prize for best pho
tograph ? Jimmy Ellis, staff
photographer of the Johnson
City, Tenn. Press-Chronicle, for
an amazing action shot of the
Indian flame dance by actor
Robert Thomas.
$50 first prize for best tele
vision films ? Tie between cam
eramen of Durham's WTVD
and Greensboro WFMF-TV.
$25 second prize for best
photograph ? Jack Moebes, staff
photographer of the Greens
boro Record, for scene of Dan
iel Boone, played by actor
Glenn Causey, gazing toward
the west.
$10 third prize (three
awards):
Hugh Morton of Grandfather
Mountain and Wilmington for
his study of Dr. Geoffrey Stu
art, played by actor Bill Ross
of Boone.
Vic Tuttle, British-born staff
photographer of the Columbia
State Record, for a dramatic
Indian dance scene.
H. L. Montgomery, staff pho
tographer of The Lancaster, S.
C. News, for a touching picture
of a pioneer mother and child,
played by Mrs. Carolyn Starnes
and her daughter of Lancaster,
S. C.
Photographers receiving hon
orable mention for their photo
graph* include:
Jack W. Bower* of AshevUle
for his Daniel Boone and bear
scene.
James P. Barringer, Jr. of
Salisbury Poet for a scene of
settlers square dancing framed
by a spinning wheel.
John G. Heinmer of Hera
mer's Photo Shop in Pinehurst
for a shot of Indian maidens.
Mrs. Reid Dies
At Blowing Rock
Mrs. Laura Moody Reid, 79,
of Boone, Route 4, wife of J.
B. Reid, died Saturday at Blow
ing Rock Hospital. She had been
in declinnig health several
years.
Mrs. Reid was born in Wa
tauga county to Charles and
Louisa Harrison Moody.
Surviving are her husband; a
daughter, Mrs. Leta Miller of
Boone; two grandchildren; a
great-grandchild; three brothefs,
Arthur Moody of Lenoir, Ben
H. Moody of Blowing Rock, and
U. E. Moody of Vero Beach,
Fla.; and two sisters, Mrs. Cal
lie Icenhour of Blowing Rock
'and Mrs. Florence Jenkins of
Bristol, Tenn.
The funeral was conducted
Tuesday at 2 p. m. at Perkins
ville Baptist Church by the
Rev. Maurice Cooper. Burial
was in Mountlawn Memorial
Park.
We Recap Auto Tires
From 5:60 x 13 to
8:80 X IS
Abo 9:00 x 20 Lug Treads
and 10:00 x 20 Truck Tires
Retreading tire* is our FULL
TIME business ? so we're net
just boasting ? we HAVE TO
BE GOOD AT IT!
Remember the big guy In Jack and the Beanstalk? Re
member how Jack got In hi* castle and grabbed his hen?
The Slant had a problem! Just about worried him to death.
What ha needed was an INA Homeowners Package
policy? on* low premium to protect against burglary,
lightning, windstorm and personal liability.
Protect your castle. Be sure , . . Insure . . , with INAI
Call us. We'll tell you mar*.