THE MARION PROGRESS
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION AND McDOWELL COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1896 MARION, N. C., THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1948
Billy Ray Woody Fatally Injured
In Head-On Auto Collision Friday
THREE OTHER PERSONS INVOLVED;
TWO SUFFER SERIOUS INJURIES
Gossett and Finley
In Veterans Hospital
In Johnson City, Tenn.
Billy Ray Woody, 18, was fatally
injured in an automobile accident
at Clinchfield last Friday morning
and died at the Marion General Hos
pital Friday afternoon. Others in
jured were Lester Harbey, who re
ceived minor injuries and was dis
missed shortly after he was taken
to the hospital; James Gossett and
James Finley, said to be "seriously"
injured, according to the attending
physician, were transferred to the
Veterans Hospital in Johnson City
last Saturday.
According to a statement by State
Highway Patrolman J. T. Jolly, who
investigated, the head-on collision
occurred about eight o'clock Friday
morning on a road leading from
highway 70 to the office of the
Clinchfield Manufacturing company.
He said Lester Harbey was driving
a '43 Ford truck, owned by Yates
Miller, and Billy Woody was di'iving
a '35 Ford Sedan, owned by Bobby
Hensley. Others in the car with
Woody were James Gossett and
James Finley.
WEST MARION PTA
ELECTS OFFICERS
Officers of the West Marion Par
en t-Teacher association were elected
at a meeting last Thursday as fol
lows :
Mrs. Poly Fox, president; Mrs. W.
C. Burgin, vice president; Mrs. Frank
Mode, secretary, and Mrs. Bruce
Cameron, treasurer.
Mrs. Poly Fox was elected a dele
gate to the P. T. A. conference to
be held in Greensboro in June, and
MVs. W. C. Burgin was elected alter
nate.
Plans were made to sponsor a
chicken supper Tuesday, June 1, at
the school.
Miss Clara Hemphill, principal and
bride elect, was given a vote of ap
preciation for her contributions to
the school while serving as principal.
She was also presented a gift of six
pieces of crystal in her chosen pat
tern.
Marion Post Office
To Be Closed Monday
The Marion post office will be
closed next Monday, May 31, in ob
servance of Memorial Day, it was
announced yesterday by Postmaster
John Finley.
To prevent sticky knives or scis
sors when cutting marshmallows or
fruit, rub the blades with butter;
or dip in hot water at frequent in
tervals.
HENRY ACCEPTS
BISHOPS POST
FOR WEST N. C.
Rev. M. George Henry, Rector of
Christ Church, Charlotte, announced
at a special called meeting of the
vestry of the church Sunday night
that he had accepted the bishopric
of the Protestant Episcopal diocese
of Western North Carolina, to which
he was elected May 14.
Mr. Henry will remain with Christ
church probably until the early fall,
it was stated, as his election and ac
ceptance must be approved by a
majority of the bishops of the
Episcopal church, and he must be
consecrated before taking over the
bishopric.
Marion Women's
Brother Drowns
John Roland Ridings, 14, of Ark
wright, S. C., brother of Mrs. Lillian
Lewis and Miss Sybil Ridings of
Marion, was drowned Sunday after
noon in the Arkwright Mill Pond.
County Detective George Pruette
said Kenneth Petty, 14, of Ark
wright, told him he and John were
sitting on the bank of the unfenced
pond near the dam.
He told Pruette that John told
him he was going to jump into the
pond, and, if he had any trouble, for
the Petty boy to jump in and help
him.
Kenneth said he warned him a
gainst going in since John could not
swim. John jumped into the 15 feet
of water and then began struggling
for the bank. Kenneth said he jump
ed in and John grabbed him about
the neck. He broke away from
John's grasp and was barely able to
get to land himself before John went
under. Kenneth's two brothers heard
the boys struggling and ran to aid
them, but arrived too late.
John was pronounced dead on ar
rival at General Hospital in Ark
wright.
Miss Sybil Ridings is manager of
the Marion Self Service grocery on
South Main street.
Hen House Destroyed
By Fire Sunday
A tile, block chicken house and
400 hens were burned Sunday morn
ing at the Burgin Hatchery on High
way 70, about seven miles west of
Marion.
According to a statement by the
1 owners the building was a total loss
and another hen house nearby was
also damaged by the blaze which was
discovered between 4:30 and 5:00
a. m.
The hatchery and the home of Mr.
and Mrs. J. G. Burgin, owners, were
not damaged, it was stated.
REV. CHARLES FRENZEL
Rev. Charles Frenzel
Will Be Installed At
St. Matthews Sunday
Reverend Charles Frenzel will be
installed as pastor of St. Matthew's
Lutheran church at a special service
to be held at the church at 3:30 p.
m. next Sunday. Rev. E. G. Runge,
pastor of the First Lutheran church,
of Asheville, will deliver the installa
tion sermon.
Sunday school will be held as us
ual, but the 11 o'clock worship ser
vice will be omitted, according to
announcement Monday.
Members and friends of St. Mat
thews are invited to attend a social
hour in the Hut immediately after
the service. The Ladies Missionary
Society Will be hostesses.
A number of Lutherans from
nearby towns and cities are expect
ed to attend the installation service.
The Rev. and Mrs. Frenzel and
family will arrive in Marion the lat
ter part of this week. They have
three children: Eulalia Grace, born
in 1944, Faith Carolyn, born in 1945,
and a son born a few weeks ago.
They come to Marion from Paris,
Illinois. The Minister was born and
reared in St. Louis, Missouri. He
attended Concordia College at Fort
Wayne, Indiana, and received his
theological degree from Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis. He attended
the graduate school of Washington
University, St. Louis; and served as
instructor at Concordia Seminary,
Springfield, 111.
He vicared in St. John's Church
of Bloomfield, New Jersey, and serv
ed as pastor of Grace church in
Dieterrich and Grace church, Paris,
Illinois.
New Floor Laid
At Belk Broom Co.
A new covering for the floor of
Belk Broome company here is near
ing completion. The new surface is
of Mar-flex, a composition of plastic
magnesia.
V. T. Eckerd, manager of Belk
Broome company, said the flooring
is one of the most modern types of
flooring made.
Scott Is Scheduled
For Visit Here Today
W. Kerr Scott, candidate for Gov
ernor, will spend a while in Marion
Thursday afternoon to confer with
friends, en route to Asheville, it was
stated yesterday by W. P. Elliott,
campaign manager for McDowell
county.
CO-VALEDICTORIANS — Joanne McGhee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. J. McGhee of North Cove
and Betty Jean Conley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thad Conley of Marion, Route 3, are co-valedictorians
of the graduating class of North Cove High School. Henry Sewell Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rom
Brown of Ashford, is salutatorian.
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY SATURDAY
EXPECTED TO DRAW URGE VOTE;
COUNTY TICKET HAS 13 CANDIDATES
MARION RIPPERS
CLOSE SEASON
WITH TWO WINS
Throwing their one-two punch of
Davidson and Clayton, the Marion
High baseballers closed their season
with a bang—a season which saw
the Rippers winning 11 and losing
3; one loss to Boyden High A. A.
Salisbury school. The other two de
feats came when Davidson and Clay
ton were on the injured list. Had
these two boys been ready for the
season's openers, Marion, perhaps,
would be Conference Champs.
Wednesday night, the Rippers
took on the undefeated Hickory
High Tornadoes and behind the two
hit pitching of Davidson, shut them
out 7-0 with Billy Joe stricking out
24 batters. The Rippers started with
a bang in their half of the first inn
ing. With two out, Leonard and
Rader walked, bringing up Don Clay
ton who hit a long triple to right
centerfield, scoring the two runners.
Davidson struck out the first 12 bat
tel's. In the 5th inning, Hickory
made their first bid; with bases full
(the result of an error, walk and hit)
and no one out, Cliff Leonard, Rip
per first baseman, made a circus
catch of Mitchel's line drive to right
field, doubling- Hemphill off of first
base. Shook then went down swing
ing, to retire the side.
In the 6th inning, with bases full,
Frank Pace drove out a triple to
score 3 runs and put the Rippers
further in the lead. Hickory was un
able to do much with Davidson's
slants the rest of the game. In the
7th a hit and error and fielder's
choice gave the Rippers two more
runs. Hickory was whipped — the
first time in eleven starts—thanks
to Cliff Leonard for his great catch
—Frank Pace and Don Clayton for
their triples with men on base and
Billy Joe's masterful pitching.
Saturday night the Rippers enter
tained Canton High school in the
season's closing game—winning 9-2,
with Don Clayton winning his fifth
straight game. Clayton struck out
23 batters and allowed 3 hits.
Again Marion opened in the first
inning. Biddix walked, Pace was
safe on a fielder's choice. Leonard
sacrificed them to 3rd and 2nd. Here
Rader came through with a single
scoring two runs. Canton scored in
their half of the third on a walk and
two errors. In the bottom of the 5th
the Rippers struck for two more
runs on successive hits by Leonard,
(Continued on last page)
Francis Marion
Club Horse Show
Set For June 18-19
| The Francis Marion club will spon
sor its annual Horse Show here on
June 18-19, according to announce
ment by H. T. Conley, manager.
The show this year will be open
for entries from other counties and
states. It has been estimated that
probably 85 horses will be exhibited,
including a few champions, and en
tries are expected from Georgia,
South Carolina, Tennessee and other
nearby states.
There will be 32 classes and six
trophies will be awarded, Conley
said. In addition a number of cash
prizes will also be awarded. Some
tof the top awards listed were: $300
for winners in the five-gaited cham
pionship, $i00 for winners in each
of the fine harness, roadster and
three - gaited pony championship
classes.
There will be three performances.
The first will be at eight o'clock, Fri
day night, June 18, the second, Sat
urday afternoon at two o'clock, and
the final show Saturday night at
eight o'clock.
Interest in the May 29 Primary
increases with only two more days
remaining1, much activity is being
manifested by the candidates and
their friends. Challenge Day, as
usual, passed off quietly last Satur
day.
Registration was reported to have
shown a decided increase during the
past two weeks a id indications are
that a large vote will be cast next
Saturday.
On the State ticket interest cen
ters in the race for Governor with
Johnson and Scott waging a spirited
campaign in this county.
The county ticket is headed by
Roy Davis, local attorney, as candi
date for the Legislature. He is op
posed by Horace J. Hall, who was
a candidate for the State Senate
in 1946.
Candidates on the Democratic tic
ket having no opposition are: Jay E.
English, Member of the Board of
Education; M. V. Snypes, surveyor;
Fred Z. Kuykendall, Justice of the
Peace, Marion township; Allie Y.
Lytle. constable of Montfords Cove
township.
Candidates for other county of
fices are:
Clerk of Superior Court—Roy C.
(Dee) Hensley and S. Dysart Martin,
incumbent.
Register of Deeds — Miss Ruth
Lackey, incumbent; Mrs. Julia M.
Stanley and H. H. Brown. •
County Commissioners — C. A.
Workman, incumbent; R. L. McKin
nis, G. Watson Wilson, R. L. (Bob)
James, W. H. Norris and John W.
Dobbins.
Mark Toney and Allen (Pig)-Hall
are candidates for constable of Nebo
township.
The polls will open at 6:30 a. m.
and close at 6:30 p. m.
Kiwanis Club
To Send Gourley
To Convention
Prior to the meeting of the Ki
wanis club Tuesday evening, a group
picture was made in front of the
community building in its plan for
the send off of Kiwanian J. L. Gour
ley, who will leave next Monday on a
cross country trip to Los Angeles,
California to attend the Internation
al Convention of Kiwanis.
Vernon Eckerd, president of the
club, presided at the meeting. A
large number of Kiwanians and their
guests were present.
The program was in charge of
Garfield Beaman who presented a
movie covering the entire seven
games of the 1947 World Series.
CANNERY BURNED
The cannery at the Glenwood
school was completely destroyed by
fire last Friday afternoon. The
frame building which housed the
cannery was located back of the
school.
NCEA OFFICERS
FOR COMING YEAR
NAMED WEDNESDAY
The local unit of the North Caro
lina Education association held its
final meeting of the year in the form,
of a picnic at the Marion Lake club
Wednesday evening. Officers for the
coming year were elected as follows:
Mrs. Carl Gibson, president, Mrs.
Fred Morris, vice-president, and Miss
Elizabeth Wylie, secretary - treasur
er.
Names of the candidates were
read by Mrs. G. B. Finley, member
of the nominating committee, and
election was by a unanimous vote.
After the business session, Mrs.
G. W. Giles, president, turned the
meeting over to Miss Ruth Greenlee,
chairman -of the International Rela
tions committee. Mrs. I. A. Holland,
Miss Janie Tucker and Miss Clara
Hemphill, serving with Miss Green
lee on the committee, were responsi
ble for arrangements for the picnic
supper. Supper was served in the
club house to about 90 persons, in
cluding members of the N. C. E. A.,
their husbands, wives, friends and
invited guests.
Mrs. Giles and Miss Greenlee were
presented corsages as gifts from the
faculty of Clinchfield school.
After the supper music and games
featured the evening's entertain
ment.
Pleasant Gardens
i
Junior Glee Club
Entertains Rotarians
The Junior Glee Club of Pleasant
Gardens School, under the direction
of Miss Zelma Atwell, rendered sev
eral selections at the regular meet
ing of the Marion Rotary club last
Friday.
The Club of 36 voices was pre
sented to Rotarians by J. R. Jimeson,
program chairman. In addition to
group singing, a number of solos
were also rendered.
Gordon Morris and Mac Jay were
awarded 100 per cent attendance
buttons.
Arthur Price, high school honor
student, was a guest of the club. L.
D. Adkins had Dick Winesett and
Chuck Ferguson, members of the
Marauders ball term, as his guests.
Ken Beachboard, of Forest City, was
the guest of David Gray.
FROZEN FOOD
DEMONSTRATION
A frozen food demonstration will
be conducted in the office of Miss
Jean Steele, county agent, at two
o'clock, Friday, May 28, by W. B.
Parker, according to recent an
nouncement.
Honor Students
ACHIEVE SCHOLASTIC HONORS—Miss Pansy Biddix, left, is
valedictorian of Pleasant Gardens School with an average of 95. Miss
Evelyn Cooper, right, is salutatorian with an average of 93. Miss Bid
dix is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Biddix and Miss Cooper is tha
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Cooper.