it-
WELCOME
SERGEANT
BRADFORD
WELCOME
SERGEANT
BRADFORD
VOL. 34—NO. 43
SIXTEEN PAGES
SOUTHERN PINES, NORTH CAROLINA. FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 11. 1953
SIXTEEN PAGES
PRICE—TEN cents
Lennon Thinks Party
Will Win In ’54, ’56
Proclamation
Young Democrats of the 8th
Congressional District, gathered
215-strong at the Southern Pines
Country club Saturday night gave
a rousing reception to U. S. Sena-
, tor Alton A. Lennon who, in turn,
said he had never observed a
finer demonstration of party loy
alty or solidarity than was evi-,
dent at the rally here.
The senator was introduced by
Rep. H. Clifton Blue, of Aber
deen. Lennon’s speech was pre
ceded by lively remarks from
John Lang of Carthage, secretary
to Congressman C. B. Deane who
sent his greetings through Mr.
Lang. Many Democratic notables
from Moore and other counties of
the district were introduced. A1
Cruce cf Aberdeen, chairman of
8th District YDC, presided.
Predicting Democratic victories
in 1954 and 1956, Senator Lennon
drew prolonged applause when he
lauded the ‘‘political honesty and
great moral leadership” of Adlai
E. Stevenson, 1952 Democratic
presidential candidate.
“I believe he will be our leader
again,” the senator predicted. He
(Continued on Page 8) i
WHEREAS Henry Bradford has served our country patrioti
cally, faithfully, and courageously,
WHEREAS Henry Bradford has proven himself to be a credit
to Southern Pines,
WHEREAS Henry Bradford has been a prisoner by an enemy
of this country away from his family and friends of Southern
Pines,
WHEREAS as Mayor of Southern Pines, I want to express for
all the citizens of Southern Pines our sincere appreciation for his
contribution to the cause of liberty and to the greatness of South
ern Pines,
I HEREBY DECLARE Monday, September 14, 1953, to be Hen
ry Bradford Day in Southern Pines.
LLOYD T. CLARK, Mayor
Town of Southern Pines.
Vass Textron Plant Closes^
90 Workers Lose Their Jobs
HAPPY SMILES were registered by Senator Alton A. Len
non, right, and A1 Cruce of Aberdeen, 8th district Young Demo
crats chairman, at the YDC rally held here Saturday night. It
was the senator’s first visit to Southern Pines since his appoint
ment. (Pilot staff, Photo)
Southern Pines Beats Ellerbe,
10-6, In Opening Came of 1953
Fans Pleased With
Performance of Blue
and White Wednesday
By JIM HATCH
In the tradition of the familiar
blue and white team, the local
boys chalked up their first victory
of the season as Ellerbe bowed
in defeat 40-6 at Memorial field
Wednesday. Hoper for more vic
tories ride high with every spec
tator who saw the manner in
which the local team defeated the
red and gold of the visitors.
1st Quarter
Southern Pines, won the toss
and elected to receive. Ellerbe
kicked off and Southern Pines re
turned to the 34 yard line. From
the 34 the Blue and White team
rolled to the 16 yard line and
from here BUI Cox, a sophomore,
carried the ball over for the first
local tally. The score then stood
at 6-0. Tommy Ruggles was call
ed on to kick and did so in grid
iron fashion as the point was good
and the score came to 8-0 in favor
of Southern Pines.
On the kick off from Southern
Pines, Ellerbe returned the pig
skin to the Southern Pines 16, but
was forced to punt. The blue and
white then took over, but fumbled
the ball. Ellerbe then started a
passing attack that was good for
Ground Observer
Corps Unit Being
Organized Here
With L. V. O’Callaghan, Jr., as
post supervisor, a unit of the
j Ground Observer Corps, is being
set up in Southern Pines. Harry
Chatfield is head observer of the
group which is now seeking 25
or more volunteers to take part
in periodic practice in spotting
planes to be reported to the Char
lotte Filter Center of the Air
Force warning system.
Negotiations are now being
made to obtain a suitable obser
vation post near Southern Pines.
At a meeting Tuesday night, Ser
geant Allen of the Charlotte Fil
ter Center, explained the program.
Plans are to get an active organ
ization here ready to take part in
an operation September 20.
Persons interested in taking
part in the program are asked to
get in touch with Mr. O’Calla
ghan. At least 20 additional vol
unteers are needed, he said.
two downs. On their third pass
try, James Humphrey a rising
sophomore, came from his quar
ter-back position and intercepted
the pass and raced from his 10
the length of the field for another
Blue and White tally. The score
then stood at 14-0 in favor of the
locals. Ruggles’ kick was good and
the score rose to 16-0.
(Continued on page 8)
Company Says Plant
'Too Remote'; Offers
Everything For Sale
Rumors that the shut-down late
last week of the Textron plant in
Vass might be permanent were
confirmed by a formal statement
issued from Anderson, S. C.,
Tuesday by R. M. Cushman, vice
president of Textron, Inc., whp
gave as the reason the remoteness
of the Vass plant from others
owned by the company.
Mr. Cushman’s statement, in
full, is as follows:
“R. M. Cushman, vice president
of Textron, Inc., announces that
operation of the Vass mill at
Vass, employing 90 people, will
be discontinued promptly. The
plant is being closed because of
Harold Collins
New Club Champ
Harold Collins became the new
Southern Pines Country club golf
champion when he defeated James
Besley 3 and 2.
Play in the championship tour
nament ended Labor Day, after
having been under way since
about August 1.
Results in other flights of the
tournament were:
First flight—Joe Carter defeat
ed Perry Frye, 5 and 4.
Second flight — Tom Shockley
defeated Joe Montesanti, Jr., 2
and 1.
Third flight—James Townshend
i defeated Bob Strouse, 3 and 2.
Lt. Wyndham Clarke, Fighter-Bomber
Pilot, Home After Combat In Korea
LIEUTENANT CLARKE IN KOREA
First Lieutenant Wyndham
Clarke, 23-year-old jet fighter-
bomber pilot, is home after near
ly a year of combat operations in
Korea.
The ruddy, solid young officer
slipped into Southern Pines,
where he graduated from high
school in 1948, almost unnoticed
Monday. He had arrived by air
at Raleigh-Durham airport and
finished his journey to Southern
Pines by train from Raleigh.
Lieutenant Clarke, son of Mrs.
Louise Bowman and the late Lee
Clarke who died in 1940, comple
ted his “tour” of 100 combat mis
sions in F-80 and F-86 fighter
bombers last month. For his
achievements in the air he has
been awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross and the Air Medal
with four clusters—^the equiva
lent of five air medal awards. He
also wears the U. S. and Korean
Presidential Unit Citation rib
bons, the Korean Service Medal
with three battle stars and the
United Nations service ribbon.
(Continued on page 8)
its remoteness from other com
pany plants.
“Its products will be handled
by other existing plants of the
company, which will assure im
provement in quality as well as
operating economies. This is one
step in a program involving a ma
jor revamping and modernization
of the company’s spun synthetic
operations. This program calls for
installation of new equipment in
plants in the Anderson, S. C.,
area.
“The Vass plant is a spinning
mill suitable for manufacturing
synthetic or cotton yarns. It is be
ing offered for sale either with
or without the machinery. It is
hoped that an early sale can be
arranged so that operations there
can be resumed at an early date.”
Town's Oldest Industry
This plant was the Vass Cotton
Mill before its sale in February
1952 to Textron Southern, Inc.,
and was the town’s oldest indus
try and largest employer.
Founded by the late A. Camer
on, the company was incorporated
in 1909 and the mill was put in
operation in 1910, for the manu
facture of cotton yarns.
Originally owned by a large
number of stockholders, at the
time of the sale the entire prop
erty, consisting of factory build
ing, warehouses and 33 housing
units, was owned by the founder’s
son and daughters, A. M. Camer
on, Mrs. W. C. Leslie, Mrs. W. B.
Graham, Mrs. C. J. Temple, Mrs.
H. A. Borst and Mrs. C. L. 'Tyson,
aU of Vass, and Mrs. W. D. Mat
thews of Southern Pines.
[ R. B. Gunn has been manager of
the plant since its purchase by
Textron, Inc., and it is understood
that he is being transferred to
Puerto Rico.
The Gunns, during their resi
dence in Vass, have been active
in the life of the community. Mr.
Gunn was elected a town commis
sioner in the last election, and he
is president of the Vass Lions
club.
Mrs. Gunn is a member of the
Vass Woman’s club and was in
strumental in organizing a
Brownie troop, for which she serv
ed as leader, with the club as
sponsoring organization. They at
tended the Presbyterian church.
Mrs. Gunn ard daughters. Car
line and Barbara, left several
days ago to visit relatives in St.
Augustine, Fla. Mr. Gunn remain
ed in Vass until Wednesday after
noon, when he left for Florida.
The family is scheduled to go to
Puerto Rico tomorrow (Saturday).
S^t. Henry Bradford, Released
Korean W ar Prisoner, Arrives;
‘Bradford Day’ Set For Monday
Parade, Talks,
Pulpit Committee
Will Make Report
To Chureh Tonight
The Pulpit committee of the
Church of Wide Fellowship, of
which Amos C. Dawson and 'Tom
Shockley are co-chairmen, has
called a meeting of the congrega
tion for 8 o’clock tonight (Friday)
in the new educational building,
at which time the committee's
recommendation concerning a
pastor for the church will be sub
mitted for th e approval or rejec
tion of the group.
The church has been without
a regular pastor since the death
of Dr. Robert Lee House last Jan
uary. The Rev. Royall Davis, who
has been serving as interirq pas
tor since the middle of June, will
be leaving after two more Sun
days to resume his studies at the
University of Chicago. He will
receive his Ph. D. degree at the
end of another year.
Chicken Fry,
Dance Slated
Sergeant Henry Bradford, for
mer Southern Pines police officer
who spent more than three years
as a prisoner of the Communists
in Korea, was to arrive home
Thursday afternoon.
His arrival precedes by three
days a Henry Bradford Day cele
bration proclaimed by Mayor
Lloyd T. Clark and sponsored by
the John Boyd Post, Veterans of
Foreign Wars with assistance of
other individuals and organiza
tions.
It’s going to be a great welcome
for a man whose fate in far-off
Kore;a has been followed with
never-ceasing anxiety by his fam
ily and friends in this communi
ty-
The sergeant's wife, Mrs.
Cleecy Renegar Bradford,, his
daughters, Gail, 14, and Ida-
lou (Tinkie,), 4, Mrs. Brad
ford's mother, Mrs. J. C. Ren
egar, and brother, Elnier Ren-
egcur, with other relatives and
friends, went to Fayetteville
Thursday morning to meet
the sergeant. As The Pilot,
went to press Thursday after
noon, it was learned that his
arrival time by air from San
Francisco had been moved Vp
to 3:50 p. m. from an expect
ed 11:45 a. m., meaning that
the party would probably ar
rive in Southern Pines late
Thursday afternoon.
Bradford Day Program
'lere are highlights of the Brad
ford Day program Monday:
5 p. m.—The fire siren will
sound a full minute’s blast as sig
nal that events of the celebration
are beginning.
Merchants and Offices have
been urged by the Chamber of
Commerce and the sponsoring
committee to- close their establish
ments at that time, allowing all
employees to attend the. late af
ternoon program events.
A parade will form at the cor
ner of Ashe street and New York
avenue, ledr by the 42-piece 18th
Corps military band from Fort
Bragg, obtained through coopera
tion of USAF Air-Ground school
here.
The parade will march south on
New York avenue to Massachu
setts, west to Broad street, north
on the east side of Broad street
to Vermont avenue, cross the rail
road, march south on the west
side of Broad street to Massachu
setts and from there return to the
VFW Post Home on New York
avenue opposite the post office
iil
Si':;-'::.
TOMMY (SKIPPER) VANN, 14, son of Mrs. Cornelia Vann,
745 S. Bennett street, is shown here with one of his pastel paint
ings—a view of the old Shaw House—now on exhibit in the
Southern Pines library. A total of 12 paintings and a number of
sketches comprise the show. Pastel painting is Skipper’s favorite
medium and the Shaw House painting is the one in the exhibit
he says he likes best. (Pilot Staff Photo)
BRADFORD TAGS
Tags for the Henry Brad
ford Day celebration will be
sold, featuring the picture of
the returned prisoner cif the
Communists.
Priced at $1, a tag -will ad
mit the bearer to a chicken
fry to be held outdoors at the
Elks club Monday, starting at
6:30 p. m. A tag will also kd-
mit bearer to a dance there
Monday night.
Children under school age
will be admitted free to the
chicken fry, where the Brad
ford family will be guests of
honor, to encourage making
it a fcimily affair.
Joe Garzik and Harry Cheil-
field. Rotary Club members
working with the Bradford
Day committee, are in charge
of tag sales, assisted by Mrs.
Valerie Nicholson.
No tag is required for the
big public parade and gift
presentation at the VFW
Post Home Monday. All funds
from tag sales not used in
meeting expenses will be
turned over to Sgt. Bradford.
THE REV. DAVID HOKE
COON, newly arrived pastor of
the First Baptist church, came
to Southern Pines from Salis
bury where he had been asso
ciate pastor and then interim
pastor of the First Baptist
church there. A native of Bes
semer City, he has degrees
from Catawba coUege and
Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary, LouisviHe, Ky. His
wife is the former Cherry Ca
bell of Salisbury.
for the official welcome by Mayor
L. T. Clark.
Brig. Gen. W. M. Gross, com
mandant of the Air-Ground
schoo-l, will speak on behalf of
the armed services as part of the
official welcome.
Speeches will be made from the
perch of the VFW Post Home.
New York avenue, in the block
between Broad street and Ben
nett street, will be roped off.
Sgt. Bradford is expected to-
ride in the parade in a convert
ible.
Colors and standards of the
VFW post will be carried.
All organizations such as Boy
Scouts and Girl Scouts and any
other marching units are invited
to take part.
The Rev. David Hoke Coon, pas
tor of the First Baptist church of
which Sgt. Bradfo-rd .was a faith
ful member while he lived in
Southern Pines, will offer prayer
during the program at the VFW
Post Home.
Presentation of gifts to Sgt.
Bradford wiU be made at that
time.
Music will be furnished by the
18th Corps band who will be seat
ed on the lawn.
The program will not last later
than 6:30 p. m.
At 6:30 there will be a chicken
fry at the Elks club on the former
Southern Pines Coimtry club
property. Morris Johnson, mana
ger of the Elks club, is in charge
of arrangements, Bradford Day
tags wiU admit any one to the
chicken fry and also to a dance to
follow at the Elks club at 9 p. m.
(See story On front page of to
day’s Pilot for details)
C. N. Page, fchairman of the
Elks Club house committee, and
W. Harry Fullenwider, chairman
of the board of trustees, have of
fered full cooperation of the club
Sgt. Harrison,
Former Resident,
Freed In Korea
Among the last prisoners releas
ed in Korea, The Pilot learned this
week, was Sgt. David Harrison
who, with his wife, lived in South
ern Pines at the home of Clyde
Morrison, 415 W. Vermont avenue,
while he was stationed at Fort
Bragg before he went overseas.
Sgt. and Mrs. Harrison and their
baby expected to return to South
ern Pines to make their home.
Mrs. Harrison has been living at
Yadkinville, her native town.
While Sgt. Harrison will prob
ably not be back in the United
States in time to take part in the
Bradford Day celebration here
Monday, George Nanopoulos, post
service officer of the VFW here,
has extended an invitation to Mrs.
Harrison and their young child to
be ^est of the post for Bradford
Day. Mr. and Mrs. Nanopoulos
have invited her to be their house
guest while in Southern Pines.
Sgt. Harrison had previously
been reported only as missing. His
wife did not know he was a pris
oner until she received word of
his release. Sgt. Harrison has not
been carried on the Moore county
prisoner list, because his home
town was listed as Yadkinville.
Frye Released
On Next-To-Last
Prisoner List
All three of Moore county’s
known prisoners of war were ex
changed before “Operation Big
Switch” ended Sunday—but ex
change of one of the trio. Master
Sergeant Gentry T. Frye of near
Cartilage, had to wait until the
next to last day of the operation.
Frye’s name was on Saturday’s
list, with the rank of master ser
geant. The Pilot has been listing
him as sergeant first class, accord
ing to previously received infor
mation. He is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Theodore Frye of Carthage,
Route 1. The family lives out of
Carthage toward West End.
Previously exchanged were Sgt.
Henry Bradford of Southern Pines
and Pfc. Arthur McDuffre of Bis-
coe, route 1, whose home is in
Moore county near the Montgom
ery county line. Pfc. McDuffie
landed in San Francisco Saturday
and was expected home this week.
in planning the supper and dance.
Music at the dance will be fur
nished by a local qpartet dance
combination composed of Buster
Doyle, Jimmy / Lawson, Bto
Strauss and Sgfc^Eddie Koleski of
the Air-GrouU& school.'
Spent Wal^lul Night
Mrs. ^udforcf said ‘HrCirsday
that h^ family fifed spe^ta wake-
continued on rage 8)