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The Southern Israelite
A Weekly Newspaper for Southern Jewry - Established 1925
VOL. XXX
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1955
NO. 37
J E W
RY W
ELCOMES NEW YEAR
5716
i N^iumio / xiiaiiia o it mi 1111 (
Philanthropist Frank Garson
By ADOLPH ROSENBERG
Death this week removed from
the Atlanta scene of the Jewish
community’s most colorful indi
viduals — the beloved Frank
Garson.
He was stricken with a heart
attack while in Puerto Rico on a
visit to one of the plants of Lov
able Brassieres, Inc., of which he
was president. He died soon
thereafter.
The body was flown to Atlanta
Wednesday and the funeral was
scheduled for 1 p. m. Friday at
the Temple, with Rabbi Jacob
Rothschild and Rabbi Harry Ep
stein officiating. Burial will be
in Crest Lawn Memorial Park.
Mr. Garson is survived by his
wive, the former Miss Gussie
Fox; two sons, Dan and Arthur,
a daughter, Mrs. Bernard How
ard and several grandchildren.
An inimitable individual, Mr.
Garson was an inspiring conver
sation piece in the community.
He was a pillar of dependability.
His fortunes had grown and
with them an acknowledged re
sponsibility for others and a will
ingness to share which were a
constant source of inspiration. He
walked humbly in life and sin
cerely, and he acted with a great
heart and his good deeds were
so numerous none save he knew
them all.
He could astonish fellow work
ers in communal circles with the
unexpected word, with the unor
thodox nuance. But the depend
ability and scope of his service
and generosity was of magnific
ent anecdotal quality in its
wealth and unexpectedness —
and real merit and humanness.
Mr. Garson at one time had
been a labor organizer, a mem
ber of the Shirtmakers Union. He
had been a designer in New
York and came to Atlanta in
that capacity. ,
Subsequently, he ventured in
to business for himself and with
two machines started a manufac
turing concern.
He was not always successful
financially.
There were many rough times
during those early years and he
knew the hardship of being turn
ed' down at a bank and of hav
ing to undergo personal depri
vation. This memory was a bond
with others in financial dificulty.
These he was always willing to
help. Rarely was he mistaken in
the faith he placed with others.
His manufacturing plant pros
pered and expanded. His two
sons, Arthur and Dan, joinbd him
in the management, and later his
son-in-law, Bemafrd Howard.
They worked together in wonder
ful harmony, welded by the af
fection they and the employees
held for the senior Garson.
When wealth came his way,
he became a legendary ‘‘pater
familias” to scores and scores of
persons, some of them literally
strangers. These came to him
upon the recommendation of
some leader in the community.
The personal interest he demon
strated was dynamic and heart
felt.
He was unabashed too in the
warmth and public demonstration
for his children and of his grand
children. His enthusiasm was
more like a proud father than a
grandfather. This enthusiasm
overflowed into his philanthro
pies and his other activities.
His idea of labor relations was
tempered by his experience and
opinions in a labor union him
FRANK GARSON
formal manner. His special tech
niques were the unique affinity
he had for campaigning and lead
ership, a close coterie of friends
and the columns of The Southern
Israelite. Weekly, the process of
the campaign was minutely de
scribed by Mr. Garson himself
The Southern Israelite readers
and potential contributors were
fascinated with the material. He
made the home come alive long
before the ground was even brok-
The publicity techniques he
self. He rewarded his workers
copiously and created the best
working conditions he knew how.
His pay scale was higher than in
most shops. This philosophy per
meated the management as Lov
able Brassiers spread its plants
into New York, Cincinnati, Cal
ifornia and then across the oceans
into England, South Africa and
even Japan.
Mr. Garson himself spent most
of his time in his Atlanta office.
His day was divided inequitably
between business details and the
affairs of his community and
workers. The ratio was literally
minutes for business and hours
for philanthropy. Some described
his office as a “social welfare”
agency. He had a special knack
for dealing with problems of a
personal nature brought to him
by his employees or others who
knocked on his door.
He had been a co-chairman of
the Atlanta Welfare Fund Cam
paign, and later became its pres
ident. In this capacity he penned
a special message before leaving
for Puerto Rico. It is reproduced
in this issue on page 11. He had
been especially proud that his son
Dan was one of the co-chairmen
of the campaign this past spring.
Mr. Garson’s contributions to
the Jewish communal and indus
trial scene were acknowledged
with a special citation retroac
tively by the Gate City Lodge of
B’nai B’rith when it established
its man-of-the-year awards. Mr.
Garson was the honorary presi
dent of the Lodge at the time of
his death. Only last spring, his
name was called as winner of a
car offered by the Lodge for fund
raising purposes. Mr. Garson do
nated the car back to the Lodge
for the projects.
He had been a national ADL
commisisoner for nine years and
currently was honorary vice
chairman of the Southern ADL
Board.
He had been a guiding light in
many another activity, Tfie Com
munity Chest, the Mayfair Club,
the Bonds for Israel — to men
tion a few. No congregation ever
tried a campaign without know
ing Frank Garson would be
among the largest supporters.
Single handedly, a few years
back, Mr. Garson undertook a
campaign for funds to erect a
home for the aged in Atlanta.
The time was inopportune for a
formal, group-type capital funds
campaign. So he devoted a full
summer to the project in an in-
utilized broke every rule in cam
paigning text books — but when
the drive was over there ,was
$200,000 neatly earmarked for a
Jewish Home. He was the nat
ural selection as the Jewish Home
president. As a birthday gift,
workers in the Puerto Rico plant
of Lovable, then just opened,
brought a bundle of small coin
for the Home. ,
Only a few weeks ago Mr. Gar
son had asked if The Southern
Israelite would cooperate again in
a personal-type campaign for the
new Jewish Community Center.
The pressures of his business
kept him from putting this cam
paign into effect before time halt
ed his career. The Center, the
community and our readers are
the losers.
Not a single facet of Jewish
communal life can escape the loss
Mr. Garson’s passing means. If
we can digress from our reper-
torial duties and pen a personal
word to his family, we note par
ticularly
It was a privilege to know such
a man — to sense his strength
wherever it was needed — and
to appear occasionally in the per
iphery of his many-faceted life.
New Year's Greetings From
The President
WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Dwight D. Eisenhow
er extended the following greetings to the Jews of America,
through the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, on the occasion of
Rosh Hashonah:
“On the occasion of the Jewish New Year, 1 extend
greetings to all Americans of the Jewish faith.
“I hope that your observance will renew in each of you
a devotion to the cause of peace and a determination to
help advance the welfare of your fellow men in accord- t
ance with the ancient spiritual and moral teachings of
your religion. To people of every persuasion these
teachings are a continuing guide in the search for jus
tice and good will among nations and a better life for
men, women, and children everywhere in the world."
Vice President Richard M. Nixon issued the following
greetings:
“It is reassuring, in greeting you on the occasion of
the New Year 5716, to know that there is a continuity of
recorded time and civilization going back that far, with
all it connotes for the human mind and heart. It has
taken strong perseverance and strong religious faith to
come this far along the way.
“May'the New Year reinforce in all our hearts the fer
vent hope for greater understanding, brotherhood and
peace throughout the world."
Histadrut Presents
Cement for Flood-hit
Connecticut Homes
BRIDGEPORT, Conn., (JTA)
—One thousand bags of Israel ce
ment were presented by Hista
drut, the Israel Labor Federation,
to the people of Connecticut to
ward the reconstruction of flood-
devastated homes. The presen
tation was made at a dinner re
ception in honor of Captain Wer
ner Solomon of the MS Tamar,
first Israel freighter to dock at
Bridgeport, at the Congregation
Rodeph Shalom, under the aus
pices of the Jewish Community
Council. The presentation was
made by Dr. Dov Biegun, general
secretary of the National Com
mittee for Labor Israel, to May
or Jasper McLevy.
The MS Tamar arrived here
with a cargo of 3,500 tons of Ne-
sher Portland Cement consigned
to the City Lumber Company.
Holland To Make
Biographical Film
On Rosenblatt
THE HAGUE (JTA) — Dr.
Samuel Rosenblatt, associate pro
fessor of Semitic languages at
Johns Hopkins University in Bal
timore, has arrived here in con
nection with the projected film
ing of the story of the life of his
father, Cantor Josef Rosenblatt.
Dr. Rosenblatt is the author of a
biography of his father.
The film will be directed by
Ned Jakkobs, a Dutch-born di
rector now an American citizen,
from a script by Charles Oton,
who will also be associate pro
ducer. Jakkobs is now seeking
English-speaking Dutch actors
for supporting roles in the film.
He announced that a “well
known” American actor would
play the lead role.
Survey Shows Miami
Home Admitting
More Over 75
MIAMI, FLA. (JTA) — A
marked trend toward a higher
average age of those admitted to
homes for the aged was reported
here this week in a study con
ducted by the Miami Jewish
Home for the Aged.
The study showed that where
as from 1945-51, only 13 per
cent of those admitted to the
Home were 75 years of age or
more, today, 68 percent of the
applications are from people 75
or over. From 1951 to the pres
ent, the 75-80 group, with 34 per
cent, had the largest number of
admissions.
Knesset Accepts
Plan for 45,000
North African Jews
JERUSALEM (JTA) — The
Israel Parliamest recalled in a
special session to consider the
North African siutation, has vot
ed acceptance of the Govem-
ment-Jewish Agency plan for the
immigration within the next 12
months of 45,000 Jews from
North Africa and their resettle
ment in the Jewish State.
The plan was submitted to the
Knesset by Premier Moshe Shar-
ett who described the movement
of the North African Jews as “a
sacred duty.” He said the plan
called for transfer of 10,000 Jews
within the first two months and
then an immigration of 5,000
monthly. If, however, the lives
of North African Jews were en
dangered, he said, “then Israel
will do her utmost to bring them
all in.”
Two Synagogues
Flood Damage Bad
Olympic Body Hit for Rejecting
Appeal on Spain's Games Bar
HARTFORD, Conn. (JTA) —
The Beth Israel Synagogue in
Winsted was so badly damaged
in the floods that devastated that
city after hurricane Diane that
the congregation does not know
whether it can be rebuilt
In Putnam, another community
hard hit by the floods, the Sons
of Zion Synagogue was badly
damaged.
Jewish merchants in the flood
areas were hard hit. In Winsted,
the majority of the merchants
were Jewish. Those in the Mi
lan Street area suffered almost
100 percent loss. In Torrington,
merchants estimated their losses
at 50-60 percent of inventory and
fixtures. <
NEW YORK (JTA) — The In
ternational Olympic Committee
was remiss in its duty- when it
refused to consider, on technical
grounds, Israel’s appeal against
Spain’s barring Israel from the
Mediterranean Regional Olympic
Games held at Barcelona last
month, Col. Harry D. Henshel, a
member of the United States
Olympic Committee, chairman of
the New York Olympic Commit
tee and head of the American
Committee for Sports in Israel,
charged at a press conference
here. »•
Col. Henshel made public at
the press conference a lengthy
letter he had addressed to Mr.
Brundage, asking 35 specific
questions designed to point up the
fact that the international commit
tee had failed to live up to its ob
ligations as expressed in the IOC
statement of “Fundamental Prin
ciples,” in statements by Mr.
Brundage and by Baron de Cou-
bertin, who revived the Olympic
Games in modem times. Mr.
Brundage has thus far failed to
reply to the Henshel letter, which
was addressed to him a week ago.
Col. Henshel’s questions includ
ed several which asked Mr.
Brundage to explain his apparent
change of heart in the matter.
Mr. Henshel noted that before
the IOC met and rejected the Is
rael appeal, Mr. Brundage had
told mutual friends that he in
tended to support Israel’s posi
tion. He also charged that Mr.
Brundage had “quibbled” when
he wired Col. Henshel that the
“IOC did not reject (the) Israel
appeal,” when its denial of the
claim, on grounds of lack of Jur
isdiction, left Israel with no ap
peals body to turn to.