Newspaper Page Text
Slhr Atlanta Journal Wednesday, Jan. 12
hC &3855K4
Photo b> Carole Lawrence
EL WOOD ROBISON SWEEPS OUT AUTO REPAIR SHOP
He Also Sweeps Sidewalk for Exercise—at 81
■ , 3
Rambler K 9
Millionaire at 81
Keeps Jackson Tidy
By CHARLES SALTER
Journal Stale Editor
JACKSON, Ga.—A Jackson auto mechanic says he must
be the only worker in Georgia who has an 81-year-old mil
lionaire for a janitor.
Elwood Robison, who looks and acts much younger than
his years, picks up his broom and walks to the auto repair
shop next to his office in Jackson every other day and sweeps
the floor as clean as a whistle.
Then he begins sweeping the sidewalk in front of his
property in the downtown business district.
“You would be surprised about the cigarette butts,” said
Robison, wearing a handsome, checked suit, as he put his
broom in a corner. “You couldn’t imagine how many are
swept up every other day.”
Men leaving the nearby pool room toss their cigarette
butts and packages onto the sidewalk, but you can bet your
bottom dollar that they won’t escape the long, sure strokes of
Robison’s broom.
Robison explained that the exercise of sweeping does
him a lot of good, as do the three daily strolls to the post
office.
During the spring and the fall, he works three afternoons
a week in his one-acre vegetable garden, where he grows
enough food for the tables of five families.
He is far from being really retired from business inter
ests, still arriving very early at his office six mornings a
week.
T.E. Robison Jr., said his father is remarkably active.
Mrs. Gertrude Wright, Robison’s secretary since 1939,
says she cannot remember a single day when he wasn't
cheerful and optimistic.
“I have never been a pessimist,” said Robison. “I never
look on the dark side of life. My mother never did. Mama
always saw the bright side of life.”
The seeds of a business career that was to develop into a
long series of successes were planted in the Christmas holi
days of 1918.
Robison and a childhood friend, David P. Settle, returned
to their homes from military service and decided they would
go into the automobile business. They got a Buick agency as
a subdeal under an auto dealership in McDonough.
“We put into our business $750 apiece,” said Robison,
smiling. “The car cost us $1,472.15. That left us $27.85. We
bought a broom for 85 cents, and were given a wooden box
that we used as a desk.
“A druggist in town gave us two folding wooden chairs
with Piedmont cigarette signs on the back. You can see we
started off with anew Buick, anew broom, $27 in the bank,
a wooden box and two chairs.”
In the first four months of work, neither man drew a sal
ary. Then they decided upon a $5O-a-month salary each.
Three years later, Robison was married and he needed a lit
tle more income to support a wife.
Robison and Settle increased their monthly salaries to
$lOO each.
In 1923 the two men began operating the Chevrolet
agency, and as the years passed the business interests in
cluded a farm equipment dealership, an oil company agency,
a motor express company, a cotton gin, and extensive land
holdings in the Jackson area.
During the Depression, Robison bought land “very
cheap,” some of it going for as little as $3 an acre. “I’ve still
got some of it, too.”
What has been his philosophy?
“Work like hell and treat people right,” said Robison. “I
don’t think we have ever had anybody blow up and bless us
out. I am happy. If you are doing well, you are just naturally
happy, unless you are the greedy type.”
Robison voices optimism about the economic future of
Georgia and the United States.
“Things are going up, and they are going down,” he said.
“And, if you live long enough, they are going up again. It’s
just like traveling on the highway.
“You go down the hill, then you climb the hill. So many
people pass away in good times, and their estate has some
value, and then people pass away in the depression, and it
takes all they have to pay their debts.
“It’s kind of according to the times when you die that
determine what you are really worth. I have lived within my
means. If you don’t owe any money, you can sleep nights.”
Robison has always believed in arising early in the
morning and going to sleep early at night. He doesn’t worry
about his diet, and over the years he has smoked a few cigars
and cigarettes and has chewed a little tobacco while hunting.
“I was a little afraid to drink much,” he said, smiling. “I
was afraid I would get the habit, and that would hurt my
business.”
During his career as an auto dealer, he devised a simple
formula to judge people.
“I always found out that a fellow who talked lots in a
conversation was a man whose paying habits you should
investigate,” said Robison.
Robison says he’ll never forget the reaction of people
when sedans first appeared here.
THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA
Services For
W. R. Bankston
In Covington
Mr. William R. Bankston of
Covington, brother of Mrs.
Emma Sue Johnson of
Jackson, died January 13th.
Funeral services were
conducted January 14th at
two o'clock from the chapel
of Caldwell & Cowan with the
Rev. Milton Smith officiat
ing. Interment was in
Lawn wood Memorial Park in
Covington.
Mr. Bankston is survived
by his wife, Mrs. Clara J.
Bankston; sons, William
Samuel Bankston of Green
ville. S. C., Randy Bankston
and Michael Bankston;
brother, Lamar Bankston,
Covington; sister, Mrs. Em
ma Sue Johnson of Jackson;
six grandchilden.
CARD OF THANKS
I wish to express my
sincere appreciation to
friends and family who
remembered me with cards,
prayers, and thoughts during
my confinement in Decem
ber. Particularly do I wish to
thank members of the
Jackson Police Force and
Fire Department. Special
appreciation is extended to
Chief Watson Vaughn for his
many kind deeds and
concern. The many remem
brances were a source of
comfort to me. --Mary
Bolton.
“People said they looked too much like a hearse,” he
said, grinning. “They'had been accustomed to seeing touring
cars, open cars.”
Robison remembers that when he started selling cars,
"they had a lot of colors, but all the colors were black.”
He never dreamed he would live to see the day when a
sedan would list for $6,000.
(Editor’s Note: Mr. Robison is married to the
former Annie Mae Saunders, they having married on
Thanksgiving 1923. They have one son, T. E. Robison, Jr.
of Jackson; and three grandchildren, Tom, Janet and
Charlie Robison.)
MAKE YOUR NEXT DEAL, YOUR BEST DEAL
| t 0
1974 Buick dJOAQC
Regal Coupe 570
Full power—a real beauty
1971 Pontiac QC
Grand Prix
like new, triple power. Must
drive to appreciate
1973 Cougar $2695
Full power, buckets.
1971 Ford €IQQf;
Thunderbird
One owner, 57,000 miles. All
power accessories.
1971 Volks $1250
Automatic, looks and runs
like new.
1974 Chevrolet <£QQQC
Impala Custom *7 O
Local one owner, 24,000
miles, must see and drive to
appreciate. EXTRA NICE!
1969 Chevrolet i
Camero I
Fully equipped. One owner,
56,000 miles, like new.
Monticello
Archie Ross
Is Called
Into Ministry
Archie Ross, a well known
civic, religious and political
leader of Flovilla, has been
called into the ministry and
preached his trial sermon
December 26th at the St.
Paul A.M.E. Church of
Jackson.
He was normally licensed
at the St. Paul A.M.E.
Church of Indian Springs by
the presiding Elder A. R.
Smith of the Atlanta District.
He received his evangelist
ical license last Sunday from
Elder Smith at the St. Paul
A.M.E. Church in Atlanta.
A native of Butts County,
he is the son of the late Mr.
William Hunley Ross and the
late Mrs. Mollie M. Ross. He
and his wife, Mrs. Edna
Ross, have one daughter,
Mrs. Shirley Smith, and
three grandchildren.
Graduating from Hender
son High School, he attended
the University of Alabama
and is licensed as a brick
mason, painter, and paper
hanger contractor.
Civic activities include the
presidency of the Jackson
branch of the N.A.A.C.P.,
past president of Henderson
P.T.A.. past Scoutmaster,
past president of the board of
directors of the American
Red Cross and member of E.
O. C. Board.
In the St. Paul A.M.E.
Church he has held nearly
every position of responsi
bility and has served as
Worshipful Master of
Herione of Jerico No. 118
Indian Springs Lodge.
Previously Owned Specials
Joe Sherrell
Services Held
January 17th
Joe Sherrell, Jr., 60, of
Jackson, died about seven
o'clock Saturday morning at
the Griffin-Spalding County
Hospital following an extend
ed illness.
Son of the late Joe Sherrell
and Mrs. Emma Sherrell,
who survives, he was born in
Henry County January 9,
1917.
Funeral services were
conducted Monday afternoon
at three o’clock from the
chapel of Sherrell Funeral
Home with the Rev. A. L.
Price officiating. Interment
was in Sandy Creek Ceme
tery with Sherrell Funeral
Home in charge.
Surviving Mr. Sherrell are
his wife, Mrs. Maggie
Criswell Sherrell, Jackson;
five sons, Ralph, Roger, and
Ronny Sherrell, all of
Macon; Waymon Sherrell of
Biloxi, Miss.; Rickey Sher
rell of Griffin; five daugh
ters, Mrs. Betty Christian,
Mrs. Evelyn Wright, Mrs.
Rachel Boyd, Mrs. Brenda
Wren, all of Macon; Mrs. Pat
Knot of Thomasville;
mother, Mrs. Emma Sher
rell. of Griffin; several
grandchildren; five brothers,
Deventer Sherrell of De
fiance. Ohio, Herman Sher
rell of Warner Robins, Kem
Sherrell and Donald Sherrell,
both of Macon; Wayne
Sherrell of Griffin; three
sisters. Mrs. Lena Wofford of
Eatonton, Mrs. Virginia
Stansell of Greensboro, Mrs.
Annie Vann of Griffin.
Pallbearers were Hugh
Polk. Ken Knott, Charles
Boyd. Larry Wren, Victor
Sherrell. Charles Stansell.
Brazil Competes
As recently as 1973, the
U S. contributed 73 per cent
of the world’s soybean crop.
That share has already
shrunk to less than two
thirds and will further
weaken to less than 60 per
cent by 1985, due mainly to
intense competition from
Brazil.
■ \ mi owe it to yourself to get the
I red ( hefi olet low price before
you decide on your next new
Chevrolet car or truck.
•Merry and Jean Stansell drove
15 miles and our price was $1(i.35 a
mile cheaper. That adds up to
approximately S2OO less than the
quote received from any other
dealer.
"See vou in iMonticello! ”
1973 Olds <fcOQQC
Toronado
Triple white, leather seats,
windows, seats, cruise con
trol. Low mileage, one owner.
1974 Chevrolet
Impala Sedan^2£)9s
Good transportation at a
sensible price.
1966 Ford <fcQQC
Thundbird
Collector’s item.
1971 Volks $1195
4-Speed, economical trans
portation, low mileage.
1971 Chevrolet
Monte Carlo -J gQC
2 in stock.
1971 Pontiac
Catalina Sedan
$1495
WE HAVE MANY MORE
TO CHOOSE FROM
Phone 468 6475
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1977.
NOTICE TO
BUTTS COUNTY
TAXPAYERS
The county tax books are now open for property
owners to pay ad valorem taxes for 1976, purchase
1977 vehicle license plates-decals, and make tax
returns for 1977 as required by law. Taxes for 1976
must be paid by March 15, 1977. License
plates-decals must be purchased and displayed
before April 1, 1977. The period for making 1977 tax
returns is January 1 to the first day of Apri 1 .
The Tax Commissioners Office, Room 7,
Courthouse is the place to pay taxes and buy vehicle
license plates or decals. (Be sure to bring your 1976
tag receipt and evidence of auto liability and no
fault insurance. The Tax Assessors Office, Room 3,
is receiving tax returns and taking applications for
homestead and other exemptions.
You are urged to settle your tax accounts and
register your motor vehicles in a timely manner to
avoid a last minute rush. We also urge you to turn in
your property (please bring a list of all personal
property owned) and inquire about exemptions for
which you may qualify, (homestead $2,000, $4,000
and special school exemption, etc.) in order that we
can administer your account in the best interest of
all concerned.
RICKY BEAUCHAMP
TAX COMMISSIONER
--.OEAMIKE
LADIES AND MEN’S
WASH OUT
JEANS
Reg. $14.98
now $7.98
ALL LADIES
TOPS
Values to $14.98
n°w $3.98
LADIES
PANTYHOSE
Reg. SI.OO
BUY ONE PAIR AT
REGULAR PRICE
Get 1 Pair FREE
LADIES
PANTIES
ALL TYPES
3 f ° r $1
CLEARANCE ON CLOTH
Double Knit 60 in. Wide Reg. $2.98 Yard
$1.49 SI.BB vard
DERANEY’S
BARGAIN STORE
MEN’S
LEISURE SUITS
Reg. $35.00 - to - $39.00
Now
$19.98
ALL MEN’S
SWEATERS
Values to $14.95
Now $3.98
ss; mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmsmsmm
ALL MEN’S
SLACKS
CLOSING OUT AT
$3 $9-*
ONE LOT
ZIPPERS
10c Each