Newspaper Page Text
Built Through Co-Operation
Perry-Fort Valley Airport
By Joe Hiett
It all began back In the
days of World War 11, when
British aviators received
their training at an
auxiliary field near Perry.
Known then as Myrtle
Field, the small strip has
blossomed Into a 5,000 foot
paved runway with
modern facilities.
In 2950 the federal
government deeded the
200-acre field to the City of
Perry and Houston County.
Thin asphalt strips that
had been utilized by the
Qwik Stop Foods
Owned By Poole
Owik Stop Foods was
opened in February 1962 by
Joe Poole who came to
Perry from Macon. Mr.
Poole has a Owik Stop
Foods at Hawkinsville, Ga.
This business is a con
venience store which
handles general toods. It is
also a Shell Oil Company
station.
Magee Carpet Co.
Expands Operation
The Magee Carpet
Company, the local plant
located on Valley Drive,
began construction here in
October 1966 on a 190 acre
tract purchased from
Johnny Simmons. The
company has been in
operation more than 85
years, starting in
Bloomsburg, Penn
sylvania.
In 1968 the Perry plant
was named one of the "Top
Ten Textile Plants of 1968"
by Textile World
magazine. Magee carpets
are sold nationwide and
Internationally by
authorized distributors.
In 1969, 35,000 square
feet of space were added to
the west end of the plant.
In 1970, 45,000 square feet
added on the east side
provided a new yarn
storage warehouse, new in
process carpet storage, a
maintenance shop and new
dyd handling area
Within the last six
Lasseter's Offers
Quality Furniture
Lasseter's Fur'nlture and
Appliance Company Is a
complete home furnishing
center. The owners are
Aldene Lasseter and his
son, Riley Aldene, called
"Al".
Atter being employed by
Massee Furniture Com
pany from 1940, Aldene
Lasseter bought the
business from Mrs. Eliza
Massee In 1962. In 1967, Mr,
Lasseter built the store at
1010 Main Street and
moved the business there
In September.
The Store has several
name brand furniture
suites and items and is the
agency for Frigldaire and
Maytag appliances.
Earl Lewis Runs
I. H. Dealership
Lewis Truck and Tractor
Company on Valley Road
Is the dealer for In
ternational Harvester
Company of Chicago,
Illinois. Earl Lewis bought
this dealership in 1964 from
the late Claud E. Andrew.
Mr. Lewis came to Perry
June 1, 1949 to manage the
Andrew Truck and Tractor
Company for the B.H.
Andrew estate. In the
settlement of the estate In
1954, C.E. Andrew came in
to possession of the
business.
The dealership for In
ternational Harvester Co.
was In the Andrew family
British were now grown up
In weeds.
In 1963, the city and
county first decided to
construct a paved runway
at the site. Taking ad
vantage of state and
federal monies, a total of
$42,000 was invested, and
then-Georgla Governor,
Carl Sanders, dedicated
the facility on April 2, 1964.
On March 2, 1960, Jim
Brown was employed as
airport "fixed base
operator" and airport
manager There were only
Mr. Poole is a past
president of the Perry
Chamber of Commerce
and also of the Perry
Exchange Club. He is on
the board of directors of
♦he Perry Club Council.
Mr. Poole and his family
are members of the First
Baptist Church of Perry.
months, according to plant
manager Curt Beasley, the
Perry Plant has welcomed
the transfer of several
operations from the
B loomsburg Plant.
Beasley said the additions
in manufacturing equip
mens and facilities are
equivalent to a 30,000
square foot addition.
The Perry Plant now
employs 160 persons.
Officers stationed in Perry
include Harry L. Sain Vice
President of Manufac
luring, Curt Beasley-
Plant Manager; Debra
Haygood Personnel and
Office Manager; Don
Colder Supt. Tufting;
W W Winkis Supt.
Finishing and Dyeing, and
R H Folsom Plant
Engineer
James A Magee is
President of the Company,
and Myles W Katerman is
Executive Vice President.
The Bloomsburg Plant
employs about 300 persons.
Lasseter's sells Lee's
carpets and custom made
draperies
Charles Malone is a
salesman and decorating
expert. Mrs. Betty Lewis is
bookkeeper and Stan
Rothe, serviceman.
The deliverymen are
Fennie McGhee and
Woodrow McGhee
The Lasseters are active
members of the Perry
Presbyterian Church.
Al Lasseter is a director
of the Chamber of Com
merce and a member of
the Rotary Club Aldene
Lasseter is a member of
the Perry Redevelopment
Authority.
sixty years (1903-63). The
International Harvester
Co. had its beginning in
1831 with the McCormick
family. The company has a
regional office in Atlanta.
Stanley Lewis is
associated with his father
in the business. Mrs. Earl
Lewis Is bookkeeper.
Richard Greer has been
service manager and
foreman since 1955.
Howard Kuehn has been
parts manager since 1957.
Earl Lewis is district
steward of the First United
Methodist Church of
Perry.
three local planes based
there when he began
employment.
Beginning in 1969, the
Fort Valley Council and
Peach County Commission
voted to |oin Houston
County and Perry In the
development of the airfield
into a larger facility. An
Airport Authority was
formed November 14, 1969
with representatives from
each of the four governing
bodies as its members.
First members from
Perry were Dr. Bill Jerles,
John Barton, Lewis Meeks,
and Mayor Richard Ray.
(Ray is now U.S. Senator
Sam Nunn's Ad
ministrative Assistant.)
First Houston County
members were Com
missioners Frank Rozar,
and Cullen Talton.
Fort Valley- Peach
County Authority mem
bers were Mayor David
Sammons, Fred Murphy,
Bennett Rigdon, Virgil
Young, W.P. Wallace, and
C.W. Peterson.
By 1969 an airport ad
ministration building was
constructed, with the four
governing bodies paying
the $16,000 cost. It was
formally opened in
January 1970. A study was
soon made of future needs,
and plans for airport ex
pansion were soon
developed.
Then City Councilman,
later Mayor, John Barton
was one of the motivating
forces behind the early
days of airport expansion.
He had a dream of a
modern, 5,000 foot paved
runway with lighting and
other modern facets. After
several years his dream
became reality.
On May 20, 1973 the
Airport Authority signed a
contract with the Federal
Aviation Administration
that called for construction
of the runway- 5,000 foot
long. Cost was estimated
then at $053,400 of which 00
percent was federally
funded. Project engineer
was William Harris.
The state of Georgia
chipped in with over
$200,000 of the construction
cost: $91,000 from the
Department of Tran
sportation, and $140,000
from the Coastal Plains
Commission. General
contractor was Cherokee
Construction of Macon, a
subsidiary of Milton
Beckham Construction and
Engineering of Perry.
The contract called tor
♦he 5,000 toot runway, a full
taxi way, medium in
tensity lighting, a new
entrance road, a 36-inch
rotating beacon, and a
visual approach slope
indicator.
The runway opened to
traffic in November, 1974.
Plans were made for a
formal dedication of the
new facilities on June 0,
1975 with Perry native U.S.
Senator Sam Nunn as
guest speaker.
A large crowd was in
attendance to hear Nunn's
address He praised the
"fine cooperation between
the tour governments"
that resulted in the
facility's realization. At
the ceremonies was U.S.
Congressman Jack
Brinkley of Columbus.
Present, Future
The Perry-Fort Valley
Airport is now a bustling
enterprise. Fixed base
operator Jim Brown and
his wife Kay head a crew
that has increased its
scope greatly within the
past few years.
Brown is manager.
Flight staff members are:
fulltime- Jim Smith, Bill
Moore, Arthur Morris, and
Victor Brlsendine; and
part-time Bob McLendon
and Jim Kostoff.
Maintenance employees
are Fred Martin and Ken
Funk. Office staffers in
clude Mrs. Brown, Fredia
Vaughn, and Tammy
Young
The present Airport
Authority is headed by Bob
Richardson of Perry as
chairman He was
secretary treasurer of the
group for several years.
Vice president of the
authority Is Donnie Doles
(chairman of the Peach
County Commission).
Secretary- treasurer is
Bob McLendon.
Members, by govern
ment, are: from Perry-
Mayor James McKinley,
Bob Richardson, and Dr
Jerome Bloodworth;
representing Houston
County- Hugh Brazell,
Commission Chairman Dr.
V.W. McEver, Jr., and Bill
Jerles of Perry,
Serving from Fort
Valley are Mayor Paul
Rheeling, Bennett Rigdon,
and Cleon Moore
Pabst Brewing
A Giant Industry
Pabst Brewing Company
had Open House on Oc
tober 15, 1971 to celebrate
its official opening. This
new plant had a brewing
capacity of 1,750,000
barrels annually. In June
1972, Pabst announced
plans to increase brewing
Mrs. Warren's
Cookbooks
Are Popular
Mildred Warren, food
editor of the Houston Home
Journal since 1963, is the
author of a besf seller,
"The Art of Southern
Cooking," published in
hard back in November,
1969 by Doubleday. This
version has had four
printings. The popularity
of the cookbook has led to
its publication in paper
back by two publishing
firms, Dell and
Mockingbird.
As evidence of its wide
circulation, a paperback
edition was found in a hotel
bookstand in Kyoto, Japan
by Dr. and Mrs. J.L.
Gallemore of Perry in 1973.
They brought a copy home
to Mildred with the
signature of the Japanese
lady desk clerk written in
both English and
Japanese.
Mildred receives letters
from all over the country
about her cook book. One
of her most prized letters is
from Buckingham Palace,
England thanking Mildred
for the cook book given
Princess Anne on her visit
to the United States in 1970.
Under the heading,
"Good Cooks and Good
Cooking," in the
November, 1975 issue of
Brown's Guide to Georgia,
there is a three page ar
ticle on Mildred Warren
and her "Art of Southern
Cooking."
In a pamphlet on Metric
Measure published by the
Extension Service of the
University of Georgia in
November, 1974, Mrs.
Warren's recipe for
Marinated Shrimp is given
in metric system as well as
in customary form.
In addition to writing her
weekly column, Cook's
Nook, and painting lovely
pictures, Mildred owns and
operates a dress shop with
her brother, Horace, at 908
Carroll Street. Their
parents were the late Dr.
and Mrs. H E. Evans.
Mildred's late husband
was Byron Warren.
The many friends of this
energetic and versatile
lady rejoice with he r over
the success of her cook
book, "The Art of Southern
Cooking."
Did You
Know?
The Perry State Patrol
Station, located beside 1-75
just off the Marshallville
Road, serves six counties-
Houston, Bleckley,
Pulaski, Peach, Bibb, and
Macon Counties. The State
Patrol is 39 years old,
having begun in 1937.
Representing Peach
County are Donnie Doles,
Bob McLendon and Pete
Peterson.
Since the opening of the
5,000 foot lighted runway in
November 1974, the air
port's activity has in
creased to more than 4,000
operations per month.
Jim Brown said the
airport's "master plan",
as sanctioned by the
F A.A., calls for later
ramp area, aircraft
hangar construction, and
adding of 1,000 foot to the
runway. The F.A.A.
projections call for these to
be accomplished by 1986.
capacity to 4.5 million
barrels annually.
Pabst Brewery in
Houston County located
five miles southeast of
Perry, is the most modern
in the United States. The
original cost of the
Brewery was forty million
dollars and the expansion
cost 50 million dollars.
James C. Windham,
chairman of the board of
directors, and Frank
DeGuire, president of the
Pabst Brewing Company,
announced jointly on June
1 this year (1976) that the
company will increase the
brewing capacity of ifs
Perry plant to six million
barrels annually. Con
struction has begun and
completion plans are for
July, 1977.
Pabst is the county's
largest taxpayer. It em
ploys over 500 people. Its
annual payroll and pur
chases have an impact on
the economy of this area.
A— '"A * —- jf~~~ ■ —jA - A
#%•.— ~ ~ _.. —*^| ’** '**rf| Ak
-♦♦♦♦■ ~ ' ' *♦ *. -.4 ——!■
>- iml u
We
I f proudly salute our 1,
A § great Nation and 1
/j the Free Enterprise 1
jSj System that has *Jll
helped make it great! ]|
MEDUSA CEMENT
CLINCHFIELD, GEORGIA
By Ruby C. Hodges
During this Bicentennial
year, it is proper to take
pride in our system of self
government under law.
However, it is well to recall
that our American
governmental system,
now 200 years old, has
existed for a longer time
than any other based on
self-government.
Government by the
people is the foundation of
our system of self
government. The people
govern through their votes.
It is a sad commentary
on the people of the United
States that millions of
them fail to exercise their
privilege of self
government. Every two
years a general election is
held for people to express
approval or dissatisfaction
with their government in
the voting booth, the only
effective place. Yet
millions fail to vote.
In 1962 and in 1966,
(Cont. from front page.)
Perry Chamber Growth . . . .
Watson.
The first president was
Stanley E. Smith, Jr. who
served from August 1955 to
September 1, 1958. The
second president Hubert A.
Aultman, served in 1958 59.
Other presidents were
Bill B. Nall, 1959 60; Jack
E. Crutchfield, 1960-61;
Earl F. Lewis, 1961-62; J.
Malcolm Reese, 1962 63;
Glen Van Fossen, 1963-64;
Sam A. Nunn, Jr., 1964-66;
Jack H. Ragland 1966 67;
J. Malcolm Reese, 1967-68;
Lewis M. Meeks, 1969;
Tom Daniel, 1970; Wendell
K. Whipple, 1971; Joe
Poole, 1972; William C.
Graham, 1973; Harold
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL THURS., JULY 1, 1976,
Self-Government
Under Law: The
American System
general elections, only 45
percent of those qualified
voted. In 1970, only 43
percent cast ballots. In
1974, about 38 percent of
almost 145 million of voting
age went to the polls.
In state and county
elections, the percentage
of voters is somewhat
higher than in general
elections but nothing to
brag about; usually 50
percent to 60 percent of
qualified voters. In the
Presidential Preference
Primary held in Georgia
on May 4, there were 25,826
registered voters in
Houston County and only
8,668 or a little more than
one-third, went to the polls
to vote for a Georgian as
their choice for president.
Os course, this was a
popularity vote and not a
decisive one. The state
wide vote was not much
greater than Houston's.
Democracy, or
representative govern
Jennings, 1974; Bill
Purser, 1975.
Others who served as
Executive Vice President
of the Perry Chamber of
Commerce are Furman
Cliett and J.M. Gooden.
Miss Alma Goodrich was
secretary and office
manager for several
years, followed by Mrs.
Carol Birdsong, Mrs.
Susan Mullins, and Mrs.
Wanda Simmons.
The Chamber of Com
merce offers the necessary
vehicle through which to
combine forces for
executing the continuous
year after year program
ment, exists in the
Republic of the United
States because "We, tty
People" believe in the
concepts upon which it is
based.
Our governmental
system rests upon the
Declaration of In
dependence and the
Constitution of the United
States. In these two
documents are to be found
the fundamental ex
pression of the American
Heritage- faith in freedom,
in equality and in in
dividualism. It is this faith
that has made us
thegreatest of nations th«
world has ever known. y
In this Bicentennial year
as we take pride in our
heritage, let us resolve to
try to preserve our system
of self government by
exercising our right to
vote, remembering that
people in many other
nations do not have the
freedom of choice that is
ours.
of work necessary for
community development.
Also, the chamber works to
build public sentiment on
many civic problems in the '
community's interest and
works closely with other
organizations and public
officials.
The cooperation of the
business community,
professional people, city
and county officals, ar#
civic clubs have made it
possible for the chamber to
reach so many goals and to
promote much progress
during the 1970's tor Perry,
the "Real Welcome Center j
of Georgia." , i i