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Washington Was Great
Leader Os The Country
George Washington, first president of the United
States (1789-97), was commander-in-chief of the Con
tinental Army in the Revolutionary War (1775-83).
Washington's qualities of mind and character-dignity,
endurance, self-control and stubborn courage - were
those needed to mold undisciplined militiamen into an
army in the Revolutionary War and later to define the
powers of the President.
A strong chief executive, Washington's two terms left
foreign policy in the hands of the president and
demonstrated his power to enforce the law. One of his
first precedents was to name a cabinet though the
constitution did not mention one.
As president, Washington presided over the adoption
of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known
as the Bill of Rights, and the creation of a National
Tolleson, A Leader
In Lumber In The South
Tolleson Lumber
Company, Inc., one of the
South's largest lumber
industries, began another
major expansion in April
this year (1976). Con
struction ot a single eight
foot bandmill in 1969 and
an additional side in 1971
gave Tolleson the distinc
tion ot having the only
double bandmill in
Georgia. Its current
capacity is 60,000 board
feet daily.
The new construction is
the addition ot a whole tree
log deck with a new
Nicholson debarker
enabling the bringing of
tree length logs into the
mill from the woods to be
cut to length at the mill.
Parallel to this deck and
.completely separate, a
tree length chip mill is
being constructed.
Pulpwood size trees will be
reduced to chips with the
use of an 84" Bush Clipper.
In the mill proper, an
Esterer Sash Gang is being
built between the two
bandmills with the flow of
lumber going to two new
Salen Edgers and on to a
new Irvington Moore
trimmer with a computer
operated system and
totelizer. Log handling has
been expedited by the
addition of a new 966
Caterpillar front-end
loader.
When construction is
completed October 1,
production capacity will be
increased to 125,000 feet
daily ot Southern pine and
hardwood by November 1,
1976. R.E. Moorer Con
struction Company of
Greenville, Alabama has
charge of construction.
Wood Preserving
Tolleson Lumber
Company is rapidly
becoming one ot the
South's leaders in wood
preserving. From its
Perry plant and its as
Kellwood Employs
600 In Perry Area
Kellwood is a diversified
manufacturer and mer
chandiser of apparel,
home fashions, and
recreational equipment.
Headquartered in
Metropolitan St. Louis, the
company employs about
17,500 people in 60 plants in
16 states. Kellwood has
grown since its founding in
1961 to become one of the
nation's largest soft goods
manufacturers, with sales
of about S4OO million an
nually. The company is the
largest soft goods supplier
to Sears, Roebuck and
Company and is one of the
nation's 500 largest in
dustrial corporations.
The company is divided
into 12 groups and sub
divisions, each
manufacturing and
marketing for a particular
segment of one of
Kellwood's three markets
recreation equipment,
home fashions, and ap
parel. Some groups sell
only to Sears; others
filiate, Atlanta Forest
Products, over 20 million
feet • of Wolmanized
Pressure Treated lumber
and plywood is shipped to
markets all over the
Eastern seaboard.
Mell Smith Tolleson,
vice-president ot Tolleson
Lumber Company, is a
past president of Quality
Wood Preservers
Association and a member
of the board of directors of
the American Wood
Preservers Association.
Fitzgerald Plant
Tolleson Lumber
Company completed the
construction of a new
bandmill operation in
Fitzgerald, Ga. in early
1975 and is currently
producing 50,000 feet of
longleaf lumber daily.
Much of that production is
brought to the Perry plant
for final distribution.
Memberships
Tolleson Lumber Co.,
Inc is a member of the
National Forest Products
Association, Southern
Forest Products
Association, Southern
Hardwood Manuracturing
Association and the
American Wood Preser
vers Association.
J.M. Tolleson, Jr.,
president of the Tolleson
Company, is the im
mediate past president of
Southern Forest Products
Association of New
Orleans, La.
Tolleson Supply Co.
Tolleson Supply Com
pany was incorporated in
1948 and under the
leadership of T.R. Tolleson
has grown in the fields of
truss manufacturing,
ready-mix concrete and
pallet construction. In
addition to a full line of
building materials, a home
construction crew is
maintained. Tolleson
Supply is a charter
member of Building
manufacture for other
major retailers. At cor
porate headquarters, staff
departments assist groups
and subsidiaries with
specialized functions.
The Kellwood Company,
Perry, Georgia Plant, is
one of four plants in the
Georgia DeCor Division.
Other plants in this
division are located in
Clinton, Oklahoma; Cuth
bert, Georgia; and,
Montezuma, Georgia.
These four plants employ
approximately 1400 people
and manufacturers bed
spreads, drapes, and
mattress pads in a wide
variety of styles and
colors. The Perry Plant
employs approximately
600 people and over the
past five years have en
joyed substantial growth.
As a result of this growth,
the Georgia DeCor
Division opened a plant in
Montezuma, Georgia
where we employ over 100
people.
Bank to insure strong, uniform currency.
As a conciliator and deliberator, President
Washington sought advice from other men, sucn as
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander
Hamilton, the brain trust of that period. Probably
Washington's success was due to his ability to use the
genius of others as well as to his own prestige.
Known as an aristocratic gentleman, a methodical
man, and an honest and high-principled leader,
President Washington was able to establish a stable
government and unite thirteen colonies into the United
States of America.
After Washington's death, Colonel Henry Lee
described his old commander as "first in war, first In
peace, and first in the hearts of his country men''.
Material Merchants of
Georgia, headquartered in
Perry.
History of Tolleson
The Tolleson Lumber
Company was located in
Perry in October 1927 by J.
Meade Tolleson, Sr., father
of the three Tolleson
brothers. Prior to that Mr.
Tolleson had been one of
the owners of Big Indian
Lumber Company with
M.A. Smith in 1919 at
Grovania, Ga. This
company later had plants
at Monticello, Ga. and
Vienna, Ga. and in Florida.
Mr. Tolleson bought the
More Than 1 6,000 Students
Attend Houston Schools
By Joe Hiett
One of the largest "in
dustries" in Houston
County is not thought of as
industry at all- the Houston
County School System.
More than 16,000 students
in grades kindergarten
through twelve receive
their education, financed
by local, federal, and state
tax funds.
In the last five years,
since the 1971-72 school
year, the school
enrollment of the public
system has increased only
very slightly: from 16,059
five years ago to 16,372 in
1975 76. The 75 76 total
includes 265 kindergarten
students, which is a recent
innovation of Georgia
school systems.
By comparison, the
amount of revenue
required to educate those
children has risen
significantly. In 1971-72 the
revenue was produced
from three sources, state,
federal, and local. Local
tax revenues produced
$2,239,527; State taxes
another $5,881,978; and
federal $1,063,234. The total
operations budget was
$9,184,739 in that year.
Swank Shop
Serves Mens'
Clothing Needs
The Swank Shop had its
opening on December 1,
1961 with William F.
(Billy) Bledsoe and Julian
Cawthon as owners. This
men's clothing store was
remodeled in 1973 when
Billy Bledsoe became sole
owner.
Mr. Bledsoe has been
active in civic and church
affairs. He is a Mason,
Mrs. Sara White has
been a clerk and seam
stress at the store since
1963.
The Swank Shop is
located at 922 Carroll
Street.
Moore Lumber Company
and changed the name to
Tolleson.
The Tolleson brothers
were associated with their
father in the Lumber
Company until Mr.
Tolleson's death in 1964.
Tolleson Lumber Co. has
expanded considerably
during the past ten years.
Its vast operation has
contributed much to the
economy of Perry and
Houston County. It em
ploys 175 people and its
payroll and purchases of
local timber probably
amount to around a million
dollars annually. Edwin S.
Pierce, office manager,
has been with the company
30 years. C.R. White,
foreman at the Wood
Treating plant, has been
with the company 25 years
Howard Peyton, lumber
truck driver, has been
employed by Tolleson for
53 years, and is now semi
retired.
In 1975-76, the school
year just completed, the
revenue was as follows:
from local taxes
s4,oßo,o22; from state
$7,935,297; and from
federal- $1,378,524. So the
total operations budget
was $13,393,843 last school
year. This represents an
increase in funds of
$4,209,004 over the past five
years. Os the increase, $l.B
million was in local tax
monies.
The System Staff
David A. Perdue is the
present Houston County
School Superintendent,
and his position is open to
election every four years.
Professional personnel, by
position, are: Seabie W.
Hickson- Asst. Supt.,
Business and Finance;
Joseph Williamson-Asst.
Supt. Personnel; Hubert
A Hutcherson, Asst. Supt.
Instruction; Milton
Sutherlin, Asst. Supt..
Federal Programs; Ellen
E. Maltais Asst. Supt.,
Pupil Personnel Services.
Others include: Gary A.
Sapp Purchasing direc
tor; Alma G. Beckham
School Food Services;
Glenn Hitchcock- Four
Quarter Program direc
tor; Herb St. John-
T ransportation and
Maintenance director;
Virginia Moreland
Visiting Teacher; and
Frances Worrall- Library
Services director.
The board office's
clerical and secretarial
staff includes: Annette
Ford, Jean Peavy, Norma
Mayo, Merle Stilwell,
Sheryl Greene, Marian
Whitehurst, Clara Young,
Laverne Cook, Shirley
Hipps, Joanne Leonard,
Doris Lee, and Sharon
Cosey
The School Board
The school system is
governed by a five man
board elected to four year
terms. Members of the
school board were ap
pointed by the Grand Jury
until 1958 when a
legislative act provided for
George Washington
Served 1789-1797, Federalist
1 Citizens Involved
Mayor Sees Bright 1)
Future For Perry ||
The city of Perry
remains in sound financial
condition despite the
nationwide economic
decline and in
flation spiral of the past
two years.
In spite of the economic
slump, the City has
maintained a high em
ployment rate expecially
in comparison to state and
national rates. Also, Perry
has experienced a
significant population
increase from 7,777 in 1970,
to an estimated 10,000
today.
election of the board.
Present board members
are: LA. McConnell
chairman; Hugh Brazell
vice chairman; Bill
George; Glenn Heck; and
Custin Ben Lowery. Dr.
W.A. Talbert, Jr;, who
served for 12 years retired
off the board in 1975,
resulting in the ap
pointment of Lowery by
the other four members.
Perryan L. Cohen
Walker, Sr. served more
than 20 years on the board,
including 16 years as
chairman. Others to serve
since 1958 have included
Dr. J. R. Arnall, H.A.
Aultman, L.A. McConnell,
and Marion Greene, Jr.
Perry's Schools
Perry's public schools
began back in 1889. The
Mayor, W.C. Davis and
Council, requested
authority from the Georgia
HOUSTON
FACTS
Houston County, in
cluding Perry, has total
manufacturing em
ployment of ap
proximately 2,295 persons.
Half of the working force
of Houston County have
government jobs, either
local, state or national.
Records show that the
first marriage license was
issued in Houston County
on Aug, 25, 1825 to John
Williams and Susan Yearly
who were married by
Robert Gawley, justice of
the peace
Van Asdalan
Commissioners'
Receptionist
Mrs. Martha Van
Asdalan is the receptionist
in the County Com
missioners' office at the
Court House.
Perry is tortunate to
have had a chartered city
government since the year
1824. The city was founded
on a "solid rock" of good
and dedicated leadership;
this has been true
throughout the past 152
years. Our future is very
bright.
Since becoming Mayor,
we have tried to get more
citizens involved and in
terested in the city, by
such things as the
Beautification Com
mission, the Youth Ad
visory Committee, the
Legislature to establish
and maintain a system of
public schools to be sup
ported by public taxation.
The bill provided for two
schools: one for blacks,
one for whites.
The growth of the system
was steady, and major
factors were the two Perry
school superintendents:
James M. Gooden who
served from 1919 until
January 1, 1937; and Eric
Staples, who served from
1937 until 1969 when he
retired.
Changes
Several significant
changes have taken place
in the public school system
in the past ten years. The
most important probably
were: integration (1970);
♦he four quarter system
(1973), and the "alter
native" school (1975).
Early Days In School
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL THURS., JULY 1, 1974,
Con Company
Expands Again
Continental Can Com
pany has announced this
week that from now on it
will be known as the
Continental Group, Inc.
Included in this cor
poration will be Con
tinental Can Company,
Continental Forest In
dustries, Continental
Diversified Industries,
Continental Canada, and
Continental Europe.
Continental Can Com
pany, the largest
packaging company in the
world, began operation of
their Perry plant at Pabst
Brewery in June, 1970.
John Gose, manager of the
Perry plant, said Con
Olde Fashioned Christ
mas, and the Time Cap
sole.
Holding the office of
Mayor is a privilege and a
very high honor. We will
continue to work for a
better Perry for all, per
sonally dedicated to high
principles and standards.
Thank God tor allowing us
to serve ourcommunity,
especially during our
Nation's 200th birthday.
This aside from all other
things will fill our hearts
with wonderful memories.
JamesO McKinley
j| \ | I Saj
Mayor McKinley
Property Taxes
>0 H
Increase Aqain
The taxable value of real
and personal property in
Houston County for 1976 is
estimated at $237,885,686,
according to Mrs. Joyce
Griffin, tax commissioner.
Based on the 1975 millage
rate of 29.47, the amount of
tax funds produced from
the above valuation are as
follows:
State of Georgia (.25
mills), $70,390.
Houston County (10
mills), $2,378,856.
Schools (18 mills),
$4,274,901.
School Bonds (.75 mills),
$191,836,
tinental has increased Its
output of manufactured
cans annually to supply, the
needs of Pabst Brewery in
its expansion. , ,
Continental Can Com
pany owns over a million
acres of timber land In
Georgia and has several
plants in this state. The
company has many plants
in the United stfltes
designated by the .type
product manufactured by
each. The Perry plant No.
353 belongs to the l.pom
pany's Metal Division,,
Continental Group, Inc.
is an international cor
poration that touches
every corner of the £jobe.
In a page advertisement in
this issue, this corporation
points out its respon
sibilities and salutes the
people of Perry and
Houston County in' .the
spirit ot the Bicentennial.
sup? I
Historic
t>ti« ■.
Houston'
Facts 1
> if f
Some of the cleanest,
while sand in the natron
used lo be at Sand Bed in
Houston County and loaded
in railroad cars tor ship
menl
Dr Crawtord W Lbtig,
physician of Jeffersoh, Oa.
who discovered 'thaw
sulphuric ether could fce
used as an anesthetic for
pain, is one of the state's
two sons to have his statue
placed in the Statuary Hall
in Washington, DC. The
other Georgian to b»v«o
honored is Alexander
Stephens, vice president of
the Confederacy and
governor of Georgia.
Hospital Bonds (.47
mills), $111,622.
J
Total Amount $7,027,606.
In addition to the
property taxes, Houston
County receives an alcohol
tax from retailers who sell
alcoholic products. Also,
Houston County receives
large amounts in Federal
funds, including revenue
sharing and grants in aid.
During this past fiscal
year, Houston received
$17,373,000 under a variety
of aid programs, according
to the reports of the Tax
Foundation. .