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iiV -v Hv
OR. COCHRAN
REV. TERESI
REV. SMITH
Since 1941
Robins Air Force Base A Vital Part
Os Houston And The United States
Robins Air Force Base
entered its 35th year In
1976, for Its history dates
back to 1941 and the
defense build-up preceding
World War 11.
Early In 1941, when the
Army Air Corps an
nounced plans for
establishing a main
tenance and supply depot
In the southeast, Macon
civic leaders waged a
strenuous campaign to
attract the installation to
Its vicinity. One of the
measures used was the
donation of a tract of over
3,000 acres of land to the
U.S. Government.
The City of Macon and
Bibb County, In which
Macon is located, floated
bonds for SIOO,OOO to pay
for the land. An interesting
sidelight on the transaction
Is that the land lay not in
Bibb but In adjoining
Houston County some 18
miles south of Macon.
Subsequent purchases by
the Federal Government
increased the reservation
to its present size.
Certain natural ad
vantages worked In favor
of location in the Middle
By Ruby C. Hodges
Dr. Leonard H. Cochran,
who served as pastor of the
First United Methodist
Church of Perry from June
1968 to June 1972, chose to
live In this city after his
retirement. Dr. Cochran
entered the ministry In
1929 after attending Emory
at Oxford and graduating
from Asbury College In
Kentucky. During the
forty-five years of his
active ministry In the
South Georgia Conference,
Dr. Cochran served
churches In the cities of
Savannah, Valdosta,
Columbus, Macon and
Albany as well as several
in smaller cities.
When asked why he
chose Perry for his home
In retirement, this
minister gave several good
Rev, James Madison
Teresi, who has been a
minister of the gospel for
57 years, has tried to retire
since November, 1965 but
the Baptists of Georgia
won't permit him to do so.
It is not surprising that
this is true for Rev. Mr.
Teresi is an excellent
preacher, who has been
active in associational
work as well as most
successful in his pastoral
work.
Reverend Jesse Ben
jamin Smith, beloved
associate pastor ot the
First United Methodist
Church of Perry, has been
honored by several local
groups as well as by his
church which held "J.B.
Smith Appreciation Day”,
May 6, 1973.
Fifty years ago, Rev.
Mr. Smith began his
ministry in the North
Georgia area. Notable
were relatively level land
for the airfield and an
abundance of pure water.
These were Important
points to consider in 1941
when emphasis was on
speed of construction.
Also, In their successful
effort to obtain the In
stallation, Macon leaders
had the backing of a moss
influential Congressman,
Carl Vinson.
Announced June 14,1941
Dates which stand out as
milestones In the base's
early history are as
follows: June 14, 1941,
official announcement by
War Department of
selection of the site;
August 8, 1941, original
contract let; September 1,
1941, official an
nouncement by con
struction; November 9,
1941, first commander of
the depot, Lieutenant
Colonel Charles E. Thomas
(subsequently a Major
General) set up temporary
headquarters at Herbert
Smart Airport near
Macon; March 1, 1942,
official activation of depot;
and August 30, 1942,
Dr. Cochran Talks About Retirement
reasons. Foremost among
these was his opinion that
Perry is a quiet, lovely
town with gracious and
friendly people. Another
reason was the location of
Perry on several high
ways, making it easily
accessible to Atlanta
where three of his four
children live, and to Macon
where he has many
friends.
Reared on a farm in
south Fulton County, It is
natural that Dr. Cochran
would love the out-of-doors
and hunting, which are
available to him around
Perry With his devoted
bird dog "Bud", along with
congenial companions, this
sportsman really enjoys
hunting.
Confiding the fact that
Perry was the only church
Rev. Teresi A Minister For 57 Years
After serving fifteen and
one-half years as pastor of
the First Baptist Church of
Perry, Mr. Teresi retired
from the active ministry
and bought a home in
Perry. During the past ten
years, he has served as
interim pastor of the
following Baptist chur
ches; Waycross First
Church, Fort Valley,
Marshallvllle, Byron,
Elko, Benevolence Church
in Crawford County,
T 'M
Rev. J. B. Smith Loved And Honored
Georgia Conference and
transferred to the South
Georgia Conference in
1938. A native of Lumpkin
County, Georgia, he is a
graduate of Young Harris
College and of Emory
University.
"Brother J.B", as he is
affectionately called, was
pastor of the Perry
Methodist Church from
November, 1944 until June,
completion of original
construction contracts.
The depot was named
Wellston originally to
coincide with the name of
the nearby town. In Sep
tember 1942, Wellston
changed its name to
Warner Robins Army Air
Depot. The base Itself was
called "Robins Field". The
name "Warner Robins"
honors the memory of
Brigadier General
Augustine Warner Robins,
one-time Chief of the Air
Corps' Materiel Division.
Robins became a far
larger Installation than
had been anticipated. The
original estimates of Its
manpower requirements
had been 350 military and
2,800 civilian personnel for
normal operations, with a
maximum of 5,400
civilians. As World War II
progressed, however, the
number of civilians rose to
14,000 when the base also
became a large training
center. Some 50,000 of
ficers and enlisted men
were trained for overseas
duty In a 3,000 acre can
tonment area. The ad
ditional 3,000 acres
Methodist Pastor Lives In Perry
appointment that he had
ever sought, the minister
said that he did not an
ticipate retiring here at
that time. Enjoying his
four years as pastor here
and appreciative of the
courtesies shown him at
his retirement. Dr.
Cochran has been sup
portive in his relations
with the Church and its
active pastor since his
retirement.
When told that he was
considered public-spirited
and co-operative In the
city's activities, this
remarkable man replied
that he owed It to the
people of Perry to be a
good citizen and to make a
difference in the com
munity by his interest and
participation in its affairs.
In demand as a speaker
Perry, Centerville in
Houston County where he
is now serving.
For several months, Mr.
Teresi was supply pastor
for the Perry Presbyterian
Church.
This minister came to
Perry in 1950 from
Milledgeville where he had
been pastor for over fifteen
years. Other churches
served during his active
pastorate were Wadley,
Midville, Millerr, Vienna
"Brother J. 8." To Perryans
i
1950, six conference years.
Retiring from the con
ference in 1964, he
returned to Perry in June
1965 to become associate
pastor.
Mr. Smith's most recent
honor was the Liberty Bell
Award presented to him by
the Houston Bar
Association in May, 1976 at
the Court House in Perry.
brought total land within
the base confines up to
6,000 acres.
Following the close of
World War 11, there were
several years of reduced
Robins AFB
In 35th Year
Os Defense
acflvlty, with the civilian
strength dropping below
4,000. A period of second
growth began In 1949, and
by 1954, the base was
at club meetings and
patriotic and public
events, Dr. Cochran has
proved to be an asset to
Perry. In his original
approach and
philosophical manner, this
speaker can make almost
any subject interesting and
Inspiring. Through
reasonable appeal, he
makes being good and
doing good the sensible
thing to be or do.
In addition to being a
great preacher and an able
church administrator, Dr.
Cochran served on con
ference boards of
Education and
Evangelism, as conference
missionary secretary, and
as representative on the
general board of Missions.
This minister was also a
delegate to the
Came To Perry In 1950
and Byromvllle.
His fiftieth anniversary
In the ministry was ob
served by his borne church
in Madison, Qa. in 1969. On
October 19, 1969, Mr.
Teresi was guest preacher
atthe morning service at
the First Baptist Church of
Perry. The bulletin that
Sunday was dedicated to
Mr. Teresi and contained
tributes to him.
Mr. Teresi is a graduate
of Mercer University,
In presenting this award,
George F. Nunn, attorney
of Perry, praised "Brother
J. 8." as a person who best
exemplifies high standards
of moral conduct, good
citizenship, and com
munity service.
In 1970, the Perry Rotary
Club named J.B. Smith,
Rotarian of the Year, for
exceptional service to the
community. In 1974, the
employing more than
15,000 civilians.
Physical aspects of the
base were improved in 1950
when an extensive
program of new con
struction was begun to
replace many of the
temporary facilities
hurriedly built during
World War 11. A modern
Ecumenical Conference
and to the North American
Missionary Conference
and was a member of the
Southeastern Jurisdic
tional Council. Other
honors included election by
the South Georgia Con
ference as representative
to Jurisdictional and
General Conferences in
1952, 1956, 1960, and 1964.
After such an active and
eventful career in the
ministry, it would be
difficult for a lesser man to
adjust to retirement.
However, Dr. Cochran has
enlarged his horizons by
extensive travel and
broadened his religious
perspective by his service
to Methodism on all its
levels.
In his adjustment to
retirement, Dr. Cochran
has had the companionship
Macon, Ga. and also of the
Baptist Seminary in
Louisville, Kentucky.
Rev. James Teresi was
awarded a special cer
tificate in October 1975 for
55 years of continuous
membership in the Middle
Georgia chapter of Sigma
Alpha Epsilon Fraternity
Alumni Association. Mr.
Teresi was a member of
S.A.E. while a student at
Mercer University.
The golden wedding
Perry Kiwanis Club chose
Mr. Smith as Man of the
Year, calling him an
ambassador of good will
for the City of Perry.
During the church's
Appreciation Day in 1973,
this minister was paid
many tributes and
presented several gifts
including a new
automobile.
runway, over two miles in
length, heavy concrete
aprons for outside work on
aircraft, the Air Force's
largest repair and
overhaul facility for USAF
armament systems, ad
ministrative buildings,
huge warehouses and
airmen dormitories were
outstanding items of the
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL THURS., JULY 1, 1976,
of his dear wife, Barbara,
who is not only highly
intelligent but a friendly
and warm person. Her two
sons, Tommy James of
Atlanta and Davis James
of Athens, are devoted to
"Dr. C", as they call him.
Visits from and to his
children by his first wife
who died in 1965, are a
source of pleasure. They
are Norman Cochran, of
Way land, Mass.; Arthur
Cochran, Mrs. Sam
Hopkins and Mrs. Evan
Morehouse, all of Atlanta.
There are eight grand
children.
Happy Retirement
When asked to comment
on how to have a happy and
fruitful retirement, Dr.
Cochran had this to say:
"Retirement should be
successful and meaningful
anniversary of Mr. and
Mrs. Teresi was
celebrated on Sunday July
18, 1971 with a reception in
the social hall of the First
Baptist Church of Perry
with the officials as hosts.
Mrs. Teresi, the former
Jewelle Shepard of
Wadley, Ga., has been a
real helpmate to her
husband since their
marriage July 17, 1921 in
Sandersville, Ga.
The Teresis have two
Fortunate in the
selection of his helpmate,
Mr. Smith married the
former Miss Gladys
Cockrell of Folkston, Ga.
in 1930. They have two
children, Margaret, who is
married to the Rev.
Charles H. Peet of
Roseland, New Jersey, and
Rev. Daniel P. Smith of
Tocoma, Washington.
They are six grand-
construction program.
In 1958, a new period of
expansion began with a $26
million program to
prepare for the location of
a wing of the Strategic Air
Command. The program
also included military
housing and recreational
facilities for personnel as
well as shop and airfield
facilities to accommodate
B-52 and KC-135 aircraft.
Construction in the 1960's
included additional
housing, a 60-bed hospital,
runway improvements,
and a new hangar large
enough to accommodate
the C-5A aircraft.
Two elementary schools
were also built.
World-wide Mission
Today, Robins, an Air
Force Logistics Center
installation, is a huge
military complex of
closely related units with
diversified missions.
These units represent a
portion of the overall
military team, carrying
out their assigned missions
in line with the objectives
and interests of the United
States. As such the base is
home for 21 organizations.
These units make up what
is known as the "Robins
Family".
The Warner Robins Air
Logistics Center exercises
command jurisdiction over
the installation with the
2853rd Air Base Group
providing the
housekeeping functions
vital to operation of the
installation.
Some of these
housekeeping functions
include the providing of
just as any other period, in
a person's life. Retirement
is a new realm but in
reality it is a continuation
of patterns of living for
med in an active era.
Always interested in
people and active fn
community service,' it fs
understandable for me 1o
continue endeavors along
this line." '
Concluding the 1m
terview, Dr. Cochran said;
"The effort to reach the to|/?’
in any profession, or any
area of life, should not be
for the sake of power of
position but a quest for life
at its best through
realizing one's highest
potential with God's help.’*
With this thought, Df;
Cochran revealed hTs
secret for a happy and
successful life, whether
active or retired.
children, James M. Teresi,
Jr. of Corona, California,
and and Mrs. Allen Mc-
Connell of Warner Robirts!.
There are four grand
children.
Greatly beloved by
every church and com
munity where they haV**
served, Mr. and Mrfr.
Teresi are an inspiration'to
all who know them. May
they continue their
Christian service for many
years to come!
"I
children. ,
Too numerous to men
tion are the good deeds of
this faithful pastor and
Christian gentleman. HLs
genuine interest in people
and his sincerity in all .of
life's relationships have
made him admired and
loved by many people
regardless of their church
affiliation.
utilities, upkeep anW
construction of buildings
and grounds, flight
operations, and
automotive transportation.
The group also exercises
staff surveillance over the
operation, planning and
maintenance of base
communications- elec
tronics facilities,
navigational aids and air
traffic control services. . •
Covers 7,245 Acres •
Support of organizations
tenanted on the base
includes security and la 1 ./
enforcement, fi.r-e
protection, housing,
commissary, base ex
change, medical, religious
education and recreational
services. In addition, the
wing supervises the
operation of field ration
mess halls, restaurants
and snack bars.
Within the base confines
of 7,625 acres, there are 81
miles of paved roads, .13
miles of railroad, 525
administrative and in-,
dustrial buildings, *
family housing units,
quarters for 1,672 single
officers and airmen, and a
telephone system wHh
over 3,500 main lines. •>.
It requires 4,101 military
and 15,799 civilian per
sonnel with an annual
payroll of $291,200,000 to
accomplish the variovs
worldwide mission?
assigned to the units of the
"Robins Family".
Colonel Edward D ,
Young Is the commanded
of Robins Air Force Base. £
Major General Wllliarr\
R. Hayes is Commander of
Warner Robins Air
Logistics Center.