Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-06-11
brown BEGAN CAREER
AS AMERICUS MANAGER
(Continued From PAGE Onel

nv VIII NOAiSiluC w NC az the uioN
posal of the Southern Bell and Cum
berland companies.
Mr.. Brown is one of the best
known and most popular business
executives in the south. A native Of
South Carolina, ne has understood
the needs OF the south and has en-
deavored to direct the telephone de-
velopments to the best advantage Of
the entire section.
He entered the service of the Bell
system twenty-five years ago as
manager at Americas, Ga, and his
career was one OF continuous a9-
vancement.
From 1907, when he was appoint
ed general manager of the Southern
Bell company, until 1919 when he
was elected president, he was the
active operating head of the com
pany, reporting directly to former
president w. t. Gentry.
When the Southern Bell and Cum
berland companies were placed un-
der joint management as the South
ern Group of Bell Telephone Com
panies, Mr.. Brown became first vice
president, and later president.
Rising from the ranks and win
ming his success by ability and hard
work, Mr.. Brown was in thorough
sympathy with the aspirations and
ambitions of every member of the
big telephone organization. HIS
policy of fairness and human kind
ness touched the lives of most of
the employees and won him their re-
spect and affection.
In his relations with the public he
was equally successful m perpetu-
ating the policies Of former presi-
dent w. T. Gentry. Possessing an
affable and sincere personality he
gained the confidence of the public
Officials and individuals alike
and his personal popularity was nc.
Elected in the cordial relations of
his company with its subscribers ard
the public.
With these talents and this ability
he will have enlarged opportunities
for greater service to his company
and to the south, as chairman of the
board.
Ben s. Read, who becomes presi-
dent of the Southern Group of
Bell telephone companies, is really
coming back home. The greater
part of his thirty-two years service
with the Bell system was spent with
the Cumberland company in the
states of Kentucky, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi and Tennessee.
Starting as toll agent in his ma
tive state of Tennessee, he spent
nine active years learning the telc-
phone business from the ground up
and then became manager at Overs
boro, Ky. He was promoted rapid
ly, serving later as manager at
Louisville, KY, at New Orleans, La,
and then as division superintendent
for Louisiana and Mississippi.
His outstanding ability soon at
tracted the attention of the leaders
of the Bell System, and he was elect
led general manager of the Bell Tele-
phone company of Missouri. Within
"a year he became general manager
of the Missouri and Kansas Tele-
phone company, and within another
year he was elected operating vice
president of the Southwestern Bell
Telephone System, embracing the
states of Missouri, Kansas, Okla
homa, Arkansas and Texas.
During the period of government
control of the telephone properties
he served with distinction as direct
or of commercial and rate matters
for the Bell System under the Oper-
ating Board of the United States
Telephone and Telegraph Admin
stration.
He was then elected president Of
the Mountain States Telephone and
Telegraph company operating in the
states of Colorado, New Mexico,
Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Western
Texas and Southern Idaho, with
headquarters in Denver, where he
has taken an active part in civic and
state affairs and aided in the up
building and development of the ex-
.ensive western territory of his COM