Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-10-07
FENDER COMPANY
HONORS EMPLOYEES
Old-Timers Gather at Nor
Folk and Greensboro for
Big Dinner Meet
By GRANVILLE TISGHMAN


Norfolk, Va, Oct 7-TWenty-
eight men and five women, who
have served the David Fender Gro
Gerry Company for 20 years or more,
were honored last night at a gala
banquet in the City auditorium that
was attended by by about 1900 Of
the organizations employees from
both Virginia and North Carolina
and guests, and which was believed
to be the largest event Of its kind
ever held in the city
Preceded by a long parade of
Fender employees down CRANKY St.
the dinner furnished a colOrful sett-
ing to the tributes that officials and
executives Of the company paid to
the men and women whose long
services had contributed extensive
ly to its outstanding history. All
available floor space at the audi
forum was taken up for tables, and
Negro employees Of the company were
seated at other long banquet tables
stretching down the corridor on the
second floor Of the old City hall Of
fees.
One hundred and fifteen walters
were required to serve the guests.
They were directed by the two head
walters, and over them were four
supervisors. Two serving stations
were necessary in the auditorium,
each equipped with an oven and cur
tanned off from the crowd. More
than 10000 pieces Of tableware We're.
Iplaced and removed, and the dinners
were "piping hot" filet mignOn, DO
tatoes au gratin, green garden peas,
with celery, olives and coffee. N. w.
Oberndorfer, of the Town Club, was
caterer for the dinner.
The aWards-handsome silver ser
vices for the women and expensive
watches for the men-Werc presented
by David Fender, who founded the
company 80 years ago He congratu-
lated each recipient personally, and
as he presented each award, gave
brief "reminiscences Of the EMPLOYEES
service with the company.
HOnOred Employees
Those who received the awards
were Mrs. Carrie Davis Pagan, Miss
Margaret Estelle Meiggs, Mrs. Alta.
w. Nunnally, Mrs. Ethner Hughes
Degge, and Mrs. Sudie jackson Milf
er colored employee, and Walter
Francis Brandt, George Atkinson
Chapman, Roscoe Buddy Forbes,
George Henry Hargreaves, Joseph
Edward .awson, Hersey A. Lily, JOS
eph McPhillips.
James Walter Mock, Terry Alton
Moss, Joda Herbert Norman, George
Nelson King, Jr., Earl Cecil Richards
Samuel Paul Jones, Robert M. Sosby,
Joseph Leroy Hiltcher, Charles Wes-
ley Smith, George Sidney Stallings,
Lloyd Hunter Scott, Elias Jefferson
Wick, Emory Lee Rose, Henry CLAW
Raper James Webster Wood, Will
liam M. Stogner, Joseph Brodie
Freeman, and Frank Scott and James
Henry Johnson, both Negroes.
Hunter c. Phelan, president of the
company introduced by the toast
master, Winder r. Harris, congratu-
lated the company on its continued
record of improvement, and paid
tribute to Mr.. Fender, who retired
in 1926, tor his foresight and courage
in laying the foundations of a com
pany that today has more than 5000
employes in stores throughout Vir-
lginia and North Carolina.
Mr. Phelan traced the history OF
the company, and in congratulatine
the employees being honored said
'your value to our company, and our
pride in you, is unbounded."
He said exemplary service such as
they had given the company had en-
abled it to go forward in periods oil
depression, and emerge into an era
lof efficient operation that allowed