The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-11
Tide terEmployesR Play
Big Part In Life OF CITY
Company Plays Large Part
In Civic And Social Life
Of Wilmington

People in general are apt to con-
slider a public utility in the light
of its offices: plate glass and
chromium plate, a few employees
meeting the public and many work
ing in the background at bookkeep-
ing and other clerical work.
But so widespread is the common
touch of the Tide Water Power
company through its hundreds of
employees and such a great part
have many of the employees played
in the life of the community, people
here realize the company is a part
of the civic and social as we'll as
business life of the community.
On a hundred fronts a day the
employees of the company a r e
meeting the public to render SER
vice and on an equal number of
fronts they are taking a vital part
in the life of the city. Each employe
has his interests outside of his
work, each does his part to aid in
the advancement of the growth and
progress of the city.
Employees of the company are to
be found in all types of organiza-
tions throughout the city; in civic
clubs, fraternal organizations, re-
ligious groups, sporting groups, pat
riotic organizations and in other
groups which work for the ad-
vancement of the city.
800, 900 PAYROLL
There are 1862 Of these employees,
9TH permanent and temporary. and
they expend an annual payroll in
trade channels in excess of a half
million dollars a year.
Many of these employees have
been with the company for long
periods of years. For example, there
are eleven who have been continu-
ously in the employ Of the COM
p ny between IS and 40 years. An
other nine have so to IS. years of
service each. There are IA who
have worked with the company be-
tween rs and 80 years, and 81 who
have worked from 20 to Is years.
No less than At of them have been
employed by the company from Is
to 20 years and 48 from 10 to Is
years. There are e5 who have been
with the company between five and
ten years and 1923 who have worked
with the company from one to five
years.
In addition there are IA employees
who are now on pension due to age
or impaired health.
These workers are substantial
citizens. Many of them own thei1
own homes, have bank accounts
operate automobiles and are people
Of sound financial condition.
Among them ale men like Bert
Kite, known to every baseball fan
within a hundred miles of Whining.
ton, F. A. (Pop) Matthes, who
though a high ranking official is
obtained of the common touch if
ever a man was and is much bet
ter known throughout the COM
munity as Pop" than as Mr.. Mat
thes.
Then there is Tuck Savage, who
operated the first street car in Will
mington 49,. and the last. In the
parade which was staged last year
when the street cars were removed
from service, he piloted the last
car. Others who are equally well
known and who have played no
small part in the life Of the city
are L. B. Woodbury., an ardent
fisherman if ever there was one.
Jim Wommack is another old tim
er who has made many friends dur.
ing his years of service with the
company in right of way work.
Then there is George Stovall, a boat
man of note, who has done every
thing for the company from collect
ing to building lines. Iurray Groom
is another figure well k n o W n
throughout the city. Formerly a
construction foreman, illness b a S
curtailed his activities somewhat
lately, but he is still active in the
/: vice of the company.
Edwin W. Hall, president of the
car mems union, viii has been with
the company 81 years is another
old timer, as is Albert w. Gore,
who has been in the company's
employ for more than 20 years.
Then there is Jim Moore, street
| a motorman who is convinced the
day of the street car has not yet
passed and that the day will come
when the company will return to
using them instead of the buses.
And Capt'n Dooley, one of the
best known figures in Wilmington,
is another. The captain is retired
now, but you'd never know it, for
he is at the Ninth and Orange street
station every day, just as though he
were working.
And still another is Gus Walton,
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