The Apache sentinel., 1943-12-10
Story of Fort Huochuco's
PX's Is One of Phenomenal
Growth, Varying Operations


than a year might easily have been
written by that gs-to-riches" au-
thor, Horatio Alger
In April, 1912. the exchange was
operating only the main exchange,
three branches, the candy and pop
corn stand in theatre No /, dairy
and a filling station. Today, the
main exchange has been greatly en-
larged. 1t now has a lunch coun-
ter, beer bar, a new food market and
a remodeled merchandise section.
In addition, it operates 13 branches
in the Cantonment Area, a slaugh-
ter house, filling station, dairy,
bake shop and cafeteria which
serves meals in one of the girls
dormitories.
The division headquarters ex-
change, No 8, is really second
main exchange with cafeteria,
clothing and most of the items
stocked in the main exchange on
the old post
The volume Of the PX's business
in recent months has been running
nine times as much as in the month
of April 1942.
Reward of Hard Labor
It must not be thought that this
enormous growth could have "just
happened" It took lots of hard work
and lots of help from everyone on
the post to bring the exchange to
its present position
Col. Edwin N Hardy, Post Com
mander, has been sympathetic and
helpful in assisting the Exchange
Officer, Major Claude G. owens, in
building the exchange. The ex-
change also owes a debt of graft
tude to the Exchange Council which
has in its membership the most out
standing officers of the troops sta
toned here. The exchange is in
debted to Col. Joseph D. Brooks,
Director of Service and Supply, and
Major A. E. Scroggs, Post Engineer,
for their crews. Without the assist
ance Of these officers and the mem
bers of their staffs it would have
been impossible to have accomplish
ed what has been done.
Experienced Personnel
The exchange has been fortunate
%AA A4eANA1l5 OItOoOQIANl1lS O111CClO do
signed to it. Capt. A. LaVoy Kim
ball, a man of wide experience in
merchandising is handling the mer-
chandising activities of the ex-
change. Capt. Thomas G. Fury,
who has had extensive banking ex-
perience, is the fiscal officer. Its.
Rudnick and Blaga, whose previous.
experience has fitted them admir-
ably for their present positions as
assistant exchange officers, super
wise the operations of the exchange.
Capts. Wright and Oesterle, who
were with the exchange during it's
period of rapid growth, are now
overseas as exchange officers. Their
help was very valuable to the ex-
change at time when it was great
ly needed.
The activities of the exchange
have really revolved around Major
Claude G. owens, the exchange Of
flcer, whose fairness, ability to han
die people and general knowledge of
retail operation, have been largely
responsible for the success of the
exchange.
Mr.. G.. w. Hoopman has handled
the accounting and buying. Prior to
becoming civilian manager, Mr.
Howe was a branch manager, asst.
merchandise manager and then
became personnel manager. Mr..
Woodrow Harris came to the ex-
change as manager of the ware
house but took over the accounts
receivable bookkeeping and subse-
Quently became cashier. These men
have been with the exchange all
through its period of growth Mr..
James w. MarloWe, chief account
ant and Mr. George Michael, chief
of the accounts payable section, are
both men with extensive accounting
experience. The exchange has been
fortunate in securing the services of
an outstanding group of workers in
its main exchange office.
Incentives Offered
In appreciation of the faithful
service to the exchange by it's en-
ployees, the Exchange Council has
voted Christmas bonus of one per
cent of yearly earnings of each en-
ployee who has been with the eX-
change for go days. This is the same
amount as voted last year. A ban
Continued on Page Three
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