The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1945-01-26
ESQ Members And Guests Attend First
Annual Chamber OF Commerce Banquet

~
of Commerce was held Wednes.
day night at the USO hall with
approximately $50 members ano
guests attending, making it one
of the largest gatherings for q
similar event in the history OF
Pascagoula and Moss Point.
Highlights of the meeting were
the installation of new officers,
a summary of the years work OF
the Chamber by retiring Presi-
dent Hermes f. Gautier, an adj
dress by Culver White, assistant
to the president of the Gulf. Mo
bile and Ohio Railroad and the
conducting of group singing by
Claude Blanchard.
The efforts of the Chamber
will continue to be directed to-
wards bringing a deep water
channel to Pascagoula and devel-
opment of harbor facilities which
will be a major factor in the de-
velopment of this entire area, Mr..
Gautier told members before
turning over the gavel to the
newly elected president, A. L,
Bresemann, of Moss Point.
Tells of Work
He briefly told of the Cham
ber's work during the past year
and the laying of grounds for
postwar industrial development
of Moss Point and Pascagoula.
In accepting the gavel, Presi-
dent Bresemann paid tribute to
the work of Mr.. Gautier and
other officers of the Chamber
during the past year. He also
called on K. w. Burnham, presi-
dent of the County Board of Su-
pervisors, who paid additional
tribute to the retiring officers.
Other officers who will serve
for this year are Marvin Funk
houser. first vice-president; W.
w. Barber, second vice president;
Mrs. Manuella c. Taylor, treas
urer.
MI. White, in a brief talk, told
of the work of the railroads in
meeting the wur emergency Of
the nation.
The slogan adopted by the
railroads at the beginning of war
was America First" he said, and
American railroads have stuck to
that slogan since and will con-
tinue to stick to 1t.
Does Big Job
With three-quarters of the
equipment and manpower of
1918, American railroads have
handled double the tonnage dur
ing the present war. he said. In
addition passenger travel has in
creased to the point that during
last year passenger miles totalled
by the railroads equals 700 miles
of travel for every man. woman
and child in the United States.
We hear talk of reconversion
of industry to peace times OPP
erations when the present CON
flict is ended. he said. What is
also needed. he added, is the re-
conversion of government Pri-
vate initiative is still the domi-
nant factor of our country and
the American worker does not
want a dole. he continued. In
dustry has demonstrated what 1t
can do in meeting the emergen-
cies of this war.
He closed by saying that, in his
opinion, future prospects of our
nation are greater than ever be-
fore.
New directors elected 10 serve
for the next three years were
also announced. They are Mr..
Funkhouser, John r. Watts and
Arnold V. Walker of Paseagoula:
Claude Blanchard and E. A. Kha-
vat of Moss Point. Retiring di-
rectors are E. H. Bacot. I. L. De-
Lashmet. j. E. Stone, E. V. Suth-
off and w. M. Dutton.
James F. Velcich and Alton
May were in charge of the ban
quet and did an outstanding job
IN handling the large crowd. The
banquet was originally scheduled
to be held at the Marine cafe
terra, but a last minute switch
changed it to the USO.
l. B.. Tigrett, president of the
G M & o was originally sched-
uled to speak at the banquet but
was forced to decline because Of
illness.
The Paseagoula Garden club
was also congratulated on its
work in decorating the tables
and dining hall for the banquet.
Work in clearing a lake bed