The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-07-28

"a uNit OIL '. v. 1OFuOn anu the
story behind GOrdon's Transfer of
Farmyille appeared in the June is
sue OF Virginia Trucks. monthly
publication OF the Virginia Highway
Users AssOciati0n.)
A panel body delivery truck. art
fully painted a bright orange, and
affectionately dubbed The Pump
kin announced to residents Of
Farmville. Virginia and environs,
the entrance Of v v. Butch Cor
don into the trucking business.
Surely, this was a most appropri-
ate beginning for the Cinderella
type story that has unfolded in the
phenomenal growth of Gordons
Transfer; and like Cinderella. there
was Fairy Godmother standing
by in the person of Mrs Grace
Gordon. V VS. mother, who con
tflbuted much to the eventual sue
cess Of this modest beginning. Mrs
Gordon has been with the business
SINCE lis earliest stages. and is now
serving as office manager, and in
other capacities
Mr.. Gordon was still a student at
Farmyille High School at the time
he acquired The Pumpkin He
and his brightly hued vehicle were
familiar sight to farm folk and
city dWellers alike. for they spent
many out-of-school hours together.
delivering milk from his fathers
dairy farm to nearby points.
In Fathers Footsteps
Y. ". in taking to the road. was
following in the footsteps Of his
father, H. n Gordon The elder
Mr. Gordon had started. some years
earlier. a one-truck delivery service
in the operation of his dairy farm
He later added another truck and
began hauling anything. anywhere
Among his varied cargoes were
farm fruits. picture gallery, flour,
carbide. petroleum products. and
finally produce for the Atlantic g.
Pacific Tea Company.
It was about this time that V. "
and his older brother R. F. Gordon
Joined their father in full-time EN-
ployment in the growing business.
and By 1899 when the company was
incorporated. the fleet numbered
eight trucks and one trailer.
Things moved With reasonable
smoothness for the Gordon Family
and its motor freight operation I'M
til 1912 In that year the elder Mr.
Gordon found II necessary to re-
tire from active participation. This
was followed closely BY the death
Of R. F Gordon. thus leaving the
tremendous Job Of running this
ever-increaslng business in the
hands Of Y. v Gordon.
Never Say Die Attitude
Mr.. Gordon was. not quite p
years old. our country was in the
midst Of World War II. which
meant rationing of gasoline. tires,
and equipment. also. the calling
into service of some of its expert
enced employees II was here that
Mr. Gordon showed that he was
endowed with determination to
overcome all odds. the gift of care
ful planning, and never-say- die
attitude. He pulled the company
through this perllous period
Two ideals have been uppermost
in the mind Of Mr. Gordon in the
operation Of his company one Of
these is service 10 the shipper Like
the proyerbial slogan of postal EN-
plOyees-the mails must go through
so must Gordon 5 trucks Storms.
snow and sleet. high water hazards
have many times tested Gordon s
men and trucks. but there was
never a though of giving up
This service has been a deciding
factor in the growth of Gordon to
present fleet Of 80 tractors and
trailels. 80 employees: an annual
operation Of approximately 1926 $50
miles: and more than 5000 tons
Of revenue freight in 1857.
The Second Ideal
The second ideal which has most
certainly contributed its part to
the advancement and prestige that
Gordon s can claim, is the careful
selection and training of drivers,
and an ever-present safety and
courtesy incentive program. Some
years ago, Mr. Gordon introduced
the Safety Bird Bulletin to his
drivers These were sometime hui
morous, sometime serious illustrat-
ed periodicals stressing safety and
courteous practices
The incentive plan first used by
Mr. Gordon consisted Of a cash
bonus given monthly for safe driv-
ing This was discarded some years
ago III favor of the safety program
sponsored by the American Truck
ing Associations. This plan is pre-
ferred by the drivers because it
gives them the opportunity to ac-
cumulate points for safe driving and
redeem them for worthwhile prizes
including household items. Thus.
the whole family can have a part