No. 152 Published by Public Affairs Department
May, 1977 - Editor, Kathy White
HENRY DAVIS, GRAND MARSHAL
This year's Grand Marshal for the annual Mountain 'i_aurel Festival Parade in Clarkesville on May 21,
is our own Henry Davis. Henry spent 50 years as an employee and went from hauling telephone poles
on a mule-drawn wagon, to telephone repair work to the position of chief service man in the
Clarkesville area. Henry recalls he was 14 years old when he went to work for Mr. York who
founded Standard Telephone Company in 1904. Henry got started with Mr. York by hauling poles with
mules his daddy had on their farm.
Later, when Henry wasn't hauling poles, he began to notice what the linemen needed in their work,
and he'd have it ready when they called for it: pins, insulators, whatever they needed, he'd send
up to them on a hand line. Mr. York noticed how indispensable Henry made himself and made a lineman
out of him.
Mr. Stewart, Sr. said that at the time he purchased Standard Telephone in 1936, Henry was the only
plant employee the company had. "He carried a detailed map of the entire system in his head...
he knew the name, telephone number and location of home or business of every subscriber to the
system. He knew the cross pin numbers of subscriber line wires and the personalities of various
telephone instruments and their behavior patterns." Mr. Stewart said he is indebted to Henry for
some of the most profound and rewarding lessons he can recall. During his day, Henry found himself
in embarrassing situations from time to time and Mr. Stewart recalls, "the cool, calm, collected
and intelligent way in which he went about showing himself to be master of such situations was a
joy to behold and the measure of his stature as a man." "It is my conviction," Mr. Stewart
added, "that the highest compliment a man can aspire to is to be recognized as a gentleman. I
have long regarded Henry Davis as the epitome of the term."
Henry retired from Standard on .September 22, 1967, and a retirement dinner was given for him at
the Panorama Restaurant in Cornelia. Some 150 associates and friends gathered to pay tribute to
him. "It was a good company," said Henry, "I enjoyed working for it."
Today, Henry and his wife, Clara have a farm in Clarkesville and raise some of the biggest and
best vegetables to be found. He has a horse and some cattle, and he goes to cattle shows about
once a week to buy and sell. Henry and Clara have been married 48 years and have three grown
daughters, all college graduates. They also have three grandchildren. Henry, a deeply religious
Methodist, is at peace with himself and others because of a gentle philosophy...he believes in
"treating people nice."
The Standard Bearer, Page
ELECTRIC SHOP SPONSORS RADIO CLUB
Our subsidiary. Electric Shop, Inc. is sponsoring a new club for anyone interested
in electronics. Named the Cornelia Radio Club, the organization, which has built its
membership up to about 10 members now, meets every Monday night at Electric Shop
at 7:30. Members include Dr. Ray Barnum who is Extra class, Lee Hiers, Advanced class
and Steve Adams and Mike Poston who are General class. Jimmy Dillard reports that
membership is open to everyone who has any interest in electronics or who is seriously
considering it as a hobby, and is not restricted to people living in the Cornelia area.
Classes are held for members who would like to obtain or advance their license.
The Club also is responsible for the RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service)
operation in the Habersham County area. RACES, a funded government progranii falIs
under the supervision of Civil Defense Director, Barry Church. Mike Poston is the
Amateur of Record of the RACES station, which can provide long distance (more than
20 miles) communications during an emergency. If you are interested in the Cornelia
Radio Club or would like additional information on membership, please contact Jimmy
Dillard at Electric Shop between 9:00 and 5:00 at 778-8883 in Cornelia.
Several STC employees are furthering their
education by attending a class in AC-DC
Theory at NGTVS twice a week. Students
from Standard are Harold Chambers, Line
Installer/Repairer; James Dockery, Stockroom
Attendant; Steve Payne, Technical Specialist;
Jimmy Thompson, Installer/Repairer; Doug
Cunningham, Installer/Repairer; and Tolbert
Bramlett, Installer/Repairer. Other students
are Dianne Anderson, Jayne Blackwell, Doris
Nichols, Martha Norris, and Linda Vinson.
The class instructor is Mr. Roy Chastain.
The Dahlonega area suffered some severe
damage and our aerial wire and cable and
drops were downed when a tornado swept
through the Mill Creek area on April 4.
The photo, provided by J.C. Moss, shows
a fence with scattered debris resulting from
the tornado between Dahlonega and Dawsonville
off Highway 19.