After moving from WV to Florida on Feb 15, 1952, I went to work to Race & Race, I first worked in the office in the bookkeeping department. Then on July 7th I was promoted to timekeeper in the plant. I often worked overtime on Saturdays unloading pipe or boxes from railroad cars onto trucks. I only weighed about 125 pounds so it this was tough work, but I volunteered to work with the common labor crew at hard labor just to make money. My cousin Marvin Dial moved down from Logan and got a job at the same company. Also, Mary Nell’s brother Joe began to work there.
After working in the office at Race and Race only about 5 months I was promoted as “timekeeper” and “shipping clerk” in the plant. Later in February 1953 I was bonded and given the legal responsible of being custodian of the inventory during the vacation period of my superior. During one vacation period the company placed me in charge of the entire assembly plant, which had dozens of older employees. Somehow everything apparently ran smoothly with this 19 -year-old in charge. Looking back, I don’t know how I avoided conflict from guys who had worked there 15 or 20 years and obviously knew far more than I did. I often felt that Joe King resented having to report to me…but I always tried to be nice to him.
On December 8, 1952, I sold my Plymouth and purchase a 1950 Ford car. After going into the Army May 25, 1953, in early 1954 I turned the car in to the dealer as deposit on a new Oldsmobile. I took delivery of the new Oldsmobile when I came to Winter Haven to marry Mary Nell on June 6, 1954.
During the two years I was stationed at Fort Eusis, Va. I worked at Rich’s, a grocery super market some nights and week-ends. I need this $1.00 per hour extra money.
Upon leaving the Army I went to work at Tip Top TV and Appliances.