Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

2 <SQJMmDSfl Ctofi . ,w Published mo t$f r^'ll for employee I; cs and Lydia 4-- --t Clinton, S. C direction of x. . , . Crocker, Ind Member of South , T Atlantic Council of lions i. Industrial Kdttors Calvin Cooper F. r. The publishers of The ' items of interest from i to your department: personn It is our purpose to devol P. S. Bailey. Comment in th beloved president was overw chosen several outstanding of some of Clinton's public 1 memorial. We regret that space do< all the fine articles which papers of the Southeast, e received by the mills and th< a newspaper twice this size room for the news. uTljr (HUtttn An Editorial in esiunuuiii^ imc worm OI Putsv Silas Bailey as a citizen of Clinton, one has an extremely wide range of activity from which to choose. Few men have been active in so many fields, and still fewer have excelled in all of them. Clinton lost a tower of strength last Wednesday when Si Bailey died at the comparatively early age of 54?and we shall not see his like again any time soon. A native of Clinton and a graduate of its Presbyterian i? ? a * ne eruereci immediately upon work at Clinton and Lydia Cotton Mills, which his grandfather had founded. This permanent connection was preceded by summer training in the plants during his school days. Twelve years later he was named vice-president of the mills, and ten years after that, in 1948, he was called upon to assume the presidency of the two corporations. Surrounding himself with an organization which is considered to be one of the best in the textile field, he almost immediately entered upon a program of expansion and internal improvement that lifted Clinton and Lvdia Mills to a position of leadership in the industry. Recognizing his ability, national textile organizations sought his guidance. He was a director of the American Cotton Manufacturers Institute and a trustee of the Institute of Textile Technology, Charlottesville, Va. At the time of his death he was serving as president of the South Carolina Textile Manufacturers Association. At the age of 30, Bailey was elected mayor of Clinton, a post which he filled for 12 years. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Presbyterian College, being chairman of its building committee. He was a member of the nthly by and ? s of Clinton r x-? x-t^/fVCr Cotton Mills, Claude A. lustrial Rela- M . "lirnptnr Member of American director. Association of inuusirim naiiora Editor Staff Artist Clothmaker will welcome ts readers. Turn them in :il reporters or to the el office. :e this page to the memory of e press of this area about our 'helming. We have, therefore, editorials and the comments leaders for publication as our ?s not permit the printing of have appeared in the newsind the hundreds of letters s family. To do so would take , and there would still be no u VLUfiilUUUT Board of Trustees of Thornwell Orphanage and chairman of its executive committee. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. Not only did he serve these institutions in official capacities. but also he shored them up with his financial contributions. He took over hundreds of acres of eroded, unproductive land and developed one of the finest cattle farms to be found anywhere. He was the breeder of the 1955 International Shorthorn Champion at the Chicago Exposition. The real worth of the man was exhibited in his personal relations with the hundreds of employees in his mills. He was intensely interested in their welfare and constantly supported and institued moves to improve their fjnvsicai, moral, ana spiritual welfare and happiness. His associates say that he was never so deeply touched and appreciative when only last month he was presented "An Expression of Appreciation." framed and signed by all members of the "Old Timers Club," an organization of approximatelv 100 members employed for 25 years or more by the mills. Appreciation was expressed to the management "who have always recognized us as individuals, attempted to be fair and just in all our relationships, for making our communities a better place in which to live and rear our families, for the personal interest shown in our welfare and hanninncc tw r> , " who arc our friends as well as our employers." Si Bailey did not stand on ceremony. He was easily approached. Many of his employees called him "Si" And his dignity suffered not the least bit because he was a man with the common touch. Many hearts are heavy with his passing. THE CLOTHMAKER Leaders Tell of City's Loss THE MAYOR Mayor J. P. Terry: "The town of Clinton, the entire state of South Carolina, and the textile industry have suffered an irreparable loss in the death of P. Silas Bailey. "His untimely passing came as a terrific shock to the entire town. Clinton will never have anything again that will affect its citizenry so profoundly. "Mr. Bailey was a great friend not only of the people iviiu wuitv hi ^nnion-L.yaia Mills but of the people of the entire town. He w orke d ceaselessly to make the mill villages and town better places in which to live and work." COLLEGE HEAD Dr. Marshall W. Brown, president of Presbyterian College: "During undergraduate years a student leader with a good scholastic record. Mr. Bailey, as an alumnus for the past 32 years, exemplified the ideals which inspired the foundation of Presbyterian College. In recent years he ably served as chairman of the Building Committee of the Board of Trustees. His generous support, helpful influence. and well-balanced judgment contributed much to the progress of the institution. He cannot be replaced but will continue to live in the institutions which he strengthened and in the hearts of all privileged to be associated with him." COMMERCE PRESIDENT James Von Hollen, president of the Chamber of Commerce: "Every member of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association feels keenlv the loss of P. S. Bailev, whose guiding influence was so important to o u r organization. We depended upon his ability and good judgment, confident that he always had the wellbeing of our community at heart. "Through his integrity and by his diligent work as President and Treasurer of the Clinton and Lydia Cotton Mills, Mr. Bailey contributed greatly to the good business conditions that exist in our town today. He had the respect and admiration of all who worked with him or who became associated with him in any way. "Time will not dim our deep appreciation of his qualities of mind and heart." PRESIDENT OF THORNWELL Dr. M. A. Macdonald. president of Thornwell Orphanage: "Our entire family, staff, children and Trustees will sorely miss our friend, benefactor and comrade; whose splendid Christian character, l i r* col f i c; V-* rl Atfn4 irvv\ 4^ C1 ^'1 UIIOV.IIIOII nv \ IH1UII Ml V n II 1 h work, tender 1 ve for children. wise counsel, outstanding leadership, his numerous philanthropies and faithful service as a member of our Board of Trustees and Chairman of our Executive Committee. His life and worth have been of inestimable value to Thornwell." With the un imely death Wednesday of Putsy Silas Bailey, 54, of Clinton, South Carolina lost the last male member of a family with the Bailey surname which for more than a half-century has been closely identified with the state's textile industry. "Si" Bailey, president of Lydia-Clinton Cotton Mills, was the sole remaining member of a third generation of textile manufacturers who did much to promote the cotton textile industry of this state. Mr. Bailev's nrofieienrv in %/ ? J- -J his field was recognized by his fellow manufacturers, who, just this year, elected him president of the South Carolina Textile Manufacturers Association. In addition Mr. Bailey was a trustee of the Institute of Textile Technology in Charlottesville, Va. He also was a director of the American Cotton Textile Manufacturers Association. Badly as Mr. Bailey will be missed in the textile manufacturing industry, there are two other areas in which he will be missed even more: the Town of Clinton and Presbyterian College. trite Anbmc Caught On The Wing By CHARLIE GARRISON All who knew him personally. and many who did not, mourned the passing of P. S. (Si) Bailey, Clinton textile magnate and civic leader. Mr. Bailey, 54. had made a name for himself in many fields. This year, for instance, he was serving as president of the South Carolina Textile Manufacturers Association, p e r h a p s the outstanding group of its kind in the state. In addition, he was president of Clinton and Lydia Cotton Mills in Clinton; was an officer in the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton; a past mayor, and a past president of the Clinton Lions Club. A graduate of Presbyterian College. Mr. Bailey a few years ago was awarded the Block P as the college's most useful alumni. Mr. Bailey spent his entire life in Clinton and, until a year or so ago lived in the same house on Main Street in which he was born. Neither his life nor his influence were confined exclusively to Clinton. Be was one of the most generous of the state's wealthy men. He had made many contributions to Presbyterian College, Thornwell Orphanage, and other institutions. Everyone in Clinton?except Si Bailey himself conliirlotwl ~ V?I UK- IIR- CI IV 5 wealthiest and most influential man. If Si was aware of that fact, however, he never gave any indication of it. No sweeper in his mills or any other individual ever displayed more humility, more understanding of the prob 4 JANUARY. 1959 unite Stents There were few civic endeavors in Clinton in which P. S. Bailey did not take a leading part. The many honors bestowed on him by his home town are far too many to enumerate. Presbyterian College was Mr. Bailey's beloved alma ? mater. He was on the board of trustees and at the time of his death was chairman of tin1 college's building committee which recently launched an extensive construction program. He was a devoted follower of the fortunes of P. C.'s athletic teams, particularly the "Blue Hose." The college honored mm in ltfoi dv Bestowing upon him the Alumni Gold Key Award which an- . nually goes to the alumnus who makes the most valuable * contribution to the college. Many mourn the passing of Mr. Bailey: his family, the employees of Clinton-Lydia Cotton Mills and the citizens of Clinton and Laurens County. But his death will be most keenly felt bv Presbyterian College and by the textile industry with whom his name was synonymous. m llniicpeniiont lems of others. Having grown up in Clinton and in his younger days played baseball on the lextile teams, he became known as "Si" to a large following. That name stuck, however. ..r l.:.. r~: mi ? ucv.auac ui ins 1 rienaiineSS and of his informality. Even though he was the head of two huge textile plants and connected with other concerns. he was never too busy to see anyone, friend or stranger. The door of his office was always open and there is no record of anv employe in his plants failing in an effort to see "the head man" when and if t K 1 n itc \i?oro rfrvi ?-? ^ ? '-I "V.IC versely. It is an understatement to say that the entire city of Clinton was shocked when the news came from Greenville that Si Bailey was dead. Possibly every adult and many children knew him personally. Each felt, perhaps in a different way. a keen personal loss. Some one will of course, take his place in due time as head of the textile empire which he headed so successfully. Some one will be chosen to head the textile manu factures association of the state. Rut in the memory of -.11 l - i * * ^ ' .in who Knew mm. rsailey will live on and on. Men with such a rare combination of understanding, generosity, and humility are a rarity in any city, regardless of its size. Having known Si Bailey for several decades? one of those who knew and appreciated his "open door" office policy ?T proclaim him as having been a man among men. He came as near being an individual without guile as any that my memory recalls.