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ft m "i Roy Ginn, left, am spotted themselves ii Spooling. Although everytl understand, remarked 1 "Our pay is much there was no such thini holidays." "Those were not s< benefits and the times i Eras Of Confl Sander Clinton Mills has played i important part in the maj< wars that the United Stat* has been involved in. Soon after war was declan n?. u T ion m:_i. UCtCIII UCI lv lJ7il, V11UII Talmadge Sand the story about the "YES, WE REMEMBER... HOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIE i Giles Law son, right, both Plant 1 t this July 1934 photograph of th< ling has changed so much, the yov hp two loner pmnlnuooo ?o r"^J greater now than it was then," said ; as free group life and hospital insi > much the good old days," said Gim of the 30's." ict s Recalls in Mills production was geared to >r meet the demands created by es the world conflict. The Clothmaker interviewed &d Talmadge Sanders, a Bailey >n Plant Spinning Technician, to - .t?A A H ers reads August 15. 1945. edition Japanese surrender and peace retur <*9?~ ' ^ ^tt K ^E" .*,,. * B& a!-.. Fm /, " . c ' 4$zr. ,Jm** Jygp x . ?. jSKnpK *&?* jOttf ..lit :nds" ^o. 2 Spinning employees, i r'rst shift Spinning and inger people would never 1 Law son. "And of course, iranno nairl uonsfiAno m, -1-IT , |/?UU ? uvablVIlO, CUIU n, "When you compare the ; The Ws relate where he was during this global war. "I was a student at Presbyterian College as well as a member of the Clinton National Guard Unit. The unit was ' ^ B , of the Cin?vBti Newt telling ning to the world. Based On Cottt CM Story Back In 1 Eighty years ago - February 1, 1896 - the history of Clinton Mills began. South Carolina the south - the immediate area had one principal crop - cotton. Thus, we see the reason for founding Clinton Cotton Mills. Civic leaders had ben ll? e l a 1.1? _ l A r cauing ior me esiaDiisnmeni 01 a textile company for a number of years. M.S. Bailey, the founding father of Clinton Mills, had already gained confidence in himself and the Clinton people prior to entering textile manufacturing. Bailey, who had already written two chapters in his successful business life as a merchant and banker, was joined by other confident local citizen investors in establishing the textile company. The company succeeded and six years later, (1902) Lydia Cotton Mills was founded. He served as President of the two firms until his death in 1926. He was succeeded by W.J. (Will) Bailey as President of Clinton Cotton Mills, and C.M. (Cad) Bailey became President of Lydia. Will Bailey also assumed the presidency of M.S. Bailey and ir Years activated and on February 10, 1941, we left Clinton for our active duty." "I fough throughout Europe," recalled Sanders. "Of all the Clinton men that left here with me, only Dock Dover, a Clinton Security Officer, remained with me in my unit when the war ended. The rest of our national guard unit had been split up," he added. "When the war ended, I was in Munich, Germany. I cannot begin to describe the celebration we had when we heard about the peace agreement." "I served 14 months under General Patton, but I never fought in Japan - only European countries, and of course, I was in Newfoundland for quite a while." Sanders returned home after getting his discharge in SeDtember 1945. on Began 1896 Son, Bankers in 1926. Upon the death of C.M. Bailey in 1935, he became President of Lydia Mills. He headed all three organizations until his own death in 1948. P.S. (Si) Bailey, a nephew of W.J. Bailey, and a Vice President of the textile firms, succeeded his uncle as President of the companies. He enlarged operations and increased production. A 30 per cent expansion at Lydia coincided with that plant's 50th anniversary. The Clinton Plant grew so much it virtually became two plants, now known as Plant 1 and 2. Under Si Bailey's leadership, the company established its own New York sales corporation, now Clinton Mills Sales Corp. - SAFO o? n _ *1 J*. J ill 17JO, Ol ooucjf UlCli ouu was succeeded by Robert M. Vance, who heads the company today. Robert M. Vaace Robert M. Vance has led Clinton Mills through much Droeress. The comnanv has had a tremendous growth, as well as undergoing extensive investment in additional production facilities under his direction. Vance, recognized throughout the industry for his excellent leadership, has led Clinton Mills into many areas of diversification, which includes blends, knits, stretch fabrics and carpet yarn. We are constantly evaluating new areas for growth," states Vance. "Our research resources keep abreast of the latest fabrics to fulfill our customers' needs - a necessary requirement for internal growth and stability. Externally, we study other manufacturing opportunities to assure our company remains strong and we build job security for our more than 2400 loyal employees." In addition to serving as Clinton Mills President, Vance is Chairman of the Board of M.S. Bailey and Son, Bankers. He is one of few men ever to head both the S.C. Bankers Association and the South Carolina Textile Association.