1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,640 >> Well, this is James Newberry, 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:07,280 and I'm here with Audrey Morgan on Wednesday, 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,120 May 10, 2017, and we're here 4 00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:13,460 at the Sturgis Library at Kennesaw State University. 5 00:00:13,460 --> 00:00:17,420 So Mrs. Morgan, we'll start at the beginning. 6 00:00:17,420 --> 00:00:18,840 What is your full name? 7 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,510 >> My name is Audrey Bailey Morgan. 8 00:00:22,510 --> 00:00:25,140 >> And what's your birthday? 9 00:00:25,140 --> 00:00:28,800 >> March 18, 1930. 10 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:30,375 >> And where were you born? 11 00:00:30,375 --> 00:00:32,985 >> I was born in [inaudible], Alabama. 12 00:00:32,985 --> 00:00:35,490 >> So what were your parents' names? 13 00:00:35,490 --> 00:00:38,090 >> My mother's name was Mary Elizabeth. 14 00:00:38,090 --> 00:00:39,550 Her maiden name was Proctor, 15 00:00:39,550 --> 00:00:43,235 and my father's name was Albert Leon. 16 00:00:43,235 --> 00:00:45,560 >> What did they do for a living? 17 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,420 They started out as farmers in Alabama. 18 00:00:48,420 --> 00:00:52,040 And then I guess when I was about three, 19 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:53,960 my father was in an accident. 20 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,140 They had moved to Georgia because of 21 00:00:56,140 --> 00:01:00,200 the Depression and he was working for the government. 22 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:04,800 They had a program back then called WPA and he worked 23 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,240 digging wells for families 24 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,620 and he went down to check a well out, 25 00:01:10,620 --> 00:01:16,390 the rope broke and he was paralyzed from the waist up. 26 00:01:17,270 --> 00:01:19,420 >> And what happened to 27 00:01:19,420 --> 00:01:21,095 your family after he became paralyzed? 28 00:01:21,095 --> 00:01:23,360 >> Well, of course, 29 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,740 he was very determined and at that time, 30 00:01:26,740 --> 00:01:29,280 we had seven children already, 31 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:33,250 and he and my mother sold Watkins products. 32 00:01:33,250 --> 00:01:34,780 The children helped him get into 33 00:01:34,780 --> 00:01:36,660 the car and he still drove it, 34 00:01:36,660 --> 00:01:37,840 and so they just drove over 35 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,250 rural Georgia selling liniment and things like that. 36 00:01:41,250 --> 00:01:42,840 >> You say he and the children, 37 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:44,450 so I'm assuming these are older siblings? 38 00:01:44,450 --> 00:01:46,700 >> Yeah. These are older, I'm in the middle. 39 00:01:46,700 --> 00:01:49,180 There was one boy and then three girls, 40 00:01:49,180 --> 00:01:51,530 and then three boys and one girl. 41 00:01:51,530 --> 00:01:53,850 >> And could you tell me their names? 42 00:01:53,850 --> 00:01:58,430 >> Yes. Our oldest brother was William Leon and 43 00:01:58,430 --> 00:02:05,370 then there was Margaret, Bobby, Audrey, Roy. 44 00:02:05,370 --> 00:02:07,710 We called him Buck, his name was 45 00:02:07,710 --> 00:02:10,980 Floyd and Ray and then Anne. 46 00:02:10,980 --> 00:02:12,845 >> And you lost one brother? 47 00:02:12,845 --> 00:02:15,175 >> Yes, the oldest one Leon. 48 00:02:15,175 --> 00:02:17,850 He died in an industrial accident. 49 00:02:17,850 --> 00:02:20,590 He was welding on a tank 50 00:02:20,590 --> 00:02:25,350 and the tank still had some gas in it and so exploded. 51 00:02:25,900 --> 00:02:28,470 >> Well, I know you talked about moving 52 00:02:28,470 --> 00:02:31,610 and living through these depression years. 53 00:02:31,610 --> 00:02:32,830 Can you tell me more about your 54 00:02:32,830 --> 00:02:34,705 early life, your family life? 55 00:02:34,705 --> 00:02:39,410 >> Well, I went to first grade in Waverly Hall, Georgia, 56 00:02:39,410 --> 00:02:41,010 and that was when they were 57 00:02:41,010 --> 00:02:45,390 still selling the Watkins products. 58 00:02:45,390 --> 00:02:47,650 And in Waverly Hall, 59 00:02:47,650 --> 00:02:50,050 our house literally burned down to the ground. 60 00:02:50,050 --> 00:02:52,090 It was a big house, all of us that was there. 61 00:02:52,090 --> 00:02:54,210 My dad, all of his products were there. 62 00:02:54,210 --> 00:02:57,310 And so everybody ran out but me. 63 00:02:57,310 --> 00:02:59,650 So oldest brother, they 64 00:02:59,650 --> 00:03:00,830 started counting who was there 65 00:03:00,830 --> 00:03:02,170 and realized that I wasn't there, 66 00:03:02,170 --> 00:03:04,630 so he came back in and saved me. 67 00:03:04,630 --> 00:03:10,270 So then my father's family said, well, Albert, 68 00:03:10,270 --> 00:03:13,090 why don't you move to Atlanta where the family is, 69 00:03:13,090 --> 00:03:15,370 and we'll be able to help you more here 70 00:03:15,370 --> 00:03:18,790 because his brothers and sisters lived in Atlanta. 71 00:03:18,790 --> 00:03:21,105 So we moved from Waverly Hall 72 00:03:21,105 --> 00:03:25,150 to Atlanta and he went to work for my uncle, 73 00:03:25,150 --> 00:03:28,090 uncle had a transfer business, 74 00:03:28,090 --> 00:03:31,490 and so dad went to work as a driver for him. 75 00:03:32,300 --> 00:03:36,260 >> So you moved to Atlanta about 1938? 76 00:03:36,260 --> 00:03:38,060 >> Yeah. I was 10 years old. 77 00:03:38,060 --> 00:03:41,030 >> And where did you attend school at that time? 78 00:03:41,030 --> 00:03:43,585 >> I went to Price Street Elementary School, 79 00:03:43,585 --> 00:03:45,940 then I went to Hook Smith Junior High School, 80 00:03:45,940 --> 00:03:48,960 and then when I only needed a few credits to 81 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,615 transfer to Commercial High School and Night School. 82 00:03:52,615 --> 00:03:55,080 >> What was Atlanta like in those days, 83 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,545 moving from a more rural area to the city. 84 00:03:57,545 --> 00:04:02,390 >> Well, you can't stay in your own community, 85 00:04:02,390 --> 00:04:06,570 but we had street cars and when I had a job, 86 00:04:06,570 --> 00:04:08,590 I started to work when I was 13. 87 00:04:08,590 --> 00:04:11,670 And so you take the street car, 88 00:04:11,670 --> 00:04:13,390 go where you want to go, and 89 00:04:13,390 --> 00:04:14,650 we really didn't worry about it. 90 00:04:14,650 --> 00:04:17,090 And when I went to Night School and I was telling KS we 91 00:04:17,090 --> 00:04:20,210 came I only needed two courses, 92 00:04:20,210 --> 00:04:22,230 and that's why I went to Night School to finish 93 00:04:22,230 --> 00:04:24,590 up Spanish and science. 94 00:04:24,590 --> 00:04:28,000 And at age 17, 95 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:29,580 my family moved out of town. 96 00:04:29,580 --> 00:04:31,560 So I moved in with another family 97 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:33,900 and they were off of the car line. 98 00:04:33,900 --> 00:04:35,040 They were off the bus line. 99 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,080 So I would have to go down to 100 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,120 the bus station right in the middle of 101 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,640 downtown Atlanta and catch the last bus, 102 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:42,960 Connolly bus had to catch 103 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,820 military bus, and I would take that home. 104 00:04:45,820 --> 00:04:49,200 And so they lived out off of Boulevard. 105 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,505 Do you know where the federal prison is? 106 00:04:51,505 --> 00:04:54,150 They lived, I don't know if it's 107 00:04:54,150 --> 00:04:57,580 a mile or two miles out Boulevard. 108 00:04:57,580 --> 00:04:59,700 And so the bus would take me in there 109 00:04:59,700 --> 00:05:02,885 and that's how I would get back the next morning. 110 00:05:02,885 --> 00:05:05,845 >> You said you took a job when you were 13? 111 00:05:05,845 --> 00:05:06,160 >> Yeah. 112 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:07,090 >> What job was that? 113 00:05:07,090 --> 00:05:10,090 >> I was selling shoes on Georgia Avenue. 114 00:05:10,310 --> 00:05:12,465 >> And was it a shop? 115 00:05:12,465 --> 00:05:15,415 >> It was a shoe shop. It was Penske shoes. 116 00:05:15,415 --> 00:05:19,850 And they were orthodox Jewish family and they 117 00:05:19,850 --> 00:05:24,670 didn't believe in going to the bank, that sort of thing. 118 00:05:24,670 --> 00:05:27,770 And so finally, they trusted me enough and I used to 119 00:05:27,770 --> 00:05:29,090 go make the deposits 120 00:05:29,090 --> 00:05:31,730 and that sort of thing, but I sold shoes. 121 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,380 >> So tell me what are your memories 122 00:05:34,380 --> 00:05:35,560 of the Second World War. 123 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:36,880 How did it impact your life? 124 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:38,940 >> It really didn't impact 125 00:05:38,940 --> 00:05:40,740 my life that much because my brothers 126 00:05:40,740 --> 00:05:42,340 were too young to go. 127 00:05:42,340 --> 00:05:45,085 Obviously, some neighbors went and at church, 128 00:05:45,085 --> 00:05:47,020 you would see soldiers and sailors. 129 00:05:47,020 --> 00:05:49,100 And if you went to any entertainment place, 130 00:05:49,100 --> 00:05:50,700 you would see soldiers and sailors. 131 00:05:50,700 --> 00:05:54,005 But my sisters were old enough to date. I wasn't. 132 00:05:54,005 --> 00:05:57,620 So they dated some some guys that were in 133 00:05:57,620 --> 00:06:03,890 the Marines or my sister ended up marrying a pertropa. 134 00:06:04,590 --> 00:06:07,870 >> Well, tell me about your sister, Bobby. 135 00:06:07,870 --> 00:06:10,850 Where was she age wise in 136 00:06:10,850 --> 00:06:12,210 comparison to you and 137 00:06:12,210 --> 00:06:15,050 what type of a young person was she? 138 00:06:15,050 --> 00:06:17,750 >> Bobby is two years older than I am, 139 00:06:17,750 --> 00:06:20,130 and she was always 140 00:06:20,130 --> 00:06:22,475 more interested in what Leon was doing. 141 00:06:22,475 --> 00:06:24,390 And Leon, of course, was a mechanic, 142 00:06:24,390 --> 00:06:26,490 always working on cars, that kind of thing. 143 00:06:26,490 --> 00:06:28,210 So she was more the tomboy, 144 00:06:28,210 --> 00:06:29,850 and I was the one that was expected 145 00:06:29,850 --> 00:06:31,810 to do the housework and do the cooking. 146 00:06:31,810 --> 00:06:35,510 So that was the difference even back then. 147 00:06:35,510 --> 00:06:38,420 >> And what work did she do during the war? 148 00:06:38,420 --> 00:06:41,690 >> Well, I know first her first job was 149 00:06:41,690 --> 00:06:45,890 with Lane Truck store and she worked the soda fountain. 150 00:06:45,890 --> 00:06:47,725 And then she wanted to do something that was 151 00:06:47,725 --> 00:06:49,810 more to help with the war. 152 00:06:49,810 --> 00:06:51,230 And that's when she went 153 00:06:51,230 --> 00:06:52,910 to work at a horse refrigeration. 154 00:06:52,910 --> 00:06:55,930 And she started out as the shipping clerk. 155 00:06:55,930 --> 00:06:57,690 But then she was doing the office work, 156 00:06:57,690 --> 00:07:00,070 she was doing the shipping and then when she wasn't busy, 157 00:07:00,070 --> 00:07:03,860 she'd go out on line and she'd do the repairs. 158 00:07:03,860 --> 00:07:08,295 >> So she had her hands in all aspects of that business? 159 00:07:08,295 --> 00:07:09,690 >> Oh, yes. 160 00:07:09,690 --> 00:07:11,700 >> Was it evident that she 161 00:07:11,700 --> 00:07:14,655 was go getter her at that time? 162 00:07:14,655 --> 00:07:16,485 >> Oh, yes, she was. 163 00:07:16,485 --> 00:07:19,260 There were two brothers that were involved with 164 00:07:19,260 --> 00:07:21,340 the refrigeration and they 165 00:07:21,340 --> 00:07:24,300 were bought out by Warren refrigeration. 166 00:07:24,300 --> 00:07:28,160 And what they did was what she ultimately did. 167 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,885 They were repairing compressors 168 00:07:31,885 --> 00:07:37,280 and air conditioning units. 169 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,300 So when they were purchased, 170 00:07:40,300 --> 00:07:43,040 the brother went around the corner and started 171 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:44,380 [inaudible] machine shop and he 172 00:07:44,380 --> 00:07:45,860 took three employees with him, 173 00:07:45,860 --> 00:07:50,580 he took Bobby and he took Dot Brown and Willie. 174 00:07:50,580 --> 00:07:53,130 So there were four of them, but 175 00:07:53,130 --> 00:07:54,345 she was always a go getter. 176 00:07:54,345 --> 00:07:56,600 He was not the type 177 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:58,640 that would have grown in the business, 178 00:07:58,640 --> 00:07:59,880 he would have been content just to 179 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:01,300 do what he was doing and but 180 00:08:01,300 --> 00:08:04,700 Bobby was the one that expanded the business. 181 00:08:04,700 --> 00:08:07,500 >> I see. Well, I want to talk more about that. 182 00:08:07,500 --> 00:08:11,530 But first, I want to ask you, 183 00:08:12,500 --> 00:08:15,160 if you remember, what year 184 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,160 did you graduate from high school? 185 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,190 >> Nineteen forty-eight. 186 00:08:20,190 --> 00:08:23,040 >> And what were your plans 187 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,575 for after graduation? 188 00:08:25,575 --> 00:08:26,110 What did you intend to 189 00:08:26,110 --> 00:08:26,490 do apart from what you are doing today? 190 00:08:26,490 --> 00:08:28,970 >> Well, I always dreamed of college. 191 00:08:28,970 --> 00:08:32,430 I loved school. I wouldn't miss school for anything. 192 00:08:32,430 --> 00:08:38,540 I was just a little sponge and just love learning things. 193 00:08:38,890 --> 00:08:42,210 But what happened that 194 00:08:42,210 --> 00:08:45,290 changed my life was the summer that I was 17, 195 00:08:45,290 --> 00:08:49,570 I went to work for Rollfast bicycle downtown Atlanta 196 00:08:49,570 --> 00:08:53,530 and the bookkeeper there was a young woman June Harper, 197 00:08:53,530 --> 00:08:55,610 and we became best friends. 198 00:08:55,610 --> 00:08:59,900 And so when my family moved out of town, 199 00:08:59,900 --> 00:09:01,340 June said, Well, why 200 00:09:01,340 --> 00:09:02,840 don't you come in and live with my mom 201 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,900 and dad because my mother's alone at night. 202 00:09:05,900 --> 00:09:07,720 I didn't know the family that well, 203 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,140 but I went to live with them and that was the one that I 204 00:09:10,140 --> 00:09:13,100 talked about that lived out of a Boulevard. 205 00:09:13,100 --> 00:09:15,760 It was the best thing that ever happened to me. 206 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,020 They were wonderful Christian family. 207 00:09:18,020 --> 00:09:19,435 They took me in like a daughter 208 00:09:19,435 --> 00:09:20,760 because I was one of eight. 209 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,620 I was very independent, 210 00:09:23,620 --> 00:09:26,480 doing housework, cooking, all that stuff. 211 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,120 I'd come home at night and May 212 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:30,310 would be waiting up for me with a snack. 213 00:09:30,310 --> 00:09:33,080 And so I really felt pampered 214 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,120 and she would wash my clothes, things like that. 215 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,500 But the miracle was that 216 00:09:38,500 --> 00:09:41,760 Mr. Harper was very active in the Methodist Church, 217 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:46,320 and he knew this group of men named the Tythers 218 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:51,360 who provided scholarships for deserving young people. 219 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,620 So he recommended me for the scholarship, 220 00:09:53,620 --> 00:09:55,740 and I went downtown. Now you can imagine this. 221 00:09:55,740 --> 00:09:58,120 She's a 17 year old girl who's green as all get 222 00:09:58,120 --> 00:09:59,900 out and I was interviewed 223 00:09:59,900 --> 00:10:01,705 by the superintendent of Atlanta Schools, 224 00:10:01,705 --> 00:10:03,045 Dr. Roy West, 225 00:10:03,045 --> 00:10:06,435 so he must have felt that I had potential. 226 00:10:06,435 --> 00:10:08,145 So I got a work in scholarship to 227 00:10:08,145 --> 00:10:10,805 Asbury College in Kentucky. 228 00:10:10,805 --> 00:10:13,200 >> So was that working scholarship 229 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:16,395 it meant you went to Asbury, 230 00:10:16,395 --> 00:10:18,700 you didn't choose between others. 231 00:10:18,700 --> 00:10:20,170 That was the one that you expected? 232 00:10:20,170 --> 00:10:21,520 >> No. That was the one that got scholarship. 233 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:22,880 I could not have gone anywhere else. 234 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:24,285 I mean, there was no money. 235 00:10:24,285 --> 00:10:26,110 >> Well, tell me about that school. 236 00:10:26,110 --> 00:10:30,900 >> Asbury is methodist related, very conservative school. 237 00:10:30,900 --> 00:10:32,960 You wouldn't even understand. 238 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,300 You couldn't hold hands. 239 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,845 I had no money, obviously. 240 00:10:39,845 --> 00:10:46,655 But my work because I could type, I took shorthand, 241 00:10:46,655 --> 00:10:50,060 all that sort of thing, so I worked out of 242 00:10:50,060 --> 00:10:51,710 the registrar's office and I 243 00:10:51,710 --> 00:10:54,600 typed the test for the professors. 244 00:10:55,660 --> 00:10:58,490 Most people who went there were 245 00:10:58,490 --> 00:11:01,955 ministers or missionaries, teachers. 246 00:11:01,955 --> 00:11:04,865 I had aspired to be a missionary. 247 00:11:04,865 --> 00:11:07,070 That's where I met my husband, 248 00:11:07,070 --> 00:11:09,890 and he came down from Detroit. 249 00:11:09,890 --> 00:11:14,610 He's an engineer, he's not cut out to be a minister. 250 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:17,735 So after a couple of years, 251 00:11:17,735 --> 00:11:20,060 he got an aptitude test and they said, 252 00:11:20,060 --> 00:11:21,260 what are you doing at this college? 253 00:11:21,260 --> 00:11:23,510 You're an engineer. So he came to Georgia Tech, 254 00:11:23,510 --> 00:11:25,295 so we moved to Georgia Tech. 255 00:11:25,295 --> 00:11:28,760 >> I see. Had you graduated by then? 256 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:30,365 >> No, I didn't. 257 00:11:30,365 --> 00:11:33,245 We came here and we got married. 258 00:11:33,245 --> 00:11:35,870 >> And what was it about him 259 00:11:35,870 --> 00:11:40,265 that you liked that attracted you to him? 260 00:11:40,265 --> 00:11:41,630 Why did you decide to marry him? 261 00:11:41,630 --> 00:11:43,805 >> To marry Jack; he was 262 00:11:43,805 --> 00:11:47,360 very solid that I knew that he would put family first, 263 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:51,260 and I knew that 264 00:11:51,260 --> 00:11:53,030 he wouldn't drink and be carousing 265 00:11:53,030 --> 00:11:54,305 and all that sort of stuff, 266 00:11:54,305 --> 00:11:58,670 and so I just thought we were a good match. 267 00:11:58,670 --> 00:12:00,185 >> Where was he originally from? 268 00:12:00,185 --> 00:12:03,410 >> Detroit. And the last advice 269 00:12:03,410 --> 00:12:04,790 I had before I went up there was, 270 00:12:04,790 --> 00:12:05,870 don't you go up there and bring one of 271 00:12:05,870 --> 00:12:07,640 those Yankee boys home, 272 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:09,440 and that's exactly what I did. 273 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:10,940 >> I think you didn't take that advice. 274 00:12:10,940 --> 00:12:11,990 >> Yeah. 275 00:12:11,990 --> 00:12:15,635 >> So he went down to Georgia Tech 276 00:12:15,635 --> 00:12:19,115 and then you returned to Detroit? 277 00:12:19,115 --> 00:12:20,300 >> Yes. Well, see, 278 00:12:20,300 --> 00:12:22,055 he graduated from Georgia Tech. 279 00:12:22,055 --> 00:12:24,860 He was equal mechanical and electrical engineer, 280 00:12:24,860 --> 00:12:26,870 and so he got a job with General Motors, 281 00:12:26,870 --> 00:12:28,985 so we moved back to Detroit. 282 00:12:28,985 --> 00:12:31,055 >> And how did you feel about making that move? 283 00:12:31,055 --> 00:12:32,810 >> Well, it was fine with me. 284 00:12:32,810 --> 00:12:34,310 My family thought I was dropping 285 00:12:34,310 --> 00:12:35,525 off the face of the Earth, 286 00:12:35,525 --> 00:12:37,760 they couldn't imagine me going up there. 287 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,565 But the good thing was that was his home, 288 00:12:40,565 --> 00:12:45,920 and so we went into his church and his family. 289 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,785 So I didn't have the 290 00:12:48,785 --> 00:12:52,820 usual where you ghost totally into a new situation. 291 00:12:52,820 --> 00:12:56,600 So no, I was fine with it, wherever Jack was, 292 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:58,010 that was home, 293 00:12:58,010 --> 00:13:01,955 and so I didn't have a problem going up there. 294 00:13:01,955 --> 00:13:04,220 >> When you were in Detroit, 295 00:13:04,220 --> 00:13:06,230 were you keeping up with your sister 296 00:13:06,230 --> 00:13:08,090 Bobbie's work at that time? 297 00:13:08,090 --> 00:13:09,140 >> Yes. See, I had worked for 298 00:13:09,140 --> 00:13:11,045 her part-time before I went up there, 299 00:13:11,045 --> 00:13:14,330 on the weekends I would go over and do paperwork. 300 00:13:14,330 --> 00:13:19,100 >> So tell me about the launching of Our-Way Inc., 301 00:13:19,100 --> 00:13:21,620 and talk a little bit about its origins. 302 00:13:21,620 --> 00:13:25,340 >> Well, Bobbie was working for Our-Way Machine Shop, 303 00:13:25,340 --> 00:13:26,870 and she had a partnership with Mr. 304 00:13:26,870 --> 00:13:28,805 Ore, and she was really running it, 305 00:13:28,805 --> 00:13:30,860 he retired in '52. 306 00:13:30,860 --> 00:13:34,310 So she had an opportunity to get a contract 307 00:13:34,310 --> 00:13:37,145 with the largest compressor manufacturer in the world, 308 00:13:37,145 --> 00:13:39,545 Copeland Corporation, Sydney, Ohio. 309 00:13:39,545 --> 00:13:42,545 And she called me and said, 310 00:13:42,545 --> 00:13:47,540 I have this opportunity and would you and Jack join me? 311 00:13:47,540 --> 00:13:51,140 And explained it, and I said, oh, well, 312 00:13:51,140 --> 00:13:52,205 thank you very much, 313 00:13:52,205 --> 00:13:54,125 but Jack loves what he's doing. 314 00:13:54,125 --> 00:13:56,420 He's doing engine design work, 315 00:13:56,420 --> 00:13:59,930 and I just don't think that he'd be interested. 316 00:13:59,930 --> 00:14:02,060 Well, when he came home, I told him about 317 00:14:02,060 --> 00:14:04,220 it and we talked about it, and he said, 318 00:14:04,220 --> 00:14:06,650 well, if ever we're going to try something, 319 00:14:06,650 --> 00:14:08,495 he said I'm at the right age now. 320 00:14:08,495 --> 00:14:10,055 And then if this doesn't work out, 321 00:14:10,055 --> 00:14:14,225 I can always come back and be a design engineer. 322 00:14:14,225 --> 00:14:17,270 So she asked her to meet her in Sydney, 323 00:14:17,270 --> 00:14:20,300 Ohio, and we did. 324 00:14:20,300 --> 00:14:22,340 We drove down there and met Bobbie, 325 00:14:22,340 --> 00:14:24,710 and we talked to the president 326 00:14:24,710 --> 00:14:26,210 and then to the different ones, 327 00:14:26,210 --> 00:14:29,160 and she got the contract. 328 00:14:29,470 --> 00:14:31,985 Jack came down in 329 00:14:31,985 --> 00:14:34,520 May of 1960 and I 330 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:38,240 stayed and sold the house and I came in June of 1960. 331 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:42,185 >> Did you have any apprehension about joining her? 332 00:14:42,185 --> 00:14:44,075 >> No. And I think 333 00:14:44,075 --> 00:14:47,160 we were the only ones that she would have chosen. 334 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:50,450 And she came to visit us up there, 335 00:14:50,450 --> 00:14:51,890 but she knew what I was like, 336 00:14:51,890 --> 00:14:54,240 and she knew what Jack was like. 337 00:14:55,090 --> 00:14:58,235 It was like any new start-up because 338 00:14:58,235 --> 00:15:00,290 the condition that Copeland put on 339 00:15:00,290 --> 00:15:02,330 the contract was that it had to be exclusive, 340 00:15:02,330 --> 00:15:05,000 she could not bring it into Our-Way Machine Shop. 341 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:06,350 They did not want 342 00:15:06,350 --> 00:15:09,755 their technology being in with Carrier's technology. 343 00:15:09,755 --> 00:15:13,760 So we started from the ground up, 344 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:15,050 from cement floor, 345 00:15:15,050 --> 00:15:18,290 we started a new business at 320 Highland Avenue. 346 00:15:18,290 --> 00:15:21,200 And so Jack and Bobbie set up 347 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:22,580 the plant and I set up 348 00:15:22,580 --> 00:15:25,190 the office, everything from scratch. 349 00:15:25,190 --> 00:15:27,440 >> Now, had you been working at Ford? 350 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:29,360 >> Yes, I was working at Ford Motor Company. 351 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:31,280 I was a legal secretary. 352 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:32,855 >> And that was in Detroit? 353 00:15:32,855 --> 00:15:34,280 >> In Detroit, yeah. He worked for 354 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,780 General Motors and I worked for Ford. 355 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,615 >> So how did you get the Our-Way? 356 00:15:41,615 --> 00:15:45,065 >> When Mr. Ore went 357 00:15:45,065 --> 00:15:46,910 down the street on Elizabeth 358 00:15:46,910 --> 00:15:48,635 to start the business, he said, 359 00:15:48,635 --> 00:15:50,795 there's your way, talk your way, 360 00:15:50,795 --> 00:15:52,220 the customer's way of doing things 361 00:15:52,220 --> 00:15:53,810 and my way of doing things, 362 00:15:53,810 --> 00:15:55,385 so we're going to do this our way. 363 00:15:55,385 --> 00:15:58,850 So that's how it was started. 364 00:15:58,850 --> 00:16:00,680 >> How simple? That's great. 365 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:03,125 >> And we always kept that. 366 00:16:03,125 --> 00:16:06,065 That was a great symbol 367 00:16:06,065 --> 00:16:09,830 because that really is the way that it should be. 368 00:16:09,830 --> 00:16:12,140 >> And you talked about Carrier? 369 00:16:12,140 --> 00:16:14,600 Was she already engaged 370 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:16,760 with the Carrier products prior to this contract? 371 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:18,905 >> Yes. I think so. 372 00:16:18,905 --> 00:16:22,460 I think that was in '59 and then Copeland started in '60. 373 00:16:22,460 --> 00:16:24,830 >> How was it that she got this contract? 374 00:16:24,830 --> 00:16:28,770 How big was the business already before you joined? 375 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,720 >> I don't remember. 376 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:34,490 I know the products that she had, 377 00:16:34,490 --> 00:16:35,630 she was doing Dunham-Bush, 378 00:16:35,630 --> 00:16:37,325 that's a compressor manufacturer. 379 00:16:37,325 --> 00:16:39,875 She had the carrier product, 380 00:16:39,875 --> 00:16:44,060 and then earlier than that, 381 00:16:44,060 --> 00:16:45,410 they even did window units 382 00:16:45,410 --> 00:16:47,060 because that was big when window units, 383 00:16:47,060 --> 00:16:48,680 we're talking about the very beginning 384 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:50,615 of air conditioning. 385 00:16:50,615 --> 00:16:57,335 And they did control panels for General Electric. 386 00:16:57,335 --> 00:16:59,000 So I'm not really sure 387 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,925 how many employees Bobbie had down on Elizabeth Street, 388 00:17:01,925 --> 00:17:04,325 but our business grew very fast 389 00:17:04,325 --> 00:17:06,710 because we took it on and they 390 00:17:06,710 --> 00:17:08,810 only released certain wholesalers to us 391 00:17:08,810 --> 00:17:11,600 until we could get really geared up and going. 392 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:19,475 But then maybe before we merged Our-Way, 393 00:17:19,475 --> 00:17:22,340 well, because we did the business for 394 00:17:22,340 --> 00:17:25,190 quite a number of years and we had Carrier on one plant, 395 00:17:25,190 --> 00:17:26,555 we had Copeland on our plant, 396 00:17:26,555 --> 00:17:29,270 we had them in separate plants and so on. 397 00:17:29,270 --> 00:17:31,160 But they saw that we could do it 398 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:34,080 successfully and that there was no problem, 399 00:17:34,300 --> 00:17:37,115 because the product lines were separate. 400 00:17:37,115 --> 00:17:41,060 So it was okay for us to put it together, 401 00:17:41,060 --> 00:17:44,870 and so that was when Our-Way Incorporated was formed. 402 00:17:44,870 --> 00:17:46,190 Bobbie didn't change the name. 403 00:17:46,190 --> 00:17:48,905 The other was Our-Way Machine Shop, 404 00:17:48,905 --> 00:17:50,420 because that's how it started out with 405 00:17:50,420 --> 00:17:51,950 a little four employees. 406 00:17:51,950 --> 00:17:56,040 So then we became Our-Way Incorporated. 407 00:17:58,090 --> 00:18:00,620 >> Now, you talked about 408 00:18:00,620 --> 00:18:03,305 your husband and Bobbie 409 00:18:03,305 --> 00:18:04,370 were working in one part 410 00:18:04,370 --> 00:18:05,420 and you were working in the other, 411 00:18:05,420 --> 00:18:07,535 so talk about the separation of 412 00:18:07,535 --> 00:18:11,405 duties and what your position would be. 413 00:18:11,405 --> 00:18:15,485 >> Yes. Well, as I said, 414 00:18:15,485 --> 00:18:18,515 they both were more in the plant. 415 00:18:18,515 --> 00:18:20,840 And Bobbie loved the production end of the business, 416 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:23,630 she didn't want any part of the business end of it. 417 00:18:23,630 --> 00:18:26,495 Jack, of course, was quality engineering, 418 00:18:26,495 --> 00:18:27,875 that sort of thing. 419 00:18:27,875 --> 00:18:29,150 So as we grew, 420 00:18:29,150 --> 00:18:31,145 that's just the way the company grew. 421 00:18:31,145 --> 00:18:32,750 I started from scratch in 422 00:18:32,750 --> 00:18:35,270 the office and wrote all the procedures, 423 00:18:35,270 --> 00:18:36,755 wrote all the job descriptions, 424 00:18:36,755 --> 00:18:38,945 just everything, I did all the contracts. 425 00:18:38,945 --> 00:18:40,820 I handled what I would 426 00:18:40,820 --> 00:18:42,680 call the corporate end of the business. 427 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,770 I handled the legal, the financial, personnel. 428 00:18:45,770 --> 00:18:49,080 We called it data processing back then, 429 00:18:49,270 --> 00:18:52,940 accounting, all of that. 430 00:18:52,940 --> 00:18:54,680 I did handle the marketing. 431 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,240 I handled all the corporate end. 432 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,290 She had an office upstairs, 433 00:19:00,290 --> 00:19:02,480 but she had an office in the plant too, 434 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:04,610 so she was mostly in the plant, 435 00:19:04,610 --> 00:19:06,260 she loved the production end of it. 436 00:19:06,260 --> 00:19:09,800 >> So you mentioned that she was hands off your part. 437 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,635 >> Oh, yeah. As far as my area, 438 00:19:12,635 --> 00:19:15,540 Ms. Ore can handle that. 439 00:19:15,700 --> 00:19:17,930 >> So what was the typical day like? 440 00:19:17,930 --> 00:19:18,950 When did you arrive? 441 00:19:18,950 --> 00:19:19,880 What would you do throughout the day? 442 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,460 >> OG. I usually 443 00:19:22,460 --> 00:19:25,325 was first one there and maybe the last one to leave. 444 00:19:25,325 --> 00:19:31,890 So the plant hours were from 7:00-3:30. 445 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:36,820 And then I take work home with me. 446 00:19:36,820 --> 00:19:38,350 >> And where were you living 447 00:19:38,350 --> 00:19:39,610 initially when you moved to [inaudible]? 448 00:19:39,610 --> 00:19:43,030 >> Well, we lived in Sycamore Hills that 449 00:19:43,030 --> 00:19:47,045 was Claremont Brockcliff area. 450 00:19:47,045 --> 00:19:49,610 And Bobbie, well, 451 00:19:49,610 --> 00:19:52,250 she first lived in Avondale Estates. 452 00:19:52,250 --> 00:19:54,170 And then in 1994, 453 00:19:54,170 --> 00:19:57,730 she renovated this house in Ansley Park, 454 00:19:57,730 --> 00:19:59,710 and she's lived there ever since then. 455 00:19:59,710 --> 00:20:04,315 And then when the plant moved to Tucker, 456 00:20:04,315 --> 00:20:09,230 then we built a house out in that area, 457 00:20:09,230 --> 00:20:11,720 and so that's where Jack and I live, 458 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,900 so we only live 10 minutes from the office. 459 00:20:14,900 --> 00:20:18,560 >> I see. So you 460 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:21,470 had worked quite a number of jobs from a young age. 461 00:20:21,470 --> 00:20:21,860 >> Yes. 462 00:20:21,860 --> 00:20:26,405 >> And you had gone to college and then worked for Ford, 463 00:20:26,405 --> 00:20:31,310 what do you think prepared you for handling all 464 00:20:31,310 --> 00:20:33,140 of the corporate and business end of 465 00:20:33,140 --> 00:20:37,260 this company after it became incorporated? 466 00:20:43,130 --> 00:20:48,330 >> I was blessed with organizational mind, 467 00:20:48,330 --> 00:20:50,640 blessed with a business mind, 468 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:54,495 and anything that I get into, I research it. 469 00:20:54,495 --> 00:20:57,515 I went to conferences. 470 00:20:57,515 --> 00:20:59,300 Anything that I was involved in, 471 00:20:59,300 --> 00:21:01,850 I tried to learn more of that. 472 00:21:01,850 --> 00:21:04,190 So I've never had a problem 473 00:21:04,190 --> 00:21:06,980 really just moving into the different areas. 474 00:21:06,980 --> 00:21:10,435 In fact, people didn't want me for their competitor. 475 00:21:10,435 --> 00:21:12,810 I did a lot of volunteer work, 476 00:21:12,810 --> 00:21:15,450 volunteer just about everything. 477 00:21:15,450 --> 00:21:17,580 And I know the men have said, 478 00:21:17,580 --> 00:21:19,080 glad you're not in my industry. 479 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:22,830 [LAUGHTER] So it's just that I guess the 480 00:21:22,830 --> 00:21:27,540 always loving to learn 481 00:21:27,540 --> 00:21:31,710 and just not backing away from things figuring that. 482 00:21:31,710 --> 00:21:33,615 If they can learn that, 483 00:21:33,615 --> 00:21:34,860 I'm as smart as average player. 484 00:21:34,860 --> 00:21:38,670 I can learn that and then working through people. 485 00:21:38,670 --> 00:21:40,500 If you're a strong leader, 486 00:21:40,500 --> 00:21:42,360 you can handle engineers, 487 00:21:42,360 --> 00:21:45,630 they can handle the technical part and I 488 00:21:45,630 --> 00:21:47,190 usually handle all of 489 00:21:47,190 --> 00:21:49,500 the major projects that we got into. 490 00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:53,370 And it was more from the leadership standpoint, 491 00:21:53,370 --> 00:21:55,185 from the organizational standpoint. 492 00:21:55,185 --> 00:21:57,075 But if we were going for UL, 493 00:21:57,075 --> 00:21:59,400 that obviously the engineers had to handle that, 494 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:00,540 but I could handle 495 00:22:00,540 --> 00:22:05,910 the committee work getting it done that thing. 496 00:22:05,910 --> 00:22:08,595 So my philosophy is if you're a leader, 497 00:22:08,595 --> 00:22:11,670 you can get into 498 00:22:11,670 --> 00:22:13,920 different areas where you don't have the expertise, 499 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:15,390 but you have to bring 500 00:22:15,390 --> 00:22:17,715 competent people really good people in. 501 00:22:17,715 --> 00:22:23,250 But that's how my experience has been. Okay. 502 00:22:23,250 --> 00:22:25,170 >> You and your sister, 503 00:22:25,170 --> 00:22:29,295 was it like she was the boss, 504 00:22:29,295 --> 00:22:31,785 or were you very much partners. 505 00:22:31,785 --> 00:22:35,250 >> We were partners. Note I never considered her boss. 506 00:22:35,250 --> 00:22:37,050 We didn't have that relationship. 507 00:22:37,050 --> 00:22:38,580 >> And I suppose this distinction 508 00:22:38,580 --> 00:22:39,765 between what you were doing 509 00:22:39,765 --> 00:22:41,280 also add to the fact that you 510 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,170 were complementing each other [OVERLAPPING]. 511 00:22:43,170 --> 00:22:44,655 >> Yes, Absolutely. 512 00:22:44,655 --> 00:22:45,960 I tell people people say, well, 513 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:47,190 how could you work with your family? 514 00:22:47,190 --> 00:22:48,975 How could you work with your sister and your husband? 515 00:22:48,975 --> 00:22:51,090 And I said, you have to have the same qualities 516 00:22:51,090 --> 00:22:52,965 that you have for any good partnership. 517 00:22:52,965 --> 00:22:54,255 You've got to have trust, 518 00:22:54,255 --> 00:22:55,545 you've got to have respect. 519 00:22:55,545 --> 00:22:57,630 Your skills have to complement each other, 520 00:22:57,630 --> 00:23:00,465 and all of us had a very strong worth ethic. 521 00:23:00,465 --> 00:23:01,665 We didn't back away. 522 00:23:01,665 --> 00:23:03,675 Whatever needed to be done, we did it. 523 00:23:03,675 --> 00:23:05,895 >> Were there other members of the family involved? 524 00:23:05,895 --> 00:23:08,520 >> Yes. My oldest sister, 525 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,710 Margaret, handled customer relations 526 00:23:10,710 --> 00:23:12,435 for our Copeland customers. 527 00:23:12,435 --> 00:23:18,030 Our youngest sister handled employee benefits, 528 00:23:18,030 --> 00:23:20,130 the insurance, pension plan, 529 00:23:20,130 --> 00:23:21,825 profit share and that thing. 530 00:23:21,825 --> 00:23:23,640 And Roy was in the plant. 531 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:27,910 He was the superintendent of the carrier product line. 532 00:23:28,010 --> 00:23:32,970 >> So you mentioned the innovations developed by IRW. 533 00:23:32,970 --> 00:23:35,130 Can you talk a little bit that and also 534 00:23:35,130 --> 00:23:38,085 Bobby do it yourself ethic. 535 00:23:38,085 --> 00:23:41,760 >> Well, that's how we grew and that's how 536 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:47,610 we were successful is that in setting up the plant, 537 00:23:47,610 --> 00:23:48,690 they didn't hire somebody to 538 00:23:48,690 --> 00:23:50,070 come in and set up the plant. 539 00:23:50,070 --> 00:23:52,290 They literally got out there and 540 00:23:52,290 --> 00:23:54,990 put in the conveyor lines, did whatever. 541 00:23:54,990 --> 00:23:58,800 And our work was unique in that we remanufactured. 542 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:00,375 It was not new manufacturing. 543 00:24:00,375 --> 00:24:02,070 And so Jack and the vice 544 00:24:02,070 --> 00:24:03,390 president later on when 545 00:24:03,390 --> 00:24:05,460 we had vice president manufacturing, 546 00:24:05,460 --> 00:24:08,115 they would buy equipment, 547 00:24:08,115 --> 00:24:10,545 go buy used equipment, and then adapt it. 548 00:24:10,545 --> 00:24:15,750 We had a wonderful shop 549 00:24:15,750 --> 00:24:18,960 where if they could do 550 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:23,115 just about anything that make things. 551 00:24:23,115 --> 00:24:26,955 We made all of our test panels. 552 00:24:26,955 --> 00:24:30,030 Obviously, when you if 553 00:24:30,030 --> 00:24:31,500 you want to understand what we did, 554 00:24:31,500 --> 00:24:33,105 it's just like an automobile engine. 555 00:24:33,105 --> 00:24:34,560 It's in a crank case. 556 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:36,810 And so it's got the rods, the pistons, 557 00:24:36,810 --> 00:24:38,970 the crankshaft, and plus the motor. 558 00:24:38,970 --> 00:24:40,485 We made electric motors. 559 00:24:40,485 --> 00:24:45,090 So when you bring that engine in, 560 00:24:45,090 --> 00:24:47,445 it has to be first disassembled. 561 00:24:47,445 --> 00:24:49,155 Everything taken out. 562 00:24:49,155 --> 00:24:51,720 So we had to go through that process, 563 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:52,890 then it had to go through 564 00:24:52,890 --> 00:24:55,110 a cleaning process and a gauging process. 565 00:24:55,110 --> 00:24:59,160 So we made our own cleaning tunnels just like a car wash, 566 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:02,670 except they were small or more concise. 567 00:25:02,670 --> 00:25:07,260 Some huge and they would put the parts in there. 568 00:25:07,260 --> 00:25:10,680 They would put the prank cases in there and so on. 569 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:12,060 Then when they came out, they had to be 570 00:25:12,060 --> 00:25:13,860 gauged because we had to bring them 571 00:25:13,860 --> 00:25:18,030 back to the same specs that they were originally. 572 00:25:18,030 --> 00:25:22,050 And so a lot of gauging of parts and tossing the parts. 573 00:25:22,050 --> 00:25:24,210 Some things we could reuse, and we couldn't. 574 00:25:24,210 --> 00:25:28,125 And so it was just like in 575 00:25:28,125 --> 00:25:34,365 using a system for materials management. 576 00:25:34,365 --> 00:25:36,945 The ones that they had were so big, 577 00:25:36,945 --> 00:25:38,670 they'd be something like general motors, 578 00:25:38,670 --> 00:25:39,690 and we didn't need that. 579 00:25:39,690 --> 00:25:43,110 So we had to get all of our IT stuff 580 00:25:43,110 --> 00:25:48,600 done pretty much was custom, that thing. 581 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:52,260 >> I see. You mentioned this earlier, 582 00:25:52,260 --> 00:25:54,510 but tell me a little more about the construction of 583 00:25:54,510 --> 00:25:58,105 the new building at 230 Highland Avenue. 584 00:25:58,105 --> 00:26:01,650 I assume that was because of expanding scale. 585 00:26:01,750 --> 00:26:05,075 >> I said Sherman kept his horses there. 586 00:26:05,075 --> 00:26:07,415 This was 230 Highland Avenue. 587 00:26:07,415 --> 00:26:09,080 It was a clear two story building. 588 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,975 And like I said, I think now they make props in it. 589 00:26:12,975 --> 00:26:14,970 But no, it was not a new building. 590 00:26:14,970 --> 00:26:16,665 When we moved out to Tucker, 591 00:26:16,665 --> 00:26:17,865 we built a new building. 592 00:26:17,865 --> 00:26:19,350 And Bobby loved to build. 593 00:26:19,350 --> 00:26:20,700 So she was the one even 594 00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:22,230 though we had the contract and whatnot. 595 00:26:22,230 --> 00:26:25,350 She was pretty much hands on right there with what 596 00:26:25,350 --> 00:26:26,580 was going on and setting up 597 00:26:26,580 --> 00:26:28,830 the assembly lines and all that thing. 598 00:26:28,830 --> 00:26:33,645 So then she loved building and continued to build. 599 00:26:33,645 --> 00:26:38,220 >> You mentioned the carrier and the Ohio Corporation. 600 00:26:38,220 --> 00:26:39,540 Were there any other corporations 601 00:26:39,540 --> 00:26:41,085 that our way had contracts with? 602 00:26:41,085 --> 00:26:44,250 >> Yes. We had one with York refrigeration. 603 00:26:44,250 --> 00:26:45,330 I don't know if you've heard of them, 604 00:26:45,330 --> 00:26:47,490 but York is a name in the industry. 605 00:26:47,490 --> 00:26:53,220 And they designed and built a gasoline compressor. 606 00:26:53,220 --> 00:26:54,870 And so we made those for them 607 00:26:54,870 --> 00:26:56,535 for a while that didn't fly. 608 00:26:56,535 --> 00:27:00,480 So that was short lived by maybe a three year contract. 609 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,555 We had one with a company called Dunham Bush, 610 00:27:03,555 --> 00:27:08,250 and then their line went down. 611 00:27:08,250 --> 00:27:11,640 But we heard that for quite a number of years. 612 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:14,640 >> And in handling working out those contracts, 613 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,535 and were you the point person? 614 00:27:17,535 --> 00:27:17,925 >> Yes. 615 00:27:17,925 --> 00:27:21,070 >> Can you describe that process? 616 00:27:22,490 --> 00:27:24,540 >> Get everything together, 617 00:27:24,540 --> 00:27:25,755 get our materials together, 618 00:27:25,755 --> 00:27:28,035 that we were going to discuss with them, and so on. 619 00:27:28,035 --> 00:27:31,920 And I don't mean to say this in a in a boastful way, 620 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:33,300 but I remember when York came 621 00:27:33,300 --> 00:27:35,580 down and we went through the whole process. 622 00:27:35,580 --> 00:27:36,990 We sat around the compa table 623 00:27:36,990 --> 00:27:38,940 and we told him what we could do da. 624 00:27:38,940 --> 00:27:41,550 And he was on the plane going back and he 625 00:27:41,550 --> 00:27:44,640 said that company's got their act together [LAUGHTER]. 626 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:47,895 And they weren't really prepared for it. 627 00:27:47,895 --> 00:27:55,185 But now I've never felt we just did it. 628 00:27:55,185 --> 00:27:58,440 And so we'd go to carrier and meet with the folks there. 629 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:00,075 And then when we sold the business, 630 00:28:00,075 --> 00:28:04,800 we were dealing with United Technologies, 631 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,575 because United Technologies own Carrier Corporation. 632 00:28:07,575 --> 00:28:14,520 So we were dealing with some really big guys [LAUGHTER]. 633 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:16,980 >> Do you remember the decision making 634 00:28:16,980 --> 00:28:18,150 the decision to move 635 00:28:18,150 --> 00:28:20,160 the company to Tucker? How did that come about? 636 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:21,690 >> Yes. Well, we had outgrown. 637 00:28:21,690 --> 00:28:25,215 We had pretty much bought up the whole block 638 00:28:25,215 --> 00:28:29,085 in Edmond Park and we're leasing buildings. 639 00:28:29,085 --> 00:28:32,730 And so we needed to expand 640 00:28:32,730 --> 00:28:36,720 and looked at where our employees were, 641 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:39,480 and so Tucker was good. 642 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:42,885 Bobby went out looking for places and found a, 643 00:28:42,885 --> 00:28:46,755 I've forgotten how many acres we have out there. 644 00:28:46,755 --> 00:28:49,920 But we started with one manufacturing plant, 645 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:52,560 then built a separate warehouse and 646 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:56,290 built a second manufacturing plant. 647 00:28:56,990 --> 00:29:01,095 >> How many employees did we have at its height? 648 00:29:01,095 --> 00:29:03,720 >> Well, at its height, we had 500. 649 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:05,310 And then when we sold it, 650 00:29:05,310 --> 00:29:08,220 it was between 325-350. 651 00:29:08,220 --> 00:29:13,320 >> And how many types of products are you producing? 652 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:16,140 >> Well, in compressors, 653 00:29:16,140 --> 00:29:18,360 there was a welded compressor. 654 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:19,665 We did the welded ones, 655 00:29:19,665 --> 00:29:21,720 that's the ones that are in a big, 656 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:23,340 what I would call a can, 657 00:29:23,340 --> 00:29:25,245 where they're actually encased. 658 00:29:25,245 --> 00:29:28,935 The type that we did was the crankcase type, 659 00:29:28,935 --> 00:29:30,180 and so we did that from 660 00:29:30,180 --> 00:29:31,860 a quarter horsepower up to 661 00:29:31,860 --> 00:29:33,540 the ones that weighed 2,000 pounds. 662 00:29:33,540 --> 00:29:36,945 So from the small one all the way up. 663 00:29:36,945 --> 00:29:38,745 We also did electric motors 664 00:29:38,745 --> 00:29:40,950 because that was the power source. 665 00:29:40,950 --> 00:29:43,890 And so we made those, 666 00:29:43,890 --> 00:29:45,585 made our own motors. 667 00:29:45,585 --> 00:29:47,625 >> How much revenue? 668 00:29:47,625 --> 00:29:49,785 >> It was up to 40 million. 669 00:29:49,785 --> 00:29:52,350 >> Okay. So what was 670 00:29:52,350 --> 00:29:56,220 the relationship like between management and employees? 671 00:29:56,220 --> 00:29:59,880 >> Well, I felt we had good relationships. 672 00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:01,695 In our management group, 673 00:30:01,695 --> 00:30:03,870 our people came and stayed with us, 674 00:30:03,870 --> 00:30:07,605 so we didn't have a whole lot of turnover in that group. 675 00:30:07,605 --> 00:30:09,990 In the plant, typically, 676 00:30:09,990 --> 00:30:13,185 we trained most of them because it was unique work, 677 00:30:13,185 --> 00:30:18,690 and we gave away 678 00:30:18,690 --> 00:30:19,890 a lot of service pens 679 00:30:19,890 --> 00:30:22,290 all the way up to 30 years, 40 years. 680 00:30:22,290 --> 00:30:24,630 >> Do you remember particular employees who 681 00:30:24,630 --> 00:30:27,300 worked for our way for a long time? 682 00:30:27,300 --> 00:30:29,490 >> Yeah, Willie Coldwell started out in 683 00:30:29,490 --> 00:30:30,780 the original group and he stayed 684 00:30:30,780 --> 00:30:32,040 with us until he retired. 685 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:34,800 And in our management group, 686 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:38,280 it was, I know it sounds cliche to say family, 687 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:40,290 but we really did care for each other. 688 00:30:40,290 --> 00:30:44,055 And just like Don, 689 00:30:44,055 --> 00:30:46,545 who was our human resource manager, 690 00:30:46,545 --> 00:30:48,390 I still have dinner with Don. 691 00:30:48,390 --> 00:30:50,940 He comes over, we have dinner together. 692 00:30:50,940 --> 00:30:53,400 And our controller unfortunately 693 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:55,470 died and some of the others. 694 00:30:55,470 --> 00:30:56,820 But all of our employees when 695 00:30:56,820 --> 00:30:58,455 Carrier bought the business, 696 00:30:58,455 --> 00:31:02,400 they offered all of them a formal job, 697 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:04,380 they gave them a letter offering them a job. 698 00:31:04,380 --> 00:31:05,820 So all of them who chose to, 699 00:31:05,820 --> 00:31:09,070 and practically all of them did, went with Carrier. 700 00:31:09,230 --> 00:31:11,595 >> Now, we've touched on this a bit, 701 00:31:11,595 --> 00:31:13,815 but I want to explore a little bit more. 702 00:31:13,815 --> 00:31:15,945 What was it like being a woman 703 00:31:15,945 --> 00:31:18,840 to lead such a large company? 704 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:21,270 >> I just don't think we thought about it. 705 00:31:21,270 --> 00:31:22,890 Bobbie was already in it, 706 00:31:22,890 --> 00:31:24,465 and then I joined her. 707 00:31:24,465 --> 00:31:26,730 And my feeling has always been if you're 708 00:31:26,730 --> 00:31:29,370 competent and people know you're competent, 709 00:31:29,370 --> 00:31:30,750 then they accept you. 710 00:31:30,750 --> 00:31:33,990 And we really didn't 711 00:31:33,990 --> 00:31:35,340 think about breaking the glass 712 00:31:35,340 --> 00:31:36,720 ceiling or anything like that. 713 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,120 We were just doing our job. 714 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:41,700 Only had one incident, I thought about that coming 715 00:31:41,700 --> 00:31:42,870 across the town because I figured 716 00:31:42,870 --> 00:31:43,980 you'd asked me this question. 717 00:31:43,980 --> 00:31:45,915 Did anyone ever say, well, 718 00:31:45,915 --> 00:31:49,425 what are you doing a woman in this field? 719 00:31:49,425 --> 00:31:54,315 This was back in probably the '50s 720 00:31:54,315 --> 00:31:57,750 and we were talking 721 00:31:57,750 --> 00:32:00,510 with our insurance agent about the workers comp, 722 00:32:00,510 --> 00:32:02,490 and of course, 723 00:32:02,490 --> 00:32:04,470 we required them wear safety glasses, 724 00:32:04,470 --> 00:32:06,015 safety shoes, that sort of thing. 725 00:32:06,015 --> 00:32:08,040 And Bobbie must have made the comment that, "Well, 726 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:11,085 it's hard to keep them to wear their safety glasses." 727 00:32:11,085 --> 00:32:11,640 And he said, "Well, 728 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:13,800 do you think that's because you're a woman?" 729 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:18,210 He said the wrong thing. So obviously, 730 00:32:18,210 --> 00:32:21,160 he was not our insurance agent anymore. 731 00:32:21,470 --> 00:32:23,925 >> So he was just dismissed. 732 00:32:23,925 --> 00:32:25,440 >> Well, no, no, I wouldn't say that he was, 733 00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:28,650 but I'm just saying if you knew Bobbie, 734 00:32:28,650 --> 00:32:29,685 you would not say, 735 00:32:29,685 --> 00:32:31,410 "Is that because you're a woman," because she was about 736 00:32:31,410 --> 00:32:33,270 as tough as anybody could 737 00:32:33,270 --> 00:32:35,625 be when it comes to as far as talking with 738 00:32:35,625 --> 00:32:39,585 the men in the plant, that sort of thing. 739 00:32:39,585 --> 00:32:43,200 >> I see. You once 740 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:45,285 were asked how men in the business treat you, 741 00:32:45,285 --> 00:32:46,770 so I'm touching on this a bit more. 742 00:32:46,770 --> 00:32:49,360 And you said, "Very carefully." 743 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:56,895 >> Just like I said before, 744 00:32:56,895 --> 00:32:58,620 I really didn't think about it 745 00:32:58,620 --> 00:33:02,055 and I think they respected us. 746 00:33:02,055 --> 00:33:04,710 They knew we were competent and they knew we delivered. 747 00:33:04,710 --> 00:33:07,080 So whatever we said we were going to do, 748 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:09,735 they knew that we could do it and that we would do it. 749 00:33:09,735 --> 00:33:17,430 So we were respected and accepted and I never 750 00:33:17,430 --> 00:33:24,990 felt intimidated or that 751 00:33:24,990 --> 00:33:26,565 there would be any difference made because 752 00:33:26,565 --> 00:33:29,325 we were women. I really didn't. 753 00:33:29,325 --> 00:33:32,895 >> Okay. So I want to switch gears a little bit here. 754 00:33:32,895 --> 00:33:35,985 Could you tell me about the Greenland expedition 755 00:33:35,985 --> 00:33:38,205 that your sister and husband took part in? 756 00:33:38,205 --> 00:33:41,400 >> Okay. Pat Epps who owns 757 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:45,150 Epss Air Service in DeKalb County and his friend, 758 00:33:45,150 --> 00:33:50,040 Richard, heard about 759 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:51,600 the planes that were buried in 760 00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:55,020 200 feet of ice in Iceland. 761 00:33:55,020 --> 00:33:58,695 They went up several times and they wanted to get them. 762 00:33:58,695 --> 00:34:02,955 He came up to me at a chamber meeting, 763 00:34:02,955 --> 00:34:06,245 and I think he was thinking maybe I would invest in it. 764 00:34:06,245 --> 00:34:06,740 I said, "Well, 765 00:34:06,740 --> 00:34:08,480 I have somebody I think who would really be 766 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:09,560 interested in this," so I called 767 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:11,150 Bobbie over and introduced them. 768 00:34:11,150 --> 00:34:13,355 And then she got involved in that 769 00:34:13,355 --> 00:34:15,980 and we made the tool for them to go down. 770 00:34:15,980 --> 00:34:18,980 They went up and they knew about where it was. 771 00:34:18,980 --> 00:34:20,240 They still had to locate it. 772 00:34:20,240 --> 00:34:21,710 They had to locate the planes. 773 00:34:21,710 --> 00:34:24,110 And so we made the tooling for them to go down to 774 00:34:24,110 --> 00:34:26,470 drill down and find the planes. 775 00:34:26,470 --> 00:34:29,130 And my husband and 776 00:34:29,130 --> 00:34:32,520 the engineering department were involved in that. 777 00:34:32,520 --> 00:34:35,040 I was so impressed with what they did. 778 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:36,660 As I said, we had a really 779 00:34:36,660 --> 00:34:38,550 good tool room and we had very, 780 00:34:38,550 --> 00:34:43,260 very capable people in there, tool makers. 781 00:34:43,260 --> 00:34:45,075 And they made into sections, 782 00:34:45,075 --> 00:34:47,715 and this will show you the innovation, 783 00:34:47,715 --> 00:34:51,000 and they had to have something to keep it from going 784 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:54,585 down in the hole when you drill, and drill, and drill. 785 00:34:54,585 --> 00:34:56,640 So Jack went up to Ace Hardware and got 786 00:34:56,640 --> 00:35:01,230 some bicycle handlebars and he just put 787 00:35:01,230 --> 00:35:03,465 that through and that's what they they 788 00:35:03,465 --> 00:35:06,375 used and went down and brought up a piece of the plane. 789 00:35:06,375 --> 00:35:10,020 So they had located it with our equipment. 790 00:35:10,020 --> 00:35:13,440 And then they needed, of course, 791 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:16,110 to mail down to it and we made, 792 00:35:16,110 --> 00:35:17,445 they called it the gopher, 793 00:35:17,445 --> 00:35:20,856 like gopher, and have you seen pictures of it? 794 00:35:20,856 --> 00:35:21,165 >> No. 795 00:35:21,165 --> 00:35:25,230 >> It's a big cylinder, it looks like a top, 796 00:35:25,230 --> 00:35:29,880 and had water in it that heated it, 797 00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:31,740 and so they bored down 798 00:35:31,740 --> 00:35:36,450 over 200 feet in the ice and that's how they went down. 799 00:35:36,450 --> 00:35:39,180 They had these seats that they lowered the men down 800 00:35:39,180 --> 00:35:43,155 to and located the planes and brought the planes up. 801 00:35:43,155 --> 00:35:44,910 >> So these were World War II year old? 802 00:35:44,910 --> 00:35:46,110 >> World War II, I think 803 00:35:46,110 --> 00:35:52,215 that I want to say P-38s, but I'm not sure. 804 00:35:52,215 --> 00:35:54,060 >> And they were able to recover them? 805 00:35:54,060 --> 00:35:56,010 >> They recovered it. They went as 806 00:35:56,010 --> 00:35:58,635 far as they could with the money that they had. 807 00:35:58,635 --> 00:36:00,630 Pat and Richard were just 808 00:36:00,630 --> 00:36:05,775 so this was their big adventure 809 00:36:05,775 --> 00:36:07,410 and that they wanted to do, 810 00:36:07,410 --> 00:36:09,720 but they simply didn't have the money. 811 00:36:09,720 --> 00:36:11,895 So they brought in other investors 812 00:36:11,895 --> 00:36:14,860 and then actually a man, 813 00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:18,930 Roy Shoffner, put in the money 814 00:36:18,930 --> 00:36:22,810 to go up there finally and bring it out. 815 00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:29,040 So he brought it out the parts and then he hired 816 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:35,265 the men to supervise renovating the plane, 817 00:36:35,265 --> 00:36:37,410 and they flew it, and Bobbie and Jack 818 00:36:37,410 --> 00:36:39,765 and our engineers went up there when they flew it. 819 00:36:39,765 --> 00:36:45,705 He owned some Kentucky Fried Chicken places and was, 820 00:36:45,705 --> 00:36:48,180 I can't remember the town in Kentucky. 821 00:36:48,180 --> 00:36:52,860 But they called it the Glacier Girl and they flew it. 822 00:36:52,860 --> 00:36:54,465 A book was written on it. 823 00:36:54,465 --> 00:36:56,910 Video television was made on it. 824 00:36:56,910 --> 00:36:59,250 It was quite a big deal. 825 00:36:59,250 --> 00:37:02,415 >> Well, let's move into the final portion 826 00:37:02,415 --> 00:37:04,350 of this interview, 827 00:37:04,350 --> 00:37:07,800 and that's about your family's relationship with 828 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:12,660 Kennesaw State and your philanthropic endeavors. 829 00:37:12,660 --> 00:37:15,780 So your sister Bobbie's association with 830 00:37:15,780 --> 00:37:17,925 the Lorelei Ladies softball team 831 00:37:17,925 --> 00:37:20,064 started in the 1940s, I believe? 832 00:37:20,064 --> 00:37:20,190 >> Yes. 833 00:37:20,190 --> 00:37:22,155 >> So very early. And what was it? 834 00:37:22,155 --> 00:37:23,370 What was her interest? 835 00:37:23,370 --> 00:37:24,735 And what was your involvement? 836 00:37:24,735 --> 00:37:26,790 >> Now, the story that I was told, 837 00:37:26,790 --> 00:37:28,740 there was a man, Holly Lowe, 838 00:37:28,740 --> 00:37:33,195 who sponsored some young girls in baseball. 839 00:37:33,195 --> 00:37:35,445 He was a Hertz dealer. 840 00:37:35,445 --> 00:37:37,710 And the girls didn't even have uniforms, 841 00:37:37,710 --> 00:37:39,480 and so he bought uniforms for them and 842 00:37:39,480 --> 00:37:41,580 then just sponsored them after that. 843 00:37:41,580 --> 00:37:43,350 And Bobbie used to go the games and 844 00:37:43,350 --> 00:37:45,300 then she got to know a lot of the players. 845 00:37:45,300 --> 00:37:48,300 And so they needed a sponsor, 846 00:37:48,300 --> 00:37:50,430 then our company started sponsoring them. 847 00:37:50,430 --> 00:37:53,160 And like anything else that she gets involved in, 848 00:37:53,160 --> 00:37:57,930 she really got hands on with them and got the manager, 849 00:37:57,930 --> 00:37:59,310 and of course, we do 850 00:37:59,310 --> 00:38:01,185 the uniforms, all that sort of stuff. 851 00:38:01,185 --> 00:38:03,030 And then they were good. They were quite good. 852 00:38:03,030 --> 00:38:05,700 They were national champions. 853 00:38:05,700 --> 00:38:11,025 So when Holly died, 854 00:38:11,025 --> 00:38:12,900 and he left a little endowment I 855 00:38:12,900 --> 00:38:15,840 think for the Lorelei ladies. 856 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:19,185 Bobbie met Betty Siegel 857 00:38:19,185 --> 00:38:20,760 at a conference or 858 00:38:20,760 --> 00:38:22,710 someplace like that, they hit it off, 859 00:38:22,710 --> 00:38:26,160 and she told Betty she had this endowment 860 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:29,700 that she wanted to continue on with the Lorelei Ladies, 861 00:38:29,700 --> 00:38:34,960 and so that's how she got involved with Kennesaw. 862 00:38:35,030 --> 00:38:39,870 >> And so the taking 863 00:38:39,870 --> 00:38:41,580 the softball team is what 864 00:38:41,580 --> 00:38:45,105 directed Bobbie towards Kennesaw State? 865 00:38:45,105 --> 00:38:46,920 >> In fact, we had a reunion of 866 00:38:46,920 --> 00:38:48,840 the Lorelei Ladies here several years ago, 867 00:38:48,840 --> 00:38:49,890 and it was wonderful. 868 00:38:49,890 --> 00:38:51,180 You can imagine these ladies are in 869 00:38:51,180 --> 00:38:52,860 their 70s and whatnot, 870 00:38:52,860 --> 00:38:56,955 and they had the reception in the Bailey field. 871 00:38:56,955 --> 00:38:58,155 So it was great. 872 00:38:58,155 --> 00:38:59,820 Some of them had become principals, 873 00:38:59,820 --> 00:39:01,365 teachers, that kind of thing, 874 00:39:01,365 --> 00:39:06,150 and Bobbie remained friends with some of them. 875 00:39:06,150 --> 00:39:08,670 So that was really neat. 876 00:39:08,670 --> 00:39:12,810 >> Did the team become like a KSU team? 877 00:39:12,810 --> 00:39:15,405 >> I believe you all have the Lorelei Ladies here. 878 00:39:15,405 --> 00:39:17,010 I know that it's connected, 879 00:39:17,010 --> 00:39:20,095 I'm not really sure how that is. 880 00:39:20,095 --> 00:39:23,510 >> And what were Bobbie's first contributions 881 00:39:23,510 --> 00:39:25,040 to Kennesaw State? 882 00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:27,260 >> It would have been through that, through the sports. 883 00:39:27,260 --> 00:39:29,120 I know the first one, the groundbreaking, 884 00:39:29,120 --> 00:39:33,795 was for the sports facility. 885 00:39:33,795 --> 00:39:36,495 Is that the softball that we came by? 886 00:39:36,495 --> 00:39:36,855 >> Yes. 887 00:39:36,855 --> 00:39:39,540 >> Yeah, that was her first one. 888 00:39:39,540 --> 00:39:41,980 And then they introduced her to Joe. 889 00:39:41,980 --> 00:39:44,990 And so, of course, you know of her interest in music. 890 00:39:44,990 --> 00:39:47,690 And so she and Joe became great friends and 891 00:39:47,690 --> 00:39:50,765 they needed to build the performance hall. 892 00:39:50,765 --> 00:39:53,615 And so she got involved in that. 893 00:39:53,615 --> 00:39:56,060 And then, of course, she gave Steinway pianos and so 894 00:39:56,060 --> 00:39:58,620 it just grew relationships. 895 00:39:58,620 --> 00:40:01,020 >> And can you talk about her interest 896 00:40:01,020 --> 00:40:03,180 in music and how that developed? 897 00:40:03,180 --> 00:40:08,380 >> Yeah. In 1980, there was a young 898 00:40:08,380 --> 00:40:09,940 woman in her church that had 899 00:40:09,940 --> 00:40:13,120 a beautiful voice and Bobby wanted to help her, 900 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:17,440 what do you call it? 901 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:21,970 Discover. And she's always 902 00:40:21,970 --> 00:40:23,755 interested in the technical end, 903 00:40:23,755 --> 00:40:27,670 so she had a sound studio built in her house. 904 00:40:27,670 --> 00:40:29,860 She'd never been involved in anything like that 905 00:40:29,860 --> 00:40:33,010 before but she started 906 00:40:33,010 --> 00:40:35,020 being involved in the music industry 907 00:40:35,020 --> 00:40:38,500 then and then she got elected 908 00:40:38,500 --> 00:40:41,140 President of Georgia Music and so 909 00:40:41,140 --> 00:40:42,490 she was on the board for 910 00:40:42,490 --> 00:40:44,785 National Association of Recording Artists. 911 00:40:44,785 --> 00:40:51,880 And then she produced the Georgia Award show. 912 00:40:51,880 --> 00:40:54,985 I think 27 years maybe 913 00:40:54,985 --> 00:40:59,860 and so that was very important part of her life. 914 00:40:59,860 --> 00:41:03,055 >> And how did you become involved 915 00:41:03,055 --> 00:41:08,500 in philanthropy and giving to Kennesaw State? 916 00:41:08,500 --> 00:41:13,030 >> Well, my volunteering goes way back before 917 00:41:13,030 --> 00:41:17,140 that and my first priority was underprivileged children. 918 00:41:17,140 --> 00:41:20,200 And so I was involved 919 00:41:20,200 --> 00:41:21,430 more with giving and 920 00:41:21,430 --> 00:41:23,575 also I was chair of a children's home. 921 00:41:23,575 --> 00:41:25,690 And then from that, 922 00:41:25,690 --> 00:41:27,310 I got involved in cancer, 923 00:41:27,310 --> 00:41:29,515 got involved in heart association, 924 00:41:29,515 --> 00:41:34,870 just always volunteering for the causes I believed in. 925 00:41:34,870 --> 00:41:39,400 And then I got elected to the hospital board, 926 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:41,620 so I was still involved with that. 927 00:41:41,620 --> 00:41:46,330 And so because of 928 00:41:46,330 --> 00:41:50,035 Bobby's involvement with KSU and the music, 929 00:41:50,035 --> 00:41:54,550 I set up the first music scholarship endowment fund, 930 00:41:54,550 --> 00:41:59,245 the largest endowment fund Joe said that they have. 931 00:41:59,245 --> 00:42:04,720 So it goes way 932 00:42:04,720 --> 00:42:09,850 back to when I was 13 years old but that's what I said. 933 00:42:09,850 --> 00:42:11,710 That's what I believe 934 00:42:11,710 --> 00:42:14,725 what life is all about; it's helping others. 935 00:42:14,725 --> 00:42:17,260 >> Can you tell me what Kennesaw State 936 00:42:17,260 --> 00:42:18,400 was like in those days, 937 00:42:18,400 --> 00:42:19,690 the 1970s and '80s? 938 00:42:19,690 --> 00:42:21,670 What were your impressions of it? 939 00:42:21,670 --> 00:42:24,940 >> I think you've got 940 00:42:24,940 --> 00:42:28,480 the best music program by non anywhere around. 941 00:42:28,480 --> 00:42:30,700 I was very impressed with the music program 942 00:42:30,700 --> 00:42:34,360 and of course, Betty Siegel. 943 00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:38,065 It's built on relationships and she was just great. 944 00:42:38,065 --> 00:42:40,900 And so we had a good relationship with her, 945 00:42:40,900 --> 00:42:44,525 a good relationship with Joe and Coach Whitlock, 946 00:42:44,525 --> 00:42:46,830 he's just great, wonderful. 947 00:42:46,830 --> 00:42:51,550 So I've always had a good impression 948 00:42:51,550 --> 00:42:53,830 of KSU and it's 949 00:42:53,830 --> 00:42:56,740 just continued to grow and just be a great university. 950 00:42:56,740 --> 00:42:59,230 >> So you talked about the music scholarships 951 00:42:59,230 --> 00:43:01,765 but you've created several endowments, 952 00:43:01,765 --> 00:43:03,970 including a nursing scholarship? 953 00:43:03,970 --> 00:43:07,150 And why did you endow that one? 954 00:43:07,150 --> 00:43:10,120 >> We've had a nursing shortage 955 00:43:10,120 --> 00:43:13,330 as long as I can remember and 956 00:43:13,330 --> 00:43:16,030 so I'm very concerned about that and I 957 00:43:16,030 --> 00:43:19,075 have a scholarship also at our hospital. 958 00:43:19,075 --> 00:43:21,880 And so my grandson's gotten 959 00:43:21,880 --> 00:43:25,360 involved in that for the medical community. 960 00:43:25,360 --> 00:43:29,305 But that's why I got involved because of shortage, 961 00:43:29,305 --> 00:43:33,205 and it's even projected even more so in the future. 962 00:43:33,205 --> 00:43:35,695 >> So in April 2012, 963 00:43:35,695 --> 00:43:39,220 the Audrey B. and Jack E. Morgan Senior Concert Hall 964 00:43:39,220 --> 00:43:41,350 was dedicated in the Bailey Performance Center 965 00:43:41,350 --> 00:43:42,730 here at KSU. 966 00:43:42,730 --> 00:43:43,870 What did that mean to you? 967 00:43:43,870 --> 00:43:48,740 >> A great deal. 968 00:43:50,280 --> 00:43:54,265 Bobby and I were sisters. 969 00:43:54,265 --> 00:43:57,565 When she died, I was 85 years 970 00:43:57,565 --> 00:43:59,890 and we've been business partners for 971 00:43:59,890 --> 00:44:02,575 55 years and at that time, probably 50 years. 972 00:44:02,575 --> 00:44:05,635 And the fact that she wanted our name 973 00:44:05,635 --> 00:44:09,920 in there along with hers just meant a great deal. 974 00:44:11,160 --> 00:44:16,030 >> So can I ask you about the Olympics? [LAUGHTER] 975 00:44:16,030 --> 00:44:16,750 >> About what? 976 00:44:16,750 --> 00:44:19,760 >> The Olympics in [OVERLAPPING] 1996? 977 00:44:21,210 --> 00:44:24,220 >> I said, I had 978 00:44:24,220 --> 00:44:29,695 a reputation in all the things I've done of leadership. 979 00:44:29,695 --> 00:44:32,650 So Jim Miller, who's 980 00:44:32,650 --> 00:44:36,220 President of Fidelity Bank and our good friends, 981 00:44:36,220 --> 00:44:38,875 he was asked to chair 982 00:44:38,875 --> 00:44:42,085 the DeKalb County and Gwinnett and he said, 983 00:44:42,085 --> 00:44:43,750 well, I will if Audrey will. 984 00:44:43,750 --> 00:44:46,420 So he came out to ask me and of course, 985 00:44:46,420 --> 00:44:47,650 anything I get involved in, 986 00:44:47,650 --> 00:44:49,690 I bring Bobby in so we were the 987 00:44:49,690 --> 00:44:53,095 co-chairs of the DeKalb and Gwinnett County Olympics. 988 00:44:53,095 --> 00:44:55,930 And we had to come up with ways to raise 989 00:44:55,930 --> 00:44:58,890 money because they had 990 00:44:58,890 --> 00:45:01,020 held it very tight, of course, you may not know. 991 00:45:01,020 --> 00:45:02,790 But the Atlanta Olympic Committee had 992 00:45:02,790 --> 00:45:04,600 really held it very 993 00:45:04,600 --> 00:45:06,910 tight with their committee and whatnot, 994 00:45:06,910 --> 00:45:09,580 but then when they needed more money they did have to go 995 00:45:09,580 --> 00:45:12,490 out and find other people. 996 00:45:12,490 --> 00:45:19,495 So we had a huge concert [inaudible] and of course, 997 00:45:19,495 --> 00:45:22,075 when I got involved, the company got involved. 998 00:45:22,075 --> 00:45:25,435 So our human resource manager 999 00:45:25,435 --> 00:45:27,535 did races at Stone Mountain, 1000 00:45:27,535 --> 00:45:28,630 we sold T-shirts, 1001 00:45:28,630 --> 00:45:32,500 we did everything we could think of to raise money. 1002 00:45:32,500 --> 00:45:34,360 And what we were 1003 00:45:34,360 --> 00:45:36,250 told was the money we raised helped them go 1004 00:45:36,250 --> 00:45:41,125 to Japan to receive the award. 1005 00:45:41,125 --> 00:45:45,340 Jim went, he wanted me to go too but my son was getting 1006 00:45:45,340 --> 00:45:49,540 married so I didn't go but he went. 1007 00:45:49,540 --> 00:45:53,065 >> So you talked a little bit about 1008 00:45:53,065 --> 00:45:57,790 relationships in your giving and in your philanthropy. 1009 00:45:57,790 --> 00:46:00,535 Can you expand on that a bit and 1010 00:46:00,535 --> 00:46:05,335 what that means to you, cultivating relationships? 1011 00:46:05,335 --> 00:46:11,450 >> Well, I'll give you the example of Barry. 1012 00:46:12,750 --> 00:46:15,145 That was a cold call. 1013 00:46:15,145 --> 00:46:18,640 I wanted to honor Mr. and Mrs. Harper who had been 1014 00:46:18,640 --> 00:46:22,480 my second family and their son had gone to Barry. 1015 00:46:22,480 --> 00:46:24,520 So I called up Barry and I said, 1016 00:46:24,520 --> 00:46:26,620 I'd like to establish a scholarship 1017 00:46:26,620 --> 00:46:29,020 in honor of Mr. and Mrs Harper. 1018 00:46:29,020 --> 00:46:31,300 And so over time, 1019 00:46:31,300 --> 00:46:34,015 as I learned more about Barry, 1020 00:46:34,015 --> 00:46:35,080 what it was like, 1021 00:46:35,080 --> 00:46:36,370 what the people were like, 1022 00:46:36,370 --> 00:46:38,110 what the students were like, 1023 00:46:38,110 --> 00:46:40,000 I fell in love with it. 1024 00:46:40,000 --> 00:46:46,975 So then I needed a place to put the money from 1025 00:46:46,975 --> 00:46:51,475 our family scholarship because I was doing 1026 00:46:51,475 --> 00:46:54,850 the scholarships on an individual basis and then that's 1027 00:46:54,850 --> 00:46:58,135 tough to manage on your own. 1028 00:46:58,135 --> 00:47:02,095 So I talked to Dr. Briggs and I said, 1029 00:47:02,095 --> 00:47:05,260 this is the criteria I have for 1030 00:47:05,260 --> 00:47:08,170 individual scholarships and I'd like 1031 00:47:08,170 --> 00:47:10,000 to find a place to transfer 1032 00:47:10,000 --> 00:47:11,905 our money to and let you manage it. 1033 00:47:11,905 --> 00:47:14,590 So they came back with a scholarship program called 1034 00:47:14,590 --> 00:47:17,620 Gate of Opportunity Scholarship and so that's where 1035 00:47:17,620 --> 00:47:18,730 we put our money and 1036 00:47:18,730 --> 00:47:23,620 that's helping deserving young people. 1037 00:47:23,620 --> 00:47:26,455 >> And you later received an honorary doctorate? 1038 00:47:26,455 --> 00:47:27,595 >> Yes. 1039 00:47:27,595 --> 00:47:29,900 >> What did that mean to you? 1040 00:47:32,940 --> 00:47:35,695 >> I didn't want to accept it. 1041 00:47:35,695 --> 00:47:40,135 I just didn't think I deserved it but very 1042 00:47:40,135 --> 00:47:42,970 honored for a prestigious school 1043 00:47:42,970 --> 00:47:45,895 like that to feel that I deserved it. 1044 00:47:45,895 --> 00:47:48,370 >> And it's a rare one? 1045 00:47:48,370 --> 00:47:51,550 >> Very rare. They had it in the paper, 1046 00:47:51,550 --> 00:47:55,435 but it's very rare for them to do an honorary one. 1047 00:47:55,435 --> 00:47:58,525 >> Well, another honor that you received was Mr. DeKalb. 1048 00:47:58,525 --> 00:48:00,010 >> That's right. [LAUGHTER] 1049 00:48:00,010 --> 00:48:00,745 >> What was that? 1050 00:48:00,745 --> 00:48:03,220 >> Well, that's a citizenship award 1051 00:48:03,220 --> 00:48:10,960 and the Heart Association sponsors that, 1052 00:48:10,960 --> 00:48:15,980 and you're honored for all of your community work. 1053 00:48:17,940 --> 00:48:21,145 But the name of it was Mr. DeKalb. 1054 00:48:21,145 --> 00:48:23,080 >> So they didn't alter it? 1055 00:48:23,080 --> 00:48:25,405 >> No. They did not alter it and call it Miss DeKalb, 1056 00:48:25,405 --> 00:48:27,265 they just left it. 1057 00:48:27,265 --> 00:48:28,840 >> Well, finally, I want to talk a little bit 1058 00:48:28,840 --> 00:48:30,580 about your family today. 1059 00:48:30,580 --> 00:48:31,900 Can you tell me about your own family, 1060 00:48:31,900 --> 00:48:33,925 your children and grandchildren? 1061 00:48:33,925 --> 00:48:35,950 You mentioned that one of your grandsons is 1062 00:48:35,950 --> 00:48:37,150 involved with the business 1063 00:48:37,150 --> 00:48:39,040 today. Can you talk about them? 1064 00:48:39,040 --> 00:48:41,815 >> Not involved with the business. 1065 00:48:41,815 --> 00:48:44,600 I have two sons. 1066 00:48:45,960 --> 00:48:48,340 Jack, whom we call Gene, 1067 00:48:48,340 --> 00:48:49,750 he was in the Air Force. 1068 00:48:49,750 --> 00:48:51,760 He flew F-16s. 1069 00:48:51,760 --> 00:48:54,625 Came out and he flies for Delta now. 1070 00:48:54,625 --> 00:48:57,745 He has two children, a boy and a girl. 1071 00:48:57,745 --> 00:48:59,080 Both of them are attorneys, 1072 00:48:59,080 --> 00:49:01,615 both of them live in DC, 1073 00:49:01,615 --> 00:49:04,030 both of them work for Department of Justice 1074 00:49:04,030 --> 00:49:07,510 and between them have four children. 1075 00:49:07,510 --> 00:49:11,440 My grandson has twins that will be 1076 00:49:11,440 --> 00:49:13,120 two in August and 1077 00:49:13,120 --> 00:49:15,820 my granddaughter has a five-year-old and a two-year-old, 1078 00:49:15,820 --> 00:49:17,500 her birthday was this week. 1079 00:49:17,500 --> 00:49:20,170 And then my youngest son, 1080 00:49:20,170 --> 00:49:21,550 Bob lives in Ellijay, 1081 00:49:21,550 --> 00:49:27,075 Georgia and he has a 15-year-old son that I love dearly. 1082 00:49:27,075 --> 00:49:29,760 And so I try to see Tom. 1083 00:49:29,760 --> 00:49:33,030 I was seeing him about twice a month but I sent 1084 00:49:33,030 --> 00:49:38,430 him little texts often. [LAUGHTER] 1085 00:49:38,430 --> 00:49:38,975 >> Text. 1086 00:49:38,975 --> 00:49:40,150 >> Text. I sent him one 1087 00:49:40,150 --> 00:49:42,310 this morning and I told him I was coming out here and 1088 00:49:42,310 --> 00:49:47,830 what was going on and I try to be 1089 00:49:47,830 --> 00:49:53,995 a good influence and so we go on trips every year. 1090 00:49:53,995 --> 00:49:56,590 And that's what I did with my other two, 1091 00:49:56,590 --> 00:49:57,880 was that every year, 1092 00:49:57,880 --> 00:50:01,450 we'd say, it's spring break, 1093 00:50:01,450 --> 00:50:03,070 where do you like to go and 1094 00:50:03,070 --> 00:50:04,990 so I'm very close to my grandchildren. 1095 00:50:04,990 --> 00:50:10,720 And my granddaughter calls me often and we do face time, 1096 00:50:10,720 --> 00:50:13,495 and so it's wonderful. 1097 00:50:13,495 --> 00:50:16,360 >> Now, tell me about your husband, 1098 00:50:16,360 --> 00:50:17,905 when did he pass away? 1099 00:50:17,905 --> 00:50:20,630 >> November 6th, 2011. 1100 00:50:20,630 --> 00:50:25,450 >> And what was it like to lose him at that time? 1101 00:50:26,200 --> 00:50:29,580 >> Was major. He had Alzheimer's. 1102 00:50:29,580 --> 00:50:33,090 He was diagnosed in 2002 and died in 2011. 1103 00:50:33,090 --> 00:50:39,605 So miss him. 1104 00:50:39,605 --> 00:50:42,550 >> And can we talk once more about Bobby? 1105 00:50:42,550 --> 00:50:44,245 She passed away in 2015. 1106 00:50:44,245 --> 00:50:44,725 >> Yes. 1107 00:50:44,725 --> 00:50:46,720 >> And you said Bobby would always 1108 00:50:46,720 --> 00:50:49,480 start any endeavor by saying, let's have fun. 1109 00:50:49,480 --> 00:50:53,650 >> She did. And so 1110 00:50:53,650 --> 00:50:55,570 that's why I decided to have 1111 00:50:55,570 --> 00:50:58,120 the parties because she loved them. 1112 00:50:58,120 --> 00:51:00,955 And so Joe and I said, 1113 00:51:00,955 --> 00:51:06,020 for her birthday, let's have party, let's have fun. 1114 00:51:06,930 --> 00:51:12,130 >> So can I ask one final question? 1115 00:51:12,130 --> 00:51:13,930 What's the most important thing to 1116 00:51:13,930 --> 00:51:16,930 you in life? What has been? 1117 00:51:16,930 --> 00:51:18,775 >> Well, obviously, family. 1118 00:51:18,775 --> 00:51:20,110 As you can tell, I'm very 1119 00:51:20,110 --> 00:51:23,515 family-oriented and that is the most important. 1120 00:51:23,515 --> 00:51:25,690 And the other one is helping 1121 00:51:25,690 --> 00:51:28,270 others and I don't mean that to say 1122 00:51:28,270 --> 00:51:30,760 be goody but I figured it out 1123 00:51:30,760 --> 00:51:33,370 by the time I was about 13 when I was baptized, 1124 00:51:33,370 --> 00:51:35,980 that that's what it's all about and I took that as 1125 00:51:35,980 --> 00:51:39,890 my motto to help me live to help others. 1126 00:51:40,140 --> 00:51:42,760 I think it's all about you, me, 1127 00:51:42,760 --> 00:51:45,970 people, that we care about. 1128 00:51:45,970 --> 00:51:48,970 >> Well, thank you so much, Audrey Morgan. 1129 00:51:48,970 --> 00:51:50,840 >> You're welcome.