THE GULF ORDNANCE PLANT
OPENING CEREMONY

by Brent Coleman

Old Glory Now Waves Over GOP!

The Aberdeen High School Band took part in the ceremony opening the plant in November of 1942. The Band Director was E.L. Dillon, the drum major was Truman Thomas, majorettes were Betty McCormick, Helen Mattox and Alice Watson. Band members were: Bobby Fleming, captain, Pamela Helwig, Buddy Owens, Billy Ritter, Charles Treas, Jack Golden, Shirley Adams, Jean Norwood, Paine Lenoir, John Gunter, Sam Kline, Parmer Spivey, Mac Brown, Leslie Mae Allen, Frank Trippet, Webb Brown, David Taylor, Ana Jean Boggs, Hal Bourland, Charlotte Gelling, Jean Lee, Joyce Pennington, Jay Hankins, Lillian McComb, Virginia Sue Bullock, Doris Owems, Myrl Walters, Frank Maier, Guy Watkins, Laura Jeanetter Lann, Edna Earl Stockton, Jean Patton, Sadie Mae Heard, Bell Bransford, Ruth Bassinger, Martha Howell, James Ray Smith, Eddie Boy Holmes, Hugh Ellis, Dennis Garner, George Metts, Richard Tackett, Roger Thomas, Jimmie Miller, Miriam Bullock, Ellen Martin and Virginia Pressley.

--- from The Gulf Ordnance Plant 1942 - 45, Brent Coleman, A TomBigbee Country magazine Special Edition, 2002

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Photo of flag raising at Gulf Ordnance Plant from Brent Coleman Collection. Photo of Aberdeen Band at opening ceremony, provided to Brent by drummer Parmer Spivey, who later ended up in the 82nd Airborne "Paratrooper" Band.