50 years ago - Dec. 24, 1959 - Smyrna, DE

From The Smyrna Times,
Dec. 24, 1959

Delaware ranked as fifth fastest growing state

Delaware, with an estimated population increase of 39.7 percent in the eight years from 1950 to 1958, is apparently the fifth fastest growing state in the Union, reports the State Development Department.
Basing its findings on adjusted population estimates of the U.S. Census Bureau, the state information agency advises that Delaware experienced an estimated 126,000 person gain between the time of the last census and July 1, 1958. This gain, percentagewise, was greater than that experienced by all other states with the exception of Nevada, Florida, Arizona, and Alaska.
Nevada, the Nation’s fastest growing state percentagewise, experienced a gain of 69.7 percent during the same eight-year period.
Inasmuch as the United States population increased an estimated 13 percent during the 1950-58 period, Delaware’s population increase was three times that of the national average notes the Development Department.

Smyrna trucking outfits capture top awards for safety

Two Smyrna trucking companies, both with accident-free records the past year, are among five winners and two runners-up in the annual highway safety contest sponsored by the Delaware Motor Transport Association.
The grand award, an engraved trophy, was presented to Slaughter Beverage Transport Co., Smyrna, at ceremonies recently in Dover. Howard G. Slaughter, owner, accepted the award from Rufus B. Jones, assistant to the president of Trailmobile, Inc., which joins with DMTA in sponsoring the contest. Slaughter’s 11 trucks covered nearly 500,000 miles without an accident.
An engraved plaque was awarded to Cooper Moving & Storage Co., Smyrna, for the best safety record in the class for companies whose vehicles traveled under 100,000 miles during the year.

Civil Air Patrol cadet officers awarded coveted Silver Wings

Three officers of the Smyrna Cadet Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, were awarded their silver observer wings this past week in special ceremonies at the squadron meeting held in Smyrna High School. The silver wings are a reward for many hours work put in a special course conducted by Major Reynolds Jones and Captain Philip Toman, squadron commander.
Receiving their wings from wing training officer, Lt. Col. William Everett, were Cadet 2 Lt. Stephen J. Hankins, Cadet 1 Lt. Richard T. Savage, cadet commander; and Cade 2 Lt. Joseph P. Myers.

Fifty attend Eagles holiday banquet; top youth named

Fifty members and guests of the Silver Eagles attended the annual Christmas dinner Wednesday night at the Hi-D-Ho Restaurant in Dover.
Final plans are being completed for the Silver Eagles annual Christmas dance to be held Saturday, Dec. 26 from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Music will be provided by the Fabulous Corvettes, a teenage dance band from Wilmington. “White Christmas” will be the theme of the decorations, carried out by a committee including Harold Moffitt, chairman; Raymond Reed, Robert Pritchard, Brandon Jones, Austin Pase, Charles Rebar, and Carl Simpson. Barry Pritchard, president, will represent the club on the Town of Smyrna decorations contest committee.
Kay Hutchins and Richard Savage were selected as the girl and boy of the month for November. Kay was chosen for her outstanding achievements as a member of the Future Homemakers of America at the John Bassett Moore High School. The only member from Delaware serving on a national committee, she was named a member of the national finance committee of FHA, representing the North Atlantic region. Richard Savage was selected because of his achievement in the Civil Air Patrol. He was recently promoted and appointed cadet commander of the Smyrna Squadron of the CAP, making him the highest ranking cadet in the squadron. They will both receive certificates of merit and a monetary award from the Silver Eagles.