Deja vu all over again! All American City in 2020?

Huntington Herald-Dispatch February 11, 1959
By HARRY FLESHER

Citizen action, citizen awareness, citizen courage—these are the prerequisites of a better decade ahead for Huntington. This was the consensus of a group of Huntingtonians picked at random at last night's All-America Award dinner and asked about their feelings about the future for Huntington.

Courage to face the requirements of necessary taxation was stressed by the only man interviewed who holds a city job. He is Robert M. Levy, counsel for the Huntington Sanitary Board. Mr. Levy said that it takes courage to undertake major projects, and that it is regrettable that the most expensive project in which the city is involved is one forced on the city. That, of course is, the sewage treatment facility. Water users of Huntington are pouring between $850,000 to $900,000 annually into this project. Said Mr. Levy, "I visit a friend on Long Island in New York. His property taxes on a $38,000 house amount to $100 a month. This would amaze the average Huntingtonian and it amazes me. But I am likewise amazed at the great number of governmental services he receives for his money. We just have to have courage to face the necessity for more taxes if we are to have better services, a better city."

F. M. Boon, a retired postal employee, declared, "This All America City award was won by the citizens of the city who became alert to the conditions prevailing here. Alertness will be necessary if we continue to make progress."

Mrs. H. M. Albers, who is active in many civic affairs and as a Republican political leader, said, "I would like to see more citizens attend Council meetings and express their views on community projects.” I would like to see more people supporting civic organizations that propose and work on worthy projects. People should remember that we only get what we are willing to pay for."

Joseph Slash, principal of Douglass High School, said, "I am convinced that there is but one answer to community problems. That is in the cooperative efforts of all of our citizens. This award we have won should be a signal for us to join hands to reach other worthy objectives."

Fred Marcum, manager of the Adel Division of General Metals: Corp., declared, "This award is bound to attract the interest of manufacturers interested in locating new plants. However, the need exists for so many additional improvements, which can be so quickly enumerated. It will be in moving to solve these other problems that we will attract new industry in the future."

Max K. Jones, manager of the Huntington Water Corp., who made a major contribution of time to the development of Cabell Huntington Hospital and Memorial Field House, two of the facilities on which the award was based, declared, "The future looks good to me. There is so much that lies ahead and there are so many evidences of the will to get the necessary things done."

Mrs. Robert Van Blaricom former president of the Woman's Club of Huntington, said, "Winning the All-America Award is just a beginning. We are long overdue for a complete survey of our city's needs, a survey which should be followed by plans for accomplishment and development of a financing program. As a city we dare not bask in this present glory."

Mrs. Paul Bauer, a member of the Huntington Charter Board, said, "While we are thinking about municipal improvements, we must think also about our schools. Industries will be attracted by improved municipal services, but industries require schools for the children of their employees. We can attract people and industries when we can offer a sound educational system that will inform the average student and help the gifted student."

Two men stressed that the problem of additional Ohio River bridge facilities is the most pressing one and said the community can best show its go-ahead spirit by beginning immediately to obtain these benefits. The two men are Roy V. Graham, president of the American Business Club, and Malan H. Clark, long active in the United Commercial Travelers and other civic organizations.

Olin C. Nutter, superintend, of Cabell County schools, interview yesterday afternoon emphasized that while support of extra school levies was one of the community activities which the award was based, schools "still are in need improvement and citizens interest in this field is more important today than ever in the past."

Circuit Judge John W. Hereford told The Herald-Dispatch, "The spirit of progress in Huntington is better than I have ever seen it, and I know that we are on the threshold even greater accomplishments.