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| R. L. "Pop" Prevost |
In 1909, Pop Prevost moved to Hazelwood, N.C. He saw the need for Hazelwood to have electricity but the town didn't have the money for it. No one seemed willing to take the first step so Pop got the wires and telephone poles himself, had them installed, then had the bill sent to him. He kept it until the town could issue bonds and pay for it's electricity. When Pop served as chairman of the Board of Education, he saw a need for the county high schools to offer business education and typing for young girls who would be making their careers as secretaries. He could get no help from Raleigh in establishing this department. There was no money available and none could be expected in the near future. Again, someone had to take the first step. Pop bought the typewriters himself and established the business education department in the local schools. He left the bill in the bottom of his drawer until proper funding became available. Over and over, the pattern of Pop's life was to take the lead to meet a business or community need, even though no one else was willing. His favorite expression was "Make it go!" He took for granted that there wasn't anything he couldn't do.
Pop's philosophy of being a doer instead of a watcher continued throughout his life. He has been successful in every area he has ventured, whether it be business or community work. But he always put the community needs before his business needs and believed this should be the feeling of every citizen.
Pop Prevost's approach to life was in its people. He believed communities or business organizations were nothing but dormant things unless they had people. For Pop, it was people that "made things go." People interested Pop so much that sometimes he spent months figuring out the best way to approach certain workers in his factory as individuals. He says he got his love for people from his faith in God and his Son, Jesus Christ.
Although Pop had little formal education, he says he did get a degree -- in work! His principle business activities were as president and major stockholder of Unagusta, a furniture manufacturing company, and as founder and president (for 59 years) of the Haywood Savings and Loan Association. Pop believed it was his privilege and responsibility to contribute as much as he could to the community and church and he did so, often sacrificing time from ventures which were more personally profitable. His hours away from work and service were either playing golf, hunting, or with his family.
In 1973, Pop died unexpectedly at the age of 92. He was active and alert to the day he died. This interviewer feels fortunate to have had this conversation with Pop while he was living, and to be able to pass it on. If you knew Pop Prevost personally, it should also mean something special to you because if you did know him, you were his friend.
MR. PREVOST, HOW DID YOU AND YOUR WIFE GET THE NAME POP AND TWO-MOMMIE?"
Our first grandaughter nicknamed Mrs. Prevost "Two-Mommie," meaning number two mother. It caught on. Then friends added "Pop" for me and it has been that way ever since.
HOW DID YOU PROPOSE TO TWO-MOMMIE?
We were going to a camp meeting one Sunday morning and I just stopped the horse and popped the question right there in the buggy. She said she would and gave me a big kiss!
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
I was raised on a farm. I left home at 15 to work with the High Point Furniture Company. I made 6¢ an hour and worked 10 hours a day, six days a week.
YOU GOT A RAISE SOON AFTER, DIDN'T YOU?
Yes, three years later they raised my wages to 7 1/2 ¢ an hour.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT?
At 20, I was made foreman in the cabinet making department. At 25, I was made plant superintendant of Kincaid Furniture Company in Statesville. I believe I was the youngest superintendant in the history of the Southern Furniture Manufacturers Association.
HOW DID YOU GET TO HAZELWOOD?
In 1909, when I was 28, I was offered the job of plant manager in charge of manufacturing at Unagusta.
WHEN DID YOU BECOME PRESIDENT OF UNAGUSTA?
In 1930. I also became one of the major stockholders. During the Depression in 1931, I put $57,000 in the plant and lost it overnight.
WAS THERE ANY TIME WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULDN'T MAKE IT?
No. I went right back, pulled off my coat, rolled up my sleeves, and went at it again. The best incentive a man can have is to go broke once. It taught me a lesson.
HOW HARD DO YOU WORK?
I put in all the hours that it took to get the job done. The regular hours were ten hours a day back then. I guess I put in twelve to fourteen hours a day. If you want to make something go, you have to put in what it takes. Don't try to figure how to put less into it, find out how to put more into it.
WHAT IS YOUR BASIC APPROACH TO RUNNING A BUSINESS?
If you're going to run a business, you've got to know people.
HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE A MAN TO DO HIS BEST FOR YOU?
Put him in a job that he likes to do best. Put a man on a job he doesn't like to do and he won't be any good to you or himself. You've got to let men know that you're interested in their welfare. Yes sir! You've got to gain the confidence of people that you're working with.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR PRIME ASSET IS AS A BUSINESSMAN?
Love for people. I get that from studying the Bible. Our Lord gave his Son because of His love for the people. Our success depends on how much we give to the One who died for us.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A BUSINESSMAN IN THE COMMUNITY?
To give up his time and talent to help develop the community economically, educationally, and spiritually. A selfish man can't help a community grow because he takes from it instead of putting into it.
IN BUSINESS YOU HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNMENT. WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN BUSINESS?
Let me read you a quote. "Our federal government was established on the basis that it would not do anything which the states and people were able to do for themselves. Little by little, this has been reversed until we are approaching a condition wherein the states and the people will not do anything which they hope to get the federal government to do for them. Today, when difficulty of any kind arises, the ready answer is 'more government.' The people should get out and do things themselves and not let the government take over. This is our country's strength."
HOW DO YOU MEASURE PROGRESS?
By the development of the people. You can't go anywhere unless you have good people. You work with people, not things.
WHAT WAS IT YOU TOLD YOUR SONS BEFORE YOU SENT THEM OFF TO CHAPEL HILL TO SCHOOL?
I told them that I would be getting a report of their grades in the mail. I didn't want to see all "A's" on it because they wou1d be missing half their education.
Half is in books and half comes from associating with different people. You have to get out on the campus and learn to deal with all kinds of people. When you get out of college you can't go to a text book to learn how to get along with people.
YOUR SON AARON SAID YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIM MAKING ALL A'S!
I didn't have to worry about any of them!
YOU ARE VERY ACTIVE. IS THAT IMPORTANT?
Yes, yes. You have to be a doer. A man is judged by his actions and not what he says. Good ideas are no good unless you fellow through. If you plant some corn seeds in a field and forget them, you'll not have a thing. You have to work the crop and cultivate it and see it through. Then you'll succeed,
THIS FUNDAMENTAL APPLIES EVERYWHERE, DOESN'T IT?
Yes. A man doesn't need a whole bag full of philosophies to follow. He needs only a few sound fundamentals to stick to. They apply to his whole life.
IS THERE ANYONE YOU HAVE GREATLY ADMIRED AND TRIED TO FOLLOW IN YOUR LIFE?
Yes, Ruben Robertson. There wasn't a finer man. When he was at Champion Papers he knew all his men by their first names. One day he and I were talking on a sidewalk in Asheville. One of his men was walking by in a pair of old greasy overalls. Ruben greeted him by his first name and shook his hand. Most other people would have looked the other way. If you are going to follow a man's example, follow a successful man.
HOW DO YOU GET AND KEEP GOOD MEN IN YOUR COMPANY?
When a man came to work for me I first found out what he liked to do. I tried to put him where his natural bent was. I watched this man work and tried to see what his talent was. I tried to develop this man and his talent. I always promoted from within. I never had to look to the outside for a foreman. You have to develop your people. Your organization is no good at all without good people.
I had five foremen that I called in and told them that they were better than any job I had for them. I told them I would help them find a better job where they could use their talents to the fullest. I got these men superintendant's jobs in plants across the Southeast. Each one has done fine work. I owed this to these men and their families. I stand behind my men.
HOW DID HAYWOOD SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION GET STARTED?
When I moved to Hazelwood, I had my money in a Hickory Savings and Loan. A few years after I left there I saw a need for one here. I went to Hickory, saw how it was done and then organized one here.
WHAT WAS THE BEST DECISION YOU EVER MADE IN BUSINESS?
Why did you put that "business" in there?
OK, WHAT IS YOUR BEST DECISION IN ANYTHING?
When I got Two-Mommie!
WHAT WAS YOUR WORST DECISION?
I didn't have any in particular. I'm a fellow who worked on hunches. When I got a hunch that something would be successful, I didn't wait a day, a week, or a month to study it over. I put it to work right then. I put into it whatever it took to make it successful.
IS A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR IMPORTANT IN LIFE?
Yes sir! You can't do very well without it.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TURNING POINT IN YOUR LIFE?
When I left Hickory and came to Hazelwood.
HOW DO YOU RELAX?
I relax on my feet--going, going somewhere. I can't relax sitting down, I never had any desire to have a job where I had to sit down; I was president of my company but I stayed in my office very little.
POP, YOU AND MANY OTHERS HAVE DONE MANY THINGS FOR HAYWOOD COUNTY. IS THERE ANYTHING LEFT TO BE DONE?
There is plenty left to be done. You never run out of something to do to help build a community. More business people should take time off from their business, worry less about their own wealth, and work to build up the community at large,
DO YOU THINK A YOUNG MAN CAN START OUT WITH ALMOST NOTHING TODAY, AS YOU DID A LONG TIME AGO, AND EXPECT TO SUCCEED?
It depends upon what he is made out of. It depends on how much determination he's got. When you take a job, put all you've got into it, Make it go!
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY?
I don't think the young people are as far off as some people would have you believe. The trouble at colleges is that the professors and administrators don't know how to deal with people. Teaching out of a book isn't enough. They've got to know the students and what they are thinking.
IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION?
It depends if the leaders of today make it possible for the young people to do their best.
IF YOU HAD TO START OVER, WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?
No.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST DECISION YOU HAVE HAD TO MAKE?
The decision to retire.
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