The Charleston Daily Mail from Charleston, West Virginia • Page 3

Mill Plwlm by Earl Ber BUCK HARLESS IN WOOD PANELED BOARDROOM AT GILBERT BANK AND TRUST OVERNIGHT MILLIONAIRE Continued From Page One ing Ten per cent of the company's profits go to charity, according to Altera, including stKeable contributions to local college students through the James Harless foundation, founded after the birth of a grandson. James. Of all his achievements. Harless seems most pleased with his 3 ear old bank. Gilbert Bank and Trust, the first bank in tuwn since one went broke in 1929.

He is president and chairman of the board of the bank which has assets of T16 million "Thafs pretty good for three years," he smiled, adding. "It's their bank. It belongs to the community." He leaves the day to day operation of the bank to Carl Lambert vice president. "I drop in here every now and then." he said, somewhat in awe as he showed off the elaborate colonial style building. Standing in his seldom used bank uffice paneled in intricately carved Brazilian wood from his sawmiil at Abaetetuba.

Harless said, "I look back and I never dreamed that I would become so involved, so complicated." A brass spittoon issituated near his desk at the bank. "Oh. I chew every once in a while." admitted the busy man. who also is chairman of the board of the Appalachian Regional Hospitals situated in southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. Harless laments that although the coal boom brought a transfusion to the southern West Virginia economy, there is no room on which to build much needed housing.

"Look at all the trailers." he said. "It seems that anyone able to build a home ends up with a trailer." "We have to make theland." he continued. And if hisplans work out he will invest approximately 17 million for construction of a 225 acre housing development and shopping center on a mountaintop near Gilbert. "First, the mountain top which is now forest, will have to be cut off and strip mined for a cost of at least 115 million." he said. "If the coal weren't there for strip mining, we couldn't afford to huild the development." He said he applied for a permit from the Department of Natural Resources eight months ago.

"And I still haven't received permission yet." he said. The plan for Rosa Estates, designed by Architectural Associates of Charleston, calls for 200 individual homes ranging in price From $25,000 to $40,000. "Our terrain is unfortunate." he said. "We could grow, there are things here to make us grow," He predicts that if the permit is granted soon work can begin on the housing development in five years. He said U.S.

Steel has expressed interest in the project he cause the company has proposed a large mine in Mingo County. "They're very interested in the project." he said. because they will need the units for their employes." Transporting Stolen Goods Arrest Made An IB year old Nitro youth was arrested Tuesday and charged with transporting stolen goods in connection with the theft of copper material from Raleigh Junk Co. in Nitro. Kanawha County sheriff's deputies said.

Charged was Daniel Lee Mace, of 4500 1st who officers said was employed by Raleigh Junk. Harless claims that only three people actually manage his high finance office chores, and all three. Epp Hatfield Jr Mrs. Ruth Phipps and Mrs. Karen White, arc natives Gilbert.

"They're three of the most efficient people you've ever seen in one office." he said. One small part of their duties is to snrt through a stack of business propositions arriving (Lilly bv mail. "1 have at least 20 to 25 requests for money daily." he said. They usually go in File 13." An elder in Gilbert's Hresbyterian Church. Harless describes himself as conservative in religion, politics anil everything else." and believes that welfare has 'absolutely ruined the initiative of the people." Harless was raised with cousins by his Aunt Rosa.

"My family never gave me anything but love and there was an abundance of that." he said. After graduation from Gilbert High, he went to wnrk in the mines at Red Jacket where he was emploved during World War II. He had advanced to the engineering department where he worked for six years. "They must have thought I was important because I kept getting deferments throughout the war." he said. "I'll never forget an old gentleman who was my supervisor.

He helped me all he could. Rul. you know. I never made over $,300 a month in Ihe mines." He said he started his lumber business at 27 with SIM "It was a traumatic experience to sell it. but 1 got a good price for it." he smiled, reflecting on his Texas casket factory.

That plant hasn't turned over any profit yet and 1 don't like to fool around with things that don't make money." Casually dressed in a worn cotton shirt and trousers ami an acrylic sweater, with several ballpoint pens attached to his shirt pocket. Harless blends well with the Gilbert citizenry. "I should blend in here." he said "I made my money here." "Oh. there's an old high school friend of mine." Harless said during a stroll through Gilbert last week, introducing Elmer Cline, a "boy" with whom he played luotball on the Gilbert Lions team in the 1930s. He said he neither craves nor considers leaving the isolated coalfields for a more interesting, exciting life.

"I fly down tn South America when I have to." he said. "As Tar as intellectual stimulation goes. I have employes who arc just as bright as I am." is a good little town. This is where I'll die." he said with a wink. "I like it here.

Everyone calls me Buck even the kids and like that." Harless said he never had ambitions to accumulate a hit of money. "I like to think that 1 don't act like 1 have money." he said, a benevolent figure standing on the steps ol a bank he founded in a communitv where he employs about 200 people. TOMORROW: Coal operator Homer Ray Preecc. an "eighth grade graduate" who drives a Lincoln Continental. He's building a $110,000 home with profits he earned during the 1974 boom, The incident involved Ihe theft of copper wire and pipe, and the subsequent sale of the material to the Midwest Steel Corp.

in Charleston on Feb. 10 for $80, deputies said. Mace appeared Tuesday before Justice of the Peace Larry Asbury and was released on his own recognizance. Francisco Ponce, M.D. of his off ke for the Practice of Urology to Suite 23 Brooks Medical BiiUing 1200 Quarrier Street East.

Charleston. W.Va. 25301 phone £342 3139 Amana Touchmatic8. the microwave range with a brain Just touch and cook with the Amana Touchmatic makes cooking os simple as 1 2 Pick the operations you warn it to perform by touching the smooth face of Ihe control panel. It's solid stole "Brain" records all your instructions and then carries out various stages of cooking (fast, slow, simmer, even defrosting) with accuracy.

Equipped with lighted digital clock. An Amana home economist will demonstrate in our deportment Mon. 16, 10:00 2:00 and 4:00 8:00 Feb. 18 Irom 11:00 Now you can purchase on Amana model R3 Radarange with defrost cycle for only 429.00 MAJOR APPLIANCES Fifth Floor feb. is, Ciwlcston Dailp 99ai! 5A New Owner Okayed For Radio Station WASHINGTON AP) The Federal Communications Commission has granted ownership of Huntington.

W.Va.. radio station WWHY to Richard Hustead and the llustead Broadcasting Corporation. The station previously was owned by Ohio River Broadcasting. llustead. a Huntington businessman, said he had no plans to change the format personnel at the station.

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