WINTER 2010 Comparing apples to WHAT? It was the year that we watched history being made when Richard M. Nixon became the first U.S. President to resign the highest office in the land; the price of gasoline had skyrocketed co 55 cents a gallon; a new car cost $3,750, and you could buy a new house for $34,900. If you mentioned "Watergate" today, most folks wouldn't know what you, were talking about. If you bought 55 cents of gasoline you could put it in a mayonnaise jar. The average price of a new car in the United States is close to $34,900, ($28,400). If you have a teenage driver on your insurance, $3,750 might gee you six months of automobile coverage. To take this just a little further, the Minimum Wage was $2.00 per hour versus $7.25 today. We've seen some dramatic changes in this country and the world over the last several decades, but lee's take a good look at the comparisons I've listed: Now for the trivia pare of this . . . What year am I comparing the prices of 2010 with? To give you a hint, it was the year that the most famous book ever written was pub­lished. To clarify myself, the Bible was definitely the greatest book ever written, but if you're talking about the Monument Industry, the most infamous book would be the '74 Price Book. Gasoline-five times higher, cars – seven- and one-half times higher and houses – five and three tenths higher. The fact is, today everything is higher than it was in 1974. Everything but the cost of producing a monument, or at least you’d think that is the case when someone asks you to sell something at the ’74 book price. I'll bet you one thing: today's retail price for a rnonun1ent isn't the same as it was in 1974. Most of us own ho1nes. Ac least we co-own with a mortgage company. Most of us have cars. Most of us have children that will attend', are attending or have attended a university or trade school. When I come right down to it, monument manufacturers aren't any different than anybody else in this country except for the fact that we're asked to sell our products at prices that were valid 36 years ago. Doesn’t seem fair, does it? Guest Editorial: John Campbell, Dixie Granite Company, Inc. Pledge your support to American-made products. America, what a great nation we are blessed to live in. No other nation has prospered so greatly in such a short span of rime. Unfortunately, for the past twenty (+/-) years, we have lost focus on how our nation became great. We have forgotten how our forefathers had little more than a dream when they arrived in America. They were proud people and didn't mi11d work­ing long and hard to accom­plish their goals and fulfill their dreams. Through the endeavors and perseverance of these people, we became a proud and prosperous nation. As individuals, we have become self-centered and think only of our interests instead of our country's interest. We feel we should have entitlements because we are Americans, but in reality, we are blessed with opportunities because we are Americans. Education is a vital part of the complex world we live in. We think through education we can overcome all of our problems. But, without common sense blended in with education, education becomes worthless. Common sense tells us that in order for us to put our neighbors back to work and become a strong nation, we have to produce and sell more products to foreign countries and import less products from foreign countries. Simply put, this creates a positive cash flow which creates prosperity. le is in1peracive, as Americans, we insist on fair and balanced world trade and abol­ish free trade. The reality of this is something none of us like to face. By supporting American-made products we will have to sacrifice some luxuries. But the end results will once again create a self-sustaining nation. A local friend and politician made a statement that I will never forget. It goes something like this ... ''America's wealth, strength and stability lie beneath the feet we stand on." Whether we choose, once again, to start harvesting our land or let it stand dormant will determine America's future. In the past twenty years, we have tried to cake short cuts to make fast money. As a result, we have destroyed manufacturing in towns, large and small all across our nation, which has cost us millions of jobs. It is time we realize that America can only return to prosperity and stability as a nation if we do as our forefathers did, and once again roll up our sleeves and start harvesting our land. I am proud to be an American and pledge to support it in all my endeavors. I hope you will too. Coggins Foundation donates $10,000 each to sheriff, police departments The Coggins Foundation has donated $10,000 each to the Elbert County Sheriff's Office and the City of Elberton Police Department. "Mr. (Frank) Coggins has been a long-time supporter of the sheriff's office and has assisted us in many ways in the past," Sheriff Barry Haston said in a press release. "Any amount of extra financial support in these challenging times is always much appreciated." The sheriff said that the money will most likely be used to up­grade existing equipment or purchase some equipment to aid deputies in their jobs. Haston thanked Coggins and the foundation for the donation. Elberton Police Chief Mark Welsh said that the $10,000 for the police department also will be used for equipment. Welsh said he has several ideas for the money and will present a plan to the Elberton City Council for approval. The $20,000 donation to the two law enforcement agencies comes on the heels of a $100,000 donation by the Coggins Foundation to Elbert County for specific county projects. Along with his generous donations to the police and sheriff's departments, Frank Coggins, Jr., (seated) of Coggins Welfare Foundation made a donation of $100,000 to the Elbert Memorial Hospital Foundation, which was announced during the 60th anniversary celebration of the Elbert Memorial Hospital. Shown at the celebration with Coggins are (left to right) Coggins Welfare Foundation's Shirley McNeely, Hospital CEO Tom Brown, Hospital Foundation's Janie Dedek and EMH Foundation's Nancy Coggins Seymour. (Photo by Gary Jones of the Elberton Star) Jimmy Johnson Classic raises $16,400 The fifth annual Jimmy Johnson Memorial Golf Classic was held on Oct. I at Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course at Richard B. Russell State Park. "The Elbert Memorial Hospital Foundation has the largest and most successful tournament in the community, and this year was no different," Foundation Golf Chairman Stewart York said. "We had a maximum number of 30 reams present and raised $16,400 with all proceeds going to The Jimmy Johnson Endowment, which supports the mission of Elbert Memorial Hospital. We are extremely grateful for the overwhelming support we received from the community." The winning team for the first flight was the Arrow Cut Team, consisting of Dino Blackmon, Jeff McKellar, Lewis Robinson and Everett Worley. Second place for the first flight was the Emergency Medical Service Team, consisting of Josh Carrington, Spencer Strong, Or. John Washington and Rodney Willis. The winning team for the second flight was the Care­South Team, consisting of Sid Barger, Gaye Barger, Marc Carlton and Brad Brown. Second place for the second flight was the Star Granite Team, consisting of Rusty Adams, Randy Smith, Jake Smith and Donnie Caldwell. Brad Brown won the Closest to the Pin on hole number three, and Linton Johnson won the Closest to the Pin on hole number 13. Each winner received a $50 gift certificate at Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course. Nick Fleischer won the Longest Drive on hole num­ber four and won a round of golf for four ac Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course. The Golf Cart Give-A-Way on hole nu1nber 15 was sponsored by Franklin Whitworth and the Whitworth ARH Group at Merrill Lynch, and it was won by Clark Johnson. Members of the Arrow Cut Team pose for a photo after their big win. (Left to right) Louis Robinson, Jeff McKellar, Dino Blackmon and Everett Worley. Granite City Fall Festival November 6th marked another successful year for the ever-popular Granite City Fall Festival as hundreds of patrons flocked the Elberton Square to peruse the more than 100 booths of unique arts, crafts and handmade wares, area businesses and organizations and food vendors. The event, co-hosted by the Elberton Granite Association, Main Street Elberton and the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce, has become a popular regional event to kick-off the fall season. Despite the 30-degree early morning temps, the masses enjoyed plenty of sunshine as they shopped and ate while being entertained by a variety of musical and theatrical groups. The Elberton Granite Association's booth proved to be a favored stop as visitors dropped by to learn about the granite industry from the EGA staff. The always popular quarry tours attracted curious visitors again this year, as groups were chauffeured to Beaverdam Quarry, operated by Eagle Granite Company, Inc. Many tried their hand at our bean bag toss to have their nan1es entered in our multiple drawings. Prizes included granite cutting boards do­nated by Bobby Moon Granite Sales, T&J Granite Countertops, Star Granite Interiors and Turner Granite Interiors, as well as Visa gift cards worth $50 and $100. Onlookers also were impressed with the stone cutting skills of Kevin Webb of Rome Granite, Inc. Overall the festival was a big success for EGA and the community. We thank those who visited our booth and everyone who helped out with this event. Kevin Webb of ROME GRANITE, INC., demonstrates stone cutting. Doy Johnson, Executive Vice President of EGA, watches as the winner is drawn for one of many prizes. EGA staffer Elizabeth Slay helps out as one of our bean bag winners enters his name for the drawing. (Above) Haley Bright of Bowman shows off her new cutting board. (Right) Richard Rucker of RUCKER TRUCKING & LEASING, INC., tries our bean bag toss as his wife, Bridget, cheers him on. (Below) EGA staffers Frankie Dove, Doy Johnson and Susan Dixon pose for a photo. Coggins' covered wagon returns home after a long journey with the relentless march of inflation such as it is, the price of a good flatiron has become quite expensive these days. At a recent auction near [Elberton], flatirons were going for $15-$20. For the uninitiated, a flat iron is the device your great grandma used to iron clothes. It has a soleplate of cast iron, and a metal handle is firmly attached above. The soleplate is, well, iron shaped, and the whole thing weighs about 5-1/2 pounds. It was heated on the top of a wood stove and most households had two or more so one could be heating while the other was being used. Why are flatirons now so expensive? It is simply because they make the best doorstops available due to their heavy weight and large sole for trac­tion. A five-pound flatiron is just the crick to hold that door open and this is the main reason they have become so pricey. It is the perfect application of supply and demand! In the 1887 Sears and Roebuck catalog, a Number 3 flatiron was priced at 50 cents. A number 3-1/2 iron was a whopping 70 cents! You can readily see that if you would have invested in Flatirons, this would have been a much better investing choice than Enron stock but, admittedly, not have performed quite so well as Coca-Cola stock has done. So, after deciding that flatirons were too rich for my blood, and in dire need of another doorstop, I did what every red-blooded American would do in like circumstances, I went to the eBay auction site to see if someone wanted to sell a flatiron for a really low price. It was during my page scanning of doorstops that I stumbled upon something that literally astounded me. The ad headline seated, "Solid bronze doorstop from Elderton, Georgia." Upon seeing this, I realized they had to mean our fair city of Elberton, so I perused the ad further. Upon closer inspection, I found that I could read the lettering on the bronze doorstop. It had a bas-relief casting of a covered wagon pulled by two oxen and the lettering cast below was Coggins Granite & Marble Industries Inc., Elberton, Georgia. Below that is lettered Georgia Granite Co., Oglesby Granite Co. and Berkeley Granite Co. The doorstop was owned by a lady in Spencer, Ind., near where I used to live. She purchased it from an estate sale because she thought it looked interesting and later offered it for auction on ebay. Of course, I immediately bid on this wonderful memento of our culture and said a silent prayer that I would be the winner. The next day I opened the website and found our char I had won the auc­tion! And now, as Paul Harvey says, for the rest of the story. In May 1897, when flatirons were selling for 50 cents, Mr. WA. Coggins and Mr. Nelm opened a monument shop in Elberton at the corner of McIntosh and Railroad streets and ush­ered in what has become the prevailing economic foundation of this city. The Coggins name was inextricably linked to the granite industry with a solidity that is personified by its endurance to this day and far into the future. In 1899, Dr. N.G. Long entered into business with Mr. Coggins and was historically credited with the expansion of the industry; but the Coggins family has continued to achieve the predominant role in creating the economic base in this area which is instrumental in preserving and main­taining such a wonderful quality of life here in Northeast Georgia. Mr. B. Frank Coggins has given so much back to our city, such as the ultra­modern tennis complex, land donation for Athens Technical College and numerous other public service ventures as a share of his success from his lifetime vocation in the granite industry. But an important thing to me and a true measure of Mr. Frank's character was a comment voiced co me by my friend, who was one of Mr. Coggins' former employees. He said with utmost sincerity, "Mr. Coggins is a good, good man." The Coggins covered wagon may have gotten to Spencer, Ind., by way of a salesman who represented the Coggins Granite Companies. This salesman's name was Don U. Williams, and he was a member of the Memorial Craftsmen of Indiana. He attended a Coggins summer picnic in 1925. Perhaps he received the bronze casting as an award for good sales performance. I am merely speculating here as I really have no facts about the bronze doorstop. In fact, I believe it was actually meant to sit on a desk as a paperweight. I feel very proud though, to have played a small part in bringing it back home to Elberton again, even though it cost me 36 bucks! I guess flatirons aren't so expensive after all! Reprinted in part by Lynn A. Webster, The Elberton Star Bicknell Supply Co. hosts open house and luncheon Bicknell Supply Company held an open house and luncheon on Oct. 15 co announce their new line of countertop products and to show their appreciation for their local customers. The event was co-hosted by Bicknell and three of their chief suppliers: Tenax USA, Weha USA and Anchor Stencil Products. Representatives from each of the sponsor companies were on-hand co introduce the newest produces and show the innovative ideas available ac Bicknell. Tenax is a leader in stone industry produces such as glues, epoxies, diamond abrasives, sealers and polish­ing cools. Local representative James Oglesby and North American representative Filippo Emanuel of Verona, Italy, were both in attendance to promote their line of surface produces. Brian Gambell of Weha USA introduced Bicknell's newest product line, boasting a variety of equipment imperative to the countertop and monument industry. Anchor Stencil Produces' representative Money Seawright took part in the event to promote the industry leading monument stenciling produces. Anchor is one of Bicknell's long-time suppliers of these sandblasting essentials. The event was a huge success with more than 225 local customers attending. Bicknell sales manager Leslie Turpin was pleased with the attendance and hopes to continue the events. barbecue lunch. leading monument stenciling produces. Anchor is one of Bicknell's long-time suppliers of these sandblasting essentials. The event was a huge success with more than 225 local customers attending. Bicknell sales manager Leslie Turpin was pleased with the attendance and hopes to continue the events. Said Turpin In the Bicknell showroom above left to right, Leslie Turpin, Greg Noggle, of Reliance Granite Brian Gamble Tal Warton, Flippo Emmanuel, Billy Mitchell, of Spartan Tool GMM School of Hard Rocks The School of Hard Rocks was held for the second year at Keystone Memorials, Inc., of Elberton. Organizers Charlie Hunt of Nashville, Tenn., and Bobby Mattos of Hayward, Calif., returned co Elberton co provide some very informative training. Twenty-three people participated in the three-day session, which included touring manufacturing planes and quarries, as well as learning some of the tricks of the trade. Each participant picked out a stone from Keystone and worked on a project throughout the class to create some beautiful and unusual pieces. They were encouraged to use as many cools as possible to expand their knowledge of the different options and textures. At the end of the event, a graduation and awards ceremony was held at hose Tom Oglesby's home. Awards were given out, such as the traditional carving award, won by Mark Robinson from Visalia, Calif. Other EGA members involved in the event were Miles Supply of Elberton, which served as a luncheon sponsor and cool equipment supplier, and Spartan Tool Company, Inc., which served as a hand cool equipment supplier and hosted a tour of their shop. According to Hunt, plans are in the works for another class in spring 2012. Design Mart offers new online design series Design Mart's popular series, A Closer Walk, is now available as part of the company's Online Monument Designer & Catalog. The series joins Precious Memories and Ties that Bind in the selection of preformatted monument designs that are available for quick and easy customization. The site allows users to browse Design Marc catalogs and use one of the preformatted designs or design their own customized monument by choosing from more than 100 blank monument shapes and more than 200 carvings, emblems and panels. The Online Monu­ment Designer is a quick and easy way to create renderings for customer approval. The rendering shown at left was created in about three minutes using the new A Closer Walk series. Design Marc's Online Monument Designer & Catalog operates within most popular web browsers, so there is no special software to download. For more information, contact Design Mart today for a free trial by emailing or calling 800-736-7455. You can also learn more by visiting Creative-Premier Designs, Inc., updates website Creative-Premier Designs, Inc., has updated their website to feature new and updated design books, as well as a gallery of custom artwork and clip art collections. Additional homepage links have been added for books, brochures, pet artwork and more. According to owner Pat Wallis, customer service and satisfaction are the company's top priority. "With the large library of designs and clip art viewable on our website, CPD can provide the artwork needed often in a matter of minutes. If personalized designs are required, we have an experienced staff of designers ready to fulfill your customer's expectations. We will continue to expand our website and invite customers to check back for future updates and additions to memorial designs and clip arc, as well as books and brochures." Creative-Premier Designs, Inc., updated their website recently to include clip art collections and links to brochures, stencils and pet artwork. Keystone purchases new computerized saw Keystone Memorials, Inc., is operating a new GraniRock Diamond Wire Saw purchased from lmex International; the diamond wire on the saw and the saw itself were both produced by Imex. The fully computerized, couch screen machine lets the user program each cut and the size of each slab, allowing multiple blocks co be sawn with one program­ming. The computer system guarantees a precise cut and exact dimensions needed. The saw can cue a block up to 6-6 call and 14-0 wide, horizontally or vertically. The new saw is a much faster option compared to the traditional blade saws; it also gives the operator the ability to program the saw and leave it overnight or for the entire weekend. "It has increased our production, as well as created a much smoother slab," says Ross Oglesby of Keystone. New etching machine at Century-Harmony Co. A Vytek LSTAR etching machine has been purchased by Century­Harmony Company. Their first-ever etching machine will be operated by Rick Patrick and Louis Tyler, COO. Both men traveled to Massachusetts for a three-day training session from Vytek. The new machine and software provide endless opportunities for etchings. "What can be done with the software we have is unlimited," Tyler said. He also mentioned the machine will generate a much faster turnaround time on drawings, customer approvals and products. Century-Harmony's first-ever etching machine will generate quick turnaround time on drawings, customer approvals and products. The new polishing mill at Wiles Granite is predicted to significantly increase production. Keystone recently purchased a new computerized saw that produces precise, faster cuts. New polishing mill at Wiles Granite Co., Inc. Wiles Granite Company, Inc., announces a new equipment purchase. Danny Wiles has purchased a new polishing mill co add to their plant. Built by Crown Machines, the new polishing mill is the third one at Wiles. The addition of this new mill will significantly increase production at the firm. "Our production will go way up, probably double," Danny says. Mccannon Granite Company, Inc. The employees of McCannon Granite Company, Inc., have a long list of specialties when it comes to the granite industry. The business began as a monument manufacturing plane, but now has expanded its services to include quarrying, manufacturing and delivering the produce. The company motto, "Service second to none," is upheld by each member of the staff. "My goal is to treat people the way I would want to be treated," says Allen McCannon, owner and president of the firm. Founded in 1966 by Allen's parents, Walter and Sara McCannon, the plane has flourished since the beginning. Allen has been working at the family business since 1984 and took over after his parents' retirement in the mid-90s. He and his wife Tammy have a full place of activities, including running the business, balancing a family life and maintaining their many hobbies-Allen is a World Champion and Georgia Hall of Fame skeet shooter, and Tammy also is a skilled marksman. Besides quarrying and manufacturing monuments, McCannon Granite produces curbing, landscaping scones and cobblestones. Their landscaping projects are steadily regaining their popularity, despite the economy. They recently finished laying a full cobblestone driveway near Atlanta and another 1,200-fooc driveway in Nashville. They are one of the few places in town to operate a thermalling machine for finishing treatments. McCannon also crushes all of their waste to cut down on the amount of unused produce. This crushing service is offered to companies around Elberton as well. With 45 employees during the peak season, the turnaround time on products is one reason customers are so satisfied with McCannon. According to Allen, approximately 90% of their work is done in an average of two weeks; the 10% margin is held for larger projects that take more time in the quarry. Customer satisfaction is what has helped maintain a steady flow of business throughout the rough economy. "If the customer's not happy, we're not happy," Tammy says. The combination of great customer service with a wide variety of services has made McCannon Granite an integral member of the Elberton Granite Industry. Tammy and Allen Mccannon have expanded their services at McCannon Granite to include quarrying, manufacturing and delivery. New promotions specialist at EGA EGA Executive Vice President Doy Johnson announces Kellyn Willis as the new Pro­motions Specialist for the Elberton Granite Association. Kellyn comes co EGA with a degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia. While a student at UGA, Kellyn took the initiative to obtain as much experience as possible. She gained extensive writing, editing and magazine design experience in classes and numerous internships, such as an editorial internship with Southern Distinction Magazine and a communications internship with the American Junior Golf Association. Kellyn will be responsible for producing all promotions and advertising materials for EGA, as well as writing the content and designing the Graniteer. She will also become Kellyn Willis one of the faces of EGA as she visits member firms around town and travels to numerous conventions and ocher industry events. A native of Elberton, Kellyn looks forward to working with all of the members to promote the granite industry. "It has been a pleasure having Kellyn join us," says Doy. "In the short time that she has been at EGA, she has already attended a two-day Adobe InDesign class at Emory University, produced some extremely good work and upgraded several of our advertising CDs. Kellyn is very talented, has a great personality, and is always ready to jump in and help with whatever project we have going." New customer relations coordinator at King's King's Monument Company, Inc., announces their newest customer relations coordina­tor, Trish Miller, who brings 11 years of industry experience to the staff. She will be responsible for taking orders and communicating with the customers. Trish has been in Elberton for more than 20 years, and her background in the industry has provided a smooth transition to King's as she learns the day-to-day tasks of the office, as well as the personalities of each customer. Trudy King is excited to have her on board. "Trish is very knowledgeable and conscientious," she says. "She's a pleasure to work with." Miles hires new customer service representative Miles Supply Company of Elberton has a new addition to the team as Clint Bone has joined the staff as a customer service. Representative specializing in deliveries. He will be responsible for the transportation of products around Elberton. Clint comes to Miles new co the field, but he looks forward to the new challenge. "It's a lot different than my last job, but that's not bad at all," he says. Clint is a native of Elberton and graduated from ECCHS in 2003. Mark Crook of Miles Supply is confident that Clint will be a strong asset to the company. "Even though this is Cline's first experience in the granite industry, he grew up here, and he's familiar with it," he says. "We expect great things from Clint." River Street Memorial A stunning memorial to World War II veterans, designed by a local retired architect and U.S. Army veteran, stands in the heart of Savannah on the western end of River Street, facing the Savannah River. Mr. Eric exerhoffer, a retired architect and member of the United tares Army, has had strong ties to the second "Great War" since early childhood. Born into a Jewish family in Germany, lie and his family fled their homeland and came to the United States in 1937 to avoid persecution. Unfortu­nately, many of his family members and friends that stayed behind lost their lives during the Holocaust. After just a short time in the United States, Mr. Meyerhoffer heard the distressing news of Americans being attacked on our home soil when Pearl Harbor was bombed. For decades, Mr. Meyer­hoffer felt a deep debt of gratitude to all of the American men and women that fought for our freedom and for those who paid the ultimate price to put an end to this horrendous war. When Meyerhoffer was approached by Michael Brown, the City Manager of Savannah, Ga., and asked to submit a design to honor World War II veterans, he was elated. Eleven individuals were asked to provide designs for the project. The cop three designs were chosen by a committee, and Mr. Meyerhoffer's design, "A World Apart" was chosen by the Veteran's Council of Chatham County as the most appropriate idea for the project. "I felt with my background that I owed something co the U.S. military," Meyerhoffer says. "I wanted to help recognize the veterans in any way possible." Today, the stunning memorial stands in the heart of Savannah on the western end of River Street, facing the Savannah River. The centerpiece of the memorial is a globe, measuring approximately 20' call x 20' wide, representing the two sides of the world fighting against one another in WWII. A walkway through the center of the globe guides visitors through the names of Thatharn County veterans who lost their lives serving in the war. Hunter Granite Sales, Inc., of Elberton was recommended by DePue Monument Company of Savannah to provide the Blue Ridge granite pieces for the project. Sixteen granite panels line the inside of the globe, measuring 4-6 x 1-9 x 0-1 with a polished front, listing the 527 names of the fallen soldiers. DePue Monument Company did all of the lettering and granite installa­tion at the site. Benches surround the globe with all steeled, Blue Ridge granite pedestals at each end, also produced by Hunter Granite. Each one has a bronze seal on top representing each branch of the military. On the inside of the globe, there are four large bronze replicas of the medals given co each mem­ber of the U.S. military who fought in WWII. Each detail of the veteran's n1en1orial was carefully planned out, including the location. Once the exact spot was selected for the piece, the designer took advantage of the beautiful view of the Savannah River, setting the memorial to face the riverfront to honor those, who built ships for the soldiers at sea. There, were many people involved in the making of such an enormous project. Although Bentley Ruff and the staff of Hunter Gran ice did not contribute the bulk of the materi­als, they provided the most important aspect of the project: the canvas for the names of the fallen heroes. "We were just proud to be a part of a project like this," comments Cindy Fulghurn of Hunter. A dedication gala and ceremony was held in November of 2010. The focus was a WWII theme, with music and entertainment from the time period. Organizers were pleas­antly surprised when over 250 veterans from in and around Savannah came to pay their respects to their fellow soldiers at the dedication ceremony. "It was a very emotional event," says Doug Andrews, Council Attorney for the Veteran's Council of Thatham County. "Many of them knew the [people] whose names were listed. There was extreme grati­tude from everyone." The beautiful memorial stands as a tribute to those who have given their lives for our freedoms. As the holiday season ends and a new year begins, we should be forever mindful of those brave men and women who have fought for the freedom that we enjoy today, and for those fighting today to preserve our future. The World War II memorial is lined with 16 Blue Ridge granite panels listing the names of the fallen heroes from the Savannah area. Beside the memorial is seating, supported by granite pedestals. All of the granite for the project was provided by Hunter Granite Sales, Inc. Elberton Granite Association Training Institute For more than 25 years, the Elberton Granite Association has provided classes to the Monument Industry to help our fellow businessmen and women around the country. In 2011, we will offer our "Monument Retailers Basic Course" and our "Better Sales by Design" course. The enrollment fee for each class is $250, which includes all training supplies, reference materials, daily lunch Monday through Wednesday, one evening meal and transportation to all activities. Room reservations will be made by EGA in the registrant's name; payment will be required at check-in. The classes will be scheduled Monday through Thursday in Fall 2011 (actual dates to be determined). Registrants must be sponsored by an EGA Voting Member who must be listed on the application. Sessions are limited to approximately 20 persons and confirmation is first-come, first-serve. MONUMENT RETAILERS BASICS COURSE: The "Monument Retailers Basics Course" is designed for owners, family or staff personnel new to the monument industry who want to learn the ins-and-outs of the business. Activities will include visiting a granite quarry, manufacturing plants and supply firms. Topics to be discussed include characteristics and properties of granite, industry terminology, wholesale cost estimating, installa­tion and cleaning, marketing techniques and much more. The course will be taught by three returning professors, all experts in the monument industry. DAVE DIEDERICH is the founder and owner of Delta Associ­ates, LTD in Belton, SC. With 20+ years’ experience as a CPA, he has been working as a business consultant in the granite industry for over 10 years. Dave specializes in areas such as Human Resources; restructuring companies; financial man­agement; pricing and costing; mergers and acquisitions; and strategic marketing and business planning. KAREN GILLESPIE of Gillespie Monument Company in Mar­ion, Va., began her career in 1983 as a sales counselor. She took her experiences and knowledge and, with the help of her husband, started her own company in 1999. Karen has become an expert in the field, combining her knowledge with personality and compassion. She returns to Elberton to teach her third seminar. BOBBY SCHLITZBERGER of Schlitzberger and Daughters Monument Company in Houston, Texas, is a second genera­tion memorialist who has been in the industry for 50 years. He is the recipient of numerous awards, most notably the AICA Eugene H. Faehnle Award. He is a dedicated supporter of the state and national associations. Bobby is a Training Institute graduate. BETTER SALES BY DESIGN COURSE: The "Better Sales by Design" Course has returned to the EGA Calendar of Events for 2011. Taught by three leaders in the prestigious American Institute of Commemorative Art, the class will focus on improving sales by adding a wide variety of designs to your portfolio. J. ROBERT "BOB" BERG, president of Richardson Monu­ments in Lisbon, Ohio, returns to Elberton to teach our design course. Bob is a member of AICA, Treasurer of the Lisbon Community Foundation, member of the Board of Directors of the Tri State Band and the First National Com­munity Bank. He served as the past president of the Monu­ment Builders of Ohio and the Allied Memorial Council of Ohio, as well as a former Trustee of MBNA and a former member of the Board of Governors of AICA. Bob is a recipi­ent of AICA's Eugene H. Faehnel Trophy and three MBNA Archie L. Green awards. CHARLIE HUNT of Hunt Memorials in Nashville, Tenn., will also be returning to teach the design course. Charlie is a frequent speaker at conventions around the country and recently taught the School of Hard Rocks here in Elberton. Charlie has taught on the MBNA Knowledge Quest Circuit and is a member of the AICA. He has won the Eugene H. Faehnle award, the Harold Schaller Award and the Biondin Award. Charlie has graciously helped the EGA as an instruc­tor on several occasions. The most recent was an event with Bob and Jim as a tribute to the late, great Bert Gast. JIM PETERSON of Peterson Monuments in Egg Harbor, NJ, is a decorated designer, returning to Elberton as a former Institute teacher and participant. Jim's company is a mem­ber of the MBNA and the New Jersey Monument Builders. He is a former president and serves on the Board of Governors for the AICA. Jim has won numerous awards for his designs and has been a contributor on many articles in a multitude of trade magazines. Baston Monuments Inc. Founded on family, faith and hard work, Baston Monuments, Inc., has been in business since 1997 when Michael Baston, his wife Sarah, and his brother Bobby started the com­pany. Michael, owner of the manu­facturing plant, began his career in the granite industry as a stone cutter, working and earning his apprentice­ship at several companies around town. Today, Michael and Sarah run the company with the help of Mi­chael's brother David and his father Mike. Michael and Sarah have been married for more than 15 years. They are the proud parents of four children and are active members of Forcsonia Baptist Church. The couple integrates their strong faith into every aspect of their personal lives and their business. Michael is currently serving on the EGA Board of Trustees and has served several terms in the past. Sarah is on the Chamber of Commerce Board and serves as president of the PTO at Elbert County Middle School. The company specializes in granite and monumen­tal manufacturing. Along with the typical cemetery memorials, Michael likes to rake on unique projects, such as large memorials honoring veterans or beautiful monuments with the Ten Commandments for church­es around the country. Baston Monuments does all work in-house, including the sandblasting and on-site installation for most projects. The company has experienced a great deal of growth in the last decade. They have added on areas around the entire shop, including an office, bringing their coca! size to approximately 34,000 square feet. Along with structural additions, the team has added equipment and machinery to increase their production. They run all of the necessities for monument production, as well as a system to do their own layouts and sandblasting. They also have worked in countertops and still own the equipment, but they are currently leasing it out. Customer service is top of the list for priorities at Baston Monuments. Michael and Sarah admit they will not be the most expensive in town, nor will they be the cheapest. "We're trying to provide a quality produce at a reasonable cost," Sarah says. "We want to keep the customer satisfied." (Left to right) Michael Baston, Sarah Baston, Kira Swygert (head of drafting) and David Baston (not pictured, Mike Baston). Details etched in Paradise Black This stunning memorial was produced by Southern Granite Company, Inc., of Elberton for Henry & Henry Monuments in Marion, Ky. Billy Fox of Henry & Henry said the design of the monument was inspired by a piece on display in their showroom, but it was modified to use the beautiful Georgia Grey granite. The center oval, 1-6 x 0-8 x 4-0, is n1ade of Paradise Black granite and is all polished. It rests on the Georgia Grey pedestal, measuring 3-0 x 0-6 x 1-8. A Paradise Black base supports the piece at 4-2 x 1-0 x 0-6 with a polished margin. The vase is etched with an intricate vine detail and is 1-8 tall with an 8" diameter. The memorial is an eye-catching design, resting in the heart of the Rosebud Church Cemetery in Marion, Ky. David Bicknell, 85, died at his home in Rockland, Maine, on November 25, 2010. He was the sole owner of his family's business, Bicknell Supply Company, with locations in Rockland and Elberton. David was a graduate of the Marine Maritime Academy having earned a degree in engineering. Following a two-year Merchant Marine tour of duty aboard the Roswell Victory, he attended Northeastern University in Boston. David was pre-deceased by his wife of 45 years, Virginia Pedersen Bicknell in 2001. He is survived by his four children, four grandchil­dren and one great-granddaughter. He is also survived by his spouse, Ann Lloyd Bicknell, her four children and 14 grandchildren. Cross and wings of Dark Blue Welch's Granite Company, Inc., produced this stun­ning memorial for Mr. William Adams, former owner of EGA men1ber-firm Adams Granite Quarry, LLC. The entire monun1enc and coping is made of Dark Blue granite. The center cross is all polished and stands 2-10 x 0-10 x 5-2. On each side of the cross sits a wing measuring 2-0 x 0-8 x 1-8, all polished with a half serpentine top. The base, 9-4 x 1-4 x 0-10, has a polished cop with a 2" polished margin. The beautiful fall flowers are held by two all polished vases measuring 0-8 x 0-8 x 1-0. The sire is framed by Dark Blue coping; the two side pieces are 9-8 x 0-6 x 0-8 and the back piece measures 9-8 x 0-6 x 0-10, all with polished cops and rock pitched sides. The front piece is 9-8 x 0-9 x 0-6, also with a polished cop and rock pitched sides, and features a Black Uruguay insert with a portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Adams. le is cue with a serpentine side. Each of the corner pieces are 0-8 x 0-8 x 0-10, all polished with apex cops. Welch's used a design from Design Mart and added the wings at the request of the customer. The memorial rests at the Concord United Methodist Church Cemetery in Elberton, Ga. Cherokee Marble showcases detail Beautiful marble paired with precise details are the perfect combination in this impressive Georgia Cher­okee marble monument. It was produced by Reynolds Marble and Granite Company for Rome Monument Company in Rome, Ga. The sand-finished tablet measures 5-0 x 0-10 x 2-6 with an apex cop with check. The base, measuring 6-6 x 1-6 x 1-0, is also sand finished. The base has a wash forming a bed for the tablet and a check. The exquisite monument rests in West Hills Cemetery in Rome, Ga. Stately Missouri Red mausoleum this beautiful, six-crypt mausoleum was produced by Southern Mausoleums, Inc., for Solari Marble and Granite of Lake Charles, La. The two companies worked in collaboration co create the design of the memorial. The Galaxy Black doors are the perfect complement to the Missouri Red granite. It features a pediment with the family name and two Stars of David, as well as an apex top. The carved roses on each side of the memorial provide a beautiful contrast against the polished Missouri Red. The mausoleum rests in Graceland Cemetery in Lake Charles, La. Black granite… made in the USA! Rick Burroughs of Kline Memorials in Manassas, VA, was recently faced with an unusual request. Hus client, Mr. James Frost, said that he wanted a monument fabricated out of a dark stone, yet he was emphatic that the granite had to be quarried in the United States. After giving it some consideration, Rick thought about using American Black which is quarried just north of him in Pennsylvania. Frost liked the choice and Keystone Memorials, Inc. was commissioned to create the monument. The piece features detailed floral carving that highlights the beautiful color of the stone. The tablet measures 4-0 x 0-8 x 2-4 and rests upon a base which has a polished top with the balance rock pitched. The base measures, 5-0 x 1-2 x 0-8. Frost’s pride in his country and the products produced here became very evident when he had “Quarried in Pennsylvania, USA” sandblasted on the back of the memorial. Touching tribute to young family Reliance Granite company produced this touching memorial as a tribute to the Law­son family who was killed in a tragic car accident. The memorial rests in Pine Valley Cemetery in Huntsville, Texas. Shannon York, sister of Kristy Lawson, designed the monument. "I knew that everyone would want a memo­rial that nor only represented each of them as an indi­vidual but, one that also represented them as the loving, all-American family that they were," she said. This entire monument is made of Jet Black granite. The two larger tablets are 1-6 x 0-6 x 2-0, and the smaller measure 1-6 x 0-6 x 1-8. The four pieces are pol­ished two with balance rock pitched. York included 2" rounded shoulders as a feature to give the pieces a softer look. The tablets rest on a 9-6 x 1-0 x 0-8 sub base. The base, 10-6 x 1-4 x 0-6, has a polished Bat top with the balance rock pitched. The flower vase is also polished two with the balance rock pitched, and it features a beautiful etching of the entire family. Shannon and the family were extremely happy with the finished piece. "I think that it was the perfect tribute and a wonderful way to honor such an amazing and loving family who will be forever missed." Simple design creates dignified monument This exemplary memorial was produced by Walker Granite Company, Inc., for Rowland Monuments in Bethel Springs, Tenn. The memorial was designed by Mr. Pevahouse's son, Joe, who wanted a classic monument co honor his father. Since the monument is set in the older section of the cemetery, Joe wanted it to blend well with the styles of the sur­rounding pieces. He worked closely with the staff of Rowland Monuments to perfect a design, and the end result is exquisite. The memorial has a simple feel with precise de- rails, giving it a dignified stature. The tablet measures 4-6 x 1-0 x 2-6 with a sub base measuring 5-2 x 1-6 x 0-4 and a base of 6-8 x 2-0 x 0-10 with a 2" steeled margin. The monument rests in Henderson City Cem­etery in Henderson, Tenn. Modern lines make striking design This stunning American Black monument was produced by King's Monument Company, Inc., and designed by Brenda VanMeenen of Geneseo Memorials and Bronze in Geneseo, Ill. The Jensen family loved the contrast between the rough, rock pitched edges versus the all polished center tablet and the polished two wings. The family also wanted the cross to be a focal point of the monu­ment to memorialize their dedication to their faith. The end result is an impressive memorial resting in the Oakwood cemetery in Geneseo. The tablet measures 5-0 x 0-8 x 2-10; the center of the tablet is all polished with l" polished recesses on the front and back co make a beautiful wing effect. The recessed portions of the tablet have rock pitched tops and sides. The tablet rests on an all polished, 5-8 x 1-0 x 0-6 sub base, which rests on a 6-10 x 1-4 x 0-8 base with a polished cop and the balance rock pitched. The vases on each side of the monument are cored and drained with a polished cop and the bal­ance rock pitched. The monument rests on a Georgia Blue foundation cap measuring 10-0 x 2-0 x 0-4 with a sawed top. The sandblasting was done by Bob Grocer of Wyoming Monument Company of Wyoming, Ill. Centerpiece makes striking focal point Superior Granite Company, Inc., manufactured this impressive memorial for Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home in Hampton, SC. The monument is the centerpiece of the Hay family plot in the Crocketville Cemetery in Hamp­ton. The stunning memorial is made of Georgia Grey granite. The cross measures 3-4 x 1-0 x 7-4, polish two with rock pitched edges. The base measures 4-6 x 1-10 x 1-0 with a polished flat top and a polished wash lead­ing to the cross. The beautiful details and craftsmanship make this a wonderful focal point for the family. Member Spotlights Ward's Truck Repair Ward's Truck Repair, was founded in the early 1980s and joined the Elberton Granite Association in 1988. le was then known as Ray's Garage, but the name was changed when Mike Ward purchased the business in 2005. Mike worked at Ray's for seven years prior to becoming the owner. He grew up in a family of pharmacists but decided to break the mold and attend trade school co follow his dream of working with cars. He soon realized that cars were not his passion; he took a job at the garage to learn about trucks and fell in love. Today, Mike works alongside Terry Mills, who has been, working at the garage since it opened. The ream operates a full-service garage, catering to the surrounding granite industry. They work on all sizes of trucks operated by the manufacturing plants. Mike says the majority of his business is from the granite industry, bur that he also has customers in the logging industry. The main goal of the staff at Ward's Truck Repair is co keep the customers happy. Through such a rough econo­my, people still need to keep their trucks on the road. "That's one thing with trucks: if you use them, they're going to break," he says. Mike has built a large customer base that continues to grow because of their hard work and customer service. The crew works long hours, making sure the work is done right. "We do a good job," he says. Rice Industrial Electric Company, Inc. After working in the electrical field for years, Clay Rice branched off and starred his own company in 1996. Today, Clay and his family have built Rice Industrial Electric Com­pany, Inc., into one of the leading electrical fabrication and installation companies in Elberton. Approximately 95% of the firm's business is right here in town, providing supplies and services to the quarries and manufacturing plants. In 2007, Rice Industrial, along with Mike Maxwell, owner of the newest EGA member Double M Maintenance, purchased the current location on Brewers Bridge Road. Here, the company has begun warehousing produces, ex­panding the idea of an electrical fabrication and installation business to a large electrical supplier. "We have a full stock of inventory," Clay says. "We have an array of electrical sup­plies, as well as cable and all sizes of wire rope." His goal is to not only remain a player in the electrical business, bur also become a big supplier for all electrical needs. Clay and Mike also do large projects like a custom crane they just finished for Worth Monuments in Hazlehursrt Ga. The crane, pictured below, was the first joint venture between Rice Industrial and Double M Main­tenance. They pride themselves on the expansion of the business and the warehousing of the products as well as their availability co customers. "We're available seven days a week," he says. With the electrical know-how, the ware­housing of supplies and the round-the-clock service, Rice Industrial is now, and will remain, a significant asset to the Elberton Granite Industry. (Left to right) Mike Maxwell, Michael Snover, Clay Rice and Cory Rice Downtown Display showcases wide variety of colors and styles The new Downtown Display memorials show a vast array of stone colors, as well as techniques available from the EGA Member-Firms. Each monument is a stunning picture of the craftsmanship offered in the Granite Capital of the World. Take a drive down Elbert Street and see for yourself! Lexington Blue Granite Company, Inc. McCannon Granite Company Reynolds Marble and Granite Company Boyd Granite Company Keystone Memorials, Inc. King’s Monument Company, Inc. Central Granite Company, Inc., of Elberton has created a beautiful set­ting for the Henry County Veterans Memorial Park in Abbeville, Ala. The striking display of Central Light Blue granite is a tribute to the Henry County veterans who have served or been killed in the line of duty. Downtown Display King’s Monument Company Barre Grey Gray Jet Black Century-Harmony company starlight mist granite Keystone Memorials topaz blue granite, Reynolds Marble and granite company Georgia Cherokee marble, Boyd Granite company Robin Blue Granite, Lexington Blue Granite Jet black and service dark blue granite, McCannon Granite company, Inc. Dakota mahogany and American black granite According to Ken Bedsole, designer of the park, it took seven years from start to finish to complete the project, including finding the land, designing the look and raising the money. Ken was very pleased with the end result as well as with the EGA members he, worked with in Elberton which included Central Granite Company and A.Q Scone Design Company who did all of the stencil work. "Everybody I worked with, from Tom Craft and Randy Smith at Central co Quinn Floyd ac A.Q. Stone Design Company was outstanding." A dedication ceremony was held May l, 2010. Guests included the mayor of Abbeville and U.S Congressman Bobby Bright. The display consists of ten Central Light Blue tablets, all featuring a rooftop slope. Five of the tablets are dedicated co Henry County residents who have been killed while serving in the Armed Forces. These tablets measure 3-7 x 0-6 x 8-0 with a rooftop slope to 5-6 on one end. They rest on Jet Black bases, each 3-11 x 0-10 x 0-8, all polished. The other five tablets are dedicated to the veterans who have lived in Henry County. Each of the tablets, 2-0 x 2-0 x 8-0, are all polished with a forward slope to 6-0 and rest on Jet Black bases at 2-4 x 2-4 x 0-8, all polished. The park also has Central Light Blue tablets listing the names of people who have donated to the park. Each tablet is 8-0 x 0-10 x 4-0, polished three with polished flat cops and rock pitched straight ends and sit on Jet Black bases measuring 8-4 x 1-2 x 0-8 with polished cops. There is a Central Light Blue pentagon, 2-11 x 2-5 x 2-6 with all sides 20", holding the center American Flag. A Central Light Blue cylinder measuring 2-0 x 2-0 x 3-6 sits at the bottom of one of the tablets and rests on a circular, all polished Jet Black base, which measures 2-4 x 2-4 x 0-8. Surrounding the park are eight Jet Black granite benches and a sign, welcoming visitors to the park, both supplied by Central Granite Company. The bench seats, 4-0 x 1-2 x 0-4, are all polished and rest on harp shape legs measuring 1-0 x 0-4 x 1-0, polish four with a saw cop. The center of the sign is Jet Black, 9-6 x 0-4 x 4-6, polished three with the balance sawn. The Henry County Veterans Memorial Park would not be the magnificent tribute it is today with­out the help of the Elberton granite industry. Ken is very thankful to the companies he worked with and said he would recommend chem co any­one. "We really worked with some nice people", he commenced. This memorial park is a wonderful way to honor the veterans as well as display the fine craftsmanship of Elberton. Granite family ties to Vietnam War memorial A beautiful memorial "was recently set at the National Museum of the Marine Corps and Heritage Center in Triangle, Va. The monument, which was produced by Brownstone Memorials, Inc., was specifically erected by a group of Marines known as the "Boys of '67." After attending Basic Officers. School, these soldiers remained together as they went to defend the United States in Vietnam. Thirty-nine members of the class lost their lives. The remaining members wanted to pay tribute co their fallen class-mates and thought there was no better way to do that than by erecting a monument in their memory at the new "Walk of Honor." One of the "Boys of '67" who lose his life in Vietnam was the cousin of Julie Brown of Brownstone. Because Julie had posted a message on the Vietnam Veteran's Wall website, she and her family were contact­ed by the group and invited to attend a memorial ceremony. The group was in the process of interviewing monument manufacturing businesses co construct the memorial. When they discovered that Chad, Julie and the staff at Brownstone could produce anything the group designed, they immediately commissioned Brownstone co begin work on the piece. The memorial is made of Jet Black granite. The tablet, 6-0 x 4-0 x 0-4, features the names of the 39 fallen soldiers. It stands on a pedestal measuring 2-6 x 1-8 x 2-6, which rests on a base measuring 4-0 x 4-0 x 0-6. Julie and her family attended the dedication ceremony in October. "le was a great experience," Julie commenced. "We were so honored to participate in this tribute co my cousin Sam and all of the veterans of the BOC 5-67." Honor to Cuba, Missouri, Veterans Standing an impressive 15’ tall, this exquisite memorial honoring the city’s veterans’ rests in the heart of Cuba, MO. The monument produced by Keystone Memorials, Inc. for Wampler Monument Company in Park Hills, MO. Veterans from Cuba approached David Wampler with the idea of a large four-sided memorial and a pyramid top. David took the idea and enlisted the help of the design staff at Keystone to bring it together. The base, 7-6 x 7-6 x 1-0, has a polished top with the balance rock pitched. The body of the memorial an all polished four-sided cube measures 5-6 x 5-6 x 9-0 lists the names of veterans who donated to the project. The all polished apex top measures 5-6 x 5-6 x 5-0 and holds a beautiful bronze statue of a bald eagle. The entire monument is crafted of Missouri red granite. The customers were extremely pleased with the end product, and proud to honor the city’s veterans. Ten Commandments dedicated to Virginia church Alvin Rinker, owner of Rinker and Frye Memorials in Mc. Jackson, Va., donated a monument to his church, the St. Mary Pine Lutheran Church in Mt. Jackson. Rinker and his wife approached the church council with the idea of the monument and planned to install the monument the week of the church's 250th anniversary celebration. It was revealed at the homecoming celebration on that Sunday. The monument was fabricated by Landmark Granite Company, Inc., and crafted of Landmark Dark Blue granite. The tablet measures 3-4 x 1-0 x 2-8, all sanded. It features two raised oval top panels, each with five of the Ten Commandments. It rests on a base, 2-6 x 1-0 x 0-6, with a polished flat top and the balance rock pitched. The monument welcomes visitors as it sits at the entryway of the church. Memorial tribute to a true champion Alysheba, known on the track as "America's Horse," is honored by this remarkable bronze statue standing on a Galaxy Jet Black base. The base was produced by Keystone Memorials, Inc. The memorial sits at the entryway of the Hall of Champions in the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. It was designed to match another memorial which sits at the opposite entryway of the Hall. Mike Birkmeier of Delphos Granite Works in Delphos, Ohio, knew that Keystone would be able to produce a matching base. "Tom Oglesby pretty much made it for me on the spot," he said. "Keystone really came through." The all polished base measures 3-9 x 2-2 x 3-0 with radius round ends. The oval shape of the base mimics the shape of the horse racing tracks. The lettering was also done at Keystone. Alysheba won many races as a young colt, including the Kentucky Derby in 1987. He was honored as Horse of the Year and, at one point in his career, was the world's richest Thoroughbred with earnings over $6 mil. He was also ranked #42 on the The Blood-Horse magazine's list of Top 100 Horses. Alysheba was honored during Derby week in 2009. Member Spotlights Darica Trucking Company, Inc. Darica Trucking Company, Inc., was founded in 1977 by Tommy Willis and his family. The business began with the office build­ing located two blocks from the company's loading dock. In 1981, they moved the office co the sire of the loading dock, re­sulting in Darica's current home on South Oliver Street. Tommy, who is now retired, welcomed two of his sons, Ricky and Craig, to the business after they finished college. Today, Ricky works as the freight manager and Craig as the head mechanic. Darica operates a fleet of 35 trucks, hauling 25-30 loads across 48 stares during the peak season. The office staff operates a new computer database as well as GPS navigation in each truck, both of which create an easier system of communication between the staff, driver and customer. A new crane has been installed on the runway, nearly doubling their surface area for dry storage and enabling more room for the consolidation of customers' produces. Each rime an update is made, the efficiency and delivery time have improved. "Customer service is our main goal," Ricky scares. "We strive to make the delivery as easy as possible for the customer. We try to make everyone happy, and we do a good job of that." The new updates to the company, along with the aim for customer service, have kept Darica in the business for more than thirty years, and from the looks of it, the trucks aren't stopping any time soon. Craig Willis, Tommy Willis and Ricky Willis Husqvarna / Diamant Boart Husqvarna / Diamant Boart, a worldwide leader in diamond tool technology, opened a plant in Elberton in 1995 to cater to the thriving granite industry. The company offers diamond cools essential to the industry, as well as servicing and maintenance on their equipment. The three full-rime employees of the Elberton location install all of their products, educate their customers on the equipment and offer superb technical support. Over the years, the company has vastly expanded their product line to include block saw segments, fabrication cools, chin veneer blades/segments and quarry wire. Jeffrey Yeargin, service center manager, mentions the possibility of another expansion in the near future for the Elberton location-an additional 1,800 square feet to the plant, allowing more space for machinery and produces. Jeffrey says that the service and products offered to customers has helped the growth of the company. "We are backed by quality products and technical support. If it was not for the service we provide, we could not have expanded or could not continue to expand and grow in the future," Jeffrey scares. "It's great to be supported by such an awesome company that gives you the cools and support you need to nor only maintain and develop the business, but also the individuals involved." Jeffery is nor the only Yeargin char has continued the family business; his brother Gregory has also been instrumental in the industry. Gregory works alongside his brother at Husqvarna / Diamant Boart and Jeffrey attributes his brother as a major role in the development of the company as well. The company joined the Elberton Granite Association in 1997. Over the last 15 years, they have continued to be a leading provider of diamond cools and technical support to the scone industry Jody Howell, Jeffrey Yeargin and Gregory Yeargin. Chicken sign roosts at farm. Willis Dimension Stone, Inc. Produced this one-of-a-kind sign to sit at the entryway of the Bread and Butter Farms in Elberton County, GA. The farm is owned by Lisa and Adam Henrix, daughter and son-in-law of Willis Dimension Stone owners Dale and Wanda Willis. The sign is made of savannah grey granite quarried by Willis Dimension Stone. The majority of the sign was fabricated on a grani Roc PBO 3000 diamond contour saw purchased from Imex International. The lettering and graphics around the base were done by Trinity Granite Company, Inc. The rooster, 4-0 x 4-0 x 0-4 stands on a detailed pedestal, sandblasted to look like a stump, measuring 1-6 high and 2-0 in diameter. The rooster and stump were sculpted and sandblasted by local granite artists. The sub base, 2-6 x 4-4 x 1-5, features the name of the farm as well as quotes on the front and back. The Bible verses listed under the name of the farm were inspired by Phil Phillips, a close friend of Willis Dimension Stone owner Dale Willis. The rooster is painted with red details mimicking the layer chickens sold at Bread and Butter farms. Lisa and Adam were pleasantly surprised with the sign that Dale designed for them. Their son, Grant, is also a big fan of the new sign. Grant Hendrix, grandson of Dale and Wanda Willis, shows off his stamp on the new rooster sign. Prov. 3:5-6 Ps. 71:18 Lake community gets custom sign from J & B Granite The Lake Lanier Homeowners Association designed this beautiful sign for the Lanier Northwest subdivision in Gainesville, Ga. The Pyramid Blue granite piece was produced by J & B Granite Company, LLC. After removing their previous sign because of road construction, the Lake Lanier Homeowners Association wanted to replace the sign with something that would be long-lasting and low maintenance. The subdivision rests on a ridge with the mountains to the north, so Cid Delisle, president of the homeowner’s association thought incorporating the mountains would be the perfect detail for the sign at the west entrance of the neighborhood. Cid brought his sketch co J & B, who completed the look with a few finishing couches such as the lettering style. Measuring 6-0 x 3-6 x 0-6, the sign has a polished face with the balance rock pitched. It also has black litho details in the carving of the mountains. The new sign has been a big hit with everyone at the subdivision, especially Cid. "No one has had anything but positive things to say about the sign," he says. Illinois fire house incorporates original bell into Keystone sign Keystone Memorials, Inc., produced this unique sign to welcome visitors to the Breese Fire House in Breese, Ill. The design was developed by the staff of Lager Monument Company in Breese. The customers wanted the centerpiece of the design to be the original fire house bell, dating back to the 1900s. Keystone Blue granite was chosen as the material co be a long-lasting replacement to the previous wooden sign. It measures 8-4 x 0-8 x 5-0 and has a steel two finish with a shell rock border. Monument Builders of the Carolinas Convention-Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Monument Builders of the Carolinas returned to the Crown Reef Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for their 2010 Annual Convention Sept. 9-11, 2010. Dave Died Erich, of Delta Associates, gave a timely presentation on how to run a profitable monument business. Magician Matt Fore received a standing ovation for his performance on Satur­day night. Everyone had ample time to enjoy the late summer weather, good food, and great friend­ships. Dean Joyner, Wilson, NC; Myra Woodall, STAR GRANITE & BRONZE, Elberton, Ga.; Nelson Blackmon, Darlington, SC; Claire Robinson, STAR GRANITE & BRONZE, Elberton, Ga.; Jeff Reynolds, Newland, NC; Donny & Terry Floyd, Lumberton, NC. Robert & Barbara Worley, MAJESTIC GRANITE CO., LLC, Elberton, Ga.; Jeff Reynolds, Newland, NC. Mike Beri, BICKNELL SUPPLY CO., Elberton, Ga.; Eugene & Tammy Petersen, Burlington, NC; Greg Campbell, Ann Campbell and Matthew Campbell, Siler City, NC. Jeff Reynolds of Newland, NC, won the EGA door prize, an EGA Art Prints Set (set of four) and a copy of the Creating Memories CD. Jeff is pictured here with Bill Hood (right) of EGA. Tammy & Quinn Floyd, A.Q. STONE DESIGN CO., Elberton, Ga.; Carria, Jack & Susan Treveiler, Shelby, NC; Susan, Taylor, Nikki, Charlize, Cathy, Robbie and Ron Ledbetter, Shelby, NC. Bob Paul, EAGLE GRANITE CO., INC., Elberton, Ga.; Tina Cannon, EAGLE GRANITE CO., INC., Elberton, Ga.; Bob Barton, Marble, NC; Ron Bartholomew, Rolesville, NC; Michael Batts, Rolesville, NC; Nick & Jessica Fleischer, EAGLE GRANITE CO., INC, Elberton, Ga. Ronnie Brown, MILES SUPPLY OF ELBERTON, Elberton, Ga.; Ron, Cathy, Nikki, Taylor, Charlize, Robbie and Susan Ledbetter, Shelby, NC; Mike Loy, Mt. Airy, NC; Carria Treveiler, Shelby, NC; Lu Loy, Mt. Airy, NC; Mac, Emma & Jack Treveiler, Shelby, NC; Ric Dixon, MILES SUPPLY OF ELBERTON, Elberton, Ga. Tennessee-Kentucky Monument Builders Annual Convention-Bowling Green, Ky. The Tennessee-Kentucky Monument Builders held their annual convention in Bowling Green, Ky., 0cc. 8-10, 2010. John Campbell, DIXIE GRANITE CO., INC., Elberton, Ga.; Donna & Bob Bratton, Dickson, Tenn. Jon & Angie Searcy, Carrollton, Ky.; Ronnie Lovinggood, GRANITE SALES & SUPPLY CORPORATION, Elberton, Ga.; Kelli & Greg Klaiber, Ashland, Ky. Brenda & Derwin Merion, Martin, Ky.; Penny & Bev McGuire, Martin, Ky.; Judy & Don Bentley, Mt. Eden, Ky.; Joann & Ronnie Brown, MILES SUPPLY OF ELBERTON, Elberton, Ga. Brenda & Derwin Merion, Martin, Ky.; Stanley Mills & Tony Mills, L & M GRANITE CO., LLC, Elberton, Ga.; Penny & Bev McGuire, Martin, Ky. Greg & Kelli Klaiber, Ashland, Ky.; Billy Fox, HENRY & HENRY, Elberton, Ga.; Melissa Dias, SOUTHERN GRANITE CO., INC., Elberton, Ga.; David Edwards, SOUTHERN GRANITE CO., INC., Elberton, Ga.; Leslie & Steve Hoskins, Marion, Ky.; Missy & John McKinley, Campbellsville, Ky.; Angie & Jon Searcy, Carrollton, Ky. Carrie Hughes Guest, STAR GRANITE & BRONZE, Elberton, Ga.; Steve & Leslie Hoskins, Marion, Ky.; Myra Woodall, STAR GRANITE & BRONZE, Elberton, Ga.; Bob Barton, Marble, NC. Richard & Verna Todd, Covington, Tenn.; Anthony & Vickie Rowland, Bethel Springs, Tenn.; Travis & Kim Rice, BICKNELL SUPPLY CO., Elberton, Ga.; Alma & Vernon Pairmore, Covington, Tenn.; Judy & Don Bentley, Mt. Eden, Ky.; Vanessa & Zac Evans, STONE GRAPHICS, Elberton, Ga. Cemetery planning service Member-firms of the Elberton Granite Association have always recognized that well-planned cemetery space where upright memorials can be installed is essential to the continued expansion and long-term success of the Monument Industry. We are currently offering a variety of new and time-tested planning activities designed to assist in the creation of modern, well-planned cemeteries where freedom of choice burial and memorialization can be made. For a free brochure on our Cemetery Planning Services, contact EGA today! 706.283.2551 Details etched in Paradise Black This stunning memorial was produced by Southern Granite Company, Inc., of Elberton for Henry & Henry Monuments in Marion, Ky. The memorial is an eye-catching design, resting in the heart of the Rosebud Church Cemetery in Marion, Ky. p. 19