By Clyde Parker

May 8, 1969

Franklin City Manager Harold S. Atkinson is the new president of the Virginia Section of the International City Managers Association. Other officers chosen as the state group concluded its two-day annual meeting, last week, were Fairfax County Executive Carlton C. Massey, vice president, and Suffolk City Manager James C. Causey, secretary-treasurer.

Atkinson, a 1938 graduate of Franklin High School, served as Franklin’s town manager from Sept. 1, 1956 to Dec. 22, 1961, at which time he became Franklin’s first CITY manager. Before his employment with Franklin, he was employed as a field engineer in Norfolk.

Atkinson, who attended the U.S. Army School of Engineers, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and completed management courses at Roanoke College and the University of Maryland, was a highly decorated officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II.

As a first lieutenant in the Asiatic – Pacific Theater, he participated in combat action in Guam, Leyte, Kerana Tetto, Ishima, Okinawa and Hokkaido.

Among his decorations are the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Presidential Citation with Cluster.

His memberships include: Virginia Mosquito Control Association (immediate past president), Franklin Lions Club, Franklin Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Franklin Masonic Lodge, and High Street United Methodist Church where he served a term as manager of the board of stewards. He is a past president of the Methodist Men Bible Class.

He is currently serving as chairman of the Southeastern Virginia Ground Water Advisory Committee.

In 1948, Atkinson played baseball for the “Franklin Cubs,” a professional team in the Class D Virginia League. In 1949, he became the business manager for the team which was renamed “Southampton Killdees.”

Atkinson is married to the former Mary Ellen Wade of Franklin. They have one son, Harold S. Atkinson Jr., a wildlife biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Commission.

NOTE: Upon Atkinson’s retirement as Franklin City Manager, in 1987, he was appointed to the position of Executive Director of the Camp Foundation, in Franklin, and served in that position until his death in 1997.

Rawlings strikes out 12

The Southampton High School “Indians” powered their way to a 7 to 1 win over the “Carver Pirates” of Chesapeake last Friday. The victory was achieved by A fine overall team effort. The Indians made the most of timely hits, almost flawless fielding, and superb pitching.

Glenn Rawlings gave quite a performance on the mound, striking out 12 Carver batters.

The Indians started off the scoring by getting one run in the first inning. Jerry Flowers was safe on an error by the shortstop. Paul Rawlings sacrificed him on to second. He then scored on a single by Ridley Bain.

Carver came back to tie the score in the second inning. Barry Lamb walked, then reached third on a throwing error by pitcher Glenn Rawlings. With one strike on Lionel Munsegue, Lamb scored from third on a passed ball by catcher Len Gillette.

With two out in the third, Glenn Rawlings lashed a single to right. Danny Withers followed by blasting a 2 and 1 pitch to deep left field, for a stand-up double. Rawlings scored to regain the lead for the Indians.

From then on, the Indians had things pretty much under control; except for a brief Pirate uprising in the fourth inning when a pitched ball hit Munsegue and another Carver player drove the next pitch to deep center. The ball bounced under the bleachers and was judged a ground rule double. Rawlings then proceeded to pitch his way out of the jam, by retiring the next batters.

The Indians broke loose again in the fifth; Glenn Rawlings ripped a single to right. Then, he stole second. And then Withers really cowtailed one, a long shot deep to left, carrying at least 360 feet on the fly. By the time the left fielder retrieved the ball and fired it back into the infield, Withers was standing on second. Rawlings scored easily.

Stuart Drake was safe at first when the first baseman bobbled the ball. Withers advanced to third and Drake stole second without even drawing a throw.

Withers scored on a wild pitch and Drake moved to third. Beale walked and stole second easily. Gillette also walked. Bob Gillette, pinch hitting for Miles Carr, lashed a single to left. Drake scored from third, but Beale was thrown out from the shortstop to the catcher. Flowers reached first on an error, loading the bases. Bob Gillette scored on a wild pitch.

Five runs had crossed the plate before Paul Rawlings flied to right, ending the inning.

In the sixth inning, Glenn Rawlings lifted a long high towering fly into right field which dropped in for a double. Unfortunately, though, he died on second as the next two batters went down in order.

In the Carver half of the seventh Rawlings retired the side in order and that wrapped it up.

Coach Josh Dail was delighted with his team and praised the defensive effort, the pitching and hitting of Rawlings, and the clutch hitting of Withers.

The Indians play Smithfield at home Friday in Courtland. Game time is 7:30 p.m.