“Years of Transition” (1981 – 1985)
The early days of the newly revised POA, with its new mission of recreation only, were extremely challenging. In 1981, the POA had purchased the golf course and a l3 acre recreation area from the CCC trustee for approximately $850,000 but still had a $403,000 debt to its banks for that purchase. Interest alone was over $90,000 a year at l8-20%.
Hunter Furches was the POA President in l98l and George Handley was now a board member serving as Chairman of the “Plans and Goals” Committee. He had succeeded Virginia Bradshaw who had resigned after many years in that position. Ed Jones was the newly hired Executive Director.
Two of the “celebrity” members in those early years were General William Westmoreland (former U.S. Commander in Viet Nam) and football coach Paul Dietzel (Army, LSU, South Carolina etc.). The general had a summer place on Beech, and walked the Beech golf course whenever he played it. Coach Dietzel served on the POA Board in ’83-’85. His scenic watercolor paintings are often on display at Fred’s Mercantile Store.
The structure of the POA then was much the same as the club is today, except that the board consisted of l5 members, each representing one of the l5 areas of the development (Grouse Ridge, Charter Hills etc.). The committees each represented different recreational activities, plus Finance, Plans and Goals, and Membership.
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