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Editor:
I really liked the articles written by Alex Campbell about the late Bob Peoples, world class weightlifter, who worked at American Bemberg. I knew Mrs. Juanita (Wills) Peoples before I became Bob’s supervisor at Bemberg. Mrs. Peoples was my 3rd or 4th grade teacher at the old Central Elementary School located at Dalewood and Smalling Road. We knew that her husband lifted weights and that their daughter could lift weights as well. On one occasion her daughter came to our room with some weights and demonstrated lifting techniques. How embarrassing — a younger and smaller girl could lift more weight than boys two or three years older than her.
Bob was given light duty work due to having braces on his weak knees. In addition to farming, Bob Peoples was also a Carter County Commissioner and today a bridge across lower Sinking Creek is named in his honor.
I do wish to take exception to a comment concerning the first article. The health conditions concerning Carbon Disulfide did not apply to the Bemberg facility, since it was not used in the Bemberg process of producing rayon. Carbon Disulfide was however used in the viscose process of manufacturing rayon at the North American Rayon Corporation factory. One factory in Japan still uses the Bemberg process for producing rayon and fabric woven from yarn produced by Ashi Chemical Fibers is still on the market. I know that Bob did work with Paul Anderson, the Olympic weightlifter in the late 1940s or early 1950s. I will work with my fellow 3rd District Commissioners to get a new sign at the bridge across Sinking Creek honoring Robert Peoples, a great American hero.

Charles D. Von Cannon
3rd District Commissioner