As McFarland replied, "He started out as a teenager selling peanuts at the local ballpark. At age 24 he went to work as a salesman for the Barrett Potato Chip Company. In 1933 he was given the opportunity to buy the Atlanta Memphis Barrett Potato Chip plant, which he did and renamed the plant the H.W. Lay, Co. Lay purchased the Barrett's plant in Jacksonville, Fla., and during the next few years, established manufacturing plants in Jackson, Miss., Louisville, Ky., and Greensboro, N.C. In the 1950s, he bought two other snack food companies, increasing his product line and area."
According to wikipedia.com, in 1944 the Lay Company "became the first snack food manufacturer to purchase television commercials, with Bert Lahr as a celebrity spokesman. His signature line, "so crisp you can hear the freshness," became the chips' first slogan along with "de-Lay-sious!" As the popular commercials aired during the 1950s, Lay's went national in its marketing and was soon supplying product throughout the United States."
A pair of tickets to the Lumina Theaters is on the way to McFarland.
Now it's time to reveal next week's Challenge. Here's how it works. Every week we'll pose a trivia question that has something to do with our community or North Carolina. The question might be about something that happened 20 years ago or someone who made the news just yesterday.
If you think you know the answer, send e-mail to chquiz@aol.com, or mail it on a postcard to Chapel Hill Challenge, The Chapel Hill Herald, 106 Mallette St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516. You also can send us a fax at (919) 918-1055. Make sure you include your name, address and phone number. Answers must be received by Thursday of the same week. Employees of the Durham Herald Co. are not eligible for the Challenge.
Each week there will be a drawing from all the correct answers. The winner will receive a pair of movie passes donated by the Lumina Theater in Southern Village. (Note: Passes may not be valid for certain shows.)
Ready to give it a try? Then put on your engineer's cap while pondering the following: "What will railroad enthusiasts tell you is unique about Saluda, North Carolina?"
Good luck!
