Don Ellis

Cone Mills Employee, Draftsman in Central Engineering

Many of my family members worked in one or another of the mills owned by Cone at some point during their working lives. My dad worked in the card room at White Oak plant for about 48 years. My first job with Cone Mills was during summer vacation from Page High School.  I became a Sweeper & Oiler in the spinning room at the Proximity plant.

Mary Wrenn and I married while I was still in school.  She also attended Page High. Most of her family worked in the mill in some capacity.  At this same time, I got a job with Cone Mills at the White Oak plant as a Quill Hauler in the weave room.  This job proved to be too difficult for my small stature.  I did my best for a few weeks but had to quit this job and look elsewhere for another.

I then applied for a job at the Print Works plant.  I started working there in the inspection department. My job was to put the ready-to-ship finished cloth into cardboard boxes and place them onto a conveyor belt leading up to and through a strapping machine.  The box would then go on to the shipping department for storage. 

After working here for a while I went to work at Belk Dept. Store located in downtown Greensboro. This job only lasted a year or so. 

After leaving the job at Belk, I went back to work at Print Works.  Because I had some artistic ability, I was transferred to the Machine Shop as the Office Drafting Clerk.  I did a bit of drawing on the drafting board, answered the phone calls, ran errands as needed, and etc…

Later I was offered the job of draftsman in the Central Engineering Department. I accepted that job and never looked back.  I paid visits to most of the plants, especially when I needed to draw plans for repairs, alterations or additions to existing structures.  We also made drawings for any new structures such as the Olympic Products plant located in Pleasant Garden, N.C.

After the total shutdown and closing of Cone Mills Corp., I went directly to work for Sutton–Kennerly Engineering Corp. as a draftsman.  I remained there until I reached retirement age.

I loved my work at Cone Mills and made many friends among the employees that I got to meet.

All told, I had 38 years of service with Cone Mills and I am very proud to have been one of their many employees.