Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 18, 1993 TAG: 9308180172
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Cox, 70, has been credited with achieving a miracle on Main Street since becoming the program's part-time director a little more than a year ago and recruiting businesses to fill empty stores in the downtown business area.
Now Mayor Gary Hancock says the only complaints he hears are from people unable to find a parking spot in the busy area.
But the Main Street program spent $18,000 - more than half on advertising and promotion - on a July 3 music festival at Pulaski County High School that was meant to be a fund-raiser. Fewer than 400 people bought tickets for a show to which Cox had hoped to draw 5,000.
Town Manager Thomas Combiths, who had been directed by council to report on the event, said it is too early to tell how much money the town will lose on it because the Main Street program itself raises money each year for its promotions and activities, and the 1993-94 fiscal year is just starting.
He also reported that the Main Street program had an $8,000 deficit at the end of the 1992-93 fiscal year.
"We all regret that it didn't turn out more favorably, but I don't think you can fault them for the effort they put into it," Hancock said of the Main Street board's music festival. "Unless you try, nothing will ever happen, and Pulaski Main Street tried . . . and I think Pulaski got a lot of very positive publicity as a result of this."
"I assure you it will be the last concert we will be putting on, but I appreciate your comments," Cox said.
So did those attending the meeting, who applauded the mayor's comments.
Even Councilman Don Crispin, who voted against town budgets in recent years because they contained money for the Main Street program, was lavish in his praise of Cox.
"I believe every citizen in this town owes you a vote of thanks and appreciation," he told Cox.
Cox, who returned to Pulaski after retiring last year from Alliance Electric Co. in Aiken, S.C., announced this month that he would step down as Main Street director in January or February. He had lived previously in Pulaski from 1957 to 1964 when he worked at Jefferson Mills, and has family living here.
"He is the one who came in with the spirit and the life to bring downtown Pulaski to life," Hancock said. "Roscoe has a lot to do here yet. . . . We still have some vacant buildings, Roscoe, you know that. And Roscoe has promised me he's gonna fill 'em up."
Cox was asked after the meeting if he would reconsider leaving the program. "He can't leave. We still need him," said Debbie Jonas, one of those Cox recruited to move to Pulaski and open her Colony of Virginia store on Main Street, as she gave him a hug.
Asked again if he might reconsider, Cox said, "Well, I might."
by CNB