Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> September 4, 2000

Neil Hightower – Thomaston Mills Inc (tmsta)

NEIL H. HIGHTOWER is President and CEO of Thomaston Mills, Inc. He began working at the company while in high school and was employed as a Cost Accountant in 1965, then became Assistant Treasurer in 1966. From 1968 to 1977, Mr. Hightower served as head of the Industrial Sales Division of the company. He was promoted to Executive Vice President in 1977. In 1984 he became President and COO, and in 1986, President and CEO of Thomaston Mills. In addition, he serves as Director of the company. Mr. Hightower is past President of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute and is past President of the Georgia Textile Manufacturers Association, Inc. He also serves as a member of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute's Board of Directors and is a former Director of the National Cotton Council of America. Mr. Hightower serves as a Trustee of Community Enterprises, Inc., Thomaston Mills' charitable foundation. He is a former member of the Georgia Tech Advisory Board, a past Chairman of the Thomaston Board of Education, and a former Director of C&S Bank of Thomaston and NationsBank South. Mr. Hightower graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1963 and the Harvard Business School program for Management Development in 1974. He served as an Infantry Officer in the US Army from 1963 to 1965. Profile
TWST: Let's begin with a brief overview of Thomaston Mills, Inc.,

including your market, the position within that market, your own

personal experience in the firm and how you see the future