to weather the ups and downs of the normal business cycles that occurred over the years, requiring fewer layoffs and having a leveling effect on GE's and the local area's economic stability, than that which occurred elsewhere. The Specialty Control Department was the only GE component that had turned a profit in the first year of its move. 1958 - State Resistance to Racial Integration In 1958, a major crisis occurred when Sen. Harry Byrd, who controlled the politics in Virginia, launched a program of massive resistance to the integration of blacks and whites, with the result that most public schools in Virginia were closed. Because 10,000 children had no means of public education, private schools began to be formed. Specialty Control felt that this was an issue that should be addressed, and after discussion with GE management most likely to be affected, Specialty Control became the GE spokesman for the effort. An association was formed in northern Virginia and Dr. Rader, representing the GE plants in Virginia, joined the organization. He gave many talks on the subject, mainly in northern Virginia, and his main point was that if the State continued with this policy, no Fortune 500 Company would locate in Virginia. It had a positive effect on the issue. It may not have been just a rumor that Dr. Rader threatened to remove the General Electric presence from Virginia. Feelings ran very high on the subject of school closings. The governor appointed a legislative committee to study the matter, and they recommended that the State cease its resistance. The recommendation was put to a vote in the Virginia Assembly and it passed by one vote. This was the first time that the GE presence in Virginia took an active part in the State's political activity. 1960: major expansion In 1960, a major expansion took place, adding both office and manufacturing space plus a new auditorium and cafeteria to the growing facility. It also included the addition of a "white room" for the assembly of critical hermetically sealed relays. The Waynesboro GE plant grew and prospered with many new developments. Within the first decade of their arrival, existing products expanded and by the late1960's a new product line known as 'Terminet' came into being. A special development team under Kirk Snell, with John Larew, Seymour Depew and others, temporarily took over a small facility (formerly an independent used car