text: Gas began to pour from the 12 pumps at the official opening of the Cotton States Servicenter at 1399 Thomas on 9 Apr 1954, and the first tankful went to Mayor Frank T. Toby (Right). F.H. Hamilton, Jr. (Left), president of the Cotton States Tire & Oil Co., watched as Vance M. Thompson Jr. (Second Left), general sales manager, filled the tank at the huge car-home appliance unit. The two men in background are unidentified. The Commercial Appeal files.