Santa Claus and Kim Skiff, representing the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce, surprise Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Solomon and their daughter, Patty Solomon, center, with news that the couple have been chosen as grand marshals of the 2009 Christmas parade. The longtime owners of Solomons Department Store, who will celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary Monday, were given a DVD of the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” - theme for the Dec. 3 parade.
Santa Claus and LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce leaders made the walk across Bull Street to the couple’s downtown department store Thursday, but they weren’t delivering toys.
They asked the Solomons to serve as the 2009 LaGrange Christmas parade grand marshals.
“I was shocked, you know,” Charles Solomon said. “I wasn’t expecting anything like this. Then all these folks came in this morning - I didn’t know they’d been working up … something on me.”
The parade theme will be “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and the parade will be Dec. 3
chamber President Page Estes said: “I’m delighted Mr. and Mrs. Solomon will help us kick off holiday events that will remind all of us that family, friends and community are the things in life to truly treasure. The committee selected the theme ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ to do just that.”
Solomon’s Department Store long has been a mainstay of downtown LaGrange, offering shoes and clothing for families since the Depression.
“Mr. Solomon’s father opened the store on Sept. 15, 1932, in the height of the Depression,” chamber committee chairwoman Kim Skiff said. “No one thought the store would make it during those tough times, and here they stand 77 years later.
“The Solomon story is an inspiration to our small business owners who are struggling to get through the current economic crisis.”
Charles Solomon left his hometown to serve his country in World War II, then returned from the Mariana Islands in 1946 to do what members of the “greatest generation” became famous for doing: building businesses, raising families and serving their communities.
He was instrumental in helping build LaGrange’s youth baseball program, and he and his family have been involved in downtown activities, in good times and hard times.
“We are real proud to be a part of LaGrange,” Solomon said. “We’ve always been a Granger, and we were dedicated to trying to help preserve downtown LaGrange.”
When his father opened the store in 1932, many expected it to be gone within 90 days, he recalled.
“All the other stores that predicted we’d be gone are gone, and Solomon’s is the only left,” he said. “God has been good to us and blessed us.”
Estes replied that she hopes “all of Troup County will join the Solomon’s and the chamber in counting our blessings at this year’s parade.”
Skiff encouraged organizations to begin thinking about their parade entries - staying creative, “yet frugal, and help illustrate that you don’t need to spend a lot to celebrate the season.”
Parade applications will be available from the chamber beginning Aug.17.
For more information, call Estes at (706) 884-8671.
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