Hoffmans to lead Flora Holiday Parade Saturday

Judy and Mike Hoffman

Mike and Judy Hoffman will be the grand marshals of Flora's holiday parade this Saturday.

The parade theme is "Making Holiday Memories," and will incorporate both Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Parade entrants should assemble at Jackson-Lee-Pearson's northeast office building at the corner of Willow and Clark streets by 11:30 a.m. Registration is in front of JLP.

The parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. It will proceed on Clark Street to Center Street, to Main, and will end at the park.

Awards will be presented in the following categories: Best Motorized, Best Walking Group, Best Thanksgiving Float, Best Christmas Float, and Most Entertaining.

Entrants are asked to not throw candy from moving vehicles.

This year's parade is earlier than usual, to coincide with the the merchants' holiday open houses.

Rain date for the parade will be Nov. 18.

"Santa" will not be riding in the parade this year. His arrival and visit with children in the Santa House will begin on Nov. 25. He will return to Flora every Saturday through Dec. 23. The Santa House will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In keeping with the parade theme, the Hoffmans have a lifetime of memories in Flora.

Their holiday memories include their roles as Santa and Mrs. Claus. Mike has played Santa for many years, and Judy helps out as Mrs. Claus when Mike has conflicts and can't be at two places at the same time. Mike started playing Santa in the early 1960s, when he stood in for his father, DeVere Hoffman, at private parties, nursing homes, and family get-togethers. In 1986, Mike assumed the role of Santa for the Town of Flora, and has continued that tradition for 20 years.

The Hoffmans provide another service to the community. As a team, Mike and Judy work for Channel 2 Cable TV and bring to viewers live church services every Sunday morning.

Seventeen years ago this month, Dick and Linda Cromer asked Mike and Judy to assume positions with (then) Channel 7.

"It was a really big decision for us, because it required that we give up a very active membership in the Flora First Christian Church," Judy said. "We have since become involved, on a monthly basis, with the churches that we visit each week. It has added a whole new dimension to our lives and we enjoy a broader church family than we would have otherwise."

The Hoffmans are employed by the Town of Flora, which is the provider of the Channel 2 cable television station. Their duties at the station include: Sports, news, co-worship directors, interviews in and out of the studio, on-location (live) broadcasting of four days of the 4-H Fair, and they fill-in on occasion for Vicki Wolf, the studio director.

Mike started working for Eller Fertilizer in 1967. The company later became Tara, and then was purchased by Land-O-Lakes. In 1995, Mike went to work for the Eller family again in the newly created Eller Land Management. He has no plans to retire any time soon.

Mike is a member of the Flora Lions Club, has been a member of the Flora Volunteer Fire Department for 26 years, football sports writer for the Carroll County Comet since 1980, and for many years has been a statistician for Carroll High School boys' basketball.

He has served Carroll County 4-H clubs as a project leader for 14 years, and he has traveled the state as a 4-H judge for 10 years.

Judy was employed at various local industries - Essex Wire for 20 years and Pioneer Hi-Bred on a seasonal basis for many years. She is a 35-year member of the

Flora Psi Iota Xi Sorority and has held all of the offices, except for treasurer. She accompanied her daughter, Sara, all over the state when Sara was the national Psi Iota Xi president.

Judy has served as 4-H leader of the Monroe Achievers Mini 4- H Club for 16 years.

The Hoffmans both have enjoyed many years of association with the Flora First Christian Church. Mike has spent all 65 of his years with the church, and has been a member for 54 years. Judy is a 45-year member of the church.

They have been married 45 years and have two daughters, Alice Tallackson (husband: Andrew) of Michigan City, and Sara, of Flora. They have one grandson, William DeVere Tallackson, who was born Oct. 2.