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Local radio pioneers to lead Tuesday's Christmas parade

By Lynn Hotaling
Childress Local radio pioneers Jim and Mickie Childress will be grand marshals for this year's annual Sylva Christmas Parade on Tuesday, Dec. 3, a 7 p.m. The parade will begin at McDonalds and follow Business 23 to West Main Street. Participants will march toward the historic Jackson County Courthouse. The couple who brought hometown radio to Sylva will lead this year's downtown Christmas parade Tuesday night.

Jim and Mickie Childress, who owned WRGC radio station until last year, have been named grand marshals for the annual Sylva Christmas Parade.

"They've been active in the community for a number of years," said parade organizer Betty Foxx, who announced the Childresses' selection Friday. "They've retired from the radio business now, and it seemed like an appropriate time to honor them for all their business and civic accomplishments."

Sylva's annual downtown Christmas parade, sponsored by Sylva Partners in Renewal, will begin around 7 p.m. on Dec. 3. This year's theme is "The Lights of the Season."

Those planning to participate in the parade should register with Foxx at Sylva Insurance Agency by noon Wednesday, Nov. 27. For information, call Foxx at 586-2512.

Participants should plan to meet at the Community Service Center by 6 p.m. in order to line up, Foxx said.

The parade will follow the same route as last year, beginning at McDonalds, following Business 23 to Main Street and then turning right and following West Main toward the Jackson County Courthouse.

Participants should approach the Community Service Center from Skyland Drive, Foxx said, due to road work near Harris Regional Hospital.

Walkers will exit the parade at the fountain; commercial floats will continue to Mark Watson Park. Other parade participants may exit the parade at their discretion, Foxx said.

Natives of Surry County, this year's parade grand marshals have lived in Sylva since 1958. Jim Childress and his partner, Harold Thoms, began local radio broadcasts in November 1957 over Sylva station WMSJ, which stood for "Wonderful Macon, Swain and Jackson."

The station's call letters were changed to WRGC after the accidental death of the Childresses' eldest child, Ronnie (Ronald Gregory Childress), in 1975. The accident occurred while Ronnie Childress, who had chosen radio as a career, was adjusting the station's transmitter.

Jim and Mickie Childress bought out their partner and became sole owners of the local radio station. They built and bought several other stations through the years, though all have now been sold. The last to be sold was Sylva station WRGC.

Jim Childress is known locally as "Uncle Jimmy," the name he adopted during his years of hosting "Getting Up Time" on first WMSJ and later WRGC.

The Childresses' five surviving children - Kathy, Kim, Suzanne, Tony and Lisa. All worked in radio for a time, though only Tony chose it as a career.

As parade grand marshals, the Childresses will ride in a vintage convertible during Tuesday night's trip through town.

"I feel honored by our selection as grand marshals," Jim Childress said Friday. "Mickie and I will be pleased to lead this year's Christmas parade."

Back to Archive: 11/28/02.