A celebration of life service is scheduled Saturday for Bill Lomas, known as “The Parade King,” who for decades produced the Hollywood Christmas Parade and other events throughout California and elsewhere.
Lomas died March 22 of cancer at his home in Lakewood at age 88, surrounded by family and friends, according to Lomas family spokesman Steve Moyer.
Saturday’s service will take place at 1 p.m. at Desert Reign Church, 11610 Lakewood Drive in Downey.
Lomas produced the Hollywood Christmas Parade for 42 years. He also presented countless other parades, Irish fairs, Celtic music festivals, carnivals and other events in California, Hawaii and Arizona.
As president and CEO of World Wide Spectaculars, he produced parades for St. Patrick’s Day, Fourth of July and Memorial Day throughout the state since 1963.
Born in Toronto, Lomas moved in 1960 with his first wife and children to Lynwood, where he worked at an auto dealership, then at Goodyear Tire Company, before taking a position at Canada Dry.
During his time with the soft-drink company, Lomas created in-store displays and local promotions, including a campaign in which he escorted such legendary Dodger players as Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Maury Wills and Duke Snider around the city for visits to retailers.
In 1965, Lomas and a partner created Golden State Trophies in Woodland Hills. In an effort to get more business, Lomas realized that parades order many more trophies than bowling or baseball leagues, and began promoting the concept of community parades to Chamber of Commerce offices throughout the state.
At the height of his career, Lomas produced 65 parades and 34 festivals annually for about 10 years. In 1985 and beyond, Lomas decorated and carpeted in green several blocks of Rodeo Drive for the city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Survivors include his life companion Nancy Lennon; son Steven F. Lomas; daughter Penelope “Penny” S. Moore; stepdaughter Linell Pe’a, who was a participant in her father’s parade business; stepson Richard Harn; stepdaughter Kathy Cavanas; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.