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Thousands line Lewes Christmas Parade route in memory of Tom King

Parade grand marshals are (l-r) Dennis Forney, Chris King and Ben King. Tom King, parade chairman for 35 years, was scheduled to share grand marshal duties with Forney. He passed away Nov. 25, and in his place were his wife and brother. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS
Ron MacArthur
December 17, 2017
The Schell Brothers/Kids Cottage parade is the most original entry in the 2017 Lewes Christmas Parade.
Mike Tyler of Lewes makes last-minute decoration adjustments on his 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 MK II.
Ben King, one of the parade grand marshals, helps out at the staging area.
Three Bethel Christian School angels are ready to march in the parade. Their float won first place in the youth division.
Girl Scout Troop 454 members, from the left, Gretchen Maughan, Gracie Maughan and Makhira Martinez are dressed and ready for the parade.
Gretchen Maughan of Milton keeps an eye out from under her Santa hat.
Miss Delaware Chelsea Bruce does a Facebook Live broadcast from the Lewes parade staging area.
It’s official. Santa Claus arrives in Lewes atop a Lewes fire truck.
The Keynotes Music Studio marching group presents “Window Wonderland,” as they perform for the judges. The singers won second place in the marching-group division.
Celebrating 100 years of Girl Scouts, are Daisy, Brownie, Juniors and Cadettes from Troop 454 in Milton. The scouts won honorable mention.
Members of Cub Scout Pack 1 run along the parade route in their homemade “cardboard” derby cars. The scouts won honorable mention.
A costumed Lewes in Bloom flower brightens up the parade route.
Ballerinas from Sussex Dance Academy dance a scene from “The Nutcracker.” The dancers won first place in the marching-group division.
Coastal Dance Academy members do a chorus-line routine in front of the judges’ stand. The dancers won honorable mention.
Little World International Montessori Academy uses pedal power to move its float.
A float with a “Frozen” theme is an entry by Ahl and O’Connor Orthodontics.
McAleer School of Irish Dance students ages 6 to 12 perform on Savannah Road. The dancers won third place in the marching- group division.
The Jusst Sooup Ministry van is decorated with 5,000 lights.
An inflated Minion leads off the Lewes Sea Scouts Ship 198 float, which won second-place honors in the youth-organization division.
Clem Legates fires up his wood-burning steam engine on his old-fashioned boat called the Phoenix.
Sea Cycle Indoor cyclists pedal in place the entire length of the parade route.
All American Lifetime Queen Enid Kelley points to her fancy shoes.
Sussex County Bible Church singers impress the judges and win top honors in the community-float division.
The Puppy Palace Doggie Daycare float is filled with – what else – lots of Christmas-dressed dogs. The float won second place in the commercial-float division.
A band from Home Theater Solutions W-HTS TV performs live during the Lewes parade. The entry won third place in the commercial-float division.
Bayside Exteriors lights the night with a house covered in Christmas decorations.
Jonathan Johnson of Johnson Orthodontics is dressed as Ralphie in his “deranged Easter bunny pajamas” from the classic “A Christmas Story” movie.
But of course, Lewes Cycle Sports uses bicycles as their mode of transportation on the parade route.
Mark Droney of Millville drives his Outlaw Fire Department 1970 Maxim fire truck, a first-place winner in the decorated-vehicle division.
Members of the Cape Henlopen High School band perform for the judges on their way to a first-place win.
Lewes Girl Scouts – including Daisies, Brownies and Juniors – from several troops are dressed as Girl Scout cookies, which are available early in 2018. The scouts won honorable mention.
With a patriotic-themed float, members of American Legion Post 17 urge support of veterans.
Jack Mitchell’s 1938 Chevrolet truck custom street rod has all the bells and whistles. The car won third place in the classic-car division.
Cape Vikings Pop Warner Football team members and cheerleaders are excited to be in the parade. The players and cheerleaders won honorable mention.
The SPI Pharma float – made of recycled materials and raw products – brings home a first-place award in the commercial-float division.
Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary has a larger-than-life float.
Jolly Trolly provides a ride to Beacon Middle School Jr. Honor Society members as they sing Christmas songs. The group won honorable mention.
Off in the distance is a huge inflated Santa Claus on the Shell We Bounce Trampoline Park float.
Lewes Mayor Ted Becker starts off a tree-lighting ceremony and caroling following the parade in Zwannendael Park.
With Mayor Ted Becker, far right, Liz Hudson, Lee Sproull and their grandchildren Audrey, Annabell and Coy Bonk count down to turn on the lights for the official Lewes Christmas tree in Zwaanendael Park. Hudson donated the 30-foot tree to the city.
Shayna Pyle, 6, of Lewes has her face lit up by a single candle during a tree-lighting and caroling ceremony following the Lewes Christmas Parade.

Every Lewes Christmas Parade is special, but this year's had extra meaning.

Tom King, the dedicated volunteer who was parade chairman for 35 years, passed away Nov. 25, just a week before the 85th annual event.

The committee had selected Tom and his lifelong friend and fellow parade organizer Dennis Forney, Cape Gazette publisher, as parade marshals of the Dec. 2 parade.

In Tom's place, his wife, Chris, and his brother, Ben, rode in the front of the parade with Forney.

As people and floats filed into the staging area, Lewes Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Betsy Reamer said it was tough to fight back the tears.

“It's hard not to think about Tom,” she said. “He would be running up to me constantly before the parade started.”

“Just days before Tom passed, he was calling to make sure some of the details of the parade had not been overlooked,” said Lewes Mayor Ted Becker as he announced from the judges' stand prior to the start of the parade that the parade was dedicated to Tom King.

Reamer said those involved with the parade gain a little solace knowing that Tom is still with them in spirit.

King, best known as owner of King’s Ice Cream in Lewes for 30 years, had been active in the chamber since the early 1980s.

 

Judges awards go to:

Most original entry: Schell Brothers/Kids Cottage

Classic car: 1. Jim Davis, 1965 Mustang; 2. Arnold Yoder, 1963 TR-3-A; 3. 1938 Chevy street rod, Jack Mitchell

Decorated vehicle: 1. Mark Droney, 1970 Maxim fire truck, Outlaw Fire Dept.; 2. Hazzard Auto Repair, 2015 Ford tow truck; 3. Deirdre Duddy, 1980 MGB Roadster

Band: 1. Cape Henlopen High School

Fire company: 1. Roxana Fire Co.; 2. Rehoboth Beach Fire Co.

Commercial float: 1. PSI Pharma; 2. Puppy Palace Doggie Day Care; 3. Home Theatre Solutions

Community float: 1. Sussex Bible Church; 2. DNREC Shore Line Management; 3. Best Buddies Delaware

Youth organization float: 1. Bethel Christian School; 2. Sea Scouts Ship 198; 3. Cape Henlopen FFA

Marching group: 1. Sussex Dance Academy; 2. Keenote Music Studio; 3. McAleer School of Irish Dance

Equestrian: 1. Windfall Acres; 2. Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding

Honorable mention awards: Cape Henlopen High School Jr. ROTC color guard drill team; Girl Scout Troop 454; Cub Scout Pack 1; Lewes Girl Scouts; Girl Scout Troop 35; Camp Arrowhead; Boy Scout Troop 1; Coastal Dance Academy; Cape Henlopen LEO Club; Cape Vikings Football and cheerleaders; Beacon Middle School Jr. Honor Society/Jolly Trolley; and Henlopen Chapter of DeMolay.

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