Joe Williamson has been chosen as the grand marshall in Landrum’s Christmas Parade Thursday, Nov. 29 starting at 5 p.m.

Mr. Williamson, owner of Williamson Paint Center said, “I’ve been selling paint for over 75 of my 94 years.”
Born and raised in Charlotte, Williamson finished school and enlisted in the aviation branch of the US Army – the Army Air Corps now know as the Air Force – and was stationed at Hamilton Field in San Francisco, Calif.

For the next four years lifelong memories were formed.
With World War II at full force, the Air Corps sent Williamson overseas to the China, Burma, India Command. Flying on missions, he saw war and beauty at the same time. Williamson’s philosophy to life is, “Don’t remember the bad stuff.”

Williamson remembers flying low in the valleys because the planes could not get over the Himalayas. More than 350 planes were lost throughout this type of mission. Becoming known as The Aluminium Trail, Williamson said, “they are still finding parts.”