Columbus Parade Grand Marshall Named

From Press Release.  November 9, 2012 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Sam Kaye has been chosen as this year’s Grand Marshall by the Christmas Parade committee to represent the vast contributions to our community particularly historic preservation and downtown development made by Kaye” stated Amber Brislin, Main Street Columbus Director. Members of the Kaye family will lead the parade in a horse drawn carriage.  “Kaye was originally selected as the Grand Marshall of the 2011 parade, but since the parade was cancelled because of rain, Kaye and his family will lead the 2012 parade,” stated Brislin.

Sam Kaye has worked in our community since 1974. His experience in community planning and development ranges from the Downtown Columbus, Mississippi Development Plan in 1976 to ongoing Comprehensive Streetscape and Development Plans for several towns in Mississippi.

Kaye has received numerous awards for his work in the field of Historic Preservation from professional, historic and civic associations.

His work reached beyond the limits of Columbus and has resulted in more than thirty buildings being recycled with new viability in more than a dozen communities throughout Mississippi.

Since 1994, he has served as a Staff Consultant to the Mississippi Main Street Association, working with towns throughout Mississippi. His membership on the Board of Advisors of the National Trust for Historic Preservation has involved work with historic preservation at the national level.

Former Governor William Winter was quoted as saying “I know of no architect who has done more to develop a public appreciation of historic preservation.”

In 1997 the Mississippi Department of Archives and History passed a resolution stating he is “one of Mississippi’s finest preservation architects and is responsible for numerous award-winning rehabilitation and restoration projects.”

Kaye was also the first president of the Columbus Main Street Association. He is the “go to” person if you need to know the history of a building in Columbus!