HR 506: Cohen's of Alma; 100th anniversary; recognize

House Resolution 506

By: Representative Meeks of the 178th

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and commending Cohen's of Alma on its 100th anniversary; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Cohen's of Alma, a cornerstone of the Alma and Bacon County community, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, representing a century of dedication to quality service and community engagement; and

WHEREAS, the legacy of Cohen's of Alma began with Nathan Cohen, who, at the age of 13, immigrated to the United States from a small village on the border of Russia and Poland in 1913, ultimately settling in Nicholls, Georgia, with his older half-brothers, Julius "Jake" and William Cohen; and

WHEREAS, with the support of his brothers, Nathan overcame language barriers and completed his education before establishing his first business venture as a traveling peddler with a Belgian horse named "Babe"and a wagon filled with goods needed by rural families, laying the foundation for what would become Cohen's of Alma; and

WHEREAS, in 1924, after years of hard work, Nathan purchased Sandy Mercer's general store on Dixon Street in Alma, restocked it with apparel, and officially opened Cohen's of Alma on April 4; and

WHEREAS, his son, Jerald, graduated from the University of Georgia, served in the United States Army during the Korean War, and joined the family business in 1952 before assuming management in 1957, overseeing the store's continued growth and success; and

WHEREAS, under Jerald's leadership, Cohen's expanded in 1967 with the purchase of the Butler Supply location next door, increasing the store size by 3,000 square feet and introducing the "Roundtable Shop," which specialized in name-brand apparel for work, hunting, and formal wear; and

WHEREAS, upon Jerald's retirement in 1997, the late Wayne Golden was hired as store manager, and through the efforts of Mark Cohen, Jerald's oldest son, and his wife, Laure, the store was once again expanded by an additional 2,000 square feet; and

WHEREAS, today, Cohen's of Alma remains one of the oldest single-family-owned businesses in the State of Georgia, continuing to serve as a vital part of the Alma-Bacon County community while maintaining a legacy of integrity, service, and economic contribution to South Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the Cohen family has given back to the community in countless ways, ensuring that no local prom, homecoming, or wedding is complete without a visit to Cohen's and stocking top-quality products that have remained a hallmark of the business for generations.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize Cohen's of Alma on its 100th anniversary, commend the Cohen family for their century of dedication to the Alma-Bacon County community, and extend best wishes for continued success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Cohen's of Alma.