25 LC 129 0236
House Resolution 506
By: Representative Meeks of the 178
th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending Cohen's of Alma on its 100th anniversary; and for other
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purposes.2
WHEREAS, Cohen's of Alma, a cornerstone of the Alma and Bacon County community,3
celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, representing a century of dedication to quality4
service and community engagement; and5
WHEREAS, the legacy of Cohen's of Alma began with Nathan Cohen, who, at the age of 13,6
immigrated to the United States from a small village on the border of Russia and Poland in7
1913, ultimately settling in Nicholls, Georgia, with his older half-brothers, Julius "Jake" and8
William Cohen; and9
WHEREAS, with the support of his brothers, Nathan overcame language barriers and10
completed his education before establishing his first business venture as a traveling peddler11
with a Belgian horse named "Babe"and a wagon filled with goods needed by rural families,12
laying the foundation for what would become Cohen's of Alma; and13
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WHEREAS, in 1924, after years of hard work, Nathan purchased Sandy Mercer's general
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store on Dixon Street in Alma, restocked it with apparel, and officially opened Cohen's of15
Alma on April 4; and16
WHEREAS, his son, Jerald, graduated from the University of Georgia, served in the United17
States Army during the Korean War, and joined the family business in 1952 before assuming18
management in 1957, overseeing the store's continued growth and success; and19
WHEREAS, under Jerald's leadership, Cohen's expanded in 1967 with the purchase of the20
Butler Supply location next door, increasing the store size by 3,000 square feet and21
introducing the "Roundtable Shop," which specialized in name-brand apparel for work,22
hunting, and formal wear; and23
WHEREAS, upon Jerald's retirement in 1997, the late Wayne Golden was hired as store24
manager, and through the efforts of Mark Cohen, Jerald's oldest son, and his wife, Laure, the25
store was once again expanded by an additional 2,000 square feet; and26
WHEREAS, today, Cohen's of Alma remains one of the oldest single-family-owned27
businesses in the State of Georgia, continuing to serve as a vital part of the Alma-Bacon28
County community while maintaining a legacy of integrity, service, and economic29
contribution to South Georgia; and30
WHEREAS, the Cohen family has given back to the community in countless ways, ensuring31
that no local prom, homecoming, or wedding is complete without a visit to Cohen's and32
stocking top-quality products that have remained a hallmark of the business for generations.33
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
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the members of this body recognize Cohen's of Alma on its 100th anniversary, commend the35
Cohen family for their century of dedication to the Alma-Bacon County community, and36
extend best wishes for continued success.37
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized38
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to39
Cohen's of Alma.40
H. R. 506
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