William “Bill” Frederick Lomas, longtime producer of the Hollywood Christmas Parade, died on March 22. (photo courtesy of Steve Moyer)

William “Bill” Frederick Lomas, who produced the Hollywood Christmas Parade for 42 years, died of cancer on March 22 surrounded by family and friends, Lomas family spokesman Steve Moyer said.

During his long career in the entertainment business, Lomas served as president and CFO of World Wide Spectaculars, Inc., now known as Pageantry Productions, producing thousands of parades since 1963.

Lomas was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on May 25, 1935. At the age of 19, he married his first wife, Barbara Joan Benson, and the couple had two children, Steve and Penny. In August 1960, the Lomas family moved from Toronto to Lynwood, where Lomas worked at an auto dealership, the Goodyear Tire Company and Canada Dry.

At Canada Dry, Lomas met future business partner, Mort Pollock, and they opened Golden State Trophies in 1965. He created a promotion that was sent to all chambers of commerce throughout California with a flyer that read, “Book your parade trophies with us to receive a free booklet, ‘100 Tips to a Better Parade.’” Within a couple of weeks, several chambers of commerce contacted Lomas, stating they wanted to buy his trophies if he produced their parades. Soon thereafter, Lomas and Pollock started producing parades and Lomas later founded Pageantry Productions in 1969.

In 1965, Lomas married his second wife, Veronica “Ronnie” Theresa Lomas, who became his parade business partner. She is credited with being the first woman to start a drum and bugle corps – The Diplomats. She died in 2009. In 2010, Lomas met Nancy Lennon, his life companion until the time of his death.

Lomas was a longtime close friend and colleague of the late Honorary Mayor of Hollywood Johnny Grant, who presided over dozens of Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremonies. In the height of Lomas’ career, he produced 65 parades and 34 festivals a year, including Beverly Hills’ inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17, 1985, for which he decorated several blocks of Rodeo Drive in green. Ed McMahon served as grand marshal and was joined by celebrities Milton Berle, Red Buttons, Gene Kelly, Ernest Borgnine, Phyllis Diller, Michael York, Danny Thomas and Eva and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Lomas is survived by Lennon; his son Steven F. Lomas; daughter Penelope “Penny” S. Moore; stepdaughter Linell Pe’a; stepson Richard Harn; and stepdaughter Kathy Cavanas. Funeral arrangements and a celebration of life are pending and will be announced soon.