AMBOY – George Kaleel has been part of Depot Days a time or two before.

This time, he’s part of it in a different manner as he is the 2024 Amboy Depot Days Parade Grand Marshal.

“I’m sure there are a lot of people who could be the grand marshal besides myself. I’m just honored that I was asked to be the grand marshal,” Kaleel said. “Amboy has been real good to our family. We made a good living here with our store.

“I was kind of surprised when they asked me, but I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been involved with Depot Days or have gone to it since it started. It’s a big event for Amboy.”

Kaleel, 91, moved to Amboy in 1956 after being born in Spring Valley, moving to Earlville in 1939, graduating from Earlville High School in 1952, and enlisting in the U.S. Army during Korean War (1952-55) to start a store for his father, Nemer Kaleel, who wanted to expand from the store he had in Earlville.

With the opening of Kaleel’s Clothing in Amboy, it began a 63-year run (1956-2019) for George in clothing and a lifelong connection to the community.

“I opened the store in Amboy in 1956. It started with my dad, Nemer Kaleel. He came from the old country of Lebanon,” said Kaleel. “At the age of 17, he came over on a cattle boat. He settled in Spring Valley. He was a country peddler at first. They called him “Mike the Peddler” because he peddled with a horse and buggy for many years. He couldn’t speak English or write English when he first came to the states.

“In 1939, he opened a clothing store in Earlville. That’s how our family got started in the clothing business. My dad was looking for another store and he sent me to Amboy to open a store. I did that in 1956 and a few years later my brother Mitchell, who was my partner in business, opened a store in Mendota.”

When George arrived in Amboy, he was single and didn’t have any children.

It changed through the years as he met and married Mona and they had two children in Mark and Karen.

The children are keeping the Kaleel’s Clothing brand thriving. Mark owns Kaleel’s Clothing & Printing and Karen helps run the store, while Mark’s wife Renee owns an embroidery shop in the same building.

The decision to choose Kaleel as this year’s grand marshal was made by Roger Wittenauer.

Wittenauer, former president of the Amboy Lions Club who is still an administrator for the club, wanted to recognize Kaleel for what he’s meant to Amboy through the years.

“I have a list with people who have been influential in Amboy and the surrounding area. George has done great things for the town and the community, and he deserves to be the grand marshal,” Wittenauer said. “The weird thing about this job for me is I grew up here as a kid. I know the older folks and things they did. I left for 35 years to Chicago for work. I came back and still remember them. I remember the Kaleel’s Clothing shop and the business it brought to Amboy. Everyone went there for tuxes, gym uniforms for school, business clothes, and shoes.

“If you were getting married or going to a prom, you were wearing something you bought from Kaleel’s. George will be a great grand marshal.”

If you see Kaleel during the parade, ask him what his ranking was in the Earlville High School Class of 1952.

He’ll share a chuckle.

“I graduated in the Top 20 of my class,” Kaleel said. “There were only 20 kids in my class.”