Rudolph running at the mall
December 15, 2009
Filed under News
Each year there is a tradition in Lufkin that everyone looks forward to; something that begins the holiday season. Every Christmas a 38 foot oilfield pumping unit, better known as, Rudolph, provided by Lufkin Industries, is set up in the parking lot of the Lufkin Mall.
According to Viron Barbay, Lufkin Industries Human Resources Representative, the tradition started 43 years ago.
“It started with a group of employees seeking a way to brighten the holidays and involve the pumping unit,” Barbay said.
“They felt this was unique. The project has grown every year since.”
Before the Christmas season, someone must be appointed the role of managing the project.
“Each year an individual is assigned to oversee the entire operation and coordinate the different departments and parts of the shop that are involved in building and assembling Rudolph,” Barbay said.
As to when Rudolph is put together, Viron Barbay affirmed that “Rudolph is assembled during the two week period preceding the lighting ceremony.”
After the set up of Rudolph, there is a lightning ceremony that takes place in the parking lot of the mall. The lighting ceremony is held the weekend before thanksgiving, involving more than 1,000 7-watt lights that take an electrician at least 4 days to install.
The lighting ceremony is a joint effort between Lufkin Industries and the Lufkin Mall. The preparation for the set up of Rudolph and the lighting ceremony begins in August planned by Christie Maddux, Lufkin Mall’s Marketing Manager.
Maddux is responsible for the sponsorship of not only Rudolph, but other events that have been added to this event throughout the years.
“The successful Lighting of Rudolph ceremony is a partnership between Lufkin Mall and Lufkin Industries. Thousands of Lufkin residents attend the annual event. Because it is so popular, Lufkin Industries and the shopping center expanded the event to include Santa’s official arrival at Lufkin Mall,” Maddux said. “Lufkin Mall also works with other partners including Foremost Dairies and mall merchant Great American Cookies to provide milk and cookies for roughly 1,000 children who attend.”
Maddux said that Santa’s arrival and the lighting of Rudolph at the mall have in the past been separate events, however the events have been combined now for over ten years.
“Now that the ceremonies are combined, families can enjoy an afternoon of holiday festivities – listening to the Angelina County Community Band, watching the lighting of Rudolph and enjoying milk and cookies with Santa,” she said.
Maddux alleged that the arrival of Santa and the lighting of Rudolph draws shoppers to begin their holiday shopping.
“The arrival of Santa and the official lighting of Rudolph is the kick off to the holiday season at Lufkin Mall,” she said. “Shoppers and merchants tell us that they look forward to these events as they add to the spirit of the holiday season.”
Not only did Lufkin Mall contribute to this project but Lufkin High School’s Club Diversity also added their assistance.
“We didn’t make the cookies, but we set them out on the tables, and kids lined up to take a cookie and a bottle of milk. The line was huge,” said Vicky Camarillo, junior and member of Club Diversity.
Jahmekya Williams, Vice President of Club Diversity, was happy to help out at the event.
“It felt great to know that we helped spread the Christmas spirit,” Williams said.
After the Christmas season, Rudolph is taken down during the first week of January. When taken down, some parts are sold and some are reused.
“A few parts such as the antlers are reused from year to year but the pumping unit is typically repainted and sold to do its job in the oilfield,” Barbay said.
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