Despite South Pasadena’s exceptional record of winning entries, the South Pas Tournament of Roses committee had trouble raising funds for the 1947 Parade, and in September of 1946 it appeared that the next procession down Colorado Boulevard would have no entry from the second-oldest float builder in the Tournament’s history. Such a fate would have sealed if it were not for one Bob Norton, of the city’s Junior Chamber of Commerce. With his “Keep South Pasadena A-Float” campaign, he set out with the senior chamber and local businesses to raise the $3,000 a simple float would cost.
Bob and his campaign were so successful they raised $5,600 and, keeping the with “a-float” theme, created “A Holiday in Flowers,” featuring three sailboats atop a frothy sea. While the city was behind Bob and crew, Mother Nature and Lady Luck were not, and shortly before parade day the tent housing the float was blown down by winds, damaging the fragile creation inside. It was repaired, and finally wheeled out early January 1-only to have one of its wheels break. A flurry of last-minute repairs got the float to the staging area on time, and it won yet another first-place prize for its class.