Soul of 78: George Sides Sr.

Sides Furniture and Appliance

Words by Micah Harrison | Image by Ryan McGill

Only a few people in Dora, Alabama, have achieved mononymous status, but George Sides Sr. is one of them. If you mention the name "George," anyone from Dora will know who you are talking about. He is the owner of community staple Sides Furniture and Appliance.

George was born and raised on Sharon Boulevard and graduated from Dora High School in 1955, after which he quickly began a career in marketing.

"This lady came by the store selling World Book Encyclopedias, and I said, 'I bet I can sell those,'" he recalls.

He quickly crafted his own way of doing business. "I learned that the way you sell something is just… show and tell," he says.

The approach was effective because he was that year's leader in encyclopedia sales.

He attended Jacksonville State University for a year but returned home to accept a job offer. It was a timely decision because shortly after he moved back, he met his future wife, Roberta, at church one Sunday. Roberta's father owned a grocery business in Dora, and as his health declined, George stepped in to help run the store. George says he bought the store from his father-in-law, who "loaned me $1,000 to start with, and I made it happen."

George gradually changed the store's focus. "We slowly got out of the grocery business into the appliance business and the furniture and all," he said.

In January of 1962, the business assumed its current form as Sides Furniture and Appliance and has been operating ever since.

When asked what his favorite thing has been through six decades of business, Sides said, "Work. I like to work."

Another highlight has been working alongside his two children, Gretchen and George Jr.

Coinciding with his career, George was also mayor of Dora from 1984-2008.

"We weren't making any progress…and being in business, I felt like we needed to be a little bit more aggressive," he explained.

He used his tenure to bring new amenities to the city, such as Horse Creek Golf Course, a walking trail, park improvements, and sidewalks.

Reflecting on his administration, George said, "I enjoyed my years as mayor...I was very fortunate to get some things done."

When asked about retirement, George laughed and said, "I'll retire when I'm old."

If you ever find yourself in Dora and in need of a new couch, washing machine, or anything in between, be sure to stop by Sides Furniture and Appliance. There's a good chance that George will be there, ready to show you around and share his expertise. 78