Harry Silver’s life story, so far, is of a life well lived. At 95 years old, Silver is believed to be the state’s oldest active city councilman,.
The Cenla-ian of the Year is reserved for a select few who exemplify noteworthy leadership qualities and whose works are community standouts. For more than 65 years, Silver has volunteered and worked behind the scenes to improve the city in any way he can. A big proponent of “giving back,” there is hardly an organization or charitable event in Central Louisiana that Silver has not touched in some capacity. Despite his efforts, he is not one to “toot his own horn.” Yet, just this year, Silver was voted as the favorite councilman in the Cenla Focus’ Best of Cenla Awards. “If you do your part, the ‘good’ will surface. A person does not have to talk about their accomplishments,” Silver says. His office walls are full of special awards and honors bestowed upon him through the decades. It’s a testament to his willingness to serve.
“I love this city. There have been some dramatic improvements, but there is still a lot of infrastructure needs. The city is old,” Silver says, adding that any time a project is presented to the city council, he asks how it will benefit the city, how will it improve the district in which it’s being proposed and will it be harmful to any of the residents? He maintains the driving force for him to stay active in the political realm is to try to help others and to continue to serve the city any way he can. With his upbeat attitude, Silver has gained a reputation as an “eternal optimist,” and admits the moniker is apropos. “It’s true. I’m a born optimist. I believe it takes 35 muscles to frown, but only 7 muscles to smile. I believe in being positive and having a good sense of humor,” Silver says.
His take on life has served him in good stead, as Silver has left quite an imprint in the business world of Cenla, as well as in the political arena. Although it was a military assignment that first brought him to Rapides Parish in 1944, it was love that made him decide to locate permanently to the area. He has been married to his soulmate, Marilyn Levy Silver, for 69 years.
With his fashion and style sense, Silver was a natural to join the Levy family retail business, Weiss and Goldring department store. In 1901, the family business was located at the corner of 2nd St. and Murray in Alexandria. When the business needed to expand in the early ‘50s, Weiss and Goldring relocated to downtown Alexandria at the corner of Third St. and DeSoto. Silver knew he wanted to remain in the retail business and not pursue law, so he purchased the store. He and Marilyn became the sole owners of Weiss and Goldring in 1960.
While the downtown area was the place to shop for decades, growth and demographics prompted the opening of several more retail outlets. In 1973, the Alexandria Mall opened and the Silvers made a decision to relocate their store. Weiss and Goldring became one of the first tenants of the mall and a major anchor store. Although the store prospered inside the mall, the Silvers, a few years ago, made the decision to move out of the mall and relocate to 3601 Masonic Drive, located in a 5,000-square-foot building at the front of the mall’s main entrance. “In fashion and retail, there is always change. We need to be flexible. Build on what is safe and sound, but be able to have a vision because nothing is really stationary,” Silver says, adding that Weiss and Goldring is celebrating their 118th year of operation.