Just before this year's presidential inauguration, yard signs began popping up on the grounds of homes all over Dallas.  The message?  Welcome Home, George & Laura.

And there are hundreds of them...maybe a thousand or more.  I've seen some that replaced the "Obama for President," the previously posted signs.

The keeper of information in our Lake Highlands' neighborhood is Cliff.  Cliff and his dad had one of Dallas's premier hardwood floor companies for years.  And then one day, Cliff's dad said he wanted to retire.  Cliff said he did, too.  For Cliff it came just in the nick of time.

You see, Cliff is one of those fellows who can't stand to be inside, and especially if it means sitting behind a desk.  So Cliff went into the grass cutting business in our neighborhood.  And because he now cuts so many lawns and sees and visits with so many people throughout the day, he's a good source of information.

THE SIGN IN CLIFF'S YARD

So when I noticed the Welcome Home, George & Laura sign in Cliff's yard, I asked him where he got it.  He said that there is a college boy, a TCU economics major named Patrick Bibb, who dreamed up the idea.  The fellow started marketing them door to door and on the Internet.  He had one of the Fast Sign companies make them as he sold them.  No inventory, no waste, no need to ever have a half-price sale to dump leftovers.

When Spring Break was over, he took his cell phone to the sign shop.  Now the guy at the sign shop takes the orders, prints the signs, and the customers come by and pick them up.  He then sends the college guy his part of the profit every week or so.  And a couple of bucks from each sale goes to Pershing Elementary School in honor of Mrs. Bush.  You see, Mrs. Bush was the librarian at that school.

If you want a Welcome Home, George & Laura sign, here's the number to call.  214 676-7028.  The price is $20.

BILL CHERRY, REALTORS

DALLAS - HIGHLAND PARK

214 503-8563