THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604120267
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANELLE LA BOUVE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Five-year-old Geoffrey Sills of Chesapeake spent Easter Sunday at the White House.
The River Walk preschooler modeled clothes in a fashion show before the annual Easter egg roll on the lawn of the president's home in Washington.
``I liked when I modeled,'' Geoffrey said. ``That was the bestest thing. I want to do it again.''
The youngster's father, William F. Sills, was in a Sears Roebuck and Co. training program in Baltimore, Md., when he learned that Sears was planning a fashion show as part of the annual Easter event. When the elder Sills learned that a size-five male model was needed, he volunteered his son.
On the Saturday before Easter, Geoffrey was one of about 20 models who gathered at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington to practice for the show.
Although the models had been told they would be changing clothes in a tent, the lack of privacy was a bit of a shock for Geoffrey.
``It was cold in there. I was afraid someone would see my underwear,'' Geoffrey said.
For his first appearance, he wore red shorts, a short-sleeved red-white-and-blue basketball jersey by Champion and tennis shoes. The jersey was like the ones designed for the Olympic basketball team, said Geoffrey's mother, Susan Sills.
For his next walk down the runway, Geoffrey wore a long-sleeve khaki shirt with blue stripes and khaki pants and buckskin shoes.
``I loved looking at all the people,'' Geoffrey said.
While riding on his dad's shoulders, the lad was able to shake hands with the president.
``I said, `Hi, Mr. President,'' and he said, `Hi,' '' said Geoffrey.
After the fashion show, he competed in the White House egg roll.
``They blew the whistle for the first egg roll, but my egg was cracked,'' he said.
After being reassured that he could still participate regardless of the punctured state his egg's shell, he joined in.
As a prize for winning the second egg roll, Geoffrey received a wooden egg decorated with a picture of the White House and signed by the president and first lady. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Geoffrey Sills modeled clothes on the White House lawn at Easter.
by CNB