(Washington, D.C.) December 29, 2008 – The Presidential Inaugural Committee selected Hargrove Inc. as the general service contractor to design, fabricate, and install the décor and manage all Technical Services (lighting, sound, and video) for ten official Inaugural Balls, and other official Inaugural events. The company will also provide floats for the Inaugural Parade and directional signage related to many of the inaugural events. “We are proud to continue Hargrove’s tradition of service to Presidential Inaugurals that date back to 1949,” said Hargrove CEO Tim McGill.

In addition, the company will provide staging and décor for a host of private events surrounding the inaugural, ranging from outdoor building decorations along Pennsylvania Avenue to private parties and galas.

Hargrove has been a major contractor for every Presidential Inaugural since the 1949 inauguration of Harry Truman. “Preparations for every inaugural take place in a very short time frame, but the event takes place on the world stage. That’s why Hargrove’s experience in producing inaugural events over nearly 60 years is so important,” said company founder Earl C. Hargrove, who has worked on each inaugural since 1949.

In addition to installing décor for Inaugural Balls at the Washington Convention Center and the D.C. Armory, Hargrove will work continuously at the National Building Museum, Union Station, and the Washington Hilton, where décor must be installed for pre-inaugural events on January 19 and then changed overnight for the Inaugural Balls on January 20.

Hargrove’s first involvement with Presidential Inaugurals came in 1949 when the company provided floats for the parade honoring Harry Truman. The company will continue that tradition by providing spectacular floats for the 2009 parade.

For the 2005 Presidential Inaugural, Hargrove serviced 58 events in 38 venues over seven days.