Top of the Morning, Oct. 5, 2024

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The first time she participated in Fisher’s homecoming parade, Kim Clemmons (Class of 1983) was part of the marching band and “our ugly uniforms.”

Wednesday’s trip around town was much better.

“Did you see that Corvette I was riding in?”

Forty-one years after graduating and 33 years after becoming an elementary school teacher at Fisher, Clemmons was proud to serve as grand marshal at this year’s parade ( photos at news-gazette.com ). She was chosen because A) no one loves Fisher more and B) her last day is May 22.

As grand marshal, she had first dibs on the assembled Corvettes. Of course, she picked the one with orange stripes to celebrated her favorite school’s colors.

“Just an awesome experience in a town I’m so proud of,” she said. “It was so fun to see everybody.”

Raised just outside Fisher, Clemmons never had a desire to leave the Champaign County village other than for college and a job at The News-Gazette. That’s where she was when Fisher offered in ‘91.

“I could not have picked a better job and better school,” she said. “I’d would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Clemmons is helping plan for Fisher’s sesquicentennial celebration in 2026, which should lead to one more trip around town.

“That’s next parade I want to be in,” she said.