By TORY DENIS
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CLAREMONT — With clear and sunny skies to help start the day, large crowds came out on Saturday, June 9 to line Pleasant and Broad streets to watch the 147th annual Stevens Alumni Association Parade.
The Stevens High School red-and-black banner and the Claremont Middle School, with band and marching flag-twirlers, launched the parade with a rousing rendition of “Give My Regard to Broadway.” Parade Grand Marshals were Jimmie and Brenda Baker, and Alumni Association officers rode along the parade route in a vintage white wagon.
Creativity, music and color were par for the day as the Broadway-themed floats included such elements as rock stars, mermaids, farmers, Charles Schultz characters, the Pink Ladies and more.
Several local organizations also took part, including Valley Regional Health Care, which was celebrating 125 years with a hospital-themed float, and River Valley Community Colllege, which is celebrating its 50th year.
Jean Magoon, who said she was one of the first RVCC graduates 50 years ago, rode on the organization’s float.
The Class of 1953, celebrating its 65th year, had 18 participants in the parade this year. The Class of 1958 traveled the parade route in a horse-drawn wagon, and the Class of 1954 rode along in “Leapin’ Lena,” a perennial parade favorite. The St. Mary’s High School Class of 1968 and SHS Class of 1968 were both celebrating their 50th year annual reunion this year.
Winter Carnival, Prom, and Homecoming kings and queens also took part in the parade, along with fife drummers and pipe bands performing along the route.
SHA Alumni Association Parade float winners for the 2018 parade included the following:
The Alumni Memorial Trophy went to the Class of 1993 for their “Rock of Ages” float, complete with rock music and a graffiti-covered “brick wall.”
The Clara Hornick Trophy went to the Class of 1978 for their “Beatlemania” float, with an appearance by the mop-haired Fab Four performing atop their Yellow Submarine float.
The Wayne S. Gray Trophy went to the class of 1998 for their “Peter Pan Never Grew Up” float; the Fred Carr School Spirit Trophy went to the class of 1968 for their “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” float. The George F. Disnard Trophy went to the class of 1983 for their “Grease” float.
Valley Regional also took home the Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Claremont Award for its hospital-themed float.
The Stevens Alumni Association Parade puts forward more than $16,000 to organize and present the parade each year, according to organizers. Following the parade, alumni were welcome to attend a catered luncheon buffet and take part in the annual SHS Alumni Association meeting.
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