Enjoying a ‘Senior Day’ at the Fair

By Steve Williams

I took a timeout last week and went to the Anderson County Fair in Clinton, my hometown.

This year’s Fair was billed “The 6 Best Days of Summer.”

I had driven through Clinton the first of July and saw a sign promoting the Fair and the dates it would be at the fairgrounds (July 15-21).

I texted my brother John last Tuesday evening and asked if they still had a Senior Day with free admission. He replied they did on Wednesday starting at 12:30 and free ice cream at 1:30.

That sounded good to me, particularly with the hot summer days we were having.

I had never taken advantage of Senior Day and I will soon turn 72.

I took the I-75 North route to Clinton since the fairgrounds were located on the northeast side of the town. I enjoyed the pleasant ride up the interstate and prayed God would be with me throughout the day, and He would watch over my kids (cats) back at home. That would be Gracie, Polly and Whitey.

I knew He was listening because when I pulled into the fairgrounds there was a parking place right at the entrance. A man / worker even came up and gave me a raffle ticket. I thanked him and stuck it in my pocket.

The tented open-air area was full of seniors like me and everyone seemed to be having fun. I stood next to a lady in a wheelchair and she got me up to date on the first 30 minutes or so I had missed.

I soon recognized that Bear Stephenson was the M.C. on the stage and they were having a “wobblies knees” contest. If they weren’t wearing shorts, some on the stage were pulling up their pants so their knees could be seen. All I know is there was a lot of laughter!

About that time, the sweet lady I previously mentioned pointed out the person who won the award for “oldest citizen in Anderson County.” She was sitting about 15 feet in front of us. Ethel Taylor was 105 years old. She had ties to the old Magnet Mills hosiery plant in Clinton.

A few minutes later, I made my way to Ethel to congratulate her on her longevity and gave her a hug. She was dressed beautifully and we shared a conversation. I told her she reminded me of my mom, who passed away a few years ago, and she took that as a nice compliment.

When they started calling off the raffle numbers for prizes, I thanked my friend who had been so helpful and asked what her name was. She said “Lee Ann” (but I forgot to ask how she spells it). I told her I was going to go and find where they were giving out free ice cream.

I had hardly gotten around the corner when I heard “No. 407” called out. I hadn’t looked to see what my raffle number was, so I quickly pulled it out of my pocket and looked. To my surprise it was No. 407. Since no one had replied, Bear said “Well, I guess we’ve got to move on.” I raced back to the tent and hollered wait, “I got it.”

I was just in time.

I was handed an envelope that said on the outside: “Fair Fun Money ($25) from Judge Victoria Bowling.” The lady, who was probably Judge Bowling, shook my hand and congratulated me.

I was happy to win the money, but how it happened – with me racing to get my ticket in – made it even more exciting.

I’m thinking it really is a blessed day.

More good time followed. I found where the ice cream was. And the man who started filling my cup was a former schoolmate, Bruce Fox, and we hadn’t seen each other in years.

I went with Mayfield’s chocolate, strawberry and vanilla – Neapolitan is my favorite – with a little chocolate and strawberry syrup added and found a seat in the shady open-air tent area, which helped keep the ice cream from melting.

I must have been one of the first in line for ice cream, because most of the people from the raffle drawing didn’t show up until 15 or so minutes after I got there.

I met Jerry Mounger, who grew up in South Clinton and said he “knew of” my granddad, Rev. E. E. Conner, who lived in that area on Catawba. Jerry was in the Class of ’68 at Clinton, but dropped out after his junior year and served 15 months in Vietnam. Thank you for your service Jerry! I remember his younger brothers, Brent and Dale.

I also met Fay Martin, Ph.D at the ice cream table. Fay is an Enviromental Toxicologist, who lives in Oak Ridge. Athletic-wise, she has switched from tennis to table tennis and all but challenged me to a match at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. I may take her up on that, since she’s a couple of years older than me. Loser buys the pizza at Big Ed’s!

After leaving the ice cream area, I toured the building that used to be the National Guard Armory and saw blue ribbon items plus enjoyed the best free popcorn at the Anderson County Schools’ display. The building that includes the Fair office also had great photography to see plus much more.

Before I left, I had a long chat with Louie Newberry, who has been setting up a lemonade stand and Italian ice drinks at the Fair for some 20 years. He works that summer job around his umpiring duties. By the way, Louie has umpired in the TSSAA state baseball tournament four times in his career!

I ran into a man who played for Clinton High football coach Ken Honea in the early 1970s. Lonnie McKamey, a defensive end for the Dragons when he said he was “skinnier and stouter,” survived two seasons under Honea.

“They were good and they were tough,” McKamey said of the Clinton teams that Honea coached. “He had no second string. He would have made a good drill sergeant.”

Outside of the carnival, McKamey sets everything up at the Fair and takes everything down. It takes a month, he said.

I ran into Clinton Mayor Scott Burton. He said he always thinks of my mom and dad, Bobbie and Bob, this time of the year and where they would sit at the Fair. For many years, Dad was very much involved with the Clinton Optimist Club and helped out with its booth at the Fair.

Another treat for me was running into E.T. Stamey, a 1966 Clinton High graduate and a Dragon through and through.

Of course, I can’t leave out the Fairest of the Fair. Autumn Hill, a UT junior and CHS 2022 grad, wore that crown and often walked through the Fair in majestic fashion.

I did miss seeing Freddy, who is well-known in Clinton and surrounding counties, particularly by sports fans. Mayor Burton told me he had been at the Fair the first two nights. I think I might go back Saturday night. Surely Freddy won’t miss the Fair’s last night.

I know I’ll have to pay to get in, but hey, I’m up $25.