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Contributed photo
The 95-year-old University homecoming parade tradition continues this Friday morning.
▶ SAMANTHA SEXTON
@Sambiscuit
n keeping with a 95-year-old tradition, the University's Homecoming Week will feature the culmination of all things Jayhawks in the annual parade this Friday.
"The parade is the finishing touch on a great week of KU pride," said Emma Berger, the parade's co-chair. "It's certainly my favorite part of the whole week."
The parade begins at 111th Street in downtown Lawrence and continues down
Massachusetts Street to 7th Street. This year will feature around 15 floats as well as 45 other entries. Other features of the parade will range from decorated vehicles to high school dance troupes to participants from the Lawrence community.
"The parade used to only happen on campus and only recently has it been moved downtown," Katie Gerard, the director of homecoming, said. "I think it's so much better having it downtown because it's a great way to get
the community involved and show what the University can do for the area."
it's a great way to get the community involved."
Katie Gerard Director of homecoming
Gerard said that, other than the football game itself, the homecoming parade
is one of the more popular events of the week, drawing in locals as well as students.
"We had hundreds come and see the show last year, despite the rain," Gerard said. "This year's parade will be just as good with hopefully more people if the weather is good."
With clear autumn skies in the forecast, Berger and Gerard said they're excited to see the result of their efforts come alive at 6 p.m. this Friday on Massachusetts Street.
MIssy Minear/KANSAN
Missy Minear/KANSAN Members of the Theta Chi fraternity and Kappa Delta sorority hold their banner during the 2015 homecoming parade.
Contributed photo This year's theme for homecoming is "Rock Chalk Super Hawk."
Missy Minear/KANSAN The Delta Delta Delta sorority and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity walk alongside their float in 2015.
Kyle Clemons Bob Davis named Grand Marshals
▶ TANNER HASSELL @thassell17
Homecoming at the University is a week of tradition, and a popular time for alumni and fans to converge on campus. Over the years, the position of Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal has been filled by many notable alumni and friends of the University. This year, Olympic gold medal winner Kyle Clemons and longtime Kansas sports radio personality Bob Davis will lead the parade through downtown Lawrence.
Clemons, a former 400-meter sprinter at the University, won a gold medal in the 4-x-400 meter relay at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Summer Olympics this past August, according to the release. He received All-American honors from 2011-13 and was a two-time Big 12 Champion in 2013.
Davis was the play-by-play voice of football and men's basketball from 1984 until his retirement in April. He covered eight of the Jayhawks' 14 Final Four appearances, two basketball national championships, and six
football bowl games during his tenure, according to a University release.
Davis said he was pleasantly surprised to be nominated as one of the Grand Marshals and honored to join the list of notable people to be nominated for the role.
"It was nice of the Alumni Association to do that, and I'm sure it'll be an enjoyable ride. It'll be an interesting experience; I've never done anything quite like that before," he said. "You look through the list of people who've been Grand Marshal and it's a wide range of different people who've really done a lot. It's really nice of them to honor the old announcer."
Davis said he's excited for an opportunity to meet his fellow Grand Marshal.
"I think it'll be interesting to meet Kyle, maybe he'll bring his gold medal so we can all take a look at it," he said.
Meeting up with old friends and fellow alumni is what Clemons is looking forward to the most.
Contributed photo Olympic gold medal winner Kyle Clemons is a grand marshal for this year's homecoming parade.
"I'm looking forward to
Contributed photo
Former Kansas sports announcer Bob Davis is a 2016 University homecoming parade grand marshal.
"After everything I've been doing for the past few years, this is a big honor," he said. "Going to Rio and winning gold was great, and this is really the icing on the cake."
reconnecting with old friends and other alumni, and to be part of the tradition," he said.
Being chosen as a Grand Marshal is the perfect follow-up to the Olympics, Clemons said.
"I can't even explain to you what it means to me. KU has been such a big part of my journey so far." Clemons said. "I definitely wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them, so just knowing they're in my corner and having all that support is just really special."
Clemons said he was honored to be recognized by the University and the community that's given him so much support.
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