Washington County Fair Honorees
Fair Royalty 2010
Queen, Samantha Cummings
Daughter of Tim and Liz Cummings
First Attendant: (right) Kaylee Kimzey
Daughter of Kyle and Nicole Kimzey
2nd Attendant: (left) Kelby Tyler
Daughter of Mike and Vicki Tyler
2010 Grand Marshalls
Terrill and Mareli Clove of Washington City
Terrill Clove was born in St. George, but grew up in Henderson, Nevada. He has always had strong ties to Washington City. His mother is Thelma Neilson from Washington and his father is Alvy Clove from Hurricane. He has direct links to the original pioneers who settled Washington City in 1857 on both his grandpa’s and grandma’s sides. He earned his bachelor degree in Business Administration from Brigham Young University and has worked in health care in the St. George area since graduation. He is currently the executive director of the Meadows Retirement/Assisted Living community. He is married to Mareli Nisson who was born in St. George and raised in Washington City. She is the daughter of Quentin and Gwen Nisson and she also has direct links to the original pioneers. They both love Washington City and are so happy to have lived here their entire married life and have been able to raise their two sons, Peder and Stuart, in this wonderful place. They live in one of the historic homes of our city and love having the stewardship to care for this home.
In 1981, Mayor Robert Slack appointed Terrill to the Washington City Planning Commission where he served for nine years. He then served on the Washington City Council for two years and then as Mayor for sixteen years. During that time he saw many changes in our city. We grew from a small town of seven thousand citizens to a bustling city of twenty five thousand citizens. He has always tried to blend a love of the past with a hope for the future. He is a charter member of the Washington City Historical Society and helped promote the Washington City Museum along with the Pioneer Memorial Plaza and Veterans Monument. Terrill and Mareli have supported the Washington City Historical Society who worked diligently and restored the LDS Relief Society Hall and funded the Women’s Monument along with historical plaques at the Adair Spring, Virgin River, Water wheel at Nisson Park, the Adams granary and the city cemetery. There are also historic markers at many homes throughout Washington. Terrill encouraged the city acquiring a historic picture collection that is hanging in the city hall and also a mural depicting our city history that is hanging in the library. During the time Terrill served as Mayor, we constructed a new city hall and received a gift from the Aavard Fairbanks family of the George Washington Bust in front of the city hall. We also constructed two new fire stations, the community center, the library, seven city parks, many miles of walking trails, paid off the power system and golf course, improved and expanded the ball and soccer fields, expanded the cemetery, re-surfaced all the streets, added new power substations, improved and expanded the water and sewer systems to cover our entire city, and encouraged and worked with the many new businesses who located to Washington City. Terrill also worked with UDOT to widen the interchange at exit 10 and construct a new interchange at exit 13, plus receiving the final design and funding for the widening of Telegraph Street, 300 East and the Virgin River Bridge. Under Terrill’s leadership, the city also funded our Public Safety Department with full time police officers and several full time firemen along with the many volunteer fire fighters. One of the highlights of serving as Mayor was celebrating the city’s 150th birthday in 2007.
Mareli and Terrill have both strived to maintain that sense of community that they have known and loved all of their lives. Our city celebrations such as Cotton Days, July 4th, July 24th, Veteran’s day and Christmas in Dixie are something they look forward to every year. Terrill has worked with great city council members, tremendous city staff and exceptional citizens over the years. They have helped make the difference. Terrill and Mareli both love people and they appreciated the opportunity of serving the citizens of our city. All they can say now is Thank You.
