Gary and Betty Wennihan, this year’s Fairfax Fair Parade Grand Marshals, ride in the parade on August 12, 2017.

Gary and Betty Wennihan were chosen as this year’s Fairfax Fair Parade Grand Marshals. The couple met on the Corning Public School bus in 1953 when the Wennihan family moved to the Milton community. They both graduated from Fairfax High School, where Betty was the basketball homecoming queen in 1962. Childhood sweethearts married in 1962, they are the parents of two daughters, Deana Wennihan, Fairfax, and Cindy Matthes Wennihan, Beatrice, Nebraska. They are the grandparents of Jennifer Brandon Jensen, Stanberry, Missouri, Justin Brandon, Mound City, Missouri, and Gabriell and Megan Matthes.  They also enjoy spending time with their great-grandkids, Mason, Kimber, and Waylon Jensen and Adlee and Addison Brandon.
Gary and Betty are active in the First Church of God, where both are Sunday school teachers, Gary is on the Board of Trustees, and Betty plays the piano. Betty owned the “Mane Thing” beauty shop from 1998 to 2006 and had a float in the parade every year.
Gary is a retired farmer and Betty was the FHS Alumni Secretary for 35 years. Betty has visted Fairfax students and taught them about Fairfax’s history. She’s also active in Kiwanis. Gary drives the evening mail truck.
Betty said, “I love the dear hearts and gentle people who live and love in my hometown!”