When you find your passion, you stick with it. Clark A. Rumiser Sr. is one of those people. For 52 years, Clark has been dedicated to keeping Hudson’s children and pedestrians safe as a crossing guard. At 94 years old, Clark believes that he has six more years to go until he can retire. He’s always stationed at North Hayden and Victoria Parkways, dressed in a neon vest and his signature fedora, crossing children from three elementary schools: Evamere, East Woods and McDowell.
He has crossed hundreds of people over his years of service, but he insists that, “The best thing about my job are the children. I learn something new each day, they keep me young.” Clark has earned himself his likability because he mastered being able to call each child by their name. For the children whose names take longer to learn, Clark will write their names on his stop sign, like a notebook, until he masters it. During Halloween, Clark passed out his signature Clark bars to children on the first and last day of school.
It is clear that Clark is truly a town favorite and is known by everyone. He always makes an effort to learn the names of the locals, waving to bus drivers that pass or the drivers that go by everyday. Because of how much of an impact Clark makes in Hudson, he often receives positive feedback, frequently being taken out to dinner by the people in the community. In 2005, the Hudson City Council declared Sept. 6 as Clark A. Rumiser Day to properly recognize how much he means to the people of Hudson.
There have been times that Clark has been put on hold. For example, 20 years ago Clark suffered from a heart attack, putting him out of work for 3 months. But getting hit by a clearly distracted driver was almost the reason for him to end his streak of 52 years on the job. Clark didn’t expect to be working as a crossing guard for as long as he has, but he has been committed to keeping the town safe.
After returning home from Germany many years earlier, where he was waiting to be deployed in the Korean War, Clark had begun work at the old General Motors. Because he was laid-off so often from his previous job, he applied to Hudson as a custodian and as well as a crossing guard. After a while, he retired as a custodian, but remained as a crossing guard.
Clark’s reputation is an asset to Hudson. He does above and beyond for Hudson’s citizens which makes him stand out. Attending basketball games and spending time with the children are just a few things that people love and respect about Clark. He loves telling stories about his past. Being either at the corner or at Johnny’s Diner, his usual go-to, he is always eager to share about his earlier years.
Many of the school children that he initially helped cross the street now have children of their own that he aides too. He is an essential part of many of these kids’ days. Although he believes he is going to stop at 100, he says that he will only stop if he feels the need to.
