Betty Brice, 16 year old daughter of Carl and Wilma Brice, was crowned the
1961 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, on May 11, 1961. She was crowned
by dual 1960 Queens, Barbara Bell and Marilyn Mullins, making her the fourth
young lady from Hopkins County to wear the crown.

 

"White Glove Test" Memory of
1961 Hopkins County Dairy Festival

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

"The way that I learned I had won the title of Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen for 1961, was that just before we went on stage Lena Mae Rogers handed me the long, white gloves to wear," remembers Betty Brice Chapman, when reflecting on her being crowned Queen. "I managed to sneak to the corner of the door and wave my gloves to my family in the audience, letting them know that I had won the title. So my family had a little advance notice that I was the 1961 Queen!"

"Fantasy In Dairyland" was the theme for the 1961 pageant and Roy Martin served as the Narrator for the event and Billy Conner served as the Chairman of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board. Contestants included: Carolyn Hammond, sponsored by the Treble Clef Club; Marsha Hendrix, sponsored by the Junior Waverly Club; Joyce Kennimer, sponsored by the Arbala Home Demonstration Club; Bettie Robinson, sponsored by the Saltillo 4-H Club; Judy Kay Chapman, sponsored by the Dial Study Club; Pat Marts, sponsored by the Gafford Chapel Progress Club; Kay Kimmons, sponsored by Pickton High School;  Jo Beth Jennings, sponsored by the Standard Club; Kay Gene Craver, sponsored by the Lions Club; Freda Underwood, sponsored by the Saltillo FFA; Betty Dildy, sponsored by the Waverly Club; Nan Irvin, sponsored by the Rotary Club; Sammie Long, sponsored by North Hopkins School; Sarah Lilly, sponsored by the Morning Arts Garden Club; Betty Brice, sponsored by Mother's Culture Club; Linda Loyd, sponsored by the Sulphur Springs FFA; and Tommie Binkley, sponsored by Sulphur Springs Dairy Auction.

Duchesses came from Longview, Tyler, Terrell, Grand Saline, Paris, Mt. Pleasant, Naples, Mt. Vernon, Cooper, Winnsboro, and Mineola.

Court Jesters were Larry "Buck" Booker, Jr. and Frank Wright, and Court Heralds were Jimmie Chapman and Johnny Sickles. Queen Attendants included Cheri Chapman and Phyllis Erck and the Flower Girl was Linda Brashear. The Pageant paid special honor to Roger Plummer, on the 25th Anniversary of the Carnation Milk Company.

"In 1961, I was a sophomore in high school, when I was named Dairy Festival Queen," allows Betty Brice Chapman. "My family had ties to the dairy industry, as my mother, Wilma Brice, worked at AMPI when it first opened in Sulphur Springs and my grandparents, Roy and Bessie Vaden, owned a dairy farm in the Old Tarrant community!"

Betty was sponsored by the Mother's Culture Club and remembers her aunt, Lucy Vaden, and Mrs. Essie Pearson coming and asking her to be the clubs representative in the Dairy Pageant. "At that time, ticket sales was the way the queen was chosen and everyone tried to sell the most tickets and kept their totals a secret," reminisces Betty. "I can remember my parents, Carl and Wilma Brice, and Mr. Wilbur Koon, and Brodie and Mary Koon taking me all over the county to sell tickets, so I guess that is who was really responsible for me winning the title!"

 

1961 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, Betty Brice Chapman,
today lives in Austin, Texas, but enjoys frequently returning to
Hopkins County to visit family and friends.

 

"Our pageant was in the old gymnasium, behind what is now the administration building," continued Chapman. "The gym had been transformed into a beautiful ballroom, with chandeliers and outstanding decorations!"

Betty Brice Chapman credits her serving as Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen with giving her self-confidence and the ability to meet people in a variety of circumstances. "I went to college at North Texas and became an English Teacher. I returned to Sulphur Springs in 1971 and taught at Miller Grove High School, first, and then at Como-Pickton," exclaimed Chapman. "Then, once my children were in school, I began teaching at Sulphur Springs High School."

"I felt it a privilege when during this time that I was asked to serve on the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board of Directors," continues Chapman. "My father had previously served on the board and I knew what hard work it was, but it was something that I enjoyed tremendously, and treasure all the friendships that I made during this time period."

"Both my children, Jennifer and Trey, participated in Dairy Festival, when they were pre-school age, and I was actively involved in decorating golf carts and making outfits for them," fondly remembers Chapman. "However, the funniest memory of Dairy Festival involves my son (and it wasn't funny to me at the time). But, Trey was on-stage and about 4 or 5 years old, when he was to present a rose to one of the queen contestants, and he and Ryan McKenzie got in a fist fight! We had to go on stage and pull them off the stage, so that the pageant could continue! I was horrifed but the audience 'roared' and Bruce Fielden still calls it the 'Boxing Match' of the Dairy Festival!"

Betty Brice Chapman currently lives in Austin, Texas, to be near her daughter, Jennifer Banda and her family, of husband Burke and two children, Brice, age 4, and Lizzie, age 4 months. Her son Trey and wife Melissa, live in Dallas with their 8 month-old son, Tyler. "I babysit every chance I get!" exclaimed Betty. "I also enjoy traveling and enjoyed a trip to Spain, in the Spring of 2008, with my sister and brother-in-law, Carla and Peter Daly. Friends and family are a big part of my life, and my mother, Wilma Brice, still lives in Sulphur Springs, so I'm back frequently to visit and share times with her and many of my cherished friends!"

"Congratulations to the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board for working together for 50 years to host such a fabulous event for their community!" exclaims Chapman. "I look forward to attending the Golden Anniversary event and visit with former queens and associates!"

 

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