1963 Dairy Festival Queen
Dairy Festival Marks
5th Anniversary in 1963
by: Bobby McDonald
The Dairy Festival was well on its way to becoming a permanent part of Hopkins County by 1963, when plans began for that year's fifth tribute to the dairy industry, on May 9, 1963. It was a banner year in Hopkins County when Ashcroft-Wilson Motor Company was offering a new 1963 Ford Pickup for $1,691.00. And, the local dairy farmer who planned to attend the Northeast Texas Dairy Show could "drop-by" Eddins Western Wear, at 208 Main Street, and purchase a fine straw hat for only $5.00, to celebrate the occasion.
The Dairy Festival had been moved "back to May," following an "experiment" of hosting the annual tribute in June, in 1962. "We liked the idea of hosting the Dairy Festival in conjunction with the June is Dairy Month celebration," expressed one of the organizers. "However, the heat, here in Northeast Texas, and the youth showmen being out of school worked against our attendance last year!"
"The Lady of the House" could shop the businesses in Sulphur Springs and "outfit" her home with a Westinghouse washing machine for only $169.95, at the Western Store; Carpet could be purchased at Craver's for only $3.92 per yard; and ice trays could be purchased for only 88 cents. A "Hardwick," 36," gas stove could be purchased at County Butane Company for only $99.95, and if the milk check was extremely good, the housewife could purchase a "Cape Cod" Livingroom Suit at Tapp Funrniture Company for $199.00, "with the easy installment method!"
Penny's Department Store, located on the Downtown Square, was conducting a "Good Neighbor Day Sale," where Jamaica short sets for women and girls were only $2.99 and men's sports shirts were only $2.00. The Mission Theater was touting their feature of the week as "To Kill A Mockingbird," starring Gregory Peck, and the Hi-Vue Drive-In featured a "double feature" of Walt Disney films, "Lobo" and "The Littlest Outlaw."
Sulphur Springs State Bank was "bragging" about their loan portfolio, in 1963, with a "whopping" $3.6 million dollars in loans, mostly on dairy cattle, land, and equipment. Their deposits were listed at $9.8 million, and the total assets of the bank were at $10.6 million dollars.
This float ridden by Linda Moore and constructed by the Junior Waverly Club,
was the winning float in the 1963 Dairy Festival Parade.
Competing in the Dairy Festival Queen's Contest were: Jan Orwig representing the Lions Club, Paula Minty representing the Home Demonstration Council, Vicki McKay representing the Standard Club, Gail Blackburne representing the Mother's Culture Club, Sandra Hedge representing the BP&W Club, Linda Moore representing the Junior Waverly Club, Cathy Pribble representing the Sulphur Springs FFA, Mary Ann Prim representing the Dial Study Club, Kay Gene Craver representing the Waverly Club, and Joye McGrede the Sulphur Springs Garden Club. Escorts included: Joe Dan Moss, Joe Dan Orr, Joe Pickett, Tony Toro, Billy Hollingsworth, James Sheffield, Ronnie Irvin, David Loman, Billy Mac Cromer, and Barry Camp.
Theme for the 1963 Festival was "Under the Milky Way," and featured the moon and stars, and of course, the cow that jumped over the moon!
This "Milky Way" float certainly carried-out the theme. Does anyone recognize the two ladies
in front? Note the classic cars and the rodeo arena in the background!
Duchesses representing Cooper, Winnsboro, Daingerfield, Mt. Vernon, Tyler, Pittsburg, Commerce, Greenville and Longview were present for the pageant.
Jesters for the pageant included: Tommy Griggs, Carroll Gibson, Emmett Moore, Jr., Jimmy Sanderson, Frankie Eddins, and Billy Ray Douglas. Ushers were: Doyle McKenzie, David Raybun, Lonnie Browning, Stewart Hawthorne, Norman Fleming, and Randall Long. Usherettes were: Modena Flippin, Sherri Pendleton, Marynell Anderson, Sarah Clements, Patricia Bearden, and Kay Williams.
Mrs. John Sulcer, director of the Sulphur Springs High School Blue Blazes, brought her girls as the entertainment for the evening. Billy Connor served as the Narrator and Mrs. Robert Murdock was the organist. Soloist was Don Shook and the trumpeteers were Sammy Fox and Johnny Sickles.
The Wildcat Marching Band made an appearance in the 1963 Dairy Festival Parade......
As well as these famous horses!
When the votes were tabulated and the ticket money counted, it was Mary Ann Prim, that was crowned the 1963 Dairy Festival Queen, in the coronation ceremonies, in what featured the "first" outdoor coronation ceremonies. Prior to 1963, the coronation had been held indoors, so everyone was praying for no rain. The Dairy Festival Parade was held on the afternoon before the coronation in 1963, and a "Mystery Milk Man" was circulating through Sulphur Springs in a dairy promotional effort, with clues being offered at area businesses. The popular program of offering free milk to motorists on I-30 was continued in 1963, as well.
We "caught-up" with Mary Ann Prim Salch, who now lives in Galveston, Texas, and asked her about some of her "Queenly" memories. "I remember traveling all across East Texas and representing Hopkins County and Sulphur Springs in a number of pageants and parades," denoted Mary Ann. "I learned quickly how to walk into a room and introduce myself to others. I never left the room without making friends! "
"I guess that was the most outstanding tribute that I can give to serving as Dairy Festival Queen, because I've used the skill throughout my life," continued Salch. "I have devoted much of my life involved in charitable work, from chairing galas, balls, and working with other people, both young and old! I've just completed a term as Chair of the School of Nursing Advisory Board at the University of Texas Medical Branch and Membership Chair of UTMB's President's Cabinet!"
"But, my greatest accomplishment in life would certainly be my family!" declared Salch. "I'm married to Steve Salch, whom I met at SMU over 40 years ago, and we are the proud parents of two children, Susan Salch and Trent Salch. Trent is married to Megan and they have our granddaughter, Kylie, age three, who would certainly make a most beautiful queen, someday!"
Mary Ann Prim Salch, lives in Galveston, Texas, where she is actively
involved with her family and charity work.
Steve Salch is a Tax and International lawyer who was named the Outstanding Tax Lawyer in the State of Texas, by the Texas Bar Association, this past June. Steve and Mary Ann have recently moved to Galveston, after spending 30 years in Houston, and have a beach house on the west end of the island, and a home in Galveston that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Steve's law office has it's own history, as it is located in a building that survived the Historic 1900 Galveston Storm.
"I loved every minute of my year as queen," remembers Mary Ann. "I can recall handing out ribbons at the Northeast Texas Dairy Show and being 'licked' by so many cows!"
Mary Ann denoted also having the first "lighted" float, in the Dairy Festival Parade. "The electrician was running along behind the float and having to re-start the generator, every few hundred feet, but it was absolutely beautiful, when I rode on it as the Queen in the 1964 parade. My mom, Dorothy Prim and aunt, Denny Ashcroft, along with many special friends built the float that served as the Queen's float. Then, the Dial Study Club 'out-did" themselves creating the float that I rode on when I was a candidate. There have always been very creative individuals in Sulphur Springs!"
The Junior Waverly Club won the float competition in 1963 with a float that was rode by contestant, Linda Moore. The float featured a farm scene, complete with a cow and barn, and garnered the club $75.00 in prize money. A "tie" was exerienced for the second place award, between the entries of the Waverly Club, rode by Kay Craver, and the Home Demonstration Council, rode by Paula Minty. Craver was featured taking a bath in a large gold bathtub and Minty was featured pouring milk from a giant pitcher. The second prizes were $37.50 each for the winning entries.
Another memory of her year as Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen involved an appearance in the Miss Mount Pleasant Pageant. "I was required to wear a swimsuit and high heel shoes, appearing at poolside, " remembered Mary Ann. "And, I was blinded by the spotlight and almost fell in the pool!"
And, speaking of her handing out ribbons and awards at the Northeast Texas Dairy Show, Billie Neal Anderson was President of the Northeast Texas Dairy Show, Leeman Teetes was serving as Show Superintendent, and we looked up some of those 1963 winners. They included: David Owens with the Grand Champion Holstein Bull; Eddie Flora with the Grand Champion Jersey Bull; Judy Potts of the Dike 4-H with the Champion Brown Swiss; and a little thirteen year old boy, Johnny Herren, from the Shooks Chapel 4-H Club, who led his 5 year old registered Jersey Cow to honors as the Grand Champion Jersey Female in the open and junior shows, and Grand Champion of the entire 1963 Show.
As Mary Ann Prim, won the coveted crown of Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, the "Stuckey's" store was experiencing their Grand Opening, from a location on Interstate-30 East, and offering "free candy" to anyone that stopped by. And, over 100,000 bass fingerlings were being placed in Century Lake to the delight of local fisherman. Does anyone know what the price of milk was in 1963? How much did feed cost? Or, what was the price of a dairy cow?
We do know that the top three dairy herds in Hopkins County, on official DHIA Test, were the B.L. Koon herd, the C.F. Tucker herd, and the T.O. Kight herd. The top two cows on official test were "Yellow" and "Whitie," owned by B.L. Koon and they produced 77 and 74 pounds of milkfat during the testing period. There were still a few Grade-B barns in the county and Hopkins County had more Grade-A Farms and outproduced all other counties in the state of Texas.
Some of the top winners at the 1963 Northeast Texas Dairy Show!!!
And a Craver's Hardware Display advertising the new "modern" milking equipment of the era.
_____