1974 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen
Lasca Williams
"The Streak" Top Song
When 1974 Dairy Festival
Queen Was Named
by: Bobby McDonald
1974 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen and her court.
Left to right, are Mary Brewer, Cindy Anderson, Queen Lasca Williams,
and Kamilla Johnson.
Yep, it was Ray Stevens' song "The Streak," that topped the charts in 1974, as Hopkins County paused to celebrate Dairy Festival Week......"don't look, Ethel!" Other favorites included: "The Way We Were," by Barbara Streisand; "Seasons In The Sun," by Terry Jacks; "Dancing Machine," by The Jackson 5; and Mac Davis' "One Hell of a Woman!"
Teenagers were "cruising" Gilmer Street and playing, "Bennie & The Jets, by Elton John; "The Loco-Motion," by Grand Funk Railroad; "Midnight at the Oasis," by Maria Muldeur; "Show and Tell," by Al Wilson; "Sun on My Shoulder," by John Denver; and "Spiders and Snakes," by Jim Stafford. Also popular, was "You Make Me Feel Brand New," by the Stylists and "Jungle Boogie" by Kool & The Gang!
This local musical trio, consisting of Ronny Lyle, Ray Dean
Searight, and Earl Gaddy, were making the local scenes.
The Mission Theater was showing Al Pacino in "Serpico" and "Papillon" with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, and other movies included: "Macon County Line," Clint Eastwood's "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot," and "Dillinger." At the Hi-Vue, it was "The Possession of Joel Delaney" featuring Shirley McClaine and "Big Bad Mama" with Angie Dickenson!
Jerry Don and Peggy Gibby had been selected as the Outstanding Young Dairy Family, along with their three children, Donna, Janet, and Mike, by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. The Gibby's had a dairy farm at Birthright and would later become members of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board.
These two "yahoos" were cheerleaders at the 1974 Powder-Puff Football Game. You might
ask Richard Watson and Richard Benson who they were!!!!
Gold Medal flour was 79 cents for a five pound bag, five pounds of sugar was $1.49, and ice cream was 89 cents a half-gallon, at Piggly Wiggly. Eggs were 39 cents a dozen and buttermilk was 59 cents a half-gallon. Bread was three large loaves for a $1.00 and bacon was 79 cents a pound. The local supermarket advertised that they "gave double S&H Greenstamps on Wednesdays!"
The Dike Community had been named the 1974 Rural Progress winner and officers in the community organization included: Donnie Godfrey, Mr. & Mrs. Pat Potts, and Wiladean Irvin. The Dike Community was headed to state competition because of their extra efforts in organizing and "cleaning-up" their community!
And, it was a 5.2% jobless rate in the U.S. However, it was quite easy to find a "milking job" in Hopkins County as local dairy farmers, Doyle Wood, Julian Humphrey, Terry Tate, and Ray Cannon had all placed an ad for a "milkhand" in the local paper. Dan Humphrey advertised a milking job at his farm, in Como, that featured the "ease of a parlor barn!"
Queen Lasca Williams
New Sulphur Springs High School Superintendent, Scott Ferguson, had just been hired and had announced Tom Stribling and Mary Limbaugh as the 1974 Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the graduating class at SSHS. He denoted that their were 12 students in the class that were "all separated by only fractions of a point." "This is a top group of students with the top 12 students placing with less than one grade-point from the valedictorian," expressed Ferguson. "The 194 students in the class of 1974 will be a class that will excel in life!"
Meanwhile, ten young ladies, in the junior class, from across Hopkins County had made the decision to enter the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen Contest. They included: Gail Gideon, representing the Mother's Culture Club, and sponsored by Texas Power and Light Company; LeAnn Raines, representing Sulphur Bluff School, and sponsored by Pratt Packing Company; Connie Brim, sponsored by Sulphur Springs Farm Store, and representing the Jr. Waverly Club; Karmon Koon, representing the Standard Club, and sponsored by Rockwell International; Salli Price, representing the Kiwanis Club, and sponsored by General Telephone Company; Mary Brewer, sponsored by Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Company, and representing Cumby High School; Kamilla Johnson, representing Waverly Club, and sponsored by Peoples National Bank; Kim McCool, representing Dial Study Club, and sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottling Company; Lasca Williams, representing B&PW Club, and sponsored by City National Bank; and Cindy Anderson, representing Rotary Club, and sponsored by Sulphur Springs State Bank.
1974 Dairy Festival Candidates are pictured here with 1973 Queen Denise Dickerson and Dairy
Festival Board Members, Durann Ardis, Lena Maye Rogers, Sue Paul, and Lynda Hager.
(Plaids must have been the fashion statement. What do you think?) The "get acquainted party"
was held in the Jim and Sue Paul home, on Fm-1567.
Jimmy D. Cope and his family had taken-over the management of the Put-Put Golf Course in Buford Park and was inviting everyone to come there for "quality local entertainment!" Ground beef was 68 cents a pound at Quicky Foods and sausage was $1.59 a pound. Sulphur Springs Loan and Building was offering home loans for 5 1/4% interest and Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church was conducting a fundraising effort to rebuild their church building, which had been destroyed by fire, in January.
Boodie Phillips and Billy Myers asked local "car shoppers" to drop-by their B&B Used Cars, located at 208 Parkins Street, and view the nice selection of automobiles. "We only buy clean used cars!" touted the local automobile dealers. Valton Kennedy was operating a used car lot from the old Dairyland Drive-In, on Broadway Street.
D.S. Mullins of Yantis, one of the first commercial poultry breeders in the area, offered "quality white leghorn laying hens," three for $1.00. And, Mike Pribble was pleading with local teenagers to consider selling cokes, peanuts, and popcorn at the 4th of July Rodeo, that would feature four performances. "It's a great chance for teenagers to make some summer vacation money!" he acknowledged.
The price of hay hauling had risen to include 12.5 cents a square bale, and many local young men made great money with an old truck, his best friend, and a girlfriend driving, as they hauled hay for local dairy farmers throughout the late spring, summer, and early autumn.
And, Scott Ferguson had also announced that their would be several administrative positions in the SSISD that would feature "promotions from within." They were Richard Teer, assuming principal at Junior High School; Lewis Watts moving from High School to Douglas Elementary School; and Billy Dan Lindley accepting the position of principal at Travis Elementary School.
Shooks Chapel United Methodist Church had completed their new sanctuary, located on the same location as the old building, and were planning dedication ceremonies to coincide with their annual Memorial Day Services. Ellen's Dress Shop was conducting a half-price sale and Bill Taylor had donated the bricks for a new entrance to be constructed for the entrance to Buford Park. Members of the local beautification committee and overseeing the construction project would be Margin Latham, Bill Tuck, Jerri Graves, Frank Jones, and Buddy Funderburk.
J.C. Penny's was advertising, from their location on the downtown square, panty hose for 88 cents a pair, 100% polyester pants suits for $12.88, and "sleeveless shells" for only $4.50 each.
Many dairy farmers in Hopkins County were taking advantage of the "exotic boom" that was sweeping the beef cattle industry and were artificially breeding their lower producing dairy cows to Simental, Limousine, Chianina, and Maine Anjou. Gaylord Martin and his young son, Dan, were promoting the practice, according to County Agent Paul Herschler, and receiving a premium for their crossbred calves born on their Highway-19 dairy farm.
Dairy Festival Board members had met and determined the theme for the 1974 Festival would be "U.S.A. in Dairyland" and queen's candidates chose cities across the nation to depict on their floats.
A "Dairyman's Digest" editorial placed Hopkins County dairy production at the top. County producers exceeded production of any other county in the six-state region of Associated Milk Producers' Southern Region, comprising Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Hopkins County had an annual production of 468,302,491 pounds of milk, with 534 individual dairy producers. Average daily production on a Hopkins County dairy farm was 2,272 pounds of Grade-A milk. "The county's annual milk production output is more than that of the entire top ten counties in all except one of the other states," related the article. "The most concentrated milk producing area in the Southern Region is in the Dallas-Ft. Worth market. Erath County ranked second with 210,917,581 pounds of milk from only 177 producers; and neighboring Wood County was 10th place in the standings, with 94 producers, producing 69,536,890 pounds of milk.
The stage setting for the 1974 Talent and Beauty Show featured a railroad theme, with cities across
the U.S.A. being "stops" on the route. The show was hosted in the Jr. High School Gymnasium.
The Talent and Beauty portion of the Dairy Festival Queen's competition was held on Tuesday night, May 7th, 1974, with the 10 young ladies vying for the title presenting their talent numbers, interviewing with judges, and competing in evening gown. Members of the committee included: Mrs. Bill Hager, Mrs. Gene Watson, Mrs. Gerald Bowers, Mrs. Larry Gamblin, Mrs. Lewis Helm, Mrs. Walter Helm, Mrs. Robert Ardis, and Mrs. James Moore. Talent numbers ranged from dance routines, piano selections, an interpretive reading, to solos, and song and dance presentations. Special entertainment for the evening was provided by a vocal presentation by Mrs. Johnny Dobson and when the stage decorations of a railroad theme was unveiled, Mr. Tim Kelty, sang "Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe," opening the show. Gene Orwosky was president of the 1974 Dairy Festival Board and Jimmy Albright served as Master of Ceremonies for the Talent and Beauty Show. Rex Wilemon directed the SSHS Stage Band during their musical presentations, in the program.
This "bevy" of "Old Fashion Greeters" included: Amy Bowers, Kim McCasland, Jana Albright, Larna
Beck, JImmie Bell, Jennifer Kennedy, Gena Watson, Sherri Phillips, Charlotte Beck, and Jennifer Bell.
The 1974 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade, hosted through Sulphur Springs, on Thursday afternoon, May 9th, at 2:30 p.m., was touted as "the biggest one yet!" It featured over 50 units, including the 10 floats ridden by Dairy Festival Candidates, and the Queen's float ridden by 1973 Queen Denise Dickerson. Cities represented included: Nashville, Tennessee, New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Detroit, Michigan, Natchez, Mississippi, Atlanta, Georgia, Orlando, Florida, and Seattle, Washington.
This float ridden by Gail Gideon and sponsored by Mother's Culture Club, won first place in the 1974 parade
competition, featuring San Francisco.
This second place float, ridden by Mary Brewer and constructed by Cumby High School, depicted
the city of Natchez, Mississippi.
Salli Price rode this third place float in the 1974 parade that depicted Nashville, Tennessee, and was
constructed by the Kiwanis Club.
"As you can see from the quality of these outstanding floats, we have some very crafty people in Hopkins County," exclaimed Gene Orwosky, as he described the beautiful floats.
LeAnn Raines, representing Sulphur Bluff High School rode this float depicting New Orleans. And,
that's Dwight Tubb serving as her escort.
Lasca Williams rode this float sponsored by B&PW Club and featuring Philadelphia. Who is the
escort, Lasca?
Karmon Koon rode this Atlanta, Georgia, float sponsored by the Standard Club.
Cindy Anderson's float featured New York City and was sponsored by the Rotary Club.
Many of the parade participants might have noticed the "steeple jack" on the Hopkins County Courthouse steeple. He was "checking-out" the roof and steeple of the historic building, to make certain that it was in good repair, in May 1974.
Miss Kamilla Johnson, sponsored by theWaverly Club, rode this float depicting a fisherman's wharf
and pulled by a giant pink whale that actually spewed water through the parade route!
Kim McCool, sponsored by Dial Study Club, rode this float that represented Orlando, Florida.
Connie Brim, sponsored by the Jr. Waverly Club, rode this float featuring Detroit, Michigan, and
had this vintage car built to scale.
Thursday, May 9th, featured a full day for Dairy Festival Candidates, as they attended the Queen's Dinner, hosted by Denise Dickerson and her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Byron Dickerson. The event was held in the backyard of the B.F. and Denney Ashcroft Home, on College Street. Then, it was a "quick change" and off to board their floats, once again, and be presented at the Coronation, held in the Sulphur Springs High School Football Stadium. Over 1500 people were present for the night of entertainment and the naming of the new queen.
Duchesses representing Daingerfield, Mineola, Wills Point, Emory, Quitman, Winnsboro, and Gilmer were present for the night, as well as Miss Sulphur Springs Mickie Miller and Miss Flame Carol Adams. Gene Orwosky, portraying the "Mayor of Dairyland" presented keys to the city to each of these young ladies. Junior and Senior boys from the high schools represented in the pageant served as escorts for the queen and candidates. Queen Denise Dickerson had as her escort Tony Gene Smith.
The Queen's Dinner at the home of Mr. & Mrs. B.F. Ashcroft, on College Street.
Wendell Sapaugh served as the Narrator and as a vocalist for the coronation pageant. And, a group of singers: Naomi Tolleson, Nancy Sullivan, Martha Dobson, Maxine Willis, Gladys Reppond, and Teresa Pogue, accompanied by pianist Betty Longino, provided vocal numbers. The senior members of the Blue Blazes Drill Team, also provided entertainment.
The 1974 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Coronation at SSHS Football Stadium.
When results were announced, it was Miss Lasca Williams, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Williams and a junior at Sulphur Springs High School, that would wear the crown for the next year. Lasca had presented a song from the musical "Oklahoma," entitled "I'm A Girl That Just Can't Say No."
In a departure from previous queen's competition, in 1974 a separate Talent and Beauty winner was not designated. However, it was Miss Cindy Anderson, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Anderson, that was named first runner-up, and Miss Kamilla Johnson, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. A.P. Johnson, that was named second runner-up in the contest. Another first, Miss Mary Brewer, of Cumby, was named the first Miss Congeniality winner by the other contestants in the contest.
We found 1974 Dairy Festival Queen, Lasca Williams Anderson, living in Destrehan, Louisiana, where she recalled her being named Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, on that fateful night in May 1974. "I had never imagined first being able to compete in the Dairy Festival and I was totally 'blown away,' when I was named queen," stated Lasca. "I had sang in the youth choir and Son Shiners, at First Baptist Church, but I'd never performed before the entire town and county, so I never, ever expected to win the contest! Ironically, the night of practicemy assigned seat positioned me near the center of the stage, so they used me to practice being queen, so I did know what to do, when my name was revealed the night of the pageant! "
"I can remember finding a trunk backstage and asking if I could use it for a prop, during my talent presentation," remembered Lasca. "Of course the members of the board were helpful and said I could use it. Then, I remember that my evening gown was a 'garage sale' model, that I'd purchased from one of my mother's friends, who was selling her daughter's evening dresses. It is funny now, but I wouldn't have dared to tell it when I was in the contest!"
"I also wore borrowed long white gloves from Mrs. Mary Conley," relates Lasca. "My $25.00 dress and borrowed gloves and props, propelled me into one of the most memorable experiences I've ever done in life. It taught me self-confidence, how to meet people, and to represent my home community, at a very young age!"
"We moved to Hopkins County from Dallas, and lived in the Ridgeway community, when I was in the third grade. I attended third grade in North Hopkins Schools and then went to Sulphur Springs from 4th - 12th grade," states Lasca. "My mother and her family were natives, for generations, of the Peerless Community, so I had Hopkins County 'roots,' to build upon."
Lasca says that her mother always wanted them to enter the dairy business, but her father always said "no." But, they had farm animals and she was reared in a rural part of Hopkins County.
Following high school graduation in 1975, Lasca, who credits her Dairy Festival experience as the reason she won "most friendly" of her graduating class, married and was a "stay at home" mom. She is the mother of two daughters, April Wilkie and Amber Wieniewitz, and during their formative years she was a member and president of the Sulphur Springs Mother's Culture Club, actively involved in First Baptist Church.
In 1985, Lasca began attending East Texas State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and Mathematics, in 1988. Following graduation, she began teaching 6th grade math at Brandenburg Middle School in Garland ISD. Lasca and her husband, Stan Anderson, a native of Bogata, Texas, moved to Destrehan, Louisiana, over the Christmas holidays, in 1991, where she continued her career as an educator. Lasca received her Masters of Education, with Administrative Certification, in July 1998, from Southeastern Louisiana University.
Lasca served as an Assistant Principal for six years, before being selected to serve as principal of the Satellite Center School, in her hometown of Destrehan. The school is for junior and senior students. In 2003, Lasca was recognized as the "School Administrative Support Employee of the Year" and continues to enjoy her career in the education of children.
"Both my daughters are grown and have families of their own," expressed Lasca. "April (Wilkie) lives in Luling, Louisiana, and is the parent of Madeline, age 7, and Jacob, age 3. And, Amber (Wieniewitz) lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she has two year old, Abbie. I love my daughters dearly and God has blessed me with three beautiful grandchildren! "
When asked to give advice to other girls who might be considering entering Dairy Festival Queen competition, Lasca states, "It's a wonderful experience that I would encourage anyone to participate in, as you will learn so much about yourself and the people of your hometown. It's a positive image builder and builds your self-confidence to a level that will aid you in your future life!"
"I can remember my Dad crying when I was named queen," remembered Lasca. "I really don't know if he was crying because he was happy I had won, or because he knew we had to do something with the queen's float!"
"My experience as Dairy Festival Queen taught me just how wonderful and giving the people of Hopkins County really are," states Lasca. "Tim Kelty let us keep the queen's float in his barn; members of the Dairy Festival Board supported me throughout my reign; and Mrs. Jimmie Harbor, of the B&PW Club, first asked me to be in the contest. There were people supporting me every step of the way!"
And, Lasca's first duty as queen was to head for the Show Barn, located in Buford Park, and begin presenting awards on May 10, 1974. Along with queens from other organizations, Lasca awarded trophies, ribbons, and special plaques to the Dairy Show Exhibitors. The 1974 Northeast Texas Dairy Show was one of the largest ever held, with more cattle being entered than the old show barn could hold. The large number of cattle filled the barn and many were required to be tied outside, in the park. (This large event served as one of the "sparks" that ignited the flame of building the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.)
Jack Newsome with one of his champion Jersey entries.
The 38th Annual Northeast Texas Dairy Show found Jackie Huddleston of Alba, Texas, taking the winners in the Other Breeds Division and the Alexander family of Brashear dominating one of the larger Brown Swiss Shows, ever held in Sulphur Springs. Then, the Jersey showmen included Brody Koon, Karmon Koon, Kris Koon, Rickey Koon, Kelly Kight, and Jack Newsome. In the Holstein Division, it was Neal Anderson, PRW Farms, C.F. Tucker, and James Jackson, Kristi Skelton, Joe Don Pogue, Marty and Danny Glossup, Dan Humphrey, and Gary Burks, that showed from Hopkins County.
Rodney Alexander with one of his 1974 Brown Swiss entries.
May 1974 also found short-sleeved sports shirts at $3.99 and $4.99, at Penny's. Austin Shoes was featuring a clearance sale with shoes at $1.87 - $3.87 a pair. And, Village Dress Shop had swimsuits priced at $5.00 and 7.00, pants suits at $8 to 10.00; and dresses at $15.00.
Neal Anderson receiving a Holstein Award at the 1974 Dairy Show from Judy
McDonald, 4-H Queen.
Paula Wright, Judy McDonald, and Patricia James had won the County 4-H Dress Review and were headed to district competition. And, over 200 head of springing Holstein heifers had arrived at Gary Mesker's farm, located on Hwy-11, east. ABS was offering an artificial insemination school at Jones' Livestock and Dairy Auction, taught by Tommy Johnson and Gene Watts.
Mike Watts, a junior at Sulphur Springs High School, was headed for the State FFA Convention, where he was to compete for the Star Lone Star Farmer Award, while Winzen Research, Inc. had been selected as the "Industry of the Year," by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce.
Local FFA members Walt Mannon and Mike Watts with some of the awards the chapter had
won in 1974.
Jimmy and Lavert Ross and Mike and Bill Mabe were advertising a great selection of both Registered Holstein Bulls and springing heifers from their lot on College Street. Mr. & Mrs. Larry Booker's home on Gilmer Street was being moved to make way for a business located in its spot. And, a Washington study revealed that use of alcohol was "almost unanimous" among 18-20 year olds in the U.S.
Lasca Williams Anderson is an educator in Destrehan,
Louisiana, where she enjoys her work with children and
treasures time spent with her daughters and grandchildren.
A family portrait of Lasca Anderson's family.
"The 1970's was a wonderful time to be reared in Hopkins County," remembers Lasca Williams Anderson. "I'm looking forward to coming back in 2009 and sharing with the Dairy Festival this wonderful milestone in their organization!
"And, no I wasn't one of those 'streakers' in 1974," denotes Lasca. "But, I did know one or two who tried it, to their own detriment!"
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