1981 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen
Laura Diamond
1981 Dairy Festival Featured
Naming of "Moo-nique"
by: Bobby McDonald
The "call" went out in 1981, by the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board, for a unique name for the humorous dairy cow that had been selected earlier as the official symbol for the festival. And, 562 entries were submitted, attempting to be declared the winner. Well, it was six year old, Cristina Bouland, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. James Bouland, of Sulphur Springs, that concocted the name "Moo-nique," and the symbol was christened. The contest was called "Name the Cow Contest" and open to all children in the first through the fourth grades in Hopkins County. Cristina was a first-grader at Houston Elementary School and received a new bicycle, compliments of Jim Masters Western Store. Christina allowed that she "loved French vanilla ice cream, and that it might have influenced her decision on the name!"
Meanwhile, Hopkins County, along with a large portion of the state of Texas, was suffering from a need for rainfall. Enough rain had been received to get most of the spring planted crops, up and growing, but moisture was needed to sustain them. Temperatures were above normal and the mercury had reached a hot 91 degrees, the week of Dairy Festival, in Sulphur Springs (and this was just the beginning, as the summer of 1981 would be one long remembered for its hot and dry weather).
Laura Diamond, 1981 Dairy Festival Queen, as she rode in the 1982 Parade.
County Agent, Ron Woolley, had announced that the 45th Annual Northeast Texas Dairy Show would be moving to April, to coincide with the other Dairy Festival events. "By moving the show to April, we have developed a renewed interest in the show and will have cooler temperatures for the cattle being shown," advised Woolley. "We're expecting a large number of entries, from all across the state of Texas, as we have heard from 4-H clubs, FFA Chapters, and Dairy Cattle Breeders from almost everywhere!"
On the national scene, the Reagan Administration had slashed milk subsidies by $147 million dollars, and along with Secretary of Agriculture John Block, was receiving the "ire" of local dairy producers, who feared a substantial decrease in milk prices. Reagan had also lifted the "grain embargo" to the Soviet Union and had many dairy farmers anticipating a rise in feed prices.
To take a look at the scope of the dairy industry in Hopkins County, the latest figures available in 1981, was the year ending December 31, 1980. That year, Hopkins County had sold 5.562 billion pounds of milk representing over $75 million dollars in sales. Another, $25 million dollars were added to the local economy by the sale of cull dairy cows, breeding dairy cattle, baby calves, and dairy steers. Hopkins County produced over 15% of the total milk produced in the state of Texas and was the leading county for production, with over 47,500 producing cows. "The dairy industry affords a much higher standard of living for Hopkins County, than does many counties in East Texas, that do not have the multi-million dollar industry to employ and sustain their populace," expressed Woolley. "The turn-over of dairy dollars in Hopkins County is seven or eight times, as the dairy farmer purchases goods and services, as well as production inputs, right here at home!"
Laura Diamond, as she presented her piano piece in the 1981 Dairy Festival competition.
Local beef and dairy producers were being encouraged to support Gov. Bill Clements for his decision to change the state's brucellosis program from one of test and slaughter to emphasize heifer vaccinations. The program was gaining support of several large, statewide cattlemen's organizations. And, in Ft. Worth, at the Texas and Southwestern Cattleman's Association annual meeting, the "beef check-off" program for advertisement, research, and development was approved, and would later be adopted by the entire industry.
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" was the number one movie of 1981, grossing over $230 million at the box-office. "On Golden Pond" was number two, with other popular movies being "Arthur," "Stripes," "Chariots of Fire," "Clash of the Titans," and "Tarzan the Ape Man." "Nine to Five" and "Going Ape" was showing at the Mission Theater, in Sulphur Springs, the week of Dairy Festival, and the Hi-Vue Drive-In had closed.
Kris Koon showing one of his registered Jersey heifers.
Randy Neal is shown with one of his Holstein show heifers.
Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes" was the top song of 1981 and running a close second place was "Endless Love," by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, spurned by the popular movie by the same name. Kenny Rogers' "Lady," was the the number three song. Other popular songs included: "Celebration," by Kool and The Gang; "Kiss on My List," by Daryl Hall and John Oats; Eddie Rabbitt's "I Love a Rainy Night; "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton; and REO Speedwagon's "Keep on Loving You."
Local youth would have also listened to: "Slow Hand," by the Pointer Sisters; Sheena Easton's "Morning Train";
"The One That You Love," by Air Supply; and the popular "Elvira," by the Oak Ridge Boys. Ronnie Milsap, who made a 1981 appearance in concert at the Hopkins County Civic Center, made popular "No Getting Over Me," and The Commodores sang "Lady, You Bring Me Up." Kenny Rogers crooned "I Don't Need You," and Pat Benatar sang"Hit Me With Your Best Shot." Dottie West made the Country Charts with "What Are We Doin' In Love," and Rosanne Cash belted out "Seven Year Ache."
Barry Manilow sang "I Made It Through The Rain," and Andy Gibb made popular "Time Is Time." And, another favorite was Sheena Easton's "For Your Eyes Only."
1981 Sulphur Springs FFA Officers and Sweethearts.
J.R. Ewing was still holding the top television audience, as he and his brother Bobby, operated from South Fork, on the number one "Dallas." Other top shows included: "60 Minutes," "The Jeffersons," "Joanie Loves Chachi" (a spin-off from "Happy Days"), "Threes Company," "The Love Boat," and "Falcon Crest." Many still tuned-in on Friday nights to watch the escapades of Bo and Luke, on "The Dukes of Hazzard."
Donna Hatcher, a 1980 graduate of Sulphur Springs High School had been crowned the 1981 Miss Sulphur Springs, and "Milk's The One" was a popular milk promotional slogan, that was being bantered around Hopkins County and the nation. And, optimism for the completion of the Cooper Lake Reservoir had been voiced at the Spring Rural-Urban Banquet.
On the national scene, John Hinkley, Jr. had fired shots at President Ronald Reagan, injuring him, his Press Secretary, James Brady, and a Secret Service Agent. "Ordinary People" was the movie selected as Best Picture at the Oscars, in 1981.
Cottage Cheese was 69 cents for a 12 oz. carton and Buttermilk was 89 cents for a half-gallon carton. Whole milk was $1.89 a gallon and eggs were 69 cents a dozen. Round steak was $1.78 a pound and "tip" roast was priced at $1.98 a pound.
Debbie Williams' Aggie Mom's Club float.
Stephanie Campbell's Tanti Club float.
The results of the 1980 census had been revealed and there was 25,239 people living in Hopkins County. The Banks in Sulphur Springs had just witnessed an "all-time" high in bank deposits for the first quarter of 1981, as they ended with an $18 million dollar increase over the end of 1980. Total deposits in the local banks was $133,224,036.00.
Laura Diamond's Kiwanis Club float.
Cynthia Alexander's Farm Bureau float.
Sulphur Springs Police Chief Delbert Harrell "cleared up" a rumor that was "floating" around Sulphur Springs, of a "bloody body, of a female, being sneaked out of town." It was simply an exercise for police officers from a 14 department area, that was conducting a training exercise in Sulphur Springs!
Gina Herman's Sulphur Bluff High School float.
Lorie Farler's Junior Waverly Club float.
The 1981 Hopkins County Dairy Festival began on Monday, April 20th and featured a reception honoring local dairymen and a special salute to two pioneers in the multi-million dollar industry, Henry Mahaffey, vice-president at City National Bank, and Gerald Prim, president of the Sulphur Springs State Bank. The two men were sited for their continued support of the dairy industry and making loans over a long period of time to finance the expansion of the industry in Hopkins and surrounding counties.
Tammy Middleton's Waverly Club float.
Kellie Galyean's Mother's Culture Club float that won the Sweepstakes Award.
Meanwhile, milk wasn't the only beverage causing a "stir," as the Legislature in Austin was battling over setting the legal age for drinking at 18 or 19. Many were proposing to raise the age to 19 to curb what some termed as "drunkenness in high schools!"
The WBAP Radio Stagecoach as it appeared in the 1981 parade.
The SSHS Marching Band in the 1981 Dairy Festival Parade, note the
changes along the north side of Connally Street.
Ten young ladies had "tossed their hat in the race" for the competition for Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen. They were: Le Ann Dodd, representing the B&PW Club; Gina Herman, representing Sulphur Bluff High School; Stephanie Campbell, respresenting the Tanti Club; Cynthia Alexander, representing Hopkins County Farm Bureau; Laura Diamond, representing the Kiwanis Club; the Aggie Mom's Club representative, Debbie Williams; Dial Study Club representative, Susan West; Mother's Culture Club representative, Kellie Galyean; Junior Waverly Club's representative, Lorie Farler; and Waverly Club representative, Tammy Middleton.
1981 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Candidates
Charles Dawson was president of the Dairy Festival Board of Directors, and "Prime Time In Dairyland" was the theme that was selected for the 1981 tribute to the Hopkins County Dairy Industry.
The Talent and Beauty Show, held on Thursday night, April 23rd, was termed "a highlight of the Dairy Festival Week," as the decorations committee transformed the Civic Center Auditorium stage into a "Fantasy Island / Love Boat" setting. "Mr. Roark" was portrayed by Shannon Oaks Church of Christ Minister, Dale Smith, who served as Master of Ceremonies for the night. John Holloway, the son of Mr. & Mrs. Mike Holloway was "Tattoo" from the favorite "Fantasy Island" television show, for the night. The ten queen contestants and reigning Dairy Festival Queen, Lydia Wallace, made their way to Dairyland via the Love Boat, instead of the customary plane landing.
Talent selection ranged from vocal numbers, to piano medleys, and jazz dancing. One young lady presented a comedy skit and another presented a tap dance routine. All talent presentations were sited for their outstanding originality and quality presentations.
The Annual Dairy Festival Parade was conducted on Saturday morning, April 25, under clear skies, despite the fact that many local dairy and beef cattle producers were praying for rainfall. The floats depicted "prime time" sayings and were described as "one of the more colorful presentations of workmanship" in several years.
The 1981 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Pageant.
Then, it was off to the Judge's Dinner and a night of evening wear, at the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Pageant. Winning floats were announced at the pageant and included: Susan West riding the Dial Study Club float " You Can't Fool Mother Nature," selected for "Most Beautiful'; Hopkins County Farm Bureau's float ridden by Cynthia Alexander was chosen as "Best Use of Theme"; "Most Original" Award was presented to the Waverly Club float " Doing What We Do Best," ridden by Tammy Middleton; and the "Sweepstakes Award" was presented to the Mother's Culture Club float, "Koolaid Dairyland Parlor," ridden by Kellie Galyean.
When the judges presented their tabulations in sealed envelopes, following a tearful final walk by Lydia Wallace, who sang "The Times of Your Life" as she thanked the people of Hopkins County, it was the "honey-blonde" Sulphur Springs High School junior, Laura Diamond, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. James Diamond and representing the Kiwanis Club, that was named 1981 Queen. She had presented a classical piano renditon from "The Norwegian Concerto," during the talent competiton, and wowed the judges.
Queen Laura Diamond, center, 1st Runner-up, Kellie Galyean, right, and 2nd Runner-up, Lorie
Farler, left.
Kellie Galyean was selected as first runner-up and Lorie Farler was named second runner-up. Gina Herman, representing Sulphur Bluff High School had been named "Miss Congeniality" by her peers in the contest. Rod Henderson had served as Master of Ceremonies for the pageant, and Kim Baxter, 1975 Dairy Festival Queen, and Jim Moore, Youth Minister at First Methodist Church, had been the special entertainment.
Visiting Dutchesses included: Miss Mineola, Miss Autumn Trails, Miss Mt. Pleasant, Miss Wood County Area, Suzi Minyard, Miss Teen Sulphur Springs, and Donna Hatcher, Miss Sulphur Springs.
"I remember being 'stunned' when Master of Ceremonies, Rod Henderson, called my name," relates Laura Diamond Taylor. "Lydia Wallace helped me with the crown and then they handed me the roses and I walked out on the runway and waved to my parents and grandparents. It was all so sureal!"
"Among my favorite memories of serving as queen were the trip to the Gilmer Yamboree," states Laura. "It was probably one of the most fun events, and my costume was suppose to resemble a tree. Really, it was a beautiful costume, made out of velvet and I carried an umbrella coverd with hand-sewn leaves!"
1981 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, Laura Diamond, with
Governor Bill Clements.
"I also really enjoyed the Queen's Dinner, the year that I was serving as queen," relates Laura. "We decided to make it a really causual affair where everyone could enjoy themselves, and Dad cooked hamburgers on the grill, while everyone relaxed and visited!"
Laura states that she would encourage any young lady that has the opportunity to enter Dairy Festival to make good use of the selection. "It is an opportunity you can't afford to pass up," admonishes Laura. "Everything about preparing for the pageant itself and the experience as Dairy Festival Queen is irreplaceable!"
"I had been playing the piano, ever since I could reach the piano bench," relates Laura. "I could play by ear and didn't start taking formal lessons, until years later. I had played the piano at the Como Christian Church, where my dad was the preacher, long before considering Dairy Festival. I can remember all of the practice for Dairy Festival competition as I learned my piece, 'La Traviata,' and selecting one of my mother's dresses, that we had altered to fit me for the talent segment! It was a beautiful, flowing, slate blue dress!"
"I must insert that the person that influence me the most through my reign as Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen was Lena Mae Rogers," states Laura. "There was no sweeter lady than she. She always had kind and encouraging words to say and I will forever be greatful for her 'mothering' and influence, in my life!"
As Laura Diamond reigned as Dairy Festival Queen, voters in Hopkins County "turned-down" a bond election for Civic Center improvements, and new construction permits topped the $1million mark in May of 1981, in Hopkins County. The Ramada Inn Restaurant was offering a "Sunday Quail Dinner" for $4.99 and Pratt's Federated, on the downtown square, was hosting a "going out of business sale."
Queen Laura Diamond, as she visited with Fred Randles, at this pageant.
Janet Gibby, a senior at SSHS was selected for All-District Girls Basketball and Betty Sue Chubb had won the District Singles Tennis Title, and second in regional competition. Jordan Stanley was the "player of the week," on the Wildcat Baseball Team and Dallas Cowboy Coach, Gene Stallings, had been selected as the speaker for the All Sports Banquet at SSHS.
Gober-Merrell Chevrolet was advertising a 1981 Monte Carlo for only $7,619.00 and Ronnie and Elton Stewart were busy conduction "on farm" dairy auctions across the Northeast Texas region. Gregg Price had relocated his law office to 1011 Gilmer Street and the First National Bank had opened a new "mini-Bank" and tapped Dallas Cowboy's Danny White to come for the ribbon cutting ceremony. "The Texas Travelers" were appearing every Thursday night at the "Orange Blossom" in Paris, and bacon was listed as $1.29 per pound, with Folger's coffee priced at $2.29 a pound. Sulphur Springs High School had brought home the UIL Sweepstakes trophy in 1981 competition, while Como-Pickton's one-act play, "Rise and Shine" won first place at the Zone level. Tapped for individual honors in the play were Billy Joe Teer, best actor, Teresa McKinney and Kevin Jenkins for all-star cast. Other cast members included: Beverly Coker, Tony Cook, Cheryl Friddle, James Teer, and Charlisa Murphy.
And the Second Annual Home-Made Ice Cream Freeze-Off, was won by Karen McIntire, in the novelty division, and Bonnie Gilmer was awarded the top ice cream by the judges, in the vanilla category. Morna Harry Moss, 1969 Dairy Festival Queen, won second place in the vanilla category.
And, it was a new event that joined the Northeast Texas Dairy Show, when a "Milk Derby" was added to promote recognizing production in the county's dairy herds. Herbert Flora, Jr. won the contest, producing 142.7 pounds of milk in four milkings, while Weldon DeWitt won second place and Bud Deal, of Mt. Vernon, captured the third prize. Flora's "Chocolate Soldier Hope," a seven year old cow, gave 5.5% butterfat in the contest.
Local winners in the show included: Jersey Division - Jack Newsom, Junior Champion Female, Leslie Schepp, Reserve Junior Champion Female, and Kris Koon, Junior Get of Sire Champion; Brown Swiss Division - Glenn Mitchell, Grand Champion Female, Brian Lennon, Reserve Grand Champion Female, and Brian Lennon Junior Champion Female, and Mitchell, Reserve Junior Champion Female. Holstein Division - David Zahn - Grand Champion Female, Laura Allen, Reserve Champion Female, Chad Neal, Junior Champion Female, and Randy Neal Reserve Junior Champion Female. Also, a Red and White Holstein Division was made in the show for the first time, and A.L. Chamness of Yantis won the Reserve Champion Female honors, with his three-year old cow. Donald Birchfield won the Junior Champion Female in the Other Breeds Division.
Laura Diamond Taylor
1981 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen
Today, Laura Diamond Taylor lives in Poteau, Oklahoma, with her husband of twenty years, Danny Taylor, who is a manager of a cattle ranch. Laura followed her father's footsteps into a banking career. She is the mother of three daughters, Leslie, a freshman in college, Kellie, who is a junior in high school, and Sallie, who is first-grader. "Definitely my greatest accomplishment in life has been my three beautiful daughters," states Laura. "We've traveled around the country showing cattle with them and I've spent many hours thus far as a 'cheerleader mom,' but I wouldn't trade the experiences for the world!"
Laura and Danny Taylor are the proud parents of three daughters, Leslie, Kellie, and Sallie.
Laura's parents, James and Melba Diamond, still live in Sulphur Springs, as well as her two sisters, Susan Diamond and Angie English. "I'm back in Hopkins County visiting family, often, and continue to follow the progress of the Dairy Festival," relates Laura. "I feel it was a wonderful opportunity to meet many new people and to make memories that I will cherish always! I look forward to returning and helping this wonderful organization celebrate its Golden Anniversary, in June 2009!"