1985 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen
Leann Carpenter
"Dolls In Dairyland" Theme
of 1985 Celebration
by: Bobby McDonald
They came in all shapes and sizes as the 1985 Dairy Festival Celebration adopted the theme of "Dolls In Dairyland." There was a "Cabbage Patch." "Rainbow Bright," "Madame Alexander," "Strawberry Shortcake," and "Miss Piggy," to name a few of the dolls that visited Dairyland and were used in a theme to promote milk and dairy products, on the many floats, stage decorations, and throughout the events of Dairy Festival.
This unique cover for the 1985 Talent and Beauty Show, created by
Dairy Festival Board Member, Rita Wright, depicts the joining of
Moo-nique and various dolls in the 1985 Celebration, as they float
over a local dairy farm.
May 1985 found the Hopkins County Dairy Industry feeling some of the "pinch" that was felt nationally, as the price of milk fell, due to increased imports from the European Common Market. However, Hopkins County remained the number one dairy county in the nation and out produced any of the other counties in the state of Texas. Hopkins County Agent, Gordon Ford, exclaimed that the annual income from the sale of agricultural products was at $138,829,000. Milk sales accounted for over $82 million dollars and an additional $1.5 million was received from the sale of baby calves. Additional dairy income in the county was realized from the sale of cull dairy cattle and dairy steers into the beef cattle market, the sale of breeding stock to other dairy farmers, and the dairy replacement heifer industry that continued to be a major factor in Hopkins County. The farm income levels in the U.S. were predicted at being "sluggish" for the year 1985.
Dairy herds in Hopkins County averaged 127 head of milking animals and the average dairy farmer was 54 years of age, according to Ford.
The year 1985 found a rise in building permits in Hopkins County with a total of $1.1 million requested in the month of April and another $1 million in construction for May 1985. The Sulphur Springs High School and the Sulphur Springs Middle School both won the Sweepstakes Award at the UIL Competition, and a "heated" race had developed in the First Congressional District, between local Democrat Jim Chapman and a former Texas A&M University graduate, Repulican Edd Hargett, of Linden, Texas. Chapman was found at a local fundraiser milking a cow, that bore "Vote Chapman" among her black and white spots, as local supporters were for the "hometown boy!"
The cards bearing the above inscriptions and addressed to each of the over 500 dairy farmer owners in
Hopkins County, were attached to balloons that were released from the Hopkins County Civic Center
entrance, during Dairy Festival 1985, in a milk promotional effort. Several of the cards were located
throughout Hopkins County, as local dairy farm families anticipated someone contacting them.
The Sulphur Springs City Council was holding hearings on a "Development Management Manual" that was to chart the course of improvements in the downtown area. And, Margin Latham became the first woman in Sulphur Springs to be elected to the office of a City Council Woman, in spring 1985 elections. J.O. Walker and Norman Bedford were both re-elected to the council, also.
At Sulphur Springs High School, the board of trustees had named Dr. Leonard Edd Merrell, of Garland, as the new superintendent of schools for SSISD. The local board of education had elected Gary Odom to serve as Chairman of their board for the year, and local groceryman, Mark McClendon, had been elected to the board, as well. The Old Jail Building, behind the Courthouse, downtown, had been demolished, and a 1911 cornerstone had been found, that bore the name of Reilly Springs Resident Robert Attlessey. Ironically, Attlesey's daughter-in-law, Mary Attlesey, was the County Clerk of Hopkins County.
A twenty-one year old male prisoner in the Hopkins County jail had been found hanged by self-infliction, and had caused an inquest by the grand jury into procedures at the jail. And, gasoline prices were "on the rise" to the $1.15.9 per gallon range, and predicted to rise even further, during the summer driving season.
Moo-nique was featured on these "stickers" that still proclaimed
Hopkins County as the Dairy Capital of the Nation, in 1985.
The Yantis High School one-act play, "Antic Spring," was advancing to Zone competition. Cast members included: David Riley, Kim Brown, Melody Allen, Matthew Stephenson, Malinda Hague, and Kelly Bevill. And, the SSHS Stage Band had taken top honors in the Sandy Lake Bands Festival, by being named "Outstanding Band of the Day" at the festival.
Governor Mark White was said to be "studying" additions and changes to the "No Pass-No Play" rule that had been enacted and passed the previous summer, but no real changes were expected to be enacted, according to an Austin spokesman.
These dozen high school beauties decided to compete in the 1985 Dairy Festival Contest and join
reigning Queen, Katerina Sheffield, as they anticipate the annual salute to the 1985 Dairy Industry.
Local feature writer, Mary Grant, was encouraging Hopkins county residents to "get out, enjoy the springtime, wildflowers, and learn about the rich history of Hopkins County," as she mapped some routes through the area for drivers to enjoy. And, machine shop students at SSHS, Mark Krotky, Byron Knighten, Robert Allen, and Jesse Malone had all received "superior" ratings at the State VICA Convention. Sulphur Springs FFA Presdient, Jason Frazier, had been selected to sing in the National FFA Choir, for a second year and was actively involved in showing his beef cattle in area shows.
And, the Our Savior Lutheran Church, located on Texas Street, had conducted a "Tenebrae" Service, on Good Friday, prior to Easter, in which they portrayed the "darkness" of the crucifixion scene. And, the Sulphur Springs State Bank was hosting a photography exhibit in their lobby, entitled "El Vaquero Genesis Del Cowboy Texans," that depicted the cowboy's life in Texas, by photographer William D. Writtliff. The four banks in Hopkins County had posted a "slip" in total deposits, for the first quarter of 1985, and some of this drop was attributed to a "sluggish" milk economy and a drop in beef cattle prices.
Singer Dusty Hill, a member of the "ZZ-Top" Musical Group and with connections in
Hopkins County, served as the 1985 Parade Marshal.
Congressman Sam B. Hall, who had announced his acceptance of an appointed judge position, had promised local citizens that he would make a "last ditch" effort to keep the Cooper Lake Project alive, before he left office. Local citizen, Walter "Punk" Helm and other members of the Sulphur River Municipal Water District had just returned from Washington to lobby for the effort.
Candidate Michelle Clemmons rode this Waverly Club float in the 1985 Festival.
Music selections for Hopkins County residents included top songs: "Careless Whisper," (the top song of the year) by Wham; "All She Wants to Do Is Dance," by Don Henley; "Take On Me," by A-Ha; "Material Girl" and "Like A Virgin," by Madonna; "Wake Me Up Before You Go," by Wham; and "I Want to Know What Love Is," by Foreigner. "Easy Lover," by Phil Collins and Phillip Bailey; "We Built This City" by Starship; "The Power of Love," by Huey Lewis & The News; and "St. Elmo's Fire," from the movie, by John Parr, were also choice selections. However, it was "We Are The World" a combined effort of the USA For Africa singers, that was among the most noteable music of the year. The song was sung by top artists as they raised money for hunger in Africa. Singers included: Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes, Willie Nelson, Lionel Richie, Kenny Loggins, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Waylon Jennings, Stevie Wonder, and others.
In one of the more memorable floats ever created in Dairy Festival history, this
Cabbage Patch float was ridden by Gena Watson, representing the Jr. Waverly Club.
The float won the Sweepstakes Award and featured the doll drinking milk from a
straw created from a glass milk pipe-line.
Other musical favorites included: "Cherish," by Kool & The Gang; "LoverGirl," by Teena Marie; "Loverboy," by Billy Ocean; "Private Dancer," by Tina Turner; and "Nightshift" by the Commodores. Whitney Houston released her first albumn that included popular songs "You Give Good Love," and "Saving All My Love For You." And, it was Stevie Wonder's music that was banned in South Africa, when he dedicated his Oscar to Nelson Mandella. Bruce Springsteen could be heard performing "Born in the USA," and "Glory Days," and Sheena Easton made "Strut," a favorite. Lionel Richie performed "Penny Lover," and John Fogarty made popular "The Old Man Down the Road."
Kim McCasland was featured as Madame Alexander doll on this Tanti Club float in the
1985 parade.
Popular movies at the box-office in 1985 included the top movie of the year "Back to the Future," that grossed over $197 million. Second was "Rambo: First Blood Part II, featuring Sylvester Stalone. And, Stalone scored another hit with the third place movie being "Rocky IV." A then unknown Oprah Winfrey made her acting debute in the number 4 movie of the year "The Color Purple." Other top movies for the year included: "Out of Africa," "Cocoon," "The Jewel of the Nile," "Witness," "We Are The World," and "The Goonies."
Susan Whitson was featured as a "Shirley Temple" doll on this Young Homaker's
sponsored float in the 1985 Dairy Festival parade.
And, 1985 found folks watching the number one show on the tube, "The Cosby Show." "Family Ties" and "Murder, She Wrote," were the second and third favorite selections. "60 Minutes," "Cheers," and "Dallas" were other favorites, as well as "Dynasty," "The Golden Girls," and "Miami Vice." Some enjoyed, "Who's the Boss?," "Night Court," "Highway to Heaven," and "Kate and Allie." "Growing Pains" and "Knots Landing" were also popular on the local television sets.
Jennifer Bell's "Strawberry Shortcake" float was judged "Most Beautiful" in the
1985 Dairy Festival Parade.
Pam Anderson, representing the Rotary Club, rode this "Smurf" float, in the 1985 parade.
Of course, Country Music was popular in Hopkins County in 1985. Favorites included: songs from a popular, relative "newcomer" to the Country Scene, George Straight, with "Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind," "The Fireman," and "The Chair;" Reba McEntire's "How Blue;" "Seven Spanish Angels," by Ray Charles and Willie Nelson," "Crazy" by Kenny Rogers; and The Statler Brother's contributions, "Too Much on My Heart," and "My Only Love." Mel McDaniel's "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On," found identifiable fans in rural Hopkins County and Alabama made popular "There's A Fire In the Night," and "40 Hour Week." It was Dan Seals and Marie Osmond that joined forces to encourage folks to "Meet Me In Montana," and The Pointer Sisters, who proclaimed "I Fell In Love Again Last Night." Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristopherson, and Johnny Cash joined in a jam session and produced the popular "Highwayman." Earl Thomas Conley produced "Love Don't Care Whose Heart It Breaks," and Ronnie Milsap crooned "Lost In The Fifties Tonight." It was Charly McClain who sang "Radio Heart," and The Bellamy Brothers who produced, "I Need More of You." Conway Twitty proclaimed "Don't Call Him A Cowboy," with his hit song, and Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton lent voices to the popular "Real Love." And, an upbeat group, Sawyer Brown, made popular "Step That Step," as they visited the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, in concert.
Leann Carpenter was awarded the "Best Theme" Award for her float that featured
Miss Piggy's Milk Parlor, complete with a pink bathtub, and Kermit the Frog.
Lara Gore rode this B&PW Club float in the depicting dolls on a midway in the 1985 Parade.
Twelve young ladies made the decision to enter the 27th Annual Dairy Festival Contest, to compete for the crown, in 1985. Contestants included: Pam Anderson, representing the Rotary Club; Lara Gore, representing the B&PW Club; Jennifer Bell, as the Dial Study Club representative; Leslie Stephens sponsored by the Hopkins County Farm Bureau; Gena Watson, selected by the Junior Waverly Club; Dana Keahey, representing the Lion's Club; Donna Burton, sponsored by the Mother's Culture Club; Francie Bell, sponsored by Specialty Foods; Leann Carpenter, as the Standard Club representative; Susan Whitson, sponsored by the Sulphur Springs Young Homemakers; Kim McCasland representing the Tanti Club; and Michelle Clemmons, sponsored by the Waverly Club.
Francie Bell, representing Specialty Foods, was featured on this "Chatty Cathy" float.
Donna Burton swang from a large swing on this Mother's Culture Club sponsored float.
Dairy Festival Week events included: a local Fashion Show, featuring Dairy Festival Candidates, the Northeast Texas Dairy Show, a Dairy Tasting Bee, the Annual Milking Contest, A Dress-up Heifer Contest by local dairy farmer's children, the Talent and Beauty Show, the Judge's Dinner, the Pageant Coronation, a Tribute to the Dairy Cow, the Ice Cream Freeze-Off, and the annual Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade. Following the parade a balloon for each of the over 500 dairy farms was released from the entrance of the Hopkins County Civic Center, bearing a card that listed the dairy farmer's name, instructions to contact them, if the note was found, and an encouragement to use "REAL" dairy products in all of your favorite recipes.
Dana Keahey was awarded the "Most Original Award" for this Raggedy Ann & Andy
float in the 1985 parade.
The Rainbow Bright doll was portrayed on this Farm Bureau float ridden by
Leslie Stephens in the 1985 parade.
The Talent and Beauty Competition night found the twelve candidates prouducing a variety of talent presentations, that included classical piano, dramatic interpretations, jazz dances, tap dances, vocal numbers, and even a twirling routine.
A tribute to the dairy cow was featured during the 1985 Milking Contest,
proclaiming the importance of the dairy industry to Hopkins County and her residents.
Gena Watson is shown here winning the 1985 Milking Contest, as she is presented her
award by Queen Katerina Sheffield.
For the annual milking contest, on Friday night, the event was moved from the downtown square to the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center Arena, for a first-time night performance. The contest pitted all twelve dairy festival candidates against each other. Once the contest began and candidates began "filling their buckets," the bell was finally rung for the five-minute contest, and it was Gena Watson, who was declared the Champion Milker of the 1985 Contest. The night also featured dairy farmer's children who had dressed-up baby calves to protray the various dolls that were "appearing in Dairyland. The children included: Lindsey Watson, Michael and Danny Lawrence, Dusti Evans, Kody and Kyle Koon, Ann Raybun, Grant Alexander, Mitchell Taylor, Adrian Bradford, J.R. Fisher, and Marcie Gammill.
Grant Alexander was portrayed as a "future dairyman" with his dress-up heifer at the 1985 Milking Contest.....
As was Danny Lawrence show with his dad, David......
And Ann Rabun and Kyle Koon!!!
A "Tribute To The Dairy Cow" was presented as the audience was reminded of the great impact that the dairy industry had made in Hopkins County and the life that everyone enjoyed in the region, because of the impact. Then, it was a Banker's Milking Contest, that featured the local representatives of the lending institutions in a contest to get the most milk. Many had been "practicing" behind the scenes, to make certain that they weren't embarrassed before the crowd. But, it was Lee Warren of Federal Land Bank that managed to beat his competitors in getting the most milk and being proclaimed Milking Champion in 1985.
Lee Warren of the Federal Land Bank was declared the
top milker in the "Banker's Milking Contest" in 1985.
1985 Dairy Tasting Bee winners included: Sue Janway, Karen Williamson, Kathy Merritio, Carolyn Green, Tammy Neal, Mary Ellen, Patsy Potts, Tricia Ford, and Joanne Stinson.
Ice Cream Freeze-Off winners for 1985 included: Laura Teer, Marilee Fisher, Johanna Hamm, and Sheila Tanton.
"Absolutely Beautiful"........was the description of the 1985 Dairy Festival Parade, as outstanding workmanship and bright colors featured the "dolls" of the festival, in the twelve candidates' floats. Mini-floats, golf-carts decorated by pairs of parents for the Little Kids, who appeared on stage, also added to the colorful theme of the parade. The coveted Sweepstakes Prize for the floats was awarded to "The Cabbage Patch" creation of Gena Watson's family, representing the Junior Waverly Club, in a float that still evokes memories of the huge doll, that drank milk from a straw created from a glass, milk pipe-line.
The Best of Theme Award was presented to the "Miss Piggy" float, ridden by Leann Carpenter, representing the Standard Club, and Dana Keahey's "Raggedy Ann & Andy" float was awarded the "Most Original" Award. It was Jennifer Bells' "Strawberry Shortcake"float, created by the Talley Bell family and representing the Dial Study Club, that won the "Most Beautiful" Award. Dusty Hill of the famed musical group "ZZ-Top" and with Hopkins County connections, served as the official Parade Marshall for the 1985 parade and appeared on stage at the pageant.
The climax of the 1985 Dairy Festival Week was the Coronation Pageant and naming of the new Dairy Festival Queen. The pageant featured Little Children that had the girls dressed as different dolls and the boys wearing toy soldier outfits. Little Children appearing in the festival included: Blake Stewart, Jandi DeWitt, Justin Hager, Marla Jones, Judson Weaver, Amber Newport, Kody Koon, Ann Rabun, Joe Moore, Amy Long, Jeremy Jenkins, Kerri Reed, Justin Sparks, Kenzie Bartley, Ryan Wright, Ashley Reeves, Chad Jones, Ashly Westbrook, Michael Lawrence, Dusti Evans, Jeremy Jones, Kaylee Bartley, Jeffrey McAdams, and Shelly Hurley.
The Little Children in the 1985 Dairy Festival appeared on stage before this bulletin board and notice the giant
bed in the background. Most Dairy Festival Board Members of the era fondly remember the construction of the
bed, during the creation of the staging.
Mrs. Pat Clark served as the Mistress of Ceremonies in 1985 and Dwight Alexander was President of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board. Other officers included: Mike Blount as vice-president, Mrs. Eva Ruth Long, as secretary, and David Reid, as treasurer. Mrs. Lynda Hager was Talent and Beauty Show Chairman and Mrs. Lena Mae Rogers was Pageant Coordinator. When the votes were tallied, and presented on pageant night, it was seventeen year old, Leann Carpenter, a junior at Sulphur Springs High School and daughter of Robert and Barbara Carpenter, that was named 1985 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen. She had "wowed" the judges with her talent presentation of Eliza Doolittle from the broadway musical "My Fair Lady." She was described as "flashing a huge smile" as her name was called as the 1985 winner.
A smiling Leann Carpenter was named 1985 Hopkins
County Dairy Festival Queen.
First Runner-Up in the 1985 contest was Gena Watson, who had performed a tap dance and vocal presentation of "Singing In The Rain," for her talent number. And, it was Miss Donna Burton, representing the Mother's Culture Club, who was named Second Runner-up, in the contest. The Miss Congeniality Award, given by the candidates themselves, was awarded to Susan Whitson, representing the Sulphur Springs Young Homemakers in the pageant.
Carpenter is shown in the background, with left to right in the foreground, Miss Congeniality Susan Whtison,
Second Runner-Up Donna Burton, and First Runner-Up Gena Watson.
We found 1985 Dairy Festival Queen, Leann Carpenter Oliver, in neighboring Greenville, Texas. She expressed," I was always a bit shy, when I was younger, so performing and competing in the 1985 Dairy Festival, as well as serving as the queen, allowed me to enhance my developing talent, that had begun when I performed with the First Baptist Church Choir. However, it was one thing to perform with a group in a choir setting and to be required to perform on stage alone was another obstacle I had to overcome!"
"Take a chance and enjoy the opportunity!" proclaims Leann, as she offers advice to anyone who would be contemplating entering the Dairy Festival. "It's an experience that many young ladies never get, and it gives you a unique opportunity to express who you are before the community!"
"You'll be sure to look back on the experience as a positive in your life and one that creates lasting memories!" continued Leann. "It's more than a pageant and contest. It's realizing what a great place Hopkins County is and how many people take pride in the community and the people around them. You feel part of something larger than you and you will cherish the memories for the rest of your life!"
"One of my fondest memories of Dairy Festival was when Fred and Jane Randles introduced me to a very beautiful lady, Susan Newman, who was a strong Christian and influence, and she helped me with my talent presentation of Just You Wait Henry Higgins from 'My Fair Lady," remembers Leann. "Other memories include pulling the names of dolls from a hat to build a float, and having Dusty Hill as our Parade Marshal. And, my family still laughs that my grandmother thought that Dwight Alexander, President of the Dairy Festival, was my boyfriend, because he escorted me down the run-way when I won queen!"
Leann Carpenter Oliver, today proudly shares the spotlight with her two daughters, Aubreigh and Jordan, as she and
her husband, Dustin Oliver make their home in neighboring Greenville.
"I have a large scrapbook, that my daughters continue to look at, from all of my memories, and a gift from Charlotte McDowell and Kay Allison," proclaims Oliver. "And, I still have my milking contest bucket, but I haven't used it to milk a cow or to mop floors, since the fateful appointment with a dairy cow!"
Leann graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 1986 and first attended East Texas State University. She then transferred to Stephen F. Austin State University, and graduated with a degree in English and Speech Communications. Following completion of college, she traveled and lived in Nashville, Tennessee, and Dallas, Texas. It was while she was in Dallas, that she met Dustin Oliver. Dustin and Leann were married in 1994.
Today, Dustin is a Texas State Department of Public Safety Trooper, in Hunt County, and Leann uses her salesmanship talents learned in Dairy Festival, as a District Sales Coordinator for Aflac Insurance Company. They are the parents of two awesome daughters, Jordan and Aubreigh, who attend Lone Oak Elementary School and enjoy dance and basketball.
Leann, the daughter of Robert and Barbara Carpenter, and the granddaughter of the late Leon and Grace Campbell and Mildred and Edward Rabun, is a frequent visitor back to Hopkins County to visit her parents and to help sponsor the annual Aflac Duck Race, held in conjunction with the Hopkins County Fall Festival.
"Participating in the various aspects of Dairy Festival definitely helped me to become more assertive and learn to be a positive force in life!" states Leann. "And, I can truthfully say that I'm very happy in life. I'm married to a great guy; I have two incredible children; I have an established career; and we enjoy our participation in the music ministry at Family Fellowship Church, in Greenville! God has truly blessed me and my family!"
"Dairy Festival was one of the opportunities in life that God afforded me and I'm eternally greatful for the experience and look forward to returning to Hopkins County in 2009, proudly representing the great group of girls who joined me in the 1985 contest!" states Leann. "It will be a fun and exciting time for Hopkins County and everyone who has ever participated in the Dairy Festival, as we remember 50 years of memories!"
Meanwhile, as Leann began wearing the crown in 1985, it was Debbie Deaton, daughter of 1964 Dairy Festival Queen, Judy Jackson Deaton, that was named valedictorian of the 1986 class at Sulphur Springs High School, and Katerina Sheffield, 1984 Dairy Festival Queen, that was named salutatorian. The SSHS Boys and Girl's Golf Teams both won 2nd in State Competition, and it was Chris Gibbons, who represented SSHS in the State Track and Field competition by winning the 110 meter and 300 intermediate hurdles, at the regional contest.
Bill Jack and Margie Dale Hathcox were serving their last "upside-down milkshake" from their Big H Drive-In, located on Broadway Street. The couple were retiring after 39 years in the local restaurant business. And, a drug raid on Shannon Road had netted over 6,500 pills and landed a woman, her husband, and son in the Hopkins County Jail, as a reflection, that Hopkins County wasn't immune from the "troubles of this life."
A twenty-four year old Saltillo man had joined his friend in seining a rural stock pond, on the family farm, near the Franklin County line, and become entangled in the net, drowning. His friend had tried to rescue him and then ran for help, but David Clark Smith, was pronounced dead, when he arrived at the Franklin County Memorial Hospital in Mt. Vernon.
And, a 1985 version of Justin Hager, found the Dairy Festival Carnival one of the most
fun places to celebrate!
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Team, headed by David Baucom, and including Miller Steinsik, David Tooley, Nell Crowson, Dwight Bell, and Talley Bell, had been the top salesmen in a Membership Drive that added 110 members to the local chamber organization.
And, a piece of history, the Atkins House, located behind the City National Bank Building, in downtown Sulphur Springs, had brought concern to local historians, who feared the structure would soon be destroyed by neglect. The concern led to the historic structure being dismantled piece by piece and reconstructed at the Hopkins County Historical Museum, where it is now preserved and enjoyed by everyone.
Hopkins County in 1985, just like today, had many successes to celebrate and had its own set of challenges that were accomplished by residents working together to accomplish goals!
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