"It was a delight to share the title of Dairy Festival Queen with Kathy," remembers Nikki Ward Moore, as she reflects on her year as Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen. "I remember Kathy's energy and talent, as she did her piano performance on talent night!"

"And, anyone who was a member of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board in 1987, will remember that year!" declared Lynda Hager, longtime member of the board. "When the Mistress of Ceremonies came to me, with the news that there was a tie, we had to all go to work behind the scenes and get another crown, divide roses, and make certain that we didn't lose the audience, while we were getting it all done!"

"The theme of the 1987 Hopkins County Dairy Festival was Dairyland Around the World," allowed Dwight Alexander, President of the Board in '87. "And, it felt like we had to go all around the board to get the things to crown a dual queen. None of us had ever expected such a thing to happen, but it all worked out wonderfully when you had two such talented and sweet girls as Nikki and Kathy to share the crown. Both did an outstanding job!"

 

Nikki Ward is shown here at the 1987 Milking Contest, where she said she did learn
that chocolate milk didn't come from cows with black teats!!!

 

It was in 1987 that a group of county residents were working hard to raise approximately $30,000.00 to purchase county road signs. They were hosting stew suppers, getting backing from local organizations, and going door-to-door, to get the mission accomplished. As is evident today, they got the job done, like so many other "grass-roots" efforts that have been successful in Hopkins County.

And, in the national news was a story from Colorado City, Arizona, that talked about the "haven of polygamy" that thrived there among the members of the Fundamentalist Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints Church. Mayor Daniel Barlow was quoted as denying the existance of plural marriages in his town, but other data supported the statements.

 

Kathy Brannon is shown with her parents, Charles and Anita Brannon, following her crowning as
one of the 1987 Dairy Festival Queens.

 

Hill's Carpet, at 1321 Shannon Road, beckoned customers to come to their establishment for what they said was "Times Have Never Been Better For A Hill of Deal!" And, it was in 1987 that the Iran Contra Scandal was spreading through both Washington D.C. and the nation, as several prominent congressional leaders were called to testify about what they knew about the sale of weapons to the factions.

Similarly, the SMU Mustangs had been "slapped" with a NCAA penalty that was termed as the "harshest of penalities," when misconduct had been discovered in their football recruiting practices. And, the Wildcats were said to have an unusual problem, as local coaches had named four potential candidates for the football quarterback position, come September.....they included Cary Moore, Chris Nowels, Cary Horton, and a sophomore who had moved here from California, Todd Burns.

 

Michelle Moody rode this float representing the country of Ireland.

 

And, 1987 found Cumby student Todd Wallace being named the Cumby Basketball Beau and Angela Weatherbee was named the Basketball Sweetheart, by members of their respective teams. Marlin Jones and Imogene Reynolds, members of the Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, had planned a reception to introduce new East Texas State University President, Jerry Morris, to the Hopkins County Community. And, the IRS had announced a new "W-4" Form that was to be filled-out by workers, to make the burden of collecting payroll taxes easier for employers.

It was the spring of 1987 that found Sulphur Springs voters approving a $4.2 million dollar bond issue for the new sewage treatment plant and it was Texas Governor Bill Clements who was receiving the "ire" of many in Hopkins County as he had proposed cuts that would affect the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, 4-H Club programs, and vocational education. State Representative Pete Patterson had pledged to work toward thwarting the Governor's proposals. Meanwhile, U.S. Congressman Jim Chapman was "back home" and eluded to the fact that President Reagan was "up to his neck" in the Iran Contra Scandal, as he spoke to local democrat supporters.

 

Beth Allison rode this float entitled "Dairyland in Saudia Arabia."

 

And, it was local resident Turk Morgan, who during a Men's Bowling Tournament at Sulphur Springs Lanes, bowled his second perfect "300" game. Morgan had accomplished the twelve-strike fete in 1979, and accomplished the same score, on Saturday, March 1st, 1987. Meanwhile, it was called a "modern-day cattle drive" when Otis Mitchell and several assisting cowboys drove a herd of Mexican steers two miles through the edge of Sulphur Springs, as they moved them from one pasture to the other. Mitchell allowed that it was easier to move them down the road than load them and haul them from one location to the next.

It was 1987 that found the Safeway Store in Sulphur Springs going out of business and the property being purchased by Brookshires. The transfer took place in March of 1987. And, four generations of the McDonald-Koon-DeWitt family had met at Travis Elementary School to share lunch with Jandi DeWitt, attending included her mother, Jana Koon DeWitt, her grandmother, Mary McDonald Koon, and her great-grandmother, Mildred McDonald. It was stated that they enjoyed a lunch of Hopkins County Stew, cheese, and pickles.

 

Chelby Millsap rode this float depicting "Lady Liberty" holding a carton of milk as
she represented America in the 1987 Festival.

 

Suzanne Bauer, who had been serving as assistant county auditor, was "tapped" for the position of County Auditor, replacing Don Rea, who had resigned the position. And, it was sadness that prevailed over Hopkins County, in March of 1987, when three children, in three separate accidents, lost their lives. Fausto Govea, an 18 month old child, was killed when he was stuck by his father's vehicle, in the family drive-way. Then, a day later, on March 8th, Shad Adair Gillean, age 10, was killed when he had an accident involving a three-wheeler. Jason Samuel Lawrence, the son of Jan and David Lawrence, was killed on the family dairy farm, in Reilly Springs, on March 12, 1987, when he was accidentally struck by his father's truck.

And, Ricky and Jan Jetton had opened Sulphur Springs Farm Supply and were enjoying the first year of their business that was located at 1010 Tennessee Street, where they offered local dairy and beef cattle producers a variety of supplies and animal feeds.

 

Kathy Brannon rode this float depicting the country of Switzerland and remembered
the trouble they had getting it out of the warehouse the morning of the parade. The
float won Most Beautiful in the 1987 parade.

Consequently, the Mission Theater had closed its doors, in 1987, so local movie-goers had to travel to Greenville for a "silver screen" experience, or wait until the movie came out at the local movie store. Top movie, grossing over $167 million dollars at the box office, was "Three Men and A Baby." Other top movies of the year included: "Dirty Dancing," "Fatal Attraction," "Beverly Hills Cop II," "Moonstruck," "Good Morning, Vietnam," "Lethal Weapon," "The Untouchables," and "The Secret of My Succe$$."

On the television, it was "The Cosby Show," that won the number one nod with viewers, followed by "Family Ties," "Cheers," "Murder, She Wrote," and "Golden Girls." Also popular were: "Night Court," "60 Minutes,"
"Growing Pains," "Moonlighting," and "Who's the Boss?" "Married With Children," premiered in 1987, as did "Full House," and "Thirtysomething," then we saw the finales of "Hill Street Blues," and "Remington Steele."

 

Jaudon Bullard, representing Farm Bureau, rode this float that depicted Austria,
in the 1987 parade.

 

"Walk Like An Egyptian," by the Bangles was the top song of 1987, with Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," and "Didn't We Almost Have It All," being among the tops songs. And, it was Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes' "I've Had the Time of My Life," from the "Dirty Dancing" movie that was also at the top. Other popular selections on the pop chart included: "Lean On Me," by Club Nouveau; "Lost In Emotion," and "Head to Toe," by Lisa Lisa and The Cult Jam; "Bad," by Michael Jackson; "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," by U2; "Ballerina Girl," by Lionel Richie; and "Jacob's Ladder," by Huey Lewis and The News. Other top hits included: Kenny G's "Songbird;" "Is This Love," by Survivor; "U Got The Look," by Prince;" "La Bamba," by the Los Lobos; and "Lady in Red," by Chris DeBurgh.

Those in Hopkins County who enjoyed Country and Western music will remember the 1987 top hits of: "I'll Come Back As Another Woman," by Tanya Tucker; "Forever and Ever Amen," by Randy Travis; "Fishin' In The Dark," by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band; "Kids of the Baby Boom," by The Bellamy Brothers; "80's Ladies," by K.T. Oslin; and George Strait's "Ocean Front Property," and "All My Ex's Live In Texas." Alabama brought us, "You've Got the Touch," and Michael Johnson sang "Give Me Wings," while Hank Williams, Jr. made popular "Born to Boogie" and Ricky Van Shelton had his hit, "Somebody Lied."

 

Stacey Moore rode this float that depicted Dairyland in France, in the 1987 Parade.

 

Nine young ladies chose to enter the Dairy Festival Contest in 1987, that found a Hopkins County dairy industry "suffering" from lower milk prices and increased feed costs. However, as it came time to pause to reflect on the local economy, the dairy industry was still the "main-stay" in our prosperity, in the county.

Entering the 1987 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Contest were: Beth Allison, representing Dial Study Club; Chelby Millsap, representing Mothers Culture Club; Stacey Moore, representing the Junior Waverly Club; Rotary Club representative, Kathy Brannon; Kiwanis Club representative, Michelle Moody; Lion's Club representative, Cheri Phillips; Melissa Coppedge, representing the Newcomers Club; Nikki Ward, representing the Waverly Club; and Jaudon Bullard, as the Farm Bureau representative.

 

The nine young ladies who entered the 1987 Hopkins County Dairy Festival joined
1986 Queen Suzanne Glover for this photo, prior to the contest.

 

.....And, put their jeans on to compete in the 1987 Milking Contest at the Dairy Show.

 

Members of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board in 1987 included: Dwight Alexander, President, Bobby McDonald, Vice-President, Mrs. Eva Ruth Long, Secretary, and Mrs. Wanda Winfrey, as Treasurer. Other included: Julie Ashmore, Sammie Bedford, Mike Blount, Debra Evans, Kris Bartley, Bruce Fielden, Jerry Gibby, Howard Graham, Lynda Hager, Sheila Koon, Jan Lawrence, Nita Lair, Joan Longino, David Reid, Cathey Weaver, Kenneth Hyde, and Rita Wright. New board members included: Mary Campbell, Pam Black, and Lisa Williams, and Mrs. Denny Ashcroft, who was coming back on the board following an absence.

Eddie Dean Glossup, North Hopkins native and radio singer and guitar player, who joined "Hop-Along Cassidy " in the movies, was the Parade Marshal for the 1987 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade, as he returned home. And, Parade Committee Chairman Jerry Gibby emphasized that there would be "NO" three-wheelers, allowed in the parade.

 

Nikki Ward was joined by her little brother, Matt, in riding this 1987 float that
depicted the country of Japan.

 

Floats built by the Dairy Festival Candidates included traveling around the world to Japan, Switzerland, Holland, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Italy, France, Ireland, and America.

As denoted earlier, it was a "tense" situation, when it was realized that there was a "tie" in the judging, when Mistress of Ceremonies Kitty Ramsey, of Mt. Vernon, consulted from the podium with Pageant Coordinator, Lynda Hager. Hager sent an "army" of board members out from the Civic Center, to get the necessary awards to complete the task of naming dual queens, while Ramsey entertained the audience, who was unsuspecting of the dilemma behind the curtains.

Then, it was announced, Kathy Brannon, daughter of Charles and Anita Brannon, and Nikki Ward, daughter of Barry and Beth Ward, would serve as the 1987 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queens.

 

Melissa Coppedge rode this Newcomer's Club float in the 1987 Parade representing the
country of Italy, as she rode a gondola floating on milk.