1990 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen
Angie Dickens
"Happy Days In Dairyland"
Theme of 1990 Dairy Festival
by: Bobby McDonald
It was "poodle skirts," Butch wax, and everything 50's, when Dairy Festival paused to celebrate the annual tribute to the dairy industry in 1990. "Happy Days In Dairyland" was the theme chosen and floats depicted Rock'n Roll songs, from the 1950's era.
And, it was popular Country and Western singer, Clint Black, who was featured in concert at the Hopkins County Civic Center, in May of 1990, when he attracted a "full house" and delivered one of the more popular venues ever hosted in Sulphur Springs. And, the Sulphur Springs State Bank had announced expansion plans and the naming of four new directors, Mickey Eddins, Roger Elliott, Weldon Watkins, and Dan Humphrey.
The seven Dairy Festival candidates are headed for the Milking Contest on the Square.
And 1989 Queen Natalie Randles is waiting to "show 'em how it is done!"
Chandra Griffin was the lone senior member of the SSHS Golf Team that was headed for state competition. And, the Mission Theater had been re-opened to provide local entertainment. "The Hunt For Red October" was the featured movie, during Dairy Festival Week. Ocean Spray Cranberries had been selected as the 1990 Industry of the Year, in Hopkins County, by the local Chamber of Commerce, at a business luncheon, hosted in the Civic Center. And, "wet and soggy" was the description of the weather in the spring of 1990, as Hopkins County received an abundance of moisture, so much so that many local dairy farmers were having difficulty harvesting their forages.
Lou Nell's was conducting a 1/2 price sale on their spring items and "getting ready for summer fashions." Little Jimmy Dickens, no kin to Dairy Festival candidate Angie Dickens, was also appearing in the Hopkins County Civic Center, as part of the Clint Black concert. And, the Sulphur Bluff community was proud of the new "Welcome" sign that had been donated by Lois and Loyd Mead. The "Double O Boot Corral" was featuring a "Dairy Festival Special" on work boots, at $79.95 a pair. And, the Dial Study Club, represented by Pam Sellers, Nancy Rooks, Carol Worsham, Peggy Walker, Denise Booher, and Linda Burgin, had presented a $1000.00 check to the Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry, as the result of their local fundraising effort.
"Peggy Sue" soon became "Peggy Moo" on Teri Hipp's Rotary Club float.
The Hopkins County 4-H Dairy Judging Team comprised of Ann Rabun, Carrie Lennon, Brent Allison, and Brandy Dixon had won the district contest and were headed to Texas A&M University for the State Contest. Circle E Western Store was featuring straw hats for $29.95 and Lizard boots for $169.95, to outfit the dairy farmer as he attended the Dairy Festival activities.
It was Democrat Bill Dirks and Republican Jones Roberts that were seeking the office of Hopkins County Sheriff and David Baucom, Mike Vaughn, Aubrey Washington, Ken Bell, and Gerry Waller were seeking positions on the Sulphur Springs City Council. And, a milk truck had "swung too wide" at the intersection of Loop 301 and Main Street and "toppled" over, spilling the county's "white gold" down the streets. Hopkins County had awarded the bids for the construction of the Southwest Dairy Museum in Sulphur Springs. The new facility had decided on a location on Houston Street, in front of Sulphur Springs High School.
Angie Dickens won the Sweepstakes Award with this Farm Bureau float that featured
"Wake Up Little Elsie" from the song "Wake Up Little Susie!"
Longtime banker, Gerald Prim had been presented a "key to the city" by mayor Lydia Bryant in recognition of his longtime involvement and promotion of the local dairy industry. And, on the international scene, it was European dairy farmers that were struggling to produce milk and dairy products under a new "quota system."
Nine Sulphur Springs High School athletes were headed to Austin for state competition. They were: J.J. Rorie, Chandra Griffin, Meredith Minty, Jenifer Wright, and Daphne Hill, members of the Lady Golf Team, and John Holloway, Sheila Sims, and Teresa Johnson in track and field. Price Ford Sales had a Ford F-150 pick-up priced at $8,100.00 and Gober-Merrell Chevrolet had a 1990 Storm priced at $10,414.00.
A milk bath depicting the 50's hit "Splish Splash" was the theme of Krist Cherry's
Waverly Club float.
Columnist Ann Landers had written her readers on the 35th anniversary of her nationally known column and stated that the venue had "given her ringside seat to life." "Writing a daily column is both demanding and rewarding," advised Landers. "You cannot imagine the thrill of knowing when you've changed someone's life through your writing!"
Bobby Korn was named the valedictorian of the 1990 graduating class at SSHS and was headed to MIT, while Kristi Jones was named salutatorian. "Unbridled" had won the crown at the Kentucky Derby and the Yantis and Como-Pickton Boy's Baseball teams were headed to the play-offs. And, Bob Bullock, who was campaigning for Lt. Governor of Texas, had made a campaign stop in Sulphur Springs stating that "school woes" would be the major topic in the upcoming special legislative session in Austin.
Anne-Michelle Rooks rode this Dial Study Club float that was pulled by a
"1957 Moo Car!"
Meanwhile, it was Austin Elementary School in Sulphur Springs, that was celebrating its 50th anniversary as a neighborhood school. Speakers at a gathering had traced the history of our city, since the doors to the school had opened over 50 years ago. And, Charlotte Baxter had been selected as the "employee of the month" at First American Bank, receiving a gift from President Barry Orr. It was Tim Laws, a vice-president at Sulphur Springs State Bank, that had been selected for the "AG Lead" Program, a state program to enrich agriculturalists across the state.
In 1990, it was a headlines of "Microwave Popcorn Now Available From the Cob" that told how you could purchase popcorn on the cob and pop it in a microwave oven. And, Rotarian Tom Bell had delivered a program for the Rotary Club on "killer bees" that he said were headed for Hopkins County. Jennifer Irvin was recognized for her perfect score on the TEAMS tests, taken in the spring.
"Milk House Rock" featuring a take on the 50's hit "Jailhouse Rock" was the theme
for Kellie Carraway's Kiwanis Club float.
And, a late hard freeze earlier in the year had destroyed much of the citrus trees in the Rio Grande Valley, in what agricultural officials said would take years to rebuild. Meanwhile, a group of senior adults from League Street Church of Christ, known as the "39'ers" had made a trip to Washington D.C., where they were met and entertained by Congressman Jim Chapman.
George H.W. Bush was in the White House and broke his campaign promise of "NO New Taxes." And, it was Mikhail Gorbachev that had been elected president of the Soviet Union. Washington D.C. Mayor, Marion Barry had been arrested on drug charges, following an FBI sting, and Mike Tyson had lost the World Heavyweight Boxing title to James "Buster" Douglas in a knock-out.
Kara Brandenburgh's 1950's themed B&PW Club float featured none other than a giant
milk shake and included an authentic juke box.
Nelson Mandella had been released from prison, following 27 years behind bars, and Exxon had been indicted in the Valdez oil spill. The Sandanistas had been defeated in Nicaragua and reunification efforts were underway in Germany. Imelda Marcos, the "Shoe Queen," had gone to trial for bribery and rackateering. Meanwhile, President Bush had awarded Jesse Owens the Congressional Gold Medal, posthumously, and the first HDTV television program had been aired.
And speaking of television, top shows for the year 1990 included: "Roseanne," "Designing Women," "The Cosby Show," "Cheers," "A Different World," and "60 Minutes." Other popular selections included: "Empty Nest," "Murphy Brown," and "Golden Girls."
"A Whole Lotta Milkin' Goin' On" was the theme of Francey Bell's Jr. Waverly Club
float, that won the prize as Best of Theme.
At the movies, it was "Home Alone," that topped the revenues at the box office, with over $285 million dollars in proceeds. "Ghost," "Dances with Wolves," "Pretty Woman," "Kindergarten Cop," "The Hunt For Red October," and "Total Recall" were other popular movies of the year.
Country and Western music fans enjoyed Clint Black's "Nobody's Home," George Strait's "Love Without End, Amen," and Alabama's "Southern Star." Other favorites included: "Five Minutes," by Lori Morgan; "I've Cried My Last Tear For You," by Ricky Van Shelton; "The Dance" and "Friends in Low Places," by Garth Brooks; "Next to You, Next to Me" by Shenandoah; "You Lie" by Reba McEntire; and "Bring Back Your Love to Me" by Earl Thomas Conley.
An up and coming star, Alan Jackson, had entered the music scene with "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow," along with Kentucky Headhunter's "Dumas Walker." Other popular C&W tunes included: "He Talks to Me" by Lori Morgan; "I Could Be Persuaded" by The Bellamy Brothers; "My Arms Stay Open All Night," by Tanya Tucker; "When I Call Your Name" by Vince Gill; and Doug Stone's "I'd Be Better Off In A Pine Box."
On the Pop Chart for 1990, it was the popular "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips and En Vogue that made it to the top. "It Must Have Been Love," by Roxette from the popular movie "Pretty Woman" was the second favorite and "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor was the third most popular song. "Poison" by Bell Biv Devoe and Madonna's "Vogue" were also favorites. Other top songs for the year included: Bon Jovi's "Blaze of Glory," Mariah Carey's "Vision of Love," Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise," and Billy Idol's "Cradle of Love." You might also have enjoyed Michael Bolton's "How Am I Suppose to Live Without You" or "How Can We Be Lovers," or the Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Higher Ground." You're sure to remember the beat of M.C. Hammer's "U Can't Touch This," and probably listened to "I'm Your Baby Tonight" by Whitney Houston or "The Humpty Dance" by Digital Underground.
Dairy Festival hopefuls......these nine young ladies started the 1990 Dairy Festival Contest, but
by pageant time, only seven decided to compete.
Several girls first decided to enter the Dairy Festival competition in 1990, but when it came pageant time, there were only seven candidates for the crown. They were: Francey Bell, representing the Jr. Waverly Club; Kara Brandenburgh, sponsored by the B&PW Club; Kellie Carraway, representing the Kiwanis Club; Angie Dickens, sponsored by the Hopkins County Farm Bureau; Anne-Michelle Rooks, sponsored by the Dial Study Club; Kristi Cherry representing the Waverly Club; and Terri Hipp sponsored by the Rotary Club.
With the 50's theme for the pageant, the little children appearing in the program were called "Drive-In Darlings." They were: Hunter Potts, Hilery Harris, Zane Brown, Jennifer McMahan, Kristopher Wright, Jennifer Moreland, Justin Massey, Chainie Bolton, Layne Ashmore, Jobi Spencer, Jarred Beck, Scarlett Thompson, Kory Koon, Jala Jenkins, Adam Peugh, Kaylene Black, Evan Teer, Megan Watson, Jordan Walden, Sheryl Garrard, Zachary Wilhite, Savannah Gibby, Dallas Campbell, and Tarren Oswald.
Kory Koon and Jala Jenkins rode this "Rocking & Rolling" golf cart as part of the
"Drive-In Darlings" in the 1990 Festival Parade.
Roger Pharr served as the Master of Ceremonies for the 1990 Dairy Festival Pageant, while Bruce Fielden served as president of the board. Mike Blount was vice-president of the board, with Mrs. Eva Ruth Long serving as secretary and Wanda Winfrey serving as treasurer. Pam Black served as reporter. Other Dairy Festival Board members included: Dwight Alexander, Theresa Birchfield, Bobby McDonald, Debra Evans, Jerry Gibby, Kenneth Hyde, Joan Longino, Jan Bartley, Mary Campbell, Brett Fisher, Lynda Hager, Judy Jones, Sammie Bedford, Patricia Chase, Sherrie Garrard, Monty Harry, Nita Lair, and Gordon Miller.
When the votes were counted and the scores tallied, it was Farm Bureau representative Angie Dickens, that was named 1990 Dairy Festival Queen, as she "tap danced" her way into royalty. Dancing to the song "Sing, Sing, Sing," Dickens, the daughter of Tommy and Pat Dickens, also won the Sweepstakes Award for her float entry in the parade. First Runner-Up was Kristi Cherry, who represented the Waverly Club and Second Runner-Up was Francey Bell, who represented the Jr. Waverly Club. Teri Hipp was chosen by her fellow contestants for the Miss Congeniality Award.
Jordan Walden and Sheryl Gerrard rode this
"Rock Around the Clock" golf cart in the
1990 Dairy Festival Parade.
Other 1990 float winners included: Francey Bell winning the Theme Award; Kara Brandenburgh winning the Beauty Award; and Teri Hipp's float winning the Originality Award.
Carolyn Greenwood of Kim Dawson's Modeling Agency in Dallas was the narrator for the 2nd Annual Dairy Festival Ladies' Brunch and Style Show, coordinated by Judy Jones. The event was catered by Linda Riddle and Carolyn McKinney of "That Loving Touch." Fashions were provided by: Billijo's Kid Clothes, Collections, Double O Boot Corral, Eddins Western Wear, Fieldhouse Sports, Irresistibles, Just Country, Shoe Inn, Juvenilia, Lou Nell's, Mary Lynn's Collegiate Shoppe, Phase II, Place Next Door, Strawberry Fields, and Steele's Shoe Store. The Dairy Festival candidates were joined by children and adults from the community in modeling the clothing and accessories.
We found 1990 Dairy Festival Queen, Angie Dickens George, as the mother of four and an assistant elementary school principal in the Southlake ISD. She makes her home in Keller, Texas.
"I'm proud to say that I come from a family of dairy farmers," expresses Angie. "My parents, Tommy and Pat Dickens, continue to live in Hopkins County and operate the same dairy farm that they've run for almost 40 years, in the Tira Community. My grandparents, Cecil and Alvira Dickens were also dairy farmers until their retirement!"
"Dairy Festival was a life changing experience for me," advises Angie. "As a child I was always painfully shy and found comfort hiding behind my Mom. Being a contestant in the Dairy Festival and representing Hopkins County as Dairy Festival Queen, helped me to acquire the confidence to communicate comfortably in public settings. This experience prepared me for my career and now I can stand before 500 students or an auditorium full of parents and speak with confidence!"
And, it was Evan Teer and Megan Watson that rode this 1950's
decorated golf cart in the 1990 Parade.
"I would say to any young lady that was contemplating entering the Dairy Festival, that it was a wonderful opportunity to become a well-rounded individual and would be full of life changing memories," continued Angie. "I was proud to represent the dairy farmers of Hopkins County, especially my parents, and to be a part of something so much bigger than myself, a pageant that had been a part of my hometown, for my entire life!"
Remembering her talent presentation, Angie relates that she had been taking dance lessons since the age of four, so it was just natural that she would use that as her production. "There was no question that I would perform a tap dance routine for my talent segment, and my parents faithfully drove me to Dallas each Saturday morning for two months to train with Buster Cooper, a well-known tap dancer. He choreographed my routine and once I learned the difficult steps, Duran Ardis, in Sulphur Springs, continued to help me 'polish' my routine," remembers Angie. "It was a 'fast paced' number and required many hours of practice, and I can remember first looking at the piece and wondering how I would ever get it memorized. However, I can remember how great it felt, once I performed the routine so well on the night of the pageant and to know that all of the hard work and dedication had paid-off!"
"I drew the 50's song Wake Up Little Susie for my float and it soon became Wake Up Little Elsie and almost before I could get my talent piece perfected, my parents and devoted friends had a float for me to ride in the parade. I rode atop Elsie and she had a newborn baby calf by her side," continued Angie. "I was so thrilled when the float captured the Sweepstakes Award, because of all the hard work that everyone had devoted to making the creation!"
Angie graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 1991 and attended East Texas State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 1994. She began her teaching career in Garland ISD, while working on her Master's Degree. She earned a Master of Sciences in Educational Administration in 1995. She taught first, second, and third grades in Garland, Carrollton, and Keller ISDs. Then, in 2000, she became an assistant principal in Keller ISD, where she remained for eight years. Currently, she is the assistant principal for Carroll Elementary in Southlake, Texas.
Angie married Clayton George in 1997. He is a football coach at the University of North Texas. "We live in Keller, where we are rearing our four beautiful children, Chloe age 10, Claire age 6, Carlee age 4, and Cade 11-months," expressed Angie. "Clayton and I have truly been blessed. I can honestly say that my family is my greatest accomplishment in life. Balancing a career and a family is challenging, yet so very rewarding. We spend much of our time supporting Clayton at football games and shuttling between dance, soccer, and softball games, as well as church activities at First Baptist Church in Keller!"
Angie Dickens George is joined by her husband, Clayton, on a recent family vacation. They
make their home in Keller, Texas, today.
"Even though I had been raised on a dairy farm, I'm embarrassed to say that I required a lot of practice for the milking contest," remembers Angie. "Bobby McDonald certainly got a laugh from my ordeal with the cow, when she wouldn't cooperate during the contest!"
Meanwhile, while Angie served as Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, in 1990, it was Highway-19 that was in the news, as the courts approved the expansion and refurbishing plan and Bill McCool was named president of the 10-county Highway-19 Alliance that worked to get the expansion project underway. Jerry Bearden was named valedictorian of the 1990 Class at Cumby and Mike Ferguson was awarded the salutatorian. Melanie Glossup was the top graduate at Sulphur Bluff and Maria Reyes was salutatorian.
Valeta Jobe had been selected as the 1990 B&PW Woman of the Year and eggs were 50 cents a dozen. Round steak was $1.78 a pound and beef brisket was priced at $1.30 a pound. Milk was $1.68 a gallon and the J&S Cattle Company, owned by John and Sharon Stewart was offering two newly arrived loads of northern Holstein, springing heifers, from their location on Switchboard Road.
The Texas State Holstein Association conducted their Black and White Show in Sulphur Springs, in conjunction with the Dairy Festival in 1990 and hosted a production sale, as well. The Hubble Space Telescope had just "beamed" back the first pictures and captured a "double star," in the photos. The Hopkins County Folk Festival was postponed for two weeks due to intense rainfall and Dustin Ballard was the winner in a Hopkins County Boy's Baseball drawing, where he received a 13" television. Wildcat baseball standouts Eric Thurman and Chris McCasland were both named to the First Team All-District honors.
Beloved educator Jack Chubb had announced his retirement as principal of SSHS and Ron Andre from Watauga had been selected for the position. Athletic Director James Cameron announced Billy Watkins and Teresa Johnson as the recipients of the 1990 Fighting Heart Award and Brandi Fuhrmann, Sharon Heard, Weldon Beard, and Octus Polk as the winners of the Forrest Greg Awards at SSHS. Jimmy Chester and Chris McCasland were sited for their abilities on the Wildcat Baseball Team.
The pride of Angie and Clayton's lives are their four children......Chloe age 10, Claire age 6, Carlee age 4,
and Cade age 11-months.
Meanwhile, The Blandelles provided the music for the "Sock Hop" that was held on the downtown square during Dairy Festival, keeping with the theme of "Happy Days in Dairyland." And, it was Kara Brandenburgh that managed to squeeze the most milk from the cow, during the annual Milking Contest.
"One of the highlights of my year as Dairy Festival Queen was being able to participate in the ribbon cutting for the Southwest Dairy Museum," expresses Angie Dickens George. "The museum helps to promote and educate others about the industry that I grew up in, and I'm proud to be the daughter of dairy farmers and to have represented them as their 1990 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen. I look forward to coming back to Sulphur Springs in June 2009 and share my many fond memories with everyone and be a part of the 50th Anniversary Dairy Festival!"
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