Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 1972)
ik ' lS k-x. $f-.ii cy.fi tVA : j '11 lj r Q ' ) J", - t- i . - - i kailn I h pson Mrlih (mj nllr-rn kilkninv (.rrrnup -n uv? J 8Wv w ,ok - r-7 v ( , L- i i i - . I rl 1st; (1L.T. ' ' "y MAnne, a princess on the 1972 During the Rodeo Parade II llfVx'f j " " "'v " BcKlt-o Court. Harry Dinges carried the l .ill' t U ' ' S t 1947" In 1947 the Hef)- nac.Lennie Louden rode side I) All I Y ' ' " 1 V ) VV I X. i ' Piiif Ro(l..obardas headed saddle, one of the Judges of "MAX A I ' S "riJI 4w; kvA X 1 ty Lee Beckm r, president; the Parade as Ralph Jack- ; AJf I - X -f "v J Jim Valentine, arena direc- son. the best-dressed coweirl wlwll: I V Jr '-iSJr.T". - i - T Hei iiii r Mathew Thi.rnton A white shirt as to le found for Queen Darlene, but no pants and a very scarce selection of white materials, due to the post-war shortage, Mrs. GorfUe of the New York Store, had saved two pieces: one of heavy weight and one of light weight. Ttie selec tion was for the light weight. The Pendleton Round-up Queen was the recipient of the other material. After sending this to Nudelmans in Los Angeles, the pants sent back were too shear, so Mrs. Clyde Nutting proceeded to line them, an unheard of tiling then. IN Darlene said she would never forget the time she first met the Queen of the Round-up, she in the too heavy material made into pants and herself in lined ones so com fortable! The court this year ap peared for the first time at Elgin and also went to Pend leton Lexington's July 4th Parade, and John Day. Directors that year were Lee Beckner, president; Har ry Dinges, secretary; Eb Hu ghes, Jim Valentine, Cliff Dougherty, Harlan McCurdy and Claude Buschke. Darlene and her husband, Robert, have a daughter, RE ' rrCt rv I i nSt I V IT; (.1111 uougmery, grou nds director, Raymond Fer- guson, stock director-riaiirtP Buschke, dance director; Ja ck Loyd, secretary; and Har lan McCurdy, parade direc tor. In May of that year, the bo ard met and selected Mer lynKirk daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Merle Kirk, long time ranchers of Morrow County, as Queen. Both of her grandparents were early set tlers of this county. Her sister, Evelyn, was princes on the court of Queen Ma xine McCurdy in 1938. The Court for that year was Shirley Wilkinson, Lexington Grange; Laurel Palmateer, Willows Grange; Francine Hisler, Lena; and Corabelle TRO Nutting, Rhea Creek Grange. The Queen 0re the white pants, shirt, hat and boots and the princesses were at tired in pearl gray pants and shirts accented with black yo kes, white piping and ties and black hats, boots and belts. This group traveled to many shows. Frank Turner and Harlan McCurdy trucked the horses many times. The Court was represented at Hermiston, Pendleton, Elgin, John Day and Arlington. Nu merous lunches at different places involved this group with Courts of other places. The 4-H and Farmers' Fair was held Sept. 5 and 6, Fri- 1953 Elsie Bauernfeind Paisley day ai. Saturday of the Ro deo. Nels Anderson wasCou nty Agent. During the Rodeo Parade Harry Dinges carried the flag, LennieLowden rode side saddle, one of the Judges of the Parade was Ralph Jack son, the best-dressed cowgirl was Mary Beamer, the best dressed cowboys were Mac and Don Griffith, sons of former RodeoQueen Eva Pad berg; there were trick riders and ropers during the Rodeo. Joe Stenson of Ya kima was all-around cowboy. Merlyn now resides with her family on the Kirk and Robinson Ranch near Hep pner 1948. Betty Smethurst Sie gler was chosen Queen of the Rodeo in 1948. The princes ses were Lillian Hubbard, Willows Grange; Vesta Cuts forth, Lexington Grange; Lo rraline Swaggart, Lena Grange; and Constance Rug gles, Rhea Creek Grange. The chaperone was Mrs. Ray mond (Cora May) Ferguson. The color of the princes ses' outfits were green and tan. Betty's outfit was black with white accessories. The court appeared at se veral rodeos: John Day, Condon, Arlington, Hermis ton, Pendleton Dress-up Pa rade, Pendleton Round-up and Arena Parade. They also attended several luncheons. Heppner had the honor of entertaining the All Indian Court of the Pendleton Round up on Saturday, Parade day. This was an honor to have been the first to entertain an all Indian Court. 1948 was the first time in the history of the Pendleton Round-up it has had an all Indian court, although twice before Indian maidens had ruled as Queen. 1949. Shirley Wilkinson Rugg was crowned Queen of the Morrow County Rodeo on Main St. Her princesses that year were Ingrid Hermann Crawford, Betty Walker Gentry, Faye Cuts forth Olsen and Dorothy Wig lesworth Meredith. Shirley, a born horse woman, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wilkin son, ranchers of long standing on Willow Creek. She broke and roae most of the horses on the ranch and she rode her favorite, Penny, a colt from the famous Swaggart ranch. Shirley was a prin cess of the Court of Queen Merlyn and has ridden in pa rades since she was three ye ars eld. Shirley now has se veral ranches in Morrow Cou nty, and with her daughter, Jill, raises cattle, sheep and horses. 1950. Joan Hisler Sum ner, Queen of the 1950 ro- Kathryn SPECT deo, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hisler, ranch ers on Batter Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Hisler have been active throughout the years at the Heppner Rodeo and Fair. Paul is now chairman of the Fair Board. Joan, an active ranch girl, started her years in the Rodeo world at the age of five when she was queen of the 1935 Cow boy Convention at L'kiah. In 1945 she was princess in the Court of Queen Colleen. Her princesses for 1950 were Bet ty Graves Carlson, Lexing ton; Katie Campbell Van Scho iach, Rhea Creek; Jane See haffer Tye, lone; and Evelyn Miller, Boardman. The Queen was attired in white and the Court wore gold shi rts, brown pants, hats and boots. They participated in the opening ceremonies of the Heppner Hospital. That year Governor McKay of Oregon rode in the Parade and was their guest at the luncheon on the CourtHouse lawn. Joan was not the only one in her family involved with Royal duties that year. Her sis ter. Francine, was princess on the Pendleton Round-Up Court of Queen Lazinka.Joan and her family now reside in The Dalles. 1951. Queen Ingrid Her mann of lone was selected as Queen of the 1951 Fair and Rodeo. An unusual fea ture about the Court was that it was the only year that there were five princesses: Nancy Rands, Boardman; Jo an Renninger Hughes, Lex ington; Eileen Ball Stieger, Rhea Creek; Elsie Bauern fiend, Morgan; and Lee Chap el, lone. Ingrid wore the traditional w hite outfit of that time and the girls wore light blue hats, shirts, pants and burgandy ties and boots. ( ainpbell Van Schmaih Muhillc Miller Burns The chaperone was Mrs.Jua nita Melena. Ingrid, (Mrs. Harlan Crawford), now lives in La Grande. 1952. The Rodeo Board se lected the Queen of the 1952 Rodeo, Kathryn Campbell Van Schoiach, daughter ofMr.anc Mrs. Pat Campbell of Lone rock. She was a princess on the court of Queen Joar Hisler. Her princesses werf Grace Miller, Boardman, Wilma Dezell, Lexington, Rita Graves, Rhea Creek; and Shirley Meyers, Lena. Chaperone was the Queen's sister, Martha Campbell. A dress-up Parade pro ceeded the Rodeo followed by the Queen's Coronation. Judge Garnet Barratt bestow ed the Crown. The Court made many appearances to neighboring Fairs, Rodeos, and Parades. The Court and all guests were given a luncheon by the Soroptimists and Chamber of Commerce at the Elaine George home. The Rodeo that year was an R.C.A. event and featur ed many exciting horse rac es. Archie Murchison won the saddle for Morrow County Ropers. In the juvenile sec tion Bob Steagall won a sil ver bit. Harold Erwin was arena director. A new at traction that year was the horse show sponsored by the Wranglers Riding Club under the supervision of Fred Man kin. This event replaced a regular round of Rodeo which had previously taken place on Friday afternoon. The 4-H Fat Livestock Auction was held with 12 steers, 16 lambs and 12 pigs sold. Top bid was on all steers was 34'2 cents per pound. Harry Dinges le the para de. A luncheor. followed on the Courthouse lawn for all Royal visitors, dignitaries & Heppner band members. Pa rade awards were given to Greg Jones for the youngest mounted cowboy and to Erna Lynn Winchester as the youn gest Cowgirl. 10 4 v l5l Ingrid Hermann ( raw ford IhiJtJ V , I 1 .1 mil Katy now resides with her family on a cattle ranch near Heppner. 1953. In 1953 Elsie Bau ernfelnd Pisley, the daugh ter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Bauernfeind of Morgan, was chosen Queen. Elsie's paren ts had a large pony ranch and she was brought up on the back of horses, riding and training. The Court was Carol Ann Wiglesworth, Lena; Beth Ball, Rhea Creek; Wilma Hug, Boardman, Patricia McMil lan, Lexington. The chaper one was the Queen's mother, Mrs. Martin Bauernfeind. They enjoyed the usual par ticipation in the nearby Pa rades, Dances, preceedingi during the Rodeo, a visit tc the hospital and the happen ings of the Fair and Rodeo itself. Miss Austria, Lore Felger of Vienna, was pre sent at one of the dances. She had just competed in the Miss Universe contest and she had stopped in Heppner for a 5-day visit with the Gontys before going back to Austria. Elsie now resides in Rogue River, Oregon, with her hus band and family where she teaches school. 1954. Queen Grace Mil ler of Boardman was the first Queen to be chosen from the north end of the County. She was a princess on the Court of Queen Kathryn of 1952. Princesses chosen for her Court were Janet Howton, lone; Deanna Steagall, Lex ington; Patsy Wright, Rhea Creek; and Christine Swag gart, Lena. Grace is now married to Vern Carpenter and lives in La Grande. They have two sons. 1955. Carol Ann Wigles worth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walt Wiglesworth, But ter Creek ranchers, was chosen to be the Queen of the 1955 Heppner Fair and Rodeo. Her princesses that were Betty Olmstead, Board man; Sharon Rill, Heppner; t Marilyn Munkers, Lexing ton; and Carolyn Crabtee, lone. The chaperone was Mrs. Archie Munkers. Carol Ann won the all-around cham pionship buckle In the 13-17 age group in the Wranglers Club. She remembers her horse being injured in a li ghtning storm during one of the princesses' dances. They .also rode on the hood of a Cadillac in one of the Pen dleton night Parades and Ca rol Ann" vividly remem6ers getting the hot seat. Carol and her husband, Lawrence Meredith, now reside inGalt, Ca. 1956. The 1956 Queen was Patricia Wright, represent ing the Rhea Creek district. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wright of Heppner. The Court included princes ses Janet Myers from the Cont. on next page ... , ft' IWUv SniHhurst Siegler ft J j me v m b - x I Juan ilisler sumner 7t mm Durlcne liiildle lloskins i I -A 1!7 Merlvn Kirk Robinson Shirley nilkinsun Kugg i