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VOL. LI
NO. 21
LONGWOOD COLLEGE, FARMVILLE, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1976
Beth Tornlinson Recipient Of Miss Longwood Title: *850 In Scholarships Awarded Top Finalists By THALIA GERACHIS Beth Thomlinson, a 21-year old junior from Orange, Virginia was crowned Miss Longwood 1976 at 8 p.m. on Saturday night in Jarman Auditorium. The theme for this year's pageant was "A Woman's Place Is. . ." As Mary Bruce Hazlegrove, general chairman stated, "A woman's place in today's world cannot be specifically defined. The 1976 contestants have varying interests and talents that will support their individuality.. .The girls are no longer judged soley on their beauty, but emphasis is placed on their intelligence, poise, and talent." This year $850 worth of scholarships are being awarded to the three top finalists. Special thanks should go to Sue Watson for her work with the Farmville community obtaining their many fine contributions. As Mary Bruce said, "Without the contributions of merchants, patrons, and civic organizations, the Pageant wouldn't be possible." The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Mr. Harvey Hudson. He has been in broadcast media, on television and radio, and a star performer on WLEE and WXEX-TV in Richmond. He has M.C.'d many Junior Miss Pageants in the area as well as the 1976 Miss State Fair. Mr. Hudson has been the
recipient of many radio personality and top management awards. The entertainment for the evening was provided by the Bridgewater Stage Band under the direction of Thomas R. Thornley. It performs in the tradition of famous jazz bands. Along with the band were two very delightful young men, Jimmy Lee of Wofford College and Curtis B. Nolley of Bridgewater College. Each sang two songs which were evidently met with great response from the audience. Talking to Jimmy Lee after the program, he said, "The girls were great to work with but the backstage crew never gets enough credit, especially Ruth (Bourne), Wilson, and Bill (Atkinson). They're great!" After an opening song by Jimmy Lee, Mr. Hudson introduced the contestants' production numbers. Each of the girls were wearing green jumpsuits and neck scarves. As they sang, "I Like Being a Woman" they did a dance choreographed by Susann Smith and took that long, first of many walks down the runway. Miss Longwood 1975, Mari Bea Coles, a senior from Virginia Beach was then introduced. When asked about her year as Miss Longwood she said that "she had met so many nice people, it was very hard to describe. The Miss Tobacco Bowl
Newly crowned Miss Longwood waves to receptive audience.
Second runner-up Yvonne Morrison, Miss Longwood, and first runner-up Diane Quinn congratulate each other after pageant. Festival (of which she was picked second runner-up) was worth every minute — I just couldn't get the hanging of chewing tobacco!" Our five judges this year included Mrs. Shirley W. Cash of Staunton, Va., a past judge in the Staunton-Augusta County area: Mr. Gene Ross of Petersburg, Va., who has been a judge for many Miss America preliminaries throughout the state; Mrs. Catherine Beale of Culpeper, Va., who has been associated with the Miss Culpeper County pageant since 1972; Mr. Walter P. Stiff of Suffolk, Va., a gentleman who has judged many pageants throughout Virginia and North Carolina, and Mr. Frank M. Lee of Halifax, Va., who has been associated with the Miss Bronze Lynchburg Pageant. Our own Mr. Willard Leeper and Col. John Carr, III served as auditors and kept running scores on each of the contestants throughout the evening. Talent this year was very interesting. There were two demonstrations, four songs, five dance-type routines, including floor exercises and baton twirling and two dramatic readings. The interesting part was each girl proved her own individuality with her talent. Sharon Cadmus, sponsored by social sorority Alpha Gamma Dalta, presented an original poem, as the first
contestant, Kim Laughter, contestant number two, sang "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head," number three, Robin Deans presented a cowgirl baton routine to "Buttons and Bows"; number four, Dawn Drewry, who was also chosen Miss Congeniality by the other contestants did a floor exercises gymnastics routine to the "Maple Leaf Rag'y' number five Emily Habwe, did a native African dance and verse routine, number six, Karen Kimbrough recited a Mark Twain selection from "Adam and Eve," number seven, Cindy Lafoon, sang a medley of songs from "My Fair I^ady," number eight, Yvonne Morrison, did a modern jazz routine to the "Friendship Dance" by Gladys Knight and the Pips, number nine, Diane Quinn, sang "Can't Help Loving That Man" from "Showboat" - Liza Minelli style, number ten, Chris Saunders did an art demonstration and drawing to music — Chris was later chosen by the judges as Most Talented Non-Finalist, contestant number eleven in talent competition was Beth Tornlinson who did a modern dance to music by Debussy, number twelve, Mary Woolfolk, displayed clothes for 1976 — that she had designed and sewn and contestant number thirteen Diane Jones sang, "I'm the Greatest Star" from "Funny Girl." Every one of these girls is
to be commended for their very enjoyable presentations!!!! Jimmy I-ee sang "Tlis is my Moment" to open the second act. Swimsuit competition and evening gown competition followed. Following these two competitions, Mari-Bea Coles, Miss LoogVOOd 1975 gave her farewell speech. Mari-Bea did a skit from "The Wizard of Oz" last year as her talent. She told the audience that she has "liked beauty pageants all of my life and I've always thought that farewell speeches sounded the same. I'm not sad about giving up my crown. It didn't really hit me that someone was really going to take my crown until last night (Friday). No one can ever take away the experiences and friends I've made. They'll have good times too. I can't stand up here and thank everyone. They know who they are — but I owe a lot to my mother who has been my constant help. The lion was looking for courage — I've found some, the tin man was looking for a heart - if he'd been in pageants, he would have found many hearts willing to help him, the scarecrow was looking for a brain — if I haven't found it by now — I won't. I just hope that this past year has improved me intellectually. Thank you, longwood College." After the announcement of (Continued on Page 3)