A royal court By Samantha Pirc, BSJ ’10
For students in the 1950s, J-Prom was not just another formal dance; it was the event of the year. Classes were canceled, curfew was lifted and weeks of preparation culminated with the election of a J-Prom king and queen. Every dorm, sorority and fraternity campaigned for a candidate, and even today, Ohio University alumni say it was a tradition fit for royalty.
‘Farmer Franny’ reminisces
Heights, N.Y. She still keeps the photos and newspaper clippings that document her reign as J-Prom queen, an When Frances Growhosky Bryan, BSCO ’55 and MA ’58, talks experience that Bryan describes as one of the many that made about the 1955 J-Prom that crowned her her time at the university so wonderful. “I know I certainly queen, the event is as fresh in her mind left the school a much better person. It did a lot for me.” as if it happened yesterday. “Farmer Franny” — the nickname she donned to go along with her “down ‘Alpine Al’ still a king Even today, Alan Galletly, BSJ ’60, has the credentials of on the farm” campaign theme — can a J-Prom king. If the drive and charisma of this retired still describe the blue dress she wore entrepreneur (and cross-country cyclist) don’t convince you, and the horse-drawn buggy she rode there’s always a special talent he can in the parade. She can tell deploy to win your vote: the same act he you who else walked with originally performed to score his victory in the float (her dorm mates, 1959, a mash-up of different musical styles leading several lambs) and depicting the origins of “Happy Birthday.” what they wore (blue-and1955 queen “If I have to be anywhere to perform white checkered skirts). something, I can always trot it out,” And she still remembers what a beautiful night it Galletly says, adding that he has expanded was when she stood on the balcony outside of Baker and refreshed the tune over the years. University Center to hear the winners announced. “People still get a laugh from it.” But if you ask Bryan what stands out most, she Between his role as music director for will readily tell you it was the sense of community the Wilton (Conn.) Presbyterian Church, the experience created for those on campus. volunteering with the Wilton Children “It was a wonderful thing,” she says. “Anyone 1959 king Theater and doing occasional public who wanted to be involved could be. It was the relations consulting work, Galletly is as biggest thing of the year — bigger than Homecoming.” active now as he was before he retired from his role as vice The dance itself was almost an afterthought compared to president of public affairs at GTE (now Verizon). He lives in the weeks of preparation that went into float building, skit planning and campaigning for the king and queen candidates. Richfield, Conn. An entrepreneur twice over, Galletly ran his own public After graduation, Bryan traded in her crown for a job in relations firm for six years and a bike tour company for three. economics and graduate study (at the urging of Margaret As if all this isn’t enough, he’s also completed quite a few Deppen, then dean of women). cross-country bicycling trips since retirement — the latest With her husband David Bryan, BSCO ’57, she moved to being an 800-mile journey on the Lewis and Clark Trail from Okinawa, Japan, where he was stationed in the Air Force, Oregon through Montana, with his wife of almost 50 years, and she worked for the American Civil Service, recruiting Janice Myers Galletly, BSED ’60. American nurses and teachers to the base. After returning After all these endeavors, Galletly is still proud of being to the United States, Bryan again worked in recruitment at elected king and looks back fondly at the celebration that Anaconda Copper Mining Co., until she and her husband was J-Prom. decided to start a family. “It was a hell of a tradition,” he says. “It was an honor to be Today, she is a certified social worker and works part time selected by the fraternity to be their representative.” at the Country House Retirement Community in Yorktown 18
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