Miss Mary Lou Walker from Kingsport was crowned Queen of the 16th Annual Tennessee Strawberry Festival here in may of1963 by TV Star Sebastian Cabot.
Miss Walker, “Miss Kingsport” of 1963, is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Kent Walker. She was a sophomore at Carson Newman College.
The Queen, who sang “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing” to show her talent, was sponsored in the state contest by the Kingsport Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Sebastian Cabot of the “Checkmate” TV series crowned the new reigning queen. Also serving on the judging committee were Dale Robertson, “Wells Fargo” TV series, and Margaret Petty, “Miss Tennessee”.
Miss Walker was a graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School, won a trip to the National Jaycees Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. She also won a week’s vacation in Miami, Florida and a $150 scholarship to Bryan College along with other prizes.
Miss Walker replaced Miss Carolyn Gann of Soddy Daisy, 1962 queen, as the new reigning queen of the festival.
She won out over 15 other contestants in the Strawberry Festival which had begun on Monday, May 27, 1963.
At the time Miss Walker was quoted as saying, “The festival was one that she will never forget”.
Sharyn Arnold of Dayton was first runner up and Gail Dorflinger of Cleveland was second runner up.
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