Wikipedia

Miss Wool of America Pageant

The Miss Wool of America Pageant was a showcase of wool-related merchandise. It was an annual event organized by the National Wool Growers Association (U.S.), American Sheep Producers Council, and the Wool Bureau, Inc. at San Angelo, Texas, from 1952 to 1972. Originally a Texas-only event (the Miss Wool of Texas Pageant), it attracted wider entrants from 1958 and evolved into a national pageant. The winner would tour nationally wearing the latest in woolen fashion to promote the industry.

1960 Miss Wool Of America advertisement

History

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The event was originally known as the Miss Wool of Texas Pageant and first began in 1952.[1]: 47 [2] The purpose of the event was primarily to celebrate the thriving sheep and wool industry of San Angelo, Texas.[2] A young lady would be chosen to represent the wool industry in Texas as "Miss Wool" for a year.[1] From 1958, contestants from various wool-producing regions of the United States competed. The event evolved into the Miss Wool of America Pageant, with Miss Wools from various states competing for the national title.[2][1]: 47 

Miss Wool

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Miss Wool would go on tour dressed in the latest woolen fashions, representing the industry on a national level.[1]: 57–60 [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Eighteen-year-old Cheri Slikker, in 1963, was the youngest winner of the title.[10]

The American Sheep Producers Council, National Wool Growers Association, and the Wool Bureau were the sponsors. They funded a televised version of the competition in its later years which included the appearance of movie stars and popular musicians.[9] The 1968 Miss Wool Pageant was broadcast live on color television. The hosts for the program were Jane Morgan and Donald O'Connor.[11][12] In 1970, Nancy Ames and singer Jack Jones hosted the pageant.[13]

Pageant winners

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The first Miss Wool winner was Kathryn Gromatski in 1952.[1]: 47  Winners of titles since then have included:

  • 1957, Earline Whitt[14]
  • 1958, Miriam LaCour[15]
  • 1959, Carrell Currie[16]
  • 1960, Patti Jo Shaw[17]
  • 1961, Gayle Hudgens[18]
  • 1962, Carolyn Barre[19]
  • 1963, Cheri Slikker[10]
  • 1964, Suzy Beck[20][21]
  • 1965, Sharone Moline[22]
  • 1966, Elizabeth Peteel[23]
  • 1967, Allana Crimmins[11]
  • 1968, Mary Smiley[24]
  • 1969, Francis Mitchell[25]
  • 1970, Gail "Gus" Heinzmann[13]
  • 1971, Carey Andersen[26]
  • 1972, Barbara Ward[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Hite, Gerron S. (2013). San Angelo 1950s and Beyond. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-9686-0.
  2. ^ a b c "The Miss Wool of America Collection". texasarchive.org. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  3. ^ The Ranch Magazine. Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers' Association. 1971. pp. 14, 21, 25.
  4. ^ Parkes, Clara (2019-10-01). Vanishing Fleece: Adventures in American Wool. Abrams. ISBN 978-1-68335-682-0. Did you know that, for twenty glorious years, the city of San Angelo, Texas, hosted the Miss Wool of America Pageant?
  5. ^ The National Wool Grower 1963-05: Vol 53 Iss 5. American Sheep Industry Association. 1963. p. 1.
  6. ^ "The Miss Wool of America Pageant 1970". texasarchive.org. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  7. ^ Miss Wool of America Pageant 1968, retrieved 2021-09-04
  8. ^ Texas Beauty Named Miss Wool | Segment (1962), retrieved 2021-09-04
  9. ^ a b "TAMI Flashback: The Miss Wool of America Pageant | Slackerwood". www.slackerwood.com. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  10. ^ a b "Miss Wool of America Travels to New York (1963)". texasarchive.org. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  11. ^ a b The National Wool Grower 1967-08: Vol 57 Iss 8. American Sheep Industry Association. 1967. p. 38.
  12. ^ "The Miss Wool of America Pageant 1967". texasarchive.org. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  13. ^ a b "The Miss Wool of America Pageant 1970". texasarchive.org. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  14. ^ "The Miss Wool of Texas Pageant (1956)". texasarchive.org. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  15. ^ Sheep and Goat Raiser the Ranchman's Magazine 1958-08: Vol 38 Iss 11. Ranch and Rural Living Magazine. 1958. pp. 1, 25.
  16. ^ "Media Event for Miss Wool of America (1959)". texasarchive.org. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  17. ^ "Miss Wool Of America At Freedomland | America, Large entertainment center, San bernardino county". Pinterest. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  18. ^ "Campus Highlights, Winter 1961". KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  19. ^ "Texas Beauty Named Miss Wool (1962)". texasarchive.org. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  20. ^ The National Wool Grower 1964-05: Vol 54 Iss 5. American Sheep Industry Association. 1964. p. 11.
  21. ^ To the Stars. The Commission. 1959. p. 22.
  22. ^ The National Wool Grower 1965-05: Vol 55 Iss 5. American Sheep Industry Association. 1965. p. 1.
  23. ^ Images, Historic. "1966 Press Photo Miss Wool America Pageant". Historic Images. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  24. ^ "Good Luck and Charm". The Monitor. Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, TX, USA. 5 July 1968. p. 1.
  25. ^ Southwestern Sheep and Goat Raiser. Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers' Association. 1969. p. 71.
  26. ^ "NOV 29 1971, DEC 7 1971; Miss Wool Winners; Carey Andersen, left,..." Getty Images. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  27. ^ WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex ) (1972). "[News Script: Miss Wool]". The Portal to Texas History. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
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