Dating back to 1924, the Florida Citrus Queen and Miss Florida Citrus programs have both been devoted to the promotion of the Florida citrus industry. Each year, organizers carefully selected a young woman to serve as Florida Citrus Queen, who became a goodwill ambassador throughout the state, the nation, and even the world. The Citrus Queen would reign over the Florida Citrus Exposition (later known as the Florida Citrus Festival) and even made appearances at the World's Fair. Florida Citrus Queens have also been photographed throughout the years with celebrities, dignitaries, and even the President of the United States.
In 1983, the name of the competition changed to Miss Florida Citrus and the selection process changed from that of a more traditional beauty pageant to three days full of interviews, videotaping, and showcasing media/communications skills – all judged by a panel of industry leaders. The winner became a full-time salaried employee and traveled extensively throughout the year. Miss Florida Citrus attended national conventions as well as conducted numerous television, radio, and print interviews as the media spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Showcase and later the Florida Department of Citrus.
November 2003 signified the end of an era as the last Miss Florida Citrus was crowned. However, the program did not remain dormant for long. Revival efforts began in 2012, and the first pageant was held in 2015. Pulling aspects from both previous programs, contestants compete through multiple stages including talent, interviewing, and eveningwear. The Miss Florida Citrus program is part of the Miss America preliminary system, and the winning Miss Florida Citrus earns a scholarship as well as a spot in the Miss Florida pageant.
We invite you to take a nostalgic walk down memory lane as we celebrate the winners of the Florida Citrus Queen and Miss Florida Citrus pageants through the years.
Please note that all images are from the Florida Citrus Archives unless otherwise indicated.
For further information, please contact the McKay Archives at Florida Southern College.
Dorothy Williamson was born on March 8, 1902 in Winter Haven, Florida as the daughter of Francis E. Williamson, owner of the Ritz Theater, which would later become the home of the Florida Citrus Queen pageant. Dorothy was 22 years old when she was crowned as the first Citrus Queen in 1924 alongside the first and only Citrus King, Harvey Henderson. In contrast to later contests, the citrus rulers were chosen by ballot and voted on by the people of Polk County. After her reign, Dorothy was the President of Winter Haven's Business and Professional Women's Club. Dorothy passed away on August 2, 1943.
Sources:
Burr, Josephine. History of Winter Haven Florida. Larry Burr Printing Company, 1974. https://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/winterhaven/published_documents/Winter%20Haven/Library/History_of_Winter_Haven.pdf.
"Dorothy Williamson (1902-1943)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, April 16, 2011. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68453153/dorothy-williamson.
Ruth Snyder was born on August 27, 1910 in New Jersey. She later moved to Florida and graduated from Lakeland High School. Ruth was 19 when she won the crown of Florida Citrus Queen in 1930. Towards the end of her reign, in October 1930, Ruth married her first husband Kenneth King. After her reign, Ruth went on to New York and became an actress and homemaker. Years later, she moved to Houston and married her second husband Richard Onarecker. Ruth passed away on July 20, 1971.
Image Courtesy of Florida Memory, State Archives of Florida
Sources:
"Clois W. Snyder." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 30, 1962.
"First Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 10, 1964.
"Former Residents of Lakeland Wed in New York City." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), October 13, 1930.
"Ruth Cooper Snyder (1910-1971)." FamilySearch, accessed August 16, 2023. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/GW2V-YBX/ruth-cooper-snyder-1910-1971.
"Ruth Snyder Onarecker (1910-1971)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, September 14, 2015. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152315446/ruth-onarecker.
Bertha Knight was born on July 15, 1912 in Bartow, Florida. Bertha was 19 when she won the crown of Florida Citrus Queen in 1931. Her father Edgar Wilson Knight was a federal state plant inspector exposing her to the citrus industry from an early age. Bertha's sponsor during the competition was the Bartow Chamber of Commerce. During her reign as queen, she married her first husband Hubert Myers in 1931. After her reign, she became an interior designer and opened her own restaurant. Bertha later married her second husband Rev. E. Lawrence Bottiger in 1976. Bertha passed away on November 27, 2006.
Sources:
"Bertha Knight Bottiger (1912-2006)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, November 28, 2006. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16816876/bertha-bottiger.
"Judges Pick Bartow Girl to be Queen of Orange Festival." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 21, 1931.
"Miss Bertha Knight, Orange Fete Queen, Married at Bartow." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 26, 1931.
Kathleen Kelley was born on May 5, 1908 in Pinellas County, Florida. She was 23 when she won the crown of Florida Citrus Queen in 1932. Post-reign, Kathleen married Arthur Raymond Hanson in 1934 and moved to North Carolina where she was a homemaker. Kathleen passed away on November 5, 1980.
Sources:
"Kathleen Kelley Hanson (1908-1980)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, July 19, 2013. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114046891/kathleen-hanson.
"Kathleen Odom Kelley (1908-1980)." FamilySearch, accessed July 21, 2023. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/GMZ5-D3K/kathleen-odom-kelley-1908-1980.
"Western North Carolina Deaths, Funerals." The Asheville Times (Asheville, North Carolina), November 7, 1980.
Mary Louise Moore was born on September 11, 1916 in Clearwater, Florida. She was 16 when she won the crown of Florida Citrus Queen in 1933. Mary received her high school diploma post-reign as queen. She then went on to marry her husband Kelsie Loomis Reaves in 1937. She would move multiple times with her husband first for her career as a radio talent to New York City and later for his military career to the Philippines, where he was stationed. Mary passed away on December 15, 1997.
Sources:
"Mary Lou Moore Signs with Radio Stations." Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida), March 6, 1936.
"Mary Louise Reaves (1916-1997)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, February 15, 2015. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142597141/mary-louise-reaves.
"Miss Mary Lou Moore Lt. Reaves Will Wed Tonight at Fort Screven, GA." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), October 23, 1937.
"Queen Crowned at Opening of Orange Fete." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 25, 1933.
Marjorie Giddens was born on March 1, 1917 in Lakeland, Florida and later graduated from Lakeland High School. She was 17 when she won the crown of Florida Citrus Queen in 1934, and her sponsor during the competition was the Lakeland Rotary Club. Marjorie would later marry her husband the Honorable William A. Macomber, Jr. and move west to San Diego, California and later Nevada. Marjorie passed away on December 22, 1990.
Sources:
"Debbie Verdieck to be Bride of F. Jefferey Macomber." Redlands Daily Facts (Redlands, California), May 5, 1976.
"Giddens." Independent (Long Beach, California), June 13, 1963.
"Marjorie Giddens." FamilySearch, accessed July 21, 2023. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G798-JYT.
"Named Queen of Oranges." Henderson Daily Dispatch (Henderson, North Carolina), January 23, 1934.
"Orange Fete Queen Named." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), January 17, 1934.
"Stewart-Giddens Nuptial Vows Taken in Formal Rites Saturday." The Pomona Progress Bulletin (Pomona, California), June 24, 1946.
"Vista Court Judge Dead." Times-Advocate (Escondido, California), May 3, 1973.
Elizabeth "Betty" Runkle was born on June 4, 1914 in Sunbury, Pennsylvania and later graduated from Winter Haven High School. She was 20 when she won the crown of Florida Citrus Queen in 1935. Post-reign, Betty would stay in Florida and work as a volunteer at Cypress Gardens. She also would go on to marry her first husband Harlan Jameson in 1940 and later her second husband Leroy Sutton. Betty passed away on April 5, 2002.
Sources:
"Elizabeth F. 'Betty' Runkle Jameson Sutton (1914-2002)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, February 11, 2015. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142478221/elizabeth-f-jameson_sutton.
Ellis, Billie. "Woman Has 60 Year History with Gardens." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), September 29, 1996.
"Queen of the Florida Orange Festival." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), January 22, 1935.
Beatrice "Bee" Huyck was born on September 17,1914 in Batavia, New York and later attended the American School of Chicago, from where she received her diploma. She was 22 when she won the Crown of Florida Citrus Queen in 1936 and was sponsored by the Haines City Chamber of Commerce. Post-reign, she married her husband John Friesner, Jr. in 1937. Bee would also go on to become a volunteer pink lady at Winter Haven Hospital, a member of the Winter Haven Garden Club, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Bee passed away on January 31, 2012.
Sources:
"Beatrice Lucy Huyck Friesner (1914-2012)." FamilySearch, accessed July 21, 2023. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVLF-7BFY.
"Beatrice Lucy Huyck Friesner (1914-2012)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, September 18, 2012. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97336085/beatrice-lucy-friesner.
"Friesner-Huyck." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), February 20, 1937.
"Orange Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 28, 1936.
"'36 Orange Queen Wed at Palatka." Miami Tribune (Miami, Florida), February 18, 1937.
Doris Harrison was born on February 19,1920 in Bartow, Florida. She was 16 when she won the crown for Florida Citrus Queen in 1937 and was sponsored by the American Legion. She would also win the American Legion Beauty Pageant in 1937. After her reign, she would go on to become a job advisor for the state of Florida. Doris passed away on March 19, 1997.
Sources:
"Doris R. Harrison." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 21, 1997.
"Doris Ramelle Harrison (1920-1997)." FamilySearch, accessed July 21, 2023. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/MSVR-37F.
"Miss Bartow." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), December 27, 1936.
"Orange Queen." News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida), January 22, 1937.
Pearl Elizabeth "Beth" Page was born in 1920 in Bartow, Florida and later graduated from Bartow High School. She was 17 when she won the crown of Florida Citrus Queen in 1938. She held a connection to the citrus industry through her uncle Claud Page, who was a citrus grower, and was a member of one of the first families of Bartow. Beth was also the winner of the American Legion Beauty Contest as well as the Garden Festival Queen of 1939. She also attended FSC from 1938-1939. Later, she would marry her husband Wilbur A. Steen Jr. in 1945. Beth passed away on October 7, 2004.
Sources:
"Bartow Girl Named Orange Festival Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 18, 1938.
"Beth Page Steen (1920-unknown)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, January 22, 2008. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24109401/beth-page-steen.
"Claude Page." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 27, 1963.
"Crowned Queen." St. Lucie News Tribune (Fort Pierce, Florida), April 13, 1939.
"Miss Pearl Page of Bartow is Bride of Wilbur A. Steen, Jr." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 21, 1945.
"Pearl Elizabeth Page." FamilySearch, accessed July 17, 2023. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KSR-81F1.
Pearl Elizabeth Page and Wilbur Steen, marriage license, January 20, 1945, file no. 1945912902, Polk County Clerk of Courts. https://apps.polkcountyclerk.net/browserviewor/.
"Will Reign as Festival Queen." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), January 18, 1938.
Mary Frances Copps was born on September 29, 1921 in Tampa, Florida and later graduated from Plant High School. She was 17 when she won the crown of Florida Citrus Queen in 1939 and was sponsored by the Tampa Terrace Hotel. During her reign as queen, she married her husband Gabriel "Gabe" Paul in April 1939. Mary later moved to New York and Cincinnati and became a model and homemaker. Mary passed away on June 21, 2015.
Sources:
"Mary Frances Paul." The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio), July 26, 2015. https://obits.cleveland.com/us/obituaries/cleveland/name/mary-paul-obituary?id=20365152.
"News of Social and Club Events in Tampa and Vicinity." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), April 18, 1939.
"Tampa Girl, 17, Queen of Fete." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), January 24, 1939.
"Vicki Vies for Place Among Long List of Citrus Royalty." St. Lucie News Tribune (Fort Pierce, Florida), February 5, 1974.
Evelyn Leone Johnson was born on October 29, 1919 in Plant City, Florida. She was 20 when she won the crown for Florida Citrus Queen in 1940 and was sponsored by the Haines City Booster Club during the competition. During her reign, she married her husband Richard Brown in August 1940. She went on to become a homemaker and stayed in Florida. Leone passed away on April 28, 2007.
Sources:
"Brown, Leone." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), May 1, 2007. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/orlandosentinel/name/leone-brown-obituary?id=25141876.
"Evelyn Leone Johnson Brown (1919-2007)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, July 19, 2010. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55158887/evelyn-leone-brown.
"Leone Johnson is Queen of Festival at Haven." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida) January 23, 1940.
"Miss Johnson and Richard Brown are Married at Orlando." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), September 1, 1940.
"Vicki Vies for Place Among Long List of Citrus Royalty." St. Lucie News Tribune (Fort Pierce, Florida), February 5, 1974.
Christine Elizabeth Colson was born around 1925 in Leesburg, Florida and later graduated from Leesburg High School. She was 16 when she won the crown of Florida Citrus Queen in 1941 and was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. Post-reign, she won Most Photogenic Girl in Florida in 1942. Elizabeth married her husband James R. Golden in 1943. She later moved to Atlanta, Georgia and later Washington D.C. where she became a high fashion model. As of writing, it is unknown if she has passed away.
Sources:
"Golden, James R." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), December 21, 2011. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/orlandosentinel/name/james-golden-obituary?id=19841929.
"Leesburg Girl Selected New Queen of Orange Festival at W. Haven." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), January 28, 1941.
"Miss Christine Colson and Lieutenant Golden Married at Leesburg." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), October 10, 1943.
"Photogenic." Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida), June 12, 1942.
Juanita Iveane Hall was born on August 22, 1923 in Los Angeles, California and later graduated from Lakeland High School. She was 18 when she won the crown of Florida Citrus Queen in 1942 and was sponsored by the Lakeland Junior Chamber of Commerce during the competition. She had previously won Miss Lakeland and Miss Florida Glamor Girl in 1941. Post-reign, she was crowned Azalea Queen. She later married Harold Scruggs in 1943, whom she moved with to Phoenix, Arizona and to later Panama as part of his military career. Iveane passed away on August 15, 2000.
Sources:
"Boys in Uniform Salute Average Girl Symbolized by Beauty Winner." The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), April 19, 1942.
"Citrus Exposition to Add New Queen." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), February 10, 1951.
"Col. Harold Woodward Scruggs (1916-2007)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, November 21, 2007. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23016486/harold-woodward-scruggs.
"Glamor Girls - In Fur!" The Key West Citizen (Key West, Florida), July 10, 1941.
"Juanita Iveane Hall Scruggs (1923-2000)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, April 28, 2009. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36516645/juanita-iveane-scruggs.
"Lakeland Beauty Crowned 'Azalea Queen' at Palatka." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), March 2, 1942.
"Orange Festival Queen is Crowned." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), January 22, 1942.
"Scruggs-Hall." Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida), September 5, 1943.
Gloria Lansden was born on January 8, 1926 in Winter Haven, Florida and later graduated from Winter Haven High School. Gloria was 17 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen. After her reign, she attended the Protestant School of Nursing and Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee. Eventually, she moved to Akron, Ohio, where she worked as a nurse. She later married Paul Herman on February 4, 1953. Gloria passed away on October 6, 1996.
Image Courtesy of The Dayton Herald
Sources:
"Dr. Frank T. Lansden." Hendersonville Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina), September 6, 2012.
"Gloria Lansden (Deceased)." FamilySearch, accessed August 16, 2023. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/GF8M-SCD/gloria-lansden-.
"Marriage Announced." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), February 27, 1953.
"Miss Gloria Lansden Crowned Orange Queen." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), February 9, 1943.
[Photograph of Gloria Lansden, Tangerine Queen]. The Dayton Herald (Dayton, Ohio), December 26, 1943.
"Soldiers Eat Throne of Citrus Queen." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), February 9, 1943.
Sylvia Chambliss was born in 1923 in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1943. Her coronation was part of a special wartime ceremony to persuade the public to purchase war bonds. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Sylvia had been a water skier at Cypress Gardens. After her reign, she moved to New York City where she was a model. Sylvia married John McElvey on September 7, 1944, and eventually they moved to Middleburg, Virginia where she farmed horses. As of writing, it is unknown if she has passed away.
Sources:
"Chamblisses Backed Park from the Start." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), January 18, 2006. https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2006/01/19/chamblisses-backed-park-from-the-start/26679249007/.
"Crown New Orange Festival Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), June 20, 1943.
Dinocola, David. "Selling Sunshine: How Cypress Gardens Defined Florida, 1935-2004." Master's thesis, University of Central Florida, 2009. Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019. 4081. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/4081.
"Miss Chambliss Weds at Winter Haven." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), September 17, 1944.
Sylvia Chambliss and John McElvey, marriage license, September 10, 1944, file no. 1944912344, Polk County Clerk of Courts. https://apps.polkcountyclerk.net/browserviewor/.
"Sylvia Gilchrist." FamilySearch, accessed August 2, 2023. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KT2Y-SVV.
"Vicki Vies for Place Among Long List of Citrus Royalty." St. Lucie News Tribune (Fort Pierce, Florida), February 5, 1974.
Iris Abel was born on June 7, 1924 in Florida. She was 19 when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was the Winter Haven Junior Chamber of Commerce. Her crown was presented by Seaman Robert Crutchfield of the U.S. Navy as the traditional Florida Citrus Exposition was postponed for the year due to World War II. After her reign, she moved to San Francisco, California. Iris passed away on January 4, 1983.
Image Courtesy of The Tampa Tribune
Sources:
"Festival Queen." The Herald-Sun (Durham, North Carolina), February 2, 1944.
"Iris U Abel (1924-1983)." FamilySearch, accessed July 17, 2023. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/GC4H-5Q5/iris-u-abel-1924-1983.
"Orange Festival Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 30, 1944.
Laurel White Norden was born on July 31, 1928 in Winter Haven, Florida. She was 17 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Laurel had been crowned Florida's Magnolia Queen. She later attended FSC in the summers of 1951 and 1952. After her reign, Laurel completed her bachelor's degree at Wesleyan College and went on to George Peabody College for Teachers to obtain a master's degree. She then returned to Florida to work as a teacher and married Jim Lenfestey on June 28, 1956. Laurel passed away on October 3, 2010.
Sources:
"Crowned Queen of Orange Festival." The Key West Citizen (Key West, Florida), March 9, 1945.
"Laurel White Norden Lenfestley (1928-2010)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, January 18, 2012. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83673884/laurel-norden_lefestley.
"Lenfestey, Laurel." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), October 5, 2010.
"Magnolia Queen." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), June 25, 1943.
Selma Rocker was born on May 3, 1928 in Tampa, Florida and later graduated from Summerlin Institute (now Bartow High School). Selma was 17 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was the Summerlin High School Key Club. After her reign, she became an interior designer and design teacher. She also attended FSC from 1947-1948. She married Edwin Ham on July 4, 1948 and later married Claude Segrest. Selma passed away on May 19, 2016.
Sources:
"Rocker-Ham." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), July 14, 1948.
"Selma R. Segrest." Dignity Memorial, May 19, 2016. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/en-ca/obituaries/tampa-fl/selma-segrest-6952254.
"Sisters Have Fun as Queen Blushes." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), February 23, 1946.
"Vicki Vies for Place Among Long List of Citrus Royalty." St. Lucie News Tribune (Fort Pierce, Florida), February 5, 1974.
Nance Stilley was born on December 6, 1928, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and later graduated from Winter Haven High School. Nance was 18 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was the Winter Haven American Legion Post. She also appeared on the cover of Life Magazine in 1947 right before the start of the Florida Citrus Exposition. After her reign, Nance was crowned Bougainvillea Queen later in 1947. She later married Dan Hains, and the couple went on to own and operate multiple water ski schools in Wisconsin and New York before returning to Winter Haven, Florida. Nance passed away on May 6, 2010.
To view the Life magazine issue, Queen Nance Stilley appeared on before her coronation, please visit the New York Public Library Life magazine Archives.
Sources:
"Citrus Exposition Crowns Queen." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), February 19, 1947.
"Flower Queen Title is Taken by 'Aqua-Maid.'" The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida), March 31, 1947.
"Nance S. Hains." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), May 8, 2010. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/theledger/name/nance-hains-obituary?id=21696262.
"Nance Stilley Citrus Queen." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), February 19, 1947.
Shirley Rhodes was born on July 1, 1931 in Spartanburg, South Carolina and later graduated from Plant High School. Shirley was 16 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was Florida Frozen Foods Inc. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Shirley had been crowned Miss Holiday in 1948. After her reign, she went on to collect the crowns of Miss Tampa and Miss Florida in 1949. She also attended FSC from 1949-1950. Shirley married August Dielens on June 30, 1951 and eventually moved to Georgia and South Carolina before returning to Florida. Shirley passed away on December 21, 1979.
Sources:
"August J. Dielens, Jr." USMA Class of 1950, October 7, 2014. https://www.usma1950.com/memorial/august-j-dielens-jr.
"Luncheons, Teas Precede Lazy Summer Days." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), May 24, 1958.
"Miss Florida." Wikipedia, October 1, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Florida.
"Miss Shirley Rhodes Engaged to Wed Lt. A. J. Dielens Jr." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), January 16, 1951.
"Plant High Girl Voted 'Miss Florida Citrus.'" The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), February 17, 1948.
"Shirley Rhodes Dielens (1931-1979)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, September 19, 2010. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58905632/shirley-dielens.
Mabel Joan Cook was born on July 27, 1929 in Miami, Florida and graduated from Miami Senior High School. Joan was 19 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was The Reporter, Stetson University's student newspaper. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Joan had been crowned Miss DeLand. After her reign, she completed her bachelor's degree at Stetson University and worked as a model and dental assistant. Joan married Rowland Saunders on October 22, 1955, and the couple lived in El Paso, Texas. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"Citrus Show to Crown Miami Girl Its Queen." The Miami News (Miami, Florida), February 15, 1949.
"Dade Beauty Crowned at Citrus Exposition." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), February 15, 1949.
Fisher, Bill. "Joan Cook Wins Florida Citrus Queen Title." The Stetson Reporter (Deland, Florida), February 18, 1949. https://archives.stetson.edu/digital/collection/Newspapers/id/10404/rec/1.
"Joan Cook to be Bride in Fall." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), December 12, 1954.
"Joan Cook Wears Veil from Brussels as Bride of Rowland Saunders." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), October 23, 1955.
"Rowland D. Saunders." The Tyler Morning Telegraph (Tyler, Texas), July 4, 2021.
"Stetson University Commencement 1951 Graduation Exercises." Stetson University, June 4, 1951. https://archives.stetson.edu/digital/collection/Unidocs/id/70802/rec/12.
Marian Kathy Darlyn was born on July 21, 1931 in Mt. Clemens, Michigan and later graduated from Plant City High School. Kathy was 18 years old when she won the crown of Florida Citrus Queen in 1950, and she was sponsored by the Plant City Junior Chamber of Commerce. Kathy went on to win the title of Miss Dixie and later water skied for Cypress Gardens. She married her first husband, Paul Smith, on December 29, 1953, and later married Theo Saliba. Kathy passed away on June 13, 2011.
Sources:
Bethany-Alford, Kimberlee. "Beauty Queen Enlivened Cypress Gardens." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), December 15, 2002. https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2002/12/16/beauty-queen-enlivened-cypress-gardens/26742383007/
"Kathy Saliba Obituary." Dignity Memorial, June 11, 2013. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/winter-haven-fl/kathy-saliba-5563989.
"Miss Darlyn Marries in Baptist Ceremony." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), December 30, 1953.
"Plant City Girl Wins the Queen of Citrus Title." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), February 15, 1950.
Carolyn Stroupe was born around 1933 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She graduated from Palm Beach High School and later obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida. Carolyn was 18 when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1951, and she was sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce of West Palm Beach. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Carolyn had been crowned Miss International of West Palm Beach. After the competition, Carolyn moved to New York City and modeled as well as co-hosted for the original The Price is Right television show. She was later crowned Orange Bowl Queen in 1955. She married Michael LaVelle in 1958 and later married Reginald J. Stambaugh on November 24, 1965. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"Al Keller Wins Speedway Feature." The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida) January 15, 1951.
"Beats 41 to Win Queen Title." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), February 14, 1951.
Cloutier, M.M. "High School Days 'On the Hill.'" Palm Beach Daily News (Palm Beach, Florida) January 28, 2019. https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/history/2019/01/28/palm-beach-history-many-residents-enjoyed-high-school-days-on-hill/6178470007/.
Drake, Barbara. "UF Homecoming Queens (and Kings) through the Decades." UF Advancement, University of Florida, September 27, 2021. https://www.uff.ufl.edu/gatornation/uf-homecoming-queens-and-kings-through-the-decades/.
"Jet-Haired Beauty Becomes Citrus Queen." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), February 14, 1951.
"Marriage is Announced." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida) December 9, 1965.
Paulson, Beverly. "Where are Past OB Queens?" The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), December 20, 1958.
"Seven Beauties Vie for Citrus Queen Title." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), February 13, 1951.
Patricia "Pat" Burgoon was born on October 21, 1929 in Townville, Pennsylvania. She later graduated from Titusville High School and was an alumna of Rollins College. Pat was 22 when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen. She married Eric Westphal on September 14, 1952 and worked as a script supervisor for television commercials. Pat passed away on December 1, 1983.
Sources:
"Citrus Queen." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), February 20, 1952.
"Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), September 21, 1952.
"Classified Information: '51." Rollins Alumni Record 38, no. 1-2, 1961, 9. https://scholarship.rollins.edu/magazine/201.
"Patricia Ann Burgoon (1929-1983)." FamilySearch, accessed July 19, 2023. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/G9X1-X7Q/patricia-ann-burgoon-1929-1983.
"Patricia Ann Burgoon Engaged to Eric Westphal." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), March 29, 1952.
"Patricia Burgoon Westphal." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), December 3, 1983.
Marion Ettie was born on June 27, 1933 in Miami, Florida. She was 19 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and she was sponsored by Diamond Fruit Company of Winter Haven. Prior to winning the title of Florida Citrus Queen, Marion was also crowned Orange Bowl Queen. During her reign, she traveled to the United Kingdom to see the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. She also attended the University of Miami and the University of Geneva. Marion married Lt. Anthony Szurek on April 6, 1956, and later married her second husband Edward Bottomley in 1989. Marion lived in San Angelo, Texas, where she was the Executive Director of the San Angelo Texas Convention and Visitors Bureau and Chairwoman of the Texas State Tourism Association. Marion passed away on October 9, 2017.
Image Courtesy of Florida Memory, State Archives of Florida
Sources:
"Exposition Queen." Tampa Bay Times, (St. Petersburg, Florida), February 22, 1953.
"'53 Queen Will Speak at 3 VB Club Meetings." Press Journal (Vero Beach, Florida), August 5, 1954.
Khan, Rashda. "Marion Szurek, Longtime Cheerleader of San Angelo, Dead at 84." Go San Angelo (San Angelo, Texas), October 9, 2017. https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/news/local/2017/10/09/marion-szurek-longtime-cheerleader-san-angelo-dead-84/748056001.
"Marion Frances Ettie Szurek (1933-2017)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, April 9, 2019. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/198222501/marion-frances-szurek.
"Orange Bowl Queen Wed in Germany." The Miami News (Miami, Florida), May 6, 1956.
Paulson, Beverly. "Where are Past OB Queens?" The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), December 20, 1958.
Ann Daniel was born on June 7, 1933 in Plant City, Florida. She was crowned Florida Citrus Queen at the age of 20 while simultaneously being crowned Miss Florida at the same time. She was sponsored by the Dade City Junior Chamber of Commerce and displayed her skill with the accordion for the talent portion. Prior to receiving the title of Florida Citrus Queen, Ann had been crowned Miss Dade City and Miss Radio Queen of the South. Later, at the Miss America 1955 pageant, Ann placed as the first runner-up. After the contest, she went on to complete her bachelor's degree at Florida Southern College in 1955. While at FSC, Ann was part of the FSC Concert Choir and Alpha Chi Omega. Also in 1955, Ann married John Adams. The couple remained in Florida, where Ann became a pageant judge, bred and trained horses, and founded Keep Winter Haven Clean and Beautiful. As of writing, she resides in Winter Haven, Florida.
Image Courtesy of Florida Memory, State Archives of Florida
Sources:
"Ann Daniel Bride of John Paul Adams." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), August 29, 1955.
"Ann Daniel Wins Dual Crown: To Vie for Miss America Title." The Southern (Lakeland, Florida), February 2, 1954.
Burnette, Brenda Eubanks. Personal communication, August 30, 2023.
"Dade City Girl Named Florida Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 18, 1954.
Florida Southern College Alumni Directory, 2002. Purchase, New York: Bernard C. Harris Publishing Company, 2002.
"Miss Florida." Wikipedia, October 1, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Florida.
Morgan, Elain. "Runway Models to Runway Pilots: Polk Women Rise to Prominence." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 14, 1998.
"Receives Double Crown." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 19, 1954.
Sally Ardrey was born in 1934 in Marion, Ohio. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen. She was sponsored by the Haines City Junior Chamber of Commerce and danced for the talent portion of the contest. Prior to receiving the title of Florida Citrus Queen, Sally had also been crowned Miss Sarasota and Miss Bradenton. After the contest, she moved to New York City where she was a singer and actress. She later married Joseph Fitzgerald. She then moved back to Florida where she was an aerobics instructor, receptionist, and mother. Sally passed away on June 22, 2022.
Image Courtesy of Florida Memory, State Archives of Florida
Sources:
"Beauties, Citrus Share Exposition Honors." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 21, 1955.
"Glamor Trails Former Citrus Queens." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 8, 1974.
Milton, Elizabeth. "Bradenton Girl Wins Citrus Queen Contest." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), January 20, 1955.
"Sally Lee Ardrey." Legacy.com, June 24, 2022. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/sally-ardrey-obituary?id=35372031.
"Sally Lee Ardrey (1934-2022)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, June 12, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/255369810/sally-lee-ardrey.
Dorothy Steiner was born around 1936 in Detroit, Michigan and graduated from Seacrest High School. Dorothy was 19 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1956. Her sponsor was the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, and she performed a dramatic monologue for the talent portion of the contest. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Dorothy had been crowned Miss Dixie, Glade Queen, Miss Bicycle of 1956, Miss Boca Raton, and Miss Florida Fishing Queen. After her reign, Dorothy went on to be crowned Miss Florida in 1957 and competed in the Miss America competition where she placed as fourth runner-up. She then pursued an acting career in New York City and Los Angeles. Dorothy married Robert G. Brown in 1962, and then later married her second husband John Lodge Garbutt. The couple moved back to Boca Raton, Florida, where Dorothy became a yoga instructor. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"A New Queen." Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida), July 22, 1957.
"Boca Extends Royal Welcome to Dorothy with Banquet Sunday." Boca Raton News (Boca Raton, Florida), July 26, 1957.
"Boca Raton Beauty is New Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 16, 1956.
Burnette, Brenda Eubanks. Personal communication, August 30, 2023.
"The Eastern Philosophy is Her Thing." Boca Raton News (Boca Raton, Florida), August 16, 1970.
"Four Years Ago." Boca Raton News (Boca Raton, Florida), January 23, 1966.
Gurnett, Nancy. "Such is Our Heritage." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), February 19, 1956.
"Joseph B. Steiner." Boca Raton News (Boca Raton, Florida), September 8, 1966.
"Miss Dorothy Steiner." The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida), July 5, 1953.
"Miss Florida." Wikipedia, October 1, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Florida.
"To Begin Work." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 9, 1956.
Frances Layton was born around 1937 in Callahan, Florida and later graduated from Callahan High School. Frances was 19 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen. She was sponsored by the Winter Haven Junior Chamber of Commerce and tap danced for the talent portion. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Frances had been crowned Miss Seaside Fiesta and Leesburg Watermelon Queen as well as water skied for Cypress Gardens. Frances resigned midway through her reign to marry Richard Pope, Jr. on July 27, 1957. After her marriage, she went on to become a beauty pageant judge. As of writing, she resides in Winter Haven, Florida.
Sources:
Burnette, Brenda Eubanks. Personal communication, August 30, 2023.
"Five Named Citrus Queen Finalists." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 13, 1957.
"Frances Layton - Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa Florida), March 24, 1957.
"Senator Wilson Will Speak." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 24, 1967.
Stokes, Jim. Frances Layton being crowned Miss Seaside Fiesta by the 1955 queen Gloria Bell - New Smyrna Beach, Florida. 1956. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/73699.
Wing, Ash. "Citrus Commission Finds Youth, Cupid Too Much - Queen Frances to Wed Fiance." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), June 26, 1957.
Wing, Ash. "New Citrus Queen Combination of Beauty, Talent, 'Tomboy.'" The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), February 19, 1957.
Carol Baldwin was born on December 14, 1938 in West Palm Beach, Florida. She graduated from Palm Beach High School and attended the University of Miami. She was 18 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1957. She was sponsored by the West Palm Beach Junior Chamber of Commerce and danced for the talent portion of the contest. Carol took up the position halfway through the year after the resignation of Frances Layton, who gave up the title to marry. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Carol had been crowned Miss Flame, Miss Photography, and Miss Queen of Queens in 1955. After her reign, she married Robert Burton Coolidge on June 6, 1959. She then became a military wife and homemaker and moved to Brasstown, North Carolina. Carol passed away on February 17, 2020.
To see photographs of Queen Carol Baldwin's trip to Alberta, Canada as part of her Citrus Queen duties, please visit the University of Calgary Digital Collections.
Sources:
Buckow, Ed. "Carol Baldwin Wins 'Miss Flame' Title." The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida), October 6, 1955.
"Carol Baldwin to Take Over Citrus Title." The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida), June 27, 1957.
"Carol Coolidge Obituary." Tribute Archive, February 17, 2020. https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/22822694/carol-coolidge.
"Five Named Citrus Queen Finalists." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 13, 1957.
"Queen Marcia Adds Charm to Homecoming Week." The Miami Hurricane (Miami, Florida), November 8, 1957.
Martha Kay MacLean was born on September 15, 1938 in Tampa, Florida and later graduated from Plant High School. Kay was 19 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1958. She was sponsored by the Haines City Citrus Growers Association and sang for the talent portion of the contest. After her reign, Kay completed her bachelor's degree at Florida State University. She married James John Nero on August 6, 1960, her second husband Stuart Brooks Keith, Jr. in 1963, and later her third husband John V. Monsour in 1992. She completed a doctorate degree in counseling psychology from International College and worked as a psychotherapist. Kay passed away on July 26, 2008.
Sources:
John Vincent Monsour and Martha Kay Keith, marriage license, August 22, 1992, file no. 92-51670, Hillsborough Clerk of Court. https://pubrec6.hillsclerk.com/ORIPublicAccess/customSearch.html.
"Kay M'lean of Tampa, New Florida Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 20, 1958.
"Kay MacLean Keith." Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida), July 30, 2008. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tampabaytimes/name/kay-keith-obituary?id=10792174.
"Kay MacLean Tells Plans for Wedding." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), July 17, 1960.
"Kay to be Julie." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), October 19, 1961.
"MacLean-Keith." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), November 25, 1963.
"Nancy Gross is One of 29 Citrus Queen Contestants." The Bradenton Herald (Bradenton, Florida), February 6, 1958.
Sandra Freeman was born around 1938 in Jacksonville, Florida. She was 21 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1959. She was sponsored by the Jacksonville Junior Chamber of Commerce and performed a dramatic reading of a passage from Euripides' Medea for the talent portion of the contest. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Sandra had been crowned Miss Jacksonville in 1958. After her reign, Sandra completed her bachelor's degree at Jacksonville University. She married Duke Ventimiglia (later known as E. Duke Vincent) on July 19, 1960. Sandra eventually moved to Los Angeles, California, where she was an actress. She later married Rod Loomis. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"Drunk Driver is Found Guilty of Manslaughter in Teen-Ager's Death." The Los Angeles Times, (Los Angeles, California), June 11, 1987. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-11-me-6196-story.html.
"Former Resident Weds in Jacksonville Ceremony." The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida), July 22, 1960.
"Miss Jax New Citrus Queen." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), March 12, 1959.
"Vicki Vies for Place Among Long Line of Citrus Royalty." St. Lucie News Tribune (Fort Pierce, Florida), February 5, 1974.
"Vincent, Alexandra 'Alex' Allison." The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California), February 26, 1986.
"Who, Meee?" The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), March 13, 1959.
Florence Cloud was born on August 24, 1939 in Palmetto, Florida and later graduated from Manatee County High School. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1960. She was sponsored by radio station WGTO Cypress Gardens and presented a series of cartoons detailing the history of the Florida citrus industry for the talent portion of the contest. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Florence had been crowned Miss Florida National Guard. After her reign, she married Jerry Imber. She was a Kodak model, makeup artist, painter, and operator of an arts and crafts show called the Loft Inc. Florence passed away in April 2015.
Sources:
"Bradenton Miss Crowned as State's Queen of Citrus." The Evening Tribune (Cocoa, Florida), January 21, 1960.
"Citrus Queen." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), January 21, 1960.
"Florence Estelle Cloud (1939-2015)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, April 12, 2015. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/144923356/florence-estelle-cloud.
"Florence Wins; Bradenton is Beauty Capital." Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida), January 22, 1960.
"Former Citrus Queen to Wed in Winter Haven." The Bradenton Herald (Bradenton, Florida), May 20, 1962.
"Glamor Trails Former Citrus Queens." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 8, 1974.
Sandra Guthrie was born around 1943, in Fayetteville, North Carolina and later graduated from Edison Senior High School. Sandra was 18 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1961. She was sponsored by Photographers Illustrated of Miami and danced for the talent portion of the contest. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Sandra had been crowned Miss Miami and Miss Florida AMVET in 1960. After her reign, Sandra worked as a secretary at Jackson Memorial Hospital and married Paul H. Call on May 13, 1963. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"Beauty's Love Bloomed Fast." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), June 24, 1963.
Cribb, Herschel. "Miami's Sandra Guthrie Wins Miss Citrus Title." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 16, 1961.
"Food Fit for a Queen: Miss Miami Beats Bulge." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), March 28, 1960.
"Miss Florida Amvet…" The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), August 6, 1960.
"Sandra Guthrie was Named Citrus Queen." The Stuart News (Stuart, Florida), March 16, 1961.
"Sarasota Pageant Tags Kathy Magda New Miss Florida." Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida), June 26, 1960.
Sharon Conrad was born on January 25, 1943 in Tampa, Florida and later graduated from Chamberlain High School. Sharon was 19 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1962. She was sponsored by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and danced for the talent portion of the contest. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Sharon was crowned Miss Greater Tampa. She was crowned Miss Florida USA later in 1962. After her reign, Sharon married her first husband Edward Mindak in 1969, her second husband Jerry Adkinson on June 23, 1972, and her third husband James Clark in 1983. She worked as an office manager, Metropolitan Development Agency communications director, and as a featured dancer, instructor, and prima ballerina. Sharon passed away April 1, 2008.
Sources:
"Clark, Sharon Conrad." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), April 3, 2008.
"Conrad-Adkinson." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), June 24, 1972.
James Clark and Sharon Conrad, marriage license, July 31, 1983, file no. 83-5121, Hillsborough Clerk of Court. https://pubrec6.hillsclerk.com/ORIPublicAccess/customSearch.html.
"Marriage Licenses." Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida), April 28, 1969.
"Miss Florida USA." Miss Florida USA, accessed August 15, 2023. https://www.missfloridausa.com/miss-florida-usa.
Ritchie, Don. "Sharon Conrad, Comely Coed, is a Talented 'Miss Tampa.'" The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), August 14, 1960.
"Sharon Conrad Makes Finals in Contest." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), March 14, 1962.
"Tampa's Sharon Conrad Wins Citrus Queen Title." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 15, 1962.
Brenda Sue Scarbrough was born around 1943 in Pensacola, Florida. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1963, and she was sponsored by Pensacola Junior College. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Sue was crowned Miss Pensacola in 1959, Miss Northwest Florida, Miss Putt-Putt, and Miss Pensacola Junior College. After her reign, Sue married James F. Farber on September 12, 1964. The couple moved to North Carolina, where Sue was a military wife. They later returned to Florida, and she worked for Escambia Developers. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"Await Beauty Pageant." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), March 6, 1963.
"Hostess is Sue Farber." Pensacola News Journal (Pensacola, Florida), October 20, 1968.
Lloyd, Patt. "Florida Showcase is First Stop for '63 Citrus Queen Sue Scarbrough." Pensacola News Journal (Pensacola, Florida), April 14, 1963.
Parsons, Al. "Pensacola Beauty is New Florida Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 15, 1963.
"Sue Scarbrough Marries Captain Farber." Pensacola News Journal (Pensacola, Florida), September 13, 1964.
Nancy Collins was born on December 25, 1944 in Orange, New Jersey. She was 19 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, she had been crowned Miss Dance of America and Miss Orlando in 1963. After her reign, Nancy completed her bachelor's degree at Rollins College before becoming a teacher. She married Charles R. Trulock on June 11, 1965 and married her second husband Ira Eugene Akins in 1979. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"The Cover Picture." The Citrus Industry 46, no. 3, March 1965, 3.
"Ira Eugene Akins." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), October 27, 2019.
"Miss Florida Hopefuls." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), June 23, 1963.
"Miss Orlando Wins Another Title." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), August 11, 1963.
"Our Cover." Citrus and Vegetable Magazine 27, no. 9, May 1964, 4.
Parsons, Al. "Nancy Collins is New Florida Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 10, 1964.
Roberts, Lisa. "Tots Build Bodies in Novel Class." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), July 12,1978.
"Royal Pupils Capture Dance World." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), August 11, 1963.
"Tea Fetes Interns." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), March 6, 1966.
"Vows Spoken in Area Churches." Orlando Evening Star (Orlando, Florida), June 14, 1965.
Karol Kelly, born Carol Lasobik, was born around 1944 in Toledo, Ohio. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1965, and her sponsor was Pasco Packing Company. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Karol had been crowned Miss Ohio (Miss Teenage America), Miss Dixie (1966), Florida Egg Queen, Miss National Guard, and Miss Smile. She was later crowned Miss Florida USA. After her reign, Karol became Florida's first weather woman, a radio DJ, and founder of a finishing school. She married real estate developer Fred Bullard on December 19, 1970. Her husband later named the Karol Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida in her honor as part of their 50th wedding anniversary in 2020. As of writing, the couple still reside in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area.
Sources:
Burnette, Brenda Eubanks. Personal communication, August 30, 2023.
Fries, Stephen. "Miss Karol K's Resort in Florida a Home Away from Home." The Times Herald (Norristown, Pennsylvania), August 12, 2022. https://www.timesherald.com/2022/08/12/miss-karol-ks-resort-in-florida-a-home-away-from-home/.
Hendrick, Charles. "Zephyrhills Beauty New Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 16, 1965.
Kelly, Patrick. "Karol Kelly…" The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), April 2, 1965.
"Miss Dixie Waterborne." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), July 8, 1966.
"Miss Florida USA." Miss Florida USA, accessed August 15, 2023. https://www.missfloridausa.com/miss-florida-usa.
"Next, Good Queen Karol." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), October 22, 1965.
Saunders, Kathy. "Before the Karol Hotel Opens, Fred and Karol Bullard Share Their Love Story." Tampa Bay Times (Tampa, Florida), June 17, 2020. https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/2020/01/31/before-the-karol-hotel-opens-fred-and-karol-bullard-share-their-love-story/.
LaVoyce Leggett was born around 1948 in Miami, Florida and later graduated from South Dade High School. She was 18 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1966, and her sponsor was Homestead Redland District Chamber of Commerce. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen Contest, LaVoyce had been crowned Miss America Fair Queen, Rotary Bowl Queen of South Dade, and Miss Kiwanis of South Dade. After her reign, LaVoyce married Lanier Porter on March 4, 1967. The couple moved to Columbus, Georgia before later returning to Florida and settling in Longwood. Both LaVoyce and her husband were instrumental in helping bring back the Miss Florida Citrus title in 2015 alongside 1981 Florida Citrus Queen Brenda Eubanks Burnette.
Image Courtesy of Florida Memory, State Archives of Florida
Sources:
Burnette, Brenda Eubanks. Personal communication, August 30, 2023.
"Lavoyce Leggett." The Citrus Industry 47, no. 3, March 1966, 1.
"Lavoyce Y. Leggett." FamilySearch, accessed July 20, 2023. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X2W-647R.
"Miami Brunette '66 Citrus Queen." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), February 15, 1966.
"New Queen's a Natural for Honor." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), March 13, 1966.
"Porter-Leggett." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), March 5, 1967.
Patricia "Patti" Bohannon was born around 1947 in Orlando, Florida. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1967. Her sponsor was Orlando Junior College, where she attended before going to the University of Florida. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Patti had been crowned Miss Camellia Queen in 1966. After her reign, Patti became Orange Juice Break Queen, a public relations role with the Florida Citrus Commission. Patti married John Reaves on June 30, 1973. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
Clark, Bill. "Brief Honeymoon for Reaves." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), July 2, 1973.
"Ex-Queen Gets New Role." Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida), June 23, 1968.
Luhrs, Dolly. "Orlando Beauty New Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 23, 1967.
"Miss Camellia Queen." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), January 2, 1966.
Lynnette "Lynne" Allen was born around 1947 in Miami, Florida. She was 21 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was the University of Florida's chapter of the Chi Omega sorority. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen competition, Lynne had been crowned Military Ball Queen and Greek Week Girl. After her reign, Lynne completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Florida. She married E. Gaynor Slemons on October 1, 1971. She later moved to North Carolina and married her second husband, William Hamilton by 1990. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"Chase-Slemons" The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), December 23, 1990.
Luhrs, Dolly. "Smile Girl Now Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 23, 1968.
"Slemons-Allen." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), October 2, 1971.
Katherine "Kathy" Young was born on July 23, 1947 in Fort Meade, Florida. She was 21 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was the University of Florida's chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Kathy had been crowned Miss Flame. After her reign, Kathy completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Florida, and then continued to Boston College for her master's degree in special education. While in Boston, Kathy also taught special education. She then returned to Florida to be the Seald Sweet Growers Inc. promotions consultant, and she was later elected to the Board of Directors of the Florida Citrus Showcase as the first female director. Kathy later married Theodore Fouros on November 6, 1976. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"Citrus 'Family' Honors Retiring Lesley." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), October 31, 1976.
Fisher, Jim. "Citrus Showcase Elects First Female Director." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), October 8, 1975.
"Florida Citrus Queen." Citrus and Vegetable Magazine 32, no. 8, April 1969, 6.
"Former Citrus Queen Elected to Showcase." Citrus and Vegetable Magazine 39, no. 3, November 1975, 90.
Johnston, Vance. "25 Girls Seeking Citrus Queen Title." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 8, 1969.
"Kathy and Theo." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), November 7, 1976.
"Kathy Young Gets PR Post." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), March 4, 1976.
Luhrs, Dolly. "Fort Meade Girl Named Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 20, 1969.
Luhrs, Dolly. "It was a Wonderful Year of Fun and Travel for Kathy." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 12, 1970.
"More TLS May Aid in Grapefruit Quality." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 14, 1976.
Theodore Fouros and Katherine Young, marriage license, November 6, 1976, file no. 66230, Hillsborough Clerk of Court. https://pubrec6.hillsclerk.com/ORIPublicAccess/customSearch.html.
"Vicki Vies for Place Among Long List of Citrus Royalty." St. Lucie News Tribune (Fort Pierce, Florida), February 5, 1974.
"Young-Fouros." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), November 7, 1976.
Suzanne Rogers was born around 1950 in Ocala, Florida and later graduated from Ocala High School. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was the University of Florida's chapter of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Suzanne had been crowned Miss Ocala and UF's Homecoming Queen. After her reign, she completed her bachelor's degree at Florida Atlantic University and worked as a teacher. She married William Rudolph Boose on December 18, 1971 and later married Stephen H. Weiss. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"Citrus Queen Begins Reign." St. Lucie News Tribune (Fort Pierce, Florida), February 19, 1970.
"Citrus Showcase Picks New Queen, Names Three to Hall of Fame." Citrus and Vegetable Magazine 33, no. 8, April 1970, 39.
"Florida Atlantic University Commencement Classes of 1972-1973." Florida Atlantic University, June 10, 1973. http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00010531.
"Florida Citrus Festival Nearing Finish." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 19, 1970.
"Miss Rogers, Mr. Boose." The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida), December 19, 1971.
"Stephen Weiss, 72, Investment Banker and Cornell Trustee." The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), April 19, 2008.
"Thousands of Travel Miles Go with Citrus Queen Title." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), July 6, 1970.
"Which Teachers Made the Grade?" The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida), June 2, 1977.
Mary Sue Comer was born around 1952 in Anchorage, Alaska. She was 19 when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1971, and her sponsor was the DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Sue had been crowned Miss Volusia County, Miss Daytona Beach Junior College 1970, and Miss Volusia County Fair. After her reign, Sue returned to the University of Florida. She later married James Daniel McEachern in 1998. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
Johnston, Vance and Dolly Luhrs. "DeLand Girl is New." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 17, 1971.
Luhrs, Dolly. "Sue Has a Queen's Beauty." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 18, 1971.
"Marriage Licenses." Pensacola News Journal (Pensacola, Florida), October 12, 1998.
"New Citrus Queen." Citrus and Vegetable Magazine 34, no. 8, April 1971, 22.
"1971 Citrus Queen." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), February 17, 1971.
"University Days to Boost UF." Florida Today (Cocoa, Florida), March 28, 1973.
Christine Lynn Couldron was born on February 3, 1952 in New York and later graduated from Ramsey High School. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1972, and her sponsor was Kappa Delta. After her reign, Christine obtained her bachelor's degree from the University of Florida. She married John Masters, then Albert John Allen on September 4, 1976, and later Donald Quick on January 10, 1983. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
Christine Couldron and Donald Quick, marriage license, January 10, 1983, file no. 613729, Alachua County Clerk of Court. http://isol.alachuaclerk.org/RealEstate/SearchImage.aspx.
"Christine L. Couldron to Wed John Masters." The News (Patterson, New Jersey), December 28, 1971.
"Confessions of a Florida Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), October 27, 1972.
"Couple Wed in Florida." The Sunday News (Ridgewood, New Jersey), September 19, 1976.
"Donald Thomas Quick." News and Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), August 5, 2012.
"Miami Beach Girl Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 15, 1972.
"1972 Citrus Queen." Citrus and Vegetable Magazine 35, no. 8, April 1972, 24.
Wanda Lynn Miller was born around 1951 in Goldenrod, Florida. She was raised in an orange grove and introduced to the citrus industry by her father, Leon Miller, who was the Production and Research Manager for A. Duda and Sons. She was 22 when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1973, and her sponsor was Chicone Properties of Orlando. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Wanda was crowned Miss Orlando in 1971. Wanda attended Florida State University, Bauder Fashion College, and Florida Tech University (now the University of Central Florida). After her reign, she worked in public relations and was the assistant director of the Orlando Central Business District Inc. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"Area Entries Getting Ready for Miss Florida Pageant." Orlando Evening Star (Orlando, Florida), June 26, 1971.
Byrd, Pat. "Area Beauties Already Winners." Orlando Evening Star (Orlando, Florida), July 9, 1971.
"Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 20, 1973.
Cowan, Al. "Fate Takes a Hand in Selection of Miss Orlando." Orlando Evening Star (Orlando, Florida), April 10, 1971.
Fisher, James H. "Citrus Notes." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), December 1, 1974.
"Florida Citrus Queen Pageant Program 1973." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
Landis, Lois. "Citrus Queen is Almost Orange." The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio), May 30, 1973.
"Miller, Leon." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), March 1, 2009.
[Photograph of Wanda Lynn Miller, William Raley, and Ed Price]. Florida Citrus Mutual Triangle 23, no. 30, February 23, 1973, 1.
"Wanda Miller is New Citrus Queen." Citrus and Vegetable Magazine 36, no. 8, April 1973, 28.
Terry Ann Browning was born around 1955 in Texas. She was 19 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was Daytona International Speedway. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Terry had been crowned Miss Volusia County in 1971, Miss Southland in 1971, Miss Azalea, and Miss Speed Week. Terry resigned from her position as Florida Citrus Queen as she won Miss Florida World shortly after the contest and then went on to win Miss World USA. At the Miss World 1974 pageant, she placed as the fourth runner-up. She later married Lee "Buz" Cook and eventually moved to Austin, Texas. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
DeMarko, Sharon. "A Beauty Swings Through Her Reign." Pensacola News Journal (Pensacola, Florida), December 13, 1974.
"Festival Marks 50th Anniversary." Citrus and Vegetable Magazine 37, no. 8, April 1974, 7.
"Louis R. 'Luke' Browning." Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas), June 20, 1995.
"Miss Florida World." Wikipedia, January 5, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Florida_World.
"Miss World USA 1974." Wikipedia, November 5, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_World_USA_1974.
"1974 Citrus Queen." Florida Citrus Mutual Triangle 23, no. 30, February 22, 1974.
"1974 Citrus Queen Crowned." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 20, 1974.
"This is Terry." Florida Citrus and Vegetable Magazine 37, no. 10, June 1974, 12.
Poertner, C.M. "Ormond Queen to Represent State at Miss World Contest." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), August 30, 1974.
Van Hoose, Jackie. "Beauty Contest Tops Labor Day Weekend." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), September 3, 1971.
Deborah "Debi" Adair was born on October 2, 1951 in Lake Wales, Florida. She graduated from Haines City High School and was introduced to the citrus industry by her grandmother Lucky Adair who worked for Holly Hill Fruit Products in Davenport, Florida. Debi was 22 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1974 and took the place of Terry Ann Browning who had resigned after winning the Miss Florida World title. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Debi had been crowned Miss Winter Haven in 1974, Florida Azalea Queen in 1974, and Miss Haines City in 1973. After her reign ended, Debi did a variety of public relations work, including representing the Florida Department of Citrus as Miss Florida OJ and later the department's "Sell Florida First" program. She also was a producer, director, and emcee in various beauty pageants. In 1994, she married Thomas Edgar Bowersox III. Debi passed away January 26, 2013.
Sources:
"Citrus Queen Pageant Feb. 1." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 11, 1980.
Cosdon, Christina. "Ex-Citrus Queen at Fashion Show." Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida), January 21, 1977.
Deborah Adair and Thomas Bowersox III, marriage license, September 30, 1994, file no. 744165, Manatee County Clerk of Court. https://records.manateeclerk.com/OfficialRecords/DisplayInstrument/1119987.
"Deborah Adair Bowersox." Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), January 24, 2013. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/orlandosentinel/name/deborah-bowersox-obituary?id=18608787.
"Marriage Applications." The Bradenton Herald (Bradenton, Florida), July 21, 1994.
"1974 Citrus Queen Crowned." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 20, 1974.
"Orange Juice Queen Pays Visit." News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida), November 9, 1978.
"Polk Girls Rank High in Citrus Queen Contest." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), February 20, 1974.
"Queen No Stranger to Citrus." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), September 29, 1974.
Sonya Lynn Surrency was born July 4, 1955 in Brandon, Florida and later graduated from Brandon High School. Sonya was 19 when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1975. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Sonya had been crowned Miss Brandon in 1974 and Miss Brandon Teenager in 1972. After her reign, she completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Tampa and worked as a teacher. She married James Olsen in 1978. She later married Stephen Weinberg in 1986, and, as of writing, the couple resides in Tampa, Florida.
Sources:
Clemmons, Nelda. "She Didn't Pass Every Test." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), March 8, 1974.
"Finalists Chosen, Won't be Told Now." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), January 7, 1974.
James Olsen and Sonya Surrency, marriage license, December 12, 1978, file no. 81329, Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. https://pubrec6.hillsclerk.com/ORIPublicAccess/customSearch.html.
"Miss Brandon Pageant Slated for this Evening." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), March 22, 1975.
"1980-1981 University of Tampa Catalog." University of Tampa, 1980. https://doi.org/10.48497/BH64-GH81.
"Sonya Surrency Weinberg." Facebook, accessed August 17, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/sonya.weinberg/.
Stephen Weinberg and Sonya Lynn Olsen, marriage license, April 20, 1986, file no. 86-2489, Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. https://pubrec6.hillsclerk.com/ORIPublicAccess/customSearch.html.
"Surrency-Olsen." The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida), December 17, 1978.
Candace C. Upthegrove was born around 1952 in Frostproof, Florida and later obtained a bachelor's degree from Barry College. Candace was 23 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1976, and her sponsor was Ben Hill Griffin Inc. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Candace had been crowned Miss Tradeshow in 1973 and Miss Fort Lauderdale in 1974. After her reign, she continued working as a legal secretary as well as a pianist; she later won the title of Miss Champagne Music. Candace married Wylie Dennis Martin in 1977. She later married Walter Kane in 1988, and the couple, as of writing, currently resides in the Miami area.
Sources:
"Citrus Classic to End Sunday." Press Journal (Vero Beach, Florida), February 29, 1976.
"Citrus Queen at Tournament." Florida Today (Cocoa, Florida), February 28, 1976.
"Citrus Queen Candidates Sought." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), November 2, 1976.
"Martin-Upthegrove." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), November 20, 1977.
"Miami Pianist Joins Welk Show." The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), March 11, 1971.
"New Citrus Queen Selected." Citrus and Vegetable Magazine 39, No. 7, March 1976, 32.
“South Florida Album: Fundraisers, Celebrations, Parties, Corporate Events.” The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), February 5, 2023.
Walter R. Kane and Candace C. Martin, marriage license, September 10, 1988, file no. 1988-038714, Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. https://www2.miamidadeclerk.gov/mlsweb/LicenseSearch.aspx.
Lisa Maile was born around 1955 in Worcester, Massachusetts and later graduated from Colonial High School in Orlando, Florida. She was 22 when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1977. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Lisa graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in anthropology. She was also crowned Miss College Park, Tangerine Bowl Queen in 1974, Miss Maitland, and Florida Azalea Queen. After her reign, she founded the Lisa Maile Image, Modeling, and Acting School, and served on the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. Lisa married Art D'Alessandro in 1980, and, as of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"Beauty-Brains...New Citrus Queen is a Winner With More Plans." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 30, 1977.
"Lisa Maile Energizes Image - With Every Hair in Place." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), October 22, 1992.
Lisa Lyon was born around 1958 in St. Petersburg, Florida. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1978, and her sponsor was Elfers Citrus Growers Association. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Lisa graduated from Pasco-Hernando Community College with an associate's degree and had also been crowned Miss Hudson Junior Miss in 1974, Miss Florida Teenager in 1974, Miss National Teenager in 1975, Miss Lions American Bowl in 1977, Egypt Temple Shrine Queen in 1978, Miss Western Florida, Miss Tampa Bay Sweetheart, and Miss Hudson. After her reign, she worked as a service representative for General Telephone Company and as a homemaker. Lisa married Gene Obenreder in 1980, and, as of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"Activities: New Port Richey." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 14, 1983.
"Florida Citrus Showcase Scrapbook 1977-1978." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"Growing up in Pasco." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), December 31, 1991.
Lisa Lyon and Edward Obenreder, marriage license, March 19, 1980, file no. 1980761138, Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller. https://www.pascoclerk.com/232/Search-Official-Records.
"Obenreder-Lyon." Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida), March 30, 1980.
"West Pasco's Lisa Lyon is Citrus Queen." Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida), January 23, 1978.
Nancy Ness was born around 1957 in Jupiter, Florida. She was 21 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was Sun First National Bank of Orlando. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, she had been crowned as the University of Florida's Homecoming Queen in 1978. After her reign, she completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Florida, and then married Donald Jackson on January 8, 1983. Eventually, the couple moved to Georgia. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
"Florida Citrus Showcase Scrapbook 1978-1979." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"Jackson-Ness." The Orlando Sentinel, (Orlando, Florida), January 9, 1983.
"Kenneth Arnold Jackson (1933-2021)" Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, April 26, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/239226501/kenneth-arnold-jackson.
"Ness-Jackson." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), November 17, 1982.
"Travel is No Stranger to New Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 29, 1979.
"Youth Week Observed." Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida), January 30, 1958.
Theresa Mahoney was born on August 29, 1958 in California and later attended the University of North Florida. She was 21 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was Blue Ribbon Citrus Packers, Inc. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, Theresa was crowned Miss Clay County in 1977. After her reign, she married Chessley Gordon Smith, Jr. in 1981, and then Arthur Shuster in 2013. As of writing, she is presumably still living.
Sources:
Arthur Shuster and Theresa Smith, marriage license, July 5, 2013, file no. 201320133, Nassau County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. https://www.myfloridacounty.com/orisearch/45.
"Florida Citrus Queen 1980 Pageant Program." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"Florida Citrus Showcase Scrapbook 1979-1980." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"Here She Is, Florida's Citrus Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 4, 1980.
"Miss Florida Week Begins." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), June 21, 1977.
Theresa Mahoney and Chessley Gordon Smith, Jr., marriage license, July 6, 1981, file no. , Clay County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. https://landmark.clayclerk.com/landmarkweb.
Brenda Eubanks was born on October 28, 1959 in Miami, Florida. She was 21 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was the Dundee Citrus Growers Association. During the contest, Brenda won the award for Miss Photogenic. Prior to the Florida Citrus Queen contest, she had been crowned Miss Winter Haven in 1978. After her reign, Brenda married Alan Burnette in 1989 and worked as the Executive Director of the Florida Citrus Showcase. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame and helped bring back the Miss Florida Citrus pageant in 2015.
Sources:
Brenda Eubanks and James Burnette, marriage license, December 16, 1989, file no. 1989904165, Polk County Clerk of Courts. https://apps.polkcountyclerk.net/browserviewor/.
Chicone, Jerry, Jr. and Brenda Eubanks Burnette. "Florida's First Billboards": Florida Citrus Crate Labels. Florida Citrus Hall of Fame: Lakeland, Florida, 2014.
Crutchfield, Tara. "Lessons from a Forever Beauty Queen." Haven, October 29, 2019. https://www.havenmagazines.com/haven/profiles/lessons-from-a-forever-beauty-queen/article_3812e72c-f98a-11e9-a90a-bbb7395a2e3e.html.
"Florida Citrus Showcase Scrapbook 1981." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"People." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 16, 1979.
Rogers, Michael. "Haven Woman Brings Citrus Crown Home." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida) February 14, 1981
Dawn Griffin was born on August 20, 1963 in New York. She was introduced to the citrus industry through her father John "Bobby" Griffin, who was the marketing director of Florida Citrus Mutual. Dawn was 18 years old when she was crowned Florida Citrus Queen in 1982, and her sponsor was John Langford Inc. After her reign, Dawn obtained a bachelor's degree from Warner University. She married Rory Dorminy in 1983, then Thomas Abernathy in 2001, and later Michael Highsmith in 2009. Dawn worked as Coordinator of Polk State College's Corporate College Advanced Manufacturing Institute before she passed away in 2016.
Sources:
Dawn Griffin and Michael Highsmith, marriage license, April 7, 2009, file no. 2009062485, Polk County Clerk of Courts. https://apps.polkcountyclerk.net/browserviewor/.
Dawn Griffin and Rory Dorminy, marriage license, January 22, 1983, file no. 1983900188, Polk County Clerk of Courts. https://apps.polkcountyclerk.net/browserviewor/.
Dawn Griffin and Thomas Abnathy, marriage license, December 19, 2001, file no. 2001220127, Polk County Clerk of Courts. https://apps.polkcountyclerk.net/browserviewor/.
"Dawn M. Griffin (1963-2016)" Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, August 22, 2016. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/168802968/dawn-m-griffin.
"Florida Citrus Showcase Scrapbook 1982-1983." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"John R. 'Bobby' Griffin." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), February 14, 2009. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/theledger/name/john-griffin-obituary?id=23131638.
"Miss Florida Citrus 1982 Contestants." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"Mosaic Employees Graduate from Apprenticeship Program." Polk State College, August 12, 2012. https://www.polk.edu/news/mosaic-employees-graduate-from-apprenticeship-program/.
Deidre Perkins was born around 1958 in Vidalia, Georgia. She was 24 years old when she was crowned as the last Florida Citrus Queen, and her sponsor was Shinn Groves. Prior to her reign, Deidre worked as a real estate agent for Sunbelt Realty and attended Bauder Fashion College and Georgia Southern College. After her reign, Deidre worked for L.F. Rosignal Development. She married Bill McLeod on September 26, 1986.
Sources:
"Florida Citrus Showcase Scrapbook 1983." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"McLeod-Perkins." Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida), September 21, 1986.
"McLeod-Perkins." Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida), November 2, 1986.
Lori Schirard was born in October 1961 in Ft. Pierce, Florida. She was introduced to the citrus industry by her father, J. Brantley Schirard, who owned Schirard Citrus and served on the Florida Citrus Commission. Lori was 22 years old when she was crowned the first Miss Florida Citrus; her sponsor was Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.'s Citrus Division. During the contest, she won the Sunshine Award and the TV Media Award for the best TV spot. After her reign, she obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida and went on to become President of River Brite Citrus from 1985 - 2015. Lori later married Dale Grubb in 1988.
Sources:
Dale Grubb and Lori Schirard, marriage license, April 9, 1988, file no. 88-204-F, St. Lucie County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller. https://acclaimweb.stlucieclerk.gov/AcclaimWeb/Home/Index.
"J. Brantley Schirard." Florida Citrus Hall of Fame, accessed August 9, 2023. https://floridacitrushalloffame.com/inductees/j-brantley-schirard/.
"Lori Schirard Grubb" Facebook, accessed July 17, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/lori.grubb.3.
"Lori Schirard Grubb" LinkedIn, accessed July 17, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-schirard-grubb-04b73047/.
"Miss Lori Lynn Schirard: Miss Florida Citrus 1984." Citrus and Vegetable Magazine 47, No. 4, December 1983, 47.
"1984 Miss Florida Citrus Pageant Program." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
Vickie Lynne Carver was born on January 16, 1964, in Jacksonville, Florida and later graduated from Bradford County High School. She was 21 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus in 1985, and her sponsor was Tropicana. After her reign, Vickie obtained a bachelor's degree from Florida Southern College and went on to become the owner of Professional Dental Billing Company. While at FSC, Vickie was part of Choral, All Campus Fellowship, Junior Advisors, and was a Miss Southern candidate. Vickie passed away on November 19, 1995.
Sources:
Burke, Tony. "Miss Florida Citrus' Job More than Just for Grins." The Gainesville Sun (Gainesville, Florida), October 4, 1985.
Florida Southern College Alumni Directory, 2002. Purchase, New York: Bernard C. Harris Publishing Company, 2002.
"Miss Florida Citrus 1985 Program." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"Vickie Lynn Carver." The Gainesville Sun (Gainesville, Florida), November 21, 1995.
"Vickie Lynne Carver (1964-1995)." Find a Grave. Ancestry.com, August 12, 2017. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182306603/vickie-lynne-carver.
Rosemarie Payne was born around 1964 in New York. She was 22 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus, and her sponsor was Chain of Lakes Groves. During the competition, Rosemarie also won two media awards. After her reign, Rosemarie transferred from the University of South Florida to Florida Southern College, from where she graduated in 1988. While at FSC, she was a member of the Advertising Club. She later went on to become Director of Travel and Leisure for Visit St. Pete and Clearwater. Prior to that, she was also a Cypress Gardens swimmer, and a sales manager at Buena Vista Palace.
Sources:
Florida Southern College Alumni Directory, 2002. Purchase, New York: Bernard C. Harris Publishing Company, 2002.
"A Gardens Stroll Down Memory Lane." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), January 18, 2006. https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2006/01/19/a-gardens-stroll-down-memory-lane/26620562007/.
"1986 Miss Florida Citrus Pageant Program." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
Robinson, Sherry. "USF Student is Miss Florida Citrus." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), November 3, 1985.
"Rosemarie Payne" LinkedIn, accessed July 17, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosemarie-payne-8a4648a/.
Dorothy Renee McLeod was born around 1962 in Orlando, Florida. She graduated from Boone High School and earned her bachelor's degree from Stetson University. Renee was 25 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus, and her sponsor was W.G. Roe and Sons. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus competition, Renee was crowned Miss Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks (BPOE) in 1983. After her reign, she worked as a high school English teacher and married Jeff Graham on October 26, 1991.
Sources:
"Citrus Queen McLeod at Fair." St. Lucie News Tribune (Fort Pierce, Florida), February 27, 1987.
"Dorothy Renee McLeod." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), November 6, 1983.
"Graham-McLeod." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), December 15, 1991.
"Miss Florida Citrus 1988 Program." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
Judy Berretto was born around 1965 and later obtained a bachelor's degree from Troy State University. She was 23 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus, and her sponsor was Professional Supply, Inc. After her reign, she moved to Houston where she obtained a master's degree from the University of Houston and went on to become an executive coach. Judy later married Tom Prisk in 1995.
Sources:
"Anthony Richard "Tony" Beretto" The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), April 1, 2018. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/theledger/name/anthony-berretto-obituary?id=12080944.
"58 Troy Students Named Who's Who." The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), November 21, 1985.
Judith Ann Berretto and Thomas James Prisk IV, marriage license, May 20, 1995, file no. 491201194, Harris County Clerk's Office. https://www.cclerk.hctx.net/Applications/WebSearch/Home.aspx.
"Judith Berretto Prisk" LinkedIn, accessed July 17, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/judy-berretto-prisk-m-ed-she-her-hers-3250b41/.
"Judy Berretto Prisk." Facebook, accessed August 18, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/judy.b.prisk.
"Miss Florida Citrus Pageant Program 1988." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"Miss Citrus Pays Visit to Elby's." The Newark Advocate (Newark, Ohio), April 14, 1988.
Sheri Hensley was born around 1970 in Cocoa, Florida and later graduated from Cocoa High School. She was 19 when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus, and her sponsor was Lykes-Pasco Packing Company. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus Contest, Sheri had been crowned Miss Junior Florida, American International Girl, North American Model, Miss Teen Florida Hemisphere, and Brevard County Fair Queen. After her reign, she completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Central Florida and became a news anchor and journalist. She also worked as a model and was Florida's Most Unforgettable Woman in 1990.
Sources:
"Fair Queen Returns to the Limelight on TV." Florida Today (Cocoa, Florida), December 29, 1993.
"Local Model in Competition for Revlon's Unforgettable." Florida Today (Cocoa Florida), May 9, 1990.
"Miss Florida Citrus 1989 Program." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"Teen Queen." Florida Today (Cocoa, Florida), March 22, 1988.
Laura Benefield was born around 1967 and later obtained her bachelor's degree from Troy State University. Laura was 22 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus, and her sponsor was Waverly Growers Inc. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus contest, Laura had been crowned Miss Troy University in 1987. After her reign, she went on to obtain a master's degree from Florida State University. Laura then moved to Virginia, where she was a recruiter for Judith Fox Temporaries. She married Nicholas Riso on November 21, 1992, Neil Pulido by 2001, and Jerry Gardner by 2017. She then later moved to California where she became President and COO of Joni and friends.
Sources:
"Esther Pulido." Ventura County Star (Ventura, California), August 24, 2010. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/venturacountystar/name/esther-pulido-obituary?id=8121648.
"Florentino (Moe) Thomas Pulido." Ventura County Star (Ventura, California), May 1, 2016.
"Judith Fox Recruiter." Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), December 19, 1991.
"Laura Gardner." LinkedIn, accessed July 17, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauradgardner.
Laura Gardner and Jerry Gardner, mortgage deed, April 12, 2021, Gadsden County Clerk of Court. https://www.gadsdenclerk.com/PublicInquiry/Search.aspx?Type=Name.
"Miss Florida Citrus 1990 Program." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"Miss Troy History." Troy University, accessed August 17, 2023. https://www.troy.edu/community-outreach/miss-troy/history.html.
"Nima Lou (Boots) Benefield-Greene." Duncan Banner (Duncan, Oklahoma), November 1, 2017. https://obituaries.duncanbanner.com/obituary/nima-benefield-greene-995974901.
"Rev. Victor Greene Sr. Greenville, S.C." Asheville Citizen-Times (Asheville, North Carolina), September 28, 2009.
"Riso - Benefield." Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), November 22, 1992.
Mandy Hancock was born on July 9, 1968 in Winter Haven, Florida. She was 22 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus, and her sponsor was SunPure. Before the Miss Florida Citrus contest, Mandy had graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree. After her reign, she worked for Florida's Natural Growers and married Brian Jarrett on May 19, 2000.
Sources:
Abott, Betty. "Drug Abuse Scrambles Set for Six Months." Press Journal (Vero Beach, Florida), January 18, 1991.
Brian Jarrett and Mandy Hancock, marriage license, May 5, 2000, file no: 2000077466, Polk County Clerk of Courts. https://apps.polkcountyclerk.net/browserviewor/.
Burnette, Brenda Eubanks. Personal communication, August 30, 2023.
"Miss Florida Citrus Pageant Program 1991." Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"Winter Haven's Mandy Hancock Crowned Miss Florida Citrus 1991." Florida Citrus Mutual Triangle 41, no. 15, November 9, 1990, 2.
Sheri Cook was born on May 7, 1969 in Virginia, and she later graduated from Lakeland Senior High School. Sheri was 22 when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus, and her sponsor was SunPure, Ltd. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus contest, Sheri had graduated from University of South Florida with a bachelor's degree and she had been crowned Miss Lakeland in 1987. After her reign, she went on to become a marketing director for the Florida Strawberry Growers Association and then a marketing director for AdventHealth. Sheri later married Charles Richardson, Jr. on September 22, 2002.
Sources:
Charles Richardson, Jr. and Sheri Cook, marriage license, September 5, 2002, file no. 20020474218, Orange County Comptroller. https://selfservice.or.occompt.com/ssweb/.
"Cook Says Preparation Gave Her an Edge." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), May 24, 1992.
Crook, Michael. "16 Will Try to Reach for 'Rising Star' in Lakeland Pageant." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), January 30, 1987.
"Farmers Tired of Being Milked by Unreasonable Regulations." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), November 14, 1993.
Newborn, Steve. "Christmas Tree Sings Tonight." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), December 18, 1987.
Newborn, Steve. "Newly Crowned Citrus Queen Not Squeezed by Job's Demands." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), May 20, 1992.
"Sheri and Charles Richardson." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), May 18, 2003.
"Sheri Richardson." LinkedIn, accessed July 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheririchardson/.
Emily Howell was born on November 15, 1967 in Bartow, Florida. She was 25 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus. Emily worked as an elementary school teacher and then transitioned into executive coaching. She has two master's degrees: one from Florida State University in reading and language arts and another from the University of South Florida in educational leadership. She married Curtis Dane Rogers in 2001. They currently live on a ranch in Florida, where they grow citrus and raise cattle.
Sources:
Curtis Rogers and Emily Howell, marriage license, April 25, 2001, file no. 2001070910, Polk County Clerk of Courts. https://apps.polkcountyclerk.net/browserviewor/.
"Emily Rogers." LinkedIn, accessed July 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyhowellrogers/.
"Emily Rogers Consulting and Coaching." Emily Rogers Consulting and Coaching, accessed July 14, 2023. https://emilyrogers.com/.
Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"Teacher Named Miss Citrus." Press Journal (Vero Beach, Florida), June 17, 1993.
Tobitha Bryant was born on December 13, 1972, in Ocala, Florida. Tobitha was introduced to the citrus industry through her grandfather Roland Wiygul, who owned a packinghouse in Altoona. She was 21 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus. After her reign, she completed a bachelor's degree at the University of Florida. She then went on to own the Ocala Livestock Market as well as AgriPROMO. Tobitha married Michael Yeomans on July 22, 1996 and later married Burton Bellamy on September 2, 2018.
Sources:
"New Miss Florida Citrus Loves AG Communication." Florida Citrus Mutual Triangle 44, no. 42, May 20, 1994, 1.
"Ocala Livestock Market." Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ByName.
"Ocalan Chosen as Citrus Rep." Ocala Star-Banner (Ocala, Florida), May 17, 1994.
"Ocalan Now Wears Miss Florida Citrus Crown." Ocala Star-Banner (Ocala, Florida), May 29, 1994.
"Tobitha Bellamy." LinkedIn, accessed July 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobitha-bellamy-5b05781a/.
Tobitha Bryant and Anthony Yeomans, marriage license, July 22, 1996, file no. 961249, Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. https://nvweb.marioncountyclerk.org/BrowserView/.
Tobitha Yeomans and Burton Bellamy, marriage license, September 5, 2018, file no. 2018086551, Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. https://nvweb.marioncountyclerk.org/BrowserView/.
United States v. Ocala Live Stock Mkt., Inc., 861 F. Supp. 2d 1328 (M.D. Fla. 2012). https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-ocala-live-stock-mkt-inc.
Dana Morgan was born on July 9, 1971 in Orlando, Florida. She graduated from Boone High School and later graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Information Management and Marketing. Dana was also a graduate of the Image and Confidence course offered at the Lisa Maile Image, Modeling, and Acting School, which was founded by 1977 Florida Citrus Queen, Lisa Maile. Dana was 23 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus. After her reign, she became Director of Administration at Brewerton Legal Firm and then Vice President of Fluid Prints, Inc. She later married Paul Hamlin on November 11, 2000.
Sources:
"Dana Hamlin." LinkedIn, accessed July 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-hamlin-096794a/.
Dana Morgan and Paul Hamlin, marriage license, November 17, 2000, file no. 20000489167, Orange County Comptroller. https://selfservice.or.occompt.com/ssweb/.
"Florida State University Spring Commencement 1993." Commencement Program Collection, Heritage and University Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/diginole/FSU_ARCH_LD1771_F946_F56_Spring1993.
"Grad Wins State Title." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), June 20, 1995.
"Hamlin-Morgan." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), January 28, 2001.
Sussingham, Robin. "Citrus Queen Totes the Tiara." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), February 1, 1996.
Rebecca "Becka" Cerni was born around 1976 in Orlando, Florida. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus. After her reign, she completed her bachelor's degree in telecommunications at the University of Florida and went on to hold various marketing and public relations positions. Most recently, she has been a Marketing Strategy Director for Anthology, Inc. She married Scott Ritchey on March 4, 2000 and later married her second husband Joe Robinson.
Sources:
"Cerni Named Miss Florida Citrus." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), June 23, 1996.
Florida Citrus Showcase Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
"Joe Robinson." Facebook, accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/joe.robinson.10048379.
"Rebecca Robinson." LinkedIn, accessed July 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccasrobinson/.
"Ritchey-Cerni." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), April 9, 2000.
Shannon Potts was born on August 19, 1970 in Kentucky. She graduated from Indiana University Southeast with a bachelor's degree in biology. Shannon was 26 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus, and her sponsor was FMC Corporation. She worked as an elementary school teacher before moving to Oklahoma to be a morning radio host at KVOO. Shannon has since become an anchor and reporter at NewsChannel 8 in Oklahoma. Her first husband was Alberto Franco; she is currently married to Andrew McDonald, whom she wed on May 22, 2020.
Sources:
Alberto Franco and Shannon Potts, marriage license, December 5, 1998, file no. 1998903239, Polk County Clerk of Courts. https://apps.polkcountyclerk.net/browserviewor/.
Ellis, Jennifer. "Schoolteacher Finds Citrus A-peeling." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), July 5, 1997.
Shah, Nirvi. "Biologist is Crowned 1997 Miss Florida Citrus; She Will be the Spokeswoman for the Citrus Industry." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), July 18, 1997.
"Shannon Potts McDonald." Facebook, accessed July 18, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/shannonpottsfranco/.
Candace Griffin was born on July 8, 1975, in Frostproof, Florida. She was introduced to the citrus industry through her father, Ben Hill Griffin III, who was the President of Seald-Sweet Growers, State Director of the Florida Citrus Showcase, and part of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus contest, Candace graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree. Candace was 22 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus. After her reign, she went on to own Alligator Cove Tours in Lake Wales with her husband, Andrew Denton. Andrew and Candace wed on March 6, 2002.
Sources:
"Alligator Cove Tours." Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ByName.
Andrew Denton and Candace Griffin, marriage license, April 16, 2002, file no. 2002069227, Polk County Clerk of Courts. https://apps.polkcountyclerk.net/browserviewor/.
"Ben Griffin Hill III." Gainesville Sun (Gainesville, Florida), July 28, 2020. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/gainesville/name/ben-griffin-obituary?id=8286685.
"Historical Association Marks 25th Anniversary." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), June 20, 1999. https://www.theledger.com/story/news/1999/06/20/historical-association-marks-25th-anniversary/26617561007/.
Kim Duppenthaler was born on March 5, 1976 in Florida. She was introduced to the citrus industry through her grandmother Charlotte Roper Duppenthaler who was part of the Roper family, a major citrus industry family in Central Florida. She graduated from Lake Placid High School, and she later earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida as well as graduated from the American College of Education. She was 23 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus, and her sponsor was Roper Growers Cooperative. After her reign, she became an administrator at Highlands County Schools, as well as Adjunct Faculty at South Florida State College. She later married Dirk Riley in April 2002. Kim is now principal of Avon Park Middle School in Highlands County.
Sources:
"Historical Association Marks 25th Anniversary." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), June 20, 1999. https://www.theledger.com/story/news/1999/06/20/historical-association-marks-25th-anniversary/26617561007/.
Kimberly Duppenthaler and Dirk Riley, marriage license, April 27, 2002, file no. 001146355, Highlands County Clerk of Courts. https://acclaim.hcclerk.org/search/SearchTypeName.
"Kimberly Duppenthaler Riley." Facebook, accessed July 18, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.d.riley.5/.
McBride, Brian. "Miss Florida Citrus to be Chosen." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), June 12, 1999. https://www.theledger.com/story/news/1999/06/12/miss-florida-citrus-to-be/8076545007/.
"Orphaned, She Made Her Family Her 'Purpose in Life.'" The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), October 1, 2014.
"2022-2023 Teacher & Non-Instructional Employee of the Year." Avon Park Middle School. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://apm.highlands.k12.fl.us/about-apm/2022-2023-teacher-and-school-related-employee-of-the-year.
Kimber Wood was born on July 3, 1977 in Wildwood, Florida. She was introduced to the citrus industry through a family-owned fruit stand and packinghouse. Kimber was 22 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus Contest, Kimber had been crowned Miss Teen Sumter County in 1994. After her reign, she went on to obtain a master's degree from the University of Florida. Most recently, she has worked as a Manager of Colleague Relations and Standards for TriNet. Kimber later married Matthew O'Connor in 2011.
Sources:
Ferguson, Leuna. "Wood Wins Pageant Title." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), March 14, 1994.
"Kimber O'Connor." LinkedIn, accessed July 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimber-o-connor-06212b62/.
Kimber Wood and Matthew O'Connor, marriage license, December 1, 2011, file no. 2011388305, Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. https://pubrec6.hillsclerk.com/ORIPublicAccess/customSearch.html.
"Wood Selected as Miss Florida Citrus." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), March 16, 2000. https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2000/03/17/wood-selected-as-miss-florida-citrus/26736614007/.
Jennifer Peavey was born around 1980 in Haines City, Florida. She graduated from Haines City High School and received a bachelor's degree from Carson-Newman College. Jennifer was 21 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus, and she was sponsored by Haines City Citrus Growers Association. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus Contest, Jennifer had been crowned Miss Haines City High School in 1998. After her reign, she went on to obtain her MBA at the University of North Florida and work as a District Manager for ADP.
Sources:
Bouffard, Kevin. "She's Not Just an Industry's Pretty Face; East Polk Business." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), June 26, 2001.
"Citrus Association Employee Wins Grapefruit Packing Event." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), February 2, 1998.
"Jennifer Peavey." LinkedIn, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-peavey-947819214/.
Luhrs, Dolly. "Performer Entertains Children; Northeast Polk." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), July 16, 2001.
Morgan Ortagus was born on July 10, 1982 in Auburndale, Florida. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus contest, Morgan had been crowned Miss Auburndale and Miss Teen Auburndale. After her reign, she was crowned Miss Orange Blossom. She graduated from Florida Southern College with a bachelor's degree and went on to obtain two master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University. She married Joshua Dobbs shortly after her reign and then later married Jonathan Ross Weinberger in 2013. Morgan briefly lived in Baghdad, Iraq and then later moved to Tennessee. She has worked as a press secretary, political consultant, and a State Department spokesperson under the Trump administration. She now often appears on Fox News channel as a correspondent.
Image Courtesy of US Department of State, 2016
Sources:
"Morgan Ortagus." International Republican Institute, accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.iri.org/who-we-are/iri-experts/morgan-ortagus/.
"Morgan Ortagus." Wikipedia, June 5, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_Ortagus.
Preston, Shelley. "Florida Southern Student Shines in State Pageant." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), July 8, 2003.
Erin Nichole "Nikki" Upthegrove was born on January 6, 1982 in Plant City, Florida. She was introduced to the citrus industry through her work of earning a bachelor's degree in citrus from Florida Southern College. While at FSC, she was part of the Horticulture Club as well as a Southern Ambassador. She was 22 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus, and she would be the last Miss Florida Citrus for the next decade. After her reign, Nikki worked in Investment Administration at Wall Titus, LLC. She later married Michael Matthews on October 13, 2013.
Sources:
Erin Upthegrove and Michael Matthews, marriage license, October 17, 2013, file no. 2013193258, Polk County Clerk of Courts. https://apps.polkcountyclerk.net/browserviewor/.
Graham, George. "Focus on a Queen." The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), July 31, 2004.
"Nikki Matthews." LinkedIn, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-mathews-4606605/.
Summer Foley was born around 1997 in Ormond Beach, Florida. She was 17 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus. She sang in the talent portion of the competition, and her sponsor was Florida's Natural Growers. Summer was the first Miss Florida Citrus since Nikki Upthegrove in 2004. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus contest, Summer had been crowned Miss Seabreeze. After her reign, she moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where she attended the Boston Conservatory. Summer then moved to New York City where she is a singer, model, and actress. She is currently attending Baruch College in pursuit of a degree in finance.
Sources:
"Bio." Summer, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.summervfoley.com/bio.
Blackwood, Emily. "Ormond Teen Crowned Miss Florida Citrus." Observer Local News (Palm Coast, Florida), April 6, 2015. https://www.observerlocalnews.com/news/2015/apr/06/ormond-teen-crowned-miss-florida-citrus/.
Rusnak, Paul. "Meet the New Miss Florida Citrus." Growing Produce, March 24, 2015. https://www.growingproduce.com/citrus/meet-the-new-miss-florida-citrus/.
Rusnak, Paul. "6 Questions with Miss Florida Citrus 2015." Growing Produce, April 7, 2015. https://www.growingproduce.com/citrus/6-questions-with-miss-florida-citrus-2015/.
"Summer Foley." LinkedIn, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/summer-foley-8b7796159/.
Stephanie Capon was born around 1992 in Miami, Florida. She was 24 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus, and she represented the platform Healthy HeART Beats: Arts for Community Wellness. Stephanie performed a Latin jazz dance for the talent portion of the competition and was sponsored by Ben Hill Griffin Inc. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus contest, she had graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in dance, and she had also been crowned UF Homecoming Queen. Soon after her reign, Stephanie obtained a master's degree in business management from the University of Florida and went on to become a law student at Florida International University, from where she graduated in 2022. She is also an NFL Cheerleader for the Miami Dolphins.
Sources:
Boone, Elizabeth. "Dance Senior Stephanie Capon Crowned Homecoming Queen." UF College of the Arts, University of Florida, October 29, 2014. https://arts.ufl.edu/in-the-loop/news/dance-senior-stephanie-capon-crowned-homecoming-queen/.
McGill, Josh. "Miss Florida Citrus 2016 Crowned." Citrus Industry Magazine, March 23, 2016. https://citrusindustry.net/2016/03/23/miss-florida-citrus-2016-crowned/.
Rusnak, Paul. "Behind the Scenes with Miss Florida Citrus 2016." Growing Produce, September 25, 2019. https://www.growingproduce.com/citrus/behind-the-scenes-with-miss-florida-citrus-2016.
"Stephanie Capon." LinkedIn, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniecapon/.
"3L Stephanie Capon Continues to Find her Rhythm with the Miami Dolphins." FIU Law, Florida International University, November 1, 2021. https://law.fiu.edu/2021/11/01/3l-stephanie-capon-continues-to-find-her-rhythm-with-the-miami-dolphins.
Paige Todd was born around 1996 in Orange Park, Florida. She was 21 when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus; she represented the platform Volunteers for the Voiceless. Her sponsor was Ben Hill Griffin Inc. Paige later stepped down from the position of Miss Florida Citrus to focus on studying for the LSAT. She then went on to graduate from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree and later the University of Georgia Law School with a law degree. She is now a practicing attorney in Tennessee.
Sources:
"Paige (Todd) Walter." LinkedIn, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-walter-a52939139/.
Rusnak, Paul. "Say Hello to the New Miss Florida Citrus." Growing Produce, March 27, 2017. https://www.growingproduce.com/citrus/say-hello-to-the-new-miss-florida-citrus/.
Rachel Smith was born on August 8, 1994 in Clearwater, Florida. She was 22 years old when she was crowned Miss Imperial Polk County and represented the platform GiGi's Playhouse. Her sponsor was RiverBrite Citrus Inc. Rachel was the second Miss Florida Citrus crowned in 2017 after Paige Todd resigned the position to focus on studying for the LSAT. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus contest, Rachel had been crowned Miss Gainesville in 2015 and Miss Florida Gator in 2016. She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications in 2016. After her reign, she obtained a master's degree from the University of Florida in sports management. She later married John Dickhaus on July 10, 2019. Rachel is currently a compliance coordinator for the Florida Gators and the Executive Director of the Miss Gainesville pageant.
Sources:
John Dickhaus and Rachel Smith, marriage license, July 10, 2019, file no. 3201882, Alachua County Clerk of Circuit Court. http://isol.alachuaclerk.org/RealEstate/SearchImage.aspx.
"Rachel Smith Dickhaus." LinkedIn, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-smith-dickhaus-86ba40100.
Rusnak, Paul. "Say Hello to the New Miss Florida Citrus." Growing Produce, March 27, 2017. https://www.growingproduce.com/citrus/say-hello-to-the-new-miss-florida-citrus/.
Megan Price was born around 1998 in LaBelle, Florida. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus with the platform Organ Donation - Be a Lifesaver. She was sponsored by Seald Sweet LLC and danced in the talent portion of the contest. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus Contest, Megan had been crowned Swamp Cabbage Princess in 2015. After her reign, she graduated from Florida Southern College with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Media Studies with a concentration in Sports and Multimedia Journalism, and she was crowned Miss Lakeland in 2019. She has worked as a strategic partnerships manager for Scotlynn USA and as a fourth-grade teacher.
Sources:
Callies, Tacy. "Industry Encouraged to Support Miss Florida Citrus Program." Citrus Industry Magazine, February 6, 2019. https://citrusindustry.net/2019/02/04/industry-encouraged-to-support-miss-florida-citrus-program/.
"Former LaBelle Resident Crowned Miss Florida Volunteer." South Central Florida Life (Okeechobee, Florida), February 21, 2022. https://www.southcentralfloridalife.com/stories/former-labelle-resident-crowned-miss-florida-volunteer,44223.
McHenry, Abby. "Florida Southern Women to Represent Lakeland and Polk County at Miss Florida 2020." The Southern (Lakeland, Florida), November 13, 2019. https://fscsouthern.com/misslkld/.
"Megan Price." LinkedIn, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganprice7.
"Press: Megan Price." Megan Price, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.meganprice.org/press.
Rusnak, Paul. "New Miss Florida Citrus Claims Her Crown." Growing Produce, September 25, 2019. https://www.growingproduce.com/citrus/new-miss-florida-citrus-claims-crown/.
Rusnak, Paul. "One-on-One with Miss Florida Citrus 2018." Growing Produce, April 14, 2018. https://www.growingproduce.com/citrus/5-questions-miss-florida-citrus-2018/.
Michaela McLean was born around 1998 in Clermont, Florida. She was first introduced to the citrus industry through her family's involvement in the citrus industry, including Uncle Matt's Organic Orange Juice. She was 21 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus with the platform Brave and Beautiful: Empowering Women to Live, Love, and Lead Courageously. For the talent portion of the contest, Michaela performed a lyrical dance to "This is Me" from The Greatest Showman. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus contest, Michaela had been crowned Miss Florida Outstanding Teen in 2015. She resigned the position of Miss Florida Citrus when she won Miss Florida later in 2019. She later placed in the top 15 at the Miss America pageant. Michaela then went on to obtain a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and now works as an event coordinator for Priority Marketing as well as an assistant coach for the Florida Gulf Coast University Dance Team. She married Grayson Wilkes on January 2, 2022.
Sources:
"Michaela McLean 2019 Miss Florida Citrus." Florida Citrus Hall of Fame, April 11, 2019. https://floridacitrushalloffame.com/2019/04/michaela-mclean-2019-miss-florida-citrus/.
"Michaela McLean Wilkes." Instagram, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/michaelamwilkes/.
"Michaela McLean Wilkes." LinkedIn, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelamclean/.
"Miss Florida." Wikipedia, October 1, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Florida.
Rusnack, Paul. "Meet Miss Florida Citrus 2019." Port Charlotte Sun (Port Charlotte, Florida), May 2, 2019.
Rusnak, Paul. "Win Streak to the Next Level." Port Charlotte Sun (Port Charlotte, Florida), August 1, 2019.
Schottelkotte, Suzie. "Michaela McLean of Clermont Wins Miss Florida 2019." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), July 1, 2019. https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2019/06/30/michaela-mclean-of-clermont-wins-miss-florida-2019/4782185007/.
Juliana Fray was born around 1999 in Pittsfield, Illinois. She was 20 years old when she was crowned Miss Winter Haven in 2019. Later that year, she stepped into the role of Miss Florida Citrus after Michaela McLean's resignation upon winning the Miss Florida title. Juliana competed with the platform Your Vote, Your Voice, and she was sponsored by Straughn and Turner PA. For the talent portion of the contest, Juliana performed a musical theater dance to "I'm the Greatest Star" by Barbra Streisand. After her reign, she graduated from the University of Tampa with a bachelor's degree in political science and government and then went on to obtain a master's degree in political campaigning from the University of Florida. She currently works as a legal assistant at Shrader and Mendez Law Firm.
Sources:
"Juliana Fray." LinkedIn, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianafray/.
Rusnak, Paul. "Win Streak to the Next Level." Port Charlotte Sun (Port Charlotte, Florida), August 1, 2019.
"2019 Miss Florida Citrus and Miss Winter Haven Crowned." Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, March 27, 2019. https://www.winterhavenchamber.com/blog/2019-miss-florida-citrus-and-miss-winter-haven-crowned.
Leila Sabet was born around 1996 in Jacksonville, Florida. She was 24 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus with the platform Lift and Be Uplifted: Increasing Women's Influence in the Professional World. She was sponsored by Intense Ink Graphics and performed a Persian dance for the talent portion of the contest. She is the first Miss Florida Citrus of Middle Eastern descent. The 2020 Miss Florida Citrus pageant was entirely virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the pandemic also led to an extended, two-year reign for Leila. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus contest, Leila had graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree and had been crowned Miss Tallahassee in 2018. After her reign, she went on to work as a Regional Fleet Manager for Amazon Logistics.
Sources:
Kanner, Julie. "Ponte Vedra High Alumna Is Miss Tallahassee." The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Florida), April 6, 2018. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/2018/04/06/good-news-ponte-vedra-high-alumna-is-miss-tallahassee/12806499007/.
"Lift and Be Uplifted." LEILASABET, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.leilasabet.com/aboutleila.html.
Rusnak, Paul. "New Miss Florida Citrus Winner Zooms to Stardom." Growing Produce, December 22, 2020. https://www.growingproduce.com/citrus/new-miss-florida-citrus-winner-zooms-to-stardom/.
Payton Barrington was born around 1997 in Orlando, Florida. She was 25 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus with the platform Save a H.E.A.R.T. Payton sang in the talent portion of the contest and was sponsored by Visit Central Florida. She is the first African American Miss Florida Citrus. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus contest, Payton graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor's degree in nursing. After her reign, she continued working as an ICU nurse.
Sources:
"Barrington Crowned Miss Florida Citrus." Citrus Industry Magazine, January 24, 2022. https://citrusindustry.net/2022/01/24/barrington-crowned-miss-florida-citrus.
"Payton Barrington - Miss Florida Citrus at 2022 Florida Citrus Expo." Vimeo video, 7:31. Posted by Dillon Media Group, August 23, 2022. https://vimeo.com/742355601.
Rusnak, Paul. "Miss Florida Citrus 2022 Steps Up to Claim Her Crown." Growing Produce, January 31, 2022. https://www.growingproduce.com/citrus/miss-florida-citrus-2022-steps-up-to-claim-her-crown/.
"2022 Miss Florida Citrus Pageant Program." Miss Florida Citrus Pageant Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
Casana Fink was born around 1999 in Ocala, Florida. She was 24 years old when she was crowned Miss Florida Citrus with the platform Give to Life - Donate Life. She danced for the talent portion of the contest and was sponsored by Citrus Industry magazine. Prior to the Miss Florida Citrus competition, Casana had graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree. She was also crowned Miss Gainesville in 2021, Miss Ocala in 2021, Miss Ocala Outstanding Teen in 2016, Miss Gainesville Outstanding Teen, and Miss Lake City Outstanding Teen. Prior to her reign, she had moved to New York City to be an online entrepreneur and children's book author before returning to Florida to be the Chief Marketing Officer for More Transplants More Life.
Sources:
"Casana Fink." LinkedIn, accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/casanafink/.
"Casana Fink Crowned Miss Gainesville 2021." Mainstreet Daily News (Gainesville, Florida), December 13, 2021. https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/local-living/casana-fink-crowned-miss-gainesville-2021_id_43c60c40-5c6e-11ec-89f6-f7477ed582cb.
Harrell, Gershon. "Casana Fink Wins Miss Gainesville Scholarship Pageant." Gainesville Sun (Gainesville, Florida), December 12, 2021. https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/education/2021/12/12/casana-fink-crowned-miss-gainesville-2021/6481250001/.
"New Miss Florida Citrus Crowned." Citrus Industry Magazine, February 28, 2023. https://citrusindustry.net/2023/03/01/new-miss-florida-citrus-crowned/.
"2023 Miss Florida Citrus Pageant Program." Miss Florida Citrus Pageant Records, McKay Archives, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.
Whitehead, Beth. "More Than Skin Deep." Ocala Gazette (Ocala, Florida), May 20, 2021. https://www.ocalagazette.com/more-than-skin-deep/.
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