“A major promotion during 1956 was the National Golden Queen Festival, presided over by Queen Shirley Bagwell. Many beauties from the four major tobacco raising states entered the Queen’s contest, and Governor [Orval] Faubus of Arkansas was a key speaker….”
— From “Selma’s Colorful Century, 1867-1967” (selmanc.info)
Whatever happened to the National Golden Queen Festival?
And to Shirley Bagwell? She was also a semifinalist in the 1956 Miss USA pageant, but lacking a photo I can’t say for sure this is her royal depiction on the pinback button. Is there a Golden Queen expert in the house?
There is a photo of Shirley Bagwell and a writeup about her participation in a Burlington (NC) parade in “The Daily Times-News” on Nov 21, 1956. It says that she “attends Peace College in Raleigh and is an accomplished pianist, having studied at the famed Juilliard School in New York.” The button is definitely an image of her.
You can also view a picture of her at http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/2934.
Interesting picture! And impressive that Ms Bagwell can strike so ethereal a pose while looking “at the effect of black shank on tobacco crops.”
I am pretty sure this is my grandma. The looks very much like her when she was young. Also, the description from the “The Daily Times-News” is completely accurate.
Oh, btw that is not her picture on the button, but the link of the picture is. If you would like more information on her, please email me at l_keck@msn.com
sorry i typed the wrong email. it is actually l_keck@hotmail.com This is my mom’s email. Thanks.
Both pictures are of Shirley Bagwell. My daughter Gwen is mistaken about the image on the button.