Betty Hansen, 1977 Ranger Queen, has been chosen as the outstanding homecoming queen for colleges and universities in Oklahoma and will represent the state in the Orange Bowl New Year’s parade in Miami.
Fifty- one college queens—one from each state and the District of Columbia—will join in Orange Bowl activities spread over six days, including a ride on the largest float ever to appear in the traditional parade, a special introduction during festivities preceding the kickoff of the Orange Bowl football game and honored seats on the 50-yard line.
The queens were selected in the first All-American Homecoming Queen Contest, sponsored by Agree, a new cream rinse and hair conditioner by Johnson Wax. All colleges and universities were invited to enter their homecoming queen in the event.
Judging was based on personal achievements and character, as well as appearance. The queen to represent each state was chosen by the Associated Collegiate Press, a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis and devoted to improving the standards of college journalism.
Miss Hansen, a sophomore elementary major, is from South Haven, Kan. She is in the Rangerettes, the Flag Corps, the New Beginnings Baptist Student Union music group, Delta Zeta and Red and Black Scroll. She serves on the Ranger Hall dorm council and the Ranger yearbook staff.
Miss Hansen said she expects to depart for Miami on Dec. 29 and return Jan. 3.
A $500 scholarship in the name of each selected homecoming queen will be presented to the general scholarship funds of their respective schools.
The 51 coeds will participate in the “Great Bands Show” in the Bowl, sail in the first Orange Bowl Marine Parade on Biscayne Bay and attend the post-game banquet at Indian Creek Country Club.
James S. Billings, president of the Orange Bowl Committee said that the theme of this year’s parade is “Of the World’s Treasures” and predicted that the Agree All-American Queens will “highlight that theme in a most appropriate manner.”
“We think that their appearance in the parade will be simply spectacular,” he said. “Certainly, the float they will be riding on will be spectacular as it will be 125 feet long and 22 feet wide—the largest float in the 41-year history of the Orange Bowl Parade.”