The Central Digests of October 1, 8, and 15, 1949 detailed the selection process of the first homecoming queen to be crowned at halftime of the Central-Rossville game at Chamberlain Field on October 22, 1949. The Senior English classes nominated 8 contestants, then the student body selected 5 finalists, with the person getting the most votes crowned by the Alumni President (at that time Jerry Perry). Subsequent queens would be crowned by the previous year’s queen. Betty Bridges, Betty Drinnon, and Diane Haynes were eliminated by the student vote, leaving the top 5 – Evalynne Anderson, Hulene Huff, Geraldine Maxey, Shirley Sewell, Jeanne Watson – to appear on the field for the presentation, which was won by Shirley Sewell.
- 1949: Shirley Sewell
- 1950: Peggy Kistler
- 1951: Pat Williams
- 1952: Dot Wood
- 1953: Joy Schroeder
- 1954: Norma Jean Coulter
- 1955: Patty Rector
- 1956: Mary Ruth Neyman
- 1957: Linda Scruggs
- 1958: Ann Travis
- 1959: Carolyn Hale
- 1960: Donna Reed
- 1961: Jill Keef
- 1962: Judy Jackson
- 1963: Pam Piercy
- 1964: Janie Young
- 1965: Cheryl White
- 1966: Teri Tinker
- 1967: Martha Hollis
- 1968: Ginger Nye
- 1969: Jayne Arnold
- 1970: Karen Sue
- 1971: Vicky Thacker
- 1972: Debbie Hunt
- 1973: Robin Hall
- 1974: Annie Owen
- 1975: Cheryl Williams
- 1976: Robin Rozzell
- 1977: Kim Ellis
- 1978: Sheri Bankston
- 1979: Sherri Bradford
- 1980: Cathy Russell
- 1981: Nancy Lonas
- 1982: Emily Schaerer
- 1983: Tamye Yarbrough
- 1984: Denise Knowles
- 1985: Ava Kirby
- 1986: Kim Freezell
- 1987: Lorena Stitts
Note 1: Research by Charlie Sedman and Bob Johnson
Note 2: Year show is year crowned.
Thanks Michael. Curious to know if you’re using year crowned or year of The Champion? We used year crowned. We will correct any errors.
She was crowned the year 1971. The graduating class was 1972 which would have been the 1972 champion. My sister was a candidate the same year.
Correction made.
I was a friend of Vicky Thacker 1972 Do you have any contact info THANKS
Lawrence, I’m sorry, I don’t have any contact info on her. My sister seems to think she still resides in Chattanooga but not sure. Wish I could help!