|
|
|
Related Stories
PITTSBURG —
You don’t have to be young to be lovely, talented and wise. There was at least a thousand years worth of beauty and wisdom on display Friday at Meadowbrook Mall for the Little Balkans Senior King and Queen Contest.
Residents of area assisted living and long-term care facilities competed in the event. Joe Hart served as emcee.
At the end, William Cowsill, Oakview Estates, Frontenac, and Dr. Wanda Ladage, Woodridge Estates, Parsons, were crowned the assisted living king and queen.
Winners in the long-term care category were Clifford Arthur, Via Christi Village, and Marie Rodich, Sunset Manor, Frontenac.
For his talent, Cowsill sang a duet with Joann Triplett, also of Oakview Estates.
“I certainly did enjoy singing with that lady,” he said after the contest. “I used to have a group that sang at the Assembly of God in Pittsburg. We even had a radio program. Sometimes the preacher would look at us, if we were getting a little too jazzy.”
Dr. Ladage showed examples of her sewing for her talent. She also told a little of her accomplishments. After raising her children, she returned to school, earning a bachelor of nursing in 1976, a master’s degree in 1979 and a specialist in education in 1980, all from Pittsburg State University, and a doctorate from Kansas State University in 1985.
“You are not ever too old to learn,” said Ladage, who taught 21 years at Labette Community College.
As she was crowned, Elvis tribute artist John Scott sang “Love Me Tender” to her.
“I would have liked for the real Elvis to sing to me, but having this one was better than having none,” Dr. Ladage said. “It was so neat.”
Clifford Arthur, who showed his handmade pillow tops for his talent presentation, was reluctant at first to compete in the contest.
“It was this beautiful girl (Cheryl McDowell) who talked my daughter into making me do it,” he said.
McDowell, Via Christi Village activity director, said she had thought Arthur had a good chance of winning because of his pillow tops.
“They’re just beautiful, and a lot of our staff members have bought them,” she said.
Marie Rodich, who taught 37 years in Arma, displayed her paintings.
Other long-term king candidates were Delbert Millard of Fort Scott Manor, Andrew Fenoglio of Sunset Manor, Tom Burress, Maurice Tuttle of Medicalodges Coffeyville, Billy Appier of Medicalodges Pittsburg.
Other queen candidates were Mae Watt, Fort Scott Manor, Wilda Falls, Medicalodges Pittsburg, Lillian Smith, Via Christi Village, Norma Cramer, Medicalodges Pittsburg, and Agnes Parker, long-term care; and R.J. Taylor, Betty Haggard and Joann Triplett, assisted living.
Entertainment during the pageant was provided by Jim Benson on piano, Susie Lundy, McKenzie Vulgamore, John Scott, Jack Lemon and David Tierney.
The contest was planned by a committee including Loretta Dalton of Golden Living, Lynette Emmerson of Fort Scott Manor, Amie Feagan of Sunset Manor, Kathy Fields of Medicalodge South, Shelley Gromer of Guest Home Estates IV, Joe Hart, Cheryl McDowell of Via Christi Village and Margaret Moyer of Guest Home Estates VIII.
“I want you to give them all a round of applause because without them, we wouldn’t be here doing this today,” Hart said.
You don’t have to be young to be lovely, talented and wise. There was at least a thousand years worth of beauty and wisdom on display Friday at Meadowbrook Mall for the Little Balkans Senior King and Queen Contest.
Residents of area assisted living and long-term care facilities competed in the event. Joe Hart served as emcee.
At the end, William Cowsill, Oakview Estates, Frontenac, and Dr. Wanda Ladage, Woodridge Estates, Parsons, were crowned the assisted living king and queen.
Winners in the long-term care category were Clifford Arthur, Via Christi Village, and Marie Rodich, Sunset Manor, Frontenac.
For his talent, Cowsill sang a duet with Joann Triplett, also of Oakview Estates.
“I certainly did enjoy singing with that lady,” he said after the contest. “I used to have a group that sang at the Assembly of God in Pittsburg. We even had a radio program. Sometimes the preacher would look at us, if we were getting a little too jazzy.”
Dr. Ladage showed examples of her sewing for her talent. She also told a little of her accomplishments. After raising her children, she returned to school, earning a bachelor of nursing in 1976, a master’s degree in 1979 and a specialist in education in 1980, all from Pittsburg State University, and a doctorate from Kansas State University in 1985.
“You are not ever too old to learn,” said Ladage, who taught 21 years at Labette Community College.
As she was crowned, Elvis tribute artist John Scott sang “Love Me Tender” to her.
“I would have liked for the real Elvis to sing to me, but having this one was better than having none,” Dr. Ladage said. “It was so neat.”
Clifford Arthur, who showed his handmade pillow tops for his talent presentation, was reluctant at first to compete in the contest.
“It was this beautiful girl (Cheryl McDowell) who talked my daughter into making me do it,” he said.
McDowell, Via Christi Village activity director, said she had thought Arthur had a good chance of winning because of his pillow tops.
“They’re just beautiful, and a lot of our staff members have bought them,” she said.
Marie Rodich, who taught 37 years in Arma, displayed her paintings.
Other long-term king candidates were Delbert Millard of Fort Scott Manor, Andrew Fenoglio of Sunset Manor, Tom Burress, Maurice Tuttle of Medicalodges Coffeyville, Billy Appier of Medicalodges Pittsburg.
Other queen candidates were Mae Watt, Fort Scott Manor, Wilda Falls, Medicalodges Pittsburg, Lillian Smith, Via Christi Village, Norma Cramer, Medicalodges Pittsburg, and Agnes Parker, long-term care; and R.J. Taylor, Betty Haggard and Joann Triplett, assisted living.
Entertainment during the pageant was provided by Jim Benson on piano, Susie Lundy, McKenzie Vulgamore, John Scott, Jack Lemon and David Tierney.
The contest was planned by a committee including Loretta Dalton of Golden Living, Lynette Emmerson of Fort Scott Manor, Amie Feagan of Sunset Manor, Kathy Fields of Medicalodge South, Shelley Gromer of Guest Home Estates IV, Joe Hart, Cheryl McDowell of Via Christi Village and Margaret Moyer of Guest Home Estates VIII.
“I want you to give them all a round of applause because without them, we wouldn’t be here doing this today,” Hart said.
