Kilgore First Lady search begins

Members of Beta Sigma Phi City Council sorority prepare for First Lady of Kilgore selection. Members (back row left to right) are April Watson, Denise Reinert, Amber Taylor, Judy Geddie, Sherry Lockman, Debra Albertson, (front row left to right) Amy Velvin, Gladys Crouch, Nita Beale and Jennifer Utzman.

Selection of 2008 First Lady of Kilgore is under way.

Beta Sigma Phi sorority has sponsored the selection in Kilgore since 1948. The sorority selects nominators who are leading men and women citizens of Kilgore and the nominators select the First Lady on the basis of her accomplishments in every field of community activity.

Candidates for the award are successful women whose deeds span a long period of years and merit special recognition. Her volunteer involvement should be varied and include all facets of community betterment.

Representatives from Preceptor Omicron Epsilon, Xi Pi Mu, Alpha Delta Omega, Beta Gamma Psi and Preceptor Lambda Delta chapters make up Kilgore City Council Beta Sigma Phi. They are Jennifer Utzman, Debra Albertson, Marcela Harkrider, Vickie Clayton, Sherry Lockman, Diann Pickard, Amy Velvin, April Watson, Denise Reinert, Amber Taylor, Jayanna Laird, Nita Beale, Judy Geddie and Gladys Crouch, 2008 council president.

First Ladies of Kilgore since 1948, in order of selection are, Olga Lapin, Frances Gertz, Elsie Canterbury, Frances Taylor, Lyde Devall, Polly Reeder, Ellen Watson, June Gardner, Marguerite Wylie, Mary Laird Coffee, Viven Thyng, Bess Kennedy, Nannette Wickham, Ruth Ross, Estella Proctor, Margaret Downs, Margaret Martin, Maggie Lynn Crim, Ruth Habenicht, Zelna Kane, Helen K Smith, Annie Lou Winton Ballard, Jessie Armstrong, Thelma Perkins, Helen Allton, Nelda Lewis, Verdine Ford, Margie Morton, Betty Mobley, Roxanne Elder Miller, Louise Florey, Jo Hancock, Justine Stanley, Nora Elder, Lucille Butts, Gilda Gildart, Mary Bonham, Virginia Long, Ruth Middlebrook, Helen (Pudge) Griffin, Thelma Morris, Frankie Florey, Caroline Ross, Helen Wylie, Oleta Gray, Mary Meador, Margaret McCord, Mary Gibson, Latane Speer, Doyline, Rhodes, Wanda Bittick, Nina Fern Nichols, Jeanne Hale, Virginia Wallace, Sue Brown, Nancy Grisham, Carol Hinton, India Stroope Martha Clark and Luan Lovelace.