Trophies, tiara of Jolene Hawkins

The trophies and tiara Jolene Hawkins received when she became “Miss Sleigh Bell” in 1970 are part of a special Sleigh and Cutter display at the Waseca County Historical Society, but the most important awards from her year as a community representative are still part of her, and go with her everywhere.

 

She still remembers with a chuckle the day it was announced over the Waldorf-Pemberton High School intercom that she had been selected from among eight candidates for the title. “Then, all day,” she recalls, “people were referring to me as ‘your highness’ and ‘your majesty.’”

 

Hawkins, however, still saw herself mostly as one of four daughters to Leo and Vivodale Hawkins, a farm girl who drove tractor, plowed fields and carried heavy buckets on a regular basis.

 

Even more than five decades later, she sounds somewhat surprised to have been the winner. She recalls that the competition was held on a Sunday evening at the Central School auditorium. She had only entered, she remembers, because a friend had done so and urged her to come as well. Madsen’s Super Valu grocery store hoped to sponsor a contestant, and was grateful for Hawkins’ decision.

 

The part of the contest she liked least, she mentions, is that all participants took part in a swimsuit competition. She still laughs when she says her talent contest entry was to play the baritone, a brass instrument she played in her high school band. “It was one step down from a tuba,” she jokes. “It looked like I should barely be able to lift it, and here I was playing it in a beauty contest.”  She recalls one of her competitors twirled a baton; another sang.

 

At the end of the evening, she received trophies for “Miss Congeniality” and “Talent,” and had the winner’s tiara placed on her head.

 

The enduring part of the title, she says, was the year-long range of experiences and acquaintances the position brought her.

 

She remembers riding in many parades, the first of which was Waseca’s Sleigh and Cutter. Referred to most often as “Miss Waseca,” she waved at crowds during Hay Daze, Festtag, and even the Minneapolis Aquatennial torchlight parade.

 

At the time, she mentions, driving in the Twin Cities was out of the question for her as a beginning driver; her father would also not consider getting on the road with the city drivers he was sure must be somewhat crazy. Fortunately, a more progressive Waseca couple consented to drive her.

 

One particularly memorable event for her was being part of the ceremony which set  “world walker” David Kunst and his brother John on their way, leading their mule Willie Makeit.

She was also expected to take part in the “Miss Minnesota” contest. She remembers it was an exciting time for her. Her roommate during the two-day event held in Austin that year was Miss Edina. She recollects having felt flattered–a “little farm girl” sharing a room with someone from the big city. Contestants practiced together for some large-group performances; each also performed a talent entry. Hawkins again played the baritone.

 

Though she perhaps did not recognize it at the time, Hawkins says the year was one of tremendous growth for her, imposing new experiences and new challenges which she gradually acquired the skill and grace to rise to. 

 

“I learned so much about people, and about myself,” she recalls. “I went from someone who was terrified to get up in front of my classmates to a person who could say a few words in front of a crowd.

 

“It all helped me become much more social, more outgoing,” she says of her many activities that year. 

 

Becoming conceited, she says, was never a concern. “I still always knew I was a farm girl,” she comments, remembering that since she had to acquire her own clothing for the many parades and events, at least one of her dresses was made by a neighbor.

 

After graduating high school, Hawkins took part in the secretarial training program at Mankato Area technical and vocational school. For a time, she was the secretary at the newly forming Waseca Middle School, a developing concept in the 1970s. She says it was housed in the building which had previously been the Sacred Heart High School. As the school secretary, it was her job to go up two flights of stairs numerous times a day and manually ring a bell to indicate the start and end of lunchtime, recess, and other daily events. Jim O’Regan, principal of the “new” school, was frequently away visiting other communities to learn more about the emerging practice of having a building that specialized in students older than elementary age, but not old enough for high school.

 

“Most of the time, the people in charge were me and the janitor,” she jokes. She also had a cot in her office because it was her job to cope with students who weren’t feeling well–the school district had only one full-time nurse.

 

From there Hawkins moved to the Twin Cities. She built a career in the hospitality industry, going on to arrange large meetings and conventions. “I would book big national events for organizations at hotels, helping meet their wide range of different wants and needs.

 

“I had to become very flexible.”

 

Hawkins remembers that, during a visit to the Waseca County Historical Society late this summer. While visiting with staff members, she found out that the Historical Society was going to be celebrating the Sleigh and Cutter festival this year with displays and other memorabilia.  She says that was when she decided to donate her trophies and tiara, as they belong back in Waseca, where it all started!

 

Jolene and her husband Loren live in Apple Valley and winter in Fort Myers, Florida.