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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, October 31, 1968
Queen looks back on homecoming
When the 1968 homecoming queen is crowned tomorrow, a pretty Lawrence housewife watching will know how the coed feels.
She is Mrs. Jeannine Ralston, who was homecoming queen in 1951.
Her thoughts will go back to a windy December day when she was homecoming queen for another generation.
"I'll be comparing and reminiscing. I'll be thinking about Gov. Arn and Chancellor Murphy. I remember I got several kisses from him because the photographers were having trouble," said the brown-eyed mother of two, a 1953 graduate.
The queen and her attendants didn't wear capes then, Mrs. Ralston recalled. "We did walk through lines of ROTC boys,
though. Now they'd probably protest that."
The former Jeannine Neihart of Lyndon, Mrs. Ralston represented Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was chosen from 25 contestants. The announcement came Friday during the finale of the Jayhawk Follies, a now-extinct student variety show.
She yelled "Subdue Mizzou" Saturday afternoon, with other KU fans as the Jayhawks defeated the University of Missouri, 41-28, before a crowd of 35.000.
"They had a fine season that year," she said, "and had a good chance to win the then Big Seven."
That night, Mrs. Ralston reigned over the homecoming dance in the Kansas Union Ballroom.
The day she was named queen, Mrs. Ralston wore Mr. Ralston's Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity pin. Both music students, they were married August, 1953, in Danforth Chapel.
Mrs. Ralston remembers there were no homecoming decorations that year.
"The houses and dorms spent their money cleaning up North Lawrence. It had been hit by the flood that summer."
Recalling her weekend as queen, Mrs. Ralston also talked about the differences between the 1951 and 1968 student bodies.
"I think we were more carefree about international and national issues then. But we had the Korean War to worry about.
Some were leaving school to join up."
There were no hippies among the 7,000 KU students in 1951. Mrs.Ralston said.
VISIT OUR NEWLY OPENED CONCORD SHOP
"There weren't even beatniks. The word hadn't been coined yet."
- Canvas
for
- Stretcher Frames made to order
- Painting Classes
Mon. thru Thurs.—7-9 p.m.
- Oil and Acrylic Paints
  Unusual Gift Ideas
We also have:
- Do-it-yourself shelving materials
- Lumber and Plywood cut to order
- Homecoming Supplies including standard 1" poultry netting
We're open:
Mon.-Wed. 8-5 and 7-9
Thursday 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Closed Saturdays
McConnell Lumber 844 E.13th VI 3-3877
Mrs. Ralston also noted that more students are working toward advanced degrees and studying abroad now, and that the student body as a whole appears more affluent. "Hardly anyone had a car then," she said.
Diminutive 14K white or yellow gold watch. Round dial-opening in marquise shaped case. Faceted sapette. Sapphire card. $145.
Marks Jewelers
Come see us after the game and choose from our large menu...
HAMBURGERS
CHEESEBURGERS
SHRIMP CHICKEN
CHILI DOGS
FRENCH FRIES
Home of INSTANT SERVICE 6th and Missouri - VI 3-2139
GOOD LUCK JAYHAWKS!