On February 9, the 35th Annual Gilmer Nursing Home Pageant was held in the cafeteria. This year’s pageant theme was “Follow the Yellow Brick Road.” The cafeteria was decorated with reminders of the 1939 film The Wizzard of Oz and the nursing home staff on hand dressed as characters from the film. Members of Girl Scout Troop 8146 were on hand to help with the presentation of the awards.Before the festivities began, entertainment was provided by Cleve Oliver and the River Park Band and Tracie Pospisil sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Delicious snacks and punch were available to all attendees.

In addition to crowning a new King and Queen, superlative awards were given to residents. Ruth Bell won Best Personality; Most Popular was Gretchen Jeanne Haas; J.W. Bice was chosen Best Looking Male and Best Looking Female was Linda Viderman; Pauline Mullinax was chosen as the Volunteer of the Year.

The winners were chosen by ballots submitted by pageant attendees.

The 2011 Queen, Sue Davis, crowned this year’s winner, Jerri Sue Newton. During the interview portion of the pageant, attendees learned that Ms. Newton is a frequent winner in the Bingo games that are held at the nursing home. Newton also enjoys making pickles and bird houses, some of which were sold at the fair last summer. A scrapbook will be created of the Queen and entered into the State competition for Nursing Home Queen. Only 21 Queens are chosen to compete for the State title each year, and Gilmer has had a half-dozen in recent years.

L.C. Dillinger was crowned King. During the interview, Mr. Dillinger admitted that he could once “dance better than Elvis.” Everyone also learned that Dillinger was a truck driver in the Korean War and that his first car was a 1934 Ford.

Runners Up Queen:
Third: Ruth Cameron
Second: Ruth Clayton
First: Joycelyn Thompson

Runners Up King:
Third: Luther Tipton
Second: Alvin J. Clayton
First: Alvin Medlin