Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Crowd Entertained by Former Miss Arkansas

Gurdon High School's new cafetorium was packed Tuesday, Feb. 6 for the Chamber of Commerce Banquet.

State and area elected officials made sure they were on hand to meet and greet the public, while friends gathered to socialize and for the fellowship.

Anita Cabe, Chamber president, opened the festivities by telling the audience it was a successful year for the Chamber.

"We were able to accomplish things with a secretary we couldn't have done otherwise," she said. "We started a newsletter, Wanda Coston came on as secretary and our membership blitz added 15 new members."

In addition, she said, the Chamber has began a quarterly coffee, sponsored a circus and had a booth at the annual Forest Festival. It also co-sponsored a booth at the Clark County fair with the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce and Clark County Industrial Council.

And, she concluded, the Chamber ended its year with money in the bank.

Beth Ann Rankin, former Miss Arkansas, was the featured speaker.

She regaled the throng with tales of her pageant competitions, including those times when she didn't fare well.

Rankin told of one time when she was concentrating so hard on keeping her interview answer to 20 seconds she didn't hear the question.

Instead of letting the master of ceremonies know this, she tried the "shotgun" approach and began rambling, hoping to broach the subject by accident.

However, she told the audience she enjoys visiting small towns the most because the people tend to be more amiable and helpful than those in larger cities.

Rankin said it took her three years to win a preliminary title and even get a shot at becoming Miss Arkansas. It eventually took seven years for her to win the state crown.

This was shared with those gathered as part of her message on the importance of not giving up.

She said as Miss OBU in her third attempt for Miss Arkansas, the number 3 kept coming up. It was her third try for the crown, she was No. 30 in contestants.

Rankin told the audience it was a sign. She prayed the No. 3 would continue to be a "lucky charm" during the contest.

It was, Rankin was the third runner up that year.

Now, the delightful redhead looks back and laughs at this incident.

"It was a fascinating experience being Miss Arkansas," she said. "I got to travel the state, meeting people and working with young people.

"I told them to dream and not sell themselves short. I told them to live life by what they know is right and wrong and to stand up for what they believe in."

Students in 158 schools in Arkansas heard this message, including Gurdon's schools last year.

Rankin also delivered the message of the American dream to students where she spoke.

At one school she asked a group of third grade students if they thought the American dream was dead. One student raised his hand and said yes.

"I looked at him and said the American dream is not dead. It's alive and well. If you believe it's dead, then it is for you, but it's out there. You just have to dream it.

"You have to have the determination to try," she said. "No one had ever told him that before."

The beauty queen said the child's face brightened and broke into a smile upon hearing this.

"I tell people if they've failed and lost, they need to turn their disillusionments in life into positives and dream new dreams."

She said during her quest for the title of Miss Arkansas she never knew if she would ever win it or not. But she kept trying.

"You can't win everything in life," Rankin said. "But you can be a winner. Just do the best you can and have a positive attitude.

"I'm part of Generation X, and I don't want to go down in history as Generation X.

"I feel it's tragic not standing for anything. We've got to find a turning point in life and know what we stand for."

Knowing what one stands for goes directly back to families, Rankin told the gathering.

She said her family gave its support during her pageant trials and tribulations, along with everything else she's done.

This support, Rankin said, has been vital to her success. "If I had one hope for children today, it would be for them to feel the love and support I've had.

"It's not too late. We can turn the tied and strengthen the American family. Families are part of the United State's backbone."

She said people from other countries judge the strength of other countries by the strength of their families.

Rankin, concluding her speech, thrilled the audience with her vocal composition "Your Place For Me" along with her rendition of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" on the piano.

Cabe then presented awards for Teacher of the Year; F.K. Garrett Pioneer Citizen of the Year and Chamber Member of the Year.

Cindy Duke captured the Teacher of the Year honors, and crying, said she felt guilty in accepting the award. "There are wonderful teachers here," she said between tears. "My principal and coworkers make it easy for me to do my job."

Phil Robkin presented the Chamber Member of the Year to Charles Cabe for the Cabe Foundation and its efforts with the Chamber.

The Pioneer Citizen of the Year was bestowed on Dr. George R. Peeples by Anita Cabe.

Dr. Peeples was surprised by the honor and told the audience if he had known he'd have brought his joke book along.

For many years, though, Dr. Peeples was the only doctor Gurdon had. He practiced in the area from 1955 until 1988.