Evelyn Williams: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Evelyn Tully.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Evelyn Tully as Miss Vulcan]] | [[Image:Evelyn Tully.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Evelyn Tully as Miss Vulcan]] | ||
'''Evelyn Tully Williams''' (born [[1919]] in Mississippi) was a shop clerk at [[Kress building|Kress]] and became [[Miss Vulcan]] in the [[Vulcan Dedication Celebration]]. | '''Evelyn Tully Williams''' (born [[1919]] in Mississippi; died [[2020]]) was a shop clerk at [[Kress building|Kress]] and became [[Miss Vulcan]] in the [[Vulcan Dedication Celebration]]. | ||
Evelyn Tully was the daughter of Reverend [[H. L. Tully]] who moved his family to Sulligent (Lamar County) in [[1925]] and then to [[Birmingham]] in [[1929]] where he took over the pulpit at [[Wylam Baptist Church]]. Evelyn graduated from [[Ensley High School]] in [[1937]] and took a job soon afterward as a clerk at [[Kress Building|Kress]] department store. In [[1939]] she was selected to represent the store in the pageant celebrating the dedication of [[Vulcan Park]]. | Evelyn Tully was the daughter of Reverend [[H. L. Tully]] who moved his family to Sulligent (Lamar County) in [[1925]] and then to [[Birmingham]] in [[1929]] where he took over the pulpit at [[Wylam Baptist Church]]. Evelyn graduated from [[Ensley High School]] in [[1937]] and took a job soon afterward as a clerk at [[Kress Building|Kress]] department store. In [[1939]] she was selected to represent the store in the pageant celebrating the dedication of [[Vulcan Park]]. | ||
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In [[2004]] the story of "Miss Vulcan" was recounted in a ''[[Birmingham News]]'' article by [[Bill Caton]]. The article served as the inspiration for the [[2007]] [[Red Mountain Theatre]] musical ''[[Miss Vulcan 1939]]''. | In [[2004]] the story of "Miss Vulcan" was recounted in a ''[[Birmingham News]]'' article by [[Bill Caton]]. The article served as the inspiration for the [[2007]] [[Red Mountain Theatre]] musical ''[[Miss Vulcan 1939]]''. | ||
Williams, widowed in [[2006]], | Williams, widowed in [[2006]], resided in [[Hoover]]. She died in [[2020]]. | ||
==Reference== | ==Reference== | ||
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* Caton, Bill (March 3, 2004) "Vulcan's Queen: Hoover woman recalls her special reign 65 years ago." {{BN}} | * Caton, Bill (March 3, 2004) "Vulcan's Queen: Hoover woman recalls her special reign 65 years ago." {{BN}} | ||
* Folse, Molly (September 6, 2007) "Pageant revival: New play re-imagines the crowning of Miss Vulcan 1939". ''Birmingham Weekly''. | * Folse, Molly (September 6, 2007) "Pageant revival: New play re-imagines the crowning of Miss Vulcan 1939". ''Birmingham Weekly''. | ||
* Kemp, Kathy (September 6, 2007) "Queen reigns again Winner reminisces about pageant that made her a queen". | * Kemp, Kathy (September 6, 2007) "Queen reigns again Winner reminisces about pageant that made her a queen". {{BN}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Evelyn}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Evelyn}} | ||
[[Category:1919 births]] | [[Category:1919 births]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:2020 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:Ensley graduates]] | [[Category:Ensley graduates]] | ||
[[Category:Shop clerks]] | [[Category:Shop clerks]] | ||
[[Category:Beauty pageant winners]] | [[Category:Beauty pageant winners]] | ||
Revision as of 17:14, 9 July 2022
Evelyn Tully Williams (born 1919 in Mississippi; died 2020) was a shop clerk at Kress and became Miss Vulcan in the Vulcan Dedication Celebration.
Evelyn Tully was the daughter of Reverend H. L. Tully who moved his family to Sulligent (Lamar County) in 1925 and then to Birmingham in 1929 where he took over the pulpit at Wylam Baptist Church. Evelyn graduated from Ensley High School in 1937 and took a job soon afterward as a clerk at Kress department store. In 1939 she was selected to represent the store in the pageant celebrating the dedication of Vulcan Park.
The store's manager, J. C. Inglis, toured various civic clubs with her to raise sponsors for her candidacy as "Vulcan Queen". Her friends and fellow church-members helped to sell the 50-cent tickets that catapulted her to the top of the slate as radio stations updated listeners nightly on the evolving count.
Tully led from start to finish and was crowned on May 7, during a Hollywood-styled gala on the first day of the 10-day celebration. Erskine Ramsey gave her a crown and a kiss in front of a crowd of 3,000. She also received a week's paid vacation to make appearances around town.
One of the buyers of her tickets was Glenn Williams. They met at a church function a few weeks after the pageant and married a year later. The couple had two daughters, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
In 2004 the story of "Miss Vulcan" was recounted in a Birmingham News article by Bill Caton. The article served as the inspiration for the 2007 Red Mountain Theatre musical Miss Vulcan 1939.
Williams, widowed in 2006, resided in Hoover. She died in 2020.
Reference
- Caldwell, Carla (March 21, 1999) "Queen in 1939 Evelyn Williams says it was 'like being Cinderella'." The Birmingham News
- Caton, Bill (March 3, 2004) "Vulcan's Queen: Hoover woman recalls her special reign 65 years ago." The Birmingham News
- Folse, Molly (September 6, 2007) "Pageant revival: New play re-imagines the crowning of Miss Vulcan 1939". Birmingham Weekly.
- Kemp, Kathy (September 6, 2007) "Queen reigns again Winner reminisces about pageant that made her a queen". The Birmingham News