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CYRUS REPORTS: Adair County's Own National Champion!

Hiding away in Central Ohio, fossicking around in historical documents, Cyrus discovers an important superlative bestowed on an Adair Countian
By Cyrus

In 1949, an Adair County lass was voted the prettiest, the most beautiful, the fairest in all the land, the national champion from Maine to Monterey, from Oregon to Orlando, from Knifley to, well, to everywhere! - and it only made page eight in the Adair County News. Ye Editor obviously had an off day.


The story, as told in June 15, 1949 edition of the News, is as follows.
Little Miss Spires Titled Prettiest Baby In Nation

Voted the most beautiful baby in the Nation by Modern Romance readers, little Gayle Mae Spires, of Knifley, and her mother, Mrs. Robert (Geneva*) Spires, won a free trip to New York besides many other prizes.

Gayle, who was two years old on June 7, arrived in New York City that day with her mother. They left Campbellsville Sunday, June 5, with Gayle's uncle, Ivan Knifley, and Mrs. Knifley, of Bowling Green, driving them.

Gayle was the recipient of many prizes including a $500 bond, a portable radio, a set of silver, a high chair, and special bonus prize to be announced this month.

The portrait of Gayle Mae and 15 other children were picked from thousands of pictures to enter the final contest. These 16 pictures appeared in the May issue of Modern Romance, along with a coupon entitling the reader to one vote.

Gayle is the granddaughter of Mrs. Hallie Chelf Knifley of Knifley, Ky.
Cyrus
Central Ohio Bureau Chief
*Geneva: Better known as "Louise" Spires today


This story was posted on 2005-09-24 20:57:52
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