By Harry D. Butler
Times Correspondent
Published: Monday, October 22, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 12:26 a.m.
This is the story about a queen and a marching band that played too many tunes.
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Former University of Alabama Homecoming Queen Janice Garrison Stracener poses Monday after feeding stray cats outside the Holy Comforter House in Gadsden. Stracener, 81, will ride in Saturday?s Alabama homecoming parade in Tuscaloosa.
MARC GOLDEN | GADSDEN TIMESHomecoming always is a grand affair, whether at church or school. For homecoming football games, the choosing of a queen and her court is one of the most anticipated events leading up to kickoff time.
In October 1950, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide was prepared to make it 10 in a row in the famed ?Battle for Highway 82? against Mississippi State, a school just 90 miles west of Denny Stadium. Their rivalry had begun in 1896, and Bama led the series by a wide margin. It squeaked out a 14-7 victory over the Bulldogs en route to a 9-2 season.
The school?s homecoming queen for that year had been chosen from 46 beauties nominated by various fraternities, sororities and dormitories.
The winner was 18-year-old Janice Garrison of Gadsden. She was a graduate of Gadsden High School, where she had been a class favorite for three years and had ?high-stepped? in front of the Tigers? marching band as the ?flag swinger.?
Her parents were Louis and Flora Garrison, who operated a grocery store at the intersection of Ewing Avenue and Princeton Avenue. Later, they owned the Mary Carter Paint Store on Chestnut Street.
Janice, a freshman, had been nominated by her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. At halftime of the homecoming game, she was to be honored on the field with the presentation of an elaborate, diamond-jeweled tiara flown in from a leading New York City jeweler and given a large bouquet of American Beauty roses.
It came halftime of the big game, and Queen Janice stood patiently waiting on the sideline at the 50-yard line for Mississippi State?s band to complete its field routine, which would be followed by her presentation. And she waited while another tune was played. And another. And another. Finally, it was time for the game?s third quarter to start, and school officials canceled the queen?s presentation.
?I never got to wear the tiara,? Janice recalled. ?It got sent back to New York; I didn?t even get to have my picture made with it on my head.?
Two weeks later, however, Janice was honored during halftime of the Alabama-Auburn season final? at Legion Field in Birmingham.
?There was no tiara, but I was given a beautiful armful of flowers,? she said. ?It was an honor to be the homecoming queen, and I have cherished that time.?
A year later, Janice Garrison was chosen Etowah County?s Maid of Cotton and participated in many other events representing the area. And she had a dream in the decades that followed.
Friends heard her say many times that she wanted to ride in a homecoming parade.
?At 81, my next birthday in December, I might not ever make it,? she said.
That dream was heard by Abby Brace Brown, this year?s director of the university?s homecoming activities, who has arranged for the jaunty senior to ride in the annual parade.
Janice will be the only former homecoming queen in this year?s parade. The Crimson Tide?s homecoming opponent again is Mississippi State, and this year?s game will be Oct. 27; the 1950 game was Oct. 28.
However, something happened several weeks ago that threatened the fulfillment of this six-decades-old dream. Janice suffered a stroke that caused her to be hospitalized for a time.
She?s now at home and said, ?It only affected my left leg, and I have to walk with a stick. I?m feeling good and looking forward to riding in that parade.?
Janice?s travel companion for the ?wish come true? will be best friend Peggy Gillam, whose son-in-law will drive the car provided by the university.
Janice?s love of traveling took her to London, Paris, China and Hong Kong in previous years.
?It wasn?t that long ago that I drove to Atlanta to Tony Bennett?s show,? she said.
?I think now that I won?t be going much anymore, but I am looking forward to riding in that parade,? she said.
Source: http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20121022/news/121029938
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