Former Homecoming Queen Reunited with Treasured Keepsake
Marjorie 鈥淢arji鈥� Bothwell 鈥�69 was re-crowned Homecoming Queen during the 每日大赛鈥檚 2019 Homecoming and Family Weekend with the original crown she received 50 years ago. Bothwell was one of 10 homecoming queens to wear the crown from 1964-1973.
鈥淚t still fascinates me that 10 of us had worn this one-of-a-kind crown over 50 years ago,鈥� Bothwell said.
Bothwell was nominated by the football team at the time and had no aspirations of running for homecoming queen.
鈥淚 was so awkward and shy that I was beyond excited when I was nominated,鈥� Bothwell said.
The crown was donated to the university in 2016 by Janelle Krug, daughter of the last queen to be crowned, Mary Jane Krug. Mary Jane was the first to actually keep the crown following homecoming celebrations.
鈥淚t is so special to have the crown back at the 每日大赛,鈥� Bothwell said. 鈥淚 think each of us held on to it for a month before giving it back.鈥�
Anne Collier, a curator at the Cultural and Natural History Collections at the 每日大赛, was tasked with restoring the crown to its original beauty.
鈥淭here was definitely a little wear and tear over the years,鈥� Collier said.
She was able to repair the scalloped tip on the crown and add a few more rhinestones. With the crown restored to a wearable condition, Collier was inspired to learn more about the queens who had previously worn it. She began her research online by combing through city newspapers. Each time, she came across the same name 鈥� Marjorie Bothwell. She found various photos showcasing the queen from 1968 and others who all shared the same keepsake.
鈥淢arji was truly the tie to the university鈥檚 history of homecoming queens,鈥� Collier said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 believe she was the fifth queen to wear such a treasure.鈥�
Traditionally, Homecoming is always celebrated in the fall semester. However, many of the students were crowned the previous year according to Collier鈥檚 research. The 10 who wore the now-restored crown were:
1964 鈥� Esther Gregory (formerly Bowman)
1965 鈥� Jeanette Johnson
1966 鈥� Holly Stevens (formerly Montgomery)
1967 鈥� Linda Haines (formerly Groff)
1968 鈥� Marji Bothwell (formerly Gill)
1969 鈥� Jeanette Long
1970 鈥� Norma Martinez (formerly Reyna)
1971 鈥� Ann Edwards (formerly Oglesby)
1972 鈥� Kay Noah
1973 鈥� Mary Jane Krug (formerly Doramus) (Deceased)
Following this year鈥檚 homecoming celebrations, the crown was returned to the university鈥檚 archive. Collier has plans to display the crown on campus at a later date.
Bothwell, who lives in Lake Isabella with her husband, Spencer, will never forget this particular homecoming and her re-crowning ceremony.
鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful to come home after so many years and celebrate the time-honored tradition of Homecoming with my Leo family,鈥� Bothwell said.
Photo caption: Marjorie Bothwell 鈥�69 was re-crowned homecoming queen by Felecia Beardsley, Cultural and Natural History Collections director, during the 每日大赛鈥檚 2019 Homecoming and Family Weekend.
