1956 Island Lilac Queen Still Reigns Over Annual Festival

Judy Bynoe received her new crown from Sam Barnwell, whose grandfather, Mayor Sam McIntire, crowned her in 1956 when she was Lilac Queen. She is holding the original crown, which was handmade by Stella King.

Fifty years ago, Judy Dufina Bynoe was crowned Mackinac Island's Lilac Queen with a headpiece handcrafted by Stella King, who organized the annual event. This year, Ms. Bynoe has received a new crown to commemorate her reign over the event a half-century ago. Placing the tiara was Sam Barnwell, the grandson of Mayor Sam McIntire, who crowned the queen in 1956.

The Lilac Queen has been an important part of the Lilac Festival tradition since it began in 1949.

Then, a police booth where the Taxi Stand is today, was used to post photographs of the Lilac Queen candidates and the public selected the winner. One year, Ms. Bynoe recalls, a pageant was held at Grand Hotel. Today, the candidates are nominated and selected by their high school classmates.

This year's Lilac Queen will be Melissa Bunker. The other candidates, Emily St. Onge, Christina McLean, Miranda McMahon, Karlena Mosley, and Kristi Kamphuis, will be present at the coronation Friday, June 9, at 5:30 p.m. in Marquette Park, where Mayor Margaret Doud will present the crown.

The Lilac Princess, who is chosen from entry slips shuffled and drawn from a hat, will be Keely Johnson, the daughter of Jeff and Meg Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson is a high school science teacher on the Island.
Past Lilac Queens are:
1949 Sue Perault
1950 Mary Dennany
1951 Jeanie Vance
1952 Catherine McGreevy
1953 Joann Goodheart
1954 Linda Horn
1955 Unknown
1956 Judy Dufina
1957 Alice Bunker
1958 Sandra Gallagher
1959 Anna Joyce Andress
1960 Sharon Schmidt
1961 Joann Sawyer
1962 Beverly Brown
1963 Margaret Doud
1964 Nancy Chambers
1965 Nancy Pfeiffelman
        and Cindy Francis

1966 Melly Alford
1967 Loretta Cowell
1968 Cathy Cowell
1969 Deborah Rogers
1970 Deborah DeLavern
1971 Dorothy Gillespie
1972 Patty Trayser

1973 Amanda St. Onge
1974 Cindy Cadotte
1975 Barbara Gillespie
1976 Ellen Putnam
1977 Martha Bodwin
1978 Joyce Olson

1979 Midge Bodwin
1980 Anna Rogers
1981 Margaret Gallagher
1982 Carol Ouellette
1983 Velma LaPine
1984 Tonya Bazinau
1985 Tammy LaPine
1986 Louann Kolatski
1987 Michelle McLean
1988 Doris Bradley
1989 Katrina Platzke
1990 Vanessa Smith
1991 Heather Chambers

1992 Mariah Horn
1993 Lisa Doud
1994 Tawna Urman
1995 Erica Jones
1996 Peggy Bynoe
1997 Jennifer Putnam
1998 Heather Campagnola
1999 Christine Ball
2000 Tracy Quinter
2001 Polly Smith
2002 Roxanne Pettit
2003 Sara Wessel
2004 Jennifer Wightman
2005 Blisse Beardsley