| INDY 500 QUEENS |
| 1961 500 Festival Princess Program Yearbook |
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Jan C. Clarke
Lynne Cooper
Majorie Culloden
Ann Deckelbaum
Shannon DeLaney
Sarah M. Drake
Judy George
Sharon Heiny
Nancy Holle
C. Diane Hunt
Lynne Hunt
Barbara Jones
Pamela Beth Krabbenhoft
Judith Ann McConnell
Sandra McConnell
Glenda Maris
Mary Kay Martin
Sally Ann Miller
Janet Peterson
Barbara Rocap
Frances E. Samuel
Marilyn Scott
Marien Kay Settles
Nancy Sherman
Sue Stanton
Wynn Stenz
Sandra Terrell
Judy Toction
Bonita Jane Townsend
Diane Turley
Lucy Veit
Karen West
Linda Woodward
Lynne Cooper
Majorie Culloden
Ann Deckelbaum
Shannon DeLaney
Sarah M. Drake
Judy George
Sharon Heiny
Nancy Holle
C. Diane Hunt
Lynne Hunt
Barbara Jones
Pamela Beth Krabbenhoft
Judith Ann McConnell
Sandra McConnell
Glenda Maris
Mary Kay Martin
Sally Ann Miller
Janet Peterson
Barbara Rocap
Frances E. Samuel
Marilyn Scott
Marien Kay Settles
Nancy Sherman
Sue Stanton
Wynn Stenz
Sandra Terrell
Judy Toction
Bonita Jane Townsend
Diane Turley
Lucy Veit
Karen West
Linda Woodward
Broad Ripple HS
Howe HS
Shortridge HS
IU
IU extension
Works at INB, attended Butler Univ
Works at Adjutant General Office
IU
Butler Univ
IU
Miami Univ
IU
Broad Ripple HS
Butler Univ
Butler Univ
IU
Butler Univ
Butler Univ
Butler Univ
Works for Jefferson Nat'l Life Insurance
North Central HS
IU
Works for Modern Finance Co.
IU
IU
IU extension
Butlere Univ
Indiana Central College
Indiana State
IU
Purdue
DePauw Univ
Butler Univ
Howe HS
Shortridge HS
IU
IU extension
Works at INB, attended Butler Univ
Works at Adjutant General Office
IU
Butler Univ
IU
Miami Univ
IU
Broad Ripple HS
Butler Univ
Butler Univ
IU
Butler Univ
Butler Univ
Butler Univ
Works for Jefferson Nat'l Life Insurance
North Central HS
IU
Works for Modern Finance Co.
IU
IU
IU extension
Butlere Univ
Indiana Central College
Indiana State
IU
Purdue
DePauw Univ
Butler Univ
| The Queen - Diane Hunt, 21, 5'4" Her Court Pamela Beth Krabbenhoft, 18, 5'2" Marilyn Scott, 19, 5'7" Diane Turley, 22, 5'3" Sally Ann Miller, 5'7" |
The 33 girls were judged on these 5 criteria:
* Personality
* Poise
* Intelligence
* Beauty
* Imperturbability (i.e. calmness.)
and awarded up to 20 points on each.
The field was narrowed to five finalists at a noon luncheon in the Indianapolis Athletic Club on April 19.
The Judges
Helen B. Schleman - dean of women at Purdue Univ.
Bill Armstrong - Indiana Univ. Foundation director
Hal Wilkins - Butler Univ Alumni Assoc. director.
* Personality
* Poise
* Intelligence
* Beauty
* Imperturbability (i.e. calmness.)
and awarded up to 20 points on each.
The field was narrowed to five finalists at a noon luncheon in the Indianapolis Athletic Club on April 19.
The Judges
Helen B. Schleman - dean of women at Purdue Univ.
Bill Armstrong - Indiana Univ. Foundation director
Hal Wilkins - Butler Univ Alumni Assoc. director.
Twenty-Four girls were coeds, five were in high school and four were working girls.
Dec 31, 1961 - The newspaper reported Queen Diane would
graduate from IU in June and had announced plans to marry
Philip Barth in the fall.
Their daughter Wendy was born in August 1965.
Wendy became "500" Festival Queen in 1986.
They are the only mother-daughter queen duo in the history of
the 500 Festival.
Diane passed away in 2020. Her daughter Wendy died the
following year at the age of 56.
graduate from IU in June and had announced plans to marry
Philip Barth in the fall.
Their daughter Wendy was born in August 1965.
Wendy became "500" Festival Queen in 1986.
They are the only mother-daughter queen duo in the history of
the 500 Festival.
Diane passed away in 2020. Her daughter Wendy died the
following year at the age of 56.
Alpha Epsilon PHi
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta
Alpha Chi Omega
Pi Beta Phi
Alpha Chi Omega
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Gamma
Alpha Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi
Delta Delta Delta
Sigma Kappa
Delta Gamma
Delta Gamma
Delta Gamma
Kappa Alpha Theta
| The 33 "500" Festival Princesses |
Sorority
School / Job
Princess Name
The queen was selected at a dinner in the IAC on April 28.
They were judged on the basis of personality, charm, poise and beauty.
The Judges
A.C. Booth - Ford Motor Co. plant manager
Cuthbert Cuthbertson - Western Electric Co. plant manager
J.J. Williams - Radio Corp. of America, V.P. for public relations
They were judged on the basis of personality, charm, poise and beauty.
The Judges
A.C. Booth - Ford Motor Co. plant manager
Cuthbert Cuthbertson - Western Electric Co. plant manager
J.J. Williams - Radio Corp. of America, V.P. for public relations
Each girl was nominated by a "500" Festival director.
The Ball was once again held at the Indiana Roof ballroom. The color scheme was gold
in honor of the Indy 500's 50th race.
After being coronated, the queens' first dance is with the president of the 500 Festival.
Then escort will come out to dance with her and soon, the the princesses follow suit.
Soon everyone is welcome to join them on the dance floor.
The crown was made by Frank Gierke for the first festival queen.
in honor of the Indy 500's 50th race.
After being coronated, the queens' first dance is with the president of the 500 Festival.
Then escort will come out to dance with her and soon, the the princesses follow suit.
Soon everyone is welcome to join them on the dance floor.
The crown was made by Frank Gierke for the first festival queen.
| IMS Owner Tony Hulman Jr and Queen Diane. |
| The Five Finalists (from left to right) Pamela Beth Krabberhoft, Diane Turley, Sally Ann Miller, C. Diane Hunt and Marilyn Scott |
The pace cars were gold 1961 Ford Thunderbirds.
MAYOR'S BREAKFAST
Over 600 guests joined the queen at the Mayor's Breakfast, held at the Indianapolis Athletic Club's
ballroom. Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, WW1 Flying Ace and former owner of the Indy Speedway
attended. There were of course mayors from cities throughout Indiana. Celebrities attending included
actors Dennis Morgan, Johnny Weismuller, actor Alan Hare Jr., Robert Morgan, Robert Paige, Bob
Wilke, comedian Pat Harrington Jr. Musical director Fred Waring, TVs Jack LaLanne, 'Mr. Golf' Maury
Luxford and NFL quarterback Johnny Unitas. Also at the breakfast were past 500 winners including
Ray Harroun who won the first Indy 500 in 1911.
More stars arrived for the parade - Clint Walker, Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Jayne Mansfield, Diane
McBain, Troy Donahue, Jon Provost, Connie Stevens, Robert Conrad, and Sebastian Cabot.
Over 600 guests joined the queen at the Mayor's Breakfast, held at the Indianapolis Athletic Club's
ballroom. Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, WW1 Flying Ace and former owner of the Indy Speedway
attended. There were of course mayors from cities throughout Indiana. Celebrities attending included
actors Dennis Morgan, Johnny Weismuller, actor Alan Hare Jr., Robert Morgan, Robert Paige, Bob
Wilke, comedian Pat Harrington Jr. Musical director Fred Waring, TVs Jack LaLanne, 'Mr. Golf' Maury
Luxford and NFL quarterback Johnny Unitas. Also at the breakfast were past 500 winners including
Ray Harroun who won the first Indy 500 in 1911.
More stars arrived for the parade - Clint Walker, Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Jayne Mansfield, Diane
McBain, Troy Donahue, Jon Provost, Connie Stevens, Robert Conrad, and Sebastian Cabot.
1,200 people attended the Goveroner's Coronation Ball.
Crowds jammed the dance floor and left little room for spectators to seek
out favorite celebrities for an autograph. The movie and television stars
were introduced from the stage after the crowning of the festival queen.
Guests dined at tables surrounding the dance floor and in the balcony
overelooking the ball.
Crowds jammed the dance floor and left little room for spectators to seek
out favorite celebrities for an autograph. The movie and television stars
were introduced from the stage after the crowning of the festival queen.
Guests dined at tables surrounding the dance floor and in the balcony
overelooking the ball.
| Lucy, AJ Foyt and Queen Diane in Winner's Circle |
| Queen Diane greatly enjoyed her lap around the track before the start of the Indy 500. |
| Wendy Barth Servies |
| Diane Hunt Barth |
THE GOVERNORS CORONATION BALL
The queen's coronation took place May 26 at the Indiana Roof ballroom.
The queen's coronation took place May 26 at the Indiana Roof ballroom.
| RACE DAY |
| 1961 Indy 500 Winner - A.J. Foyt |