Biographies: Robyn Denise Sanders, 1975, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: July 2, and December 31, 1975 and May 19, 1976 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American Article No. 1 Robyn Sanders of Winnfield Winn Beauty 2nd Runner-up In La. Winnfield's Robyn Denise Sanders is "disappointed" as not winning the Miss Louisiana Pageant but she said "it's an honor to win on a local level and an honor to represent Lake Charles. I still have a full and productive year ahead of me." The 23 year old beauty from Winn Parish was the second runner-up in the state beauty pageant last Saturday in Monroe, after winning the preliminary swimsuit competition. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Garland Sanders, owners of Sanders Tractor Co., Inc. Becky Gray Wilson of Bossier City was crowned Miss Louisiana at the Monroe Civic Center affair. Robyn entered the pageant as "Miss Contraband-Lake Charles" after moving to the southwest Louisiana city one year ago to study classical ballet under Lady Leah LaFargue, president of the Southwestern Regional Ballet Association and director of the Lake Charles Civic Ballet Company. The Winnfield lass came close to being Miss Louisiana once before, in 1972, when she was first runner-up and again the preliminary swimsuit winner under the "Miss Ouachita Parish" banner. Her second runner-up spot last Saturday entailed a trophy and a $ 100 scholarship. The radiant dark-haired Winnfield native said that in addition to studying ballet, she plans to promote the Miss America Pageant at the local level in the coming year. To this end she has previously emceed, judged and entertained at Miss America preliminary pageants and Junior Miss Pageants throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, she said. The Miss American Foundation is a scholarship program, not strictly a beauty pageant, according to Miss Sanders. To date, she has won a total of $1850, which has or will be applied to her dance training. Robyn is a 1974 graduate of Patricia Stevens College in Tampa, Florida, where she earned a degree in fashion merchandising. Her ballet credentials include study under Martin Friedman of the Baltimore Ballet Company who recently returned from Germany. In addition to study in Lake Charles this summer, the sparkling beauty said she plans to dance with James Debolt and Bill Sequoia of the San Antonio Ballet Company. While in Lake Charles, Miss Sanders has received instruction from the international famous Russian ballerina Kaleria Vadicova, who made her first American appearance with the Lake Charles group. The transplanted South Louisiana beauty queen said she holds a vital personal interest in the Bicentennial and the ecology. Her feelings on the ecology are well known in Lake Charles, one of the nation's largest petroleum refining centers, she said. She will participate in numerous other pageants and festivals while reigning as Miss Contraband-Lake Charles, and will be among the royalty at the Washington Mardi Gras Ball in February. Robyn attended Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe three years ago before transferring and earning a degree at Patricia Stevens College. While at Patricia Stevens, she was student body president, selected "Most Outstanding Student" and was on the President's List graduating as an honor student. While at NLU she was a member of the Warbonnet Dance Team, captain of the Ten Little Indians, and a member of the Student Government Association. Article No. 2 Robyn Sanders Is Miss La. Universe Miss Robyn Denise Sanders of Lake Charles won the Miss Louisiana Universe 1976 title last Saturday night in Monroe, making her Louisiana's representative in the Miss USA Pageant to be held at Niagra Falls, N. Y. during May. Robyn, a 24 year old brunet beauty, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Garland Sanders of Winnfield. She won the title over a field of 23 other contestants in the Monroe pageant. First runner up up in the Miss Louisiana Universe Pageant was Vicki Campbell of West Monroe. Second runner up was Linda Davis of Monroe. Third runner up was Donna Funderburk of Junction City, and fourth runner up was Terry Jean Dixon of New Orleans. Rene Duplechin was chosen as Miss Amity. Robyn, who is a 1969 graduate of Winnfield Senior High School, attended Northeast Louisiana University for three years and received her degree in Fashion Merchandising from Patricia Stevens College. She has held such titles as Miss La. Dogpatch in 1971, Miss Ouachita Parish in 1972, and Miss Contraband-Lake Charles in 1975. She was the preliminary swimsuit winner and a finalist in the Miss Louisiana-America Pageant in 1972 and 1975. The Miss USA Pageant will be held May 5-15, 1976 in Niagra Falls, N. Y. and the finals will be televised on the CBS television network May 15. Judging will be on interview, swimsuit and evening gown. The reigning Miss USA is Summer Bartholomew of California. Robyn said that she was thrilled to win the Miss Louisiana Universe title and is looking forward to competing in the Miss USA Pageant come May 5. Article No. 3 Robyn Sanders Fourth Miss USA Runner-Up Bob Barker told the nation who she was dating. Designer Mr. Blackwell complimented her on her honesty. And Robyn Sanders of Winnfield made it to the finals of the Miss USA Pageant in Niagra Falls, New York Saturday night, May 15. Miss Sanders was named fourth runner-up to Miss USA, Barbara Peterson. After she returned to Winnfield Tuesday, Miss Sanders said "It was everything I hoped it would be, what I had worked for for five years." All the judging was not done Saturday night at the pageant which was televised nationwide. Miss Sanders participated in preliminary swimsuit and evening gown competition Tuesday, May 11, and was interviewed individually by 11 judges on Thursday and Friday before the pageant. One five-minute interview was with Mr. Blackwell, known for his Ten Worst Dressed List. "He asked me if I liked everyone in the contest and I said "no." He reached across the table, shook my hand, and said, 'Congratuations for being honest.'" Miss Sanders said she had not liked only one of the 51 contestants from the 50 states and the District of Columbia. "The girls were fantastic. People get tired of hearing that, but all the girls were very close. It was hard to say good-bye." In addition to Mr. Blackwell, the judges included: actor Ernest Borgnine ("A delight"), Alice Faye, singer and wife of entertainer Phil Harris ("A real doll"), and Derek Sanderson of the St. Louis Blues hockey team ("Added some spice to the judging"). About Bob Barker, the emcee, blurting out the name of the man she is dating, Miss Sanders said, "That was not supposed to happen, but it brought the house down." Even so, of Barker, Miss Sanders said, "I can't say enough good things about him. He's very professional." Miss Sanders said she was impressed by the talent of the person who produced the pageant. Bob Finkel, the producer, has produced shows for Andy Williams, Elvis Presley, and Perry Como, as well as the TV series "Barney Miller" and "McMillan and Wife." The director of the pageant, Sid Smith, had directed Bell Telephone specials, she said. The winner got $15,000 assured in personal appearances, $5,000 of that in cash at an awards breakfast. This was probably Robyn Sanders' last pageant as a contestant, although she said she would like to judge or emcee such contestants. She said she wants to get into public relations or advertising, somewhere she can use her degree in fashion merchandising. "I've reached my goal. Now I'm going to the lake and fish and relax. The pageant had time for everything but sleep."