Houma beauty was crowned by Kennedy

CROWLEY – Blonde-headed beauty Judith Ann Haydel, now Judy Hennenberger, was selected the 23rd International Rice Festival Queen over a group of 16 young ladies competing for the title on October 16, 1959.

The young Houma beauty was crowned queen by Sen. John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline during their visit to the festival while he was campaigning for the presidency of the United States.

Hennenberger, now an associate chaplain at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, is expected to be among the dignitaries in attendance when an historic marker is unveiled at the site of the Kennedy speech on May 31, 2008.