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The Downtown Springfield Association is looking to contact Miss Merrie Christmas winners from previous years. KSMU's Christy Hendricks reports.
For the past 65 years or so, winners of Springfield's Miss Merrie Christmas Pageant have been known to idealize Christmas cheer and get to ride in Springfield's annual Christmas Parade.
Kristin McDaniel, special events coordinator for the Downtown Springfield Association says this year DSA is looking to honor past winners of the contest.
Marthe Close was 21 years old when she won the Miss Merrie Christmas title in 1956.
She says at that time, sororities from the now Missouri State University and Drury University nominated girls for the contest.
Close recounts the day she rode in the Christmas Parade and says she served as the coordinator for the Miss Merrie Christmas Pageant about 15 years ago.
Applications for this year's pageant can be picked up at any Springfield high school counselor's office or be downloaded from www.downtownspringfieldassociation.com
Applications are due by October 14th and the pageant will be November 18th at 7:30 at Central High School.
For more information about the Miss Merrie Christmas Pageant or to contact the Downtown Springfield Association about past winners call 866-0134.
For KSMU News I'm Christy Hendricks.