Overland Park Celebrates Connection to Miss America Pageant History
Overland Park, Kan. — The charming city of Overland Park recently found itself in the spotlight due to a delightful connection between the Miss America pageant and its Public Works Department. It’s a story that combines nostalgia with community pride, all thanks to a little investigative work and a dash of history.
The Crown and the Community
Meet Debbie Bryant-Berge, the proud Miss America of 1966. Recalling that pivotal moment in her life, she shared, “It’s kind of like, ‘What are the odds, you know?’” She reflected on the feeling of disbelief when she first saw herself crowned. “When I look at the video, I always can’t believe that it’s me in that position,” emphasized Bryant-Berge, who also won the Miss Kansas title in 1965. The reaction in her home state was nothing short of electric.
“Everyone was pretty stoked about having the first Miss America from Kansas,” Bryant-Berge beamed. The aftermath of her crowning saw Kansas bursting with pride – “the whole state got behind the experience,” she mentioned. Think parades, celebrations, and good old-fashioned joy as residents rallied around their new title holder.
Discovering a Hidden Treasure
Fast forward to the present day, where a surprising discovery unfolded within the Maintenance Operations Public Works Department in Overland Park. Manager Joshua Welge and his team were busy cleaning up an old stock room when they stumbled upon a hidden gem: a series of vintage signs from 1966, announcing, “Overland Park, Home of Miss America 1966, Debbie Bryant.”
“We were cleaning up this area and organizing,” Welge explained. “And then we discovered these signs faced up against the wall here.” These signs, now 58 years old, were a remarkable find, preserved in great condition even after all these years.
Restoring the Significance
After realizing the significance of their discovery, the Public Works team took a trip down memory lane and decided to send one of the signs to the Overland Park Historical Society. But Welge and his crew felt a strong urge to reconnect with Bryant-Berge. “It’s uncommon for us to find something that old,” he noted, and it felt important to track her down and return the sign to its rightful owner.
Using a bit of sleuthing, the team successfully located Bryant-Berge, who now resides in sunny Arizona. After learning about the sign, she expressed overwhelming joy at seeing the once-hidden piece of her past. “It was really exciting to see that unveiled from wherever it had been in the depths of storage,” she said, excitement sparkling in her words.
Home and Heart
Upon receiving the sign, Bryant-Berge added it to her collection, but not before her husband proudly displayed it in their front yard for a while. “We live in such a throwaway society, so when something gets worn out, we tend to toss it,” Welge noted. “It’s unique to find things like that, especially something that has been preserved so well.”
This heartfelt exchange between a city and its past reminded Bryant-Berge of her deep-rooted connections to Kansas. “It is nice to go back and remember how things were, because we can learn so much from it,” she reflected. For her, Kansas will always hold a special place in her heart, and this act of kindness only strengthened that bond, she concluded.
Bringing the Community Together
This heartwarming story showcases the power of community and how seemingly unrelated elements can intertwine. Overland Park has not only preserved a piece of its history but has also rekindled a connection with a beloved figure from their past. In a world that often rushes forward, it’s essential to pause, cherish our past, and celebrate the people and moments that shape our lives.
