2012 First Town Days Parade Grand Marshal ‘Miss Judy’ is one special lady

  • by Jennifer Kneuss
  • June 30, 2012
  • 360
                        
Summary: When Judy Miller first took on Queen’s Pageant and chaperone duties for First Town Days almost 30 years ago, she found her calling. This year, she is being honored as Parade Grand Marshal. 2012 First Town Days Parade Grand Marshal Miss Judy, as Judy Miller of New Philadelphia is known, has been the First Towne Days Festival Pageant director and Queens’ chaperone for almost thirty years. The way she has impacted lives along the way is immeasurable, as dozens of women will quickly attest to. Although some of these ‘young ladies’ are now approaching 50 years of age, Miss Judy’s influence has not been forgotten. Her role has been not only that of chaperone and chauffer, but also as a life mentor and friend. “Their moms have such a positive impact on the girls. But I think sometimes it’s good to have another listening ear, someone who can speak to them in a different way than mom can. An older woman, someone they know. It gives the mom a chance to rest, too,” chuckled Miller of her role taking the queen and her court to dozens of festivals throughout Ohio each year and along the way, being the sounding board for all kinds of teen issues from natural struggles with self-esteem to broken hearts. “I was the mom when my daughter, Cindy Colucy, was queen, and it had good and bad times. But we have so many good times with the queens. The thing of it is, when I tell them something, they do it. They get such satisfaction of being able to do it themselves. It is unbelievable.” “My daughter was crowned queen in 1983. I loved taking her around the state of Ohio so much! I got bit by the bug, and started on the committee with Al Maloney. One day he called me and asked, ‘Would you like to be the queen director?’ I replied, ‘I’m not sure, as I’ll have to talk to my husband.’ I hung up, and went crazy! I screamed, I yelled, and then I called Lloyd and I said, ‘Guess who’s going to be the new queen director? Me!’”, Miller paused and smiled broadly at the memory. “He didn’t have a chance, but he was always very supportive.” Although Miller now has volunteer Debbie Henry to take over the pageant portion of the queen’s contest, she insists she is definitely not quitting. Health concerns are causing her to take a brief break from her volunteer work. But Miller is definitely not quitting. “Heavens, no! I’m just taking a year off from the traveling until my knees start getting better, and then I will be back on the road again,” she said. The queen chaperone, who not only is the Parade Grand Marshal, but was also honored at the Queen’s Pageant with a plaque and her very own embroidered sash and queen’s crown, believes strongly that the pageant program is much more than a talent or beauty contest. “Not only is the program important for the scholarship money to further the girls’ education, but during the year I travel around with them, and I watch them mature. I watch their speaking ability just grow and grow,” noted Miller enthusiastically. “Sometimes they have to speak to a crowd of 200, and sometimes to 2,000, and they never get confused. They just do it. It’s just a wonderful opportunity.” With all of the queens and courts she has taken to festivals over the years, how many ‘daughters’ does she count herself as having? “Well, about thirty times three, so about ninety of them with the queens and their courts.” That's ninety young women that Miller has been able to positively impact by investing in their lives. What a legacy. And Miss Judy is not done yet.


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