Believe It Or Not:
Arizona Ranger Places in Top 15 at Miss
America Pageant!
By: Captain Mike Dennis
No… it wasn’t Msgt Anne May, Ranger Maria Mena, or
Probationers Denise Borgstadt or Linda Mueller. Lovely and talented, each
of them, nonetheless, they became ineligible when they married.
No, it wasn’t Lt. Joe Santos, (his moustache is
too dark), Lt. Wayne Jacobs, (his beard is too bushy), Ranger Fay
Fillmore, (he missed the age cut-off), or even Captain Dennis, (he is
a good looking dude… but, nonetheless, a dude.)
Actually, it was Laura Lawless, Miss Arizona 2002!
Laura became an Honorary Arizona Ranger on August 29, 2002, after
exemplifying many of the fine traits of an Arizona Ranger.
Ranger Lawless distinguished herself during a
visit to Sierra Vista, when she fell ill while supporting the Miss Sierra
Vista Scholarship Pageant. Acutely ill, I might add. She suffered from
acute appendicitis while doing her duty. Did she quit her post? No! Did
she “wimp” out? No! Did she stand up to the challenge presented to her?
Yes!
Completing her duties, including the performance
of her talent – a classical piano piece – and then, an on-stage interview,
she did her job; and she did it well. Remember, during all this time, her
impertinent appendix was throbbing, swelling, and hurting like hell! She
was nauseous and light-headed. She was pale and suffered painful spasms in
her abdomen.
Still, she did not leave that stage until
hog-tied, handcuffed, and OC sprayed, (Wow, can that lady fight!) whisked
off into a waiting ambulance, treated on her way to the hospital, and then
“surgerized:” all by Arizona Rangers.
Seven weeks later, this courageous Arizona Ranger
appeared on the stage at Atlantic City, New Jersey. She competed against
50 other young women – each of them the “cream of the crop” from their
respective states.
Ultimately, her friend, Miss Illinois was selected
to be Miss America 2002. A great choice, in my opinion. But, make no
mistake: Laura Lawless made Arizona proud. She finished in the top third
of America’s best.
Congratulations to Honorary Arizona Ranger Laura
Lawless, Miss Arizona 2002. She helps to validate our slogan: “Few But
Proud, Then And Now.”
Sierra
Vista Company
