Congressional Record
Cherry Blossom Princesses
EXTENSION OF REMARKS
Monday, March 31, 1958
Volume 104 - part 5, 5869
OF
HON. ELIZABETH KEE
OF WEST VIRGINIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mrs. KEE. Mr. Speaker, under leave to extend my remarks in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, I include a copy of my weekly newsletter released March 27, 1958:
KEENOTES
(By Representative ELIZABETH KEE)
Washington is the beauty capital of the Nation this week.
Reigning over the city are cherry blossom princesses from all the States and Territories. And one of the loveliest and most charming of all is West Virginia's princess, Miss Ann Baker Tierney, of Bluefield.
The presence of the princesses always assures the success of Washington's Cherry Blossom Festival, scheduled each spring to coincide with the blooming of the hundreds of Japanese cherry trees which border the Tidal Basin and grow with profusion in other parts of the city. Unfortunately, the weather man was unkind during the festival this year. The extremely cold winter, lasting into spring, has delayed the opening of the blossoms and the festival probably will be over before they make an appearance.
But one could not wish for a more colorful sight than that of the princesses gathered for one of the many events which occur during the festival. And with much State pride I can say that Princess Ann is the cynosure of all eyes at these functions.
All of us are tremendously proud of her and the wonderful, gracious manner in which she represents our State. She was selected for this honor by the West Virginia Society of the Disstrict of Columbia, and that group can certainly be proud of its choice.
Princess Ann is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Tierney, Jr., of Bluefield. She is quite an accomplished young lady. Only 23, she is a member of the board of directors of the Eastern Coal Corp., probably the only member of her sex to hold such a position in the coal industry in our country. Also, she is the owner-manager of Leatherwood Horse Farms in Bluefield, known throughout the South for the fine saddle horses it breeds and trains.
She is as good a horsewoman as she is a businesswoman. She rides and shows her 3- and 5-gaited horses on the summer horse show circuit throughout the South. Many blue ribbons won in these shows are on exhibit at Leatherwood Farms.
Princess Ann also conducts a school in horsemanship for youngsters at Leatherwood, starting the tots out on special ponies raised for that purpose on her farm.
She attended grade schools in Bluefield and later attended Sweet Briar College, Lynchburg, Va., and Holton-Arms College in Washington, from which she graduated in 1955.
For Members of Congress, deeply concerned with the economic recession, education, defense and other extremely serious matters, the week of the Cherry Blossom Festival provides a delightful diversion. The festival, with its many colorful and delightful events, affords official Washington an opportunity to relax and forget those things for a brief time. I am sure Washington will be a better place for having had the opportunity to participate in this festive occasion.
Certainly, those of us from West Virginia have been highly honored to show off our princess. She was [sic] been a big hit wherever she appeared. She completely captivated West Virginians at the West Virginia State Society reception held in her honor last Wednesday evening.
Princess Ann has strengthened our pride in our great State of West Virginia.