By James Turner

This wonderful black-and-white picture of youth and beauty escaped from oblivion in the depths of an old scrapbook. Here is the scoop. My dear bride, Meriget, was coincidentally preparing to participate in an oral history recording about her dad, photographer Fonville Winans (1911 – 1992), when the photo slipped from its mooring.

In the early 1950’s, portrait photographers were often asked to judge the many contests centered on beautiful women.  How the world turns, right? The Winans family had a connection to Vernon Parish in at least two ways: Fonville’s father, Mr. L.L. Winans, had designed and built bridges for Vernon Parish.  He was an engineer.  Fonville, meanwhile, took his very first Louisiana photograph while working for his father here in Vernon Parish. That was likely around 1929.

In 1954, Fonville accepted the invitation to judge the Miss Leesville High School contest.  He was fast becoming Louisiana’s most popular photographer.  Leesville High School had twenty-eight girls selected by their peers by popular vote.  Fonville then selected the “maids”, Beverly Norman, Sharon Carelton, Gwen Whittaker, Frances Harding, Jeanine Jones, and Ann Staggs, as well as the girl who would be Leesville High School’s Miss L.H.S. 1954. This honor would be given to the lovely Ms. Sherry Hardwick, who’s photograph you see here.  I suppose it is never too late to recognize and remember people who contribute to the history and charm of our sweet home, Vernon Parish.

(*Publisher’s note: Ms. Sherry Hardwick later wed Ted L. Paris and continued to reside in Vernon Parish with their children, Mike and Nita.)