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| Inger, Lions Bowl Queen, waves during the 1965 Christmas parade. Source: Santa Maria Times. |
It was announced via the Santa Maria Times on November 27, 1964 that Inger Stevens would serve as the first queen of the Lions Bowl Junior College football game at Dave Boyd Field on December 5, 1964. The game was sponsored as a benefit for Santa Maria Council for Retarded Children and Inger, as the California Council for Retarded Children’s honorary chair, gladly participated.
Inger frequently filled her weekends with work as the honorary chair of the California Council for Retarded Children (also known as the CCRC). In addition to publicity and charity opportunities arranged by the statewide and local councils, Inger initiated and hosted a series of celebrity art shows to benefit children. As early as 1963 Inger promoted the English translation of aunt Karin Stensland Junker's book The Child in the Glass Ball—a story of Karin's journey as a mother to two children with intellectual disabilities.
Inger not only served as honorary chair of the CCRC, but also volunteered much of her free time with children at the Kedrin Community Health Center and joined the Advisory Board of the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA. One month before her death, Inger stated that the work she completed with the Institute and the Council was the most fulfilling work of her life.
Inger arrived in Santa Maria, California, on Friday, December 4th. The following morning Inger was in place as parade entry #6 in the Santa Maria Christmas parade, which featured eight bands and approximately thirty-five floats/cars. In the parade route, Inger followed Harrel Fletcher and Lane Bryant, co-chairmen of the RMA Christmas Committee and she preceded pageant princesses from the local schools.
The Coalinga Falcons beat the Santa Barbara City College Vaqueros with a final score of 41-19 at the game later that day. Inger made a special appearance during the half-time show where she was formally presented the title of Lions Bowl Queen of 1964. A month later, Santa Maria Times reported that a check for $1,125.75 was presented to Dorothy Bell, president of the Santa Maria Council.
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| Inger speaks to the crowd at the 1964 Lions Bowl festivities. Source: Santa Maria Times. |
Inger was named as Lions Bowl Queen a second time the following year and appeared at the second annual Lions Bowl on December 3-4, 1965. On Friday, December 3rd at 7:00 p.m., Inger attended a cocktail party at Iversen Motor Company, which fully benefited the Santa Maria Council. Inger mingled and signed autographs. The following day Queen Inger rode in the morning Christmas parade (see photo of Inger in the '65 parade at top of this post.) Later in the day, Inger appeared at the game at Dave Boyd Field where she witnessed Harbor College beat Reedley College with a final score of 51-16. Though Inger didn't make a fuss, there was some embarrassment for the Noontime Lions Club when they realized a member forgot to give Inger a bouquet of flowers during the half-time presentation.
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| Inger uses Lions Club President Al Hall's back to sign autographs during the 1965 cocktail party. Source: Santa Maria Times. |
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| Inger proudly shows aunt Karin's book The Child in the Glass Ball. Source: scan from my collection. |
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| Inger with a child in her work with the CCRC. Source: Original Jerry Lem site/Darrell Short |
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| Inger's 1966 appointment to the Advisory Board of Neuropsychiatric Institute. Source: Original Jerry Lem site. |
Sources:
“Bowl Queen in Parade.” Santa Maria Times. December 4, 1964.
“Coalinga Wins Lions Bowl game, 41-19.” Santa Maria Times. December 7, 1964.
“Harbor Stuns Reedley in 51-16 Lions Bowl Route.” Santa Maria Times. December 6, 1965
“Inger is Lions Bowl Queen.” Santa Maria Times. November 24, 1965..
“Lions Bowl Proceeds Presented.” Santa Maria Times. January 14, 1965.
“Lions Bowl Queen.” Santa Maria Times. November 27, 1964.
Oppenheimer, Peer J. "Inger Stevens Says: 'I Can't Live Only for Myself.'" Family Weekly. March 8, 1970.
“Parade Officially Opens Christmas Shopping Time.” Santa Maria Times. December 4, 1964.
“Santa Claus Comes to Town.” Santa Maria Times. December 4, 1965.
“Signature from a Star.” Santa Maria Times. December 4, 1965.
“Vaqueros Prep for Lions Bowl.” Santa Maria Times. December 2, 1964.
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