Vera Follings wants to teach; Hopeful was missionary: Few people would travel more than 600 miles to spend a week of their summer painting, repairing and generally working hard for no pay at all. But not many people have the willingness and determination to help others that motivates Vera Follings, Friendship Festival queen candidate of the Knights of Columbus. Vera recently spent a week, along with 17 other area youths, at Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla., working as a missionary. Approximately one-half of the college’s students are American Indians. “Working with a new type of people and just going away to help others is quite an experience” commented the 18-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Wheeler, 745 Anderson Place. Another project Vera is actively involved in is the White House Council on Children and Youth. Together with a 36-member committee selected from Illinois communities, Vera recommends legislation and suggests amendments for old laws. She travels to Chicago once a month to meet with other members of the council, of which only two are young people. The remainder of the council is composed of social workers, physicians and teachers, according to Vera. She will serve on the council until 1970. A 1969 graduate of Canton Senior High School, where she was named senior of the year, Vera was active as president and the student council as vice president. She is employed at Graham Hospital as assistant secretary to Mrs. Betty Stockov. Last summer Vera appeared in the Playhouse production of “South Pacific” as a navy nurse. Hoping to be a teacher, Vera will attend Souther Illinois University in the fall where she will major in English. Reading is one of her hobbies because she finds it relaxing and it takes her away. Rod McKuen and Eldridge Cleaver are among her favorite writers. Remarking on the controversial Cleaver, Vera said, His style grasps you and keep you thinking. His writing makes you wonder where he gets his information. His literary style is beautiful and you can feel things with him.” Photography also rates highly with Vera, especially snapping pictures of people. A modern art fan, Vera loves to draw and paint pictures of people as well. The Chicago Art Institute was the highlight of her of the queen candidates’ trip to the city. She also enjoyed the Kungsholm restaurant. For her part in the talent competition, Vera will sing a song from “Mame” called “I Put My Hand In.” When asked her opinion of the Friendship Festival, Vera replied, “The purpose is very good. It accomplishes a lot toward bringing different Fulton County cities together. It provides a form of relaxation where farmers can exhibit the results of their hard work.” Vera feels the present method of selecting the queen, with a talent presentation, stage appearance and interview with the judges the determining factor, is much fairer and more meaningful. “Before, it didn’t depend on the girl, but on how many tickets she could sell,” Vera said. The shows featuring big-name groups have always been Vera’s favorite part of the festival. She also enjoys taking children to see the livestock exhibits. Holding a definite opinion of a woman’s role in our society, Vera said, “If a woman’s children are in school and she can arrange her hours with the children’s I feel a career is all right. If she is unable to do this, it’s bad, especially for her children in grade school A mother should try to be at home with her children while they are still young and need her.”
Caption: Vera Follings is on the job at Graham Hospital as assistant secretary to Mrs. Betty Stockov. Vera is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus in the Friendship Festival queen contest.
