Musical Whiz, Scholar Named ’88 Rose Queen

Julie Jeanne Myers, a 17-year-old academic whiz and musician from Arcadia High School who wants to become a television news anchorwoman, Tuesday was named queen of the Tournament of Roses by parade officials in Pasadena.

Julie, an accomplished piano and French horn player and a member of several scholarship societies, dropped off her school’s prestigious Academic Decathlon team this summer to devote her time to pursuing the Rose Queen crown, a goal she says she has had since the age of 6.

She said she has saved every program from the Rose Parade since she was a child, and “used to stare at the pictures of the Royal Court and wish I could be on it, but never dreamed I would be.”

Beaming at a crowd of reporters and cameras, Julie said she “can’t wait to ride in the parade.”

Her parents, Sandy and Roger Myers, cheered as her name was announced, and her grandmother, Geneva Squire, told reporters, “It’s terrific, because she’s such a wonderful girl. Of course I’m prejudiced.”

Julie maintains a 3.8 grade point average as a senior at Arcadia High School and said her best subjects include English, history, math and music--”not any one thing.”

She is the leader of her school’s French horn section, and is a member of the marching band, pep band, orchestra and concert band.

She said she plans to apply to UCLA and pursue a degree in communications, which also happens to be the theme of this year’s Rose Parade, “Thanks to Communications.”

Her father said he hopes Julie will be “a role model for other children growing up in Southern California. She’s always been very academic, really enjoyed school, and we’ve tried to give her a family environment in which she could grow.”

Dick Ratliff, chairman of the parade committee, said Julie was selected because she struck the judges “as an extremely bright and articulate young lady.”

Julie and six other girls who will act as her court were chosen by a nine-member panel from 926 applicants during a month-long competition that stressed academic achievement and personality.

Since summertime, the seven girls have been preparing for a series of five try-out interviews, the first of which was held in September and included all 926 applicants. As finalists, they have received hours of additional coaching in public speaking, etiquette and poise.

They will participate in the 99th Rose Parade and 74th Rose Bowl game Jan. 1, and will be seen by 300 million television viewers.

The other members of the court are Carrie Gatsos, 17, of San Marino; Amy Gordinier, 17, of San Marino; Kristin Henry, 17, of San Marino; Mona Holmes, 17, of Altadena; Jill Neilson, 20, of La Canada Flintridge; and Julie Winnaman, 18, of La Canada Flintridge.

During the next year, the young women, who receive no prizes, face a busy schedule of more than 100 appearances, including good-will visits to children’s hospitals and senior citizen homes. They are also scheduled to appear on at least one television show, Ratliff said.

A formal coronation luncheon is scheduled for Thursday at the historic Tournament House in Pasadena.