By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
While Miss Racine director Debra Morrall had her mind on her contestant competing at Miss Wisconsin last week, the state organization had Morrall on its mind.
On Saturday night during finals, Morrall was honored as the Volunteer of the Year for the Miss Wisconsin pageant.
Morrall organized the state’s first-ever sweeps pageant, which gave three young women a last-minute entry into Miss Wisconsin. All three of those competitors – Miss Badgerland Catherine Smith, Miss Great Lakes Madeline Kumm and Miss Wood Violet Malainey Myrin – won awards, with Kumm finishing as first runner-up.
Morrall was surprised when she was called up for the honor.
“Even when they said ‘Debra’ I thought they were going to say Debra Guy, who is on the Miss Wisconsin Board and has been involved for years,” Morrall explained. “I was just stunned and almost a little embarrassed because so many people have done so much for so many years.”
Morrall took over the Miss Racine pageant when her daughter, Caitlin, was done competing in the Miss Wisconsin program. Caitlin Morrall went on to become Miss Wisconsin USA and make the top 15 at the Miss USA pageant.
Since then, Caitlin helped with the pageants her mother organized, including a number of open pageants that included Miss Prairie Shores, Miss Southern Lakes and Miss Festival of Trees.
Over the last 10 years, Debra Morrall has had a number of award winners at the pageant, including Kristina Smaby, who was Miss Prairie Shores in 2008 and went on to become Miss Wisconsin in 2009.
Runner-up to Smaby in 2009 was Miss Racine Sha-Nita Rhea.
The success of the sweeps pageant, which drew roughly 20 competitors, made Morrall happy, though she was reluctant to take all the credit.
“We had merchants and the Burlington Area School District and without them, we couldn’t have done it,” she said.
On Saturday, she happened to receive the award from Barbara Best – the Miss Racine director who preceded her.
“It was so very special to have Barbara Best present it to me,” Morrall said.
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