Crowning Glory -Smiling for the Camera

Crowning Glory should be about hair I guess but in this case, I didn't have much. I'm not sure why this picture was made wearing the huge hat and I've never asked Mom where the hat came from or why it was used. What I do know is that this picture was taken in early November of 1950 just before my Daddy left for Japan. He didn't return home again until February of 1952. By then I wasn't really a baby anymore. Mom said it took awhile for me to get used to having him around...and having to sleep in my own bed!
Mom entered this photo in the Tulsa Tribune's amateur snapshot contest. It tied for first place in the "Class A, Babies and Children" category.
Published in the newspaper Wednesday July 25, 1951:

"Five Photogs Winner of Lucky 7th
by Winnifred Gillette
Snapshot Contest Director"

"The seventh (and last) week of the Tribune's amateur snapshot contest was a lucky seventh for five Tulsa photographers...........
The judges couldn't decide between two entries in the "Babies and Children" class and photographers Bagby and Brandes will each receive a $5 prize for first place in that class."

"Brandes' check will have a long way to go--the Tulsan, whose home address is 1401 W. Easton pl. is now a pharmacists' mate first class in Japan, where he has been stationed since November 1950: He took his prize-winning photo of daughter Sue Lynn just before he left, and Mrs. Brandes entered it in the Tribune's contest for him."