Beatrice Hickman Keefe Did WAPO Radio Interviews At Age 20

  • Thursday, December 5, 2019
Beatrice Hickman Keefe
Beatrice Hickman Keefe

Chattanoogan Christine Keefe still has a newspaper article from 1940 featuring her mother, Beatrice Hickman Keefe (Mrs. Jack A. Keefe), as a member of the 1940 Cotton Ball Radio Committee.

Beatrice was 20 years old at the time of her service on this committee.

The broadcast on Chattanooga's WAPO featured Cotton Ball debutante and organizers being interviewed by Beatrice. 

As part of the series of programs, Mrs. Marion Gaston and Dr. Irving Sadow gave a history of the Cotton Ball, which originated in 1933 as the brainchild of historian Zella Armstrong. Mrs. Gaston, the former Gertrude Williams, was the chairman of the first Chattanooga Cotton Ball.

As a natural Chattanooga historian, Beatrice often charmed family and friends sharing little known facts about her beloved Chattanooga.

Ms. Keefe said, "We remember her fondly recalling her 1940 Cotton Ball Radio Committee experience."

Beatrice Hickman Keefe is on the left in this photo of her with fellow radio team members
Beatrice Hickman Keefe is on the left in this photo of her with fellow radio team members
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