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Winners of the Pekin July 4th Queen Contest were (from left) Lillie Perry, first runner-up, and Lila Blevins, queen.
The 2024 Pekin July 4th Queens Court includes (from left) Abby Short, Lillie Perry, Harleyanne Blevins, Lila Blevins and Annastasia Gonzalez.
Lilia Blevins was crowned the 2024 Pekin 4th of July Festival Queen. She is a member of the East Washington High School Class of '24 and is the daughter of Paul and Jennifer Blevins.
Lillie Perry was chosen as the first runner-up. Harleyanne Blevins was selected Miss Congeniality.
The contestants each had a People’s Choice box where donations were received for the charity of a contestant's choice. Half of the proceeds went to their chosen charity and the other half went back to the Pekin Community Betterment Organization for entertainment purposes. Over $1,000 were raised.
This year's contestants included:
1959 - Carol Lee Tarr
1960 - Karen Spaulding
1961 - Linda Walker
1962 - Joyce Lively
1963 - Carol Sue Crockett
1964 - Terry Costin
1965 - Janet Blackman
1966 - Helaine Graves
1967 - Sheila Hoefler
1968 - Shirley Risk
1969 - Mary Ann Loftus
1970 - Darlene Cotter
1971 - Jill Wilkins
1972 - Loretta Davis
1973 - Janice Lewis
1974 - Dawn Loftus
1975 - Heide Cade
1976 - Mary McCoakey
1977 - Patrice Buher
1978 - Debbie Hasty
1979 - Peggy Souder
1980 - Cheryle Sparkman
1981 - Julie Rickard
1982 - Sara Ann Byrd
1983 - Michelle Green
1984 - Lisa Law
1985 - Kathy Marshall
1986 - Laura Fleming
1987 - Hollie Wolfe
1988 - Fleisha Renaker
1989 - Shay Demlow
1990 - Tara Ra'nae Kruer
1991 - Holly Michelle Lewis
1992 - Jamie Hall
1993 - Kelley Gray
1994 - Aleisha Morrow
1995 - Rebecca Simpson
1996 - Adrienne Nelson
1997 - Cheryl Nicole McDowell
1998 - Jullian Ann Dornbush
1999 - Brandy Chandler
2000 - Misty Lockard
2001 - Kacy Dougherty
2002 - Angela Sparrow
2003 - Maegan Dotson
2004 - Ashley Dillon
2005 - Jessica Cook
2006 - Brittney Borden
2007 - Shelby Anne Purlee
2008 - Santana Harp
2009 - Laura Campbell
2010 - Jessica Kendall
2011 - Nikki Nale
2012 - Gabrielle Gibson
2013 - Taylor Humphrey
2014 - Destiny Worley
2015 - Veronica Judson
2016 - Riley Cowles
2017 - Cassidy Bryant
2018 - Gracie Gibson
2019 - Katlyn Rice
2020 - Hailey Williams
2021 - Katie Rankin
2022 - Sahara Short
2023 - Kylie Batt
2024 - Lila Blevins
