Rose Festival Duchesses

Duchess of the Rose Growers Elizabeth Katelyn Horton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ken Horton of Tyler, is a sophomore at Tyler Junior College. In 2007 and 2008, she has been on the Dean's List and has played trumpet with the TJC Apache Band and the TJC Symphonic Band.

Miss Horton is a 2007 graduate of Van High School where she was a Distinguished/Advanced Honor Graduate, on the "A" Honor Roll and the "A-B" Honor Roll, and was a Pride Elite member. She was also an active member of the Key Club, English Club, Art Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Business Professionals of America. Additionally, she was Volunteer Student Aide, student assistant to the manager of the Vandal Band concessions, and a member of both the Mixed Varsity Choir and the Women's Choir.

Miss Horton was an active participant in both band and athletics. She was a four-year member of the Mighty Vandal Band and the Vandal Concert Band, playing the instrument of trumpet and serving as squad leader. Miss Horton was also on the varsity Lady Vandal cross-country team and a regional qualifier for all four years, serving as captain her senior year. During this time, she was a four-year medalist, four-year Academic All-District, three-year Fighting Vandal Award recipient, and the Cross-Country MVP Award recipient her senior year. She ran for the Lady Vandal track team for four years as a varsity member, running the 800 meter run and the 4x1600 relay and becoming a regional qualifier her sophomore year in the 800 meter run.

Miss Horton was a member of the Junior Symphony League of Tyler and received the Distinguished Windsor Award in 2007. She is a member of Green Acres Baptist Church, where she is an active member of the Praise Alive Choir, Praise Alive Choreography Team, Praise Alive Orchestra and the Praise Alive Leadership Council. She has traveled on mission trips to New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Canada. Miss Horton also has been a volunteer for the Texas Rose Festival as a Queen's Tea junior hostess in 1995, a Queen's Tea senior hostess in 2006, and a participant and member of The Friends of the Rose since 2000.

Miss Horton's family involvement in the rose industry and the Texas Rose Festival spans 70 years. Her great-grandfather, the late Starley Hand Sr. began growing roses in 1938 and also helped to organize the Tyler Rose Research Foundation in 1946, as well as serving on the board for many years. Grandfather, Starley Hand Jr., is owner of Hand Rose Farms, 1958 president of the Texas Rose Research Foundation, 1960 Texas Rose Festival procurement chairman, and received the Gold Medal Award for Quality & Excellence from Monde Selectiones of Brussels, Belgium, in 1982.

Other members of her family who are associated with the rose industry and the Texas Rose Festival are: grandmother, Faye Hand, charter member of The Friends of the Rose, Texas Rose Festival volunteer; mother, Starla Hand Horton, 1974 duchess of the rose growers, member of The Friends of the Rose, Texas Rose Festival volunteer; sister, Stacy Horton, 2005 duchess of the rose growers, member of Friends of the Rose, 1993 Queen's Tea junior hostess; uncle, Scott Hand, Hand Rose Farms, member of the Texas Rose Research Foundation, Texas Rose Festival volunteer; aunt, Karen Hand, member of The Friends of the Rose, Texas Rose Festival volunteer; cousin, Brandon Hand, 2002 escort, 2001 Queen's Tea server; cousin, Allison Hand, 2004 duchess of the rose growers, member of the Friends of the Rose, 1992 Queens Tea junior hostess; cousin, Natalie Hand, 1999 Queen's Tea junior hostess; great-uncle, Ted Hand, 1974 president of the Texas Rose Research Foundation, Texas Rose Festival volunteer; great-aunt, Mary Hand, charter member of the Friends of the Rose, Texas Rose Festival volunteer; cousin, Larry Hand, Texas Rose Festival volunteer; cousin, Joe Hand, member Texas Rose Research Foundation, Texas Rose Festival volunteer; cousin, Judy Hand, 1985 duchess of the rose growers; great-aunt, Rosemary Hand Dawsey, 1958 duchess of the rose growers; great-uncle, late Raymond Payne, president of the Texas Rose Research Foundation, 1961 Texas Rose Festival procurement chairman; aunt, Sue Payne, charter member of The Friends of the Rose, Texas Rose Festival volunteer; cousin, Cindy Payne Huggins, 1969 duchess of the rose growers, Texas Rose Festival volunteer, member of The Friends of the Rose; cousin, Amanda Huggins, 1993 duchess of the rose growers; and great-aunt, Rosemary Hand Dawsey, 1958 duchess of the rose growers.

Elizabeth Katelyn Horton
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