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Elizabeth Reid Walker’s 19th birthday will stay in her memory forever as it also marked the day she learned that she would serve as the Princess of the Texas Rose Festival.
“That was a very special day,” recalls Walker.
Walker, who is attending the University of Texas at Austin, had come home in the first semester of her freshman year. One of the many gifts she received that day was a gift box with bags with her initials and the “2020 Texas Rose Festival Princess” on it. She also received a cake that said “Happy Birthday, Princess”.
Walker said it was an honor to serve as the Texas Rose Festival Princess, a title she has held for two years since the 2020 event was postponed due to the pandemic.
“It feels great to serve. Everyone was so patient and so nice, ”she said. “It was a waiting game, but I think that made it even more worthwhile. Everyone really came together and we all want the festival to return better than ever this year. “
The delay in the festival gave Walker and other young women the opportunity to do more volunteer service. An experience at the East Texas Food Bank was particularly impressive for Walker as she learned about the needs in the community and saw how the Food Bank works behind the scenes.
“It’s important to volunteer just to give back to your community,” she said. “In our world today, we’ve been through a lot as a society and at the end of the day we just have each other. We should give something back to help each other. “
Walker gives back in many other ways too. She is currently a videographer and Chair of Favors for her Sisterhood, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and was on the Rush team last summer. She is also active in the Reading is Key Festival for the Boys and Girls Club at Wooldridge Elementary School in Austin and Food Finders of Smith County.
Walker is familiar with being part of the Texas Rose Festival. She served as a companion at the 2007 Texas Rose Festival for Queen Grace Ramey. She also served as a tea hostess and attendant dresser in 2016 and 2017.
Her family also has a long tradition with the festival, including her mother, who served as lady-in-waiting in 1988 and on numerous committees over the years.
Walker said the family tradition made their ministry even more special this year.
“This is something that we put a lot of work and time into and that was also a lot of fun. Aside from the pomp and fun things, it feels really good to keep this family legacy going, ”said Walker.
Walker even incorporated a bit of her rose festival history into the dress she will wear as a princess this year. When she served as a maid to Queen Grace Ramey in 2007, butterflies were part of the theme. Walker asked for butterflies to be incorporated into her dress this year, and they are – if not as a main theme. The dress, she said, is breathtaking.
“The sketch was beautiful, but it was even more fun bringing it to life,” she said. “I have to wear the full dress with the crown this summer. It was perfect. I never wanted to take it off. “
Walker is happy to see everyone at Oktoberfest. She said the most rewarding aspect is the appreciation of the community and the excitement she sees in others regarding the festival.
“Tyler is a small town, but we’re growing fast,” she said. “Wherever I go, when I introduce myself and say I’m from Tyler, people immediately think of Rose City. Whether you think of Earl Campbell or our beautiful rose garden, the Tyler rose industry has left a legacy for our community. It’s exciting to be part of this event that honors our rose heritage. “
Texas Rose Festival Princess Elizabeth Reid Walker
Elizabeth Reid Walker is Princess of the 2021 Texas Rose Festival. (Courtesy photo by James French Photography)
Elizabeth Reid Walker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Fletcher Walker III from Tyler, attends the University of Texas at Austin, where she studies Studio Art and is a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.
She currently serves as the chair of Favors for her sorority and was on the Rush team last summer. She is also active in the Reading is Key Festival for the Boys and Girls Club at Wooldridge Elementary School in Austin, Food Finders of Smith County and the East Texas Food Bank. This summer she is working as a personnel consultant at Camp Longhorn Indian Springs.
She served as a companion at the 2007 Texas Rose Festival for Queen Grace Ramey. She also served as a tea hostess and attendant dresser in 2016 and 2017.
Her mother, Andrea Wall Walker, was lady-in-waiting in 1988, administrative assistant to the president in 2018, co-chair of the coronation in 2006 and 2016, chair of the Order of the Rose Queen’s Ball in 2010 and 2014, and chair of the Queen’s Tea in 2016 and 2019, as well as numerous other committees. Her father’s involvement with the Texas Rose Festival includes working as an escort in 1985, as an escort wrangler, and as a member of the Order of the Rose.
Other family members who attended the festival include John Walker IV, brother, 2004 royal page of Queen Lauren Sanford, 2015 escort of Queen Madeline Wynne, and 2016 escort of Queen Mallory Curtis; Cullen Walker, brother, 2012 caretaker to Queen Haley Anderson; H. Andy Wall, grandfather, 1989 president of the Texas Rose Festival and member of the Order of the Rose; Diane Wall, grandmother, administrative assistant to the President, tea chair, screenwriter, and numerous other roles; Martha Walker, grandmother, former coronation chair, royal chair and screenwriter; Dr. John F. Walker II, grandfather, member of the Order of the Rose; Cullen Wall, uncle, 1990 escort; Caroline Ferrell Wall, aunt, lady-in-waiting; Kenney Walker, uncle, 1988 escort; Kelley Walker Eltife, aunt, lady-in-waiting and royal chair; Kevin Eltife, uncle, escort, escort Wrangler and 2014 President of the Order of the Rose; Walker Eltife, cousin, escort; Jack Eltife, cousin, escort and companion; and cousins who served as duchesses out of town, including Ila Steen, Laura Nell Burton, Allie Donnell, and Kristine Donnell Peterson.
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