CAPE WIFE, MOTHER COMPETES FOR MRS. UNITED STATES TITLE

Melody Hutson, 37, of Cape Girardeau will represent the state of Missouri in the Mrs. United States Pageant scheduled June 18-23 in Las Vegas.

On Jan. 12, just one week after her husband was sent to Saudi Arabia, Hutson won the state competition. The morning of the pageant, she was notified that her daughter, Sheri, who serves in the U.S. Army, would also be serving in Operation Desert Storm. She is also the mother of a 16-year-old son, Matt, who attends Cape Central High School.

Since winning the state pageant, Hutson has been active promoting Cape Girardeau as well as the state of Missouri. She served as ombudsman for the Naval Field Hospital FH500 while they were deployed to Desert Storm, and has played an active role in the local Desert Storm Task Force. She is currently the commanding officer of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets.

She is a newly-elected board member for the Kenny Rogers Cerebral Palsy organization. She also keeps busy doing television commercials, modeling and touring the area, giving talks to various clubs and organizations. She and her family are active members of Bethel Assembly of God Church.

The Mrs. United States Pageant highlights married women and their accomplishments. This marks the fifth year of the national competition, and the first year for the Missouri contest. Last year, Faye Grojean of Sikeston served as the candidate at large from Missouri. Both national and state competitions consist of personal interviews as well as evening gown and swimsuit competitions.

A number of local businesses are sponsoring Hutson's participation in the national competition.