TWO CAPE GIRARDEAU WOMEN ATTEND THEIR FIRST DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

GRAPHCI -- AREA DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES

There is a first time for everything, even at the age of 80.

Just ask Mary Blackiston of Cape Girardeau. The 80-year-old woman is scheduled to attend her first Democratic National Convention this week in Los Angeles, Calif. The convention begins Monday and runs through Thursday.

Blackiston is the oldest member of the Missouri delegation and one of two Cape Girardeau women in the group.

The other is Shirley Patterson, a delegate pledged to support presidential candidate Bill Bradley, who lost to Vice President Al Gore in the presidential primaries earlier this year. Patterson also will be attending her first national convention.

Blackiston is an alternate and Gore supporter.

"I am excited," said Blackiston, who beat out another Gore supporter at the 8th Congressional District Democratic caucus in Poplar Bluff earlier this year.

Blackiston said initially she and another woman tied for the alternate position. "We had to give a little campaign speech," she recalled.

She ended up winning a second round of voting and an opportunity to go to her first political convention.

She taught home economics and education classes at Southeast Missouri State University, retiring in 1982. But she didn't switch to in an easy chair. "I do all of my yard work, house work and everything."

Blackiston said she didn't get actively involved in politics until about 1995 when she attended a local Democratic Party meeting and promptly ended up serving as a precinct committeewoman.

"I've been stuck with it ever since," she said.

A lifelong Democrat, Blackiston grew up in Louisiana. She remembers meeting Huey Long when he ran for governor in the 1930s.

Since the age of 21, she has voted in every major election. "I voted for Franklin Roosevelt. That was the first president I voted for."

Over the years, she voted once for a Republican presidential candidate. That was Dwight Eisenhower. "I voted for Eisenhower because my husband was in World War II. He was under Eisenhower's command."

Blackiston, who grew up during the Depression, said the nation is in the best shape it has ever been economically. "I know that the last eight years has been good for this country."

Both Blackiston and Patterson have received stacks of invitations to attend various political functions and parties during the convention.

Although a Bradley delegate, Patterson said she would have "no problem" cheering for Gore, the party's certain nominee.

Patterson said delegates have been invited to several parties at movie studios. They also can attend various luncheons and other events sponsored by corporations.

Many of the parties are scheduled for the late evening hours, such as one slated to be held at Universal Studios and honoring Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan.

"A lot of movie stars are knocking down the doors to get involved," she said of the convention events.

Patterson is making the trip to Los Angeles with her husband. Like other delegates, Patterson is paying her own way.

She estimated it would cost a delegate at least $2,000 to $3,000 to attend the convention. That includes air fare and the cost of a hotel room. The Missouri delegation is staying at the Pasadena Hilton.

Missouri is sending 92 delegates and 13 alternates to the convention. The delegation is almost evenly divided between men and women.

A retired school teacher and counselor, Patterson confessed she is a "political junkie" in election years.

Patterson said she isn't going to the convention for the parties, although she plans to attend some of them. "I just thought it would be interesting to see these political people," she said.

Area Democratic delegates

Democratic convention delegates from the 8th Congressional District:

Shirley Patterson, Cape Girardeau, Bradley delegate

Mary Blackiston, Cape Girardeau, Gore alternate

Sam Auxier, Rolla, Bradley delegate

Peter Hofherr, Rolla, Gore delegate

Ellen Kauffman, Birch Tree, Gore delegate

Gene Oakley, Van Buren, Gore delegate