Royalty: Anne Jordan

By 1949 Anne Jordan had been steadily dating Robert Jackson for two years. They met through school activities, as well as various church functions. Robert was from Cottonwood at the time, while Anne lived in Sedona. Both attended Cottonwood High School and were involved with various area Baptist churches. That fall Robert left for college at the University of Redlands in California. Anne had another year of high school to go.    

In 1949 Anne was voted Football Homecoming Queen of Cottonwood High. She told the principal that she could not do the lead-off dance because of the strict rules her parents (and Robert’s mother) placed on dancing. The school principal was friends with Walter (her father) and couldn't believe he would not allow it (he knew a different side of Walter than the family knew!).    

Anne was very dedicated to Robert and there were no feelings of romance between her and the Homecoming King. With a lot of pressure, the adults left the huge decision up to her to dance or not to dance. Finally, Dorothy (Robert’s mother) bribed Anne by giving Robert a bus ticket home for the event if she wouldn't dance. It was probably the only time in the history of Cottonwood High that the Homecoming Queen did not lead off the dance with the Homecoming King!    

BIO: Anne Jordan Jackson (1933-2010) was Walter and Ruth Jordan’s eldest daughter, born in Flagstaff in 1933 and raised in Sedona. In 1952 she married Robert Jackson. Together they had six children. Anne was also very interested in local history. At times she also modeled professionally and appeared in commercials locally.