Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon

Their Most Imperial Majesties, Rose Emperor XXXIV Hollywood Nightengale Foxxand Rose Empress XLIX The Surreal Fiona Flash Foxx

The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon is celebrating 50 years of community service in Portland, Oregon and surrounding areas. This is a 501(c)3 Non Profit Organization that is raising money for 501(c)3 non profit organizations such as:

*SMYRC: Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center
*Pride of the Rose Scholarship Fund
*C

*Esther's Pantry

Two facts: In the year 1958, the Court of Transylvania was formed with Queen Samuel I proclaiming herself Monarch. The following year she retained her title but the winds of time were unkind and not until 1966, with the Pruitts of Portland did the community find itself again. The early balls between 1966 and 1971 were more in the mode of "Queen for A Day", thus the start of the "Rose Queen" title.

The Pruitts first function was "Road to Ruin". Rose was crowned Rose Queen III at the Spring Ball in 1966; at the Fall Ball in the same year Erland was crowned Rose Queen IV. As 1967 appeared, Ginger was crowned Rose Queen V at the Spring Ball and Mame was crowned Rose Queen VI at the Fall Ball. With 1968 upon us, Anything Goes was crowned Rose Queen VII at the Spring Ball followed by Kissi Diki being crowned at the "April in Paris” Fall Ball, Rose Queen VIII.

Mother time was rapidly changing, 1969 appeared bringing Ginger as Rose Queen IX at the Spring Ball "Pot Pourri", in the same year the elegant Rochelle transfixed the people as she was crowned Rose Queen X at "The Days of Wine and Roses" Fall Ball.

The year 1969 also ushered in the Portland Forum, which became the oldest chartered gay organization in the State of Oregon. The organization then began staging the balls. In 1970, Scarlett was crowned Rose Queen XI at the Spring Ball. With the occurrence of the Fall Ball in 1970, the Portland Forum changed the title from Queen to Empress; thus Lisa Jean was proclaimed Rose Empress XII. With the sands of time gathering momentum 1971 brought forth Telane' to be crowned Rose Empress XIII. With her resignation, Vanessa was designated Regent Empress XIII.

In October of 1971, we rejoiced when Tracey St. James became the first Empress to be elected by the constitutional freedom of the public and was crowned Rose Empress XIV. Upon her stepping-down in 1972, she proclaimed Vanessa, Rose Empress XIII, thus removing Regent from her title. In the same year, 1972, Darcelle was crowned Rose Empress XV, "The Happiness of the Rose". The fragrance of happiness has been with us ever since.

Then, in 1973, Doni Lame was crowned Rose Empress XVI, The incomparable Lame then gave us the wonderful addition of a Rose Emperor at her stepping-down in 1974; when she proclaimed the first Emperor would be crowned with the eighteenth Empress. That same year, 1974, Elsa Daniels, the statuesque redhead was crowned Rose Empress XVII "The Lustre of the Rose".

When 1975 came upon us, excitement was in the air as the First Rose Emperor Kim of the Lumberjack Court and Rose Empress XVIII Mona Greer "The Music of the Rose" were crowned. Rose Emperor II Harold and Rose Empress XIX Melody Starr ascended the throne in 1976 as "The Unity of the Rose".

1977 ushered in Rose Emperor III Richard Calhoun and Rose Empress XX Candi Wrapper, but with the resignation of Richard, Blaine, his prince was proclaimed Rose Emperor IV and their year became "The Friendship of the Rose".

Rose Emperor V Frank and Rose Empress XXI Allison Grey stole the limelight in 1978 with "The Pride of the Rose". "The Promise of the Rose” in 1979 brought together Rose Emperor VI Tom Terrific and the irrepressible Rose Empress XXII Stephanie Foxx.

Into the 80s we traveled, joining forces with "The Gem of the Rose" Rose Emperor VII Joey and Rose Empress XXIII Trisha. In 1981 we were rewarded with Rose Emperor VIII Cal Hackler and Rose Empress XXIV Esther Hoffman Howard and "The Harmony of the Rose". Rose Emperor IX Larry and Rose Empress XXV Champagne majestically followed in 1982 as "The Celebration of the Rose" with Larry proclaiming Champagne "The Silver and Purple Empress" on November 3rd 1983.

With 1983 upon us Rose Emperor X Gary Benoit and the tempestuous Rose Empress XXVI Rosey Waters raced through their year of "The Honesty of the Rose". Rose Emperor XI Frank and Rose Empress XXVII Hurricane Olivia excited us with their scintillating outfits during their year of 1984, "The Faith of the Rose".

Boom, 1985 arrived with Rose Emperor XII Alan and Rose Empress XXVIII Dora Jar the long-legged logorrheic Empress with their year of "The Ecstasy of the Rose". In 1986 a star fell from the firmament to earth as Lady Elaine Peacock became Rose Empress XXIX with her devoted dashing Silver Arrow Emperor XIII Ray Snively. Unhappily the star ascended in 1993 but will always be loved, as will "The Legend of the Rose".

The First woman Emperor of Portland, Rose Emperor XIV Karen Girl George Jar and Rose Empress XXX, The Pearl were crowned in 1987 as "The Rapture of the Rose". The elegant and pristine Rose Empress XXXI Cicely purred through her year like a sleek black panther accompanied by her Rose Emperor XV Mr. Lavender during their 1988 year of "The Tradition of the Rose".

The avant-garde Rose Emperor XVI Mr. Bill and Rose Empress XXXII Velvet Monet raised the roof during 1989 as they celebrated "The Sincerity of the Rose". Blasted into orbit in 1990, Rose Emperor XVII Ray Wilston and Rose Empress XXXIII Patti O'Dora enveloped us during their year of "The Destiny of the Rose". In 1991 Rose Emperor XVIII David Perry and Rose Empress XXXIV Tia were borne aloft as our Monarchs. Their year of "The Splendor of the Rose" catapulted us into 1992 with Rose Emperor XIX Jim Ploeg and Rose Empress XXXV Michelle Craig and their year of "The Spirit of the Rose".

1993, Another first, two women were elected to the position of Emperor and Empress. With Rose Empress XXXVI Maria, becoming the first woman Empress and Rose Emperor XX Babalou the second woman Emperor. Thus, "The Vision of the Rose" was established. Moving into 1994 with "The Integrity of the Rose" Rose Emperor XXI Scotty Boxx and Rose Empress XXXVII Eden Express electrified the Circuit with their humor, talent and exquisite gowns. Rose Emperor XXI Michael and Rose Empress XXXVIII Misha Rockafeller stepped up in 1995 with their year of “The Beauty of the Rose”. They were followed by "The P and P Couple" in 1996, affectionately known as The Pirate Emperor and The Pantaloon Empress. Majestically known as Rose Emperor XXIII Kimberlee Van Patten and Rose Empress XXXIX Stephanie DeVore and "The Enchantment of the Rose".

"The Seduction of the Rose" in 1997 with Rose Emperor XXIV Barry Burns and Rose Empress XL Tonya Rose gave us a year of highly charged sexual camaraderie. 1998, was the year of the Texas Tornado, Rose Emperor XXV Norm Nevers Sugarbaker and his Ruby and Amethyst Jeweled Heart Empress, Rose Empress XLI Krystel Belle-Rose Divine Lake giving us "The Imagination of the Rose". 1999 saw Rose Emperor XXVI Scott Heifer and Rose Empress XLII Amanda Carrington known as "The Mystery and Intrigue of the Rose" bringing a close to the 20th Century and "The Diversity of the Rose", Rose Emperor XXVII Andrew T. Foxx and Rose Empress XLIII The Lovely Suzanne rang in the new Millennium in "Black and White Style".

In 2001, Rose Emperor XXVIII Shelley and Rose Empress XLIV Poison Waters were crowned and named the "Passion of the Rose". In 2002, we kicked off the "Devotion of the Rose" giving us our 29th Emperor and 45th Empress with the crowning of The Devoted Heart Emperor, Rose Emperor XXIX Josef A. Foxx and the Elegant White Rose, Rose Empress XLV Chloe Stone. Then, in 2003 we crowned Rose Emperor XXX Scoty DeVore Foxx and Rose Empress XLVI Lotta Marie Liquor and the "Radiance of the Rose." In 2004, we crowned Rose Emperor XXXI, Gary Benoit, without an Empress. His reign was titled The Dedication of the Rose in honor of the gloriousness of all past Rose Empresses.

Rose Emperor XXXII, Mark Hollywood Rose, and Rose Empress XLVII, The Divine Alycia Day with their reign of The Heart and Determination of the rose.

Rose Emperor XXXIII, Don Hood, and Rose Empress XLVIII, Dawna Creation, titled their reign The Inspiration of the Rose.

Our reigning monarchs, Rose Emperor XXXIV, Hollywood Nightengale Foxx, and Rose Empress XLIX, The Surreal Fiona Flash Foxx have titled their year The Romance of the Rose.

Well, there you have it. If you add the years together we have been in business of charity work for over 40 years.

Emperor & Empress

HMIM Rose Emperor XXXIV Hollywood Nightengale Foxx

HMIM Rose Empress XLIX The Surreal Fiona Flash Foxx

Prince & Princess

HMIH Imperial Prince Royale XXXIII Ryan Hart

HMIH Imperial Princess Royale XXXVIII Summer Lynne Seasons

Gay Oregons

Miss Gay Oregon Jersey Jo Amber Scites

Gay Portlands

Miss Gay Portland Felicity Charmicheals

Mr. Gay Portland Gliiter John Duboise

White Knight & Debutante

White Knight XIII The Darling Stefan Hart

Debutante XXXVII The Sassy Cassie Nova

External links

* [http://www.RoseCourt.org/ Official Site]
* [http://www.smyrc.org SMYR's Office Site]
* [http://www.equityfoundation.org/scholarships.htm Pride of the Rose Scholarship Fund 2008 Winners]
* [http://www.cascadeaids.org Cascade AIDS Project]
* [http://www.ourhouseofportland.org/programs/estherspantry Esther's Pantry]