[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 117 (Monday, September 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATIONS TO SHELLY MOORE, MISS TEEN USA

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                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 1997

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that a fine young woman from my 
district, Shelly Moore, has been chosen Miss Teen USA. This is a 
tremendous accomplishment and I want to congratulate Ms. Moore and wish 
her the very best as she serves as the main representative for young 
people all over the Nation.
  I would like to call to the attention of my colleagues and other 
readers of the Congressional Record an article and editorial from the 
Knoxville News Sentinel.

           [From the Knoxville News Sentinel, Aug. 22, 1997]

      New Miss Teen USA Wants To Use Title To Be Strong Role Model

                           (By Nicole Pascoe)

       Knox County teenager Shelly Moore said Thursday she is 
     still on cloud nine after winning the 15th annual Miss Teen 
     USA pageant, held at South Padre Island, Texas.
       The 1997 South-Doyle graduate, daughter of Garland and 
     Tammy Rhoden, was crowned Wednesday night and is taking home 
     about $150,000 in cash and prizes.
       Moore, interviewed by phone while packing to return to 
     Knoxville, said the experience was both exciting and 
     unforgettable.
       ``It was a wonderful experience. I still can't believe I'm 
     Miss Teen USA,'' she said. ``I was just an average girl 
     yesterday, and in my mind I still am, but it's very 
     exciting.''
       Moore, 18, said as part of her title she will do a good 
     deal of public speaking and traveling, mainly back and forth 
     to Los Angeles. ``I just want to be a good role model,'' said 
     Moore.
       JoAnna Lochen, Moore's cheerleading coach and a home 
     economics teacher at South-Doyle, thinks Moore will have no 
     trouble upholding her title.
       ``She's steps above anybody and she's a real strong leader. 
     She has a very strong moral upbringing and belief in God,'' 
     she said.
       Lochen said she wasn't surprised that Moore was crowned 
     Miss Teen USA. ``She is who she says she is. She looks as 
     beautiful in sweats with her hair pulled back as she did at 
     the pageant,'' said Lochen.
       Moore entered her first pageant one year ago. She claimed 
     the title of Miss North Tennessee, and that led her to the 
     state pageant, in which she also placed first.
       Moore plans to enter the University of Tennessee for the 
     second semester and will major in broadcasting. When asked at 
     the pageant whom she would like to interview, she replied 
     former University of Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel, last 
     year's Heisman trophy winner and now a backup quarterback 
     with the New Orleans Saints.
                                                                    ____


           [From the Knoxville News Sentinel, Aug. 25, 1997]

                         Staying on Cloud Nine


    Knoxville girl captures a national title, Miss Teen USA contest

       Shelly Moore may never descend from cloud nine--and that's 
     OK with us.
       Moore, a 1997 graduate of South-Doyle High School and soon-
     to-be freshman at the University of Tennessee, won the 15th 
     annual Miss Teen USA pageant held at South Padre Island, 
     Texas. She is the daughter of Garland and Tammy Rhoden.
       The experience was as exciting as it was unforgettable. ``I 
     was just an average girl yesterday,'' she said in an 
     interview after she was crowned Wednesday, ``and in my mind I 
     still am, but it's very exciting.''
       The 18-year-old said she will be speaking and traveling a 
     great deal as part of her title. She plans to enter UT for 
     the second semester and will major in broadcasting. As Miss 
     Teen USA, she will take home about $150,000 in cash and 
     prizes.
       Moore entered her first pageant a year ago, claiming the 
     title of Miss North Tennessee. That crown led to the state 
     pageant, which she also won.
       Her goal is to be a good role model. No problem there, say 
     those who know her.
       ``She steps above anybody, and she's a real strong 
     leader,'' says JoAnna Lochen, Moore's cheerleading coach and 
     a home economics teacher at South-Doyle. ``She has a very 
     strong moral upbringing and belief in God.''
       Lochen also said she wasn't surprised that Moore was 
     crowned Miss Teen USA. ``She is who she says she is,'' Lochen 
     said. ``She looks as beautiful in sweats with her hair pulled 
     back as she did at the pageant.''
       We hope the euphoria Shelly Moore is feeling right now 
     never wears off. We offer our congratulations on winning the 
     title and wish her all the best in the exciting year ahead.

     

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