What does it mean to be distinguished?

This was the question I posed in my editor’s letter in this year’s edition of Progress – and it was a question I loved learning the answer to as I put this special project together. The finished product is now available for your enjoyment.

I had wanted to present a special series on our Distinguished Young Women from throughout the decades for quite some time, but I confess: I was a little intimidated to take on the topic.

Let’s face it, it was no easy task. After all, Franklin County is privileged and proud to have awarded many deserving young women, with local program records dating back into the ’60s.

Truth be told, I was and am in awe of them.

I worried. Could I do justice to their stories? To the overall story of this program and what it means to those who have participated?

I didn’t want to let anyone down. I didn’t want to make a promise and fail to deliver.

It is my sincere hope that this humble effort is able to share at least some small look at what the DYW is all about. When you pick up your copy – inserted the 2-23 edition of the Franklin County Times for subscribers, or you can grab a copy at our office in downtown Russellville – you will read the stories of many amazing young women, their experience with Junior Miss/DYW and who they have become today.

They are all beautiful, intelligent, talented, driven. In short, they have done us proud.

I’d like to say thank you so much to all the women who gave me the opportunity to share a piece of their stories with their home county. They were all so generous with their time and their thoughts, and it’s that very nature that plays into the Distinguished Young Women that they are.