What year was Ronald Reagan grand marshal of the Azalea Festival?
Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989, served as emcee of the N.C. Azalea Festival at Wilmington in 1959. At the time, Reagan was an actor, having starred in such films as 1942’s “Kings Row.” Also in 1959, Debra Paget (of the movies “The Ten Commandments” and “Love Me Tender”) was queen. Reagan returned to the festival in 1960, the year Merv Griffin was emcee. Andy Griffith and British actor Charles Laughton also were on the bill that year. Charlie Daniels performed at played at the Ocean Plaza Ballroom at Carolina Beach.
