Co-Chairs Catherine Hammond (left) and Frances Jackson revel the 2020 Texas Rose Festival theme, Secrets of the Garden, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler. (Cara Campbell/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Anna Grace Hallmark, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Blake Hallmark of Tyler, will preside as queen of this year’s Texas Rose Festival.

Festival Association President Bruce Faulkner made the announcement Thursday night at Willow Brook Country Club just prior to the Winter Gala fundraiser for Tyler Rose Museum.

Faulkner also revealed that Elizabeth Reid Walker, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Fletcher Walker III, is the rose princess, and Emily Ann Milton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Alan Carver and Dr. and Mrs. Mark Allen Milton, is the duchess of the rose growers.

Tom Brown, the association’s vice president in charge of the coronation, announced that the festival and coronation theme is Secrets of the Garden.

The reveal of the festival logo drew applause from those at the news conference. The logo shows a butterfly with images of flowers in its wings.

In her first official act as role queen, Hallmark said she was “humbled and honored” to be the queen. “Not only to represent the festival but the city of Tyler as well.”

She said she had grown up around the festival. “I’ve come to realize that it is not just about the elegant dresses and pageantry, but more importantly about the community coming together to celebrate our city and promote the rose industry. I am beyond excited about welcoming guests into Tyler throughout this year.”

Walker also spoke.

“I feel really blessed to be here this evening in celebration of the 87th annual Texas Rose Festival,” she said. “It is truly a great honor to represent the city of roses and to celebrate the history of the rose industry of Tyler and Smith County as it has gained worldwide recognition.”

Both young women thanked their families for support and said they looked forward to participating in the festival with many of their friends.

Held in October, the festival celebrates the area’s rose-growing heritage and the beauty of the rose, the symbol of Tyler.

Members of the queen’s court are presented in a lavish show that concludes with the symbolic crowning of the rose queen. Court members also are featured during the Queen’s Tea and Rose Parade.

The queen, princess and duchess also serve as ambassadors who help promote the festival, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors.

Faulkner recognized other festival association officers and key administrators and noted, “Tyler and roses are synonymous.”

He also announced the women from Tyler families who are the ladies-in-waiting and the children who will serve as the queen’s attendants.

The other members of the court — the out-of-town duchesses and escorts — will be announced later.

Except for the children, the court members are traditionally sophomores in college during the festival.

Lonny Uzzell, president of the Tyler Rose Museum, thanked all for attending the event that raises money for the museum that pays tribute to the rose industry and the festival.

LADIES-IN-WAITING

Serving as the ladies-in-waiting are:

— Zoë Marie Bates, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David James Bates.

— Chandlee Danielle Catts, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Burkhart Volatile.

— Mallory Reneé Cole, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Douglas Cole.

— Madison Ann Denson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Reed Denson.

— Lauren Elizabeth Fillmore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Fillmore.

— Lily Ann Hightower, daughter of Susan Earl Hightower and Jack Russell Hightower.

— Caroline Leigh Laine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Anthony Laine.

— Victoria Rose LaRocca, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bart Blaise LaRocca.

— Caroline Elizabeth Lofquist, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barry Dean Lofquist.

— Leslie Lauren Parks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Elton Parks.

— Mary-Helen Annabelle Schuricht, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Hans Dietrich Schuricht.

— Anne Elizabeth Thompson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Rex Thompson.

— Abigail Claire Tillson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Austin III and Lee Tolbert Tillson.

— Katherine Helen Watts, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Barnette Watts.

ATTENDANTS

Serving as the attendants to the queen are:

— Ruby Catherine Abell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Edward Abell.

— William Wyatt Bankston, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Dalton Bankston.

— James Cameron Hallmark, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Blake Hallmark.

— Henry Ralph Jenkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Jenkins Jr.

— Stella Marie Land, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Thomas Land.

— Eliza May McCain, daughter of Mr. Charles Clayton McCain.

— Clay Samuel Mizer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jack Mizer.

— Loyce Hyde Morris, son of Ashley Mizer Morris and Ralph Justin Morris.

— Riley Carter Robbins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Carter Robbins.