Pigeons Take Center Stage at Mrs. America Pageant
By Deone Roberts, AU Sport Development

Are there perks to sport promotion? Surrounded by 51 beautiful contestants from the Mrs. America Pageant in Hawaii, AU member Doug Beter might think so

Producers of the pageant telephoned the AU national office for a contact in Hawaii who would be willing to conduct a bird release to commemorate September 11. One call is all it took. Doug saw the importance and opportunity for great public awareness. 

With Doug's help, each of the Mrs. America contestants released a white homing pigeon for photographers during the filming in Oahu for broadcast on PAX television in October. 

People were in awe of the spectacular sight. Doug amazed the crowd further with the release of 25 red, white and blue birds followed by the release of 25 rainbow colored birds.

NBC and CBS affiliates broadcast the releases on evening news.

Doug brought along a few fancy pigeons to entertain: two fantails, a yellow one named "Sunshine" and a pink one named "Precious." "Precious" was a gift from Doug to a previous Miss Universe. A Giant Runt, "Wooly Booly," and two Frillbacks, "Curly Shirley" and "Curly Temple" were joined by two tall, skinny Pigmy Pouters, "Mr. Lucky" and "Slim Jim," to add to the novelty.

Doug is no stranger to promotion. He visits schools regularly and provides literature and presentations for civic groups. A long time member of the AU, he has had pigeons for over 45 years. For ceremonial releases, his birds are safely colored with food coloring and create a dramatic appearance.

At the Mrs. America promotion, as contestants gathered around Doug for a photograph by the lagoon, the ladies asked Doug if they were holding him too tight. In response, he sang a chorus from "I'm In Heaven." You might say there are some perks to promotion.