On Thursday, May 3, at the Selena Auditorium, former W. B. Ray High School student, Francis Williamson, was crowned Queen at the Buc Days Coronation Pageant. Many Ray alumni and current students were in attendance, and several also took part in the festivities. The pageant was established in 1954 and has become a major part of the Buc Days festivities. The pageant is organized by the Las Doñas women’s group who have modeled the ceremony after the court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. If you are interested in seeing the gowns worn by the participants, they will be on display from May 9th through June 3rd at the Art Center of Corpus Christi from 10 am to 4 pm. Entrance is free.  The gowns were designed by local and regional artists and made by local seamstresses.  The theme of this year’s pageant was “The Court of Magnificent Decorative Arts”, and it showcased aspects of interior design throughout the ages. Francis Williamson’s dress represented the Renaissance era and the “awakening of the decorative arts”.