- Source: Maudine Ormsby
Maudine Ormsby was a Holstein cow that was at the center of one of the most notorious pranks in U.S. college history. In the fall of 1926, Miss Ormsby was named Homecoming Queen at the Ohio State University. Rosalind Morrison won the Homecoming Queen election, but because only 10,000 students were enrolled and 12,000 votes had been cast, it was clear the election had irregularities. Rosie, as she was known, was named Queen, but being an honorable woman, withdrew when the fraud became apparent. Runner-up Maudine Ormsby, a mystery candidate nominated by the College of Agriculture but not enrolled as a student, became Homecoming Queen.
Maudine Ormsby was crowned Queen and viewed her subjects as part of the homecoming parade. According to OSU, however, she did not attend the dance held in her honor. Rosalind Morrison Strapp, would joke the rest of her life that her epitaph should read, "But for Maudine, here lies the queen."
Further reading
Steinberg, Neil (1992). If at All Possible, Involve a Cow: The Book of College Pranks. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 202–203. ISBN 0-312-07810-2. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
Gurvis, Sandra (2011) [2007]. Ohio Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff (2 ed.). Guilford, Connecticut: Morris Communications. p. 210. ISBN 978-0-7627-6408-2. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
Nash, Bruce; Zullo, Allan (1986). Football Hall of Shame. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 0-671-74551-4. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
Porter, Philip W. (1926-11-10). "Maudine Ormsby article". D. Appleton & Company. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
Baumann, James A. (1997). Ohio Cum Laude: The Whole Ohio College Catalogue. Wilmington, Ohio: Orange Frazer Press. ISBN 978-1-882203-11-6. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
"Maudine Ormsby". The Agricultural Student. 30 (1). Ohio State University: 174. October 1923. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
"Holstein Cow Makes Milk and Butter Record: 2225 Pounds of Milk and 96.5 Pounds Butter in 30 Days Official". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. 1924-05-23. Archived from the original on 2020-02-02. Retrieved 2020-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
"Champs to Pose for Visitors". Hamilton Evening Journal. 1925-01-31. Archived from the original on 2020-02-02. Retrieved 2020-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
"Frank O. Lowden With Ohio Maudine Ormsby". Chillicothe Gazette. 1925-02-12. Archived from the original on 2020-02-02. Retrieved 2020-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
"Holstein Cow Named Queen of Homecoming". Oakland Tribune. Associated Press. 1926-11-06. Archived from the original on 2020-02-02. Retrieved 2020-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
"Cow Can't Attend University Ball: Defeats Ohio State Co-Eds in Popularity Vote, But Is Barred". The Baltimore Sun. Associated Press. 1926-11-11. Archived from the original on 2020-02-02. Retrieved 2020-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
"Meet Maudine! She's College Beauty Queen". Lansing State Journal. 1926-11-12. Archived from the original on 2020-02-02. Retrieved 2020-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
"Ohio State College Votes Cow as Queen of Campus Beauties". The Capital Times. 1926-11-13. Archived from the original on 2020-02-02. Retrieved 2020-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
"Maudine Ormsby Will Not be Beauty Queen". The Daily Utah Chronicle. 1927-11-24. Archived from the original on 2020-02-02. Retrieved 2020-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
"Maudine Ormsby, the only cow to gain immortal fame at Ohio State university, will have her picture painted". Coshocton Tribune. 1927-05-28. Archived from the original on 2020-02-02. Retrieved 2020-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
[1] The History of OSU Homecoming (includes a photo of Queen Maudine Ormsby)
[2] Homecoming Queen-winning cow remembered in Union
[3] Frequently Asked Questions about The Ohio State University: Who was Maudine Ormsby?
"Homecoming Queen-winning cow remembered in Ohio State U. Union." UWIRE Text, April 1, 2010. Gale General OneFile, https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=tplmain&id=GALE%7CA284962704&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=dcf3800c . Accessed February 2, 2020.