The Men Who Secure Miss Tennessee Contestants
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They may not wear swimsuits or sing a “Top 40” song on stage, but security guards at the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant play a big role in protecting the contestants around the clock. “The very first day, we tell them ‘we’re your daddies, we’re your big brothers, and we’re here to help you, protect you and we’re just glad to do it,” said Lt. Chip Holland of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department. Lt. Holland and about one dozen other members of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department take time off of work to secure the event. Five of the security guards are with the girls around the clock, from the time they get into town until the time they leave. “Those guys take vacation to volunteer their personal time to come help here at the pageant,” said Director of Security, Sgt. Chris Long. “In today’s society and the world we live in, there’s people from all walks of life. For instance, Miss Holly Bobo, an instance like that. The incident with the shooting in Arizona. It’s very important as a father and a law enforcement officer to take care of these young ladies.” But while these men keep a close watch on the contestants, they don’t get to watch the show. “For the most part, security never even sees the show, to speak of,” said Sgt. Long. “We are behind the scenes and just doing our job.” The pageant continues this week at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. The show begins at 8:00 each night. The final competition will take place on Saturday night.
