58 years later, relic of local royalty returns to its rightful owner [Video]

In 1966, the country watched as Overland Park’s own Debbie Bryant was crowned Miss America, the first ever from Kansas.

Here at home, the City quickly installed street signs along thoroughfares, proudly boasting, “City of Overland Park: Home of Miss America 1966, Debbie Bryant.”

The sign were an indication of the new community’s pride in its national representative.

Since then, Overland Park’s population has tripled. New neighborhoods and businesses changed the face of the City. 

In the transition, Bryant’s Miss America signs were stored away, preserved in a City maintenance facility.

Earlier this year, Overland Park’s maintenance staff discovered the road signs in storage at a maintenance facility. 

Public Works staff knew one of the signs should reunite with its namesake. 

“We quickly decided that one should go to the Overland Park Historical Society and that it would be a fun challenge to try to find Debbie and send one …