The 1966 Rose Queen talks Disney memories on her 60th anniversary

Carole Cota Gelfuso remembers her year as Rose Queen for the 77th Rose Parade in happy detail. She was 19 and a graphic design student at Pasadena City College, unsure about her chances of even making the Rose Court.

“Having the opportunity to try out for the Royal Court was a dream for most young ladies attending PCC,” Gelfuso, 79, said, explaining the group would not be known as the Rose Court until later.

But as she marks her 60th anniversary as one in a long line of royal ambassadors for a Southern California tradition...