Mrs. Nebraska 1983

Deb Essex – Lincoln, NE

Deb has supported the Mrs. Nebraska Pageant since her reign by serving as choreographer for 5 years, judging several times, auditing, and emceeing. Deb also was handpicked by Jan Wilcoxen, upon her retirement in 1999, to co-direct the pageant with Tosca Lee and Terri Krolikowski. She compiled, edited, and published the “Gourmet Queens” Mrs. Nebraska Cookbook as well.

Before her retirement, Deb was a Physical Education teacher for 32 years, of which the last 7 she served as the department chair at Lincoln East High School. She was a JV volleyball coach for 5 years, a freshman track coach for 1 year and a synchronized swim coach of the Dollfins for 22 years. Deb started her teaching career as an elementary unit PE teacher and had to tell her first principal that she could only teach for a semester since she was expecting her first child in February! Deb has been honored in Who’s Who in American Teachers twice, chosen as the Nebraska Dance Educator of the Year, and the Nebraska Secondary Physical Educator of the Year.

She graduated from Nancy Bounds School of Modeling to begin her modeling career of print and runway work which was instrumental in her attaining the crown of Mrs. Nebraska in 1983 from a field of 27 contestants.

Deb and Dick have been married for 26 years. She is the mother of Jason and Megan, mother-in-law of Anne and Michael, and Grammy of Ethan and John .  In 2012, Deb and Dick permanently retired to south Texas where they not only enjoy golf, but the South Padre Island beaches and Mexico. They have made many great friends there, and are currently serving on several boards at their club. Besides golf, in her spare time Deb loves reading and crafts (jewelry making). Deb and Dick enjoy traveling in the summers and will spend this summer in Sheridan, WY at the Powder Horn Golf Club.