First thought to be racing competitor Hila Sweet, until Hila herself named Peggy in this photo:
[Although] I did lots of promotional publicity for Ascot in bikinis and tons of TV talk shows, I was never asked to do the Carrell publicity. Aggie's* secretary then was a gal named Peggy Peek who also drove in the "Powder Puffs" and they utilized her often. I had the dubious title of "Miss Ascot 1960" and did lots of photo sessions there for Walt Mahoney.*Joshua C. (Aggie) Agajanian, president of the Western Racing Association, took over duties at Carrell Speedway from Bill White in October 1947, acting as promoter for Emmett Malloy, who was the leasee of the track and operator for the Carrell estate. White returned as promoter in December 1949. Peggy worked for both.
Peggy's son Gregg D. McClendon adds:
She was Mr. White’s right hand person for years. She worked on track promotions, bookkeeping and all the other track business. She issued Parnelli Jones his first racing number.Peggy's first venture with fame on wheels—albeit not what you would expect—came not long after she and a girlfriend moved to California from Texas. Peggy settled in Long Beach and went to work for Sears when she was 18 years old. Early in the morning of Tuesday, June 1, 1943, Long Beach bus drivers went on strike seeking a raise in pay from an average of about 85 cents an hour to a rate of 90 cents to $1 per hour, in keeping with an industry standard. By Friday the strike was over, with the drivers pledging a 25-day truce to try and settle the dispute with no further interruption in service. The following Sunday the Long Beach Independent publish a photo showing how one determined group of commuters had handled the transportation stoppage. In the photo an even dozen female employees of the Long Beach Sears store are seen roller-skating their way to work. In the forefront is a beaming Margaret (Peggy) Peek.
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