Who sent letter for Elvis?

NOXON – The Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and National Public Radio in Washington, DC is asking for help in finding three young ladies from Noxon who wrote a letter, pleading with then president Eisenhower, to allow Elvis Presley to keep his side burns when he was drafted into the United States Army.

According to a letter received by Noxon Public Schools from the library, located in Abilene, Kansas, the letter was most likely written in February or March of 1957.

“We would appreciate any assistance in locating school photographs of these individuals, or in tracking down their present location,” stated Martin M. Teasley, the assistant director of the library. “We hope to use this for future exhibits and student programs.”

According to Noxon schools secretary, Tami Mercer, the school received the letter in June of 2004. At the time the letter was received, Mercer researched old student records, looked through pictures of graduating classes in the hallways and even talked to elders in the community to see if anyone remembered the girls.

“I came up with nothing. No one remembers these girls,” Mercer said. “Someone out there is bound to (remember).”

The search came up with no new information and was put on the backburner for ten years.

Just recently, according to Mercer, National Public Radio contacted the school asking for more information on the girls, reopening the search.

At the time the letter was written, Noxon had an influx of families, many of who were working on the construction of the Noxon dam. A lot of those families later moved out of Noxon once their work was completed.

“We had a lot of people in and out work-wise,” Mercer explained.

The letter was written by Linda Kelly, Sherry Bane and Mickie Mattson, three girls who stated they would “just die” if the president did not allow Presley to keep his side burns.

Presley served in the United States Army between March of 1958 and March of 1960. During the time he was drafted, he was a national icon and one of the most well known names in entertainment.

The letter reads: “Dear President Eisenhower, My girlfriends and I are writing all the way from Montana. We think it’s bad enough to send Elvis Presley in the Army, but if you cut his sideburns off, we will just die! You don’t know how we feel about him, I really don’t see why you have to send him in the Army at all, but we beg you please, please don’t give him a G.I. hair cut, ok please, please don’t. If you do, we will just about die. - Elvis Presley Lovers: Linda Kelly, Sherry Bane, Mickie Mattson.”

According to Mercer, the interested parties searching for the ladies are hoping to get an interview with the women.

“If anyone remembers them, knows where they are now, they want to interview them and talk to them,” Mercer stated.

Anyone with information on any of the girls is encouraged to contact National Public Radio at (202) 513-3934 or the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library at (785) 263-4751.