Beverly woman wins Ill. husband-calling contest

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- One of the highlights of the Illinois State Fair in Springfield is the annual husband-calling contest.

This year's winner - Cheryl O'Reilly, of the Beverly neighborhood in Chicago.

"My husband's name is Francis O'Reilly. Fraaaaan-cisssss!"

Cheryl says she didn't practice for the contest because it just comes natural after 35 years of marriage.

O'Reilly competed against two other women, Maxine Lanman of Highland and Solomohn Ennis of Charleston.

O'Reilly, in her contest debut, won first place. Lanman was second and Ennis, third.

"Absolutely," O'Reilly said when asked if her demonstration was really the way she called her husband's name. "I call downstairs to tell him dinner is ready."

"I don't miss any meals," her husband, Frank, deadpanned.