Lawrence and Kansas University continued their annual dominance of the Kansas City American Royal queen-and-court. Deborah Fowler, KU senior from Topeka, and Cynthia Harden, junior from Lincoln, Neb., reigned as queen and first runner-up for the 1966 Royal festivities. Harden was the daughter of University of Nebraska Chancellor Clifford Harden. Her sister also was a KU student. In recent years, Lawrence-based contestants had virtually ruled the queen contests for the Royal.

Lecompton High won the 1966 East Central League football championship with Stan Simmons as the star. Bill Nelson was coach of the title group.