A Look Back: Miss Illinois Scrapbook |
Miss Illinois 1936 Virginia Moeller (Miss Springfield) relaxes at Independence Hall in Philadephia enroute to the 1936 Miss America Pageant. Virginia was a 1937 graduate of Springfield High School. |
Miss Illinois 1973 (Miss Heart of Illinois) Colleen Metternich was chosen as a Preliminary Talent Winner and Top 10 finalist at the Miss America Pageant. She performed a self-composed piano compostion titled "Variations on a 12 note theme" live and on pre-recorded tape. Today, Colleen is Mrs. Michael Puscas a lives with her husband and two daughters in Connecticut. |
A Beautiful Miss Illinois 1964 Pat Quillen in the Miss America Parade on the Atlantic City Boardwalk |
Miss Illinois 1996 Tania Gibson takes time from rehearsals at Miss America. Tania promoted "Raising the Standards for At-Risk Youths" during her year of service. Tania has worked with Richard Simmons to promote his diet products. She now lives in Texas with her husband and child. |
Another great vintage shot. Here is Miss Cook County ARLENE CAUSEY with her trophies won at the 1936 Miss AMERICA PAGEANT . Arlene won "best model" and was in the top five. |
Not only has the state of Illinois had five Miss Americas, we've also had some close calls! Here is Miss America first runner-up, Miss Chicago Bette Brunk. Next to her is that year's winner, Miss Texas Jo Carroll Dennison |
Another shot of Miss Illinois 1949 Trudy Germi (Miss Champaign-Urbana) at the Miss America Pageant. This is a photo of the preliminary winners, which included Misses Arizona (who would become Miss America), California, and Colorado. Trudy went on to win 2nd runner-up (see below). |
A group of contestants from the 1959 Miss America Pageant. This photo was taken on registration day. Miss Illinois Suzanne Johnson of Chicago is second from the left in the top row. Also seen here are Misses South Carolina, Hawaii, New Mexico, Ohio , Washington, (Illinois), Kentucky, and Colorado |
From the 1948 Miss America Pageant. Miss Illinois Viola Hutmacher is shown here (with Miss Chicago right behind her!) Viola often attends Miss Illinois still. |
Trudy with the rest of the top five from 1949 |
Four years later in 1953, Illinois would score another 2nd-runner up position when Miss Illinois 1954 PATSY BRUCE (second from left) of Fairfield! |
1973-74 Shirley Cothran would win Miss America, and Miss Illinois Jean Ahern (second from left) was 2nd Runner-Up! |
Preliminary winners from that year: Miss Illinois (far right) was a preliminary talent winner! |
The Top Ten from that year! (Miss Illinois is second from right) |
