Patricia Donnelly

American beauty queen (1919–2009)

Robin Harris
​
(m. 1948)​
Children2

Patricia Mary Donnelly (née Harris, October 30, 1919 – October 25, 2009) was an American beauty queen who won Miss America in 1939. She subsequently briefly had a career as a singer and worked on stage and screen.

Early years

Donnelly was born in Durand, Michigan.[1] She was a singer in grade school and on radio programs, and she began singing with a band soon after she finished high school. She also worked as a model for Hudson's department store.[2]

Miss America

Donnelly was the last to be crowned at the Steel Pier.[3] In the talent competition, she sang the then-new ballad "To You" and the faster-tempo "Old Man Mose". After winning the Miss America title, she traveled across the United States making personal appearances. She was given the nickname "The Long-Stemmed American Beauty".[2]

Career

Following her reign as Miss America, Donnelly sang at the Stork Club, on Broadway, and appeared in some films. She worked for the John Robert Powers modeling agency.[1] Her Broadway credits included the musical revue Priorities of 1942 and the musical comedy The Lady Comes Across (1942).[4]

En route to Chicago on the famous "Super Chief" of railways, she was introduced to Jack L. Warner of Warner Brothers Studio. He recognized her strong resemblance to Hollywood beauty, Ann Sheridan.

Soon a Hollywood contract was offered, but Donnelly turned it down. "I realized by that time I didn't want my face known," she said. "In other words, I wanted the freedom of movement, to go where I pleased without people knowing who I was."

Personal life

Donnelly married Robin Harris in 1948 and had two children, Amanda and Stephen. For years she and Robin worked together as travel editors of the Hearst Newspapers.[5]

In 1980, she was diagnosed with throat cancer after years of smoking cigarettes.[6] She underwent a laryngectomy and spoke with the aid of a prosthesis.[6]

Donnelly died on October 25, 2009, at the age of 89.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Patricia Donnelly Harris, 89, Miss America 1939". Boston Herald. November 3, 2009. Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via pressreader.
  2. ^ a b "1939 Patricia Donnelly Harris (Miss Detroit) becomes our first Miss America!". Miss Michigan. Archived from the original on December 18, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  3. ^ "Miss America History 1939". Archived from the original on September 23, 2006. Retrieved December 30, 2006.
  4. ^ "Patricia Donnelly". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on December 18, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  5. ^ "A year was enough; life now is nice". Detroit Free Press. Michigan, Detroit. September 12, 1986. p. B 1. Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ a b Tauber, Michelle; Neill, Mike; Russell, Lisa; Fowler, Joanne; Dam, Julie; Tresniowski, Alex; Miller, Samantha; Dougherty, Steve; Yu, Ting (October 16, 2000). "American Beauties: 80 Years". People.
  7. ^ "In Loving Memory of Miss America 1939 Patricia Donnelly Harris". October 28, 2009. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Marilyn Meseke
 Miss America
1939 		Succeeded by
Frances Marie Burke
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1920s
  • Margaret Gorman (1921)
  • Mary Campbell (1922)
  • Mary Campbell (1923)
  • Ruth Malcomson (1924)
  • Fay Lanphier (1925)
  • Norma Smallwood (1926)
  • Lois Delander (1927)
1930s
1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s
1990s2000s2010s
2020s
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Michigan pageant winners
Miss Michigan
Miss Michigan USA


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