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1926
Norma Smallwood
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Norma Descygne Smallwood, an art major in her sophomore year at Oklahoma
State College, was the first Native American (Cherokee) to capture the Miss America title.
Norma was the first Miss America to also win the award for "the most beautiful girl in evening gown" at the highly promoted
National Beauty Tournament held during pageant week of the twenties. She proved to be an enormously popular selection.
Upon victory, she stated she "might leave college for a year" and looked at her tenure as Miss America from a financial
standpoint. She became the poster girl for Meadows Washing Machines and Westinghouse Electric, in addition to many others.
It was said she made approximately $100,000 during her year.
Since 1925, winners were "under agreement" to return the following year to headline the event. In 1927, Norma created
headlines when she left the pageant before Lois Delander was handed the title. She had booked herself an appearance at a North
Carolina event. Ironically, her duties at the end of pageant week were handed to another woman of Native America heritage,
Alice Garry, who was making an appearance at the pageant as "Princess America". Norma claimed director Armand T. Nichols scheduled
Alice to host the event, but the reports of the day painted Norma as ungrateful.
She entered into marriage with millionaire art collector and oilman, Thomas Gilcrease of Pawhuska, Oklahoma on September
3, 1928. Together they had a daughter named Des Cygnes L'Amour Gilcrease in 1930. Their marriage was dissolved on October
3, 1933.
A few years later, Norma married George H. Bruce, president of Aladdin Petroleum Corporation, Wichita. She spent the
rest of her life quietly and became quite involved with charitable work through St. James Episcopal Church in Wichita before
her passing in May 1966 at age 57.
1967
Jane Jayroe
Laverne, Oklahoma
TULSA, OKLAHOMA - Miss America 1967 Jane Jayroe is the newly-appointed
cabinet secretary for tourism and recreation and executive director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. As
agency director, Jayroe oversees an annual budget of $58 million which includes the operation of 51 state parks, five state
resorts, 11 golf courses and a variety of marketing and development programs designed to enhance the economic impact of Oklahoma's
tourism industry.
Jayroe brings more than 20 years of journalism, administrative and public relations experience to her role as agency
director. During her successful 16-year career as a prime time news anchor in Oklahoma City and on the NBC affiliate in Dallas/Ft.
Worth she received several prestigious journalism awards, including being the first female named "Outstanding News Personality"
in the Dallas television market. Jayroe is also well-known in Oklahoma for her role as co-host on the weekly "Discover Oklahoma"
statewide television show promoting Oklahoma's tourism attractions and travel opportunities.
In 1992, Jayroe become the first spokesperson for the Oklahoma Health Center and Vice President of the Presbyterian Health
Foundation.
A third generation Oklahoman, Jayroe is an active volunteer serving in leadership roles for several Civic and professional
organizations. She was the first woman elected Chairman of the Oklahoma Academy for Sate Goals and is on executive committees
for the University of Oklahoma Breast Health Institute, Oklahoma City University Board of Trustees and the Oklahoma Health
Center Foundation. As a member of the UMC Church of the Servant in Oklahoma City, Jayroe is on the Women's Ministries Team
and a board member for the Education and Employment Ministries. She has taken an active role in issues affecting young people,
serving as honorary chair for the Conference on Teen Pregnancy, Youth Arts Month and the Oklahoma Parents and Teachers Association.
She is a former trustee of the Sarkey's Foundation, and was appointed by Gov. George Nigh to the commission on the Status
of Women, by Gov. Henry Bellmon to chair "Oklahoma Reunion '89" and to the Legislative Compensation Board by Gov. David Walters.
Jayroe is the author of several articles appearing in McCall's magazine and other publications such as Out of the Blue,
Delight comes Into Your Life and Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul. She was producer for "Daily Devotionals," A set of audio
cassettes by area ministers and laypeople and recently created a seminar for women titled, Living Grace-fully.
Jayroe is a graduate of Oklahoma City University and holds a MA degree from the University of Tulsa. She and her husband,
Gerald Gamble, make their home in Oklahoma City. She has one son, Tyler Jayroe, a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University.
1981
Susan Powell
Elk City, Oklahoma
Susan Powell is currently the host of Home Matters, her own one-hour
series on The Discovery Channel, recently completing its ninth season. In September of 1980, Susan was named Miss America
1981. In the years following her reign, she has appeared before audiences in theatres, opera houses, concert halls and at
lecture podiums all across the country. She performed at Houston's Theatre Under the Stars where she starred opposite Larry
Gatlin in his musical Texas Flyer and also starred as the heroine, Margarita, in the world premiere of the new musical Zorro.
Miss Powell made her operatic debut as Adele in Die Fledermaus with the Seattle Opera and debuted at the New York City
Opera as Johanna in Harold Prince's production of Sweeney Todd. Additionally, she has sung leading roles for the Cincinnati,
Augusta, Syracuse, Connecticut, Gold Coast, Nevada, Tulsa, Arizona and Baltimore Opera companies. She has been a featured
soloist with numerous symphonies, including those of Philadelphia, Tampa, Indianapolis, Tulsa, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Richmond
and Chicago. Susan debuted with the Boston Pops in 1993 and was personally selected by John Williams to appear with him as
the only soloist in one of his final concerts with the Pops. In the winter of 1999, Susan returned to the Boston Pops, joining
them for their annual holiday tour conducted by Keith Lockhart. This year she joined Maestro Lockhart as guest soloist with
the Utah Symphony in Salt Lake City and the New Japan Philharmonic in Tokyo.
Off-Broadway Susan starred as Alcamene in Olympus on My Mind and has toured the country in The Music of Andrew Lloyd
Webber, The Sounds of Rogers and Hammerstein and The Desert Song. Her other theatrical work includes starring roles at the
Paper Mill Playhouse, Sacramento Music Circus, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Dallas Summer Musicals, Cape Fear Regional Theatre,
Theatre Under the Stars, and the St. Louis MUNY. In those theatres, Miss Powell has been seen in roles such as Laurie in Oklahoma!,
Sarah in Guys and Dolls, Martha Jefferson in 1776, Magnolia in Showboat, Julie Jordan in Carousel, Nellie Forbush in South
Pacific, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Marian in The Music Man, Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella, Mabel in Pirates of
Penzance, Kathy in The Student Prince, Yum Yum in The Mikado, Valencian in The Merry Widow and Margot in The Desert Song.
Susan is known for her quick wit, outspoken style, multiple talents and versatility. Miss Powell is featured on the cast
recording of Olympus on My Mind and more recently, Fifty Million Frenchmen on New World Records. Susan attended Oklahoma City
University. She is a native of Elk City, Oklahoma and in 2002 was honored at the annual Oklahoma Hall of Fame Awards as Ambassador
of Good Will for the State of Oklahoma.
What She's Doing Now
Susan hosted of Home Matters, her own one-hour series on The Discovery Channel, recently completing its ninth and final
season. She has appeared before audiences in theatres—both on and off Broadway, opera houses, concert halls and at lecture
podiums all across the country. In addition, Susan is co-hosting this year’s Miss America preliminary competitions!
1996 Shawntel Smith Wuerch Muldrow, Oklahoma Shawntel is the executive vice president of administration of
PBH Holdings, a corporation comprised of the leading companies in the handheld technology solutions industries, which include
PalmGear.com and Power by Hand. She continues to speak nationally at educational institutions, non-profit organizations, major
events and more. Visit her website at www.shawntel.com. She and her husband Ryan have two sons, Braden and Barrett.
2006
Jennifer Berry
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Ms. Berry served as Miss America 2006, representing the state of Oklahoma.
She is an accomplished motivational speaker and an inspirational leader for people everywhere, helping individuals to
reach their full potential both personally and professionally. Her passion for transforming lives goes beyond this and is
evident in the work that she has done with non-profit organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Children's Miracle
Network.
As Miss America 2006, Ms. Berry was a tremendous advocate for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, serving as the National
Spokesperson for the organization in 2006. During this time, she traveled approximately 20,000 miles each month on a public
speaking tour, visiting local communities, high schools and other organizations, promoting intolerance to drunk driving and
underage drinking. Additionally, she served as National Spokesperson for the Children's Miracle Network, visiting hospitals
across the country offering hope and inspiration to children and their families.
Ms. Berry has served as a motivational speaker and leadership consultant for various
groups, including high schools, universities, military, local communities, athletic groups, religious organizations,
non-profit groups, corporations and professional associations.
She has appeared on multiple national media programs, including “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,”
“Live with Regis & Kelly,” CNN, Fox News and others.
Ms. Berry is a proficient dancer with more than twenty years of dance experience. She trained with the prestigious David
Howard Dance Center, the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle and the internationally known Tulsa Ballet. In addition, she
performed with the Peoria Ballet and trained with the University of Oklahoma School of dance from 2002 to 2005. She trains
ballet students at multiple levels.
She attended the University of Oklahoma for four years, with an emphasis on elementary education. Ms. Berry is a member
of the Washington Speakers Bureau. She also remains a member of MADD's National Board of Advisors.
She currently resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ms. Berry will be relocating to Raleigh, North Carolina following her upcoming
marriage to Nathan Gooden, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Motricity.
2007
Lauren Nelson
Miss America 2007
AGE: 20
HOMETOWN: Lawton, OK
EDUCATION: University of Central Oklahoma—undergraduate; Lawton McArthur High School
NATIONAL PLATFORM ISSUE: Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson is the National Goodwill Ambassador for the Children's Miracle
Network
PERSONAL PLATFORM ISSUE: Internet Safety – Protecting Kids Online
SCHOLASTIC AMBITION: To obtain a Master's Degree in Musical Theatre
CAREER AMBITION: To become a Broadway Performer
TALENT: Vocal
SCHOLASTIC HONORS: UCO Freshman Merit Scholarship, Lawton Community Foundation Scholarship, Renaissance Academic Award
given for maintaining a 4.0 GPA
LOCAL COMPETITION SPONSOR: Miss Oklahoma State Fair
STATE COMPETITION SPONSOR: Miss Oklahoma Scholarship Pageant.
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