The death at age 70 of former Miss America Phyllis George took me back to 1971 when I was asked to interview her. It’s a moment in time I’m that does not fill me with pride.
The Mexico Ledger
The circumstance was the Miss Missouri Pageant that was being held in Mexico, MO, where I was THE reporter (as in the only one) for The Mexico Ledger. Miss America was visiting the pageant to crown the winner. Local media was invited to meet with her the afternoon before for interviews and radio sound bites.
I didn’t want to go
I didn’t want to interview Miss George. On the cusp of the women’s movement, I felt pageants were pathetic displays of women (in swimsuit, evening gown and talent competition). I didn’t feel the winner exemplified the best that womanhood in America had to offer.
And, I have to admit, my own personal insecurities entered here as well. I never thought of myself as a great beauty and was not prepared aesthetically for the interview. I thought the women’s page editor would handle it. But my boss insisted I go too so we’d have both a news and feature story. UGH!
Miss America was late
So here I was in a very casual mini-culotte outfit, with just the smear of makeup I’d put on in the morning meeting a beautiful and poised woman. And on top of that she was about 45 minutes late. My youthful temper was boiling by the time she arrived (I was 24, and Miss George was 21).
Sit by me!
I don’t know what kind of vibe I was giving off, but as we were shown into the room, Miss George, motioned to me. “Sit here, please; please sit by me.”
I used shorthand for taking my reporter notes and had scribbled on my pad in shorthand, “This is bullshit….just a big bunch of bullshit.”
“I admire that!”
Suddenly, Miss George pointed to my reporter’s pad and said, “I admire that; I just admire that.”
“What’s she admiring?” I thought. “Can she read shorthand? Does she think the pageant business is all bullshit too?”
But no
“I really admire someone who can take shorthand,” she said. “You never know when you’ll need that.”
(Of course, no one needs it today, and it is no longer taught anywhere to my knowledge.)
The interview went on
The interview with a couple of radio reporters and two people from the local daily continued with no great revelations. Miss America crowned Miss Missouri that evening in the auditorium of the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, MO. Then, she went on with a hectic schedule that included visits to Vietnam among many other stops.
Miss George paved way for others
Miss George went on to break ground in sports broadcasting. Her work paved the way for many female sportscasters. She served also as Kentucky’s first lady. Her daughter is now a CNN White House reporter.
Sad to learn of her death
So I was sad to learn of her death this week at age 70 of complications from a blood disorder. I thought back 50 years and realized I acted immaturely and disrespectfully. RIP Miss George.