Barbara Jo Walker Hummel (March 12, 1926 – June 7, 2000) won the Miss America pageant in 1947. Walker was from Memphis, Tennessee and competed at the Miss America 1947 pageant as Miss Memphis.[1] After her Miss America reign, she married John Vernon Hummel and had three children; she resided in Memphis, Tennessee with her family until she died in 2000.[2][3]
Barbara Jo Walker | |
|---|---|
 Walker in 1947 | |
| Born | March 12, 1926 |
| Died | June 7, 2000 (aged 74) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Other names | Barbara Jo Walker Hummel |
| Alma mater | Memphis State College |
| Title | Miss America 1947 |
| Predecessor | Marilyn Buferd |
| Successor | BeBe Shopp |
Life
editWalker was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Walker. Her father operated a dental laboratory, and she had a sister, Peggy.[1] She attended the Memphis State College[1] and is an alumna of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.[4] Walker was a Sunday School teacher when she won Miss America.[5] After her Miss America reign ended, she returned to Memphis to finish her college degree and continue teaching Sunday School rather than pursuing an entertainment career.[1][6][3] She sang at the Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis for over 36 years.[3]
On June 26, 1948, Walker married physician John Vernon Hummel in Memphis, Tennessee.[7] She and her husband had three children (two sons and one daughter) including the late Andy Hummel of the Memphis-based power pop band Big Star.[8][3]
She died in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 7, 2000.[2]
Miss America Reign
editWalker won the Miss America pageant as Miss Memphis; she is the last city representative to win the crown (all successive Miss America winners represented states rather than cities).[9] She was the last Miss America to be crowned in her bathing suit; all since 1947 have been crowned in their evening gowns.[10] At the pageant, Walker sang and played piano.[5] Walker won a $5,000 scholarship and $10,000 in personal appearance and endorsement contracts.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Schor, Samuel (September 8, 1947). "Miss America Will Teach, Won't Seek Movie Career". Press of Atlantic City. p. 1. Retrieved May 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Miss America History 1947". Archived from the original on 2006-12-21. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
- ^ a b c d "Senate Joint Resolution 926" (PDF). Tennessee General Assembly. June 8, 2000.
- ^ tmnstaff (2015-08-16). "An Introduction to Fort Hays State Greek Life". Tiger Media Network. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
- ^ a b c "Miss America 1947 Is Sunday School Teacher". Advertiser. 1947-09-09. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
- ^ TIME (1948-01-12). "Religion: Young Methodists". TIME. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
- ^ "'Miss America' Weds". The Shreveport Times. United Press. June 27, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved May 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Former Big Star bassist Andy Hummel dies at Texas home". www.commercialappeal.com. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
- ^ "Title Holders". Retrieved 2024-10-15.
- ^ "The Swimsuit Competition Used to Be the Only Way to Judge Miss America". HISTORY. 2018-08-23. Retrieved 2024-10-15.