Patricia Donnelly

Patricia Mary Donnelly was born Patricia Mary Harris on October 30, 1919, in Durand, Michigan, and died on October 25, 2009, at the age of 89. She is remembered as the Miss America titleholder for 1939 and as a Broadway performer whose stage career followed her reign as one of the country's most recognized beauty queens.

Donnelly demonstrated an early affinity for singing, performing in grade school and on radio programs before joining a band shortly after completing high school. She also worked as a model for Hudson's department store during this period. Her path to national prominence came when she was crowned Miss America at the Steel Pier, the last titleholder to receive the crown at that venue. In the pageant's talent competition, she performed two songs: the ballad "To You" and the up-tempo number "Old Man Mose." Following her victory, she toured the United States making personal appearances and earned the nickname "The Long-Stemmed American Beauty."

After her reign concluded, Donnelly pursued a career as a performer and model. She sang at the Stork Club and took on work with the John Robert Powers modeling agency. Her Broadway appearances included the musical comedy The Lady Comes Across and the musical revue New Priorities of 1943, both in 1942. During this period, she was introduced to Jack L. Warner of Warner Bros. on the Super Chief railway en route to Chicago. Warner noted her resemblance to actress Ann Sheridan and extended a Hollywood contract offer, which Donnelly declined. She later explained that she preferred anonymity and the freedom to move through the world without public recognition.

In 1948, Donnelly married Robin Harris, with whom she had two children, Amanda and Stephen. She and her husband collaborated professionally for many years as travel editors for the Hearst Newspapers. In 1980, following years of cigarette smoking, she was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent a laryngectomy, after which she spoke with the assistance of a prosthesis.