'Tall, green-eyed lovely' from Pa. was Miss America 1954
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on September 05, 2016 at 7:00 AM, updated September 05, 2016 at 7:08 AM
The 96th Miss America pageant, will be held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Sept. 11, 2016.
Preliminary competitions are Sept. 6-8.
Miss Pennsylvania is Samantha Lambert. She is a student at the University of Pittsburgh. Lambert is originally from Wisconsin. Her platform is brain injury awareness.
The last time Miss Pennsylvania won the Miss America pageant was in 1953 when Evelyn Ay of Ephrata, Lancaster County, was crowned Miss America 1954. Her portrait hangs in the lobby of Ephrata High School, from where she graduated in 1951.
Evelyn Ay Sempier died Oct. 18, 2008, in Ephrata.
This is the front page story from The Sunday Patriot-News on Sept. 13, 1953. It is reproduced here exactly as it was written in 1953.
Pennsylvania Girl Crowned as Miss America at Pageant
Ephrata Girl Deeply Moved
Words Fail State's Entry as She Gets Coveted Honor
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Sept. 12 (International News Service) – Miss Pennsylvania, honey-blonde Evelyn Margaret Ay, 20, was crowned tonight queen of American Beauty – "Miss America of 1954."
The tall, green-eyed lovely from Ephrata, Pa., parlayed a heavenly set of statistics – 37 bust, 24 waist and 36 hips – into a combination that wowed the judges and drew tumultuous acclaim from the 15,000 spectators in Atlantic City's Convention Hall.
PRIZES WORTH $50,000
Weighted down by a queen-size trophy emblematic of her new title, the five-foot, eight-inch blonde smiled and posed becomingly as flashbulbs popped and the audience cheered.
Miss Ay won out over 51 other girls from the United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Canada.
"Ephrata is very proud of her," said Burgess David K. Good for the people of Miss Ay's hometown of 7,000, at midnight.
Her rivals in the final judging were Misses Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia and New York City.
With the crown, Evelyn won an estimated $50,000 in awards, richest beauty prize in the world. She will receive a college scholarship, an auto and a wardrobe and will be given fees for personal appearances and endorsements.
ATTENDS PENN
The gorgeous Pennsylvanian who knocked the judges' eyes out in a preliminary bathing suit trial, attended the University of Pennsylvania for two years. She told newsmen earlier this week, "I would use the scholarship, if I win it, to finish my remaining two years at the University of Pennsylvania."
But the girl from the little town of Ephrata may be wooed away from high education by Hollywood scouts. Previous winners of the contest after a fling at modeling have made good in the movies.
HOBBY IS DRAMATICS
Evelyn is a calm girl who says: "I believe that contentment within oneself can properly bring forth beauty and happiness."
Her favorite hobby is dramatics and she gave a dramatic reading during the talent trials.
The contest was fierce, according to the judges. Second was Miss New York City, Brunette Joan Cecilia Kaible, 22, of Queens Village. Right behind her came Miss Virginia Annelee Ceglis, 22, a graduate of William and Mary College.
The fourth place winner was Virginia McDavid, 18, of Birmingham, Miss Alabama, who ranked just ahead of Miss Mississippi, Green-eyed Susanne Dugger, 18, of Picayune.
Right behind them came Miss Oregon, Patti Elaine Throop, 19, of Portland; Miss Wyoming, Elaine Lois Holkenbrink, 19, of Torrington; Miss Delaware, Lois Anne Alava, 21, of Wilmington; Miss California, Patricia Ann Johns, 18, of Fresno; and Miss South Carolina, Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson, 20, of Lebanon.
The nine runners-up share $14,000 in scholarships.
Judges included singer Jeanette MacDonald, composer Deems Taylor and Dain J. Domic, president of the U.S. Junior chamber of Commerce.
The judges kept the winners of the evening gown competition secret, to add spice to the competition. But there was hardly a dissenting voice last night that Miss Ay, who by the way, has the shortest last name in Miss America history, walked down the 150-foot runway in a stunning white bathing suit.
The contest originated in 1920. Since that time, the prizes have increased tremendously; the pageantry has been even more brilliant every year, and the winners have seemed even more lovely.
The final excruciating moment came shortly after the judges had called each of the five finalists on the stage and asked her several questions. Then, they announced the winners, from the fifth to the first place. Convention Hall rocked with cheers.
Evelyn also impressed the judges with a series of dramatic readings in the talent competition.
But the clincher – which brought her the crown and robes of royal beauty and about $50,000 worth of prizes and scholarships – was her skill in answer to a series of questions, all designed.
QUERY ON MARRIAGE
Miss Pennsylvania was asked to what part of the world she would go, had she her choice, to further her career. She said she would go to India, "where maybe I could help the downtrodden."
The master of ceremonies wanted to know how she felt about mixing a marriage with a career. Evelyn said she hadn't been approached recently, but allowed that marriage might be a little better.
And what makes a good citizen?
A good wife, she said, sticks around the fireside, keeps her husband's slippers under the divan and pays attention to the kids.
The new Miss America, a really lovely girl and a credit to young American womanhood, is packing her gear and getting ready to set sail on a year of merry-go-rounding. She is committed to make maybe about 300 personal appearances. And she'll get paid. She'll get a new car. She'll likely get a few fur pieces and a piano or two. She'll also get awful weary of travel. But it's nice work if you can get it.
The 20-year-old beauty is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ay of Ephrata. She was graduated from Ephrata High School in 1951 and is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is studying to become a medical technician.
Popular among school chums, she told friends only a year ago after winning a minor beauty contest that she doubted if she would even enter another.
http://www.pennlive.com/life/2016/09/tall_green-eyed_lovely_from_pa.html
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