Eras Of Influence (1967-1977)

The second Era of Influence ran from 1967-1977 and belonged to the MIDWEST and the NORTHEAST.  Both regions had their best eras in history. This was also the only era in which the four regions approached parity, and it also saw a number of states achieve success for the first time.

(L. to R. Karen Herd-IDAHO-1ST RU, Allyn Warner-MAINE-4th RU,  LAURIE LEA SCHAEFER-OHIO-MISS AMERICA 1972, Maureen Wimmer-PENNSYLVANIA-3rd RU, Deborah O'Brien-MASSACHSUETTS-2nd RU)

The MIDWEST averaged 2.7 of each year’s Top 10 (30 total out of 110) and 1.5 of each year’s Top 5. In fact, the MIDWEST put 17 women in the Top 5 over these eleven years while the SOUTH put 16 women in the Top 5.  Plus, the MIDWEST produced seven Miss Americas from six different states during the era (DEBRA BARNES-Kansas-67; JUDITH FORD-Illinois-68, PAMELA ELDRED-Michigan-69; LAUREL LEA SCHAEFER-Ohio-71; TERRY MEEUWSEN-Wisconsin-72, DOROTH BENHAM-Minnesota-76; and SUSAN PERKINS-Ohio-77. The MIDWEST produced five of the Top 10 in 1967 (the first year of the era) and four of the Top 10 in 1972. It also produced three of the Top 5 in both 1968 & 1969. INDIANA had its best streak in history putting seven women in Top 10 in the 13-year period between 1965-1977 (dipping back into the previous era to include Eileen Smith’s 2^nd RU placement & Talent win and culminating with Barbara Mougin’s 1^st RU placement in 1977. The MIDWEST sent the first two African American contestants to Miss America:  IOWA’s Cheryl Browne in 1970 and INDIANA’s Pat Patterson in 1971.

The SOUTH, while still having the most total Top 10s of the era (35 out of 110), had its worst showing ever, with an average of 3.2 Top 10s and 1.5 Top 5s. In fact, it was during this era that we have the ONLY year in history when the SOUTH did NOT produce a single Top 10 finalist – 1969. Further, in three years during the era, the SOUTH failed to produce a Top 5 finalist (19568, 1969, and 1971). ALABAMA experienced its only dry spell with only one Top 10 finalist over these 11 years. TEXAS’ PHYLLIS GEORGE (1970) and SHIRLEY COTHRAN (1974) were the only Southern Miss Americas during this era, and Phyllis started TEXAS’ current run of 33 Top 10 finalists (or better) in the last 47 years. Since 1970,m TEXAS has never gone more than two years in a row without making Top 10.

The NORTHEAST had its best era ever as well, averaging 2.4 in Top 10 (26 out of 110) and 1.3 in Top 5. The NE produced four of the Top 10 in 1976 and three of the Top 5 in 1971. This era saw RHODE ISLAND’s only Top 5 finalist in history (Marilyn Cocozza-3^rd RU in 1967), and MAINE’s only two times in Top 10 (AND Top 5) in history with Karen Johnson-2^nd RU in 1970 and Allyn Warner-4^th RU & Talent Winner in 1971. For seven Northeastern states, this would be their best era ever: DE, ME, MD, MA, NJ, PA, and RI. PENNSYLVANIA really rocked this era after not making Top 10 since 1959. The women of PA roared back with four consecutive runners-up (1970-1971-1972-1973) along with two Talent wins and then made Top 10 again in 1976 & 1977.  PA would finish the decade with another Top 10 placement in 1979 (that’s seven Top 10s in ten years)! And it was DELAWARE’s Deborah Lipford who became the first African American Top 10 Finalist in 1976.

The WEST settled into a pattern where it would stay for over thirty years with an average of 1.7 in Top 10 (19 out of 110) and 0.7 in the Top 5. No women from the WEST made Top 10 in three different years, and the region missed the Top 5 on four separate occasions. The WEST did produce four of 1969’s Top 10. CALIFORNIA produced nearly 1/3 of the region’s Top 10 finalists during the era, including a five consecutive year run in Top 10: 1973-1974 (1^st RU)-1975 (2^nd RU)-1976 (3^rd RU)-1977.

States that dominated during this era:

TEXAS – 7 Top 10 and 4 Top 5

CALIFORNIA – 6 Top 10 & 4 Top 5

PENNSYLVANIA – 6 Top 10 & 4 Top 5

INDIANA – 6 Top 10 and 3 Top 5

FLORIDA – 5 Top 10 and 2 Top 5

NEW YORK – 5 Top 10 & 2 Top 5