Marilyn Meseke
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Marilyn Meseke
Marilyn Meseke (also known as Marilyn Hume-Rogers following her marriages) (October 7, 1916 – September 12, 2001)[1] has the distinction of being twice crowned Miss Ohio (1931 and 1938) and Miss America in 1938.
Meseke (ME-Sek-KE) was christened Mary Ellen Spurrier in 1917, near Lima, Ohio. While still an infant, her mother surrendered custody to her maternal grandmother. Following her adoption, Mary Ellen was renamed Marilyn, given her grandmother’s surname of Meseke and reared in the family home on South Prospect Street in Marion, Ohio. While still a child, she exhibited a talent for dance and received formal dance instruction throughout her childhood; she later became a tap dance instructor, using the family’s living room as her studio.
Meseke entered and won the Miss Ohio competition twice. Her first title was won in 1931 at the age of 14; during this time there was no national Miss America Pageant. After graduating from high school with honors, Marilyn opened her own dance school and also taught Sunday school classes. In 1938, talent became a mandatory category to win the Miss America title, so Marilyn decided to give it a second try. Her second win in 1938 qualified her to represent Ohio in the national Miss America Pageant. Aided by her rhythmic tap dance to three songs: "How'd You Like To Love Me", "The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise" and "Joseph, Joseph," Marilyn was crowned Miss America 1938 on September 10, 1938 by Atlantic City Mayor A.C. White in the Steel Pier's Marine Ballroom, while her hometown listened to the pageant on the radio.[2]
The event also marked the first time that movie audiences could see a Miss America being crowned through news reel footage shown the week following the event.[3] Meseke’s return to Marion on September 29, 1938 included a night time parade attended by 30,000 well wishers from hometown and surrounding communities.
She made numerous appearances during her year as Miss America and then enjoyed a modeling career following her pageant win. Meseke also continued to teach dance in Marion. She married Stanley Hume, a pilot, in 1944; they were the parents of one son. The couple relocated to Florida. Following the death of her first husband Stanley Hume, Marilyn Meseke Hume married Pilot Benjamin Rogers. Always a booster of her hometown, she donated her Miss America trophy and memorabilia to the ([1]) Marion County, Ohio Historical Society where it is on display.
She was a big supporter of the Miss America Pageant and returned many times to the annual event. Meseke died in Florida on September 12, 2001, aged 84.[4]
Notes
- ^ http://www.daggy.name/cop/bkofdead/obits-ro.htm
- ^ "Miss America History 1938". http://www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1920/1938.aspx. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
- ^ "Miss America History 1938". http://www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1920/1938.aspx. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
- ^ "Miss America History 1938". http://www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1920/1938.aspx. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
External links
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bette Cooper |
Miss America 1938 |
Succeeded by Patricia Donnelly |
| Preceded by Jean Fadden |
Miss Ohio 1938 |
Succeeded by Jeanne Saboda |
|
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