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40th Anniversary Miss Missouri - Volume 9 - by Jim Dye Erin Phillips from right here in Mexico, MO was our Miss Missouri 1995. Her story is so different from our other Miss MO’s. She was part of the pageant family long before she was a contestant, and she has become so important to the program after being Miss Missouri. Erin has been the Executive Producer of the Miss Missouri Pageant for the past 10 years. That means, everything you see on the stage, every word that’s spoken, every song, every dance, each element of the show, is under Erin’s direction, and is Erin’s responsibility. That is huge! It is exactly like going from the mailroom to being CEO of the company, in the business world. Erin’s first experience with the pageant was as a dancer in
production numbers, backing up other performers. She says she loved
it so much, she asked her mother if she could volunteer as a page
and stay in the dorm with the contestants. Erin was a page for the
next 3 years, while she was in high school. Being a page meant she
ran errands for the contestants, delivered their mail, got them
fresh linens and towels, and took out the trash. But, she got to
know all the contestants. Many became her role models: Soncee Brown,
Miss Missouri 1991, and Debbye Turner, Miss Missouri 1989 and Miss
America 1990 to name just two. When Erin was a senior at Mexico High
she wrote an article in Kathy Craghead’s yearbook class about Debbye
Turner winning the Miss America Pageant. In 1990 as a college freshman at MIZZOU, Erin entered her first local pageant, in Mexico of course, and won. She was Miss Audrain at just 19 years old and competing with her hero Soncee Brown and other contestants who were 26 years old, already with college degrees and working professionals. Erin says she had a lot of growing to do. She came back to compete in the Miss Missouri Pageant four more times, as Miss East Central in 1991, Miss Kansas City in 1992, Miss Columbia in 1993, and finally as Miss Audrain in 1994, winning the title of Miss Missouri 1995. Along the way she had been a top 10 finalist twice, 3rd runner-up to Miss Missouri in 1992, and a host of preliminary competition winners. After her year of service as Miss Missouri 1995 Barbara Bush at the Mexico Salute presented her with an Outstanding Literacy Award to Literacy Celebration in 1996. Since the Miss Missouri Scholarship Pageant is all about education and opportunities for women, I should mention here that Erin’s involvement in the program netted her scholarships which helped her earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration w/emphasis in Organizational Dynamics, both from the University of Missouri Columbia. During all of her years working with and competing in the pageants, Erin’s biggest supporters have been her parents, Glenn and Ann Phillips, of here in Mexico. In 1990, Erin married Michael Engelmeyer, owner of Great Outdoors Studios, a photography business specializing in commercial and advertising photography. The Engelmeyers live in Springfield, MO; they have 3 children, Samuel 8, Zachary 4, and Caroline 1. As a young wife in Springfield, Erin worked at the Missouri Corp. for National and Community Service and for the Girl Scouts of America. Now, she is happily a stay-at-home mom, but with lots of community volunteer jobs. On her way to becoming the Miss Missouri Executive Producer, Erin
was a featured dancer in the pageant and the assistant producer
under Bill Wolfe for several years. She says, "The journey was long,
frustrating at times, but taught me so much about perseverance,
determination, self-discipline and courage." Those are all great
attributes of our Miss Missouri 1995, Erin Phillips Engelmeyer. |
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40th Anniversary Miss Missouri - Volume 8 - By Jim Dye Michelle Marshall was Miss Missouri 1974. She now goes by a new name and a whole different persona. But her story begins dreaming of the bright lights of Broadway, and the Miss Missouri Pageant was part of her journey. Michelle says that she “simply could not have gone to college without scholarships”. She started with the Miss Teenage America Pageant, where she had to take a written test to qualify, and ended up being voted “Miss Friendship”. Michelle says it took her two tries to win our Miss Gateway to the West preliminary in St Louis before she made it to Mexico and the Miss Missouri stage. When she became Miss Missouri in 1974, Michelle was a junior at Stephens College in Columbia, majoring in dance. She performed a sassy song and dance number to “If They Could See Me Now” from Sweet Charity. At the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the National Organization for Women (N.O.W.) was picketing the pageant, objecting to the way, in NOW’s opinion, that the pageant was “degrading” to women. As Michelle was exiting her hotel headed for a pageant rehearsal, a NOW activist ran up to her with the press in tow and yelled, “Mizzou, how can you humiliate yourself by parading around stage in a bathing suit?” Michelle says she answered back, “Lady, do you want to pay for my college education?” After her year as Miss Missouri, Michelle finished her degree at Stephens College and did some acting and modeling in St Louis. She got a part in the stage play “Hair” in St Louis. Soon she was off to New York City. At her very first audition, she won a part in a Jerry Herman baggy pants review. She was on her way. She was a cast member and understudy to a lead role in the Cole Porter estate production of “Happy New Year”. Michelle had several small roles in Broadway productions and plays. She had a role in a Henry Winkler TV pilot. Next, she moved to Los Angeles, California and tried for the movies, but switched to writing and producing. She wrote a column for the LA Weekly entitled “What Do You Want?” under the name of “Taylor”. The column touched on sex, relationships and politics. She pursued the writing more seriously, focused on sex and the sex industry. She went to Amsterdam and interviewed prostitutes for a book she was working on. She assumed the name Taylor Marsh. Michelle said Taylor Marsh “is an extension of the girl from Missouri who had to create another life for herself in order to discover who she was.” She said, “I wasn’t willing to settle for the life most of the women I saw and knew were living.” She took a job as the managing editor of an adult website and wrote a book in 2000 about her experiences and her sex research. Now her life focuses on politics and activism in government issues. Foreign policy of the US government is the topic she studies regularly. Taylor has a website at www.TaylorMarsh.com and a weblog on progressive politics. In the last national election Taylor was an ardent supporter of Hillary Clinton, and received some national media attention and notoriety for that. Her goal is to be on national radio or cable TV doing her commentary on politics. Taylor Marsh is the strong-willed, intelligent, ambitious alter ego of Michelle Marshall, our Miss Missouri 1974. |
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40th Anniversary Miss Missouri – Vol. 7 - By Jim Dye Jennifer Hover was our Miss Missouri in 2001. Determination and goal oriented would describe this bright girl from Springfield, Missouri. She was Miss Southwest Missouri in 1997 and skipped her high school graduation to compete at Miss Missouri. In 1998 she was Miss Tri-Counties, 3rd runner up to Debra McDonald. In 1999 she was Miss Malden, 2nd runner up to Patches King. In 2000 she was 2nd runner up to Aaron Wendel, a preliminary swimsuit and talent winner, the overall interview winner, and winner of the Miss America Community Service Award. In 2001, as Miss Springfield, Jennifer became Miss Missouri. While Jennifer was in Atlantic City, New Jersey, competing in the Miss America Pageant, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11th and our east coast went into lock-down. There was talk about canceling the Miss America Pageant for fear of further attacks and out of respect for all those killed in the World Trade Center attack. The Miss America contestants voted to continue with the pageant as a show of strength and courage, honoring all those who died. After the pageant, the contestants each wrote an essay about how they felt about the events of 9/11 and how it touched their lives. Their essays were published in a book titled “Under the Crown”, and circulated throughout the state and local pageants. Jennifer graduated from Tulsa Oklahoma University in 2001, with a degree in Musical Theatre. Right after winning the Miss Missouri title, and while making all her Miss Missouri appearances, Jennifer had the starring role in a Springfield community Theatre production of “Grease”. She is one of those high-energy girls who always has 10 projects she’s working on and a two page to-do list. After her year of service as Miss Missouri, Jennifer married Brad White, they moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jennifer entered law school at TU. She graduated in 2005 from Tulsa University College of Law and was admitted to the bar. She currently practices medical malpractice defense in Tulsa. In 2009 Jennifer and Brad had a daughter, Harper Merdese White, who will be one-year-old March 20, 2010. Jennifer has remained close to the Miss Missouri Pageant, spearheading the creation of an alumni association for former Miss Missouri’s and former contestants. She has been the co-director of the Missouri Girls, an entertainment and performance group, she has served as an assistant producer for the Miss Missouri Pageant, and performed many times on stage since her reign.
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40th Anniversary Miss Missouri – Vol. 6 - By Jim Dye Theresa McDonnell was crowned Miss Missouri 1981. Originally from Florissant, Missouri, Terry entered the Miss Kirksville pageant as a junior at Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville. She placed 1st Runner-up to Miss Missouri. The next year she entered the Miss Trenton pageant and won the Miss Missouri Pageant, right after graduating from NEMO State University. She was a talented and vivacious singer who loved to perform. During her year as Miss MO she taught herself to be a ventriloquist. Terry said she would be driving down the highway to an appearance practicing her song, singing at the top of her voice and she would look over at the car next to her and they would be staring at her, and she would be embarrassed. So she learned to sing without moving her mouth. She would showoff that ventriloquism talent during her reign much to the delight of audiences. After her year as Miss MO she married Jeff Overfelt in 1983 and they moved to Columbia. Terry has taught for 26 years at Rock Bridge High School. Terry designed the coursework for the Children’s Theatre Program where she teaches high school students to write and perform for children. She also directs the contemporary worship service at Broadway Christian Church in Columbia. Jeff is employed by the Insurance Group and manages Dogwood Insurance Agency in affiliation with Boone County National Bank. Terry and Jeff have three children, Dustin who was married to Sarah in October of 2009, Hillary is a Physical Therapy student at MU and Hannah is a junior at Rock Bridge High School. Hillary and Terry performed a duet on the Miss Missouri stage one year. Many of you may remember Terry from TV commercials she did as the spokesperson for Columbia Mall, and she worked with area radio and television production companies doing entertainment and commercial work. Terry says she and Jeff have been busy and happy raising their three children and being active with family and friends. Terry says she looks forward to coming back to Mexico in June to be a part of the Miss Missouri Pageant 40th Anniversary Celebration.
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Ann Marie Sun, Miss Missouri 1994, used her Miss Missouri Scholarship to help pay for Medical School at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Ann Marie had graduated from MU with a major in PreMed/Biology, when she entered the Miss Missouri Pageant. She entered the pageant, she said, for scholarship money and experience. She didn’t think she’d win. Ann Marie had applied to the MU Medical School, taken and passed her PreMed exams, and been accepted for classes, beginning in the fall of 1994. When she did win, she called the medical school registrar on Monday morning, following the pageant and the registrar said, “We heard about you becoming Miss Missouri, we’ll see you next year.” Ann Marie suffered one indignity during her quest to become Miss Missouri. Her picture was left out of the 1993 Miss MO Program Book. Her information was published in the book, but above her information was the picture of Ann Marie Wolf, another contestant. Ann Marie got the last laugh by winning the pageant. After her year as Miss Missouri, Ann Marie went to Medical School and graduated specializing in Emergency Room medicine. She completed her residency program in Phoenix, Arizona. Between the first and second year of her residency program, she married Michael Brown. Ann Marie and Michael had become engaged before they left Columbia. Michael was trying to break into professional golf and was very dedicated to the sport. However, professional golf didn’t work out for Michael, so he entered medical school and became a doctor, too. Michael will complete his Family Practice residency in June of this year. In the middle Ann Marie’s ER practice, and Michael’s residency program, Devin Michael Brown was born in December of 2007. Ann Marie says Devin “Is a joyous gift from God. I never knew how awesome it is to be a parent.” Ann Marie and Michael are both very goal oriented people. For “fun”, they run marathons. Last September, Ann Marie ran the Disneyland Half Marathon in Anaheim, CA. and this January she ran in the PF Chang Half Marathon in Phoenix. Michael competed in the Arizona Iron man Triathlon last fall, and ran the PF Chang Full Marathon this January. That is the story of Dr. Ann Marie Sun, MD,
and Dr. Michael Brown, DO. Ann Marie says she plans to return to
Mexico June 12th for the Miss Missouri Pageant and the 40th
Anniversary Celebration.
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Miss Missouri 40th Anniversary - Volume 4 - by Jim Dye Fran Biesemeyer was our first Miss Missouri. Fran had been crowned in Springfield in 1969, and when the Mexico Jaycees received the Miss America Franchise to host the Miss Missouri Pageant, Fran was Missouri's reigning queen. Fran was a sophomore at the University of Missouri, Columbia, majoring in art. Her talent presentation at the Miss America Pageant was drawing animal figures to the song "Talk To The Animals" from the movie "Dr. Doolittle". Fran's lively drawings and commentary won her a special $1,000 scholarship. Fran made many appearances throughout Missouri during her year of service, and she was very helpful to the Mexico Jaycees as they worked to produce their first pageant here in Mexico, in 1970. After giving up her crown, Fran continued her education at the University of Missouri. She married John Owen in 1971 and they moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where they still live. Fran and John have three children Pamela, Julie and Douglas. While the kids were growing up, Fran was a stay-at-home mom, involved in many volunteer organizations. She was a Girl Scout leader, a girl's basketball coach in a youth league, and director of her church's vacation bible school. After her children were grown she decided she wanted to further her education, so she enrolled in Mercy's School or Radiology in Des Moines and now she works as a radiology technologist and office manager in a family clinic. Fran says she and John have six beautiful grandchildren who are the joy of their lives. They spend their free time babysitting or at their cabin in the Minnesota Northwoods on Leech Lake, boating and fishing. Come say hello to Fran Biesemeyer Owen and her husband John, when they return to Mexico, June 12th for the Miss Missouri 40th Anniversary Celebration.
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Miss Missouri 40th Anniversary Volume 3 - by Jim Dye Deborah McDonald was our Miss Missouri 1998, and the 3rd Runner-Up to Miss America in Atlantic City. Deborah was from West Plains, MO, and a marketing graduate from the West Plains campus of Southwest Missouri State University. She considered herself a "little country girl", fresh off the farm. The judges saw a bright mind, behind a fresh face, with a clear voice, and a load of charm. Deborah told the Judges at Miss Missouri that her ambition was to earn a Ph.D. and become a college professor in West Plains, for SMS. But, she says becoming Miss Missouri and then being the 3rd Runner-Up to Miss America sent her life in a whole new direction. After giving up her crown in 1999 she enrolled in the Journalism Doctoral program at the University of Missouri in Columbia. In 2000 she met Chris Russell in one of her classes, and a year later they were married. Deborah kept on with her studies and completed her Doctorate in Journalism from MU in 2003, "just in time to start having babies."
Chris had taken a job
with Caterpillar, so Chris and Deborah moved first to Iowa.
Then Caterpillar sent them to Mississippi, where Ryan was born.
Elizabeth was born after Chris' promotion to a Caterpillar
position in South Carolina. Then, with Deborah 7 months
pregnant, Chris was promoted and moved to England. Maxwell was
born in England. Deborah considers her family "typical". She
says she's a "typical" stay-at-home mom. Except, she's a web
master and creates websites for people around the world. Her
company address is:
www.WaterTree.com. Deborah says there are perks to living
in England..."Christmas in the Scottish Highlands is a magical
experience, Ireland in the summer makes you believe in
Leprechauns, and we live across the street from a 600 year old
church." "My ancestors were still living in tepees when that
church was built."
Deborah believes her
children are lucky to learn about another culture at such a
young age. The two oldest go to a Church of England Primary
School and are developing British accents. "Most British people
think Americans are rich and lucky." Living in England is very
expensive, she says. British people typically pay 40% of their
income in taxes...and there is even a tax of several hundred
dollars per year to watch television. "This has been a great
experience for our family" says Deborah. "It allows us to see
America with fresh eyes." "We are determined to never take
America for granted again."
Dr. Deborah McDonald
Russell, Ph.D., the self-proclaimed "little farm girl" from West
Plains, Missouri; who became Miss Missouri 1998; sang on the
Miss America stage in Atlantic City, New Jersey; earned a Ph.D.
in Journalism from the University of Missouri, Columbia; and is
raising her family half way around the world, credits the
opportunities she has had, in part, to the Miss Missouri Pageant
in Mexico, Missouri.
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After her reign as Miss Missouri, Kim married her long-time and very patient boy friend, Jeff Brinegar. Kim and Jeff have been married for 12 years. They have three children, Alyssa age 9, Olivia age 6, Alex age 2 ½, and they live in St Louis. Kim taught school in the Pattonville School District for 7 years. Now she is a very busy stay-at-home mom. Kim is a Brownie Troop leader for Alyssa and 10 other young ladies. She says her Brownie girls recently made 40 “hope” bracelets for an organization called Baskets of Hope, that distributes gifts to sick children in hospitals in the St Louis area. Kim has stayed active in the Miss Missouri Scholarship Program. She has volunteered for the Miss Metro St Louis Pageant, one of the Miss Missouri local pageants, for the past 12 years, and she also serves as the Miss Missouri Wardrobe Coordinator, helping choose Miss Missouri’s clothing, shoes and accessories for the Miss America Pageant. With three children and a very busy schedule, Kim says she and husband Jeff do everything possible to keep things “normal” for their kids. Jeff is a District Sales Manager for a pharmaceuticals company and travels back and forth between St Louis and Kansas City, supervising his team of sales people. Kim says the Miss Missouri program has afforded her so many opportunities and opened so many doors for her. She looks forward to coming to Mexico every summer, seeing old friends and attending the Miss Missouri Pageant.
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The Mexico Jaycees have always believed they can do great things for the City of Mexico. Because of the dream of a few Jaycees in 1969, our community rallied to support the cause of educational scholarships for women and the promotion of Mexico, Missouri as a place of opportunity. On July 17, 1969, after much discussion, President Buddy Robinson called for a vote to authorize Ron Holbrook and Connie Pickering to talk to officials of the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, about the Miss Missouri Pageant coming to Mexico. On October 12, 1969, Bill Muncrief, national director of the Miss America Pageant visited Mexico and was given a tour of Missouri Military Academy, the proposed site of the pageant, and local hotel/motel facilities. There had been a big rainstorm in Mexico that week, and the MMA Field House had about 6 inches of water in the building and the underpass on Hwy 54 East was flooded. Don Arens remembers that trip and says Bill Muncrief was shown the MMA Field House from Pollock Rd., and the Jaycees were unable to get to the Airpark Motel to show guest lodging facilities. The Mexico Ledger announced on November 13th that Mexico was in the running to host the state pageant, along with Raytown and Warrensburg, two larger cities with college facilities nearby. On November 19th, Mr. Muncrief returned to Mexico to sign the official franchise agreement with the Mexico Jaycees, making Mexico the new home of the Miss Missouri Pageant. Bill Muncrief said, “The Mexico Jaycees were so enthusiastic about the pageant and what they could for the Miss America Program, that they were awarded the franchise”.
Source: A History of the Mexico Jaycees
1933-1973, by Ron Holbrook |
