Jeanne Robertson

{{Infobox person

| image = Jeanne-Robertson-2012.jpg

| caption = Performing onstage in Charlottesville, Virginia, April 2012

| name = Jeanne Robertson

| birth_name = Jeanne Flinn Swanner

| birth_date = {{birth date|1943|9|21}}

| birth_place = Chelsea, Massachusetts, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|8|21|1943|9|21}}

| death_place = Burlington, North Carolina, U.S.

| education = Auburn University

| height = {{convert|6|ft|2|in|abbr=on}}

| spouse = {{plainlist|

{{marriage|Walter Bowline|1965|end = {{abbr|div.|divorced}} early 1970s}}
{{marriage|Jerry Robertson|1974|June 7th 2021|end = died}}

}}

| children = 1

| occupation = {{Hlist|Humorist|speaker|author}}

| years_active = 1963–2021

| module = {{Infobox pageant titleholder

| child = yes

| title = Miss North Carolina 1963

| hair_color= White (formerly blond)

| nationalcompetition=Miss America 1964

}}

| website = {{URL|jeannerobertson.com}}

}}

Jeanne Flinn Swanner Robertson ({{IPAc-en|dʒ|iː|nj|iː}};{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/arts/jeanne-robertson-dead.html|title = Jeanne Robertson, 77, Down-Home Humorist With a Pageant Past, Dies|work = The New York Times|date = August 27, 2021|accessdate = August 27, 2021|last = Williams|first = Annabelle|quote = [Her] first name was pronounced Jeannie}} September 21, 1943 – August 21, 2021) was an American athlete, teacher, humorist, motivational speaker, YouTube personality, and Miss North Carolina 1963.

Early life

Jeanne Flinn Swanner was born at the Naval Hospital Boston in Chelsea, Massachusetts and raised in Graham, North Carolina,{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqnCzcpANbw| title= NEW! Jeanne Robertson Left Brain vs Intruder - HILARIOUS!!! | first= Jeanne |last= Robertson| website= YouTube.com| access-date= January 9, 2017}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}} one of three daughters. According to one of her YouTube videoclips, not only was she taller than sisters Katherine and Andrea, she was also especially tall as a youth, growing to {{convert|6|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on}} by age 13.{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2DWAvLo8A0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/G2DWAvLo8A0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live| title= Don't Trick or Treat Without the Right Costume| first= Jeanne |last= Robertson| website= YouTube.com|date=October 23, 2014 | access-date= January 9, 2017}}{{cbignore}} She was an avid basketball player.

Pageant participant

File:Miss NC 75th.jpg

In 1963, at age 19, she was named Miss North Carolina{{cite web|url=http://selifestyle.com/emags/August2012/files/8.html |title=Memory Lane - Where's My Crown? |work=Southeast Lifestyle |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817161555/http://selifestyle.com/emags/August2012/files/8.html |archive-date=August 17, 2013 }}{{cite web |title=Miss America 1964 Candidates |url=https://www.missamerica.org/titleholders/1964-candidates/ |website=Miss America |access-date=August 22, 2021 |date=September 5, 2018 |quote=North Carolina — Jeanne Flinn Swanner}} and went on to be named Miss Congeniality in that year's Miss America competition.{{cite news| first= Jean| last= Gordon| title= Humorist Robertson coming to Foundation| work= The Daily Courier| location= Forest City, North Carolina| date= January 26, 2013| page= A1}}{{cite web |last1=Morrisey |first1=Brittany Ann |title=Miss Congeniality |url=https://www.orlandofamilymagazine.com/archived-articles/miss-congeniality/ |website=Orlando Family Magazine |access-date=August 22, 2021 |language=en |date=March 2020}} As of 2021, Jeanne Swanner, at 6 foot 2 inches, is still the tallest contestant ever to participate in the Miss America pageant.{{cite web |title=Miss North Carolina 1963 |url=http://www.missnc.org/about/our-history/miss-north-carolina-1963 |website=www.missnc.org |publisher=Miss North Carolina |access-date=August 22, 2021 |quote=... nineteen-year-old 6′ 2 Jeanne Swanner of Graham played the ukulele in a comedy sketch to capture the title. She won Miss Congeniality at both the Miss North Carolina and Miss America pageants and remains the tallest contestant ever to compete in the Miss America pageant. |archive-date=August 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822130412/http://www.missnc.org/about/our-history/miss-north-carolina-1963 |url-status=dead }} Robertson credited her reign as the catalyst for her career.{{cite web |url=http://wunc.org/tsot/archive/sot1214abc09.mp3/view |title=Meet Jeanne Robertson — North Carolina Public Radio WUNC |website=WUNC.org |access-date=February 15, 2010 |archive-date=February 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220193847/http://wunc.org/tsot/archive/sot1214abc09.mp3/view |url-status=dead }}{{cite news| first= Barry| last= Courter| title= Funny and smart - at 68, Jeanne Robertson finds second vocation as comedian| work= Chattanooga Times Free Press| date= February 17, 2012| page= 57}}

Following her Miss North Carolina reign, Robertson used her scholarship to fund her college education at Auburn University, where she majored in physical education, joined Alpha Gamma Delta,{{Cite journal|date=July 26, 2018|title=Appreciating Sisterhood|url=https://issuu.com/alphagammadelta/docs/summerq_issuu |journal=Alpha Gamma Delta Quarterly|issue=Summer 2018|page=26}} and played college basketball.{{cite news |title=Jeanne Robertson, North Carolina humorist, dies at 77 |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/article253677318.html |access-date=August 25, 2021 |work=Charlotte Observer |agency=Associated Press |date=August 22, 2021}} Robertson graduated in 1967,{{cite web |first=Dan |last=Anderson |url=https://www.elon.edu/u/news/2008/04/30/elon-trustee-jeanne-robertson-is-featured-speaker-at-white-house-event/ |publisher=Elon University |title=Elon trustee Jeanne Robertson is featured speaker at White House event |date=April 30, 2008 |access-date=August 24, 2021 }} and in 1990 she was inducted as an alumni member of the Omicron Delta Kappa Circle at Auburn University.{{Cite web|title=Notable Members|url=https://odk.org/about-odk/history/notable-alumni/|access-date=August 22, 2021|website=Omicron Delta Kappa|language=en-US}}

Career

Robertson taught physical education for eight years in North Carolina.{{cite news| first= Rosemary| last= Ellis| title= The value of humor: making life bearable| work= The Press of Atlantic City| date= February 4, 1990| page= G1}}

Although she began her public speaking career with her pageant title, Robertson achieved much more national attention as a humorist and speaker. Her anecdotes have been broadcast regularly on satellite radio comedy channels, including XM Radio's Laugh USA, Sirius Radio's Blue Collar Comedy and its Family Comedy Channel, and Laugh Break. Her popularity soared, however, in 2009 after a handful of humorous clips from her talks became popular videos. Robertson distinguished between a humorist, which she considered herself, and a comedian, stating, "The humorist weaves the longer stories with a point. We don't go 'after' anybody. I'm telling my life."

In 1980 she was designated a Certified Speaking Professional by the National Speakers Association, and served as the association's president in 1985. She was also a Golden Gavel award-winning Toastmaster.{{cite web |title=Toastmasters International Honors Nido Qubein With Golden Gavel |url=https://mediacenter.toastmasters.org/newsreleases?item=31646 |website=Toastmasters International Media Center |publisher=Toastmasters International |access-date=August 25, 2021 |language=en |quote=The Golden Gavel is the most prestigious award offered by Toastmasters International, ... Past recipients include Jeanne Robertson, Les Brown, Art ...}}

On April 29, 2008, she spoke at the White House for National Volunteer Week to honor the 1,300 volunteers who donate time to work at the White House.

Honors and awards

National Speakers Association Speaker Hall of Fame (inducted in 1981)
National Speakers Association Cavett Award (1989); first woman to receive the award
Omicron Delta Kappa (inducted in 1990 as an alumna at Auburn University)
Toastmasters International Golden Gavel Award (1998)
North Carolina Press Association North Carolinian of the Year (2001)

Graham Historical Museum, in her hometown of Graham, North Carolina, features a permanent exhibit, Jeanne Swanner Robertson.{{cite web| title= Graham Historical Museum| url= https://www.visitnc.com/listing/graham-historical-museum| website= VisitNC.com| access-date= January 10, 2017}}

Personal life

Jeanne married Walter Bowline III in 1965; they had one son and divorced in the early 1970s. In 1974, she married Jerry Robertson,{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3CCFeygoIc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/V3CCFeygoIc |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live| title= Left Brain is in the Building | first= Jeanne |last= Robertson| website= YouTube.com|date=May 21, 2016 | access-date= January 9, 2017}}{{cbignore}} a graduate of Duke University where, at {{convert|6|ft|6|in|abbr=on}} tall and on an athletic scholarship,{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YFRUSTiFUs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/-YFRUSTiFUs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live| title= Don't send a man to the grocery store! | first= Jeanne |last= Robertson| website= YouTube.com|date=July 8, 2009 | access-date= January 9, 2017}}{{cbignore}} he played on its basketball team, serving as its captain in 1959.{{cite news |last1=Overman |first1=Ogi |title=Once you've given your heart to a school (Duke), rationality goes out the window |url=https://greensboro.com/life/ogi-overman-once-you-ve-given-your-heart-to-a-school-duke-rationality-goes-out/article_977906d1-4147-572a-876d-3c31833c7524.html |access-date=August 22, 2021 |work=Greensboro News and Record |date=February 17, 2017 |language=en |quote=...Jerry, was a member of the Duke men’s basketball team (and was to become the captain of the '59 team). .... As a side note, Jerry went on to marry Jeanne Swanner, Miss North Carolina of 1963 and Miss Congeniality of the Miss America Pageant, now a nationally acclaimed comedienne and author, and he became superintendent of Burlington City Schools.}}{{cite news| url= http://www.jamestownnews.com/news/lifestyles/years-later-miss-congeniality-more-popular-than-ever-before/article_794c7d6c-b1ba-11e2-899c-001a4bcf887a.html| title= 50 years later, Miss Congeniality more popular than ever before| date= April 30, 2013| first= Ogi| last= Overman| work= Jamestown News| access-date= January 10, 2017}}{{dead link|date=October 2017}} Jerry received his master's degree and doctorate at the University of North Carolina; he was an educator and principal, eventually serving as superintendent of Burlington City Schools, and later working in business. In her performances, Jeanne would frequently refer to him as "Left Brain", or sometimes "LB". They were married until his death in June 2021.{{cite news |last1=Nambiar |first1=Prerna |title=Who was Jeanne Robertson's husband Jerry aka Left Brain? |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/08/22/jeanne-robertson-husband/ |access-date=August 22, 2021 |work=HITC |date=August 22, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Jerry Robertson, Loyal Supporter Of Elon Athletics, Passes Away |url=https://elonphoenix.com/news/2021/6/9/jerry-robertson-loyal-supporter-of-elon-athletics-passes-away.aspx |access-date=August 22, 2021 |work=Elon University Athletics |date=June 9, 2021 |language=en}}

Robertson's son, Walter Bailey "Beaver" Bowline, is a 1989 graduate of Elon University, where Jeanne was a trustee.{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk1uT8lwq4w |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Jk1uT8lwq4w |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live| title= Don't Mess with Teenage Hussies | first= Jeanne |last= Robertson| website= YouTube.com|date=December 3, 2016 | access-date= January 9, 2017}}{{cbignore}} Two of Jeanne's grandchildren also attended Elon.{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Dan |title=Death of Elon University Trustee Jeanne Robertson |url=https://www.elon.edu/u/news/2021/08/22/death-of-elon-university-trustee-jeanne-robertson/ |website=Elon University |access-date=August 25, 2021 |language=en |date=August 22, 2021}} Jeanne and Jerry Robertson were both members of Elon University's Phoenix Club, which supports the athletic program, and the university's track and field complex is named after the couple.{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Dan |title=Elon names track and field complex in honor of Jerry and Jeanne Robertson |url=https://www.elon.edu/u/news/2014/10/31/elon-names-track-and-field-complex-in-honor-of-jerry-and-jeanne-robertson/ |website=Elon University |language=en |date=October 31, 2014}}

Robertson was a member of the Methodist church.{{cite web| url= http://www.jeanne-fun.com/2012_06_01_archive.html| first= Linda "MissDazey"| last= Crim| website= Jeanne-fun.com| date= June 5, 2012| title= Evangel University Chapel| access-date= January 10, 2017| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170116194022/http://www.jeanne-fun.com/2012_06_01_archive.html| archive-date= January 16, 2017| url-status= dead}} She said her favorite television series was The Andy Griffith Show. Her 1995 book, Mayberry Humor Across the USA, furthers her connection to Griffith's show.

=Death=

On August 12, 2021, it was announced that some of Robertson's future engagements had been canceled due to a "serious but non-COVID-related" illness. She unexpectedly died at her home in Burlington, North Carolina on August 21, 2021, at age 77.{{cite news|url = https://www.wral.com/nc-humorist-dies-unexpectedly-at-77/19836994/|title = 'All the angels are laughing': NC humorist dies unexpectedly at 77|work = WRAL-TV|date = August 21, 2021|accessdate = August 21, 2021}}{{cite news|url = https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-sports-north-carolina-9f2019954b56d4ee6782955853a9038d|title = Jeanne Robertson, North Carolina humorist, dies at 77|work = Associated Press|date = August 22, 2021|accessdate = August 25, 2021}}

Books

Robertson authored four books:

Humor: The Magic of Genie: Seven Potions for Developing a Sense of Humor (1989) Rich Publishing Company, {{ISBN|9780960725694}}
Mayberry Humor Across the USA (1995) Rich Publishing Company, {{ISBN|9780927577021}}
Don't Let the Funny Stuff Get Away (1998) Rich Publishing Company, {{ISBN|9780927577038}}
Don't Bungee Jump Naked And Other Important Stuff (2020) Jeanne Robertson, {{ISBN|9780578668611}}

Audio and video media

Robertson's performances have been recorded on both DVD and CD, with nine titles currently available:{{cite web| url= https://www.jeannerobertson.com/columns/humor_store.htm| first= Jeanne| last= Robertson| website= jeannerobertson.com| title= Humor Store| access-date= February 18, 2020}}

Rocking Humor
Fabulously Funny
Looking for Humor
Just for Fun
Flat Out Funny
Southern Style
Talkin' Funny
Not Just for Laughs
Here She Is

Many short segments of her speeches (individual stories, outtakes, etc.) are also available on Jeanne's YouTube channel, as well as recordings of her 2020–2021 livestream series "Live from the Back Porch".{{cite web|first=Jeanne|last=Robertson|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/JeanneRobertson|title=JeanneRobertson|website=Youtube.com|access-date=August 22, 2021}}