Patricia Donnelly
{{Short description|American beauty queen (1919–2009)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Patricia Mary Donnelly
|image = Patricia_Donnelly.jpg
|alt =
|caption =
|birth_name = Patricia Mary Harris
|birth_date= {{birth date|1919|10|30}}
|birth_place = Durand, Michigan, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2009|10|25|1919|10|30}}
|death_place =
|other_names = "The Long-Stemmed American Beauty"
|known_for =
|occupation = {{hlist|Singer|Hollywood showgirl|model}}
|years_active =
|height =
|title = Miss America 1939
|spouse = {{marriage|Robin Harris|1948}}
|partner =
|children = 2
|relations =
}}
Patricia Mary Donnelly ({{nee}} Harris, October 30, 1919 – October 25, 2009) was an American beauty queen who won Miss America in 1939. She subsequently briefly had a career as a singer and worked on stage and screen.
Early years
Donnelly was born in Durand, Michigan.{{cite news|title=Patricia Donnelly Harris, 89, Miss America 1939|url=http://www.pressreader.com/usa/boston-herald/20091103/283008280845908|accessdate=December 18, 2017|work=Boston Herald|date=November 3, 2009|via = pressreader}} She was a singer in grade school and on radio programs, and she began singing with a band soon after she finished high school. She also worked as a model for Hudson's department store.{{cite web|title=1939 Patricia Donnelly Harris (Miss Detroit) becomes our first Miss America!|url=http://www.missmichigan.org/1939.php|website=Miss Michigan|accessdate=December 18, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218024227/http://www.missmichigan.org/1939.php|archivedate=December 18, 2017}}
Miss America
Donnelly was the last to be crowned at the Steel Pier.{{cite web | url= http://www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1930/1939.asp | title= Miss America History 1939 | accessdate = December 30, 2006 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060923040251/http://www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1930/1939.asp |archivedate = September 23, 2006}} In the talent competition, she sang the then-new ballad "To You" and the faster-tempo "Old Man Mose". After winning the Miss America title, she traveled across the United States making personal appearances. She was given the nickname "The Long-Stemmed American Beauty".
Career
Following her reign as Miss America, Donnelly sang at the Stork Club, on Broadway, and appeared in some films. She worked for the John Robert Powers modeling agency. Her Broadway credits included the musical revue Priorities of 1942 and the musical comedy The Lady Comes Across (1942).{{cite web|title=Patricia Donnelly|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/patricia-donnelly-106012|website=Internet Broadway Database|publisher=The Broadway League|accessdate=December 18, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218032946/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/patricia-donnelly-106012|archivedate=December 18, 2017}}
En route to Chicago on the famous "Super Chief" of railways, she was introduced to Jack L. Warner of Warner Bros. Studio. He recognized her strong resemblance to Hollywood beauty, Ann Sheridan.
Soon a Hollywood contract was offered, but Donnelly turned it down. "I realized by that time I didn't want my face known," she said. "In other words, I wanted the freedom of movement, to go where I pleased without people knowing who I was."
Personal life
Donnelly married Robin Harris in 1948 and had two children, Amanda and Stephen. For years she and Robin worked together as travel editors of the Hearst Newspapers.{{cite news|title=A year was enough; life now is nice|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15843023/patricia_donnelly_harris/|work=Detroit Free Press|date=September 12, 1986|location=Michigan, Detroit|page=B 1|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = December 18, 2017}} {{Open access}}
In 1980, she was diagnosed with throat cancer after years of smoking cigarettes.{{cite web|first1=Michelle |last1=Tauber |first2=Mike |last2=Neill |first3=Lisa |last3=Russell |first4=Joanne|last4=Fowler |first5=Julie |last5=Dam |first6=Alex |last6=Tresniowski |first7=Samantha |last7=Miller |first8=Steve |last8=Dougherty |first9=Ting |last9=Yu |title= American Beauties: 80 Years |work= People |url=https://people.com/archive/american-beauties-80-years-vol-54-no-16/ |date=October 16, 2000}} She underwent a laryngectomy and spoke with the aid of a prosthesis.
References
{{Portal|Biography|Michigan|Music|Theater}}
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box
| before=Marilyn Meseke
| title=Miss America
| years=1939
| after=Frances Marie Burke
}}
{{s-end}}
{{MissAmericas 1921–1939}}
{{Michigan pageant winners}}
{{Miss America}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Donnelly, Patricia}}
Category:Miss America 1930s delegates
{{US-pageant-bio-stub}}