Michele McDonald
Michele McDonald | |
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(Top 12) |
Michele Marlene McDonald-Boeke (
Early life
McDonald was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, to parents Richard C. and Nancy McDonald (née Walker). She was one of four children. McDonald attended Knoch High School in nearby Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1971.[1]
Pageantry
Miss USA 1971
McDonald began her pageantry career after being encouraged by her mother to enter the
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The day after winning the competition, she and her parents visited Richard Nixon and his wife Pat Nixon at their summer home in Key Biscayne.[6]
Later in the year, McDonald represented the United States at
Before competing in Miss USA, McDonald had never left Pennsylvania nor flown in an airplane.[9] During her reign, she visited thirty of the fifty states, and additionally traveled to international destinations such as Brazil and the Bahamas.[10] As part of her winning prize, she was awarded $5,000 in cash, a $5,000 mink coat, and $5,000 in appearance fees.[3] McDonald was succeeded as Miss USA by Tanya Wilson of Hawaii, and had planned to attend nursing school after finishing her reign. Before beginning nursing school, she lived in New York City for a year and modeled with Ford Models.[1][9] McDonald's high school boyfriend proposed to her in the last months of her reign.[10]
Personal life
McDonald had three children and four grandchildren at the time of her death. She lived the majority of her life in Dayton, Ohio, with her partner of 37 years Jeffrey Sturgill. They relocated back to Butler County in 2015, where they lived in Sarver, Pennsylvania.[1]
Death
In June 2018, McDonald underwent a life-saving double lung transplant at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. She died on January 23, 2020, in a nursing home in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, from complications related to the surgery.[1][11]
References
- ^ a b c d "Michele Boeke (1952 - 2020)". Legacy. January 29, 2020.
- ^ Press State Wire (1971-05-01). "Butler Girl Wins Title as State Beauty". The Pittsburgh Press.
- ^ a b Mizell, Hubert (1971-05-24). "Miss USA 'Shocked, but Delighted'". The Free Lance-Star.
- ^ Associated Press (1971-05-23). "Miss USA enjoys the 'Goriest Kind' of Horror Movies". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- ^ "Miss USA graduates". Reading Eagle. 1971-05-31.
- ^ "Miss USA Meets the President". Reading Eagle. 1971-05-24.
- ^ Mizell, Hubert (1971-07-23). "Miss USA goes on crash diet". Reading Eagle.
- ^ Associated Press (1971-07-26). "Miss Universe's fortune came true". Herald-Journal.
- ^ a b Roberts, John (1972-03-14). "Miss USA a "Moon Driver"". The Victoria Advocate.
- ^ a b Associated Press (1972-02-11). "Title Has Broadened Views and Opened Doors for Miss USA". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- ^ "Miss USA from Butler County dies". Butler Eagle.
External links
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