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> >Very happy birthday wishes today (May 19, 2021) to >former Miss Green Bay 1949 and Miss Wisconsin 1949, >Phyllis Ann Kessler Lynn Sacho who turns 90 years >young today. > >It was on Wednesday, May 18, 1949 when Green Bay West >High School senior Phyllis Ann Kessler twirled her way >to victory at the Orpheum Theatre and bested ten other >contestants to become Miss Green Bay 1949 on the eve >of her 18th birthday and was crowned by Green Bay >mayor Dominic Olejniczak. > >"I never thought I had a chance. All the other girls >seemed to know what they were doing, I didn't. Thank >you, thank you all very much" Phyllis said moments >after the selection. > >Phyllis was born on May 19, 1931 in Michigan and moved >to Wisconsin early in her life. Just nine days after >her local pageant victory, she competed in the 1949 >Miss Wisconsin pageant in Milwaukee and won the state >crown over four other statewide contestants including >first runner-up Miss Kenosha, Gaynor (Gay) Elizabeth >Phillipson. Phyllis won a $2,000 scholarship and the >chance to compete in the Miss America pageant in >Atlantic City. > >A welcome home party was held in Phyllis Kessler's >honor two days later at the Hotel Northland in Green >Bay. > >On Saturday, September 10, 1949, Phyllis represented >Wisconsin in the 1949 Miss America pageant where she >placed among the 15 semi-finalists which allowed her >to present her energetic twirl routine to the >audience, which also thrilled spectators at Green Bay >Packers football games in her hometown. > >Named as Miss America of 1949 was Miss Arizona, >Jacquelyn Joy Mercer (who did a dramatic reading for >talent). The 1949 pageant marked the first time that a >public official, New Jersey Governor Alfred E. >Driscoll, had taken part in the coronation, placing >the jeweled crown on the Jacque's head. > >During her reign, Jacque married and divorced her high >school sweetheart, Douglas Cook. After this, a rule >was enacted which requires Miss America contestants to >sign a pledge vowing they have never been married or >pregnant or get married during their year of service. > >Additionally, it was at this Miss America pageant in >1949, that Miss Montana (Carol Fraser) lost control of >her horse which nearly fell into the Orchestra Pit at >Convention Hall during her talent presentation of >equestrian maneuvering. The use of live animals was >banned from the talent competition after that moment. > >In later years, Phyllis co-directed the regional Miss >Bayland pageant which sent three winners (1962--1964) >to the Miss Wisconsin pageant; as well as co-producing >the 1973 Miss Green Bay pageant and attending many >future city and state pageants. > >Phyllis became good friends with Miss Wisconsin 1944, >Elsie (Elyse) Sutter Oddo (who was also Miss Milwaukee >1944) when both judged at local pageants and coached >prospective contestants in the 1950s and 1960s. > >Coincidentally, Phyllis got well-appreciated coaching >tips from Elyse at the 1949 Miss Wisconsin pageant. >Elyse passed away on Sept. 16, 2019 at age 95, making >her the longest-lived Miss Wisconsin in state pageant >history. >http://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/jsonline/name/elsie >-oddo-obituary?pid=194023320 > > >Happy 90th birthday today Phyllis!! > >Phyllis Ann Kessler in May 1949: >http://www.picuki.com/hosted-by-instagram/url=https%3A% >7C%7C%7C%7Cinstagram.fiev22-2.fna.fbcdn.net%7C%7Cv%7C%7 >Ct51.2885-15%7C%7Csh0.08%7C%7Ce35%7C%7Cs640x640%7C%7C49 >431449_2276152072626304_76375465424408300_n.jpg%3Ftp%3D >1%26_nc_ht%3Dinstagram.fiev22-2.fna.fbcdn.net%26_nc_cat >%3D104%26_nc_ohc%3DLrguQb-xFvwAX-wMkJm%26edm%3DAA0rjkIB >AAAA%26ccb%3D7-4%26oh%3De3ed182ab8e17f2441d3ca6bf42a109 >2%26oe%3D60C95E7C%26_nc_sid%3Dd997c6 > >Phyllis Ann Sacho in January 2018: >http://www.facebook.com/MissGreenBayArea/photos/pcb.101 >57562153253521/10157562153178521/?type=3&theater

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