Ohio’s “Other” Miss America Crowned – Sept. 1971

Everyone has heard of Jackie Mayer – the Sandusky native who was crowned Miss America 1963. Although Mayer's beauty and class initially brought her fame, it was the inspirational story of her recovery after suffering a stroke at the age of 28, and her dedication to helping other stroke victims, that made her someone to truly look up to. 

But did you know that another Miss Ohio captured the Miss America crown just a little less than ten years after Jackie Mayer?

Laurel Lea Schaefer of Bexley, Ohio (a Columbus suburb) was named Miss America 1972, fifty years ago this month. 

But before she became Miss America, she had to win the Miss Ohio competition. Here's Laurel being awarded the Miss Ohio crown, in an article that ran in the Journal on July 18, 1971. Note that Miss Lorain County, Irene Sidorowicz of Lorain, came very close to winning as one of the semifinalists.

Here's an article in which Laurel expressed her opinion about lowering the voting age. It ran in the Journal on July 28, 1971.

And here’s Laurel holding her trophy for winning the preliminary Miss America swim suit competition in a photo that ran in the Journal on Sept. 11, 1971. 

And finally, here's Laurel winning the Miss America crown in an article that ran on the front page of the Journal on Sept. 12, 1971.

A day later, this article about her ran in the Journal on Sept. 13, 1971. It’s a refreshing interview in which she states her opinions nicely (unlike being muzzled like today’s Miss America winners).

Sept. 13, 1971

In the coming weeks, Laurel would be the subject of many small articles and news snippets.

Sept. 20, 1971

Oct. 16, 1971

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Update (Sept. 30, 2024)

Be sure to visit this post in which Laurel herself updates us on her life since her Miss America pageant win!