Venus Ramey, Miss America who inspired WWII effort, dies

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Venus Ramey, a former Miss America who helped rally the nation during World War II and found renewed fame later in life by shooting out the tires of intruders at her Kentucky farm, has died. She was 92.

The 1944 Miss America died Saturday, according to the Morris and Hislope Funeral Home in Science Hill, Kentucky.

Ramey was the first redhead to win the Miss America title and the first to be photographed in color. After winning the crown, she embarked on a vaudeville tour and sold $5 million in war bonds. Her likeness also graced a B-17 that made 68 raids over Germany and other Nazi-occupied nations.

"Venus was a revolutionary Miss America who lived a full life, cared deeply about her country and our military, and utilized her influence for the good of our nation," said Josh Randle, president of the Miss America Organization. "Venus will be greatly missed by the Miss America family, and our thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones."

Kenny Upchurch, a retired sheriff's officer in Kentucky, befriended Ramey after she won the title, but they never talked about it, or her experiences on behalf of the war effort. Rather, he said, they would chat about local concerns at the post office when she came to pick up her mail.

"She was a great American," he said. "She loved animals. A lot of people would drop stray animals off, and she would take care of them. She was just a very kind and caring person."

Born In Ashland, Kentucky, Ramey represented Washington, D.C., where she lived at the time, in the Miss America pageant and captured the title in Atlantic City.

Although she was offered movie contracts, Ramey agreed to go on a 55-city tour of the country selling war bonds for the U.S. Treasury, which honored her for eventually selling $5 million worth.

She also inspired the crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber that rained explosives on the enemy in Germany, Italy and France during the war. Her image was stenciled onto the side of the bomber.

Ramey also took up political activism, working with U.S. senators and representatives on voting rights for Washington, D.C., and for women's rights.