MEMPHIS’ FIRST MISS CITY BEAUTIFUL
Marilyn Jo Mcnamara reflects on her full life at 90
Marilyn Jo Mcnamara counts her blessings every day.
Even at 90. The very first Memphis Miss City Beautiful winner, who beat out 81 other girls to have the title bestowed upon her in 1947 — when Harry S. Truman was president and the price of the edition of the Press-scimitar she appeared in was a nickel — still hasn’t lost sight of how full the life she’s lived has been.
“God’s been very good to me,” she said. “I’ve had a great life. I’ve never lost sight of that.”
Mcnamara worked as a dancer in New York City, where she said Frank Sinatra took her to dinner once. Mcnamara knew Elvis Presley. One of her daughters, Maggie Pool, said she claims to have been his godmother. Mcnamara says she danced on stage with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. Mcnamara had three of her six children (including Pool and Sandra Horn) with Bill Maley, who played minor league baseball for seven seasons (which included a couple of stints with the Memphis Chicks) and went on to become an assistant chief for the Shelby County Sheriff ’s Department under former Sheriff Roy Nixon.
And Mcnamara remains full of life. Surrounded by family members, some who traveled hundreds of miles, and a small group of friends, she celebrated her 90th birthday the evening of June 19. Despite being delayed by more than three weeks (her actual birthday was May 26) due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the soiree — hosted by Horn at her Memphis home — featured plenty of Mcnamara’s infectious positive vibes.
Naturally the belle of the ball, Mcnamara was in her element standing poolside in the Oak and Pine tree-canopied backyard, greeted by a stream of familiar faces and well-wishers. Just the kind of thing she appreciates. Almost as much as dancing, which she still does on the occasional evening out at Lafayette’s.
“She’s a chick magnet,” Pool said. “All the young girls love dancing with her.”
Mcnamara, who says she doesn’t feel a day over 50, admits she doesn’t dance as much as she would like anymore. But walking and jogging are able substitutes.
“I like to get out and do things,” she said. “I don’t like to sit around. I’m 90 years old. I can still jog. That’s what you have to do: stay active. I like to move my body. So, I go out when the weather is good. I can’t just sit and watch TV all day. I have a couple lady friends that go with me sometimes. But they don’t like to walk every day like I do. I go every day, so I can keep my body moving.”