Phyllis George, pioneer in sportscasting, dies at 70
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Phyllis George, a former Miss America, television personality and ex-wife of former Kentucky Gov. John Y. Brown Jr., has died in Lexington, Kentucky, after an illness.
George, who had been hospitalized at the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital, was 70.
She died Thursday from complications from a blood disorder she had developed in her mid-30s but had managed for many years, Brown told The Courier Journal on Saturday.
“Phyllis was a great asset to Kentucky,” said Brown, who also lives in
Lexington and said he had maintained an amicable relationship with his exwife. He said he especially valued their four years as Kentucky’s governor and first lady.
George, a Texan, rose to prominence after winning the 1971 Miss America title at age 21 and relocating to New York, where she said her “Texas personality” helped her land her first television assignments.
In New York, George’s first major break was as a commentator with CBS Sports. A 1976 People magazine cover featured a smiling photo of her with the headline, “An ex-Miss America becomes TV’s first lady of the locker room.” She came to count among her friends Norman Vincent Peale, the prominent New
York pastor who officiated at her wedding to Brown; Bill and Hillary Clinton; George and Barbara Bush; and Sir Elton
John.
A native of Denton, Texas, George was a student at North Texas State University when she won the Miss America title that would lead to dozens of national appearances during her one-year reign before she settled in New York.
In 1972, she joined the cast of “The NFL Today,” co-hosting pregame shows and was one of the first women to have a national role in television sports. In early 1985, after her four years as Kentucky’s first lady, she became a co-host with Bill Kurtis of “CBS Morning News” for only eight months.
After taking off about 10 years, George would return to television and cable work, hosting interviews, shopping shows and promoting crafts.