Jo-Carroll Dennison Biography
Jo-Carroll Dennison Biography – Miss America 1942 was Jo-Carroll Dennison (December 16, 1923 – October 18, 2021), an American actress and model who was one of the first to object to wearing a swimsuit during her reign. She was the oldest surviving former Miss America at the time of her death.
| Name | Jo-Carroll Dennison |
| Date of Birth | December 16, 1923 |
| Age | 97 years (died) |
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Death | October 18, 2021 |
| Net worth | $2 million |
| Profession/Occupation | Model, |
| Gender | Female |
| Title | Miss America 1942 |
| Husband | Phil Silvers (m. 1945; div. 1950) Russell Stoneham (m. 1954; div. 1981) |
Jo-Carroll Dennison Background
Jo-Carroll Dennison Background – Dennison was born in Florence, Arizona, on December 16, 1923, to Elizabeth (née Brownd) and Harry Arthur Dennison, a traveling medicine show owner in Texas. She was born in the hospital of an Arizona men’s state jail, where she was delivered by the prison doctor, who was the only medical care her parents could get. Her father had planned for her to be born in California, so the couple was heading west from Texas when she gave birth.
Jo-Carroll Dennison Education
Jo-Carroll Dennison Education – Later in life, her family lived in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Tyler, Texas. She was a stenographer in Tyler after graduating from Hale Center High School in 1940.
Jo-Carroll Dennison Career
Jo-Carroll Dennison Career – After entering the competition as Miss Texas, Dennison was named Miss America on September 12, 1942. She has previously won the contest’s talent and swimsuit competitions. During her time as Miss America during WWII, she spent a lot of time visiting “defense plants, hospitals, and service camps” and selling war bonds. As part of her duties as Miss America, she refused to wear a swimsuit.
Dennison traveled to Hollywood after her tenure as Miss America. On November 18, 1942, she signed a seven-year contract with 20th Century Fox. Winged Victory and The Jolson Story both featured her. In 1950, she made appearances on the Dick Tracy series.
Jo-Carroll Dennison Husband
Jo-Carroll Dennison Husband – On March 2, 1945, Dennison married comedian Phil Silvers.
On March 8, 1950, they divorced. There were no children born from the union. Dennison later married Russell Stoneham, a television producer, and they had two boys, Peter and John. She lived in the San Jacinto Mountains of California, in the town of Idyllwild.
Dennison died at the age of 97 on October 18, 2021.
Jo-Carroll Dennison Autobiography
Jo-Carroll Dennison Autobiography – Finding My Little Red Hat, her autobiography, was released in September 2021.
Jo-Carroll Dennison Legacy
Jo-Carroll Dennison Legacy – Dennison showed her support for the #MeToo movement in her book, disclosing that she had been sexually assaulted when she was 12 years old. She penned, “The inequity with which women have been treated in American culture is astounding. I am extremely pleased of the ‘Me Too’ movement and the brave women who have spoken up about male sexual assault they have experienced, and I am grateful I have lived long enough to witness it.”
Dennison’s tale, according to her autobiography’s editor, Mills, is “one of overcoming the obstacles of a fractured childhood and sub-par schooling, taking up social concerns, and constructing a dynamic intellectual life.”
