Miss USA 1979

Miss USA 1979
Date	April 30, 1979
Presenters	Bob Barker
Venue	Gulf Coast Convention Center, Biloxi, Mississippi
Broadcaster	CBS
Entrants	51
Placements	12
Winner	Mary Therese Friel New York
Congeniality	Pam Williams
Photogenic	Michele Sandoval

Miss USA 1979, the 28th Miss USA pageant, was televised live by CBS from the Gulf Coast Convention Center in Biloxi, Mississippi on April 30, 1979.

The pageant was won by Mary Therese Friel of New York, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Judi Andersen of Hawaii. Friel was the second woman from New York to win the Miss USA title, and went on to place as a semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1979.

Results

• Miss USA 1979: Mary Therese Friel (New York)
• The runners-up were:
  • 1st runner-up: Tracey Goddard (Washington)
  • 2nd runner-up: Leialoha Ma'a (Hawaii)
  • 3rd runner-up: Debra Niego (Illinois)
  • 4th runner-up: Laurie Kimbrough (Mississippi)
• The semi-finalists were:
  • Ana Maria Rubert (Arizona)
  • Linda Fogarty (California)
  • Monica Magnus (Massachusetts)
  • Dianne Jamerson (North Carolina)
  • Anne Hinnant (Texas)
  • Betsy Bott (Virginia)
  • Kathryn Wituschek (Wisconsin)

Special awards

• Congeniality: Pam Williams (Wyoming)
• Photogenic: Michele Sandoval (New Mexico)

Delegates

The Miss USA 1979 delegates were:

Alabama - Rose Burch Alaska - Kim Fidler Arizona - Ana Maria Rubert Arkansas - Cynthia Caldwell California - Linda Fogarty Colorado - Jene Nelson Connecticut - Mary Beth Lombardi Delaware - Lisa Toothman District of Columbia - Cynthia Ramsay Florida - Penny Sheridan Georgia - Debbie Freeman Hawaii - Leialoha Ma'a Idaho - Lori Jukich Illinois - Debra Niego Indiana - Debbie Hayes Iowa - Teri Rees Kansas - Linda Shields Kentucky - Linda Passmore Louisiana - Lisa Anderson Maine - Valerie Crooker Maryland - Jean Bourne Massachusetts - Monica Magnus Michigan - Susan James Minnesota - Cynthia Lee Mississippi - Laurie Kimbrough Missouri - Virginia Dean

Montana - Jurette Sindelar Nebraska - Rhonda Lundberg Nevada - Aleasha Magleby New Hampshire - Patricia Brous New Jersey - Robin Senatore New Mexico - Michele Sandoval New York - Mary Therese Friel North Carolina - Dianne Jamerson North Dakota - Renae Hermanson Ohio - Carolyn Houlihan Oklahoma - Susan Gibson Oregon - Katie Fitzpatrick Pennsylvania - Maureen Starinsky Rhode Island - Theresa Patterson South Carolina - Janice McDonald South Dakota - Noelle de Saint Gall Tennessee - Sandy Nuismer Texas - Anne Hinnant Utah - Vicky Scott Vermont - Kathi Rechsteiner Virginia - Betsy Bott Washington - Tracey Goddard West Virginia - Candy Boggs Wisconsin - Kathryn Joy Wituschek Wyoming - Pam Williams

External links

• Miss USA official website