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By Joseph P. Tartaro
In the one story, out of Kentucky, the tale had some extra
twists, because the heroine was not only 82, but using a walker,
and used a handgun in a very smart and accurate way. In the other,
from Kansas, the young college student pageant queen exhibited
a surprisingly broad knowledge of, and interest in, shooting
and other outdoor sports. That's where Miss America 1944 displayed a talent that likely has never appeared on a beauty pageant stage: She fired a handgun to shoot out a vehicle's tires and stop intruders at her farm. Venus Ramey, 82, confronted a man on her farm in south-central Kentucky this Spring after she saw her dog run into a storage building where thieves had previously made off with old farm equipment. Ramey said the man told her he would leave. "I said, 'Oh, no you won't,' and I shot their tires so they couldn't leave," Ramey said. She had to balance on her walker as she pulled out a snub-nosed .38-caliber revolver. "I didn't even think twice. I just went and did it," she said, according to various news reports. "If they'd even dared come close to me, they'd be six feet under by now." Ramey then flagged down a passing motorist, who called 911. When police responded, they found Ramey still training her handgun on the would-be thieves. Curtis Parrish of Ohio was charged with misdemeanor trespassing, Deputy Dan Gilliam said. Three other people were questioned but were not arrested.
With a relative who fought in the Revolutionary War, a grandfather who was a Kentucky state senator and a father who was a Kentucky state representative in 1934, it seemed destined that Ramey would develop a passion for public service. In fact, she began this interest at a young age as a page in the Kentucky House of Representatives, according to the Miss America website. After leaving her home in Kentucky to work for the war effort in the nation's capital, she entered and won the Miss Washington, DC, title. With her dancing, singing, and comedic talents, in 1944 she became the first-ever redhead honored as Miss America. She was also the first Miss America to be photographed in color. Although close-up file photos of Ramey are still all black and white, the pageant website did feature a color photo of her in a classic bathing suit pose of that era. Being encouraged into show business because of her new fame, Ramey performed in vaudeville as part of her pageant duties. However, she made sure she sold US war bonds all through her travels across the country. Her war effort in this area resulted in a Special Citation from the Treasury Department. In her honor, Ramey's picture graced a B-17 "Flying Fortress" during World War II, a bomber which flew 68 missions over Nazi Germany and never lost a man. During her tenure, she also worked with Sen. Kaper of Kansas and Congressman Somner of Missouri on publishing their bills to get suffrage for the District of Columbia in 1945. For the first time, the District was able to vote. The bill was passed in both houses and signed by President Truman. Legendary Hollywood producer Milton Sperling of the Warner Brothers Studio sought to sign Ramey for a major Hollywood film in 1947, But, disgusted with show business, she returned home to her Kentucky tobacco farm (which she has maintained for over 50 years), married and raised two sons. With Kentucky educational issues and a burning desire to see the word "illegitimate" eradicated from the birth certificates of innocent children among two of her issues, Ramey ran for a seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives, which made her the first Miss America to run for public office. Later, she hosted her own radio show and published her own political newspaper.
She lost the election, but won the battle. Over-The-Rhine was eventually listed on the US Registry of Historic Places, the largest group of buildings on their list. A poster "Venus Ramey for Council" still proudly hangs on the wall of Cincinnati's famous Stadium Club to this day. If anyone, including the trespassers had known of some of Ramey's background, they would not have been surprised by her preparedness, poise and decisive action in resisting crime. Needless to say, when the story of her crime-fighting experience was fist published, many newspaper websites invited reader comment. One brief key comment seems to say it all: "You go girl!" The story of a more recent and reigning beauty queen is not as dramatic as Ramey's, but still provides further proof that a mid-America pageant contestant is more than just a pretty face. In March, millions of television viewers watched as Miss Kansas USA, Cara Gorges, dressed in an evening gown, hair and make-up perfect, was awarded second runner-up honors at the Miss USA pageant in Hollywood, CA, according to The Wichita Eagle. But on an early Summer weekend, the newspaper found Gorges dressed in a knock-about clothing, her hair tucked beneath a Kansas City Royals cap, and her face showing beads of sweat from the July heat. Her smile, though, was still pageant bright. "I'm a lot more comfortable being called an outdoorsman than a beauty queen," Gorges said as she prepared to explore a trail through tall hardwoods. "This is a lot more me than the pageants." Pageants are actually a recent part of the Clearwater, KS, native's life. She won the state crown at her first pageant in December 2006.  She can't remember a time when she didn't enjoy being outdoors. "I think one of the things that really got me into the outdoors is that it's so often been with my family," Gorges said. "For years we ran lines on the Ninnescah River Memorial Day weekend with some good friends. I always looked forward to that." She's done more than just look. "She'd seine bait, bait crawdads on the hooks and help clean the fish," said her father, Larry Gorges. "She was always ready to get in there and do it all. She was the one who was ready to tag along on bird hunts. She went with me and was kind of like a bird dog for pheasants." She never thought about not doing anything outdoor-related because of her gender. Time has been her main limiting factor. School, sports and jobs cut into her time outside, but she's figured ways to adapt. Gorges, 20, said the chance to be outside is one of the things that drew her to cross-country competition in high school and community college. When her free time's measured in minutes, Gorges may simply sit on the deck at the Lawrence apartment she's recently rented. Within the last year she's found another outdoors passion-target shooting.
Last weekend she punched close paper targets with a variety of handguns and a .22 rifle, then laid repeated shots on target with a .30-06 out to 100 yards. She openly relished demolishing gallon water jugs with the high-powered rifle. "I'm all about that," she said. "That's my kind of thing to be doing." Gorges' love of shooting has grown so deep she lists it as a part of her "perfect day" in media interviews. Gorges understands that much of her life is far from that of a stereotypical beauty queen. She found many friends in Hollywood but none with which to discuss the merits of purchased vs. self-caught baits. She prefers the latter. "I can throw a cast-net really well," she said. "Being tall with these long-arms comes in handy." Chances are Gorges was the only Miss USA contestant that could attach a lure to fishing line with a Palomar knot in less time than it takes to tell. Then there's her career choice of "mortician/entrepreneur" after about another three years of college. Most of the remainder of this year will be spent working, taking classes and fulfilling Miss Kansas USA responsibilities. Once she crowns her successor in December, Gorges wants to pursue another outdoors passion: For years her schedule has kept her from taking the hunter education class needed to allow her to hunt. A recent law change that allows adults a calendar year grace period without the class is just what she's needed. "I really want to get into hunting," Gorges said as she walked away from a target range. "I think that's something I'll love. I can't wait...." |
Never
underestimate the power of a woman, especially beauty queens.
They'll surprise you in a number of ways.
"I'm
trying to live a quiet, peaceful life and stay out of trouble,
and all it is, is one thing after another," she said.
In the
1970s, Ramey received an Ohio real estate license to save a Cincinnati
District called "Over-The-Rhine," a four-square-mile
area full of 19th century Germanic and Italianate buildings.
Her valiant efforts resulted in a full-page story in The Cincinnati
Post, and subsequently led to a bid for a seat on the Cincinnati
City Council. 
It began with shotguns
to bust clay targets with her dad. More recently she's tried
rifles and handguns.
