Colleen Kay Hutchins
Colleen Kay Hutchins | |
---|---|
Born | May 23, 1926 |
Died | March 24, 2010 | (aged 83)
Alma mater | Brigham Young University |
Title | Miss Utah 1951 Miss America 1952 |
Predecessor | Yolande Betbeze |
Successor | Neva Jane Langley |
Spouse | |
Children | 4, including Kiki and Tauna Vandeweghe |
Relatives | Mel Hutchins (brother) CoCo Vandeweghe (granddaughter) |
Colleen Kay Hutchins (May 23, 1926 – March 24, 2010) was Miss America 1952.
Early life[edit]
Hutchins was a native of Arcadia, California. Her brother, Mel Hutchins, later became a basketball player for the Milwaukee Hawks, Fort Wayne Pistons, and New York Knicks.
Pageantry[edit]
Hutchins was crowned as Brigham Young University's homecoming queen in 1947. In September 1951, she was crowned as Miss America, the first Miss Utah to win the pageant.[1][2]
Personal life[edit]
Hutchins met future husband Ernie Vandeweghe at a New York Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden after a friend introduced her to the team's forward.[3] The couple married in May 1953,[3] and had four children: son, Kiki, a professional basketball player and executive; daughter, Tauna, an Olympic swimmer, son, Bruk; and daughter, Heather.[4] Hutchins is also the grandmother of professional tennis player CoCo Vandeweghe, daughter of Tauna. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Vandeweghes resided in Indian Wells, California, Laguna Beach, California and Palm Springs, California. She died on March 24, 2010, in Newport Beach, at age 83.
References[edit]
- ^ "Passings: Colleen Kay Hutchins, Ira Skutch". Los Angeles Times. 25 March 2010. p. AA7.
- ^ "Miss America : 1952". Miss America Organization. Archived from the original on 5 June 2008.
- ^ a b Tauber, Michelle; Neill, Mike; Russell, Lisa; Fowler, Joanne; Dam, Julie; Tresniowski, Alex; Miller, Samantha; Dougherty, Steve; Yu, Ting (October 16, 2000). "American Beauties: 80 Years". People.
- ^ "Former Miss America Vandeweghe left legacy of family, faith". 2010-04-06.
Sources[edit]
- Garr, Arnold K., Donald Q. Cannon and Richard O. Cowan ed., Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History, p. 526