Jacquelyn Mayer
Encyclopedia
Jacquelyn Jeanne "Jackie" Mayer (born August 20, 1942 in Sandusky, Ohio
) is a former Miss Ohio
1962 and Miss America
1963 and currently travels the United States
as a motivational speaker
, noted for her recovery from a near-fatal stroke
suffered at age 28.
in 1960, spending much of her senior year in Austria as an exchange student., and then attended Northwestern University
where a friend encouraged her to enter the Miss America contest for the scholarship money offered to the winner. She was crowned Miss Ohio in 1962 which allowed her to enter the Miss America pageant that year. On September 8, 1962, in front of an audience of 30,000 at the Atlantic City's
Boardwalk Hall
and watched by millions more across America, she was crowned Miss America for 1963.
In 1970, Mayer suffered a stroke in the early hours following a Thanksgiving
evening with her family. She was rushed to the hospital and though surviving, spent the next seven years in rehabilitation needing to re-learn such simple tasks as the alphabet and basic motor functions. Thirty years later, having regained the ability to walk and speak, Mayer considers herself 90% recovered.
For over 20 years, Mayer has dedicated her life to assisting stroke survivors and their families. She speaks to dozens of schools, colleges and corporations each year. She has been a spokeswoman for the American heart Association, made educational films to raise stroke awareness, helped found the National Stroke Association, and has appeared on Good Morning America
and The Phil Donahue Show, and her story has been featured in magazines such as People and Family Circle
.
Providence Hospital in Sandusky, now known as Firelands Regional Medical Center, features the Jackie Mayer Rehab & Skilled Nursing Center.
, inducted in 1997. In the spring of 2001, Jackie was awarded the first ever Honorary Doctorate Degree from Lourdes College
in Sylvania, Ohio
. The section of State Route 2 that runs through Erie County
is named "Jackie Mayer Miss America Highway" in her honor.
a technology entrepreneur—cofounder of Lycos
, partner of Corvosi and Beachbody.com, and Kelly Rostic, a former anchorwoman with NBC
and Fox
.
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
) is a former Miss Ohio
Miss Ohio
The Miss Ohio Scholarship Program selects the representative for the U.S. state of Ohio to compete for the title of Miss America...
1962 and Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
1963 and currently travels the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
, noted for her recovery from a near-fatal stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
suffered at age 28.
Professional career
Mayer graduated Sandusky High SchoolSandusky High School
Sandusky High School, or SHS, is a secondary school in Sandusky, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Sandusky City School District, and one of three high schools in the city of Sandusky; the other two are St Mary Central Catholic High School, and Perkins High School.SHS was one of the first...
in 1960, spending much of her senior year in Austria as an exchange student., and then attended Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
where a friend encouraged her to enter the Miss America contest for the scholarship money offered to the winner. She was crowned Miss Ohio in 1962 which allowed her to enter the Miss America pageant that year. On September 8, 1962, in front of an audience of 30,000 at the Atlantic City's
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
Boardwalk Hall
Boardwalk Hall
Boardwalk Hall, formally known as the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall, is an arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States...
and watched by millions more across America, she was crowned Miss America for 1963.
In 1970, Mayer suffered a stroke in the early hours following a Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
evening with her family. She was rushed to the hospital and though surviving, spent the next seven years in rehabilitation needing to re-learn such simple tasks as the alphabet and basic motor functions. Thirty years later, having regained the ability to walk and speak, Mayer considers herself 90% recovered.
For over 20 years, Mayer has dedicated her life to assisting stroke survivors and their families. She speaks to dozens of schools, colleges and corporations each year. She has been a spokeswoman for the American heart Association, made educational films to raise stroke awareness, helped found the National Stroke Association, and has appeared on Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
and The Phil Donahue Show, and her story has been featured in magazines such as People and Family Circle
Family Circle
Family Circle is an American women's magazine published 15 times a year by Meredith Corporation. It began publication in 1932 as a magazine distributed at supermarkets such as Piggly Wiggly and Safeway. Cowles Magazines and Broadcasting bought the magazine in 1962. The New York Times Company bought...
.
Providence Hospital in Sandusky, now known as Firelands Regional Medical Center, features the Jackie Mayer Rehab & Skilled Nursing Center.
Awards and recognition
She is a member of the Ohio Women's Hall of FameOhio Women's Hall of Fame
The Ohio Women's Hall of Fame was founded in 1978 and has 356 members. It provides public recognition for the achievements of Ohio women that better their state, their country and their world.-See also:*National Women's Hall of Fame...
, inducted in 1997. In the spring of 2001, Jackie was awarded the first ever Honorary Doctorate Degree from Lourdes College
Lourdes College
Lourdes University is a independent, private, Catholic university in Sylvania, Ohio, northwest of Toledo. The university also operates an extension location for its nursing program in Sandusky, Ohio....
in Sylvania, Ohio
Sylvania, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,670 people, 7,151 households, and 5,070 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,223.2 people per square mile . There were 7,392 housing units at an average density of 1,276.2 per square mile...
. The section of State Route 2 that runs through Erie County
Erie County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,551 people, 31,727 households, and 21,764 families residing in the county. The population density was 312 people per square mile . There were 35,909 housing units at an average density of 141 per square mile...
is named "Jackie Mayer Miss America Highway" in her honor.
Family
She has two children (now adults): Bill TownsendBill Townsend
Bill Townsend is a businessman who helped build several Internet properties, most notably search engine Lycos, social networking pioneer sixdegrees.com, whose intellectual property formed the basis of LinkedIn, GeoCities and Deja Bill Townsend (born 1964) is a businessman who helped build several...
a technology entrepreneur—cofounder of Lycos
Lycos
Lycos, Inc. is a search engine and web portal established in 1994. Lycos also encompasses a network of email, webhosting, social networking, and entertainment websites.-Corporate history:...
, partner of Corvosi and Beachbody.com, and Kelly Rostic, a former anchorwoman with NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
.