Miss USA 1976

Miss USA 1976
Date	May 15, 1976
Presenters	Bob Barker
Entertainment	Engelbert Humperdinck
Venue	Niagara Falls, New York
Broadcaster	CBS
Entrants	51
Placements	12
Winner	Barbara Peterson Minnesota
Congeniality	Connie Clark Dorothy Westphal
Photogenic	Liz Wickersham

Miss USA 1976, the 25th Miss USA pageant, was televised live by CBS from Niagara Falls, New York on May 15, 1976.

The pageant was won by Barbara Peterson of Minnesota, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Summer Bartholomew of California. Peterson was the first – and to date only – woman from Minnesota to win the Miss USA title, and went on to participate at Miss Universe 1976, where she became the first Miss USA titleholder to fail to advance to the semi-final stage of the pageant.

Results

• Miss USA 1976: Barbara Peterson (Minnesota)
• The runners-up were:
  • 1st runner-up: Kevin Gale (Michigan)
  • 2nd runner-up: Gail Atchison (Oregon)
  • 3rd runner-up: Virginia Murray (South Carolina)
  • 4th runner-up: Robyn Sanders (Louisiana)
• The semi-finalists were:
  • Joan Pennock (California)
  • Liz Wickersham (Georgia)
  • Kathy Schmalen (Illinois)
  • Donna Hibbits (Missouri)
  • Jonelle Bergquist (New Mexico)
  • Candace Gray (Texas)
  • Norene Gilbert (Washington)

Special awards

• Congeniality (tie): Connie Clark (Kentucky) and Dorothy Westphal (South Dakota)
• Photogenic: Liz Wickersham (Georgia)

Delegates

The Miss USA 1976 delegates were:

Alabama - Kyle Ellis Alaska - Elizabeth Staib Arizona - Curvy Walters Arkansas - Sonia Jines California - Joan Pennock Colorado - Patricia Swean Connecticut - Rozalyn Raplh Delaware - Debbie Kucher District of Columbia - Nancy Stitt Florida - Leigh Walsh Georgia - Liz Wickersham Hawaii - Brenda Texeira Idaho - Cheryl Gilbert Illinois - Kathy Schmalen Indiana - Annette Anderson Iowa - Sheri Davenport Kansas - Debbie Viter Kentucky - Connie Clark Louisiana - Robyn Sanders Maine - Dawn St Clair Maryland - Linda Potter Massachusetts - Holly Hoyle Michigan - Kevin Gale Minnesota - Barbara Peterson Mississippi - Teresa Camp Missouri - Donna Hibbits

Montana - Teresa Klaus Nebraska - Catherine Fricke Nevada - Janice Carrell New Hampshire - Sinceree Rowlette New Jersey - Ginger Hagaman New Mexico - Jonelle Bergquist New York - Carol Doerr North Carolina - Dianne Bowen North Dakota - Linda Paulson Ohio - Karen Myers Oklahoma - Lori Hansen Oregon - Gail Atchison Pennsylvania - Marcy Zambelli Rhode Island - Kathy Confreda South Carolina - Virginia Murray South Dakota - Dorothy Westphal Tennessee - Jana Kerr Texas - Candace Gray Utah - Debbie Drecksel Vermont - Susan Parsons Virginia - Donna Dixon Washington - Norene Gilbert West Virginia - Cheryl Plants Wisconsin - Susan Femrite Wyoming - Murlie Colosky

External links

• Miss USA official website