Bette Cooper

Bette Cooper (born 1920) was 1937's Miss America. She was born in Hackettstown, New Jersey. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0814FD3B59177A93C3AB178AD95F438385F9 "SORORITIES ADMIT 85 AT CENTENARY JUNIOR; Majority of Students Named to Three Societies Are From New York Area"] , "The New York Times", November 21, 1937. Accessed December 6, 2007. "Miss Bette Cooper of this community, who was chosen Miss America for 1937 at the Atlantic City beauty contest in September, is a new member of Delta Sigma Sigma."]

Cooper, who had earlier won the Miss Bertrand Island title, reportedly does not speak of her involvement with Miss America. [cite web | url= http://www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1930/1937.asp | title= Miss America History 1937 | accessdate = 2006-12-30]

Cooper attended Centenary Junior College (now Centenary College of New Jersey) in Hackettstown, where she was a member of the Delta Sigma Sigma sorority and graduated in 1938 at ceremonies attended by Governor of New Jersey A. Harry Moore. [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40F13F7395C1B7A93C3A8178DD85F4C8385F9 "68 TO GET DIPLOMAS AT CENTENARY JUNIOR; College at Hackettstown, N. J., to Hold Its Exercises Today"] , "The New York Times", June 11, 1938. Accessed December 6, 2007.]

She is currently the earliest Miss America awardee/title holder still alive.

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