Armed Miss America 1944 stops intruder

[Story]

Ex-Miss America shoots thief's tires

Published: April 20, 2007 at 6:12 PM

Miss America 1944 catches would-be theives

WAYNESBURG, Ky., April 20 (UPI) -- Miss America 1944, now an 82-year-old Kentucky farmer, foiled thieves by shooting out one of their tires and holding them at gunpoint until police arrived.

"I didn't even think twice," Venus Ramey told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I just went and did it. If they'd even dared come close to me, they'd be six feet under by now."

Ramey suspects that the three men she caught have been removing old farm equipment from her shed for some time and selling it for scrap. When she finally caught someone in the act, he said he was "scrapping" and promised to leave.

Ramey, balancing on her cane, pulled out her .38 revolver.

"I said, 'Oh, no you won't,' and I shot their tires so they couldn't leave," Ramey said.

Ramey, who had moved her truck to block theirs, held the three men until a passing motorist called 911 for her.

A native of Kentucky, Ramey spent her teenage years in Cincinnati and then moved east to try to get into show business. She was Miss America 1944, entering the pageant representing the District of Columbia.

She does not like to be asked if she "was" Miss America.

"I still am. You never live it down," she said before laughing. "There's only one in 1944 -- and I'm it."

Footnote - Ramey also ran for President in 2000.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

Go Ex-Miss America!

 

[Doh!]

I didn't realize sharpshooting was ever part of the talent competition, but you GO, girl!

 

[Feraud]

Edit: I just realized this was already posted.

If this isn't a Golden Era news article, I do not know what is.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070421/ap_on_re_us/brave_beauty_queen

Miss America 1944 has 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 an intruder.

Venus Ramey, 82, confronted a man on her farm in south-central Kentucky last week 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 handgun.

"I didn't even think twice. I just went and did it," she said. "If they'd even dared come close to me, they'd be 6 feet under by now."

Ramey then flagged down a passing motorist, who called 911.

Curtis Parrish of Ohio was charged with misdemeanor trespassing, Deputy Dan Gilliam said. The man's hometown wasn't immediately available. Three other people were questioned but were not arrested.

After winning the pageant with her singing, dancing and comedic talents, Ramey sold war bonds and her picture was adorned on a B-17 that made missions over Germany in World War II, according to the Miss America Web site.

Ramey lived in Cincinnati for several years and was instrumental in helping rejuvenate Over-the-Rhine historic buildings. She returned to Kentucky in 1990 to live on her farm.

"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.

 

[AlanC]

Ah, a good Kentucky gal! :eusa_clap

I'm visiting the folks in the Bluegrass State right now, and I saw the lovely Miss America on the local news. She seemed like a tough cookie. Don't touch her metal!

 

[Flitcraft]

Wow! Guess they don't make'em like they used to! Never thought of Miss America packin' heat!

 

[Matt Deckard]

I think the current Miss America would be expelled for doing such a thing.

 

[pretty faythe]

Hey, she was standing up for what was hers. At least she wasn't kidnapping ex-lovers girlfriends with intents for murder and mayhem.

 

[carebear]

Heck, they should have done more than put her on the nose of that bomber in WWII, they should have added her as a waist gunner.

 

[pretty faythe]

Heck, they should have done more than put her on the nose of that bomber in WWII, they should have added her as a waist gunner.

:eusa_clap lol

 

[Lincsong]

That's why she's "Miss America":eusa_clap

 

[Feraud]

I think the current Miss America would be expelled for doing such a thing.

Probably.
Yet is it such an admirable action compared to some of what these gals have been noted for!

 

[Dan G]

Probably.
Yet is it such an admirable action compared to some of what these gals have been noted for!

Agreed:eusa_clap lol

 

[Roger]

Excellent!

 

[Fletch]

Heck, they should have done more than put her on the nose of that bomber in WWII, they should have added her as a waist gunner.

A WASP waist gunner! heeheeheeHEEheehee lol hahahaHAHAHAhaha cough cough hack

 

[dhermann1]

Here she is!

Here's Venus at the 1945 Miss America Pageant (won by Bess Myerson). This shot is from the Dec 1945 Leatherneck Magazine.

 

[Benny Holiday]

Good for Venus! Here's hoping some slack judge doesn't give the thieving mongrels a slap on the wrist for preying on a 'defenceless' (so they thought!) old lady, but throws the book at 'em.

 

[carebear]

Happened in rural Kentucky.

Robbing a defenseless old lady? That guy will be lucky if he doesn't get hung for the misdemeanor charge on general principle.

He sure as heck is going to be the low man on the totem pole in the hoosegow, if he ends up there.

He ain't walking away scot-free, no how.

 

[RetroModelSari]

A real power-lady

 

[Viviene]

Here is more of Venus' history.

http://www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1940/1944.asp