Bette Cooper (born 1920) won the 1937 Miss America Pageant as Miss Bertrand Island, representing an amusement park on Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey. She was born in Hackettstown, New Jersey. She caused quite a stir when she disappeared for some 24 hours after winning the title. Evidently overwhelmed by what was expected of her, she insisted upon a much lighter schedule than planned by pageant officials so that she could attend college. This led pageant officials to have future contestants sign agreements as to what was expected of the winner.
Cooper, who did some modeling and appearances in the years after her title, has long shunned any connection or involvement with Miss America.
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.
As of 2013 she is the earliest and oldest Miss America awardee/title holder still living. She has two children, Cheryl and Gregory, as well as four grandchildren, Adriane, Derek, Noelle, and Sarah.
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—Quentin Crisp (b. 1908)
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—James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851)