THIS MISS USA WINNER IS FROM SHREVEPORT, BOSSIER & CENTENARY

Robert J Wright Published: February 2, 2022

She was, with no disrespect, an answer to a trivia game question: Q: Can you name the Centenary College student who was winner of the Miss USA Pageant? A: Eurlyne Howell in 1958.

Wow! Didn't know that one! Did you?

It's absolutely true. Eurlyne Howell, born in Bossier City in 1939, not only went on to be crowned Miss USA in '58, but she then went on to have a career as an actress in Hollywood through the early 60s.

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So, how did it all happen? Well, in 1958, Eurlyne, by then a student at Shreveport's Centenary College, entered the Louisiana preliminary of the Miss USA beauty pageant. Her plan was to get some exposure or even make some money to help launch her dream of an acting career. After winning Miss Louisiana USA, the Bossier High grad became the first of three Louisianans to bring home the Miss USA crown and the only winner from the Shreveport, Bossier City area. In fact, here's Miss Eurlyne's info from the Miss USA site:

"Miss USA 1958 was the 7th Miss USA pageant, held in Long Beach, California on July 23, 1958. The pageant was won by Eurlyne Howell of Louisiana, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Charlotte Sheffield of Utah. Howell went on to finish as 3rd runner-up to Luz Marina Zuluaga of Colombia at Miss Universe 1958."

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And from there, it was on to Hollywood, where Eurlyne became Arlene and an acting career began. Her television debut took place 1958, on an episode of the James Garner classic western, Maverick. She was a regular on the late 50s New Orleans-based detective show, Bourbon Street Beat. Howell also appeared in guest roles in a number of popular TV series, including a spot on Gomer Pyle, USMC in 1966.

On Miss Eurlyne / Arlene's Wikipedia biography, she is listed as having been married twice and, best of all, according to the site, she's still going strong at 82.

https://710keel.com/this-miss-usa-winner-is-from-shreveport-bossier-centenary/