Tina Louise Thomas

Tina Louise Thomas
Beauty pageant titleholder

Thomas at Capitol Rotunda 2007
Born Tina Louise Thomas
(1955-03-11) March 11, 1955
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Hair color Chestnut Brown
Eye color Chestnut
Title(s) Miss Pennsylvania 1973
Major
competition(s)		 Miss America 1974 (runner-up, preliminary talent award winner)
Tina Louise Thomas, "Ave Maria"
A 30-second sample of "Ave Maria" by Tina Louise Thomas.
Tina Louise Thomas, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord"
A 30-second sample of "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" by Tina Louise Thomas.
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Tina Louise Thomas is a former Miss Pennsylvania (1973[1]) and Miss America scholarship pageant national talent winner[2] and runner-up (1974[3][4][5]), as well as being an accomplished singer, musician, songwriter, writer and editor. Thomas was baptized Christina Hatzithomas[6] in her father’s Greek Orthodox Church. (Hatzi is a preface to a family name given to descendants of ancestors baptized in the River Jordan).

Pageant Days

Tina at the Hershey Hotel, PA, 1973

On June 25, 1973, shortly after winning the state's pageant title, Thomas was invited to speak to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives about her platform issues and she was, subsequently, honored by them with a Citation, commending her talent, beauty and academic achievements. She had earlier received a similar recognition from the Pennsylvania State Senate at the State Capitol Rotunda.[7]

Five days later, on June 30, Thomas was the official ribbon-cutter who opened the now world famous Hershey's Chocolate World.[8]

Thomas, who was accompanied by the Glenn Osser Orchestra, won the Preliminary Talent Award[9][10] at the 47th Miss America pageant, held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which was presented by Terry Meeuwsen,[11] Miss America 1973, as well as at every pageant she entered on her journey to Atlantic City.[12][13][14] Additionally, Thomas won the swimsuit competition in each of her local and state contests.[15][16][17]

Thomas's winning performance on the national stage showcased her vocal beauty when she sang the gospel masterpiece Take My Hand, Precious Lord,[18][19] written in 1932 by Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey and arranged by Paul Mann,[20] to a standing ovation.[21] Rev. Dorsey, the "father of black gospel music," went on to write an article in Christian Life magazine "Jesus Took My Hand" (describing the experiences he went through prior to writing the song) where he mentioned her. He wrote, "And, it was the song that helped Tina Thomas, Miss Pennsylvania, win the Miss America talent competition."[22]

Radio and TV personality Soupy Sales said that Thomas had been his choice for Miss America and complimented her beauty and talent on the show What's My Line.[23] Additionally, legendary Paul Harvey praised Thomas's religious stance, as well as her talent, on his noon broadcast two days later, Sept 12, 1973.

Early in her pageant days Thomas was sought after to assist in raising awareness and funds for various causes, including disadvantaged youth and retarded children,[24] multiple sclerosis,[25][26] the Salvation Army,[27] Teen Challenge,[28] the American Heart Association,[29] the Arthritis Fund,[30] and Easter Seals,[31] where she appeared on telethons, radio and television shows and commercials, performed at concerts on their behalf, as well as led and participated in activities such as Bike Hikes.[32]

Throughout Thomas's pageant years, leading up to and including her run at Miss America, where she competed as the youngest contestant that year at the age of 18,[33] her primary platform was against substance abuse. Her many actions were recognized when she became the recipient of the Red Rose City Outstanding Citizen Award on September 25, 1973[34] and was made an International Honorary Member of Beta Sigma Phi.[35]

The August 1974 issue of Christian Life magazine carried Thomas' personal written testimony under the banner heading "Beauty for the Lord," which was re-printed in May 1975 by Greek Youth Magazine for distribution in the U.S. and in Greece.

Performances

Between 1972 and 1979, Thomas shared the concert stage, many of which were televised, with an array of people and groups, several of whom were Grammy and Dove award winners. Among them were: the Oak Ridge Boys,[36] Roy Rogers,[37][38] Bill Gaither Trio,[39] The Happy Goodman Family,[40] Dottie Rambo,[41] Reba Rambo,[42] Speer Family,[43] The Cathedrals,[44] the Kingsmen Quartet,[45] Blackwood Brothers,[46] Larry Ferrari,[47] the Jacobs Brothers,[48] the Blue Ridge Quartet[49] and the Couriers.[50] At many of the concerts Tina was accompanied on the piano by William D. (Bill) Crabtree.[51]

There were several concerts where Thomas either opened for or sang with author and singer Dale Evans Rogers. The first was a televised concert on November 17, 1972.[52] Two other engagements were opening for Ms. Evans August 7 and 8, 1973 in Chautauqua, New York, when Thomas was accompanied by multi-award-winning jazz pianist George Shearing, and at the historic Ocean Grove, NJ Great Auditorium and Casino Asbury Park, for the 50th Annual Convention of the National Federation of Men's Bible Classes weekend concert series, June 21–23, 1974.[53][54]

In July 1973, shortly after winning the Miss Pennsylvania crown, Thomas was invited by the then-Pennsylvania Secretary of State, C. Delores Tucker, (the first African-American Secretary of State in the U.S.) to sing at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, where Governor Milton J. Shapp presented her with a Gubernatorial Commendation.[55][56] Two months later Thomas appeared with Shapp and Tucker as a speaker and soloist for a civil rights event in Philadelphia, PA.[57] She also performed at the Pennsylvania Governor's Bi-Centennial Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast on November 16, 1976.[58][59]

Prior to the 1975 Greater Mississippi Billy Graham Crusade held at Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Jackson, MS, Thomas performed and gave personal Testimony for the Crusade members.[60]

Thomas made two singing appearances on Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club. On her first engagement, August 3, 1977,[61] she sang My Tribute, by Andrae Crouch and was interviewed by Dr. Pat Robertson[62] and on her second engagement, September 27, 1978, she performed several songs from her album, Servant’’.[63]

During December 1978, at the Fulton Opera House, Thomas starred as the leading lady where she sang and danced in the tribute performance "The Rodgers and Hart Production" with Metropolitan Opera star John Darrenkamp. The final performance of the show was held New Year's Eve.[64]

Years following

Her soprano voice, which Johnny Carson complimented on The Tonight Show,[65] ultimately led her to recording an album at Superior Sound Studios in 1976, Servant,[66] a sacred music album produced by Wayne Hilton and engineered by Fred Cameron. Her booking agent, at the time, was classic car auctioneer Russell Kruse,[67] founder of Kruse International.

Although Thomas declined offers to pursue a singing career following the release of Servant, deciding, instead, to raise a family,[68] she was active and contributed to the field by providing individual vocal lessons and coaching stage performers to aspiring singers and musicians.[69]

Along with working out and a healthy lifestyle, the hobbies and avocations she has enjoyed include dancing, playing piano, writing poetry, art, and astronomy.[70][71] Thomas has also appreciated the great outdoors and the many activities it offers and became both a certified sailor and a certified scuba diver. Her sons, Austin and Aaron, are, as well, performers and athletic.[72][73]

Thomas, Griffith Park Observatory, California, 2010

Thomas has supported and been involved in her community in many ways. As a member of the Main Street Acting Company, Thomas assisted in the production and choreography and performed in a televised presentation of The Easter Story, held on Good Friday, April 17, 1992.[74][75] She also became certified to counsel at a domestic violence center and is both a certified classroom tutor and supervisor, working with at-risk elementary school students and alternative education middle and high school students in a remedial reading program.

Since 1994 she has been a judge in the annual Miss Optimist competition, judging the essays and oral presentations of the contestants.[76] Additionally, she was a contributing writer, and also served as a co-editor, for Wing Beat magazine, devoted to the ancient sport of falconry, from December 1994 to December 1996. Aside from sacred music, Thomas has been an avid fan and writer of jazz and blues music since her youth.[77]

Servant, performed by Tina Louise Thomas

Servant
Studio album by Tina Louise Thomas
Released Nov 17, 1976
Recorded Superior Sound Studios
Hendersonville, TN
Genre Sacred
Label Superior
Producer Wayne Hilton

Track listing

  1. Servant (Eileen)
  2. Sing/Simple Song (Joe Raposo) (Honeytree)
  3. Flesh Of My Flesh (Randy Matthews)
  4. He Is God (Lindstrom)
  5. Take My Hand, Precious Lord (Thomas A. Dorsey)
  6. I Am Your Servant (Larry Norman)
  7. Amazing Grace (Words: John Newton / Music: Samuel Stanley)
  8. Drinkin' (Honeytree)
  9. Ave Maria (Charles B. Marks)
  10. The Lord's Prayer (Albert Hay Malotte)

Production

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ http://www.pageant-almanac.com/miss-america/parade/pennsylvania.php
  2. ↑ "Pennsylvania, New Jersey Beauties Win Events". Chicago Tribune. 1973-09-08. p. A26.
  3. ↑ "The Queen and Her Court". New York Times. 1973-09-10. p. 74.
  4. ↑ Miss America Pageant NBC TV Sept 8, 1973
  5. ↑ http://www.misspa.org/past.htm
  6. ↑ "Altered names walk the aisle". Miami News. 1973-09-10.
  7. ↑ "State Senate Resolution Honors Tina". Harrisburg Patriot News. 1973-06-19.
  8. ↑ WITF TV, Harrisburg, PA, June 30, 1973
  9. ↑ "Singer Captures Talent Contest". Hartford Courant. 1973-09-08. p. 1.
  10. ↑ "Fairest One of All". Newport Daily News. 1973-09-08. p. 16.
  11. ↑ Miss America Pageant, NBC TV Sept 8, 1973
  12. ↑ ""Title was His Will," she says". Philadelphia Inqurier. 1973-06-18.
  13. ↑ "Tina Thomas wins Miss Lancaster County Title". Lancaster New Era. 1972-10-01.
  14. ↑ "Tina Thomas wins Miss Lancaster County Title". Lancaster Intelligencer. 1972-10-02.
  15. ↑ ""Title was His Will," she says". Philadelphia Inqurier. 1973-06-18.
  16. ↑ "Tina Thomas wins Miss Lancaster County Title". Lancaster New Era. 1972-10-01.
  17. ↑ "Tina Thomas wins Miss Lancaster County Title". Lancaster Intelligencer. 1972-10-02.
  18. ↑ Miss America pageant, NBC TV Sept 8, 1973
  19. ↑ "Singer Captures Talent Contest". Hartford Courant. 1973-09-08. p. 16.
  20. ↑ "Talent". T.V. Week. 1973-09-02. p. 15.
  21. ↑ "Gets Cheers, Standing Ovation". New Era. 1973-09-07.
  22. ↑ Christian Life magazine, May 1975
  23. ↑ What's My Line?, Sept 10, 1973
  24. ↑ "Bands Outdo Sun in Warm Treat". Allentown Morning Call. 1974-02-27.
  25. ↑ "Tina Thomas Will Be Guest Soloist". Sunday News. 1973-03-25.
  26. ↑ WPVI TV Philadelphia, PA, April 29, 1973
  27. ↑ "Salvation Army Dedication Slated". Lancaster Intelligencer. 1974-02-08.
  28. ↑ "Tina Thomas Teen Challenge Benefit Sunday". Harrisburg Patriot. 1974-06-07.
  29. ↑ "American Heart Association Event". Lancaster Intelligencer. 1973-09-28.
  30. ↑ "Thomas to perform at Arthritis Fund Drive". Intelligencer Journal. 1975-04-12.
  31. ↑ "Tina Thomas with Easter Seal Child". Intelligencer Journal. 1973-03-15.
  32. ↑ "Tina Leads Bike Hike". Lancaster New Era. 1973-04-29.
  33. ↑ "Youngest Contestant Cool, Calm". Reading Eagle. 1973-09-04. p. 26.
  34. ↑ "City Council passed resolution honoring: Tina". Intelligencer Journal. 1973-09-26.
  35. ↑ "Tina Louise Thomas made International Honorary Member of Beta Sigma Phi". Lancaster Intelligencer News. 1974-04-26.
  36. ↑ WGAL TV, Harrisburg/Lancaster, July 12, 1973
  37. ↑ ’’United Evangelical’’ magazine, July 1974, p4-5
  38. ↑ "Tina's singing will be long remembered". Coatesville Record. 1973-09-09. p. 1.
  39. ↑ ’’United Evangelical’’ magazine, July 1974, p4-5
  40. ↑ ’’United Evangelical’’ magazine, July 1974, p4-5
  41. ↑ "Friendship Day". Lancaster New Era. 1973-03-19.
  42. ↑ "Friendship Day". Lancaster New Era. 1973-03-19.
  43. ↑ "Fireman Bring Concert to Town". York Dispatch. 1975-02-28.
  44. ↑ "An Evening of Gospel Music". Intelligencer Journal. 1973-09-13.
  45. ↑ ’’United Evangelical’’ magazine, July 1974, p4-5
  46. ↑ "Saturday Events". Intelligencer Journal. 1974-02-15.
  47. ↑ "Ferrari-Thomas Concert Draws Full House". Intelligencer Journal. 1973-03-26.
  48. ↑ "Fall Anniversary Concert". Lancaster New Era. 1973-09-28.
  49. ↑ "Fireman bring concert to town". York Dispatch. 1975-02-28.
  50. ↑ "Tina Thomas Teen Challenge Benefit Sunday". Harrisburg Patriot. 1974-06-07.
  51. ↑ "Miss PA reveals what it is like in the limelight". Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. 1974-04-02.
  52. ↑ WGCB TV, Harrisburg, PA, Nov 17, 1972
  53. ↑ "Tina Thomas wows 7,000 in N.Y. with Singing". Lancaster New Era. 1973-08-08.
  54. ↑ Associated Press wire photo, August 8, 1973
  55. ↑ "Governor Shapp Thanks Tina". Intelligencer Journal. 1973-07-11.
  56. ↑ "Tina Singing for Governor". Philadelphia Inquirer. 1973-07-12.
  57. ↑ "Philosophy Tina's Way of Life". Sunday Call Chronicle. 1973-09-16.
  58. ↑ "Tina Thomas will sing at Prayer Breakfast". Lancaster New Era. 1976-11-15. p. 1.
  59. ↑ "Tina Thomas leads Governor Shapp in song". Lancaster New Era. 1976-11-16. p. 30.
  60. ↑ "Former Pastor's Day planned at Parkway Church of God". Frederick News-Post. 1975-05-10.
  61. ↑ "Tina Thomas To Appear On 700 Club". Lancaster New Era. 1977-07-26.
  62. ↑ CBN 700 Club, August 3, 1977
  63. ↑ CBN 700 Club, September 27, 1978
  64. ↑ "Tina and Met Star John Darrenkamp in Production". Intelligencer Journal. 1978-12-13.
  65. ↑ The Tonight Show, September 11, 1973
  66. ↑ "Tina Singing for Governor". Philadelphia Inquirer. 1976-11-15.
  67. ↑ "Tina Thomas signs 5-year music contract". Lancaster New Era. 1975-11-06. p. 1.
  68. ↑ "Limelight gives way to family". Lancaster New Era. 1982-05-06. p. 6.
  69. ↑ "Tina and Met Star John Darrenkamp in Production". Intelligencer Journal. 1978-12-13.
  70. ↑ "Physical Fitness Buffs Capture Beauty Honors". Benton Harbor News Palladium. 1973-09-08.
  71. ↑ "Fall Foliage Festival". Bedford Gazette. 1973-10-11.
  72. ↑ "Limelight gives way to family". Lancaster New Era. 1982-05-06. p. 6.
  73. ↑ "Pennsylvania, New Jersey win final preliminaries". Atlantic City Press. 1973-09-08.
  74. ↑ "Sidewalk Drama". Lancaster Intelligencer. 1992-04-03.
  75. ↑ WGAL TV Harrisburg/Lancaster, PA April 17, 1992
  76. ↑ "Megan Oliver is Optimist Queen". Sunday News. 2010-06-13.
  77. ↑ "Tina prepares for Atlantic City". Lancaster Sunday News. 1973-07-08. p. 1.
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Linda Olson		 Miss Pennsylvania
1973 		Succeeded by
Karen Lynn Kuhn
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