Jane Jayroe Gamble

(1946 - )

Profession: Journalist

Hometown: Laverne

Inducted: 2007

During the troubling years of the Vietnam War, one woman emerged as a beacon of hope and entertainment for the men and women fighting in the United States Armed Forces. Jane Jayroe Gamble was crowned Miss America in 1967, with no pageant experience prior to winning the Miss Oklahoma crown in 1966. As reigning queen, she decided to focus her influence and activism on the troops.

In December 1967, she participated in variety shows organized for the troops in Vietnam, where she performed singing, dancing, and comedy routines. Her work set a precedent for other Miss America winners to utilize their time and influence to supporting service men and women. After her tenure as Miss America, Gamble returned home and began a long career in broadcast journalism. She served as a prime time news anchor in Oklahoma City and in Dallas/Ft. Worth. While with KOCO news, she received several journalism awards for her work on education issues. Gamble was the first female named "Outstanding News Personality" in the Dallas/Ft. Worth television market.

Gamble, a dedicated public servant, has been appointed by four governors to serve in leadership positions in the Department of Tourism and Recreation. Her talents as a broadcaster were showcased once again as co-host of the popular television show, Discover Oklahoma, promoting tourism in Oklahoma. She was also on the board that developed Leadership Oklahoma with a mission of working together to make our state a better place to live and work.

Want to learn more?

Click below to watch an interview with Jane Jayroe Gamble on the This is Oklahoma podcast. 


Create your website for free! This website was made with Webnode. Create your own for free today! Get started