Barbara Peterson

Barbara Elaine Peterson Burwell (née Peterson; born November 25, 1953[1]) is an American philanthropist and former beauty pageant titleholder. After being crowned Miss Minnesota USA 1976, she competed at Miss USA 1976, becoming the first woman from Minnesota to win the title. Afterwards, she represented the United States at Miss Universe 1976, where she was unplaced.

Barbara Peterson
US President Gerald Ford meets with Peterson in 1976
Born
Barbara Elaine Peterson

(1953-11-25) November 25, 1953
Edina, Minnesota, U.S.
Other names
  • Barbara Burwell
  • Barbara Peterson-Burwell
EducationSt. Olaf College (BA)
Spouse
Rodney P. Burwell
​
​
(m. 1982; died 2015)​
Children3
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Minnesota USA 1976
Miss USA 1976
Hair colorBrown
Major
competition(s)		Miss USA 1976
(Winner)
Miss Universe 1976
(Unplaced)

As a philanthropist, Peterson is the president of the Burwell Family Foundation, based in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Early life and education

Peterson was born in Edina, Minnesota to parents C. Donald Peterson and Gretchen Elaine Palen Peterson.[2] Her family is of Swedish and German origin.[3] Her father was an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, while her uncle was P. Kenneth Peterson, a former mayor of Minneapolis.[4][3] Peterson was raised in Edina, and is one of six children; her four brothers and one sister include Todd Douglas, Scott Jeffrey, Craig Donald, Mark Bradley, and Polly Suzanne.[1]

Peterson attended Edina High School, and later received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, with a triple major in political science, communications, and American studies.[3]

Pageantry
US President Gerald Ford meets with Peterson in 1976

Peterson had previously been crowned Queen of the Minneapolis Aquatennial and Miss Svenskarnas Dag, prior to competing in national pageantry.[3] She later entered Miss Minnesota USA 1976, which she went on to win. As Miss Minnesota USA, Peterson was tasked with representing Minnesota at Miss USA 1976, held in Niagara Falls, New York. She advanced through the competition until ultimately being declared the winner, becoming the first woman from Minnesota to win the title.[5]

After winning Miss USA, Peterson represented the United States at the Miss Universe 1976 pageant in Hong Kong.[6] In the competition, Peterson became the first American competitor not to advance to the semifinals, which would not be repeated again until Kimberly Pressler represented the United States at Miss Universe 1999.[7][8] Peterson later completed her reign as Miss USA after crowning Kimberly Tomes of Texas as Miss USA 1977, in Charleston, South Carolina on May 14, 1977.

In 1987, Peterson authored the book Becoming a Beauty Queen: the Complete Guide with her sister Polly Peterson Bowles, based on their experiences competing in pageantry.[9] Peterson also served as a judge at the Miss USA 1990 competition.[10]

Personal life

Peterson was married to businessman Rodney P. Burwell until his death in 2015.[11] They had three sons together: Rodney Peter, Blake Palmer, and Michael Craig.[1][12] As a philanthropist, she and her husband made donations to educational and charitable institutions through the Burwell Family Foundation, which she serves as the president of.[13] Peterson resides in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area.[14]

References
  1. "Minnesota Birth Index, 1935–2002". Ancestry.com. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  2. "Gretchen Peterson, dancer and pioneer descendant in a family of well-known names, dies at 79". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. February 6, 2003. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  3. "Miss USA eyes following in judge-father's footsteps". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. May 17, 1976. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  4. "C. Donald Peterson dies at 69; served on state Supreme Court" (PDF). Minneapolis Star-Tribune. December 20, 1987. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  5. Goudas, John (May 12, 1977). "1976 Miss U.S.A steps down Saturday after year of travel". Toledo Blade. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  6. Butterfield, Fox (July 10, 1976). "Hong Kong is agog over beauty pageant". The New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  7. "Las doce finalistas". La Nación. Associated Press. July 11, 1976. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  8. "10 finalists are named in Miss Universe competition". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. May 27, 1999. Retrieved November 29, 2010. The finalists were from Botswana, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain and Venezuela.
  9. Sragow, Michael (July 22, 1999). "Here he is: Michael Patrick Jann's beauty-pageant sendup Drop Dead Gorgeous lands the crown". Salon.com. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  10. "Equal opportunity padding to debut at beauty pageant". St. Petersburg Times. February 23, 1990. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  11. "Rod Burwell honored with Entrepreneurial Award" (PDF). moss-barnett.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010. "Rodney P. Burwell". issuu.com. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  12. "A fashionable frolic". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. June 15, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  13. "UND receives donation of $10 million". Grand Forks Herald. October 3, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  14. "Barbara Burwell Campaign Contributions and Donations". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
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