Miss America 1944; Venus Ramey; 82 Year Old Woman Uses Gun to End Robbery

By: marvin Posted: May 21, 2007

WAYNESBURG, Kentucky

Miss America 1944 has a common talent that she has likely never used or appeared on a beauty pageant stage: Venus Ramsey, Miss America 1944 fired a handgun to stop an intruder as she shot out the intruder's tires.

Venus Ramey, 82, boldly confronted a man on her rural farm in south-central Kentucky just last week after she saw her faithful dog run into a storage building where artful thieves had previously made off with a substantial amount of old farm equipment.

Ramey confronted the man and she said the man told her he would leave. "Ramey responded by stating, 'Oh, no you won't,' and I shot their tires so they couldn't leave," Ramey said.

Ramey had to balance on her walker for stability as she pulled out a snub-nosed .38-caliber handgun. She fired uncertain at first where the first few shots went.

"I didn't even think twice. I just went and did it," remarked Ramey. "If they'd even dared come any closer to me, they'd be 6 feet under by now."

Ramey then somehow flagged down a passing motorist, who promptly called 911.

Curtis Parrish, a recidivistic criminal, of Ohio was charged with misdemeanor trespassing, Deputy Dan Gilliam stated. The man's hometown wasn't readily available. Three other people were questioned in the incident but were not arrested.

After winning the Miss America Pageant in 1944, with her dancing, singing and comedic talents, Ramey sold war bonds for a while and her priceless picture was adorned on a B-17 that made numerous missions over Germany throughout World War II, according to the Miss America Web site.

Ramey resided within Cincinnati for several years and was the primary force in helping rejuvenate Over-the-Rhine historic buildings in the city. Ramey returned to Kentucky in 1990 to settle on her farm.

"I'm trying to live a peaceful, quiet life and stay out of trouble, and all it ever is, is one thing after another," Ramey sniped.