Friday, January 09, 2009

Pageant queen remembered for inner beauty

clipped from www.dailyherald.com

Everyone in Margaret "Marge" Dolan McLennon's life knew her as a beauty, both inside and out.

Although her looks took center stage when she was crowned Miss Chicago at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, her family and friends remember McLennon as a woman who spent her life raising money for charities.

McLennon, 94, who lived in Palatine, Lombard and Bloomingdale, died Tuesday surrounded by family.

Born in Chicago on Nov. 12, 1914, McLennon was the fifth of nine children. After her sister entered her into the Miss Chicago contest at age 19, McLennon won the title during the Century of Progress World's Fair in Chicago.

With her days of pageant crowns seemingly behind her, McLennon dedicated her life to helping young women gain education and overcome poverty. As chairwoman of a local Big Sisters in the 1970s, she helped establish a clinic to provide prenatal and postnatal care for unwed mothers.

Her family said people always thought McLennon was a winner because of her drive to help others.

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