Donna Axum
Encyclopedia
Donna Axum was crowned Miss America
in 1964.
Axum from El Dorado
, Arkansas
, now lives in Fort Worth
, Texas
, and is a member of the boards of the National Committee for the Performing Arts of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
, the Fort Worth Symphony, the Van Cliburn Foundation
, named for the pianist
originally from Shreveport
, Louisiana
, and the Texas Christian University
College of Fine Arts Board of Visitors.
who served as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
from 1969 to 1972 and later as the Washington County judge. The pair divorce
d.
and Master of Arts
degrees at the University of Arkansas
at Fayetteville
in Speech/Drama, Television and Film. In 1988, Axum was named a Distinguished Alumnus of UA and serves on the National Development Council. She also served on the steering committee of a seven year capital campaign that raised more than $1.046 billion for the university.
Heavily involved in the arts on the local, state and national levels, Donna serves as Chair of the Executive Committee for the National Committee for the Performing Arts for the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. She also serves on the Executive Committees of the Fort Worth Symphony and the Van Cliburn Foundation and the Texas Christian University College of Fine Arts Board of Visitors. At the state level, Donna is Chair of the Texas Cultural Trust, the 501c3 arm of the Texas Commission on the Arts and a founder of Texas Women for the Arts.
Church in Fort Worth.
law firm specializing in mergers and acquitions. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on March 1, 2009. Collectively, they have five children and ten grandchildren.
On July 2, 2007, her fourth grandson, Andrew Brooks Mutscher, was born.
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
in 1964.
Axum from El Dorado
El Dorado, Arkansas
El Dorado , a multi-cultural arts center: South Arkansas Arts Center , an award-winning renovated downtown, and numerous sporting, shopping, and dining opportunities. El Dorado is the population, cultural, and business center of the 7,300 mi² regional area...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, now lives in Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and is a member of the boards of the National Committee for the Performing Arts of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, the Fort Worth Symphony, the Van Cliburn Foundation
Van Cliburn Foundation
The Van Cliburn Foundation is host to the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, the International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs™, Musical Awakenings® education programs, and Cliburn Concerts.-Mission:...
, named for the pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
originally from Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and the Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
College of Fine Arts Board of Visitors.
Personal life
Axum first married Michael Alan Buckley and had one child, Lisa. She divorced Buckley and married Gus Franklin MutscherGus Franklin Mutscher
Gus Franklin Mutscher is a former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, having served from 1969-1972. He was one of several Texas politicians indicted in the Sharpstown bank stock fraud scandal...
who served as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the Texas House of Representatives. The Speaker's main duties are to conduct meetings of the House, appoint committees, and enforce the Rules of the House...
from 1969 to 1972 and later as the Washington County judge. The pair divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d.
Career
Axum has held many titles since serving as Miss America: university instructor, author, television executive producer and TV hostess, professional speaker and civic leader. Her Miss America scholarship was used to complete her Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degrees at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
at Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
in Speech/Drama, Television and Film. In 1988, Axum was named a Distinguished Alumnus of UA and serves on the National Development Council. She also served on the steering committee of a seven year capital campaign that raised more than $1.046 billion for the university.
Heavily involved in the arts on the local, state and national levels, Donna serves as Chair of the Executive Committee for the National Committee for the Performing Arts for the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. She also serves on the Executive Committees of the Fort Worth Symphony and the Van Cliburn Foundation and the Texas Christian University College of Fine Arts Board of Visitors. At the state level, Donna is Chair of the Texas Cultural Trust, the 501c3 arm of the Texas Commission on the Arts and a founder of Texas Women for the Arts.
Beliefs
Her faith is a stronghold of her life and is reflected in her service to the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as an Advisory Board Member where she works in the areas of development and women's ministries. She is also a member of the choir of Travis Avenue BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church in Fort Worth.
Family
Currently, she is a member of the Advisory Council of the Dallas/Fort Worth World Affairs Council. She is married to J. Bryan Whitworth, a retired Executive Vice President of ConocoPhillips and now a counsel of Wachtell, Lipton, Rozen and Katz, a New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
law firm specializing in mergers and acquitions. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on March 1, 2009. Collectively, they have five children and ten grandchildren.
On July 2, 2007, her fourth grandson, Andrew Brooks Mutscher, was born.