predecessor successor title article_title name occupation alma_mater
jane jayroe judith ford miss america 1968 debra dene barnes
 debra dene barnes associate professor of piano studies pittsburg state teachers college
debra dene barnes

debra dene barnes , -lrb- married as debra snodgrass -rrb- was crowned miss america in 1968 .
barnes was raised in moran , kansas .
upon graduation from high school , she attended pittsburg state teachers college in pittsburg , kansas and majored in music .
after winning the miss kansas pageant , she competed in the miss america pageant .
she was crowned in a blue chiffon alyce hamm gown by alyce designs a talented pianist , she played the theme from `` born free '' as her talent entry .
during her farewell address at the 1968 pageant , her speech was interrupted by protesters from `` new york radical women '' , who unfurled a bed sheet from the balcony that said `` women 's liberation '' and began to shout `` women 's liberation ! ''
and `` no more miss america ! ''
they were quickly removed by police but drew coverage by newspapers from across the united states .
as a former miss america , she has performed in 41 states and 3 foreign countries , on network television , numerous cable stations , and still maintains an active performance schedule .
she graduated from pittsburg state university , she has performed two concertos with the university orchestra and gershwin 's `` rhapsody in blue '' , with the carthage symphonic band .
barnes is currently associate professor of piano studies , elementary music , and staff accompanist at missouri southern state university in joplin , missouri .
she has over 35 years of piano teaching experience , in both private instruction and `` class piano '' format .
debra 's students have ranged in age from 5 to 87 years .
barnes is the worship leader at faith life worship center in carthage , missouri , where she has served for many years .
barnes won the wadill chamber music competition held at pittsburg state university in march 2007 .
she performed chopin 's concerto no. 2 in f minor with the southeast kansas symphony in april 2008 .
