 Jeanne Robertson reached her 6'2" stature at age thirteen. Perhaps it was an indication of a future speaking career that would soar to great heights. No, professional speaking might not have been predicted when Jeanne was in the seventh grade in Graham, North Carolina, when and where she would have been voted most likely to make the basketball team and least likely to be a contestant in the Miss America Pageant. She did make the team--averaging more than thirty points per game in her junior and senior years--but as Miss North Carolina 1963 she also competed in the Miss America Pageant where she was named Miss Congeniality. Toastmasters International named Jeanne the recipient of its 1998 Golden Gavel Award, given annually to one individual for accomplishments in leadership and communications. She is the only female professional speaker who has received this honor. Other recipients include Lowell Thomas, Walter Cronkite, Earl Nightingale, Art Linkletter, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Tom Peters, Mark Russell, Ken Blanchard and Zig Ziglar. In recognition of her professional expertise, experience, and competence, Jeanne was honored by the NCAA Southeastern Conference as Auburn University's Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2000. The North Carolina Press Association named Jeanne as its 2001 North Carolinian of the Year for "her popularity on the speaking circuit, her award-winning ways, and her representation of North Carolina." Past recipients have been Elizabeth Dole, Rev. Billy Graham, and Dean Smith. Jeanne has written three books On Humor--Humor: The Magic of Genie, Mayberry Humor Across the USA, and Don't Let the Funny Stuff Get Away. These books are filled with reality-based stories, which illustrate her humor philosophy.
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