Bonnie Bolding Swearingen
Bonnie Bolding Swearingen (born February 22, 1933 in Joppa; died August 2, 2020) was an actor, a stockbroker, and a noted philanthropist.
Bonnie was the fourth of five daughters born to Orin Thomas and Gertha Bolding of Joppa, who also had two sons. She won the Alabama Maid of Cotton pageant in 1953 and participated in four Miss Alabama pageants. She earned a scholarship to Howard College. She was active as a drum major, cheerleader and theater performer. She graduated in 1995 and completed an acting residency at the Pasadena Playhouse. She also performed with Birmingham's Town & Gown Theater.
She married John David Manley III of Corpus Christie, Texas, then divorced him and married Oscar Wyatt Kr of Houston. After divorcing him, she moved to New York City and eared a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. She met and married Standard Oil if Indiana CEO John Swearingen in 1969. The couple split their time between Chicago and Palm Springs, California. She pursued championship golf and big game hunting. She also served on the board of directors of Burlington House and on the advisory board for Bonwit Teller department store.
Among their many philanthropic activities, Swearingen was especially generous to her alma mater. Swearingen Hall, Samford's arts center, was named in her honor after her husband's death in 2007. She also served on the Fine Arts Department for the U.S. Senate, the Chicago Mayor's Committee for Economic and Cultural Development, and the New York Public Library Diamond Jubilee Committee. She was also active in supporting the YMCA, the Alliance Française, and Boys' Clubs in Chicago. She was the honorary chair for "Gala 75" celebrating the 75th anniversary of St Vincent's Hospital.
Swearingen died in 2020 and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery.
References
- "Mrs. John Swearingen" (1973) Gala 75 program. St Vincent's Hospital
- "Bonnie Bolding Swearingen" obituary (August 5, 2020) Chicago Tribune
- Smith, Ashley (August 28, 2020) "Remembering Remarkable Life of Samford’s Friend Bonnie Bolding Swearingen." Samford University School of the Arts