Many Oklahomans know Jayroe as both a former Miss America and a television news anchor in Oklahoma City.
During Jayroe's year as Miss America in 1967, she was the first Miss America to visit a combat zone and started the Miss America tradition of providing entertainment to our military every year.
A graduate of Oklahoma City University with a master's degree from the University of Tulsa, Jayroe enjoyed a 16-year career in broadcast journalism. She served as a prime time news anchor in Oklahoma City and in Dallas/Ft.Worth. Representing KOCO news, she received several journalism awards for her work on education issues. Jayroe also was the first female named “Outstanding News Personality” in the Dallas/Ft.Worth television market.
A third generation Oklahoman, Jayroe has been appointed to leadership positions by four Oklahoma governors and served as Cabinet Secretary of Tourism for the State of Oklahoma and Director of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation. Jayroe was the first woman to chair the Oklahoma Academy. She has served in a variety of leadership roles at UMC Church of the Servant and served Oklahoma City University as a trustee for many years. She serves on the boards of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, the Oklahoma Heritage Association and the Oklahoma Centennial Commission. Jayroe is a former trustee of the Sarkeys Foundation. She is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City and was on the initial board that developed Leadership Oklahoma.
Jayroe is a much sought after speaker, and she produced a set of audio devotionals and created seminars for women titled Living Grace-fully and Esther Women: created for such a time as this. Jayroe recently co-authored her biography, More Grace than Glamour, with Bob Burke and wrote the essay for David Fitzgerald's book, Oklahoma III. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2007.
Married to Gerald Gamble, Jayroe lives in Oklahoma City. She has one son, Tyler, who is married with two children.