Tamara Hext

{{Short description|American beauty queen (born 1963)}} '''Tamara Lynne Hilliard''' (née '''Hext'''; born May 1, 1963) is a beauty queen from Texas who competed in the Miss America pageant.

Hext won the title Miss Texas 1984, after competing in that pageant as Miss Arlington. She went on to become a finalist in the nationally televised Miss America pageant that same year, and finished as the 4th runner up.<ref name="4thrunner">(16 September 1984). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L2IsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=084EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2075,3806672&dq=tamara-hext&hl=en Miss Utah New Miss America], ''Spartanburg Herald-Journal'' (Associated Press)</ref> Tamara attended Vidor High School.

Tamara Hext also was a film actress. Hext appeared in a co-starring role in the 1988 horror film ''Through the Fire''.

==Personal== Hext was married to Jim Hilliard, who played for the Texas Longhorns football team and was an orthopedic surgeon for 35 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newman |first1=Kyle |title=As Rockies' prospect Sam Hilliard chases 30/30 – and a potential call-up – he carries his dad's battle with him |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/08/09/rockies-prospect-sam-hilliard-chases-30-30/ |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |work=Denver Post |date=August 9, 2019}}</ref> In March 2018, Jim Hilliard was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grammer |first1=Geoff |title=Grammer: An Isotopes family grows closer as father fights ALS |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/1329062/grows-closer.html |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |work=Albuquerque Journal |date=June 15, 2019}}</ref> The couple raised three sons,<ref>{{cite news |title=Rockies OF Sam Hilliard's father, diagnosed with ALS, attends Rangers game |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29514255/rockies-sam-hilliard-father-diagnosed-als-attends-rangers-game |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=July 22, 2020}}</ref> the youngest of whom, Sam Hilliard, is a professional baseball player. Jim died on September 12, 2021.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{imdb name|1614853}}

{{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before=Gloria Gilbert | title=Miss Texas | years=1984 | after=Jonna Fitzgerald }} {{s-end}} {{Texas pageant winners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hext, Tamara}} Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:Miss America 1980s delegates Category:Miss America Preliminary Swimsuit winners