Deborah Jean Howard ( February 13 , 1967 – July 24 , 2009 ) was an American beauty pageant titleholder . She was crowned Miss New Hampshire 1991 and competed for the Miss America 1992 title . Howard was a graduate of Concord High School in Concord , New Hampshire , and Plymouth State University in Plymouth , New Hampshire . She earned a bachelor 's degree in English in 1989 and a master 's degree in special education in 2007 . After her reign , she continued acting , singing , and dancing in community productions and teaching Sunday school . She became a school teacher and a drama coach . She died on July 24 , 2009 , in a car accident on Interstate 93 . She was 42
Miss America 1992
Miss America 1992
Deborah Jean Howard