Adventures with the Rich, Famous & Royal

Bonnie Bolding Swearingen has a Southern aura that clings to her like a beguiling perfume. Although she has spent most of her life in California, New York, Texas and Chicago, if you ask Bonnie where she's from, she'll say "Alabama" every time. She radiates Southern charm and hospitality at its very best. She approaches all areas of life with bold enthusiasm.

After graduating with honors from Samford University on a Miss Alabama Scholarship (where she was the star of the drama department, leader of the band, cheerleader and sweetheart of p.K.a.), she attended Pasadena playhouse, Pasadena, California for a graduate degree in theatre.

It didn't take long for Hollywood to discover the Alabama beauty, and soon she was cast in TV and movie roles. On her way to stardom, Bonnie turned her back on Hollywood, moved to New York and became one of the first female stock brokers at Shearson, Hammil & Co. After five successful years, bonnie was off on another adventure... this time for love, marrying John Swearingen, CEO of "Standard Oil"/Amoco. During their thirty four (34) years of marriage, bonnie has "lived" her childhood dream of exploring the world. As John opened oil explorations around the world, Bonnie accompanied him, traveling in Russia, China, Africa, Australia, the Middle and Far East, Korea, South America, and Europe.

When she met Queen Helen, the last monarch of Romania, who told her, "I'd rather read about my life than live it." Bonnie felt a deep compassion because life to bonnie is full of precious memories and few regrets.

When I asked her about her fondest memories, she said, "the shah of Iran's coronation is high on my memory list. Everything was very romantic, beautiful and exciting. I'm glad I saw Iran before the revolution. The empress remains a good friend. She is a remarkable woman."

"Houseguesting at the LBJ Texas Ranch and then visiting Lady Bird at their Villia in Italy were marvelous times...she is such a joy to know!"

"One of my most unexpected pleasures

was a fishing trip with president and Ms. Carter in Colorado. The president was so patient and helped improve my fly casting. Mrs. Carter is a brilliant, charming lady and is a better fisherman than her husband!"

"I treasure the memories of my many trips to the white house. America is a great country that has been blessed with great leaders. It has been a privilege for me to know many of our Presidents and to spend time with great leaders from other countries as well."

"I could never forget the trip to morocco as guest of King Hassan for his daughter's wedding... ah!! There are too many memories for one article. You'll have to write a book for that," says Bonnie.

It's true, it would take volumes to write Bonnie's memories. Surely she would want to include the time she was tailhooked and catapulted off an aircraft carrier, or... the adventure of being the first female on an offshore oil rig in the North Sea... or the time in Russia, when she interviewed the first female astronaut... or played golf with President Marcos of the Philippines on his private course.

Bonnie's golfing partners read like the "Who's Who" of the World: Presidents: Eisenhower, Johnson, Nixon and Ford; Bob Hope, Arnold Palmer and Alice Cooper (to mention a few).

Even though Bonnie's zest for life and her dedication to her husband's corporate achievements took much of her energy, she always found time for her favorite charity - Chicago's Boys & Girls Club, where she served as Chairman of the "Man of the Year Dinner" for 13 years. She was the first female on the National and International Boys' Club Boards and was named Chicago Boys' Club "Woman of the Year".

Bonnie has served on many boards and committees: Napoleonic Society of America, Chicago Symphony, Chicago Civic Ballet, Fine Arts Committee, U. S. State Department Advisory Board, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Citizens Committee, University of Illinois Advisory Board, Samford University (where she also underwrites a Bonnie B. Swearingen Scholarship). She was chosen as one of 10 Outstanding Women of America by St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama along with Nancy Reagan, Lady Bird Johnson, Ann Landers, Lee Annenberg and Patricia Harris. She also received the American Needlepoint Guild's "Mary Martin Award", The Cook County Young Republicans' "Woman of the Year" Award; Goodwill Industries "Humanitarian Award" & many more.

Bonnie's determination and powerful energy has directed her life - perhaps President Nixon said it best after Bonnie persuaded him to come to Chicago for his first public appearance since Watergate, when he said, "You just can't say no to Bonnie."

One might think Bonnie would be unapproachable. Not so... she adores people, and babies, and rhapsodizes about her roses. She shows photographs of her roses like a proud mom. Bonnie has never met a stranger in her life and if she tells you she'll do something, you can take her word to the bank.

Bonnie's favorite season is what she calls "rose time" - in the desert it's the early spring, and in Chicago, it's summer... if she isn't golfing, fishing, playing bridge, or hosting one of her famous parties, she's on the phone or in her rose garden, which is dedicated to her beloved mother, who inspired her love for family and for roses. This lovely garden has more than 300 cabbage size roses surrounding her palacious desert home recently featured in Palm Springs Life Magazine.

There seems to be no end to Bonnie's dreams - this time in technicolor - for a public rose garden for Indian Wells, California. She practices the power of positive thinking like her hero, Napoleon, who said, "Impossible is not in the French language." Bonnie says, "Impossible is not in my dreams!" - How do I know this? Bonnie is my sister, and I know "dreams do not come true - they are made." Bonnie makes dreams come true.

An Interview by Margie Bolding