They're a cult without the Kool-Aid. Over and over and over again, they kick, kick, kick. Catherine has gained that same flair, that same belief in herself -- especially after her first Cotton Bowl performance. More importantly, they become part of the Texas tradition and a lesser-known American legendthe team that invented the half-time show and the sport of precision dancing. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Not only does being male disqualify me, but I would never make it past the first audition. She became the assistant director and choreographer to . Alas, I had failed to call ahead and arrived to learn that the museum was closed for the day. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? Yes. We do not kick at waist-level!" Much of the population included the "roughnecks" of the oil industry and few families. Yes. But beyond their flashy New Year's Eve performance, within their daily lives, the Rangerettes are a sisterhood, but more athletic. It's helped me with my confidence and communication, just talking to other people.". It would be safe to say that without the Rangerettes, modern dance teams might not exist. A sixty-seat theater in the building provides films and slide shows on Rangerette performances. The Kilgore College Rangerettes perform at the Birmingham International Tattoo in Birmingham, England Nov. 23 and 24. A mans world? Davis served as the group's director for forty years, until June 1979. There was no giggling or laughing or playing up on stagewatching the Rangerettes practice was no different than watching a US Marine boot camp where if a soldier made a misstep and forgot to say, Yes, Sir, they might have to drop and give twenty. This is the bubble: spotless, well-furnished, spacious, where all 72 Rangerettes live during the school year. Evans was number eighty out of over one hundred hopeful . Kerr has also worked on spreading awareness and raising money for CRPS. "I think there's a lack of motivation to try out," said Kevelyn Jones, an African-American on the 2014-15 line. The organization created a unique combination of dance moves and precision drills that quickly earned them the reputation not only as the originators of dance/drill teams, but also as the best in the world. An icon of Americana, the red-white-and-blue clad Rangerettes have drawn the attention of numerous photographers and writers seeking to understand the enduring appeal of a group that some might view as anachronistic. "There were definitely some people who heard I was trying out and said, 'No, they don't take that many black girls,' because that's how it used to be. Handbook of Texas Online, "Other dance teams get lost in the inertia that is major college and pro sports," Hale said. Several sources have it as September 12, 1940,[3][18] but in an oral interview with Texas State University history professor Dan K. Utley, Davis confirmed the first performance date as September 19, 1940,[19] as does the book, A History of Kilgore College, 1935-1981. But nothing is quite like this. Ginger would point out her old dorm on campus and take Ashton to Rangerette shows -- "I fell in love," Ashton said. The building's brick matches the rest of campus, except for the giant Rangerette painted on the side in her telltale blue skirt, red top, white hat, belt and boots. Getting accustomed to the kick expectations and the athleticism of the organization is what most Rangerettes cite as most difficult. Join us in our First Annual "Rette White & Blue" Virtual Race! Yes maam, Thank You Missus Blair, The girls replied cheerfully in unison with flawless smiles plastered on their faces. She kicked incessantly and made her mother critique her. Rangerettes have to develop "kicking muscles" -- a combination of strength, power and flexibility that's simply not built without repetitively throwing their legs as high as they can go, elasticizing hamstrings past the point of normal. [48], On December 21, 2018, Blair's attorney filed a civil lawsuit against Motes seeking monetary relief of between $200,000 and $1 million. For 76 years, the Rangerettes, who got their start by creating halftime entertainment at junior college football games, have made the weekends worth working toward. P; M; W; Gussie Nell Davis was asked in 1940 to create a show for halftime that would keep fans in their seats, and thus, America's first drill team was born! His photo essays have appeared in Texas Monthly (which first published his Rangerettes photographs), American Photo, Photo Review, LensWork, People, and Gourmet. Coming to see the Rangerettes is largely why anybody would come to Kilgore, period. This is the room where many Rangerettes tried on those uniforms for the first time. After college, Dana returned to Kilgore College and the Rangerettes in 1986. Eco-friendly burial alternatives, explained. Tryouts for 2023 are June 25-28th. Though I have now seen them practice in person, and have since watched countless clips of their spectacular routines, discovering the Kilgore College Rangerettes of East Texas has granted me another, new travel dreamthat someday, I might come back to Texas and watch the Rangerettes perform liveto find out for myself if they can really kick that high. They've taken their show all over the globe. Approximately 6,000 people see the show each year, with many people traveling from out of town to attend and provide a boost to Kilgore's economy.[34][35][36][37][38]. Said Blair: "I think the football team would watch us practice and say, 'Yeah, that looks hard.' Success is mine, I've got the key, I'm makin' it, sings Naughton. All copyrighted materials included within the Handbook of Texas Online are in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. They had to pin a gigantic name tag on their solid-colored. Freddie Deloise Goosby Evans was the first-ever African American to high kick her way across the color line in East Texas when she was chosen as a member of the prestigious Kilgore College Rangerettes. O. Rufus Lovett, a fine art photographer who has taught at Kilgore College for more than thirty years, began photographing the 'Rettes in 1989. Heres why each season begins twice. Chatting with Jan at the museum, she said, Tyler used to beat us in football but we sure beat em in halftime. Indeed, Kilgore College was the birthplace of the half-time showthe Rangerettes spawned a tradition that gets replayed across America every Friday night in football season and at every Superbowl. He has also been profiled in Southern Living. If other groups want to imitate us, that's flattering. Founded by Gussie Nell Davis in 1940 and now preparing for its 66th straight performance at the Cotton Bowl, the Rangerettes give Kilgore (population: 15,000) a reason to have a museum. Signup today for our free newsletter, Especially Texan. ", QB Young 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine, Horns' Robinson: Versatility worthy of early pick, Edey leads Wooden finalists; Bama's Miller off list, 'Not going out this way': Nets, down 28, stun C's, Scherzer tries to test pitch clock limits, gets balk, Sources: Patriots tell QB Hoyer he's being cut, Shiffrin, in fifth, gets 'big goal' with overall title, Ledecky sees 9-year win streak in U.S. snapped, Inside the long-awaited return of Jon Jones and his quest for heavyweight glory, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? [46], Some critics have "expressed dismay at the emphasis on physical attractiveness and rigorous and authoritarian training. For kick endurance, you can't run. It's a bond that you can't really explain until you're immersed in it.". They're an exclusive club in which perfectly curled hair, high kicks, years of dance training, scuffed-up white boots and small-town pride all come together to form a team filled with what the Rangerettes deem "all-American girls." Maggie Ethington, right, of Nacogdoches points to her number Friday after being selected to be a Kilgore College Rangerette in Dodson Auditorium. Her mother, Holly Kerr, admires the efforts to inspire other CPRS warriors. What is wind chill, and how does it affect your body? When out-of-towners flock to AT&T Stadium each year, says Dana Blair, they get a "little bit of Texas" when the Rangerettes perform, white-tasseled cowboy boots . Photos of young college women posing with celebrities and dignitaries -- Prince Charles, George W. Bush, Dwight D. Eisenhower -- clutter the walls. ", Of course, by the 1970s, football had been around for decades. [52], Motes was granted parole in November 2021 after serving two and a half years of her five year sentence. Then we're thanking them for giving us their time.". Those regulations are attempts to take looks out of the equation when choosing the team. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Horenstein [30][31] and Tracie Stanfield. "We pride ourselves on looking a certain way and acting a certain way, so if we're in public, usually people know us by our behavior or by our looks," Bergen said. The 110-degree Texas heat got to her on her first day out on the football field during her freshman year. The dean of the college then, Dr. B.E. But they had a really good template.". "I don't want that to sound cocky. And it takes a lot of rules to make a "lady" and to preserve the Rangerettes' image. There's a grill for the girls' chicken and tilapia. [3], There is disagreement within the Rangerette alumni group and others in the dance team industry regarding the date of the first Rangerette performance. KV: Sure. Rangerette Showcase Hours: Wednesday - Friday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Extended hours during special events) For information about the Rangerette Showcase: Rangerette Showcase and Museum Phone: (903) 983-8265 Fax: (903) 983-8255 showcase@kilgore.edu Megan DeHoyos Lead Attendant Rangerette Museum and Showcase Phone: (903) 983-8266 mdehoyos@kilgore.edu "Kilgore College Rangerettes announce 80th line", "Rangerettes Bring Red, White, Blue And Shades Of Gray To Cotton Bowl", "Kilgore College Rangerettes performing in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade", "Kilgore College Rangerettes to perform at inaugural ball", "Black Tie & Boots gala to be Bush's Texas-sized victory party", "The 2019 Birmingham International Tattoo", "Sweet Success: The Debut of the Kilgore College Rangerettes", "Kilgore College mourning loss of Rangerettes' second director, Deana Bolton Covin", "Kilgore College Rangerettes to perform with Mariah Carey at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade", "Home for the Holidays: Kilgore College Rangerettes plan Christmas shows", "Kilgore Rangerettes prepare for trip to New York City to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade", "East Texas groups to perform during event marking Pearl Harbor attack", "90th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off holiday season", "Victoria's Kilgore Rangerette performs in Pearl Harbor ceremony", "Rangerettes kick Kilgore economy up a notch during Revels", "Rangerette Revels set for April 1114 in Dodson Auditorium", "Rangerette Revels Tickets Going On Sale To Public March 26", "Zwick Foundation Gives $3.5 Million to Kilgore College for New Dormitory", "Kilgore Dedicates Davis Rangerette Dorm", "World-Famous Rangerettes to Perform at Tremblay Bowl", "Anonymous donor gives $1 million to Kilgore Rangerettes", "Transformational $3.5 million gift to endow Rangerettes scholarships", "Kilgore College student safe after escaping accused kidnapper", "Grand jury indicts woman in Rangerette kidnapping", "Victims in Kilgore Rangerette kidnapping file lawsuit seeking up to $1 million against suspect", "Rangerette kidnapping suspect gets April trial date", "Woman pleads guilty to 2016 Rangerette kidnapping, sentenced to 5 years", "Judge awards victims in Rangerette kidnapping $575K", "The Positively True Adventures of the Kilgore RangeretteKidnapping Mom", "The Texas Trademark: Flair for the Flamboyant", "Trouping the Colors for Gussie Nell Davis", "My Hometown: A True-Blue Rangerette Explains Why There's More to Kilgore Than Oil and the Drill Team", "Over the Hedge by T Lewis and Michael Fry", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kilgore_College_Rangerettes&oldid=1137238209, Dec 2021 - 80th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony, Honolulu, Hawaii, Nov 2021 - 95th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City, Nov 2018 - 92nd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City, Jan 2017 - Texas State Society Black Tie & Boots Ball, Washington, D.C., for the, Dec 2016 - 75th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony, Honolulu, Hawaii, Nov 2016 - 90th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City, Jan 2013 - Texas State Society Black Tie & Boots Ball, Washington, D.C. for the. "We're fit, young women, not skinny," said Leslie Rowe, a Rangerette from 2013-15. Nothing's been the same since. into their precision routines, but again, the fundamentals have remained. [39] The residence was completed in August 2006[40] for the 20062007 school year, and was formally dedicated in a ceremony a few months later. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. The revenue generated by the shows make it one of Kilgore College's highest grossing events. All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. It's the kind of perfect living room your grandmother dreamed of, complete with silver candleholders, throw pillows and luxury you can almost smell. Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians. Intense training, discipline and constant practice make the Rangerettes one of the best precision dance teams in the world. However, your first year is spent as a freshmen Rangerette regardless of your college grade classification. Said Emily Wendt, a member of the 2013-15 lines: "You can't expect your leg to hit your face every day and not have any repercussions. And yet despite the discipline and physical rigors of the corps, being a Rangerette is a great honor and the dream of many a young Texas girl. There are hamburger joints, a movie theater, a 16-lane bowling alley. "No one else in the family understands," she says. "Whenever I did see my number on the sign, I just felt relieved because all my life I had wanted to be a Rangerette, and I had finally become one. KC offices are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon-Thurs, excluding holidays. The Rangerettes portray a narrow image of beauty, especially when the program's diversity is evaluated alongside it. [1] According to the Texas State Historical Association, Davis said she would "be receptive when a qualified black tried out. You're supposed to be presentable at all times.". Dabbing at her eyes, Ginger tries to preserve her perfect makeup. For a change of pace, discover the distinguished history of the legendary Rangerettes at the Rangerette Showcase and Museum. When does spring start? "We'd love to have more diversity.". Zwick's daughter, Lauren Gibler, was also a Rangerette from 2007 to 2009. Theyre not allowed to weigh more than five pounds over or five pounds under their weight at the time of tryouts. Kilgore was an insignificant dot on the map before oil was discovered in the 1930s. "People don't always appreciate or recognize it as a sport because we make it look easy," Wendt said. And the program imposes rules and weight limits on women that may seem restricting to outsiders. And for visitors who believe the star power cannot be contained to screens the size of a car window, there's a 60-person theater, too. I feel like I grew up with the poise of a Rangerette without her even having to tell me. 2023 Kilgore College RangerettesAll Rights Reserved. This is her zone. If this all seems dramatic or strange, then you're definitely not part of the Rangerettes' sphere. If your number is on that sign: elation, and happy tears. Part of that regimen is to build endurance; part of it is to maintain the body image the Rangerettes have to convey. The group became popular locally after its debut at a football game in September 1940. Normally sixty-five students make up the team, but only forty-eight members actually perform at one time. ), no more, no more, fakin' it (kick!).". Kilgore College was established in 1935 in an effort to bring more families to the town, but at football games, men would often go under the bleachers to drink and fight. Rangerettes Forever is an alumni organization that participates in various support programs for the team. In addition to teaching photography at Kilgore College, Lovett works as a fine art and editorial photographer. Certain offices have extended evening hours and/or Friday hours. If this is really the dungeon, wait 'til you see the "Taj Mahal." You want to be a part of something like that.". The Official Facebook page of the World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes! As the Rangerettes prep for their Cotton Bowl performance, their obsession with appearance is on high alert. Bergen said. Within this sweltering box of toiling emotions that is the Rangerettes' gym, a sign that seems bigger than the Texas sky drops with 36 numbers written on it. ", "I'm makin' it, I've got the chance, I'm takin' it (kick! This is the organization's second performance in an official military marching tattoo as they were featured in the Basel Tattoo in Basel, Switzerland, in the summer of 2018. The tradition began in 1940 when Gussie Nell Davis started the Kilgore Rangerettes, the first precision dance team in the U.S. 2023 Cotton Bowl Classic | Cotton Bowl Terms of Service | Cotton Bowl Privacy Policy Its fame promptly spread outside Kilgore, and within a year the Rangerettes had traveled to New Orleans to represent the region's oil business at the Lions International convention. "It's changed a lot, but the traditions and core are still the same when I tried out," she said. Describing her own involvement is one thing. The TSHA makes every effort to conform to the principles of fair use and to comply with copyright law. Information regarding opportunities to apply for a manager, a manager/performer, or the voice position is available on the Rangerette.com website. accessed March 04, 2023, Just as I was ready to pack up and leave Kilgore behind, I caught a glimpse of the smiling blond vision down the street, a three-story cowgirl grinning and beckoning to me with all the friendship of sunny Texas. Injuries can be an issue. Everyone must go through periodical weigh-ins, although no one is bound by the same number. texasmonthly.com: What do you think attracts young women year after year to join the Rangerettes? While Lovett treats the 'Rettes as an artistic subject, he also captures the esprit de corps that keeps the girls smiling even when they have to march on icy pavement and prompts their mothers to wear T-shirts that proudly proclaim "Rette Mom." Talent, above all else, is what the directors say they search for during tryouts. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. A burst of disco and an instant mood-booster, the 1979 hit song has been used for the Rangerettes' practices basically since it came out. How much did Daniel Kilgore weigh when playing? It's the one day of the year when the Rangerettes trot out in front of a national television audience, and the crowd at AT&T Stadium is the biggest they perform for all year. Maybe I am too young and maybe I am too ignorant, but until driving through East Texas, I had never heard of these Rangerettes. Whether she knows it or not, every girl who has ever dreamed of taking her place in a line of high-kicking dancers on a football field at halftime has been inspired by the Kilgore College Rangerettes, the world's first precision dance drill team. "We set the bar and we can't let that fall," said Beverly Tallent, a 1960s Rangerette. Shirley Arredondo is the "dorm mom" giving the tour; she actually lives here, too, in a furnished apartment within the building. The first count included two charges: aggravated kidnapping with intent to terrorize and aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon. And although the numbers are low, both current members and Blair agree that the numbers are representative of the proportion of minorities who try out. Ask anyone from this east Texas town what their community is known for, and they'll tell you oil and the Rangerettes, and probably not even in that order. On a Tuesday three summers ago, Thompson graduated high school. I had traveled to Kilgore to see the East Texas Oil Museuma fascinating tribute to the petrochemical wealth of East Texas and the boom that sprung serious life into this corner of the state. "You have a weekend coming up, and I suggest you use that time to figure out how you're going to get your kick endurance up. ", "And if you think about the first big blowout of a halftime show in the NFL, it was the '87 Super Bowl with Ray Charles. She managed to get out a few words -- "Yes ma'am, thank you, emergency, I think I'm gonna die" -- before she passed out that day. Looks are important to the Rangerettes organization. Surrounded by hopes, dreams and years of tradition, 32 young women became the newest members of the world-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes dance and drill team this morning. Put simply, being pretty is important. She reaches for a tissue, just like she did when she watched Leslie Rowe, her granddaughter, perform in her first Cotton Bowl halftime show two years ago. Shelley is a former Rangerette Lieutenant and Swingster (1985-1987) originally from Houston who returned to Kilgore College after directing the Westfield High School drill team (Houston, TX) for one year. [2], The Kilgore College Rangerettes were founded by Gussie Nell Davis, a physical education instructor from Farmersville, Texas who had previously taken an all-girl's group called the "Flaming Flashes" from being a simple high school pep-squad to an elaborately performing drum and bugle corps in Greenville, Texas. "When we say 'Yes ma'am, thank you,' we take that criticism and apply it to ourselves. Previous lines have met John Wayne, Bob Hope and Troy Aikman, to name a few. A Gregg County judge has awarded $575,000 in a combination of compensatory and punitive damages to the victims of a 2016 aggravated kidnapping which targeted the director of the Kilgore College Rangerettes and her daughter. [66], The Angelette Song from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas features a drill team performance that parodies the Rangerettes[67], In the King of the Hill episode "The Company Man" (Season 2, Episode 9), Hank asks Peggy to wear a Kilgore Rangerette type outfit when they go out to dinner with Mr. Holloway, a man heavily influenced by Texan stereotypes. Rangerettes talk about living in a "bubble." "You're using every muscle. The Rangerettes became a success early on despite criticisms of their uniforms featuring skirts above the knee, which by the 1960s had become much shorter. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? "I think it's given me self-confidence and it helps me get to know myself more," she said. Revels features performances by Rangerettes with several dances choreographed by nationally known choreographers such as J.T. To underscore the significance of the Kilgore Rangerettes, Kilgore College opened a Rangerette Showcase on its campus in 1979. Even around campus, Rangerettes aren't allowed to leave their dorm unless they're "put together. The lower, the better yall! yelled Dana Blair, director of the Rangerettes since 1993 and a former Rangerette herself. "We always joke that you can see the hair on people's legs on that giant JumboTron," said Brooke Luna, the squad's captain. "I chose the Kilgore Rangerettes over other dance teams because of their poise, standards, and skill level," she added. Her years in Kilgore were the best of her life and helped her become the woman she is today. Since uniformity is key to the Rangerettes dance style and tradition, hair length, hair-style, make-up, and the traditional Rangerette uniform are standardized to achieve this goal. "We're the example. Beside her, Ashton's perfectly curled blonde hair bounces as she nods. The Kilgore College Rangerettes, also known simply as the Rangerettes, are an American precision dance team from Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas, created by Gussie Nell Davis in 1939. That hair has to meet a length requirement as well: three inches above the belt when it's straight, and touching the shoulders when it's curled. We haven't found any reviews in the usual places. How did this mountain lion reach an uninhabited island? Some special unit of woman combatants who could shoot and ride and who defended the great state Texas from evildoers and lawlessness? I imagined, entering the museum with a wide-open mind. ". Masters, wanted to create something that would bring more women to the college, and that would keep fans in their seats during halftime. The Rangerette directors choose all new freshmen Rangerettes with assistance from the returning sophomore class. With her training and 26-hour drive, Thompson had already proven to herself she could do whatever the heck she put her mind to. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The Kilgore College Rangerettes have traveled the world, performing in dozens of different countries and representing Texas in a way that no football team ever could: 71 young women, rigid with . [43], On Saturday, October 19, 2019, a former Kilgore College Rangerette and her husband donated a $3.5 million estate gift to fund scholarships for the Rangerette organization. Many say the organization was the beginning of everything from the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders to the Laker girls and college dance teams. Long COVID patients turn to unproven treatments, Why evenings can be harder on people with dementia, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, This sacred site could be Georgias first national park, See glow-in-the-dark mushrooms in Brazils other rainforest, 9 things to know about Holi, Indias most colorful festival, Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. The anonymous donor was a Kilgore College graduate whose wife is a former Rangerette. Many current Rangerettes are from Dallas, Austin, and Houston. "That sounds really pretentious, but [it's] just the way we carry ourselves. "It was in God's hands, I remember Ashton saying," Ginger Terry says before her voice breaks again. And on Wednesday, she packed up her car, said goodbye to everything familiar in Utah and drove 26 hours to Kilgore. They're not allowed to weigh more than five pounds over or five pounds under their weight at the time of tryouts.. Most are trained studio dancers and the competition is fiercemost who make it receive a full college scholarship and a chance to live in the Rangerettes own dormitory on campus. As the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is a staple of Texas tradition, so too is the world-renowned collegiate drill team. Dec 2011 - 70th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony, Jan 2009 - Texas State Society Black Tie & Boots Ball, Washington, D.C. for the, Jan 2005 - Texas State Society Black Tie & Boots Ball, Washington, D.C. for the, Jan 2001 - Texas State Society Black Tie & Boots Ball, Washington, D.C. for the, This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 15:22. You can't jump. Do freshmen Rangerettes have to try out again to become sophomore Rangerettes? [42], During the week of Revels 2019 (April 1013), a donation of $1,000,000 was made to the Mike Miller Rangerette Fund to complete a permanent operating endowment for the Rangerettes. She kneels and picks it up, holding it in her hand until a trash can is convenient. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. Once a year during the summer. Kilgore College Rangerettes Performance, Kilgore, TXPublished by: Studio Glam Dance and Acrobatics, Lufkin, TX, http://StudioGlam.Dance, http://Facebook.com. There is no limit to the number of hopefuls who may attend pre-training and tryout for Rangerettes. No. Last April, participants raised $13,500. We're going to need tissues. Kilgore Campus 1100 Broadway, Kilgore, Texas 75662 | (903) 983-8209 KC-Longview Campus 300 South High Street, Longview, Texas 75601 | (903) 753-2642. Every Rangerette receives a partial scholarship each semester. Who do the Rangerettes perform for? The trust is set up to provide scholarships for Rangerettes and Rangerette Managers who meet the endowment's academic criteria. Kilgore College Rangerettes select 32 freshmen for 81st line Facebook Twitter Print HTML Forward Surrounded by hopes, dreams and years of tradition, 32 young women became the newest members of the world-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes dance and drill team this morning. Every room is a little different: Some Rangerettes choose to bunk their beds, others move their desks together. Sonic's happy hour draws the young crowd. Forever beaming onto the rest of Kilgore College, the Rangerette mural throws her hands skyward in victory. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. "If you do something wrong three times," Davis would shout, "you'll never get it right!". (She made the team). [32][33] There are five showings within the week of the program, and it is the last major performance of the year for the group. ", "I've got looks, I've got brains, and I'm breakin' these chains (kick! "It was just a dream come true to make it," said Rowe, Tallent's granddaughter. By 1975, the Houston Contemporary Museum of Art credited Davis with creating a "living art form.". O. Rufus Lovett is a nationally acclaimed photographer and author of the book Weeping Mary. [68], In the February 14, 2020, comic strip Over the Hedge, the Rangerettes were mentioned as sending a Valentine's Day card to one of the characters.[69]. She starts to cut across the grass but hesitates and sticks to the sidewalk. She was responsible for turning the Rangerettes into a company that executed perfect routines by holding to the concept that the Rangerettes "don't make mistakes.". "I'm solid gold, I've got the goods, they stand when I walk, through the neighborhoods.".