Even if he hadnt served as the towns mayor since 2010, many locals would know him as a lifelong Kilgore resident and for his connection to the Rangerettes. She knelt on Alexas chest and choked her. They contested Kyleighs scores and took their fight all the way to the Kilgore school board. In midland county felony indictments All copyrighted materials included within the Handbook of Texas Online are in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Was she ready? The last segment of the show is always an extended production kick routine, featuring all of the Rangerettes in the traditional uniform. This was most evident every year at the spring production of Revels. Then, sometimes in unison and sometimes in waves, they completed a series of leaps and kicks and poses, up and down off the chairs. Masters. At first, my husband and I didnt know whether to believe her, the woman, Taylor Welch, told me. What are tryouts called? Rangerettes - - the first dance/drill team of its kind and, after 35 years, still probably the best. Hale had never been a Rangerette. It was as if coming right up to the edge of murdering someone had convinced her to go no further. I dont like talking about it, she said. dr thomas horn wikipedia. Its asif [Nancy] went up there for harm, there was ample time and opportunity for harm before they got to the storage [unit]., Alexa told the court that she tries to avoid thinking about that night. As an everlasting tribute, the Rangerette Residence at Kilgore College bears her name. The Rangerettes began appearing throughout East Texas in "bond shows" in support of the war effort. Mrs. Blair seemed nice enough, but this was a drill team and she is their drill sergeant. I watched and listened to them repeat that exact same phrase about fifty more times during their practice, to the point of it becoming slightly alarming, or at least disconcerting. Alexas life changed immediately. Nancy had a loose connection to Alexas mother, Dana, though their association is so confusing it practically begs for a diagram. Taylor Prewitt is the newsletter editor for Texas Monthly. https://www.tshaonline.org, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/kilgore-rangerettes. what are rangerette tryouts called. On Friday morning, 100+ groggy, hopeful girls with painted on makeup and forced smiles flood Dodson Auditorium, some, for the last time. Between spoonfuls of ice cream, he recalled the day in late 2016 when one of his constituents, a woman with no previous criminal history named Nancy Motes, kidnapped Dana and Alexa Blair. I dont know if its over or not., As word of the judgment made its way around Kilgore, more than a few locals commented that they were practicing their aim, for self-defense, should they find themselves on Nancy Motess hit list. I am dancing at my freshman Cotton Bowl. She became assistant director of the Rangerettes in 1972, a position she held for seven years, before becoming the Rangerette director in 1979. As soon as the light turned green, I tried to catch them, and they were gone, Lori said. However, after entering the College of Industrial Arts (now Texas Woman's University) in Denton, Texas, she selected physical education as her career choice, and went on to earn a Master of Science degree from the University of Southern California. Like barbecue and church, football is a religion in Texas, and apparently, back in the day, fans used the half-time to run beneath the bleachers for a drink (the practice may have been exacerbated by the fact that Kilgores biggest rival Tyler was a dry city). Mrs. Covin joined the Kilgore Faculty in 1966 as cheerleader sponsor and physical education instructor teaching golf and bowling. I heard she moved, he explained. Her fellow Rangerettes knew how shed received those injuries, but none of them dwelled on it that day, and neither did Alexa. A new discovery raises a mystery. Dana admitted that they didnt, and she apologized if she had somehow offended her. Nancy was so absorbed by the chase that she momentarily forgot Alexa was in the car. Before she could reach them, she saw the pair get into a car and speed away. [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. Where did the gun go? Alexa heard her say while Nancy frantically rummaged through the car. Her most popular saying was Beauty knows no pain, and it became the Rangerettes motto. PDF TROUPING THE COLORS FOR GUSSIE NELL DAVIS by EDWIN SHRAKE She left her home and drove to Longview to shop for a pair of jeans at Cato Fashions. All rights reserved, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Rangerette 1975-1977, 36th Line. Before Clower even saw the scores, the principal would whisk away the results. 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. They kept mostly to themselves, and only a few neighbors and church friends knew them well. [48], On December 21, 2018, Blair's attorney filed a civil lawsuit against Motes seeking monetary relief of between $200,000 and $1 million. The Rangerettes have been featured at numerous football bowl games across the nation, on national television, in movies, and on hundreds of magazine covers. Masters, decided that Kilgore College needed an organization that would attract young women to the college, equalize the male-female student ratio, and keep people in their seats during football game halftimes. I was packing, ironing, and multitasking to get out of town, Dana said. 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]. Yes maam, Thank You Missus Blair, The girls replied cheerfully in unison with flawless smiles plastered on their faces. To underscore the significance of the Kilgore Rangerettes, Kilgore College opened a Rangerette Showcase on its campus in 1979. what are rangerette tryouts called - islamichouseofisrael.com Then she left the unit and shut the door. Drill team, precision dance. Rangerettes' Revels starts Wednesday with theme of cross-country flight She was on the mark; she made no mistakes; she was a Rangerette. The group became popular locally after its debut at a football game in September 1940. The Kilgore College Rangerettes performing during halftime at the Cotton Bowl Classic on January 2, 2017, in Arlington. Not that the girl was burdensome. Clower, feeling that her authority had been overridden and offended that the boards vote seemed to validate the accusations against her, concluded she had no choice but to resign after the following school year. For their grand finale, the girls stood on the chairs and kicked waist-high, never wobbling, before each dancer tucked her left leg behind the teammate to her left and slowly bowed. BELLES PREP QUIZ Flashcards | Quizlet Mrs. The first group of its kind in the world, the Rangerettes brought show business to the football gridiron. Forever History | Kilgore College Rangerettes She was, however, a New York City Rockette who left for the Big Apple after graduating from high school at 16 years old. Many years ago, a young woman named Min Hui (Wang Yu Wen) fell for a young man named Xin Qi (Wang Zi Qi). Listening to our story and taking it all in, the facts, Alexa said. I think that if she intended her harm, she had plenty she could have done and she didnt; Alexa is fine, Kyle Motes testified, before quickly walking it back. In Kilgore, dance is the air locals breathe, and that oxygen fed the flames of her angeruntil everything went up in smoke. After watching from the stands for years, the redheaded nineteen-year-old was now dressed in the same basic uniform Rangerettes had been wearing since the groups formation in 1940: white boots, royal blue miniskirt, white leather belt, white wrist gauntlets, candy-apple-red shirt, and white cowboy hat. Teresa Palomo Acosta, Marina Haake Jefferis was on the 36th line. Name 3 rules that Freshman Rangerettes must follow. 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.". Since the Kilgore Rangerettes became so popular, all-female drill teams have proliferated throughout the state, with 15,000 high school students and 1,000 college students participating annually. Who is your best friend? light blockers for blinds bunnings; black and white fallacy examples in commercials; what scope do marine snipers use; does squat and cough work; how many directors have the rangerettes had? I dont know what she has felt., Nancy also denied critical aspects of the crime shed already pleaded guilty to in her criminal case. how many directors have the rangerettes had? On Saturday, May 6 at 2 p.m., many of those individuals will have the opportunity to discuss the influence Holland had on their lives during a tribute to honor him at John Paul Jones Arena. In January of 1996 she was named posthumously to the TDDTEA Texas Drill Team Hall of Fame, and in 1999, was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame. The revenue generated by the shows make it one of Kilgore College's highest grossing events. Davis served as the group's director for thirty-nine years, until June 1979. Nancy knew that the Blairs lived a few blocks away from where shed stopped following Shore, and because Alexa had been on drill team with Duffield, she thought Alexa would be able to tell her where the girl lived. Section 107 related to Copyright and Fair Use for Non-Profit educational institutions, which permits the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), to utilize copyrighted materials to further scholarship, education, and inform the public. She was watching her girlsmembers of the nations most prestigious drill teamperform a pregame routine at the Cotton Bowl Classic, and every movement had to be perfect. 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. Naturally, this resulted in a few awkward interactions. Nancy saw Alexas chest moving and seemed surprised. Not much thought was given to an offspring - even as late as 1965 when a [50], On April 29, 2019, Motes pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated kidnapping, one with a deadly weapon and one with deadly force. Nancy saw Alexas chest moving and seemed surprised. 2 hours of sleep? TSHA | Kilgore Rangerettes - Handbook of Texas They didnt wish this on anybody., While volunteers arrived with more supplies, Spradlin shrugged as if there were nothing more to say, except that some parents just cant seem to get out of their kids way. My Life as a Rangerette | Kelli Huff The Forevers have a rich history, according to Deen. Signup today for our free newsletter, Especially Texan. Shore approaches what Dana and Alexa Blair experienced?, I said I can imagine the pain she felt, Nancy replied. Along the way, it may have dawned on her that she was committing a crime, and that she was in possession of evidence, because she threw Danas phone out the window and then smashed Alexas phone and tossed it too. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) Blair's daughter escaped her captor a little over an hour later. Kilgore College Rangerettes - Wikipedia She continues to serve as director today. 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. Undeterred, she opened the door to the space and pushed Alexa inside. Alas, I had failed to call ahead and arrived to learn that the museum was closed for the day. Maybe I am too young and maybe I am too ignorant, but until driving through East Texas, I had never heard of these Rangerettes. The history of book bansand their changing targetsin the U.S. Should you get tested for a BRCA gene mutation? The assailant kidnapped Blair's daughter, who at the time was a Freshman Rangerette. The second routine was trickier than the pregame act; the girls started in formation, each standing behind a folded white chair, head bowed. 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 1 May 2023, at 03:11. On the way out of the courtroom, Dana and Alexa stood by the doorway and told me that the judges decision validated their experience. ), It just blows my mind to hear her say it over and over again, Alexa said of Nancys claim that she didnt use a gun in the kidnapping. Why would I kidnap someone I dont even know? she asked. Then she continued tracking the vehicle through Longview neighborhoods, going as fast as 80 miles per hourright up until Nancy ran a red light. And at this point, Nancys very bad plan took a turn for the worse. I dont know if youve heard the story about why Nancy Motes was angry, but its very convoluted, Spradlin said. Now that the threat of violence was gone, Alexa could gaze safely upon Nancy, and the longer she looked, the angrier she felt. Dr. Masters knew of Gussie Nell Davis and her "Flaming Flashes" at Greenville High School, and decided to bring her to Kilgore College to create something special. Studying Nancys face at the April 29, 2019, sentencing hearing, Alexa took her in for the first time: the shoulder-length hair parted at the side, the mascara running into the creases beneath her eyes, the mouth set in a deep grimace. But noThe Kilgore College Rangerettes are a drill team. 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. I made the line. She is a lifetime member of the Rangerettes Forever Alumni Organization. Around six, Dana heard the doorbell. She stuffed her mid-length dirty-blond hair into the wig, pulled a hat over it, and began trailing Shore. I didnt even know Alexa. In a separate statement, which was introduced as evidence during the trial, Nancy wrote, The event was a strong response to people bullying my daughter. The Rangerettes dont cheer. They dont do stunts, nor do they tumble, and they certainly dont execute moves that might offend your grandparents sensibilities. They'd be perfectly comfortable in a big city, but from what the girls tell me, the isolation of Kilgore helps them focus on the team. I guess she thought she was going to have to be the calm one.. Why would I be mean to them? Since the 1970s they have taken six world tours, to South America, the Far East, Romania, France, Canada, and Japan. All rights reserved. For some long COVID patients, exercise is bad medicine, Radioactive dogs? Miss Davis' team took to the field during the 1940 football season, creating the genre of dancing drill teams now seen all across the nation. Dana had called the police, and an officer had already arrived at the house, along with Chris Blair and a few concerned neighbors, but she told Alexa and Nancy that the cops werent there if they didnt need to be. September 12, 1940. Nancy, now 62 years old, had the kind of life that many dream of. Faced with overwhelming evidence, she pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated kidnapping and was sentenced to five years in state prison. Then, after the couple called it quits, Nancy drove to the ex-boyfriends house, and as he tried to back out of his driveway, she parked in his path and blocked him in. Kyle and Nancy Motes had lived in Kilgore for a decade by the time Kyleigh, their only child, became a high school senior. I would like for you to consider serving as a manager and be a part of the team., Kyleigh didnt respond, and Nancy never acknowledged the gesture. Rangerettes Bring Red, White, Blue And Shades Of Gray To Cotton Bowl - ESPN According to Duffield, she and Shore never dated.). Kilgores creation of the lively half-time show with synchronized dancing majorettes got the fans attention. Today, its fair to say that the dance team outshines their own football team in a big way. But to the best of anyones knowledge, Motes and her family never had much interest in the organization. Meanwhile, Nancy interrogated Alexa: Do you think youre perfect because youre a Rangerette? She marveled to herself over the Blairs compliance, even as she trained the gun on Alexa and told her that Dana shouldnt have run. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. Gussie Nell Davis is most definitely the First Lady of Drill Team. She remains a hero and role model to all of the many young women and friends whose lives she touched, and to all the young women who carry on the traditions of the Rangerettes. How many Directors have the Rangerettes had? I was doing a pretty good job of it until I heard she denied having a gun and denies choking my daughter, she said. A few mornings a week, they do cardio and strength training, followed by an advanced jazz-dance class. It makes no sense. [1], In the late afternoon of December 29, 2016, there was an armed home invasion and kidnapping at Rangerette Director Dana Blair's home. Thousands of high schools and colleges have copied the Rangerettes since Gussie Nell Davis created them in 1940. If theyd been close enough to see, they might have noticed that her eyes were bloodshot and her neck was bruised. Clower first took notice of Nancys behavior when Nancy served as a Hi-Stepper parent volunteer. You dont have anything to prove., I am performing, Alexa said. As the school year drew to a close, some locals still gossiped about Nancy Motes. I wasnt mad that it was out, she said, It was just hard to reread and relive.. She had no idea why anyone would call 911 and report her license plate. Scanning the unfamiliar parking lot and surrounding streets, Alexa spotted an eight-foot wooden fencethe first one she saw that wasnt topped with barbed wire. Forever Bios | Kilgore College Rangerettes Mrs. Dana Blair and Mrs. Shelly Wayne. She quickly enlisted the help of local oil millionaire Liggett Crim to pay for the Rangerettes' initial costs. Masters wanted something different than the traditional women's drum and bugle corps. The iconic look was rounded out by curled, shoulder-length hair and bright red lipstick. The 80th edition on Thursday will be no different. Many current Rangerettes are from Dallas, Austin, and Houston. 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