78R5454 MMS-D

By:  Merritt                                                      H.R. No. 310



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The Kilgore Rangerettes, the world's first women's 
precision drill team, have become one of the most widely recognized 
symbols of the Lone Star State; and
	WHEREAS, The Rangerettes were organized at the prompting of 
Kilgore College president B. E. Masters, who thought that such a 
group would draw more female students to the school while also 
providing them with physical training; a further hope was that 
halftime shows at football games would help keep fans in the 
bleachers and so reduce the consumption of "improper beverages" 
under the stands; and
	WHEREAS, Gussie Nell Davis, who had established a high school 
girls' drum and bugle corps in Greenville, became the Rangerettes' 
first director, and Liggett Crim, a local oilman, covered the 
initial expenses; and
	WHEREAS, The team's fame spread quickly following their first 
football game performance in 1940 and their first recorded parade, 
at the Tyler Rose Festival, that same year; after the United States 
entered World War II, their appearances included shows throughout 
East Texas to promote the sale of war bonds; and
	WHEREAS, Their lengthy resume is studded with performances at 
Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, the Sugar Bowl, and every Cotton 
Bowl since 1951; the most recent of their eight overseas tours took 
them to Dublin, Ireland, where they were guests at the 2000 St. 
Patrick's Day parade and Lord Mayor's Ball; in addition, the 
Rangerettes have performed in inaugural parades for Texas governors 
Ann Richards, George W. Bush, and Rick Perry and for presidents 
Dwight D. Eisenhower and George W. Bush; and
	WHEREAS, The Rangerettes have been featured on the covers of 
Newsweek, Life, Esquire, and hundreds of other publications, as 
well as in a movie and numerous television programs; visitors to the 
Kilgore campus can view exhibits of Rangerette costumes and 
memorabilia and take in films and slide shows of their 
performances; and
	WHEREAS, In their long history, the Rangerettes have had only 
three directors; Deana Covin assumed the leadership of the group 
following the retirement of Miss Davis in 1979, and Dana Blair has 
guided the team since Mrs. Covin's retirement in 1993; and
	WHEREAS, With trademark flair and crisp, flawlessly executed 
routines, the Rangerettes have mesmerized crowds and served as 
goodwill ambassadors of their school and state for more than half a 
century; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby honor the Kilgore Rangerettes on the occasion of 
Kilgore Day at the State Capitol and extend to them sincere best 
wishes for continued success.