Birthplace of Modern
Cheerleading T
here are many icons of American culture that did not originate in Texas, and cheerleading is one of them. But, like barbecue, pageantry, and law enforcement, Texas went and made it better.
WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS”?
You may already know the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were not the first in the NFL, but they are about as famous around the world as Mickey Mouse so, whether that is the cause—or effect—of the Lone Star love affair with cheerleading, the sport is still going strong at all levels. It should surprise no one that in a state that loves football so much, those on the periphery also enjoy a sense of connection and identity as participants in the culture of Friday night lights. In decades past, cheerleading created a social aspect that allowed girls and women who did not play sports to feel connected to teammates and their school. In recent years, as cheerleading has been elevated to a competitive sport, Texas has been equally intentional about being bigger, more creative, and nailing the most challenging stunts.
BACK(FLIP)STORY History books tell us organized cheerleading began at the University of Minnesota in 1898. Women were not invited to participate in the sport at all until 1923, but they brought the first tumbling and acrobatic elements to the routines.
TEXAS STEPS IN In 1939, the dean of Kilgore College in east Texas wanted to encourage more young women to enroll but also keep football fans in their seats during halftimes. With the help of Gussie Nell Davis, the first-of-its-kind Rangerette dance team brought entertainment to the field and
set the bar for on-field performance. The Rangerettes are still the gold standard and the world’s best-known collegiate drill team, performing coast-to-coast in the United States and on frequent world tours. By the 1940s, professional teams began nurturing entertainment programs of all kinds, and the trend trickled downward. While cheerleading was still a male-dominated activity, and had remained fairly exclusive to collegiate football, it was growing fast. In 1948, cheer had grown so much at colleges and high schools that Lawrence Herkimer, a former cheerleader at Southern Methodist University, formed the National Cheerleaders Association, the organization that drew cheerleading off the sidelines and into the national spotlight. Lawrence held his first camp in 1948 in Huntsville, Texas with 52 girls and one boy. His signature jump while a cheerlead-
