Museum celebrates world’s first drill team ALLISON TALIAFERRO Staff Writer The Rangerette Museum showcases the sisterhood of the Rangerettes and the bond the drill line shares. Preserving their legacy would not be possible without new museum director Merlyn Holmes and manager Megan DeHoyos. The museum provides extensive history on the legacy of the Rangerettes. “The museum houses the history of the Rangerettes from day one to present day,” Holmes said.
Rangerette Forever DeHoyos decided to tackle the job of managing the Rangerette Museum three years ago. “We have the smile sign from our very first sponsor,” she said, of the unique memorabilia. “The smile sign was used to remind the girls to keep smiling during their performances.” One of the museum’s highlights is a short film created by former Rangerette manager and current film director Chip Hale. It provides a full insight into the Rangerette
lifestyle, giving the audience a look at a typical football season, Rangerette Revels and information on the history of the Rangerettes. “My favorite aspect of the museum would be showing the film. The film allows people to see what we are all about,” DeHoyos said. Revels is always an exciting time for the Rangerette Museum. Drill teams from across Texas, as well as Rangerette alumnae and managers come to immerse themselves in the history of the world’s first dance/ drill team.
‘Miracle Worker’ review, photos on Page 8.
The museum is housed with memorabilia ranging from founder Gussie Nell Davis’ dress, original props and uniforms, to the lines latest props. “The Rangerettes do a fantastic job of preserving their legacy themselves. We are fortunate enough to get to help showcase that,” DeHoyos said. The Rangerette Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located at the intersection of Broadway and Ross Streets, beside Parks Fitness Center on the KC campus.
The Flare
Timothy Stuckey / THE FLARE
Students of Annie Sullivan gather around their teacher.
Friday, October 7, 2016 Vol. 80 No. 6 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
’Rettesat the ready 20 drill teams across Texas join the Rangerettes on the R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium field during halftime of Saturday’s game against Northeastern Oklahoma.
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
Drill teams across Texas join the ’Rettes to perform in front of KC home crowd Last Saturday, Oct. 1, about 400 dancers from various high schools and middle schools joined the Rangerettes during the halftime show. “As Kilgore College alumnae, Angela (Falcone) and I are thrilled to bring potential students to Kilgore College for this event,” said Megan DeHoyos, Rangerette Showcase and Museum coordinator. Coast2Coast Productions owned by DeHoyos and KC dance instructor Angela Falcone hosted the halftime show. Proceeds from the event benefited the Rangerette organization. “Definitely one of the coolest experiences I’ve had all year was getting to bring my drill team to my hometown to perform with the world famous KC Rangerettes,” said Allyson Honeycutt, Tatum drill team director and Rangerette Forever from the 73rd line. Throughout the day the
dancers toured the campus and learned about day-to-day life as a student of KC. “They got to watch them practice, perform perfectly and walk the same paths at KC that I walked when I was here,” Honeycutt said. Each of the 400 dancers got the chance to meet the 72 Rangerettes, followed by getting to see their legacy through the KC Museum coordinator. “Our love for KC and the Rangerette organization is something that we intend to share with these young adults for years to come,” DeHoyos said. Not only did these dancers get the opportunity to learn what it is like to walk the life of a KC Rangerette, they also had the opportunity to perform alongside the world’s first and most renowned drill team. “Being a Rangerette is one of the greatest memories of my life,” Honeycutt said. “Now
getting to share that with my team is the greatest memory of all.” High schools and middle schools that were represented include: Arlington High School Birdville High School Bullard High School Burnett Middle School Carthage High School Clark High School Fossil Ridge High School Franklin High School Henderson High School James Martin High School J.L. Long Middle School John Paul II High School Kemp Middle School Kilgore High School Shelbyville High School Sunset High School Tatum High School Waskom High School Weatherford High School Woodrow Wilson High School - Leah Bryce and Kayla Terrazas contributed to this article.
Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE
Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE
Falling into the splits, Rangerettes work with precision.
Rangerettes prepare to high kick.