Comments: Kathleen, I wasn't a Deb and Charlotte can answer better, but I think the Debs were outstanding because of practice, practice, practice, and plenty of discpline, both self and otherwise!
Comments: Charlotte, What did you think made the Golden Debs so successful? The one thing I remember as an observer in the stands is that everyone loved the finale of high kicks.
Comments: Barry, they are close, but no cigar....their precision is not quite there...but hey...They are a breath of fresh air and they are way better than girls who look like they are pole dancing without the pole...sheesh! Thanks Barbara. I am so glad the name was changed at that time too. I have the same experience sometimes about people remembering the Golden Debs...They were the best and won the city competition trophies to prove it too.
Comments: For those who are interested, the saga of the Golden Debs came to an end in 1967. Fortunately, the integrity of the Golden Debs was never compromised by the wearing of petticoats or “pole-dance” routines, as the replacement drill team – the Pivoteers – came along with the school year of 1967-68. Although Debs may not have always been perfect girls, through hard work and discipline, our routines were close to perfection! I work with people of our era who graduated from high schools in Ft. Worth and Garland. They still talk about how the South Oak Cliff Golden Debs were legendary! As Jerry Vessels so aptly put it “We didn’t always win the game, but we always won the half-time show!”
Comments: My sister-in-law told me that the Dashing Debs from Garland celebrated their 65th anniversary this year and they are the second oldest drill team in the state. I believe that the Kilgore Rangerettes were the first drill team in the state, so the high schools must have started right after that. I'm getting hyped to see my great-niece perform this fall and I think Garland is supposed to have another good football team, so it should be fun.
Comments: Lynell, I already have daddy's old home movies on VCR set to music. My sister-in-law did the laborious task several years ago. Ken makes some interesting observations about the young people of today. I feel sorry for them because with climate change and all the other economic problems facing them they aren't going to have very good futures.
Comments: The Southlake girls do not need babysitters. The nanny takes care of the young'uns.
Comments: Ken, I don't think individual Poles would have much to contribute. They are not known for having rhythm.
Comments: Here is a video of the Southlake Emerald Belles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyvkf7V8FOk&NR=1
Comments: Ken: The Southlake Carroll drill team is much like the Debs of old. They have had the same sponsor for years and she runs a tight ship. If you get a chance to go to a Carroll game, by all means do so-that is if we ever get to the playoffs again. Joan works as a 4th grade teacher in Southlake and Coach Wasson's wife works there. "This is a rebuilding year" she says. I wonder if Coach Dodge regrets leaving Carroll to go to North Texas?
Comments: The world has surely changed: morals, civility, gas prices, grading concepts, drill team performances, etc, etc, etc. Now the once proud Golden Debs are the still proud Olden Debs, last of the precision, disciplined drill teams. I don't think anyone today (or in the past) performs with the precise exactness that SOCites enjoyed seeing. A couple of years ago I went to the Celina-James Madison playoff football game. The Madison drill team was...uh....how should I say...."entertaining". Only individual poles could have added to the performance. A guy sitting by us made a very un-P.C. and very funny remark. He thought it was great that so many girls could find babysitters on a Friday night. Ouch!
Comments: Kathleen, you have a treasure there. Maybe you could talk Lonnie Harmon into putting those drill team movies into digital form.
Comments: Does anyone have any films of the Golden Debs they could post? It would be fun to see them. I have some old, faded films of all the drill teams especially junior high school ones. My father took them at various parades. He was a novice with a move camera. The camera was hand held and the films he took often would bounce all over the place. You would be watching the girls marching down the street and all of a sudden all their heads were cut off. When we were kids, we thought it was funny to reverse the old Bell and Howell projector and watch the films backwards. We enjoyed seeing the girls march backwards and doing their routines in reverse.
Comments: PS...Ginger doesn't post here anymore.???..check the SOC site on FB. She is there and seems OK.
Comments: Okay, Lynell. That was very painful! Not one pointed toe that I could see. AND some of them lost their hats...not allowed!...Oh, and their boots were not polished and the soles did not shine...ahem!! Barefoot? sigh! haaaaaaaaaaaaa! You just put the the lid on it for me.. John S says his relative was a Deb in 67...so WHEN did they change? I saw them one time after I married at some event in Dallas with petticoats....and some of those were uneven and one even fell to the ground during the performance....Wha??? pullleeez!! The Debs were so disciplined and regimented. I suppose that goes along with what has happened to our moral standards in America too....I know some of you would disagree, especially the younger folks, but I do not regret any of the strictness of being a Deb...maybe kept some of us out of trouble. OKAY...I have had a wine (or two)...I'm just sayin!
Comments: Sharon - Ginger is on FB. She is doing fine. She does not live near the water where she said people are in trouble.
Comments: Has anyone heard from Ginger regarding the Memphis flooding?
Comments: Philip: There is at least one high school in Texas that has or had a male drill team member. I can't remember which one now, but there was an article last year (I think) in Parade Magazine. The girls evidently thought he was great. He did wear long pants! Phyllis: I don't know what year, but the name of the SOC drill team was changed.
Comments: Phyllis, here'a a You Tube video of the "South Dallas" drill team, filmed at Beckley-Saner gym. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYrs9yrH4Pk
Comments: I saw a more recent version of the Debs -- I don't think they're called the Golden Debs any more -- perform a few years ago, when SOC played a football game at the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair. Whereas "our Debs" were justifiably-famous for their precision, the ones I saw at the Fair appeared to be trying to "out-priss" each other, if that makes any sense. Several were obese, a few even morbidly so. And it's quite possible that one or more were actually male. OK, I know, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all; having already violated that rule, I'll shut up now. Goodnight, Gracie!
Comments: My little sister Sue (Class of '67) was a Golden Deb. She was the shortest girl in the group and would end up at the very end of a line when they were standing abreast and kicking. She said it put a lot of extra pressure on her to finish up a routine in-sync with the gal at the other end of the line.
Comments: Phil, you would look stunning in a Deb uniform. Stunning!
Comments: Phil, I have not seen any boys in the drill teams yet, but who knows you might just have started something. Making the drill team was always an honor back in the day and still is for the young girls.
Comments: Alas, I never got to try out for the debs either as I had to work at Piggly Wiggly and Polar Bear so I could buy a car. Do you suppose in today's day and age boys can apply?
Comments: Sharon, I never got to try out for the Debs at SOC, as alas I had to work part-time throughout my school years to help my mom make it with two teenage daughters. I did, however, get to enjoy watching my own girls make cheerleader, then drill team (one was an officer on the drill team) and I shared in all the fun, trips to San Antonio for State championship win and all the ballgames! Enjoy your sweet niece at her games!
Comments: Michael: I doubt that I will see Rick. On the water is mass confusion. You can imagine a couple a hundred boats trying to get to the same dock at the same time to pick up Warriors. The Coast Guard shuts down barge traffic on the ICW and closely patrols the area for boats leaving large wakes and driving recklessly. My friend doesn't want to skipper his own boat and I get the job. I don't know if I'd rather mess up the fiberglass on my boat or his! Barry
Comments: This past Saturday, my oldest great niece, Sydney, tried out for and made the Garland High "Dashing Debs" Drill Team. She is so excited. Brought back memories from 50 years ago.
Comments: Less than 2 weeks till Warriors Weekend. If you can't volunteer, please send them a donation at the link below. At the very least, plan on coming to Port O'Connor early Saturday morning, May 12, to show your support. http://www.causes.com/causes/351515-support-warrior-s-weekend-texas
Comments: Happy Mother's Day to all the SOC moms, memories of their moms and those non-moms Lynell mentioned that give a loving home to sweet pets such as the Cats and Dogs, their favorite little cow, horse, etc. Enjoy your day and Yes go shopping for something nice for you, All of you are Special!
Comments: Happy Mothers Day to all you SOC moms, grandmothers, and good aunties! As for us non-moms, we should go shopping today and buy something nice for ourselves! |
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