An instructor leads a group of girls in a baton twirling class in a gymnasium at Tuley Park Fieldhouse, Chattham, Illinois, circa 1963. Source: Richard J. Daley Collection, University of Illinois
Conejo Valley Days Parade, 1965 | A police marching band is led by two twirlers, one dressed in a costume inspired by prison garb and another dressed up like a member of the po-po. I was so amused by this photo I had to find out if there was any video of this parade. I was so happy when I found...
In September 1960, the University of Kentucky “Marching 100” band added a trio of majorettes to halftime performances. The trio included freshman Karen Shields, Susan Mendel, and Donna Wilson. It was the first time the university featured majorettes in the band since 1947, when they...
The remaining original Purdue Silver Twin, Sharon J. (Roeske) (Wendt) Wesch, Ph.D., died in February. She and her sister Karon made their debut as the Purdue Silver Twins in the fall of 1960. Karon died in 2003, at the age of 60. The Silver Twins were created by the late Purdue Band Director Al G....
Above Left: Vonda Kay Sigmon Roberts, Head Majorette, Stonewall Jackson High School, Charleston, West Virginia, 1969 From the 1969 Stonewall Jackson High School Yearbook, The Jacksonian: As representatives of beauty and grace, the majorettes of Stonewall Jackson ranked well above the average...
Donna Tickle Hewett poses in a Mary Poppins costume, late 1960s. The costumes were for a special routine performed by the Stonewall Jackson High School Majorettes, Charleston, West Virginia. They were made by a majorette mom, the mother of Vonda Roberts (nee Sigmon). Photo Provided
Veronica “Bonnie Cakes” Sadler (nee Syfax) was born in Mississippi and attended Central High School, Columbs, Ohio, where she was a majorette. Sadler died in 2016. Photo Provided
The Pasco High School Pirate Band, Charles Corbin director, circa 1960 Pasco High School Majorettes 1960-61Suzi Williams, Head Majorette, Rene Allen, Mary Petway, Joy Sweat, Laura Luckenbach, Becky Lamb, Carol Jarvis, Phyllis Ramsey, Barbara Pire, Dianne McGough. Photo courtesy of Phyllis Ramsey...
Tossing Above Silo Joyce Rice grew up on her family’s farm in Greenfield, Iowa, where she practiced tossing her baton higher than the silos. According to an article in the Creston News at the age of 17, she was named the “best baton twirler in the world”, after “defeating...
Three majorettes wearing shamrock hats and twirling batons march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on State Street. Source: Mart Studios, Chicago
Such a fabulous picture of Buddy Ronald “Ronnie” Lowery (1953-2018), feature twirler for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, 1968. Lowery was 18 and a college freshman at the time as well as the five-time reigning Oklahoma baton twirling champion, as reported by the Oklahoma Times. In addition to...
