Posted on 01/07/2010 3:43:23 PM PST by muawiyah
Juanita Carpenter Richardson, 73, Purdue’s first Golden Girl, died in San Diego, CA, on Dec. 25, 2009, following a short illness.
Director Emeritus of Bands Al G. Wright recruited Juanita to come to Purdue from Colorado and perform as a solo twirler with the “All-American” Marching Band in1954. Her blond hair, gold sequin costume and twirling talents combined to make her an instant fan favorite.
She twirled two football seasons, in 1954 and 1955, but the name given to her - Purdue’s Golden Girl - created a tradition that continues to this day.
(Excerpt) Read more at purdue.edu ...
So, why is this "news" ~ well, she was the FIRST such solo twirler in the BIG TEN, and that probably made her one of the FIRST such solo twirlers in America ~ and a gazillion American girls have followed in her stead, and stepped out smartly, bleached blond hair and all.
Her performance and her example led colleges and universities all across the nation to provide scholarships to tens of thousands of deserving young ladies who became "solo twirlers" for a short part of their lives, and then went on to become doctors, scientists, engineers, teachers, etc.
En zo, guys and gals ~ fellow Freepers ~ so passes one of the Founders of what is now known as "The Fifties".
Another Boilermaker here muawiyah. Thanks for posting although sad...
I was one of those solo twirlers in college. I had the exact same outfit that is in the picture. I was about 15 years later though. Costumes didn’t change much back then and oh the blisters from the majorette boots~ UGH!
Spankentruppen. LOL
Or ironic, considering our conversation this morning.
RIP...
She was very much Not Guilty in her day.
Ah-h-h the Golden Girl. Al Wright was still there when I attended, and while I didn’t cross paths with the Golden Girl, I was in class with one of the Silver Twins (Lit class- Great American Books- she wasn’t really interested). And who can forget the slutty Girl in Black that they started in the 70s.....
hh
I enrolled in Purdue as a grad student in 1954, watched her perform at football games while I worked as a grandstand usher. (Grad students and faculty members comprised the usher force for football games at Purdue at that time, rewarded with seeing the games free of charge). But I was not then aware that the Golden Girl tradition was being initiated at that time. She also performed at bonfire evening rallies on campus prior to home games.
RIP.
I remember the Golden Girl when I was there, although I was there about twenty years later than the original. There was a girl from my high school who was one of the silver twins though. That brings back memories of the football games.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjPzlQxZapY
Chelsea Russell, University of Iowa Golden Girl
My dad was involved with the Purdue band and I met her in ‘55. I was all of 10 years old at the time. My dad was one of Spots Emerick’s protoges. and was in the running for his job when Spots retired. Politics reared its ugly head and that was the end of my dad’a dream.
Thank you. Evidently they were more than mere pretty faces, et cetera. They’ve done Ol’Purdue proud.
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