Pep Squad Costumes

The Sam Houston High School Pep Squad was call the "Sammies" until the end of the 1952-53 school year. The Squad had several different uniforms: the regular squad member wore a white pleated skirt, a white blouse, and a kelly green vest with and large S embroidered on the left. The officers wore white pleated skirts and kelly green jackets. The senior cheerleader wore a kelly green blouse and a full skirt, and the other two cheerleaders wore the same thing with the colors reversed. Pictures are available in the 1953-album.

In the late Spring of 1953, after much discussion, the name of the Squad was changed to the Cherokee Maidens and an Indian-type costume was adopted.

The squad wore white skirts with fringe on the bottom, kelly green blouses and a fringed v-shaped top. The cheerleaders changed their costumes to kelly green blouses and brief tights, covered by a short white leather jumper with fringe at the bottom and around the low neckline. The neckline had hand-beading with the initials CM in the center. These costumes can be seen in the 1953-54 school annual. We also had hand-made and hand-beaded feather headdresses that we used for special occasions such as parades. I don't know what happened to mine, but I suspect turkey feathers start to smell bad after a while, as does leather.

Attached is a photo of my leather jumper, and a close- up of the bead work. The cheerleaders made these costumes themselves. Remember, this poor thing is 50 years old now. I think I have aged better than it has, and I certainly smell better. I have a colorized photo done at Studer's with the costume on, which shows the true colors. The blouse and tights are long gone.

Click on picture for a larger view.

Submitted by Margee Wenger'54 Gayle
Thanks, Margee