The current Dilloettes and the Dilloettes Alumni organization are busy making plans for the celebration of the 65th Anniversary of the San Saba High School Dilloettes drill team. The anniversary will be acknowledged and celebrated September 13, 2024, at the high school football game against Goldthwaite at Rogan Field. A celebration brunch will be held the following day at the home of Martha Leigh Miller Whitten from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon.
The tradition that most are familiar with and look forward to seeing is the “Can Can,” a high kick dance performed in a chorus line which is always performed at the Homecoming football game. The “Can Can” premiered in 1966 and has continued to the present with variations added throughout the years. Other traditions which continue include red lipstick for performances and officers always dressing the same as the members.
Some traditions have been abandoned through the years such as the uniforms only consisting of purple and white. Gold was added to the uniforms in 1985-86, and boots with purple yarn tassels were discarded because of their weight which hampered the high kicks. Originally, members only had one uniform. As time progressed, Dilloettes had two uniforms, one for games and another for pep rallies. There were no matching practice uniforms. Today, Dilloettes have numerous uniforms and props available, as well as matching practice uniforms.
Hair pieces and wigs were worn so that all the girls had matching or similar hair styles and sometimes the same color for a few years. In 1967, “falls,” hair pieces that added length and volume to one’s hair, were in style. They were made from synthetic or natural hair and were placed at the crown of the head and secured by four clips to one’s natural hair and were similar to hair extensions that are popular now. Hats were always worn by drill team members; therefore, short hair did not show. Dilloettes were instructed to always style their hair to not be distracting or cover a girl’s face during the performance.
Sponsor Jeannean Thornton noticed that 1967 drill team member, Cindy Benson, had blonde, short hair while most of the members had long hair. Thornton asked Benson to wear a fall to perform for homecoming. Benson’s parents, Russell Benson, who was the local veterinarian in San Saba from 1948 to 1968, and her mother, Mary, who was an artist, had already purchased a “fall” for Benson. Benson is shown in drill team photos for the same year with long hair and her natural short hair.
In the 1970s, wigs were worn by all members. The wigs’ colors varied, and girls carried their appropriate wigs on Styrofoam “heads” to out of town games. Drill team members took at least two hours to get ready and had so much gear, including their wigs, uniforms, hats, props, and makeup, that they got their own bus to travel to football games.
Traditions have come and gone, but the Dilloettes still perform at all the SSHS football games, pep rallies, basketball games, and parades. The 2024-25 Dilloettes will be performing on September 13, 2024, at Rogan Field for the grudge game against Goldthwaite, and they, as well as Dilloette Alumni, hope to see you there!
Photos courtesy of Patsy Hall