Golden Anniversary of the Golden Girl
Purdue University Bands Celebrates 50 years of Twirling Tradition

Reflections from Al G. Wright | Golden Girl Bios | Alumni Memories

Reflections from the creator of the Golden Girl
Prof. Emeritus Al G. Wright talks about 50 years of tradition

"You can't create a tradition, it just happens," says Al Wright, the band director who convinced an outstanding Colorado twirler to come to Purdue in 1954 and, by doing so, created a golden legacy for Purdue University, the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band - and himself.

It was the pizzazz of a great twirler, with a great personality, that Wright wanted to put in front of Purdue fans that fall - and Juanita Carpenter was picture perfect in that role.

 

Mid way through the first season she got a nickname - Golden Girl - and by the time she graduated two years later, the notion of putting an outstanding, charismatic twirler dressed in Purdue gold in front of the band had marched directly into the annals of Purdue tradition. Full Story...

 

Biographies of the Golden Girls

All information contained in these biographies was obtained during the Fall of 2004. Questions and corrections should be addressed to Kathy Matter, kcmatter@purdue.edu.

JUANITA CARPENTER, 1954-1956

Home: San Diego , CA

Married name: Juanita Carpenter Richardson

Current occupation: Retired from Instructional Media Center for San Diego City Schools

SANDRA HUTCHISON, 1956-58

Home: Bonita Springs, FL

Married Name: Sandra Sawatzki

Current occupation: Retired school teacher; worked with special needs students for 38 years

ADDIE DARLING, 1958-60

Married: Nov. 25, 1960 making her ineligible to continue as Golden Girl

Died: February 1961 of a cerebral hemorrhage

TEDDIE JANE DARLING, 1962-1964

Home: Washington, Utah

Current occupation: Composer, writer, singer

JUNE CIAMPA, 1961-62 & 64-65

Home: Ortonville, MI

Married Name: June Ciampa Lauer

Current occupation: Real Estate Agent, Builder

SHERRY CARDEN, 1965-66

Home: Bingham Farms, MI

Current occupation: Attorney/Manager of Barnes and Noble Bookstore

VALERIE BROWN, 1966-68

Home: Nashville, TN

Current occupation: Speech pathologist

SELITA SUE SMITH, 1969-1973

Home: Frankton, IN

Married name: Selita Reichart

Current occupation: Vice President of Employee and Consumer Relations at Red Gold, LLC, the world's largest privately held tomato processing company. I grew up on a tomato farm.my job is a perfect fit!

LINDA G. HUGHES , 1973-1976 

Home: Indianapolis, IN

Current occupation:Marketing Director at Northwest Radiology Network

KATHY BURKLE, 1976-79

Home: Tucson, AZ

Married name: Kathy Thuerbach

Current occupation: Sales consultant for Qwest Dex Yellow Pages

SUSAN E. FRON, 1979-82

Home: Smyrna, GA

Current occupation: Area Leasing Manager, Eastman Kodak Company with the responsibility of selling Kodak Digital Products nationwide utilizing a tailored leasing solution

SALLY BATINA, 1982-83

Home: Marion, IN

Married name: Sally Middlesworth

Current occupation: First grade teacher at Converse Elementary

VALERIE LUDWICK, 1983-87

Home: Richland , WA

Married name: Valerie Willman

Current occupation: Psychologist (Christian counseling, sport and performance psychology)

CANDIE NOGLE, 1987-88

Home: Mellen, WI

Married Name:   Candie Frank

Current Occupation:   Business Owner

DAWN YUKI BECK, 1988-89

Home: Carmel, IN

Married name: Dawn Yuki Colombo

Current occupation: Stay at home mom

KIMBERLIE RATCLIFFE, 1989-90

Married Name: Kimberlie Ratcliffe Daizovi

Home: Ossian, IN

Current occupation: Human Resource Manager for Visentin USA and President of K.D. Imports, LLC

HOLLY FEHRMAN, 1990-94

Home: Aurora , IN

Married name: Holly Allen

Current occupation: Second grade teacher and part-time realtor

ALISHA BANE, 1994-95

Home: West Lafayette, IN

Married name: Alisha Kuckartz

Current occupation: Academic Advisor in the School of Liberal Arts at Purdue and Purdue Band Auxiliary Director

DAWN VARDAMAN, 1995-96

Home: Highlands Ranch, CO

Married name: Dawn Groves

Current occupation: Business Partner Manager, AMCO Water Metering Systems, Ocala , FL

ANN LOPPNOW, 1996-2000

Home: Hartland, WI

Married name: Ann Grevenkamp

Current occupation: Industrial Hygienist for the United States Department of Labor- Occupational Safety and Health Administration

ABBY MOORE, 2000-01

Home: Kettering, OH

Current occupation: Student pursuing a master's in sports psychology and a PhD in clinical psychology

ERIN ANSFIELD, 2001-2002

Home: Oshkosh, WI

Current occupation: Graduate student at Purdue obtaining a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership, and working as a graduate administrative professional in the Student Activities and Organizations office on campus.

ROBYN ANDREWS, 2002-2003

Home: San Jose, CA

Current occupation: I work in the Technical Design Department at Byer California, a large women's and kid's apparel company in San Francisco.

CHRISTY STALLINGS, 2003- 2006

Christy Stallings, 2003-2006

Home: Johnston City , Illinois

Current occupation: Junior majoring in Health Promotion

 

 

Reflections from Al G. Wright | Golden Girl Bios | Alumni Memories


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