September 1, 2004
Special Homecoming activities Oct. 15-16 mark occasion
Purdue to celebrate golden anniversary of Golden Girls
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University Bands will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Golden Girl, the solo twirler, with a variety of special events at Homecoming 2004 and throughout the 2004-05 academic year.
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All Purdue band alumni, especially those who were twirlers or majorettes, are invited to join in the Homecoming weekend activities that begin with a reception and banquet on Oct. 15 at the Holiday Inn City Centre in downtown Lafayette. Purdue University Bands' goal is to get all living Golden Girls to the planned Oct. 15-16 celebration.
"Since 1954, 24 women have enjoyed the special sparkle and warm glow that comes with the title of Golden Girl," said David A. Leppla, Purdue Marching Band director. "The top twirling position is not only one of the Purdue All-American Marching Band's great traditions, but also one that's the pride of the entire university family."
Former Purdue twirler and J.C. Penney CEO Vanessa Dingledine Castagna, of Plano, Texas, and Purdue's very first Golden Girl, Juanita Carpenter, of San Diego, Calif., will serve as honorary chairwomen for the event. June Ciampa Lauer, of Ortonville, Mich., heads a committee of former Golden Girls who also are helping with the event.
Golden Girls attending the Oct. 15 banquet will have the opportunity to tell favorite stories from their days with the band as they salute the tradition introduced to Purdue by Director Emeritus Al G. Wright.
"We are making a special effort to get Lenny Dawson, the Boilermakers' quarterback in 1954, to attend," Leppla said. "The media dubbed him Purdue's 'Golden Boy.' That nickname led Wright to name the first spotlight twirler the Golden Girl. The era of the Golden Boy ended when Dawson graduated, but 'Golden Girl' turned into a movable crown that's been passed down for 50 years."
Here are some of the other events that will take place at the reunion:
• An Oct. 16 autograph session with Golden Girls will take place from 1-2:30 p.m. on the mall before the Homecoming game.
• Golden Girls and all returning twirlers will march in front of the band to Ross-Ade Stadium.
• Special recognition and activities at the pregame, halftime and postgame "All-American" Marching Band shows.
• A variety of promotional activities throughout the fall.
• During Homecoming weekend, Purdue Bands also will sponsor two free concerts featuring both the alumni and student bands. The Purdue Jazz Band, Lab Jazz Band and Alumni Jazz Band will present a concert at 8 p.m. on Oct. 15 in Loeb Playhouse. The Fall Concert Band, Purdue Symphonic Band and Alumni Concert Band will present a concert at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the Long Center in downtown Lafayette.
Writer: Kathy Matter, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Media interested in interviews should contact Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands public relations director, at (765) 496-6785.
Related Web site:
Golden Girl anniversary page
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