Kilgore College - Ranger Yearbook (Kilgore, TX)

Page 9 text:

The 40S War had been raging for some time in Asia and Europe, but by 1940 the threatening storm had not been much on the minds of the optimistic Kilgore community and Kilgore College. Miss Gussie Nell Davis had been charged with recruiting a drill team of girls to entertain crowds at halftime KC football games. In 1941 Kilgore College prospered as the war cloud across the ocean grew steadily, never revealing how soon this nation and Kilgore would be drawn into the terrible fray. More buildings were constructed, the Rangers won another state championship and the Rangerettes were featured in a Sunday Dallas Morning News section. Then, on a cold day, Dec. 7th, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and brought a commitment by the United States and the citizens of this small community to the world-wide life and death struggle. Faculty members sold defense stamps and helped register men for the draft. Soroities earned thousands of dollars in war bond drives. U.S. Navy Reserve Trainees were schooled for combat at KC and 1,045 pilots graduated from the civilian and navy V-5 flight training program.

Page 8 text:

This page, right. They're the wrong gender, but Michael Scott, left and Mark Tedder put oi) their best smiles and poses while pretending to be Rangerettes in a pep rally while real female Rangerettes performed (below). This page, bottom- By 1942 the mood of the country and Kilgore College at turned to patriotic determination as reflected in the cover design of the '42 KC yearbook. Opposite page, bottom-Former KC students, now faculty, showed homecoming spirit in a special cheer.

Page 10 text:

The 50S Classes of crew-cut boys and poodle-skirted young women grew each year during the next decade. Enrollment during the 1950s increased about 10 percent each year under the presidency of Dr. Cruce Stark, and physical expansion of the campus in brick and concrete was amazing. And even more amazing, the student center, administration building, and two dormitories were funded completely through revenue with no help from the state! A new music featuring hard strumming, hip shaking, pounding rhythm known as Rock and Roll blared over car radios and from jukes in soda shops. New idols such as James Dean, Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly drove the young female “bobbie socksers” into squealing frenzies at their performances. On the KC campus a variety of activities were available including trips and bowl games, beauty contests, talent shows, hula hoops, sock hops, and hot rods.