Three Grand Prairie Women Among Nearly 800 Former Rangerettes Slated to Perform at the 2025 CFP Semifinal at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Local Alumnae Celebrate the Kilgore College Rangerettes' 85th Anniversary and 75th Consecutive Cotton Bowl Appearance with a Stunning Performance.
By: Malcom Chakery 1/9/2025
Three remarkable women from Grand Prairie — Regina Swindle, Patricia Harris, and Susan Laughlin — are set to sparkle once again at the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal during the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday, Jan. 10, at AT&T Stadium. These alumnae of the prestigious Kilgore College Rangerettes dance team will reunite with hundreds of former members to celebrate the team’s legacy and perform in this iconic event.
As former Rangerettes, Swindle, Harris, and Laughlin were part of this long-standing Cotton Bowl tradition, donning the team’s signature red, white, and blue uniforms. This year, they join nearly 800 alumnae to mark the 85th anniversary of the world-renowned Rangerettes and the 75th consecutive appearance of the team at the Cotton Bowl Classic.
The festivities will include performances by the current Rangerettes, who will showcase their legendary high kicks, and alumnae from across generations who have learned a special routine. The performers range in age from their early 20s to an inspiring 93 years old — a dancer from the 11th line of the Rangerettes who participated in their inaugural Cotton Bowl appearance.
The alumnae represent a staggering 33 states and 275 cities, with some traveling from as far as Alaska and Hawaii. Among the returning dancers are mothers and daughters who both made the team decades apart, and even triplet sisters from the 2000s who plan to perform together once more.
The current Rangerettes have had an extraordinary year, recently performing in London's New Year's Day Parade and at Radio City Music Hall and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
Founded in 1940 by Gussie Nell Davis, the Kilgore College Rangerettes are celebrated as the first collegiate dance and drill team in the world. The group has been led by only three directors in its illustrious history: Miss Davis, Deana Bolton Covin, and current director Dana Blair, who has served since 1993. Shelley Wayne and Angela Aulds round out the leadership as assistant directors and choreographers.
This Cotton Bowl Classic performance will celebrate not only the history of the Rangerettes but also the enduring spirit of women like Regina Swindle, Patricia Harris, and Susan Laughlin, who continue to inspire through their dedication to this time-honored tradition.
For more on the Kilgore College Rangerettes, visit www.rangerette.com. Follow the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok for updates.
