Page 100 - my-people-abbie-harris-beck

RAH! RAH! RAH!
THE BECK CHEER LEADERS OF GENEVA HIGH SCHOOL

Abbie Harris Beck 1935-1936

Natalie Paige Beck Justice
Abbie Kathryn Beck
Lydia Anne Beck

HOW IT WAS WHEN GRANDMOTHER ABBIE WAS A CHEER LEADER

The school colors have always been black and gold. The team was known as the
"Yellow Jackets". The 1935-36 uniform was a black sweater, black corduroy skirt, mid
calf with loafers and black socks. The black sweater had a gold "G" on the front. The
same outfit for the 2 years. We did not have a mega phone, just our voice. We ran from
one end zone to the other yelling to the top of our voices. It was our job to keep the
school kids off the field. Before the end of the game our voice was about gone. Some
one would cut a lemon and give to us. The foot ball field was an open field in back of
Gilstrap Drugs. The games were played in broad day light, who ever heard of a lighted
field?
The boys uniform was what they could put together from all the old uniforms,
pieced together and sometimes didn't hold together. These were the years coming out of
the Depression.
Thursday night was Pep Rally night also. Before home games we would have a
bon fire if the coach could be there with us. Otherwise, just a pep rally and of course a
pep rally during Friday morning chapel. The snake dance was always left for the night
before home coming game.
What was the snake dance? Our school was where the courthouse stands today.
The court house was where city hall stands today. All the school children would meet at
the school house. We would hold hands facing different directions and march to the court
house. Singing the school song, "Just Search Through all this Country, North, East,
South and West". People would be sitting on their front porch waving and yelling to us as
we marched down the street in the snake dance. The children almost reached from the
school house to the library. When we came to the court house the leaders began to form
a circle . When we were all in a circle, some facing the courthouse and some facing Rex
Rowell Drug Store, the cheer yells began. People had parked their cars down town to
watch and listen. Also to take the kids home after the Pep Rally. We did not have
parades. A Snake Dance was our parade.