Cardettes Creation and the Early Years

The Cardettes began in the spring of 1960 with three young ladies who joined together to promote school spirit.  Later that fall, with the assistance of students Ethelene Henning and Myra Odom, the team was officially established and history began! After gathering 25-30 dancers, they began entertaining crowds at halftimes of Hic-Jic (Henderson County Junior College) football games under the direction of Mrs. Jean Bell.

Early in 1963, Ms. Virginia King became the director for the spring semester, where she led the Cardettes to perform in the Heart of Texas Fair in Waco.

The reign of Mrs. Maetta Davis-Cumby began in the Fall of 1963.  With the assistance of Cardettes Choreographer Dale Robbins, she built the team up to 60 members strong by the 1965-66 year! Under her direction, the Cardettes traveled to the Junior Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, and the HemisFair in San Antonio. The memorable "Cardette Bounce" wowed audiences both near and far during this time. Mrs. Davis established the position of the Cardette Escort in 1965 and the Cardinal Dancers in 1966-67.

In 1973, Mrs. Twink Sitton Ross took over for a couple of years. The Cardettes added the famous flip wigs to their uniforms during this time. In 1974-75, the team performed at an Atlanta Falcons Football game, the Fiesta Flambeau in San Antonio, and marched in a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.

Ms. Leigh Christiansen then held the honor of Cardette Director from 1975-76, where Cardettes continued to entertain at HCJC events.

Arriving in the fall of 1976 was Mrs. Pam Tiner. During her four years as director, she continued the Cardette tradition of poise and precision. Her Cardettes were good will ambassadors representing Athens and the State of Texas at events suh as Texas Governor Briscoe’s visit to Athens.

Billie Jean Hanna then took over as the Director of the Cardettes from 1980-83. She and her ladies traveled to the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, and continued to cheer on the Cardinals at all Hic-Jic Football games.
 

The "Baker Era"

Jean Baker came to HCJC in June of 1983, with only a handful of Cardette sophomores planning to return. Under her recruiting efforts, they took the field that fall with over 40 members at the first football game of the season. Jean Baker, with the help of Betty Loter with Loter's, changed the look of the team by designing the crisp white uniforms with the flashy red hats- which has now become the Cardettes trademark. Under her direction, the Cardettes became internationally acclaimed.  They were featured in several nationally televised appearances and performed overseas as well. (See Trips & Travel for a detailed list)

During this time, Jean Baker created the annual Cardette Spring Show, and established the Cardette Pom Squad. She was known for instilling in her Cardettes that they would "Never be this young a beautiful again". Although being a Cardette is about performing, it is what Cardettes become that makes a difference... "Wonderful future mothers". 

During Jean Baker’s direction from 1983-1995, the Cardettes Choreographer was her daughter, Debbie Baker. Together they were strong disciplinarians who demanded that now famous “THANK YOU” response, which has since been heard and imitated worldwide. Debbie designed the traditional entrance routine to “Deep in the Heart of Texas", and choreographed the routines for all of the special event performances.  Upon her mother’s retirement in 1995, Debbie followed in her footsteps and took over as the Cardette Director. She was associated with the Cardettes for over 17 years, and continued the tradition established in 1990 by marching in the Capitol One/Adolphus Children's Christmas Parade in Dallas, Texas.
 

The "Mansfield Era"

Debbie Baker retired in October of 2000, and passed the director title to Mrs. Darla Hannigan Mansfield. Mrs. Mansfield was a TVCC Cardette from 1989-1991, and served as the Cardette Freshman Representative, the Cardette Captain, and was a recipient of the TVCC President’s Award during her time. She continued to return to Cardettes, while instructing masters classes, judging, and choreographing for their annual spring shows, while completing her masters degree from Louisiana Tech University. Darla first came onboard at TVCC as the Assistant Registrar/School Relations Officer and Cardette Assistant Choreographer in 1997.

Dalra began many new tradition, perhaps most noteably the "Dance Your Heart Out" camps. Darla also reestablished many lost traditions, such as the "Cardette bounce" and the Cardette Showgirls. With the assistance of the Cardettes Choreographer Sarah Cadungug, the Cardette Showgirls evolved into a competition team. Darla and Sarah led them to four back-to-back Academic Champion awards at the American Dance/Drill Team Collegiate Championships from 2016-2019. They also guided the Cardette Showgirls to two Dance Team Union College Classic championships, in 2017 and 2019.

From the fall of 2000 through the spring of 2021, Darla maintained the values and well loved traditions of Cardettes with great pride.

Current Cardette Program

After graduating from Stephen F Austin State University with her dance performance and choreography degree in 2019, Emma Cox became the Cardettes Choreographer and Recruiter. She assisted Darla for two years, and aided in leading the team through the era of the global pandemic. During her time as the choreographer she led the Cardette Showgirls to two more national championships at the 2019 DTU College Classic, one of which being with her own choreography in the open division pom category.

In the fall of 2021, Ms. Emma Cox became the current Cardette Director and Choreographer. The spring of 2022 was a semester for the Cardette history books. With the assistance of the Cardette Officers, she expanded on what a Cardette's basketball gameday entailed. The team began dancing on the sidelines throughout the entirety of the game, while still performing a full halftime routine as well. At the DTU College Classic she led the Cardette Showgirls to their fifth national title, once again winning in the open pom catagory with her own choreography. This was also the first time that all Cardettes, not only Showgirls, traveled together to Orlando, Florida for the competition. Non-Showgirls had the opportunity to contribute to winning a title by cheering their teammates on during their routines. She also continued the tradition of presenting a spring show, while giving it a unique title specific to the TVCC Cardettes- "Cardette Curtain". In the spring of 2023, former Cardette Captain Megan Carson joined her as the Assistant Director of Cardettes.

Emma strives to build upon the incredible Cardette legacy and traditions left to her.

Here's to many more years of Cardette History!