PARKETTE REUNION
From the Re-ECHO, Fall 2005

From 1965 until 1983, the Parkettes were cheerleaders for the Vikings.  The 1965 Echowan contained the following commentary about the Parkettes:

"At seventeen you girls can't ever bend your knees," harped Mrs. Fran Libby, Parkette advisor.  With this constant prodding plus strenuous practices, Parkettes achieved near-perfection. 

They were asked by the Minnesota State Department of Corrections to be part of a group who entertained at the St. Cloud Reformatory.  Touring the cell blocks and seeing the gratitude on the inmates' faces distressed but deeply gratified them. 

What they experienced at St. Cloud was different from the joy they felt dancing at the St. Paul Winter Carnival and the excitement tasted whenever they gave a televised performance at a Lakers NBA game.  Not quite as exciting as television was dancing at a Vikings football game in freezing temperatures wearing only skirts and sweaters.  But gold megaphone charms given the girls who dance at every game more than compensated for the cold toes and frostbitten hands.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.