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Golden Girls and Fans Enjoy Evening in Packers Hall of Fame
by Aaron Popkey, Packers.com
posted 05/18/2007
It was an evening of storytelling and a stroll down memory lane this past Wednesday night at the Packers Hall of Fame as new exhibits celebrating past cheerleading squads were formally unveiled.
Prominent in the evening's festivities were members of the Golden Girls cheerleading squad, a group that performed from 1961 through 1972. More than 50 former members of the group, many from around the country, were on hand to see each other in a reunion of sorts, as well as treat other Hall of Fame guests to stories from their days on the squad.
As guests entered the Hall of Fame, they received a picture of the Golden Girls and were able to view poster boards with pictures and news accounts of cheerleaders past. In the Hall's theatre, archivist Tom Murphy introduced many of the ladies and had them share several stories from the squad's days on the sidelines, as well as what it was like to follow the Packers during that era.
"It was a wonderful event," said Mary Jane Sorgel, the founder of the Golden Girls. "It was perfect. The girls all had fun seeing everyone from all over the country. Everyone that was there really enjoyed the night. We had so many girls back, many with members of their families. I think the other guests that came tonight had fun hearing the stories, too."
After the formal program in the theater, the guests toured the rest of the Hall and enjoyed several different displays with photos and memorabilia from the squad.
For former Golden Girl Lynette Kurtz, who made the trip from Redlands, Calif., with her husband, father and stepmother, the opportunity to come back and see the displays and visit with the ladies was terrific.
"It's so wonderful," she said. "It's amazing that so many people came back. It's so exciting."
One of the stories she shared was about a wayward football that now is in her collection at home.
"It was 1969, and we were in the back of the end zone cheering," she recalled, "and this football was lying at our feet after a play and no one came to get it. We weren't supposed to touch them, obviously, but no one came by, so I said what the heck and scooped it up in my pompoms at brought it back to the bench. I have it on display in my home today."
Michele Ozkan, another former Golden Girl, made the trip from Sarasota, Fla., with her son Mustafa to take in the evening. Originally from Douglasville, Pa., Ozkan became a Golden Girl by way of Wisconsin Dells. She was attending a summer baton twirling camp in 1968 at which Sorgel happened to be a teacher. Upon learning that Ozkan was to attend Sheboygan's Lakeland College the next fall, Sorgel recruited her to the squad.
"I was hooked at the home opener vs. the Eagles that year," she recalled.
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For the next four seasons, Ozkan made weekend trips to Green Bay to cheer as she went to college (for one year at Lakeland, then three years at UW-Madison).
Her son, Mustafa, enjoyed seeing his mom enjoy the evening, as well as seeing final proof that she indeed was a Packers cheerleader.
"She told me for years she was a cheerleader," he said. "I didn't believe her until she finally pulled out some programs and showed me some pictures. So I decided to come with her and see this. It's everything I expected and more. It's awesome."
More than 200 people overall attended the event, according to Krissy Zegers, the Hall of Fame's supervisor.
"I think everyone had a lot of fun," she said. "It was great to see the ladies reconnect with others that they hadn't seen in a long time. We went through a lot of photos, too, so I know the fans left with some fun, autographed keepsakes."
The Packers had official cheerleaders for many years throughout the club's history, with the last official squad appearing in 1988. Another notable squad was called the Packerettes in the 1950s. In fact, the Packers are credited as being one of the first professional football teams to use cheerleaders with squads from Green Bay East and West high schools on the sidelines for several games in 1931.
Currently, the Packers use cheering squads from two local schools, St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis., and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. |
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