Butch’s Brother Had A Crush On Trudy!

When a school has plenty of spirit, it also has great cheerleaders, and Darlington was never lacking in either. From 1921 to the end of the high school in 1971, the students elected at least one cheerleader each year. During most years, there were three or four varsity cheerleaders, and the same number for the B-team, junior high, and grade school teams.

For many youngsters, particularly the girls, one of their main goals in school was to be elected cheerleader. They practiced for hours at home and at recess. Trying out for the cheerleader squad was often a terrifying experience, and a few tears were shed when the news came back that they had not been elected. But the disappointment soon vanished as the once aspiring yell leader joined the cheering section and rooted for the team.

One thing that was evident at every school in Montgomery County was that the girl cheerleaders were always a hit with the boys, especially the younger ones, who often developed a crush. There was something about a beautiful girl doing a cartwheel in her colorful cheerleader outfit that drove schoolboys crazy! Many girls had to order extra school photos to pass out to buggy-eyed grade school boys who begged and pleaded for a photo of “the love of their life.”

During the 1960 basketball season, the Darlington yell leaders were Trudy Mennen, Sharon Cochran, Sherry Cox, and Janet Gick…all great-looking gals. After Janet graduated that year, another beauty, Sharol Threlkeld, took her place in 1961. Many grade school boys came to the basketball games…not to watch the game…but to swoon over the cheerleaders. My brother Gary, and his best friend, Stan Weliever, were in the third grade in 1961, and both of them were head-over-heels in love with Trudy Mennen, who had a beautiful smile and wore little red ribbons in her hair. They sat in the bleacher cheering section as close as they could get to Trudy at every ballgame, with her autographed photo in hand, caring less about whether the Darlington team was winning or not. Yes, they thought Winston Wilson, the county’s top scorer, was amazing, but their eyes were on Trudy!

On a trip to an away game that year, Stan’s father, Don Weliever, drove the “booster bus” to the game. Stan rode on the bus, and it also happened to be his birthday. In a moment that Stan has never forgotten, Trudy gave Stan a birthday kiss on the cheek…and Stan just about fainted! Gary’s birthday was in March, after the basketball season had ended, so he never received his cheerleader birthday smooch. But of course, he still had a crush on Trudy, who always greeted her two devoted third graders when meeting them in the hallway during lunch time.

In 1988 I wrote a book about the history of Darlington School, and in one section I included some comments from many former cheerleaders. Trudy Mennen Freeman, who had become a teacher, wrote: “Darlington sports, especially basketball, was a very special and important part of my school life. In the younger grades, the kids really looked up to the basketball players and cheerleaders. It was really a lot of fun having admirers, even if you didn’t realize it at the time.”   

Last spring, my brother Gary suffered a heart attack and had to undergo open heart surgery. During his recovery, he received a surprise long-distance call..from…you guessed it…Trudy! Stan had contacted her and told Trudy about Gary’s illness. She spoke to Gary at length and wished him a speedy recovery, and I can honestly say that call just made his day. To top things off, a few days later he received a get-well card from Trudy. The card had perfume on it and a lipstick kiss! WOW! It’s probably a good thing that Trudy, who lives in Colorado, did not show up in person…or otherwide Gary might have suffered a second heart attack! But Trudy, if you read this…if you ever come back to visit Darlington, the little third grade boy who adored you still wants that kiss on the cheek on his birthday…and bring another autographed photo, too!

John “Butch” Dale is a retired teacher and County Sheriff. He has also been the librarian at Darlington the past 32 years, and is a well-known artist and author of local history.