We provide mentoring, encouragement and financial assistance to current Lassos. Thomas Jefferson High School Lasso Alumni Association is a 501(c)3 entity, organized in 2007. The Lasso Alumni Association is dedicated to preserving Lasso traditions plus provides financial assistance and mentoring to current Lassos. The LAA has awarded over $50,000 in scholarships to graduating Lassos since its incep
tion.
******************* A Short History *******************
The Lasso Pep Squad organization was formed at San Antonio’s Thomas Jefferson High School in October of 1932. Constance Douglas Reeves, a physical education teacher hired earlier that year, initiated what would become a tradition and rich history. She set out to create a pep squad unit unlike any other before or since. Known as the Lassos, this pep squad unit is distinguishable from all others by its western style uniform and the iconic rope fastened to it. Over the years, the names, faces and even the uniform have changed, but the remarkable history of the Lassos will forever be tied to the rope. Shortly after forming the Lasso Pep Squad, and under the guidance of trick rope artists, Johnny Reagan and later, Jack Long, 120 girls twirled their ropes in unison. Before long, the squad was performing in front of crowds at major athletic events and entertaining state and national service organizations, which held conventions in San Antonio. In 1938, the Lassos gained nationwide attention when they appeared on the cover of Life magazine, which featured the newly built Thomas Jefferson high school. As a result, in 1939, the Lassos traveled to New York and performed at the World’s Fair. During that trip they also visited Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Niagara Falls and Detroit. They were honored guests of Vice-President John Garner and automobile maker Henry Ford. They also met Eleanor Roosevelt, who had a friendly handshake for all 175 girls. In the 1940’s, Hollywood filmed the movie “High School” starring Jane Withers whose character was depicted as a Lasso member. Many of the girls were cast as extras in the film! During the late 1940’s the Lassos were featured in National Geographic, The American Weekly, Le Patriote Illustré (A French magazine) and other foreign publications including one from Rotterdam, Holland. They also recorded a Movietone short reel. In the early ‘50s, the Lassos traveled to Mexico. They dined at the National Palace, home of the President of Mexico and were honored at a party given by US Ambassador William O’Dwyer and his wife. They performed at Mexico’s Hipódromo de las Américas racetrack and were invited to perform at the Jai Alai games. Through the years, the Lassos formed several groups within its membership, such as the Drum and Bugle Corps in 1937. The Corps performed alongside the ropers and was very popular during the World War II era. Also, in the early forties a Lasso Cavalry Team of 17 members was formed and lasted about two years. The horses were stabled at San Antonio’s Brackenridge Park. In the ‘80s, the Lassos added a flag team, which lasted nearly a decade. The configuration of the squad was not the only thing that changed over time. Originally, the Lasso uniform consisted of a red satin blouse, a blue bolero jacket, a blue flannel skirt, a pearl grey Stetson hat and the lasso, of course. Today, the skirt is shorter, the pearl grey hat is white and the blue bolero jacket has been replaced with a blue neckerchief. The belt has changed from saddle brown to white, as have the boots and attached to the belt is a 15 ½ foot rope. The Lasso officers are identified by the spurs on their boots, the braids around their shoulders and the insignia pinned to their blouses. In the early years the Lasso Pep Squad limited its membership to upperclassmen while the entry classes (freshmen or sophomores, depending on the era, could be trainees). Girls may apply after participating in some form of team organization during their early years. Members are expected to maintain academic and attendance standards and demonstrate a proficiency in rope twirling and dancing. The Lasso Major is the commander over the entire group. She is usually a senior, must maintain a “B” scholastic average and must embody great leadership qualities. The Major is assisted by the Dance and Rope Captains who must meet the same qualifications. An honor given to the Roping Team Captain, who commands the Lasso’s top ropers, is twirling the “Big Rope” which is 50 feet long. For the most part roping tricks remain unchanged. Each Lasso may have put their own brand on a technique to make it her own. But all Lassos must learn four basic rope maneuvers: The Wedding Ring, a simple loop around the spinner; Juggling, twirling the rope up and down around the spinner; Changing Spokes, changing hands in front and behind the spinner; and Shoot the Moon, a combination of Juggling and Changing Spokes. In addition to these four basic tricks, many others are performed. The popular Texas Skip is one of the most difficult; a rope twirled vertically through which the spinner jumps sideways. Another popular trick was named after Diane Cody, a Lasso in the 1970’s who invented the Cody H. This requires the roper to jump over the spoke then pull the rope up to a Juggle and back – quite a difficult trick. As dance became more popular with area high school pep squads, the Lassos rope and drill performances evolved into rope and dance routines. Since the late 1970’s, dance and drill competitions have increasingly become more popular. In addition to their football, basketball and other community service performances, the girls also spend many hours practicing for competitions usually held in cities across the state. They have traveled to Florida to perform and were invited to audition for the television show “America’s Got Talent”. Of course, they make annual appearances at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, and other local festival parades. Most importantly, they are required to visit the feeder schools to Jefferson as ambassadors of this fine high school to the younger students. The Lassos' current focus is maintaining the team’s membership plus serving their school and community as leaders. The Lasso Alumni Association is dedicated to preserving the Lasso traditions and working with the girls as mentors (not to mention as an enthusiastic audience!). As with all things, the history of the Lassos is marked by change. But for those individuals who were members of the squad the rope, the uniform and the rich history have left them with lasting memories from their time as Lassos. Though fashions, trends and dance routines will come and go, the spinning lasso will remain an enduring symbol at Thomas Jefferson High School.
