Farmersville in Collin County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Gussie Nell Davis
Photographed by James Hulse, September 2, 2026
1. Gussie Nell Davis Marker
Educator Gussie Nell Davis was a role model to many young girls and women through her creation of the first girls drill team in America. Born to Robert Augustus Davis and Mattie Lavinia (Callaway) Davis on November 4, 1906, she and her family settled in Farmersville. After graduating high school in 1923, Davis earned a bachelors degree in physical education from the College of Industrial Arts in Denton and participated in various groups. After graduation in 1927, she moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California. However, her sister Vera convinced Gussie to apply for a physical education job at Greenville (Hunt County). She agreed and moved back to Texas and began teaching at Greenville High School in the fall of 1928.
During a football game, Gussie had the idea to start the first all girl pep squad. They performed using head, hand and marching drills with the local community band during halftime. Drums, bugles, marching and precision dancing were incorporated and the pep squad became the Greenville High School Drum and Bugle Corps. Baton twirling was added and in 1932, the use of sparklers,
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In 1940, Davis started working at Kilgore Junior College and built a precision dance and drill team, called the Kilgore College Rangerettes. It was the first all-girl dance-drill team in the U.S. to perform during halftime at a college football game. Davis retired in June 1979 and passed away on December 21, 1993. The Rangerettes achieved worldwide recognition; Davis remains a hero to many and her pioneering legacy lives on in drill teams across the country.
Erected 2023 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23808.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Entertainment • Sports • Women. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1979.
Location. 33° 9.795′ N, 96° 21.69′ W. Marker is in Farmersville, Texas, in Collin County. It is at the intersection of McKinney Street (Business
Photographed by James Hulse, September 2, 2026
2. Gussie Nell Davis Marker
Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Audie Murphys Homecoming (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of Audie L. Murphy (within shouting distance of this marker); Freedom Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); First Baptist Church of Farmersville (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); First National Bank of Farmersville (about 300 feet away); Farmersville Masonic Lodge (about 500 feet away); Onion Shed (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Onion Shed (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Farmersville.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 3, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
