DUBUQUETTES

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

DUBUQUETTES. An all-girl precision drill team, the Dubuquettes were formed around the last of June, 1965 by Mrs. Trudy Martin. Martin was interested in the precision involved. Training began with borrowed eight-pound rifles. The weight of this equipment proved quite a problem until Navy personnel from Ship 67 NAVY CLUB (THE) and its owners Donna GINTER and her husband Joe bought three-pound wooden rifles. The help continued with supplies of overseas caps and the replacement of fringe and red sequin-trimmed uniforms with new uniforms fashioned along military lines with short pleated skirts. All the girls, drawn from public and private school, had been students of Mrs. Martin for baton twirling and were formerly members of a majorette corps. The routines included a rifle maneuver called the Marine 16-Count, a 13-Count and a cross-over while marching. Exhibitions started with rifles, continuing with batons, and end with flags. (1) The team did not have a booster club until 1969. (2)

In 1967 the Dubuquettes placed first at the Rock Falls Centennial Parade where eighty units were on display. (3) By 1969 the Dubuquettes had marched more than 1,500 miles in parades and competition in the Midwest. The group won third place in state-wide Veterans of Foreign War drill team competition in Waterloo and first place in their division of non-military marching at the Rockford, Illinois July 4th parade. (4) They placed second in the Oktoberfest parade at LaCrosse, Wisconsin. (5)

The team was composed of 58 girls from 12 to 16 years of age. A color guard was planned in 1970. (6)

In January, 1970 the Dubuquettes won first place in St. Pat's Imperial Show held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This led to challenge from the national champions in drill team competition, the Silhouettes of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The Silhouettes had previously won first place in the St. Pat's Show. (No record was found of the result.) The planned-for color guard was displayed in Arlington Heights, Illinois in March, 1970. (7)

In 1972 the Dubuquettes Oxus Grotto Raiders drill team placed eighth in national competition in Chicago. The Dubuquettes were representing Iowa after winning top honors in statewide competition during the summer. (8)

The Dubuquettes were disbanded soon after Mr. Ginter's death in 1972. (9)

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Source:

1. Shipley, Florence D., "Dubuquette Drill Team Invades Man's World," Telegraph-Herald, August 1, 1965, p. 15

2. "Salute from the Dubuquettes," Telegraph-Herald, October 21, 1969, p. 8

3. Bulkley, John, "First All-Girl Rifle Team," Telegraph-Herald, September 6, 1967, p. 14

4. "Sharp-Steppers," Telegraph-Herald, July 7, 1969, p. 3

5. "Salute..."

6. Ibid.

7. "Dubuquettes Are Challenged," Telegraph-Herald, February 20, 1970, p. 8

8. "Dubuque Drill Teams Place High in U.S. Meet," Telegraph-Herald, August 21, 1972, p. 3

9. "Listen," Telegraph-Herald, December 6, 1974, p. 9