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 By: Mike Lopinto

After 20 years of devoted service, Tracy Smith has decided to retire from her position as director of The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Dixie Darlings. She is ready to hand over the famous white boots to a new leader.

“It has been an honor to direct the University of Southern Mississippi Dixie Darlings for the past 20 years,” said Smith. “The memories made at USM as a student, alumnus, and employee are dear to my heart.”

Smith remembers going to USM games as a youth and being in awe of The Pride of Mississippi Marching Band and Dixie Darlings. She could not wait to audition and, in 1985, earned a spot on the team.

While at USM, not only was she a member of the Dixie Darlings, but also a Dean’s List Scholar, member of the Golden Key National Honor Society (Science Achievement), Alpha Lambda Delta (Academic Honor Society), and Chi Tau Epsilon (Dance Society). She completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, graduating with honors.

After graduation, Smith remained a loyal alum and once the Dixie Darlings Alumnae Association was formed, she became a member of that organization, performing with the group at every opportunity.

In 2003, when the Director of the Dixie Darlings position opened, she applied and was selected. As director, Smith has been with the team not only at home and away games, but also in the London New Year’s Day Parade, a Green Bay Packers football game, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Ireland St. Patrick’s Day parade, and various appearances in bowl games and exhibitions across the south.

“All those events were amazing, but my biggest honor has been the multitude of talented and high achieving young ladies that I had the pleasure to teach,” Smith continued. “My job on the surface was to teach them how to be a great dancer/performer and team member, but more importantly I wanted to help them become strong women and leaders, in good times and under adverse conditions. I wanted each of them to know the Dixie Darlings legacy and understand what they contributed to this organization. My hope is that they have fond memories of their time at USM and with the Dixie Darlings specifically, but also, they look back to see their personal growth as an independent young woman.”

The World-Famous Dixie Darlings was created in 1954 by University band Director Dr. Raymond Mannoni (founder) who wanted to start a drill team of young women to perform with the USM band. Patterned after the Texas Community College Kilgore Rangerettes, the members were chosen from their performances in high school as dancers or cheerleaders, beginning with 18 regular dancers. By year’s end that number had doubled.

During the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s the DD’s, as they are affectionately called, performed at many nationally televised events, including the Sugar Bowl, Blue-Gray Bowl, Senior Bowl, the All-Star Football Game in Chicago, and the Redskins game in Washington, D.C. The media often referred to them as the “Internationally-Famous Dixie Darlings.”

The Dixie Darlings Alumnae Association was founded in 1994 by Anne Sharp Larman and with the help of Dee Kelly Ervine, it has grown to more than 1,362 members. Every year at USM Homecoming the alumnae perform with the current team and have become a standout performance in the stadium. In 2004, for the Dixie Darlings’ 50th Anniversary, 254 DD’s marched and danced on the field at Homecoming halftime…the youngest at 17, the oldest at 71.

Shannon Sims, the current Dixie Darling Alumnae Association President noted, “My very first year as a Dixie Darling in 2003 was also Tracy Smith’s first year as Dixie Darling director. Who would have thought that I would have been a part of the beginning of a Dixie Darling and USM legacy? Anyone that has crossed paths with Tracy instantly falls in love with her smile, grace and compassion. I, along with hundreds of other ladies, look up to Tracy and will miss her dearly.”

 

 

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