ORIGINAL BUFFALO BILLS CHEERLEADERS (1960-65)
The original group of Buffalo Bills cheerleaders were female students from Buffalo State College selected and coached by Jane LaRocque Rifenburg. The squad consisted of ten young women who also served as cheerleaders at Buffalo State College athletic events.
Bills' general manager Dick Gallagher approved and encouraged the concept of a cheerleading squad at home games starting with the 1960 season. The "Buffalo Bills Cheerleaders" cheered at the old War Memorial Stadium (Jefferson and Best Streets) through the 1965 season before the group was disbanded and reorganized as the Buffalo Jills starting in 1967.
Uniforms for the original cheerleaders were designed and provided by Adam, Meldrum and Anderson (AM&A) Department Store in Buffalo. After each season the uniforms were collected, cleaned and stored by the Buffalo Bills.
The official uniform for the 1960-61 squad included a royal blue skirt and sweater with a round, silver patch on the sweater (the patch had a buffalo centered in the middle). They wore white sneakers and socks to complete the uniform.
The cheerleaders wore the same uniforms in 1962, but switched to white sweaters with "Buffalo Bills" written in script across the front in 1963. They wore that style uniform through the 1964 and 1965 seasons.
22 different young women served as Bills cheerleaders from 1960-63. Several other Buffalo State cheerleaders joined the squad in 1964 and 1965 although there are no records of their names. They were not paid for their services, but received a free pass to each home game along with one complimentary ticket for a companion.
1960-63 Original Bills' Cheerleader Squad
Alphabetical Roster (does not include 1964-65 members)
Vera Almlof
Audrey Bingel
Linda A. Borschell
Sally Brettenbach
Carol Camarre
Sandy Croft
Sally A. Concardi
Dee A. DeGlopper
Sharon Dickman
Paula Drach
Mary Eaton
Sally A. Ely
Barbara Findlay, Captain
Phyllis Frappier
Carol Goodwin
Barbara Haiman
Pat A. Kramer
Linda Richman
Phyllis L. Simons
Carolyn Wahl
Gloria J. Walter
Mary S. Wheeler