COURIER - MAGAZINE SECTION June 13, 1959 WAS CRACK NEGRO TWIRLER SHUNNED? BY JOE HARRIS Los Angeles, especially those of the Negro: populace, are deeply concerned over the recent report that pretty and talented Alice Williams, recent graduate of San Luis Obispo High School where she was top majorette leader-instructor and led her drill team to two top ?eld trophies for two consecutive years, has been sidelined to an immeasurably low Spot on a list of nearly two hundred aspirants by Ram-ette head Karen Ukers after waiting two hours for an audition. After returning to Los Angeles, her place of birth, following her graduation from San Luis Obispo High, the news of Miss Williams' prowess as an ace baton twirler reached Ram band leader John Boudreau who contacted Miss Williams in regards to doing a solo spot in a road show for the El Toro Marines, twirling “fire,” which calls for expert baton handling. Miss Williams could not accept because of an impending engage- ment to model in a fashion show at the Moulin Rouge Club. She was told to contact Mrs. Ukers, head of the Ram- ettes who perform between halves at. Ram football games in the Los Angeles Coliseum. IN A TELEPHONE conversation to Mrs. Ukers regarding a tryout for the Ramettes Corps, Miss Williams gave her experience and quali?cations and was told to come out for an audition. There, was no mention of race or color. When she arrived for the tryout, a period of about two hours elapsed before she was asked to perform. During this time she chatted with the other girls (all white) who proved to be very friendly. Finally Mrs. Ukers came in and greeted the aspirants. Noticing that Miss Williams was a Negro, it was reported that Mrs.Ukers' expression became noticeably disturbed. But she regained her composure and courteously asked Miss Williams to be the ?rst to perform. Miss Williams said; like all performers in other fields, one cannot help but be a little nervous on an audition, but that she wasn’t too nervous, so she did her twirls, etc., with the baton and dropped her baton only once. Following her (Miss Williams) the white girls took their turns at twirling and several of them missed their batons four to five times. After tryouts were over, Miss Williams says she was told by Mrs. Ukers, that she (Miss Williams) would have to be put on a list for future ref-erence, but that the list was so long. it would probably be a year before she would be called. NOW. THE QUESTION is, was this statement meant to imply that Miss Williams is so far down the list that it is useless for her to ever think of becoming a member of the Ram-ettes? Several attempts have been made to contact Mrs. Ukers for a statement. but to no avail. Mr. and Mrs. John Boudreau. Up heads of the Ram-ettes organization is out of the city on vacation for four weeks and could not be reached for comment. This writer believes that if ability and quali?cations are the right and democratic means of becoming a member of the Ram-ettes then surely Alice Williams, an ace twirler, leader-instructor, and top majorette, whose ability has been proven at a veritably all-white school at San Luis Obispo High, and was good enough to be asked to do a solo spot by John Boudreau for the El Toro Marines on an integrated basis, then truly it is time for integration in the Ram-ettes. The Rams' football team is integrated, and thousands of Negroes pay to see them every year, then why isn't Miss Williams able to make the Ram-Ettes? THE TALENTED Miss Williams has two younger sisters still attending San Luis Obispo High, Rosa Lee and Annazette Williams. Rosa Lee in head majorette and Annazette is in class-body “tie” in the voting for head cheerleader. Accompanying photos to this story shows the capacities in which Miss Williams served and performed while attending San Luis Obispo High. She is presently attending L. A. State College at Los Angeles. - "30" J.H. HEAD MAJORETTE - Pretty and talented Alice Williams strikes a fetching pose in her eye-appealing costume as head majorette at San Luis Obispo High School. TOP TEAM -- Head majorette Alice Williams is shown in front center taking her team through their paces at San Louis Obispo High School. This is the team which won top field trophy for two consecutive years in competition. INSTRUCTION - San Luis Obispo High's head majorette, Miss Williams, is shown in her role as instructor. Miss Williams took a special course in baton-twirling at Pepperdine College for three summers.