Our History
In September 1975 Jean Akin and Norma Knudson expressed a desire to form a Square Dancing Group for Singles at a Parents Without Partners (PWP) Group Meeting. At that time there were four other square dancing clubs in Manhattan: The Cloverleaf Swingers (adult couples), The Wagonwheel Whirlers (adult couples), the K-Laires (Kansas State University students and faculty-advisors) and the 76 Pomanders (youth).
The Lone Wranglers Square Dance Club’s organizational meeting was held on December 15, 1975. Jerry Graves, a local caller, agreed to undertake the responsibility to teach square dancing and to be the Club Caller, once a club was formed. The lessons were well attended. About 50% of the first class of new square dancers were members of the PWPs. There were six angels (previous square dancers).
The name, Lone Wranglers, was chosen based on a play on words, “Lone” designating our single status and “Wrangler” to allude to our western dance heritage. The names of the club officers followed the western vernacular as well. President--Trail Boss; Vice President—Ram Rod; Secretary--Scribbler; Treasurer—Money Bags; Publicity--Scout; Travel Coordinator--Pony Express; and Social--Cookie (connotes to Chuckwagon and grub). In March 1984 a new officer was elected to prepare our monthly newsletter, aptly named, Messenger.
The charter members wanted a unique, recognizable symbol for the club. Two choices were considered a boot and a mask. The members voted to adopt a club badge in the shape of the “Lone Ranger” mask engraved with the words, “THE LONE WRANGLERS”. The member’s name would be dangled below the mask on a name bar. The club outfit has been changed four times from a blue and gold color theme (two different outfits with the same color combination), to a pale green color to its current colors of blue and white trimmed with red.
The Lone Wranglers graduated their first class consisting of 33 graduates in February 1976, at which point the club became official. Their second class graduated in the fall of 1976 with 19 graduates. The club graduated an average of 23 new dancers per year from 1976 through 1989 although lessons were held in conjunction with the Wagonwheel Whirlers from 1979. Co-sponsored lessons continued during the early 90’s with the Konza Twisters however, the yearly graduation rate from 1990 through 2000 dropped to an average of 15 new dancers per year. By 1993 Jerry Graves taught almost 400 people to square dance in conjunction with the Lone Wranglers Square Dance Club. Dan Geisler began teaching square dance lessons for the Lone Wranglers after Jerry Graves retired. Under the “Angelship” of the Lone Wranglers 470 people have been taught square dancing.
The Lone Wranglers Square Dance Club became the lone remaining square dance club in Manhattan with the demise of the Konza Twisters in 1997.
The Lone Wranglers’ membership has remained fairly consistent over the years. The by-laws have been amended several times to reflect the changing status of the Manhattan square dance community and the needs of the club (1979, 1981, 1984, 1991 and 1996). The club now allows all square dancers regardless of marital status or age to belong and everyone has the right and privilege to vote and to hold office.
The Lone Wranglers are members of the North Central District, Kansas Square Dance Association (1977), The National Square Dance Association (1979) and the Heart of America Single Square Dance Association (HASSDA). Our members have held offices in all of these organizations except for National.
The club dances have been held at three different locations: The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Hall through 1989, Pottorf Hall through 1996, and currently at the Riley County Senior Service Center with our special dances being held at the American Legion Hall.
Compiled Jan 2001 by Judy Grossnickle