The Washington Redskins Cheerleaders were second only to the Pittsburgh Steelers in professional NFL cheerleaders (1961; the Rooneys eliminated them shortly afterwards), but continue to be the longest running professional National Football League cheerleading organization.
Originally called the Redskinettes, they have cheered for the Washington Redskins since September 30, 1962. The first director of Redskinettes was Doris Snyder. Initially she had the cheerleaders perform in native-themed (though not authentic) costumes, but subsequently changed to outfits similar to other NFL cheerleading organizations, without any native theme.
In addition to touring with the football team, they have also performed around the world. In 1982, they were invited to be the first NFL cheerleaders to perform in Asia promoting U.S. commercial products throughout Taiwan. In 1983 the cheerleaders produced their first calendar, which they have continued since. In 1984, they were the 4th NFL squad to perform in a United Service Organizations (USO) tour entertaining the armed forces in Turkey, Italy, Sicily, Spain and the 6th Fleet off the coast of France. Since then, they have participated in numerous Department of Defense (DOD) tours to entertain U.S. servicemen and women. DOD tours have included Egypt in 2000, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba in 2001, Kosovo in 2002, and others for a total of over 35 countries. In December 3-17 of 2005, they completed their 20th overseas tour for the USO, entertaining U.S. troops in East Asia.
The Washington Redskins Cheerleaders were also the first cheerleaders in the NFL to form an alumni association. The Washington Redskins Cheerleader Alumni Association (WRCAA) http://redskinscheerleaderalumni.org/ was founded in 1984 by former Redskins Cheerleader, Terri Crane-Lamb (79-83). With a membership of over 200 strong, the WRCAA is by far the largest professional cheerleaders alumni association in the NFL.
Read more about Washington Redskins Cheerleaders: Notable Members
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“I thought it altogether proper that I should take a brief furlough from official duties at Washington to mingle with you here to-day as a comrade, because every President of the United States must realize that the strength of the Government, its defence in war, the army that is to muster under its banner when our Nation is assailed, is to be found here in the masses of our people.”
—Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901)
“The rising power of the United States in world affairs ... requires, not a more compliant press, but a relentless barrage of facts and criticism.... Our job in this age, as I see it, is not to serve as cheerleaders for our side in the present world struggle but to help the largest possible number of people to see the realities of the changing and convulsive world in which American policy must operate.”
—James Reston (b. 1909)