All American Red Heads Team
Encyclopedia
The All American Red Heads was one of the first professional women's basketball
teams. In 1936, almost 50 years after women's basketball began, C. M. "Ole" Olson started a barnstorming team which would play around the country until 1986. The name of the team came from Olson's wife, who owned a number of beauty salons in the south. They played by men's rules and were a smash success with the audience. They were so successful as an exhibition team that they fostered two other teams, the Ozark Hillbillies and the Famous Red Heads.
Two of the early players for the team were Geneva (Jean) and Jo Langerman. Jean and Jo were the twin daughters of "Mama" Langerman, an unmarried beautician who moved from town to town. The twins led three different teams to the state tournament, finishing third in 1931 at Whittemore, Iowa
, and winning the state championships while at Parkersburg, and Hampton, Iowa
in 1932, and 1933. Following their high school career, they played for an AAU team, winning the national championship in 1934, then joined the All American Redheads. As a result of their accomplishments, they were inducted into the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Basketball Hall of Fame.
Orwell Moore, a high school coach, coached two of the teams from 1948 and then purchased them. The teams boasted AAU
All American players and stars like Peggy Lawson, Kay Kirkpatrick, and Hazel Walker
. Other stars included Willa “Red” Mason, Johnny Farley, Jolene Ammons and Cheryl Clark. Orwell Moore's wife, Lorene “Butch” Moore was also a spectacular Red Heads player. Through the 1960s and 70s, three teams toured. During the off-season, players taught basketball to girls. Orwell also began Camp Courage, a basketball camp for girls. Charlotte Adams, Glenda Hall, Kay O'Bryan and Jolene Ammons became player coaches.
The All American Red Heads had up to three teams on the road at the same time. Seasons ran from October to the end of April or the beginning of May. The season consisted of approximately 200 games and the teams would travel over 60,000 miles by car.
In July 2010, the All American Red Heads were honored at the Senior Pan-American games in Eugene, Oregon. They also had a reunion there. It was at this tournament that players laced up their sneakers one more time and played alumni from the NBA Portland Trail Blazers.
The team was honored by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame for their contributions to the game. The team was recognized in a display entitled "Trailblazers of the Game" at the 2011 Induction Ceremony on June 11, 2011.
Women's basketball
Women's basketball is one of the few women's sports that developed in tandem with its men's counterpart. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast , in large part via women's colleges...
teams. In 1936, almost 50 years after women's basketball began, C. M. "Ole" Olson started a barnstorming team which would play around the country until 1986. The name of the team came from Olson's wife, who owned a number of beauty salons in the south. They played by men's rules and were a smash success with the audience. They were so successful as an exhibition team that they fostered two other teams, the Ozark Hillbillies and the Famous Red Heads.
Two of the early players for the team were Geneva (Jean) and Jo Langerman. Jean and Jo were the twin daughters of "Mama" Langerman, an unmarried beautician who moved from town to town. The twins led three different teams to the state tournament, finishing third in 1931 at Whittemore, Iowa
Whittemore, Iowa
Whittemore is a city in Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 530 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, and winning the state championships while at Parkersburg, and Hampton, Iowa
Hampton, Iowa
Hampton is a city in Franklin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,461 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County...
in 1932, and 1933. Following their high school career, they played for an AAU team, winning the national championship in 1934, then joined the All American Redheads. As a result of their accomplishments, they were inducted into the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Basketball Hall of Fame.
Orwell Moore, a high school coach, coached two of the teams from 1948 and then purchased them. The teams boasted AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
All American players and stars like Peggy Lawson, Kay Kirkpatrick, and Hazel Walker
Hazel Walker
-References:...
. Other stars included Willa “Red” Mason, Johnny Farley, Jolene Ammons and Cheryl Clark. Orwell Moore's wife, Lorene “Butch” Moore was also a spectacular Red Heads player. Through the 1960s and 70s, three teams toured. During the off-season, players taught basketball to girls. Orwell also began Camp Courage, a basketball camp for girls. Charlotte Adams, Glenda Hall, Kay O'Bryan and Jolene Ammons became player coaches.
The All American Red Heads had up to three teams on the road at the same time. Seasons ran from October to the end of April or the beginning of May. The season consisted of approximately 200 games and the teams would travel over 60,000 miles by car.
Awards and honors
In February 2010, the team was honored at part of National Girls and Women in Sports Day in Minnesota.In July 2010, the All American Red Heads were honored at the Senior Pan-American games in Eugene, Oregon. They also had a reunion there. It was at this tournament that players laced up their sneakers one more time and played alumni from the NBA Portland Trail Blazers.
The team was honored by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame for their contributions to the game. The team was recognized in a display entitled "Trailblazers of the Game" at the 2011 Induction Ceremony on June 11, 2011.