Dee Brock, original director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, dies at age 96

Dee Brock, the original director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders who helped mold the prototype for NFL sideline entertainment, died on Wednesday, the team said. She was 96.

“In loving memory of Dee Brock, our founding director,” according to a team statement. “We will forever honor her and her legacy.”

When the squad was first formed in 1961, Brock according to the team’s history, “utilized high school students with traditional cheers to lead the crowd.”

The team added “dance elements” to its game-day routine in 1965, then in 1972 introduced its now-iconic uniforms — boots, short shorts and a fringed, midriff bearing top — which has remained virtually unchanged since.

Brock retired in 1975.

The team honored Brock in 2022 with a lifetime achievement award, presented as a rhinestone-adorned football.

“I hadn’t realized I had made such a good impression, and I’m so happy about that,” Brock told NBC affiliate KETK during the presentation ceremony at her Tyler home.

Brock’s advocacy is credited with helping integrate the cheerleading squad.

“The kindness that she showed, the encouragement, the warmth to a 16-year-old high school girl, it’s amazing what encouraging words, what kindness can do.” said Eunice Cicero, a pioneering member of the 1965 squad. “Thanks to Dee, I had the pleasure of being one of the first African American cheerleaders for the Dallas Cowboys.”