Page 2 of the Story

Page 2 of the Story

various uniforms and a warmup in the center

When it comes to the History of Women's Basketball, The All American Red Heads ARE The Great American Story

It was during the years, up to the 60s when women's basketball was popular at the AAU level that the Red Heads would traverse the countryside in various forms of station wagons from a Desoto and buick to a Kaiser. a very tight fit for 7 women, their basketballs, game clothes and street clothes to fit in.

It was then when Moore went out and purchased his first limosine. For the towns they traveled to, it became an instant conversation for townfolk as the logo painted car pulled in. For the players, it was like living at the Ritz on wheels.

While the names of the players would continue change as the years went on, the game remained the same. These women played basketball by men's rules while other women continued to play basketball in a 6 on 6 format. In fact the winning percentage was approaching the 80% mark by the mid to late 60s.

National tv continued with player Sandy Mann appearing on "What's my Line", Jolene Ammons going on the camera and teaching Art Linkletter ball handling skills on "Toast of the town" as well as "To Tell the Truth".

It should be noted that other women's basketball barnstorming teams also existed during this time. Hazel Walker's Arkansas Travelers were still on the road. Other teams like the Shooting Stars, Arkansas Lassies and Texas Cow
Girls also hit the road. Yet for a woman named Jolene Ammons, she
turned down a contract to play for Hazel and would later wear the red
and white pinstriped Red Heads uniform for 12 years, scoring over 25,000
points and also coaching 2 years. Cheryl Clark would leave the Cow Girls to play for the Red Heads and score over 26,000 (she would also coach). Pat Overman, who was married to Coach Ben Overman went over 27,000. Charlotte Adams who also coached (and was first woman to ask to coach in the WBL in late 70s) topped 28,000 points.

The All American Red Heads machine was in full swing. In the early 70s Orwell Moore had 3 teams on the road at the same time. Each team playing
more than 200 basketball games. Some of the teams were approaching the 90% winning mark.

A winning streak of 97 games was submitted by one of the units.

Each team would also have a player designated as "Comedian". Not only
did these players have to play in the basketball game, they were responsible for getting the crowd into the game with their special personalities. Some
of the great Comedians of the Red Heads included Red Mason, Pat Overman, "Spanky" Losier and Sue Whitten.

The teams were not only entertaining to watch, but these players were
role models for young girls and boys. Many of the young girls wanted to
grow up and become professional basketball players, a member of the All
American Red Heads.

Decoupage pictures done by "Butch" Moore for Camp Courage

In 1969 the Moores bought an old boys camp in Mississippi. They created "Camp Courage", a camp designed with heavy emphasis on basketball and for girls (although a few boys also attended).

Once again, Owell Moore was ahead of his time. Other than Cathy Rush of Immacullata fame, there was nowhere that girls could go to camp to learn the skills needed to play the game at the highest level.

Orwell would hire his players to become coaches at Camp Courage. This
provided the All American Red Heads to earn a living almost year round in basketball. The campers would get to learn from their own hero's. The camp became known nationwide with requests from as far away as Alaska and players attending from over 30 states.

Some of these kids became so good, they would get drafted as an All American Red Head when they finished high school. Barb Hostert was one of those special campers that worked so hard as a high school kid, she went on to play for the All American Red Heads for 8 years and even played for the Milwaukee Does of the WBL in 1978-9 before returning to the Red Heads to finish her career. Gwen Reed was another example of a Camp Courage camper going to the Red Heads and WBL.

mid 1970s game (notice the crowd attendence)

In 1973, a law went into effect which is commonly known as Title IX. It
gave girls (actually everyone) the right to equal opportunities as everyone else. It was a milestone for girls and women in sports both in school and college. If there was a boys basketball team, then their had to be an opportunity for a girls basketball team.

The landscape began to change. Colleges that only had mens basketball
teams now were required to field a womens team. It was a great step for
women.

Yet, as great as it was for women, it would serve to become the beginning stages of the end of the barnstorming teams, including the Red Heads. Women could now go to college and continue to play basketball while before Title IX, there were many fewer colleges offering that possibiility.

In high schools, where the Red Heads played their games, the gymnasiums became harder to book as it was being filled with more sports for girls.

Yet, national tv shows like Mike Douglas featured Jolene Ammons showing actress Betty White how spin a basketball on 1 finger and Good Morning America brought on player/coach Charolette Adams to talk about her team.

Sports Illustrated featured a multi-page color pictured article on the team while on the road in 1974.

Actual scorecard from a All American Red Heads game

By the mid 1970s, the Red Heads were back down to 1 team on the road.
It was during this time, they also featured a team that had all gone to
college first. A complete reversal from earlier days when women went to
play for the Red Heads before going to college.

Still, they would continue to attract and dazzle crowds up until their
final year of 1986.

It was that year that Orwell and Lorene's son, Burnie would take over
the coaching duties and win over 90% of their games before hanging up
their sneakers for the last time.

Yet, the story doesn't end there. The All American Red Heads have had
many reunions. One of their limosines is on display at the Women's
Basketball Hall of Fame. An All American Red Heads uniform is on
display at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. A book by the
author of this web site and historian from the Naismith Memorial
Basketball Hall of Fame is in the works.

2004 reunion in Oklahoma City