With their engines revved and running, the Purple Ladies joined the homecoming festivities and made a name for themselves at the homecoming parade on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
The Purple Ladies was created by Assistant Principal, Gusti Ratliff. The all female group consists of seven motorcycling riding faculty members. Ratliff organized the group to bring faculty members together in an unconventional way, while still having fun.
“Like the Grease Pink Ladies, it’s the Falcon Purple Ladies,” Ratliff expressed.
Although the group’s name is roughly based on the Pink Ladies, the two groups have different motives. The goal of the Purple Ladies is to have faculty collaborate in an uncommon manner while supporting the school.
“Of course Grease is an iconic movie, and [so is] the production,” Ratliff stated. “While I was walking down the hall I saw a poster of [KISD’s district wide production of Grease in 2016], and I know that several of us [faculty members] ride motorcycles, so I was trying to come up with a way to help group teachers together and have us be involved in something that we enjoy doing, that also could benefit the school.”
The group participated in last week’s homecoming parade by leading the majority of the parade on their motorcycles. Sophmore Madilyn Schiefelbein was walking among the choir when she saw the group of motorcyclists.
“It was pretty surprising to see them,” Schiefelbein explained. “It was really cool to see them leading the way.”
While the group is still new, Ratliff has big plans for the faculty club
“The purpose of it [the group] is to go to events together, to ride in the homecoming parade, do charity rides, go to school events, and just have a little adult club,” Ratliff said. “I like to ride my bike [to school], so sometimes we all park up here [together] and we all look at each other’s motorcycles.”
