mavericks square dancers' biographies

muriel elaine mann

I was born in Denver, Colorado and lived there until I married Gayward Mann. I went to the University of Denver and met my husband in a Zoology class. We both graduated the same year in 1948 and after graduation went our separate ways. I was accepted for an internship at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, and Gay went to the University of Wyoming for graduate work in Chemistry. Being separated made the hearts grow fonder, and we decided to get married June 8, 1952. Gay wasn't happy with his profession and started night law school at the University of Denver. I worked at Presbyterian Hospital and then at the Colorado State Children's home as an administrative dietician for nine years, putting hubby through school. After his graduation from law school, he went into Patent, Trademarks and Copyrights law since he had a scientific background. We moved to Arlington, Virginia where he worked in the U.S. Patent Office as a Patent Examiner. It was in Washington D.C. that our daughter Linda was born. We moved from D.C. to Cleveland, Ohio and then back to Denver, Colorado and eventually to Ventura, California where he was a Patent Attorney for the U.S. Navy at Point Mugu Naval Base. Gay had a heart attack two years later and died Oct 9, 1972.

I knew how to square dance long before I met Gay. During my college years at the University of Denver, I was in an Exhibition Square Dance Club called the D.U. Promenaders in 1946. We put on exhibition dancing in old mining towns such as Central City and Leadville and at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. We wore long dresses and pantaloons like the pioneers. Some of the maneuvers we did were "Birdie in a Cage," which was popular in the 1940s, and "everything to the gals," swinging our legs out while holding on to the fellows' shoulders (I've forgotten the name now) while going around in a circle.

It wasn't until 1966 when we went to a Methodist Church social, and the entertainment was beginning square dancing. Gay said he didn't want any part of it, but that changed quickly when we all got into a big circle and did "Do-Si-Do." He had so much fun he couldn't wait until September to join a class. From then on he was always on the dance floor. I think we were the ones who initiated the 'highland fling" instead of the back-to-back, and we also kicked high in the allemande left. At the first dance we attended in Santa Barbara, California, the caller claimed we made his needle jump so after that we danced at the back of the hall so as not to disturb him or his music. We joined the Romping Stompers in Oxnard, California and held every office in the club and were presidents twice. I retired after 42 years as an Administration or Therapeutic Dietician and moved to Utah where I met Julie Goldberg. We took many trips to Salt Lake City to dance with the Single Swingers and Leather and Lace.

I met Gene Etherington at the Guys and Gals and eventually we joined the Mavericks. We hugged hundreds of corners and found friends with the Mavericks and were vice president and president for 3 years. So we'll "Spin and Exchange Gears" because we enjoy the workout for the brain and the physical exercise from head to toe.

Thanks for going down memory lane with me.

Elaine Mann