Anna Carpenter
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (2)
Anna Carpenter was a trailblazing original of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, joining as one of the elite seven women who launched the squad's inaugural 1972-73 season and transforming a loose group of local volunteers into the NFL's premier professional cheer team. A spirited Dallas native and former Apache Belles drill team member from Robert E. Lee High School-where she even served a stint as director-Anna brought her high-kicking precision and infectious energy to Texas Stadium in those fresh fringe uniforms, cheering through the Cowboys' gritty 10-4 campaign that ended in an NFC Championship heartbreak against the Redskins.
Balancing pom-poms with her studies at Texas Christian University, she famously quipped to friends that she was working her way through college on the modest $15 per game gig, embodying the scrappy glamour of the early DCC days amid the league's rising star power. Her second season in 1973-74 solidified Anna's veteran status, as she anchored the evolving roster with poise and sisterhood spirit, helping mentor newcomers while powering sideline routines that kept fans roaring through another playoff push.
Off the field, her warmth forged unbreakable bonds in the squad's tight-knit world, and post-cheer, she channeled that drive into supporting her husband's video production company, blending creativity with family life. Tragically, Anna Marie Carpenter Lee passed away on May 7, 2017, alongside her husband, leaving a cherished legacy as a founding icon whose grit helped propel the DCC from Texas novelty to global sensation. Today, she's honored in alumni tributes as the kind of pioneer who made the magic real from day one.
Sources
DCC Offical Website
texasmonthly.com
medium.com
Sports Illustrated
