Lubbock Area
Square and Round Dance Federation
Ellen Spoon - Prestige Award
The Texas State Caller’s Association awarded Ellen Spoon with the Prestige Award April 1, 2026. She is the first woman to receive the Texas State Caller’s Association’s Prestige Award. They based this award on her years of experience, the longevity of her clubs, leadership and service rolls over the years, how many students she has graduated, and her dance activities with the community.
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Starting Point
This will be Ellen Spoon’s 48th year as a square dance caller. Ellen did not get into calling intentionally. She first called when Hap Hope asked her to teach a class in Muleshoe that he couldn’t attend. She had been a dancer for 12 years, but had no calling training. Hap, then started teaching her to “sight call,” aka patter. The first singing call she did was to “Sneaky Snake.” (You can listen to the song here Tom T. Hall - Sneaky Snake 1977.) When Hap moved in 1978, he asked his club, Hap’s Hazards, which Ellen and Charles had helped build, to allow her to be the caller. This club then changed their name to Hub City Wheelers. They had around 90 club members at that time. She also became the caller for the club in Brownfield when their caller quit, and taught lessons in Plainview.
Ellen Spoon in early years
Early Female Callers
Women today have an equal opportunity in all areas of life because of women like Ellen, who were willing to step into roles that were traditionally held by men. According to Deborah Carroll Jones, who served as a chairperson of the Women in Calling Committee from 1998-2013, 8-9% of callers were women in 1985. Imagine how much few women callers there were in 1978 when Ellen began to call. https://youtu.be/KEAC1oLYwcg?si=y3w2N3qa5i1ds6Ex
When asked what she had to overcome being a female caller, she couldn’t think of many. She was brought up with brothers, so she was just one of the guys. She admits that being a stay-at-home mom was an advantage that male callers didn’t have. Men “had to work to keep food on the table. As soon as Charles would leave for work and my kids would go to school, the rest of the day was mine and to h*@! with those dirty dishes,” she said with a laugh.
Yet there were occasional occurrences of prejudice during her career. After 3 years of calling, she went to Caller College in Waco for a week long, 9-5, formal training where she was the only woman in attendance. The instructor told her that she was only there because she had something to prove. Besides being frustrated that she was there, he gave her a hard time when she didn’t know what an Acey Deucey was. Chet Miles, the president of the TSCA who presented her with the award, was also there that week. In one of his speeches that evening, he confirmed that the instructor was not shy about saying women should not be callers, but Chet also said, “By the end of the week, I think she had convinced him that it was okay.” Also in her early career, there was a man who didn’t want to call a dance with her because she was a woman. And even just 6-7 years ago, a young boy told her she should get off the stage and let a man call.
Although she didn’t call for many places outside the Lubbock area, she was the first female caller at the Fun Valley Family Resort in South Fork, Colorado, for a week during the 1990s. She also called in New Mexico a few times.
Ellen in early years
Accomplishments
Ellen has done a lot in 48 years. She and Charles started Lone Star PromenAders around 1986, Diamond Plus in 2008, and Club A in 2012. When she start her first Advance club, she was having to learn the moves along with her dancers. When asked if she prefers SSD/Mainstream, Plus, or Advance best, she answered that it doesn’t matter which level; she really likes to teach.
Although there are no conclusive records, averaging the last 5 years graduating classes showed she has graduated at least 300 students from basic lessons. Since she taught lessons in Lubbock, Brownfield, and Plainview in the 1070s and 80s, the number is likely much higher. She also taught square dancing to preK-5th grades at Kingdom Preparatory Academy from 2009-2013.
She called for two Texas State Conventions and served as a sound chairman one year.
She has called for many exhibitions including at the South Plains Fair, Lion’s Club Pancake Festival, nursing homes, and more. She called for the 4th on Broadway parade back when she still used records. They would have to wait until the parade stopped periodically, and someone would yell “Sides Face Grand Parade” to get the dance started.
She even attempted to teach a blind woman to square dance, but the dancing speed proved too difficult for the woman to continue.
Those who attended the award ceremony.
2020s
Currently, she is the president of the West Texas Callers & Teachers Association and teaching four LASRDF members to call. She has been working these last few years to find new callers to train in order to keep the next generation dancing once she retires.
She is also serving as a delegate for LASRDF to the Texas State Federation of Square and Round Dancers.
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Ellen in early years
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Ellen with her family on award night
Closing
Smiling, Ellen said, “Calling has really been a trip.” She and Charles agree that she did not make it all these years without help. It takes a myriad of people to form and keep clubs and organizations running. People like Vicki & Jess Richardson, who were co-founders of Lone Star Promenaders. Plus other people who have been serving LASRDF and our clubs in a myriad of ways for decades. Plus, all the dancers, who may not serve in a leadership role, but help set and clean up - or simply come out to dance.
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We enjoyed hearing speeches that evening from Chet Miles, Francee Kneisley, Charlie Whisner, Barry Smith aka BS & Turkey Toes, Ron Young, Tracy Johnson, who presented her with a giant spoon, Jess & Vicki Ritcherson, Teri Henderson, and Dennis Horn.
Comments from Dancers
The following are short excerpts I chose from letters Ellen’s dancers wrote in to the deciding committee:
In a world when women callers are few and far between in West Texas, one stands alone: Ellen Spoon. This amazing woman is a teacher, a friend, and a true inspiration in a skill that requires true dedication through practice and interpersonal relationships.
--Teri Henderson, LASRDF Member off and on since 1965 when she was 11 years old
We have known Ellen Spoon since we started dancing in 1979. She has always been a fun caller. She brought her children to dances and our children came as well. For many years she called for us with no pay. As time passed we wanted to venture into learning A. She learned how to call A at the same time we learned A. We had a lot of fun and made a lot of mistakes but that encouraged us to keep going.
--Jess and Vicki Ritcherson, LASRDF members since 1979
As a Brain and spinal trauma survivor, arthritis and addiction victim, I cannot begin to relate the extent that Square Dance and it’s personification in Ellen Spoon have saved my life, my mind & emotions, my body and my hope for and place in community. Both Ellen Spoon and her husband, Charles, are stellar examples of what Square Dance is trying to keep alive around the world.
--Ron Young, LASRDF member since 1995
Ellen is an excellent teacher and loves square dancing with her whole heart. She gives more than 100% to this activity. She instills the love she has for square dancing in every way to every member. I’ve never met anyone that works as hard as she does to continue learning so she can teach effectively.
--Cozette Young, LASRDF member since 2013
We have watched Ellen Spoon pour her heart and soul into the Lubbock Square and Round Dance Federation for years, and we can honestly say she’s the heartbeat of our dance community. She’s at the hall at least four days a week—calling, teaching, encouraging, and bringing joy to everyone who walks through those doors. What stands out most to us is how deeply she cares about keeping this activity alive.
--Charlie & Sandra Whisner, LASRDF member since 2021
Through nearly five decades behind the microphone, she has created memories, forged friendships, and helped sustain the spirit of square dancing across generations. Ellen’s efforts have strengthened the bonds of fellowship within the square dance community, creating a sense of belonging that reaches far beyond the dance hall.
-- LaDonna & Tracy Johnson, LASRDF members since 2022
One can't help but quickly recognize her heart for the dance. Her experience and quickness to read the floor and adjust in the moment to her dancer's needs is impressive. She has a fire in her belly, love in her heart, and an opinion to share - and we feel privileged to experience it all!
--Jimmy (Wiggles) and Katy Pendergrass, LASRDF members since 2024
More about Ellen
Here is an online article about Ellen Spoon on page 35:
https://www.lubbockseniorlink.com/magazine/2025-01/index.html#p=35
This one mentions Ellen and Charles Spoon dancing (not calling) since the 1960s: