Today in NC State History: A lone woman in the band
Lois Madden was accustomed to being surrounded by men when she was a student at NC State in the 1940s.
In 1948, Madden became the first woman to graduate from NC State with a degree in chemical engineering after transferring here from Oberlin College.
And, on this day in 1946, Madden was recognized in a local newspaper as being the only woman in NC State’s Red Coat Band.
Madden apparently was not the first woman in the university’s marching band, but she was still the only woman in the 90-piece band in 1946. She was a drummer.
“She is one of the few girls ever to march with the red and white-clad music makers in support of the State College football team, known in grid circles as the Wolfpack,” read the cutline that ran with a photo (left) of Madden in her band uniform.
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