User:Satchelpaige

== Texas Cowgirls Dempsey LeRoy Hovland was born December 11,1918 in Beloit, Wisconsin. Hovland originated owned operated The World Famous Texas Cowgirls" barnstorming female basketball team from 1949-1977. The Texas Cowgirls were not based out of Texas. The name was merely promotional as The N.Y. Harlem Globetrotters were based out of Chicago, Illinois: as were the Texas Cowgirls. The female team played basketball games against male teams, playing mens rules, winning an 80% average of the 160 basketball games played per season.

The female athletes averaged between 18 and 22 years of age. Hovland's Cowgirls historical feats included opening for : The Harlem Globetrotters, National Basketball Association teams including the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Lakers, Philidelphia 76ers 'Bob Cousy, Dolph Shayes, George Mikan, Marquis Haynes, Meadow Lark Lemmon, Goose Tatum,Wilt Chamberlain .shared court with these amazingly athletic women who entertained fans. During thier reign the Texas Cowgirls Basketball Team received a national proclamation for their contributions from U.S. Secretary of State Robert MacNamara.The U.S. government sent the team abroad to face off on the courts with military teams in Spain, Morroco and Africa.

Traveling throughout the continental United States by station wagon, bus, or airport limosine the athletic women were known as barnstormers.