This story appeared in the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Official Game Program

For more than 40 years, Lisa Fortenberry has been a force behind some of the most iconic moments in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Her influence — felt in the precision of every performance, the energy of every pregame and halftime spectacle, and the warmth she shared with everyone she encountered — has shaped the pageantry of the Classic in ways that will endure far beyond her retirement this season.
 
Fortenberry's story with the Cotton Bowl Classic is woven with deep roots, tradition, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Her journey began as a member of the world-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes, performing as part of the 44th line in the 1984 and 1985 Cotton Bowl Classics. Those performances would spark a lifelong connection with both the Classic and with a team of women whose spirit and precision matched her own.
 
Following her time as a Rangerette, Fortenberry joined Mike Miller and the NCA Superstars, where she spent years honing her craft, learning from one of the most respected producers of spirit and pageantry in the country. She worked alongside Miller until his passing in 2007, carrying forward the lessons of showmanship, professionalism, and heart that he instilled in her. Those lessons became foundational when, in 2008, she was hired by the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association as Director of Pageantry—ushering in one of the most dynamic eras of game-day production the Classic has ever seen.
 
Throughout her tenure, Fortenberry brought an unmatched combination of vision, creativity, discipline, and joy to the role. Her fingerprints are on every field entrance, every National Anthem presentation, every halftime moment, every perfectly synchronized performance that has helped make the Cotton Bowl Classic a spectacle celebrated far beyond Texas.
 
The 2023–24 season showcased perhaps her most extraordinary achievement: coordinating the return of 757 former Rangerettes—known as Rangerette Forevers—who took the field for the 75th anniversary of the Rangerettes' historic relationship with the Cotton Bowl Classic. It was an achievement of breathtaking scale and deep emotional resonance, made possible because of her leadership, her relationships, and the respect she commands across generations.
 
Of all her memories, one stands above the rest: the 75th Cotton Bowl Classic that united nearly all living members of the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in a single celebration. Among them was Syracuse legend Jim Brown, who returned to the field he once dominated to perform the coin toss. For Fortenberry, it was a moment that perfectly captured the magnitude and tradition of the event she helped elevate year after year.
 
As she reflects on her career, Fortenberry's gratitude is as expansive as her impact. She credits several individuals who shaped her journey and supported her success, including the late Mike Miller of Mike Miller & Associates; Cotton Bowl President/CEO Rick Baker; the late Deana Bolton Covin, longtime director of the Kilgore College Rangerettes; and her North Garland High School gymnastics teacher Mark Williams. Each, in their own way, helped guide the remarkable career that has brought the Classic to life for millions of fans.
 
In speaking about her time with the Cotton Bowl, Fortenberry captures the emotional core of her experience: "From Board members to the staff to band and spirit directors, you all have been my second family."
 
"Lisa has been the heart of our game's pageantry for decades," said Rick Baker, President & Chief Executive Officer, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. "Her enthusiasm, her attention to detail, and her infectious positivity lifted everyone around her. The Cotton Bowl Classic is better because of Lisa Fortenberry, and her legacy will continue to inspire us for years to come."
 
As Fortenberry steps away after this year's game, she leaves behind more than memories—she leaves a legacy of excellence, beauty, precision and spirit. Her work has moved audiences, uplifted performers and elevated one of college football's greatest traditions. The Cotton Bowl Classic will forever carry her imprint.