Former Cowboys cheerleader director Suzanne Mitchell dead at age 73

Fort Worth native Suzanne Mitchell, the longtime and legendary director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, has died at the age of 73.

Mitchell died on Tuesday. The team confirmed her death in a news release.

She began her career with the Dallas Cowboys as an assistant to the club president and general manager, Tex Schramm, and oversaw the style, growth and tremendous popularity of the Cowboys Cheerleaders from 1976 to 1989.

During her stewardship of the DCC, Mitchell set the standard for cheerleading, dance performance, and gameday entertainment while building a brand that transformed the Cowboys Cheerleaders into the most iconic group of its kind in the world.

Mitchell is survived by her brother, W. W. Mitchell and his wife Beverly of Dallas and nephews Todd, Adam and Jake Mitchell, and niece Katherine Mitchell Richardson.

This story was originally published September 29, 2016 at 11:39 AM.