WORLD DRUM CORPS HALL OF FAME BIOGRAPHIES

INDUCTED 2007

JIM BELL
Jim began his involvement playing baritone horn, spending his first year with Yearsley Blackhawk Cadets, then six years with Liberty Bell Cadets. While serving in the United States Navy for 15 months, he played snare drum, marched as drum major and served as director of the corps. Many of his accomplishments were achieved during his association with PAL Cadets of Philadelphia. He was co-founder and director of the corps and served as marching and maneuvering instructor, brass arranger and show coordinator for 16 years. He was also show coordinator with Cranford Patriots for two years. He has served as president of Reilly Raiders Alumni, vice president of the Garden State Association, and judged music and M & M for the Mid-Atlantic Judging Association.  As director of the PAL Cadets, he obtained more than 300 college scholarships and financial aid for drum corps members. He also helped initiate a college program in music education for new drum and bugle corps members with limited formal music education.
 
RAY EYLER
Between 1956 and 1967, Ray Eyler was the soprano soloist with three different corps: the Tri-Community Cadets, the United States Air Force drum and bugle corps and Archer-Epler Musketeers. He served as horn instructor for the Audubon Bon Bons all-girls corps from 1964 to 1977 and from 1956 to 1959 was the music arranger and instructor for Brook Haven junior drum and bugle corps. In the 1970s, he was both music arranger and instructor for a number of well-known Pennsylvania corps, including the Keystoners, Crossmen and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. From 1960 to 1964, he judged music for the New Jersey Judging Association. Also beginning in 1960, he served as music caption head for the Mid-Atlantic Judging Association and Drum Corps Associates (DCA).
 
DAVID KAMPSCHROER
David helped form the organization that in 1972 became Drum Corps International (DCI). He is a charter member of the DCI Hall of Fame, and currently serves as chairman of the DCI Hall of Fame nominating committee. He was a drummer with several corps, including the Phantom Regiment and LaCrosse Commanders senior corps from 1948 to 1959. In the mid-1960s, he judged overall general effect for both the All American Judging Association, and the Wisconsin chapter. During more than 30 years of continuous participation in various aspects of drum corps activity, he most recently served with the Drum Corps Midwest Judges Guild. In addition to serving as drum instructor and marching and maneuvering instructor with Blue Stars from 1969 to 1980 he also served as corps director and chairman of the executive board. While he was executive director, he helped form a group of seven Midwest corps known as The Combine, which became DCI. He has served as the DCI board chairman.

J. FRANK NASH
J. Frank Nash got off to a fast start in drum corps activity, beginning at age six, then playing snare drum for more than 40 consecutive years with various groups. His career as a drummer began in 1958, with the Royal Order of Odd Fellows, followed by participation in the drum lines of PAL Wynn Center Toppers, St. Joseph’s Patrons and St. Rita’s Brassmen. Moving up to the senior ranks, he drummed with New York Skyliners from 1973 to 1984. He served as player/snare instructor with the Bushwackers 1985-1993. From 1994 through 1999 he was with the Hawthorne Caballeros and in 2000 marched with the Syracuse Brigadiers, his final year of marching. He has been percussion instructor and arranger for many other corps since 1978, including Hawthorne Caballeros, New York Skyliners and Atlanta Corps Vets. As a corps member, he has won nine Drum Corps Associates (DCA) titles, seven percussion titles including a record six consecutive with the Bushwackers As an individual, he has won three individual snare titles. Possessing extra-ordinary drumming talent, he learned to read and arrange music in order to develop teaching skills to help those around him to become better musicians and corps members.
 
ROBBIE ROBINSON
Robbie Robinson is the first drummer ever to win three Drum Corps International (DCI) individual snare-drumming titles. He was the DCI champion in 1979, 1980 and again in 1982. His drum corps involvement began in 1970, with the Tri-Community Cadets. He also drummed with the Keystone Regiment for two years before joining the Crossmen, the corps founded and directed initially by his father. He has also performed in the drum lines of the Blue Devils and Reading Buccaneers. In the 1990s, he began instructing and arranging for a number of top senior corps, including the Buccaneers, Bushwackers, Skyliners and Caballeros. Also during the 1990s, he was a percussion judge with the National Judges Association and Drum Corps Associates. He introduced the triple bass drum stack, first used by Bushwackers in 1992. The previous year, in 1991, he was percussion arranger, instructor and caption head when the Bushwackers drum line won the DCA high drum award.
 
SCOTTY WILD
Scotty Wild marched in the color guard of the Chicago Cavaliers from 1954 to 1959, then became one of the top drill writers and show designers in the Midwest. He has been associated with Minnesota Brass for more than 15 years, serving as visual caption head and
corps director. He is a member of the Minnesota Brass Hall of Fame, and was one of the initial group of World Drum Corps Hall of Fame associate members inducted in 2001. In the 30 years after becoming the Cavaliers’ drill instructor in 1960, he wrote drill for such
highly regarded corps as Des Plaines Vanguard, Kansas Sky Ryders, Blue Rock, Schaumberg Guardsmen, Boston Crusaders, Garfield Cadets and Minnesota Brass. He has also served as corps director of the Vanguard, Guardsmen and Minnesota Brass. He served as a visual judge for Central States Judges for more than 40 years and a Drum Corps International (DCI) judge for almost 30 years up until 2001. He judged the first DCI championship contest in 1972. He served as caption chairman and director of the Central States Judges
Association (CSJA) and has judged for high school marching band circuits across the country. He has been the chief organizer of the Drum Beauty, a major DCI contest in Stillwater, Minnesota, for more than 25 years and has served on the Drum Corps Midwest executive for many years.

ROBERT GAFF
Bob Gaff, of Mount Laurel, New Jersey is the 2007 winner of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame President’s Lifetime Achievement Award; his fourth such honor by prominent drum corps organizations. Gaff, who was among the first Hall of Fame associate members inducted when that category was introduced in 2001, was selected for the lifetime achievement honor this year by president George Bull, of Baltimore, Maryland. He will be inducted as a regular member in September. Gaff was inducted into the Buglers’ Hall of Fame in Bridgeport, Connecticut in July 2005; 50 years after his first involvement in drum corps. In September 2005 he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Drum Corps Hall of Fame. He was elected to the Massachusetts Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2001. His drum corps career began when he spent seven years with St. Rose of Chelsea, Maryland, beginning in 1955. In 1963 and 1964, he played with St. Kevin’s Emerald Knights in Boston, and was a member of the undefeated national champion brass quartet in both years. In the later years of the 1960s, he marched with Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, the United States Air Force Academy Drum & Bugle Corps, and the Reilly Raiders. He was a member of the Yankee Rebels, of Baltimore, from 1969 to 1974, winning three American Legion national championships: in 1969, 1970 and 1971. In 1994, he marched with the Bushwackers, of Harrison, NJ. He has marched with several alumni corps, including Yankee Rebels, Archer-Epler Musketeers, Reilly Raiders, St. Lucy’s Cadets, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, New York Skyliners and the Princemen. He was named a lifetime member of the Reilly Raiders in 2000.

INDUCTED 2006

Collin Campbell
Collin Campbell began his drum corps life as a snare drummer in 1954, for his local fire department’s parade corps in East Rochester, New York.  After five seasons, he played snare drum with the Ridge-Culver Statesmen of Irondequoit/Rochester. He was a snare drummer, drumline instructor and arranger for the Crusaders of Rochester, Irondequoit and Hilton from 1959 to 1969 and again from 1974 to1977. Under his direction, the Crusaders were the top drum line at the American Legion (AL) National Championships in Portland, Oregon, and took top honors the following year at the AL Nationals in Washington, DC.  He was a performer, instructor and arranger with the Hamburg Kingsmen from 1970 to 1973.  He was instructor and arranger for the Alpine Girls drum and bugle corps of Rochester for 11 seasons, and for three high school bands and three other junior corps.  He was an active member of the All American and New York State Federation of Contest Judges in 1973-74 and from 1978 to 1980.  He served on various Drum Corps Associates (DCA) committees from 1966 to 1977 and the Crusaders’ board of directors from 1960 to 1969.

Dominic J. Fulginiti
Dom Fulginiti has been judging drum and bugle corps contests for almost 40 years, beginning with the National Judges Association in 1967. He has also been judging for Drum Corps Associates (DCA) since 1970. He served as the coordinator of the New Jersey Color Guard Association indoor contest circuit for almost 20 years, from 1975 to 1994. During that time, he also served as the judging coordinator with Drum Corps Associates (DCA), and was director of the National Judges Association for five years. He was the Mid-Atlantic Judges Association music caption head from 1963 to 1967, and brass caption head for the Red Carpet Association international contest circuit from 1967 to 1975. His drum corps activity began when he played soprano horn with Vasella Musketeers from 1957 to 1962. He marched as drum major of two junior corps, Hadden Heights and Bordentown Jersey Devils, before joining Archer-Epler Musketeers as a baritone horn player in 1964. During the 1960s, he was active with a number of junior corps. He was brass technician for Gloucester Brigadiers and Hadden Heights; program coordinator for Brookhaven Crusaders and First Staters; brass instructor for the Greater Chester Movement.

Jerry Kelsey
Jerry Kelsey played three different horns, soprano, mellophone and baritone, from 1961 to 1971 with St. Joseph’s of Batavia. He was drum major of Auburn Purple Lancers in 1975. In the years since 1978, he has been brass arranger for some of the best-known corps in the country: the Crossmen, Suncoast Sound, Rochester Crusaders, Rochester Empire Statesmen, Racine Kilties, Boston Crusaders, Reading Buccaneers, Capital Regiment, San Francisco Renegades and Madison Scouts. He was brass arranger and instructor in 1998, when the Empire Statesmen became the only drum corps in history to win the triple crown: the World Show Band Championship, with the highest score ever recorded in that contest, in London, England, the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) title and the American Legion (AL) championship. He first proposed that Drum Corps International (DCI) horn lines convert to three-valve instruments. Three-valve horns are now the standard for the activity. He has served as program and staff coordinator for Capital Regiment and Racine Kilties since 2000. Since beginning to judge in 1974, he has served with the New York State Judges Federation, the Southern States Association and the Indiana School of Music.

Vincent Monocelli
Vince Monocelli has been one of the activity’s most-admired drill designers since 1977, when he began teaching the Watkins Glen Squires junior drum and bugle corps in western New York. In the following years, he created memorable drills for such well-known drum and bugle corps on both sides of the border as the Cadets of Greece, Crossmen, Dutch Boy, Blue Coats, Rochester Crusaders and Empire Statesmen. He has been particularly successful as a Winter Guard International (WGI) instructor, winning four national color guard championships in a row in the mid-1990s. He taught a number of Rochester and area
high school winter guards that made it to WGI finals: Bishop Kearney, Eastbury, Eastridge, Canandaigua Academy and Orchard Park. He was a color guard and marching judge with the New York Federation of Judges from 1979 to 1996, and judged marching for Drum Corps International (DCI) and Drum Corps East (DCE) from 1979 to 1981. His career in
drum and bugle corps activity began when he played in the horn line of St. Joseph’s of Batavia from 1966 to 1972.


Ken Norman
An accomplished performer and arranger, Ken Norman is also one of the great innovators in the drum corps community. He was the chief proponent of the adoption of the G-F bugle, considered by many to be the single most important development in brass instrumentation. He was also a major contributor to the music analysis judging sheet, the first “non-tick” caption sheet, first used in 1971. He was instrumental in the first use of the mellophone as a solo and ensemble instrument in brass voicing. His major contribution to drum corps activity is arranging music. He has created charts for more than 100 drum and bugle corps around the world, including Anaheim Kingsmen, Velvet Knights, DeLaSalle Oaklands, Etobicoke Oakland Crusaders, Belleville Black Knights, Reading Buccaneers, Syracuse Brigadiers, Spirit of ‘76 and the United States Air Force Academy drum and bugle corps. His arrangement of Auld Lang Syne is performed throughout the drum corps community. He first performed on French horn with Racine Kilties juniors in 1962, and later played mellophone with Kenosha Kingsmen and the Kilties senior corps. He was the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) national French horn champion in 1963 and 1964.

Richard Price
Richie Price has been a dazzling solo soprano player since 1966, when he first joined York White Roses junior drum and bugle corps. He received the Maynard Ferguson Silver Trumpet award for excellence at Berklee College of Music. He has performed with such well-known corps as Reading Buccaneers, Rhode Island Matadors, Sunrisers, and Empire Statesmen. He also marched as drum major of the Matadors between 1976 and 1982. He has been music arranger or brass technician with several corps since 1969, when he was assistant arranger with York White Roses. Since then, he has been arranger or technician for Framingham Sharpshooters, 27th Lancers, Rhode Island Picadors, Rhode Island Matadors, and Sunrisers.

Tom Peashey
Tom Peashey has been participating in all phases of the drum and bugle corps activity for more than 50 years. Since first performing as a soprano and French horn player with Oswego Pathfinders and Mexico Grey Barons in the 1950s, he has been an instructor, corps
director, circuit administrator, judge and contest announcer. For many years, he hosted a weekly drum corps radio show in Central New York and in 1974 was the color commentator of the first ever Drum Corps International (DCI) championship television broadcast on PBS.
As chief financial officer of Rochester Patriots from 1979 to 2002, he helped guide them to a DCI Division II world championship and his Gates Center Bingo was named one of the top 10 halls in North America by Bingo Managers Magazine. He was appointed director of operations for the Northwest Youth Music Association and the Seattle Cascades junior drum and bugle corps in 2005. He was director of marketing and public relations for Drum Corps Associates (DCA) from 1994 to 2005. He has been corps director of the Rochester Crusaders, a member of the board of directors of the Syracuse Brigadiers, co- founder and co-director of the Oswego Black Knights as well as visual chief judge for New York Federation of Contest Judges and Drum Corps Associates. He has adjudicated numerous drum corps, color guard and marching band championships including seven DCA world championships.  While performing on the field for more than 20 seasons, he played
French horn, mellophone or soprano for such well-known New York corps as Rochester Crusaders, Syracuse Brigadiers and Fulton Gauchos. He was elected to the Rochester Crusaders and Northeast Color Guard Circuit Halls of Fame and was awarded a lifetime membership in the Syracuse Brigadiers Alumni Association.

 

INDUCTED 2005

JIM BOWSER
A drummer's drummer, Mr. Bowser is a two time individual VFW Senior National Champion snare drummer.  He began his percussion career in 1946 with the Kenwood Cadets.  A long time member of the Championship Reilly Raiders drum line, he also was a member of the Yankee Rebels and the alumni corps of both organizations.  Jim also instructed the Dundalk Cadets, Williamsport Black Eagles, and St. James of Baltimore, MD.  In more recent years, Jim was instrumental in the 1988 rebirth of the Yankee Rebels Alumni Corps and the early success of the Reilly Raiders Alumni Corps.

DON MIHOK
Mr. Mihok has the distinction of winning the individual VFW National Snare Drum Championship as both a junior in 1949 as an Osmond Cadet and as a senior in 1957 with Archer Epler Musketeers.  In addition to Osmond, as a junior, Don played with Rising Sun and McCall.  As a senior, he played with Archie.  A long time member of the NARD, Don instructed Vasella, Haddon Heights, East Germantown, Bangor Yellow Jackets, and the Reilly Raiders Alumni.  He has also judged percussion with the Mid Atlantic, All-American, and DCA Judges Associations.

FRANK LOZAR
Frank Lozar has a record of lifetime dedication to drum & bugle corps.  He began playing a soprano horn in 1947 and has continued marching and playing without interruption for 58 years.  At the age of 77, he still marches and plays with a competitive corps, the Minnesota Brass.  Frank was the Director of MB from 1963-1969.  He also performed with Hamms Indians for 6 years and has also performed with the Zuhral Shrine.

RALPH PACE
Mr. Pace turned his marching experience as a junior with Vasella and as a senior with the Archer Epler Musketeers into a storied career instructing and designing field shows.  He has instructed Blue Rock, 27th Lancers, Chicago Cavaliers, Crossmen, Phantom Regiment, Spirit of Atlanta and the Reading Buccaneers during their Championship years.  Ralph also spent 25 years judging with YEA and the National Judges Association.  Mr. Pace is also currently a member of the Massachusetts Hall of Fame, the Crossmen Hall of Fame, and the DCI Hall of Fame.

KENNY PETERSEN
Mr. Petersen has occupied the past 54 years playing soprano solos for the enjoyment of audiences everywhere.  He was the soloist with the Geneva Appleknockers for 16 years.  He also soloed with the 1991 DCA World Champion Empire Statesmen.  He currently is solo soprano with St. Joe's Alumni and the Ghost Riders Mini Corps.  He is also the Administrator for the Ghost Riders.  He has instructed the Firebells, Tri-County Cadets, Geneva Appleknockers, and Mello-Dears.  From 1964-72, he was the Director of the Appleknockers.  Ace has won numerous individual championships in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Canada.

RICHARD PRONTI
Mr. Pronti is the innovator who began the DCA I & E in 1988.  Dick began his drum corps career in 1958 with the Shortsville Shamrocks.  He also marched with the Geneva Appleknockers Jr. & Sr., Emerald Cadets, Syracuse Brigadiers, and the Suburban Knights of Buffalo.  He has been a Visual and Staff consultant for the Hawthorne Caballeros for the past 12 years.  The past 25 years have seen Dick holding the posts of President and visual caption head for the New York Federation of Judges.  He was the Chief Judge Coordinator for DCA from 1987-91.  He has also judged with the New York All American.

ELMER WINZER
Mr. Winzer began his career in drum corps with the Reading Buccaneers in 1957 playing a baritone.  He also played with the USAF Drum & Bugle Corps.  He has been the brass arranger and/or instructor for the Wilmington Blue Rock, Haddonfield Royaleers, Emmaus Sentinels, Reading Buccaneers, Yankee Rebels, and Archer Epler Musketeers.  He also was the brass caption head for the Yankee Rebels Alumni and the Reading Buccaneers Alumni.  Red has  judged music for the Mid-Atlantic, DCI, and National Judges Association.

INDUCTED 2004

MICHEL BOULANGER
Mr. Boulanger began his percussion career at Ste-Dominique School in 1953.  He became a snare drummer with Les Diplomates De Quebec in 1961 and continued to play snare while serving as their Instructor/Arranger from 1970 – 1973.  Michele served as consultant to the Chicago Cavaliers, Spirit of Atlanta, and the Concord Blue Devils.  In 1974, he was appointed Percussion Quality Control Manager for DCA.  He pioneered score sheet changes that separated the marching drum line from the stationary pit ensemble.  He has judged percussion for DCA, DCI, and the Canadian Judges Association. 

RAYMOND A. CAPPICCILLE
The year 1950 was the beginning of Mr. Cappiccille’s drum corps career when he joined the Holy Name Cadets playing French horn.  He continued playing French horn with the Hawthorne Caballeros as a senior and switched to the mellophone when he joined Hawthorne alumni.  He was the drill designer/instructor for the Garfield Cadets from 1967-1973 and their Program Coordinator from 1974-1978.  He has judged marching/GE with NY All-American, NJA, Mid Atlantic, DCA, DCI, and WGI.

EDWARD CONDON
Ed Condon played fife and bass baritone horn with the John H. Collins Post fife, drum and bugle corps for almost 10 years, from 1947 to 1955, before beginning a long association with the Connecticut Hurricanes. Over the years, he played bass baritone, taught drill to the Hurricanes and several color guards. He and long time partner Robert Woods introduced innovative new drill designs that helped move away from strict military patterns by using the color guard in the drill patterns to create free flowing presentations with high audience appeal. He was a marching and maneuvering (M&M) judge with the All American Judges Association. During the years he taught drill to the Hurricanes, the corps was undefeated in M&M during 41 consecutive contests. The Hurricanes scored top drill marks during the first four Drum Corps Associates (DCA) championship tournaments. During the years he taught drill to the Hurricanes, the corps won virtually every top contest of the day, including the Dream Contest, the Connecticut state championship, the World Open championship and the American Legion championship 

FRANK DORRITIE
Mr. Dorritie’s performance began with Scout Pack NYC in 1958 before moving on to St. Catherine’s Queensmen. He then spent 10 years as the soprano soloist with the Long Island Sunrisers, becoming their brass instructor/arranger during his last three years.  He has been the instructor/arranger for Garfield, Blue Devils, Santa Clara Vanguards, Bridgemen, 27^th Lancers, Bluecoats, Hurricanes, Westshoremen and most recently the San Francisco Renegades.  Mr. Dorritie has also been an audio producer since 1977. He has received 9 Grammy nominations and 2 Grammy awards.  He has served as brass and music judge for a number of associations, and, in 1999  was the first judge from the United States to participate in judging 40 African corps, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

FRANK FARR

MARTY HURLEY
Mr. Hurley began his odyssey into drum corps in 1955 playing snare drum for the Neptune Shoreliners.  He also played with Blessed Sacrament and the Hawthorne Caballeros.  He was the percussion instructor/arranger for the Stardusters, Bleu Raiders, Belleville Black Knights and Phantom Regiment.  He has conducted percussion clinics for the Regional and National meetings of the Music Educators Conferences.  He is a marching percussion clinician for Sabian Cymbals. 

HOWARD ROBERTS
Mr. Roberts initial foray into drum corps was in 1949 playing a baritone for a local Legion Post.  In 1951, he joined the Liberty Bell Cadets.  As a senior, he played a baritone with Reilly Raiders and switched to Contra Bass when he migrated to Archer Epler and the Air Force Drum & Bugle Corps.  He has instructed M&M for Vassella, Belles of St. Mary, York White Roses, Archie, and the Yankee Rebels.  He was a Chief Judge for the NJA for 36 years.  He has also judged for DCA.  Mr. Roberts is also active with High School bands and color guards.

TED SCIARRA 

LOUIS STORCK
The quintessential Caballero, Mr. Storck began his career in 1955 with Our Lady of Lourdes.  He joined the Caballeros in 1966 and remains active today.  Mr. Storck has been the Operations Manager for the Caballeros since 1985.  He is an active color guard and high school band instructor.  Lou currently instructs M&M for the Kearny and Nutley High School bands.  The Persuasion Color Guard has won 8 Championships under Mr. Storck’s tutelage.  He has been a dynamic presence at DCA congresses for the past twenty years. 

ROBERT SULLIVAN
Mr. Sullivan began life in drum corps as a percussionist with St. Joseph’s of Batavia in 1942.  As a senior, he marched with the Brockport Grenadiers.  He was the Drill Instructor for St. Josephs from 1956-1961 and served as their Director from 1956 – 1971.  He also served as Director of the Rochester Crusaders from 1980 - 1982.  He has been the Director of Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni since 1992. 

INDUCTED 2003
 

RICHARD BURNS
Mr. Burns was a soprano soloist with the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights during their championship years.  He finished in the top 3 Soprano Individuals at the VFW Nationals 4 years in a row.  When he aged out, he became an arranger/instructor for BS and progressed to instruct and arrange for many junior and senior corps.  He has been the Bugle, Brass, GE caption chief for the All American and All States judging associations.  Dick was also the Brass Caption Chair for the American Legion Congress.

HARRY HOOK
Mr. Hook began his career in drum corps with Shrine of the Little Flower in 1949.  He played a soprano horn in Bracken, Reilly Raiders, and the Yankee Rebels.  Harry Was the Vice President of the Yankee Rebels Alumni Association for a 3 years  before becoming the President of the same organization for the next 10 years.  He was a staff member of the Appaloosa Color Guard.  He was one of the original members of the Yankee Rebels Alumni Drum Corps.

ERIC LANDIS
Mr. Landis began his junior career as a snare drummer with the York White Roses.  His senior career was spent with the U.S. Air Force Drum & Bugle Corps, Reading Buccaneers, Bangor Yellow Jackets and Archer Epler.  He has been the Percussion Instructor for the Bon Bons, Chessmen, Crossmen, Garfield Cadets, and Archer Epler.  He has judged DCI and DCA contests and spent 15 years judging percussion with the National Judges Association.

HARRY LATINIK
Mr. Latinik began playing a soprano in 1938 for the Salem, MA. VFW.  He instructed brass and M&M for Salem P.L.A.V., St. Jeans Lynn, Most Precious Blood, I.C. Rockettes and Arbellas.  He was the Director of P.L.A.V. and Manager of St. Jeans.  In 1948, he began an 8 year career playing obbligato for the Princemen.  Mr. Latinik was a member of VFW National Champion Brass Quartets and was 3 time National Champion Individual Soprano.  Harry has been an officer with Prince alumni since 1982.

VINCE MACCIOCCHI
Mr. Macciocchi began his music career in 1939 playing horn with St. Mary's, Toronto.  In 1946 he became their music instructor.  A long career of brass instruction followed including Del LaSalle, Scout House, Jolly Jesters, Commander, and the Royalaires.  He was the Director of St. Mary's and the Founder and Director of the Jolly Jesters and Commander.  Vince was the Chief Judge, Brass, for the Canadian Judges Association for 28 years.  He judged brass for both DCI and DCA.

JAMES MALLEN
Our Lady of Grace Lancers, Hoboken, NJ, was the first stop in Mr. Mallen's musical career as a drummer.  His junior career also included St. Patrick's Cadets and Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights. As a senior, he played with the Hawthorne Caballeros and the Cabs Alumni.  He has been a Percussion Instructor/Arranger for the C-W Townsmen, Garfield Cadets, Cranford Patriots, Hawthorne Caballeros, Sunrisers, and Blessed Sacrament Alumni Corps.  He has judged with National Judges Association, IJA, and has judged DCA, DCI, and DCUK.

ALFRED NICHOLS
Mr. Nichols began a long career of involving boys and girls in Drum Corps in 1935 with the Boys and Girls Clubs of New York and Brooklyn. He was a drummer for Thunderbolt of New York City.  Uncle Nick was the Quartermaster for both the Washington Carver Gay Blades and the Long Island Sunrisers.  He taught Marching and Maneuvering for the Boys and Girls Club, Lark of Brooklyn, St. Peter's Church, Hudson Ave. Boys Club, Thunderbolts, Carver Gay Blades, and the Sunrisers.

HIRAM WALKER
Hiram Walker dedicated more than two decades to the young people involved in drum and bugle corps activity. He was director of the Osmond Post Cadets drum and bugle corps for 23 years.  During that time, the corps won 7 Pennsylvania VFW State titles and 2 VFW National championships in 1948 in St. Louis, and 1949 in Miami. Their nickname, "The Hurricanes" reflected the weather conditions they experienced following their win in Miami, delaying their trip home. He founded the national Association of Junior Drum and Bugle Corps, and served as general chairman of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Competing Drum and Bugle Corps Committee. Throughout his years of activity, he was primarily concerned about teaching corps members how to become good citizens. Many of his former Osmond Post Cadets advanced to become corps directors, judges and instructors later in life. Eight of his former members have been inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame.
 

INDUCTED 2002

NICHOLAS ATTANASIO
Mr. Attanasio began his career as a drummer in 1932 as a snare drum Sergeant with the Mill Rock VFW Fife Drum & Bugle Corps.  He began playing rudimental bass drum with the Knights of Columbus in 1939.  He has been playing bass drum with the Civil War Troopers since 1945.  He has been a percussion instructor with the Cohoes Grenadiers, Civil War Troopers and numerous Fife and Drum Corps.  Nick held various executive positions with the Hudson Valley Drum Corps Association.  He has won numerous state, regional and national championships.

EUGENE BENNETT
Eugene Bennett entered the field of competition as a snare and tenor drummer with the Blue Jacket Guard in 1948. He continued as a baritone horn player with the Wynn Center Toppers. As a Senior, he was the Assistant Drum Major with the Washington Carver Gay Blades.  Gene has instructed M&M for the Sunrisers during their Championship years of 1977 & 1978, Bushwackers, and the Kingsmen. He also was the Business Manager for the Privateers. Gene has judged M&M with the NJA and IJA. He was the Committee Chairman when the DCA Rule Book was rewritten. He was also the DCE Contest Coordinator.

JAMES COSSETTI
James Cossetti began studying trumpet in 1959.  In 1962 he joined the Archer Epler Musketeers Senior Drum & Bugle Corps as a solo soprano.  In 1967 he played lead soprano and taught brass with Blue Rock Senior Drum & Bugle Corps.  1968 saw Jim teaching basic musicianship, reading, brass instrumentation and marching as staff member and Music Director of the Vanguard (Blue Rock) Drum & Bugle Corps of Wilm., DE He was a staff consultant to Mr. Ted Sciarra, Director, Blue Rock junior drum & bugle corps, which won three National Championships during this period. Jim was the Director of Archie from 1988-1995.  In October 1990 Jim was selected as a member of the Great Alliance of Seniors   Steering Committee and in January 1991 was elected the first President of this organization.

EDWARD CAGNEY
Mr. Cagney was the Color Guard Captain and Drum Major of the Pittsburgh Rockets from 1956-1972.  He has taught M&M, Color Guard, and Drill Design, among others, to the General Butler Vagabonds, Pittsburgh Rockets, and Steel City Ambassadors.  Ed was the Founder and President of both the Carolinas Drum & Bugle Corps Circuit and the West Penn Color Guard Circuit.  Ed was the Publicity Director for DCA from 1990 - 1997   He has been judging with the NJA since 1991.  Ed has been writing for Drum Corps since 1957.

RAY LUEDEE
Ray’s performance history began in 1956 with the Connecticut Yankees Sr. Drum & Bugle Corps, Stratford, CT. He marched as a snare drummer with the Yankees until 1963. At the end of 1963 he brought his talents to the Connecticut Hurricanes where he was percussion arranger, performance caption head and snare line member (until the early 1970’s). Ray provided percussion design and performance instruction for the the Connecticut Royal Lancers, St. Raphael’s Buccaneers, and New Bedford Whalers Sr. Corps, and many others.  Ray was a member of the Northeast Judging Association in the Percussion execution and general effect captions. He was involved in numerous percussion clinics for drum corps, bands and judging associations. He was the Connecticut State Individual Snare Drum champion for six consecutive years. As both a performing snare drummer and instructor/arranger for the Hurricanes, the corps won every major DCA and pre-DCA title including the Senior World Open, the American Legion Nationals, the Dream Championship, and the DCA World Championships (twice under Ray’s tenure with the corps).
 

ARTHUR MURA
Art Mura began his career with the Holy Name Cadets in 1937 as a Junior Drum Major for three years, played a bugle for one year, then changed over to snare drum from 1941 to 1949. He twice won the New Jersey State individual snare drumming title in 1946 &’47
and was runner-up the next two years. In 1953 he was a member of the Hawthorne Caballeros snare line. His more than 20 years as a rudimental drum instructor included the Garfield Cadets, West Paterson Cadets, Dumont Police Cadets, Wood Ridge Townsmen, and Hawthorne Muchachos. Mr. Mura was a percussion judge with the Charles R. Nabor Eastern States Judges Association, Midatlantic and DCA judges associations from 1958 until 1982.

R. DOUGLAS REYNOLDS
Mr. Reynolds began his career as a percussionist in 1953 with the Niagara Falls Air Cadets.  As a Senior, he continued playing snare drum with the Niagara Falls Memorial Militaires, Hamburg Kingsmen, and Rochester Crusaders.  He has taught percussion to, among others, the Grantham Police Boys Band, L'Alliance, Militaires, Kingsmen, and the Welland Lancers.  Doug was Director of the Militaires from 1962 - 1963.  He has won many national, regional, and state individual snare championships.  He has judged percussion for  both DCA and DCI at countless National and State Championships.

ANTHONY YAKLICH
Mr. Yanklich began his career with the Reading Buccaneers in 1970 as a soprano horn.  In 1973 he switched to the mellophone.  He was Drum Major for the Bucs in 1976.  He has arranged and instructed brass for the Crossmen, Chicago Cavaliers, and the Reading Buccaneers during their Championship years.  He arranged and taught music to the Buccaneers from 1976 - 2000.  Tony has also been the music arranger and instructor for various high school and college bands.

INDUCTED 2001

DAVID BRUNI
David Bruni has been drum major of the Empire Statesmen since the corps was founded in 1983. He has been the Statesmen’s drill instructor since 1983 and show coordinator since 1996. He has four times been chosen top drum major during the DCA championships: in 1996 in front of home town fans in Rochester, NY, in 1999 in Allentown, PA, and in 2004 and 2005 in Scranton, PA. He has served as drill instructor and overall show coordinator. He has instructed and coordinated shows for many high school bands, including Eastridge High School, which has been New York State champion five times. He was named DCA corps director of the year in 2004, the first year he served in the top management position with the Empire Statesmen after his father, Vince Bruni, passed away. During his early years of involvement, he participated in every area of activity, including color guard, percussion and brass with such groups as the Rochester Crusaders, Niagara Regionaires, and the Cadets of Greece. From 1975 to 79 he was in the percussion section of the Rochester Crusaders. In 1980, he played soprano horn with the Firebirds. In 1981, he moved to the Greece Cadets as drum major.

RICHARD DOUCETTE
Mr. Doucette became a boy bugler with the Sacred Heart Drum & Bugle Corps in 1940.  In 1952, he advanced to senior corps, playing the soprano and French horn for Lt. Norman Prince Drum & Bugle Corps.  He was Drum Major for the Renegades from 1969-1972.  Dick founded, managed and instructed the Saint Rose Drum & Bugle Corps.  Dick has been a music instructor for many Junior Corps in the Boston area.  Dick has been a member of the Princemen Chorus since 1982.  He founded and is a member of the Princetones Harmonica Group and the Lost Chords Comedy Group.  He is a member of the Princemen Bugle Quartet and the Princemen Brass Ensemble.

DONALD FRIESING
Mr. Friesing began his percussion career with the Joseph B Garrity Post American Legion in 1938.  He also played with Phoebe Hearst and Raymond A. Gabarina.  He was a rudimental drummer with the Son's of Liberty and is still drumming with the Minute Men Fife and Drum Corps.  Don has arranged and instructed many junior and senior corps in the Greater New York City region including Our Lady of Loretto, Connecticut Hurricanes, Ballantine Brewers, Rae Post, Babylon Islanders,  St. Ignatius, Washington Carver, and St. Rocco's.  Don was a participant in the founding meeting for the organization of the DCA.    Don was a percussion judge with the Northeastern Circuit, Long Island Circuit, Greater New York, and Eastern States judging associations.

LARRY KERCHNER
Mr. Kerchner began his drum corps experience with 10 years in Blue Rock.  He played soprano, French horn, contra, and mellophone.  He began to arrange music while still in Blue Rock.  Larry has arranged and instructed for the Bridgemen, Muchachos, Crossmen, Star of Indiana, Troopers, Sky Ryders, Hawthorne Caballeros, Royal Brigade Skyliners, Bushwackers, and the Reilly Raider Alumni Corps.  He has judged music and horns with the Middle Atlantic, Bay State, Cavalcade of Bands, and Yea judging associations.  Larry has written and/or taught over 120 corps.  He has 300 compositions published and was a Grammy Award Nominee.  Larry designed and used the 1st. Flugelhorn bugle.

GENE MAROTTA
Mr. Marotta was a solo soprano with Our Lady of Lourdes for 9 years.  When he advanced to senior corps, he joined the  Hawthorne Caballeros where he was a soprano soloist and assistant instructor for 20 years.  Gene is currently the Assistant Instructor and soloist for the Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps.  Gene has been the music instructor for Our Lady of Lourdes, Hanover, Cabrienaires, Fairlawn Police Cadets, and the Stardusters.  Gene introduced the 2 valve horn to DCA in 1969.  He was the game trumpeter for the New York Giants for 6 years.  He also performed with the Maynard Ferguson Band.  Gene currently serves as President of the Caballeros Alumni Association.

THOMAS F. McANDREW
Mr. McAndrew began his career at the age of 6 with Saint Kevin's Emerald Knights playing soprano.  At the age of 16 he moved to Boston Crusaders where he played french horn.  As a senior, he played with Reilly Raiders, New York Skyliners, and the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights Alumni Corps.  He has arranged music and instructed St. Thomas Moore, Long Island Sunrisers, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, and the New York Skyliners.  While going to school in Europe, he arranged and instructed for Crusaders, Dagenham, England; Beechmen, Birmingham, England, and Jubal, Dodrecht, Holland.  Tom has judged with the Massachusetts All-American, Mass. Judging Association, DCA, DCUK, and Metropolitan Judges Association.

CARL RUOCCO
Mr. Ruocco began his involvement in drum corps with the Dumont Police Cadets in 1960 playing the tenor drum.  As a senior, he played in the percussion section of the New York Skyliners.  He instructed the Ridgemen, Colts, Star of Indiana, New York Skyliners, and the Westshoremen. Carl was the Assistant Director of Star of Indiana and the Director of the Crossmen.  He judged with the International Judges Association, and was percussion caption head of the National Judges Association for 11 years.  Carl has also arranged and instructed the David Brealy, Bayonne, and Pennsauken High School Bands.

INDUCTED 2000

WAYNE R. DOWNEY
Mr. Downey began his drum corps experience with the Commack Chiefs Fife Drum & G Bugle Corps in 1960 playing the G bugle.  He became the soprano soloist with the Smithtown Freelancers in 1966.  In 1969 he became the soprano soloist with the Long Island Sunrisers.  Migration to California found him playing solo soprano and instructing brass with the Santa Clara Vanguard.  He moved to the Blue Devils in 1974 where he is currently the brass instructor and arranger.  Wayne has also arranged for the Hawthorne Caballeros, New York Skyliners, and Rochester Crusaders of  DCA.  Wayne's work with bands and musical groups in Europe and Asia has resulted in increased interest in these areas.

CAROL HOOTON
Mrs. Hooton marched in her first parade as Drum Major at the age of seven.  She began studying trumpet at the age of 8 and continued trumpet study for 17 years, the majority of time at the Eastman School for the Performing Arts.  She was solo trumpet in her high school marching band, church, and solo soprano with the Henrietta Drum Corps.  She marched with the Chili Crimson Cadets, Gates-Chili, and the Crusaders as a glockenspiel player, drum major, and color guard captain.  Carol was one of the first women to be certified to judge brass for the All-American Judges Association.  During her marching career, Carol wrote for Drum Corps News, Off the Line, Drum Corps World, Eastern Review and Cadence Magazine.  Carol  is currently the Informations System Chairman for the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame.

JOHN MANLOVE
Mr. Manlove began marching in 1940 with the 29th Division.  He joined the Yankee Rebels in 1955 and played Baritone and Contra with them until they were disbanded in 1976.  He taught Contrabass for 5 of those years.  During his tenure with the Yankee Rebels, John has assumed a number of administrative posts, most notably Finance Officer.   He also judged horns with the Penn Mar Circuit.  Mr. Manlove is celebrating his 55th year in Drum Corps playing contra with the Yankee Rebels Alumni.

IRENE F. MCGRATH
Mrs. McGrath has been donating her time to the drum corps activity for 57 years.  She started tabulating for the Western New York Judges Association in 1956.  She also tabulated for the NY All-American Judges Association for 12 years.  Irene was the Business Manager for the Point Pleasant Cadets, Emerald Cadets, and Emerald Statesmen.  She was also Secretary for the Competitive Judges Association and the Western NY Judges Association. She was also an administrator at various times for the NY-Canadian Association, The Penn-York Association, and the United Drum Corps Association.

ROBERT O'CONNOR
Mr. O'Connor joins the illustrious ranks of drummers in the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame.  He began his career playing snare drum for the St. Patrick's Fire Department Drum & Bugle Corps in 1950.  After 40 years in Drum Corps, he is still playing snare in the Skyliner's Alumni Corps.  Bob has been a professional musician since 1957, touring, playing recording sessions and working night clubs.  During his musical career he has also found time to judge percussion with the National Judges Association, DCA Judges, and the Fife and Drum Association.  Bob has also arranged and instructed percussion for the Bridgemen, St. Joseph's, and others.  He is a member of the Fifers & Drummers Hall of Fame.

JOHN SIMPSON
Mr. Simpson was a public school instrumental music teacher from 1969 to his retirement in 1999.  He began playing with the Sky Ryders in 1954.  He also played horn with the USAF Drum & Bugle Corps and the Skyliners.  He was the brass instructor for the Sky Ryders for 30 years.  He also instructed brass for the Bridgemen, Star of Indiana, Troopers, North Star,  and the Yankee Rebels.  John was also brass consultant for the Hawthorne Caballeros.

RICHARD TEMPLIN
Richard Templin joined the Milton Comancheros in 1959.  He marched with the Milton Keystoners, York White Roses and the Westshoremen,  He was the Show Designer for the Westshoremen, Skyliners, and Archer Epler.  He was the Drill Instructor for the Hawthorne Caballeros from 1982-1984,  He has judged Visual with the Mid Atlantic, Cavalcade of Bands, Keystone Indoor Drill Association and was the DCA Visual Caption Chair.  He currently judges for the National Judging Association.  He was the Co-Founder of the Keystone Indoor Drill Association.

GEORGE TUTHILL
Mr. Tuthill began his drum corps experience with St. Anne's Cadets in 1957 as a snare drummer.  He was also a snare drummer with the Fairlawn Police Cadets and the Hawthorne Caballeros.  From 1972 - 1978 George was the Assistant Drum Major with Hawthorne.  He was percussion instructor and arranger for numerous corps including Garfield Cadets, Blessed Sacrament, Cavaliers, Sky Ryders, Hawthorne Caballeros, and Long Island Sunrisers.  He was also the Executive Director of the Hutchinson Sky Ryders, Argonauts, and the Kansas City Sky Ryders.  Mr. Tuthill has judged with the Mid Atlantic, All State and DCI judges Associations.

INDUCTED 1999

BRUCE E. ENGLEHART
Bruce Englehart is a charter member of the Reading Buccaneers, one of five people who worked together to form the corps in 1957. His first drum corps experience took place years earlier, in 1946. He had already been taking trumpet lessons for four years when he was accepted as a member of the Kenhorst Cadets junior drum and bugle corps, a well-known local parade and competition unit sponsored by the fire department. He then played solo soprano with top-ranked Temple Cadets from 1948 until 1952. The Temple Cadets disbanded after about seventy-five per cent of its members were called by the military to serve in Korea. After serving in the United States Navy for four years, he and other former members of corps in the Reading, PA area organized the Buccaneers. For many members of the new group, it was a hard transition from award-winning junior corps to struggling senior corps. He played solo soprano with the Buccaneers for 17 years. He assisted drill instructor Bud Johnston from 1959 to 1970, served as corps vice president from 1960 to 1964 and was co-chairman of the Big Sounds in Motion contest committee from 1966 to 1969. In 1986, he repeated his initial duties with the Buccaneers, becoming the founder and charter member of the Buc’s alumni association and alumni corps. He still plays lead soprano in the alumni corps,

RICHARD "DICK" FILKINS
Mr. Filkins junior corps experience was with the Archer Epler Junior Drum & Bugle Corps and the Liberty Bell Cadets.  In 1956 he became a member of the USAF Drum and Bugle Corps as a section leader in the Percussion Section.  From 1959-62, he was the drum instructor and a playing member of the Archer Epler Musketeers.  Dick has been the Drum Instructor for the Stardusters, Miami Vanguard, Blue Raiders,  and Rochester Grey Knights.  Dick was also the Director of the Miami Vanguard 1961-73. Dick was involved in the development of Stingray Percussion and served as president for six years before retiring in 1996.

MAURICE LEGAULT
Mr. LeGault spent his junior corps years as a Drum Major with LaSalle Cadets and Les Compagnons d'Embrun.  As a senior, he was Drum Major for Les Troubadours de Hull, Les Diplomates, L'Odyssee, Rochester Crusaders, Syracuse Brigadiers, and the Kingston Grenadiers.  He was also the brass and drill arranger for LaSalle Cadets and Les Troubadours.  Maurice founded the Central Canada Circuit.  He has devoted over 42 years of his life to the Drum Corps activity.

JOSEPH MALLEN
Mr. Mallen began his Drum Corps life as a snare drummer with Our Lady of Grace Fife, Drum, & Bugle Corps in 1934.  As a junior he drummed with Hoboken Boys, Polish Falcons, & the Grand St. Boys. He was also the Drum Major for Oulton Kraft VFW in 1939-40.  His Senior years were spent as a snare drummer with Phoebe Aperson Hearst, Hoboken, Consolidated Edison, Raymond A. Gabarina, & Hawthorne.  He was the Drum Instructor for Harry Vandermocher, Colonial D&B Corps, St. Joseph's Cadets, Greenwood Lake All Girls, C&W Townsmen, Hoboken, Consolidated Edison, Young Post, Lenape Lancers, and The Presidents.  From 1950-69 he was the Chief Drum Examiner for the Eastern States Judging Association.

H. DAVID MARTIN
Mr. Martin began his career with SAL.  He marched and was soprano soloist with the Dutchtown Lancers, Irondequoit Statesmen, &  Emerald Statesmen.  In 1965 he began his senior experience with the Rochester Crusaders.  He was a charter member, Music Director & Arranger, and soprano soloist with Rochester Phoenix.  He was soloist and Charter Member of the Empire Statesmen.  He was also the Musical Director and arranger with the Empire Statesmen from 1983-87.  He has also instructed the Blue Angels, Mighty Liberators, Greece Cadets, Owego Mello-Dears, Rochester Patriots, and Rochester Crusaders.  Mr. Martin is currently an All-Music Judge for the New York Federation of Contest Judges.  He also judges for DCE and DCA.

REV. WILLIAM R. SMALLEY
Father Smalley began his Drum Corps life in St. Vincent's Cadets drum line in 1940. He marched until he aged out in 1948.  He then marched with the Doremus Post as a senior.  He returned to St. Vincent's to be the Drum Instructor and GE Drill & Music Assistant & Business Manager.  He was the Director, Drill, Drum & GE Music Instructor for St.Vincent's Girls' Corps from 1946-49.  He instructed Drill, Drums, and GE Music for St. Joseph's Cadets from 1946-61.  Fr. Smalley was also on the Organization Committee for the Dream Contest.  He has been the DCA Chaplain since 1992.

JOHN F. J. TULLY
Mr. Tully began his playing career at age 6. He spent most of his junior Drum Corps life with the Rising Sun and the  Liberty Bell Cadets.  In 1958, he joined the Archer Epler Musketeers and marched as a soprano horn until 1964 when he joined the Reilly Raiders.  He has instructed the Vagabonds, R.W. Luttenbach, St. Joseph's, Keystone Regiment, Crossmen, Ridgemen, Lincoln Invaders, Blessed Sacrament Alumni, and the Reilly Raiders Alumni.  Mr. Tully has been the Business Manager for the Lincoln Invaders, Archer Epler, Ridgemen, and the Reilly Raiders Alumni.  Mr. Tully was the Individual Soprano Champion in 1957. John has an outstanding reputation as innovator in the instructional field of visual presentation.  He is currently a judge with the National Judges Association.  He also is Publisher and Editor of the "Celtic Herald".

INDUCTED 1998

Carmen Circlincione
Beginning in 1948, Carmen Circlincione spent eight years as a brass player with St. Joseph’s Cadets of Newark, NJ, and another eight as a brass player and business manager of Archer-Epler Musketeers. From the late 1960s through the 1990s, he taught a number of corps, including the Oakland Rangers and Newark Marching 100. At various times, he served as business manager or director for St. Joseph Cadets, Patriots of Cranford, NJ, Marching 100 of Newark and Reilly Raider Musketeers. He was a highly-regarded music judge in the All American and National associations from 1957 through the 1990s, also serving as chief judge when required. He was a long-serving president of the Garden State Circuit and a vice president of Drum Corps Associates (DCA) from 1963 to 1975.

RICARDO GABRIEL
Mr. Gabriel joined the Syracuse Brigadiers as a 1st soprano.  After 4 years with the Brigs, he joined the Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps and remained with them for the next 7 years.  He also played 1st soprano with the USAF Academy Drum & Bugle Corps and Archer Epler.  He has been a soprano soloist with the Yankee Rebels for 30 years.  Mr. Gabriel was a brass instructor with the Reilly Raiders, Dundalk Cadets, VIP's, Columbians, Denver Blue Knights, USAF Academy Drum & Bugle Corps,  USAF Drum Corps, and the Yankee Rebels.  Mr. Gabriel was also a Brass Caption Judge for DCA.

MARK FULCOMER
Mark Fulcomer is a co-founder of the Great Alliance of Seniors (GAS), the fraternal association which stimulated the development of alumni corps across the United States and Canada, as an outgrowth of the annual GAS reunion weekends which began in the mid-1980s. The alumni movement gained great momentum as society generally was swept in a wave of nostalgia at the approach of the new century. His involvement in drum corps began in 1960 with the Scarlet Raiders junior corps, of Youngstown, Ohio. He is also a long time member and Director of The Archer-Epler Musketeers.

ROBERT HAMILTON
Bob Hamilton was a snare drummer for three top junior corps, Melrose Baysiders, St. Vincent’s Cadets and St. Lucy’s Cadets of New Jersey, and three top senior corps, Archer-Epler Musketeers, New York Skyliners and Reilly Raiders Alumni Corps. He performed as a drummer from 1956 through the 1990s. After serving a term in the United States Army, he joined the Skyliners drum line in 1968, and served as drum sergeant and assistant instructor until 1975. He was also a percussion instructor for groups including the Baysiders, Miami Vanguard, Skyliners, Hawthorne Caballeros and the Musketeers.. He judged percussion for the National Judges Association for almost 20 years, beginning in 1970. He suffered a severe injury to his left hand in a home injury in 1994, resulting in the loss of fingers. Following treatment and therapy, he resumed drumming with the Reilly Raiders alumni corps.

FRED JOHNSON
Fred Johnson’s drumming career started with military bands. In 1946, he began drumming with the 180th Air Cadets. In the early 1950s, he drummed with the 8th Signals Regiment of Toronto, then joined the Second Signals, the group which became Canada’s Marching Ambassadors in 1954. He remained in the Ambassadors organization until 1970 as a drummer, instructor and member of the board of directors.. He also taught drumming and did field show design for such top-flight Canadian corps as Preston Scout House, La Salle Cadets of Ottawa, Sarnia Sertomanaires, Grantham Township Scarlet Princes, York Lions, Niagara Falls Memorial Militaires, Hamilton Viscounts, and Kitchener Flying Dutchmen. He was the Canadian individual snare drumming champion three years in a row: 1951, 1952 and 1953. He has judged with the Canadian Judges Association, Drum Corps Associates, Drum Corps International and the Red Carpet Association. He served as DCA’s drumming quality control manager, successfully designing a system to implement a contest scoring system for the “degree of excellence” concept first proposed by Eric Perrilloux. In the early 1990s, he founded Canadian Associates Drumming Rudimental Excellence (CADRE), a group dedicated to promoting rudimental drumming. The annual CADRE “Shake” weekends of workshops, exhibitions and good fellowship, held in southern Ontario in October, attract drummers from as far away as New Jersey

FRANK KUBINAK
Frank Kubinak began his drum corps involvement in 1937, as a brass player with Rossville PAL junior corps. He later marched with the Gabarino-Mazarakas American Legion Post drum and bugle corps, which became internationally famous as the New York Skyliners, and Hawthorne Caballeros. He was widely admired for his “no nonsense” approach to color guard and marching and maneuvering instruction. He taught such top units as Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, Caballeros, Archer-Epler Musketeers and Baltimore Yankee Rebels.

GUS WILKE
Gus Wilke was a bugler with four junior corps, beginning in 1940, before joining New York Skyliners in 1958. He first played with the Jersey City Department of Recreation and Fisk Post VFW corps, then spent several years with each of St. Joseph’s of Union City NJ, Cusik Post 15 of West New York, NJ and Our Lady of Grace of Hoboken, NJ. In addition to playing with, instructing and helping with administration of New York Skyliners from 1975 to 1994, he was brass instructor for a number of other corps, including St. Andrew’s Bridgemen, of Bayonne, NJ. He was an active member of the Skyliner Alumni Chorus for many years. He served as assistant director of Secaucus Meadowlarks for several years. He judged brass and general effect for the Metropolitan All American Judges Association.

INDUCTED 1997

NICOLAS BISCOTTI
St. Wenceslas Junior Corps was the first stop in Mr. Biscotti's Drum Corps life. His membership in the snare line initiated what would become a 50 year career. As a Junior, he also drummed with the 29th Division, Kenwood Cadets, and St. James. After age out, he joined the Yankee Rebels and then the Reilly Raiders. Nick was a member of the National Champion Reilly drum line in 1958 & 1959. He returned to the Rebels in 1960 and was a member and Assistant Instructor of their Championship Drum line in 1969, 1970, and 1971. He was a member of the Rebels until the competing corps disbanded. He was instrumental in the formation of the Yankee Rebels Alumni and continues to be their Assistant Instructor and a member of the snare line.

LAWRENCE BUCKLEY

GENE BUNTING
Gene Bunting was active in drum corps from 1950 through the 1990's, as a performer, instructor and adjudicator.  He began his career with the McCall  He was an outstanding soloist with both the Liberty Bell Cadets and Reilly Raiders.  Gene was the original soloist for Reilly's rendition of "Stardust". He continued his outstanding performances with the Archer-Epler Musketeers, and returned to Philadelphia to play again with Reilly Raiders.

JAMES CENTORINO
Jim Centorino is widely recognized not just as an accomplished trumpet player, but also as a prolific composer. While attending Boston College, he was both soloist and president of the college band. He was also a soloist and instructor for Boston Crusaders and Rhode Island Matadors. He often played to packed stands during Boston Bruins hockey games and Boston Celtics basketball games. On the west coast, he often played at Los Angeles Lakers basketball and Los Angeles Kings hockey games. He holds a Master’s degree in Geology and Geophysics, and a Master’s degree in Composition and Trumpet from Boston Conservatory of Music.

MICHAEL DEL VECCHIO
Mike Del Vecchio was a playing member of junior and senior corps for more than two decades, performing first with the Dover Cadets, then playing solo soprano with Hawthorne Caballeros. He has been an instructor for a number of corps, helping guide the lives of hundreds of young men and women. He has also served as assistant director, lyricist and spokesperson for the Caballeros' Alumni Chorus. He has adjudicated for both the Eastern States Judges Association and the National Judges Association.

BRADFORD LONGDO

NORMAN PETH
Norm Peth played drums professionally with the Jerry Wald Orchestra for a short time, and many other groups, during the Big Band era, working for and with many of the great jazz drummers of the day. Over the years, he was involved with 114 different music groups. He has had students playing professionally on the road from Las Vegas to Singapore. He made contributions in every area of drum and bugle corps activity: playing, instructing, organizing and adjudicating, mainly in western New York. A list of his students is a virtual “who’s who” of high achievers in drumming. In addition to teaching drum and bugle corps percussion sections, he had students that taught the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and West Point Hellcats drum lines. He also taught many high school and college students, and professional drummers. Under his instruction, the Seneca Chiefs drum quartet won the New York/Canadian ensemble championship for three straight years, from 1963 through 1965.

MIKE STEFANOWICZ
Mike Stefanowicz starting making music at age 12, and by 1940 was known across the country as one of the best drummers in the activity. His skill was also recognized outside the United States. After finishing as the first runner up in the individuals at the American Legion national convention in Boston, he finished as first runner up in the World Senior Open Championships during the World’s Fair, in Flushing, NY. In addition to performing with several fife and drum corps, he performed with the Seattle Hurricanes drum and bugle corps. He also instructed the drum lines of the Hurricanes and Thunderbirds of Seattle.

DUKE TERRERI
Duke Terreri first performed on snare drum with St. Lucy’s fife and drum corps in 1929. During the years of his drum corps activity, he also played with St. Lucy’s drum and bugle corps, the National Fife and Drum Corps, New York Skyliners, New Jersey Colonial Militia and the New Jersey Field Music unit. He also instructed the drum lines of all these groups. For 10 years, he was an adjudicator for the New Jersey Federation of Field Music.

INDUCTED 1996

JOHN ARIETANO
John Arietano has been taking part in drum corps activities continuously since he began performing in the brass line of St. Helena Cadets in 1958. He has been the brass instructor and arranger for several junior and senior corps over the years, beginning with the Brooklyn, NY Riversiders junior corps in 1967 and extending to the Westshoremen in the mid 1990s. Other well-known corps he taught during that interval include Sacred Heart Crusaders, Belleville Black Knights, Long Island Sunrisers, Hawthorne Caballeros, and Connecticut Hurricanes. Sunrisers won the DCA title four times while he was brass instructor: in 1977, 1978, 1982 and 1983. He taught Caballeros when that group won two consecutive Drum Corps Associates (DCA) titles in 1984 and 1985. He was with Westshoremen in 1996, earning a seventh DCA title. He has also been involved with a number of high school marching bands. His formal music education includes earning an AAS Degree in Music Performance at Bronx Community College, a BA in Music at Queens College, and five years of private study in arranging, theory and technique. He has played in many jazz and Latin big bands and combos, community orchestras, wind ensembles and several mummers groups. He won DCA’s best soloist award at the championship contest in Syracuse, NY in 2000 . He was inducted into the Buglers Hall of Fame in June, 2005.
 

ROMAN BLENSKI
Roman Blenski began playing bugle in 1957 at the start of a lifelong involvement with the drum and bugle corps community. He was also color guard, drill and bugle instructor for a number of corps from 1958 to 1961. He
is the long-time executive director of Drum Corps Midwest (DCM), the organization which includes about 30 drum and bugle corps located mostly west of the Great Lakes. At the same time he has also served as executive of Pioneer junior drum and bugle corps, and co-ordinator of the Drum Corps International Division II and III corps. The high-quality performances by DCM corps make the championship tournament a popular annual event. The Midwest All-Star Corps often appears in internationally-televised football bowl parades during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

WILLIAM BOERNER
Bill Boerner’s drum and bugle corps career began in 1936 and spanned more than five decades, during which time he was a snare drummer and drum instructor for a number of junior and senior corps and served two terms as corps director of New York Skyliners. Between 1936 and 1943, he drummed with Bill Brown American Legion (AL) Post drum and bugle corps, American Patrol Naval Cadets, Charles W. Heisser AL Post fife drum and bugle corps, Grand Street Boys and Phoebe Apperson Hearst AL Post. After serving in the United States Navy, he became a charter member of New York Skyliners in 1946. He was the drum instructor for eight junior corps and three senior corps, including Skyliners, in locations across New York and New Jersey for almost twenty years, from the late 1940s to the late 1960s. His activities in the 1990s included marching with three fife and drum corps: the Sons of Liberty, the Minutemen and the Blue and Grey. He also participated in the Skyliners chorus, and belonged to the Skyliners Alumni Association.

DANIEL GOETELL
Dan played baritone horn for the  Junior Archer Epler Musketeers prior to World War II.  Returning from the war, he joined the newly formed Archer Epler Musketeer Senior Corps.  In the 1950's, he was Archie's Corps Director for eight years and was a member of their American Legion and VFW posts.  He was also instrumental in forming, managing, and supporting the Archer Epler Alumni Corps.

GEORGE RODRIQUEZ
George Rodriguez was a soprano soloist with the Grand Street Boys and the Phoebe Apperson Hearst drum corps in the 1940s. For the following two decades he played the dual role of soprano soloist and horn instructor, first with New York Skyliners then with Hawthorne Caballeros from 1963 to 1971. Throughout this entire period, he also instructed a number of junior drum and bugle corps. He was corps director of the Skyliners from 1957 to 1961. He was also associated with the Eastern and all American Judges Associations

ALVAN "AL" SAIA
Al Saia was a bugle player with Sacred Heart Crusaders in 1937. He became the corps drum major in the 1940s, before moving to the Lieutenant Norman Prince senior corps. He was drum major for the Princemen in the 1950s. During the 1960s and 1970s, he served as both bugle and general effect judge with the the All American Judges Association, Drum Corps Associates, the Massachusetts Judges Association and the Bay State Judges Association. He was music director of Cambridge Caballeros when the group performed at a Boston Pops orchestra concert, under the direction of world famous conductor Arthur Fiedler.

JOHN SASSO
John Sasso’s long involvement in drum and bugle corps activity began in 1952, when he was a French horn player with St. Catherine’s of Sienna Queensmen junior drum and bugle corps on Long Island. For the 10 years from 1962 to 1972, he performed with Long Island Sunrisers on soprano, French horn or mellophone. He was also Sunrisers’ drum major during this time and corps director from 1962 to 1966. He was widely known as a music arranger and instructor for many junior corps from 1961 to 1975, including St. Lucy’s Cadets and Garfield Cadets. He had a long time affiliation with the Eastern States Judging Association, adjudicating in all brass captions.

GIL SILVA
Gil Silva performed with Holy Rosary Caballeros for 10 years, first as a tenor drummer, then as a baritone horn player. For 19 years, he served in a number of positions with Rhode Island Matadors, including baritone horn player, drill instructor, business manager and assistant director. He also worked with several junior corps as a drill designer and instructor. His administration history also includes spending six years as director of the Rhode Island Picadors junior corps, and six years as director and business manager of the Rhode Island Toreadors. More recently he served as chief judge of Drum Corps Associates (DCA) judging association. He became president of DCA in 2004, following the unexpected passing of long-time DCA president Mickey Petrone.

INDUCTED 1995

DON ADAIR
Mr. Adair began his career with the Osmond Post Cadets in 1939 playing a soprano.  He assisted with drill design and instruction during the period in which Osmond won 2 National titles.  Reilly Raiders was his choice as a senior corps where he continued playing lead soprano.  Don joined the Marine Corps Divisional Band  as a percussionist.  He was the brass arranger/instructor for the Hadden Heights Vagabonds, Ridley Park Rangers, PAL Cadets, Bracken Cavaliers, and Reilly Raiders Alumni.  Don was a charter member of the NJA and the original original brass caption head.

DONALD ALLEN
Donnie Allen has been involved with drum and bugle corps activity since he was a teenager playing soprano horn with St. Joseph’s of Batavia and Purple Lancers of Auburn, N Y. He was lead solo soprano player, arranger and brass instructor for Empire Statesmen in the early 1990s, during years the corps twice won the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) world title and was extending performance opportunities with overseas tours and winter stage concerts. In 1994, he received the DCA individual showmanship award. Since then, he has served as brass arranger and instructor for Syracuse Brigadiers, Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni and Rochester Crusaders. He has also been either brass arranger or instructor for the Cadets of Greece, Mighty Liberators of Rochester, Firebirds of Rochester, Rochester Northmen and Diplomats of Malden, MA. He has also served as music director of Eastridge High School and music director of Bloomfield High School Marching Band, both in Rochester. In 1992 and again in 1994, he was music director of the all-star group of more than 300 musicians who participated in the nationally-televised Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City. He is a member of the New York State Federation of Contest Judges.

JOSEPH CAMPOS
Joe Campos was an active member of the Hawthorne Caballeros for 30 years, beginning in 1963. Over those years, he marched in the color guard, and after that served as equipment manager and assistant to the corps director. He was a member of the committee which organized the original Grand Prix contest, and still serves on the committee. He served on the original board of directors of the Great Alliance of Seniors (GAS), representing Hawthorne Caballeros, and has chaired the group organizing the GAS reunions hosted by the Caballeros. He was the original director of the Caballeros Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps, serving in that position for four years. He was appointed vice president of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2003, following the passing of founding president Vince Bruni.

WILLIAM MITTEN
In his year of induction, Bill Mitten had been involved in drum and bugle corps activity for 55 years. From 1929 to 1942, he was a member of the Osmond Post Cadets. During the following three years, he was a member of the Army Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps. He was an original member of Reilly Raiders in 1946 and performed with corps until 1958. He was a horn player, but also marched as drum major when required. He was one of the first drill instructors to include dance steps, gimmicks, body movements and choreography in field contest routines. He served as an instructor with a number of corps, including Osmond, Soby-American Legion and Norristown O’Hara Todd. For 35 years, he was a judge with Eastern States, Mid-Atlantic, Drum Corps Associates and the Cavalcade of Bands judging Associations.

WES MYERS
Wes Myers started playing snare drum with Troop 46 Boy Scouts in 1952, and went on to perform with a number of junior and senior corps in New York and New Jersey. He drummed with Staten Island PAL in 1953, then performed with St. Vincent’s Cadets and Amboy Dukes. He was member of Ballantine Brewers when the corps was undefeated in 1963 and 1964. He joined New York Skyliners in 1965 and marched in the drum line until 1970 and again in 1974. He arranged and taught Sky’s drum books from 1971 through 1984. During that time, Skyliners won the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) title in 1971 and again in 1975, and won the 1980 DCA high percussion award and the 1981 DCA high execution score for percussion. His use of two separate drum lines and two percussion books was revolutionary in drum corps circles in the mid-1970s. He has been percussion arranger for a number of junior and senior corps, including Melrose Black Hawks. He has been affiliated with the National Judges Association and the Drum Corps East Judges Association.

SANDRA OPIE
Sandra Opie, a vocal music instructor, started her career in drum and bugle corps in the late 1950s, instructing the Argonne Rebels, a small corps in Great Bend, Kansas. She had never marched in a drum and bugle corps, but immediately recognized its potential as an activity for enhancing the life of youngsters in her community. She overcame resistance from local marching band instructors who did not consider drum corps rehearsals a legitimate form of music instruction, and eventually attracted many youngsters to the Rebels. The brass lines she taught rapidly became noted for their technical abilities and musicality. She became widely known for producing outstanding horn lines, leading the Rebels to national prominence and three national championships in the 1970s. For more than a quarter of a century, her love of the activity helped influence the lives of hundreds of young men and women. Her level of devotion to members of the corps was so high that she would not accept any salary during the 15 years she was associated with the Argonne Rebels. She was widely admired as a music judge with the Central Judging Association and Drum Corps International (DCI) who treated each competitor fairly and objectively and was always willing to explain her decisions during critiques following contests. Hall of Fame member Truman Crawford recalls his musical association with Sandra Opie and the Rebels as “one of the highlights of my civilian drum corps career.” She has also been affiliated with American Legion (AL) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) national contest judging associations.

THOMAS SWAN
Tom Swan played with only two corps during his involvement with drum and bugle corps, and was a soprano soloist with both: St. Joseph Cadets of Newark, NJ and New York Skyliners. He was also assistant horn instructor with St. Joseph’s from 1947 to 1955. Then, over a period of 20 years, with some breaks, he was a solo soprano player and instructor with New York Skyliners. He was a member of the Skyliner organization when the corps won a number of championships, including the 1975 Drum Corps Associates (DCA) world title. As a teacher and arranger, he was encouraged by Hall of Fame Members Hy Dreitzer and George Rodrigues. He arranged and taught Skyliners brass section from 1980 to 1984. He has also taught the Skyliners Alumni horn line. He has served as corps president, arranger and horn instructor for Melrose Black Hawks junior corps. He has also been a member of the Skyliner Alumni Chorus, assisting with instruction for the vocal group. He has judged for the New York Metropolitan Judges Association.

INDUCTED 1994

JAMES D'AMICO
In a drum corps career that spanned two decades from 1949 to 1969, Jim D’Amico was a lead soprano for both the Holy Name Cadets and St. Joseph Cadets before graduating to the senior ranks as both instructor and lead soprano for such top-ranked corps as Hawthorne Caballeros, New York Skyliners and Ballantine Brewers. He also served as executive director, horn instructor and music arranger for Garfield Cadets. On the contest field, he was a field horns judge with the All American, national and Eastern States judging associations.

GEORGE HAYEK
George Hayek started his drum corps activity in 1936 as a drummer with the Sacred Heart Crusaders, a small church corps in Paterson, NJ. He became a snare drummer with St. George Cadets in 1939. He served in the armed forces during World War II, then resumed drumming with the new corps that Jim Costello and several former St. George Cadets organized in 1946: the Hawthorne Caballeros. He played snare drum with Caballeros until 1956, then played tenor drum until 1971. He taught both drumming and drill to a number of corps, and trained hundreds of young people who went to on to play with a number of top competing corps. From 1964 until 1992, he was a member of the Hawthorne Drum Corps Grand Prix planning committee, as chairman of the program/advertising book committee. He performed the same function for the 7th annual GAS Reunion committee. He has also been affiliated with the All Coast Color Guard Judging Association. He helped organize the Caballeros Alumni Corps in 1994, and was still marching with the group in 2008. He was inducted into the New Jersey Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2001.

LOUISE MAYER
Louise Mayer has devoted her entire adult life to the drum and bugle corps community. In 1941, she joined the Joseph B. Garity American Legion senior fife, drum and bugle corps. In 1951, when her husband ‘Lefty’ joined the Garbarina-Mazarakos Skyliners, she also became a part of the Skyliner family. In 1965, the all-male Skyliner organization awarded her a lifetime membership, designating her as the “First Lady of the Skyliners.” She was instrumental in initiating the sale of corps items as souvenir tables, as a regular fund-raising project.  She was closely associated with the operation of the Skyliners Alumni for more than a decade. She also served as the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame treasurer for 10 years. She has been involved with Drum Corps Associates (DCA) since the organization was formed in the1960s. She has served for a number of years on the board of governors of the Great Alliance of Seniors (GAS). Her late husband Henry ‘Lefty’ Mayer was a charter member of the Hall of Fame.

WILLIAM McGRATH, JR.
Bill McGrath Jr. was a member of the Chili Crimson Cadets drum and bugle corps, of Chili, NY from 1953 to 1958. He then moved to the Emerald Cadets/Emerald Statesmen of Irondequoit, NY, performing until 1969 and also serving as drum instructor from 1964 to 1969. He was the New York-Canadian (NY/C) circuit individual snare drum champion in 1968; a member of the NY/C champion drum quartet in 1964 and 1965; a member of the drum quartet which finished second in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) national drum quartet contest in 1965. He was a member of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) drum and bugle corps from 1968 to 1971. In 1971, he was percussion writer and instructor for both the USMC corps of Washington and the Yankee Rebels of Baltimore, MD. The Rebels won the American Legion (AL) national championship in ‘71, with the drum line taking high score. While instructing the Rebels, he implemented the Chapin method of jazz/beebop drumming in a percussion solo. In 1972, he taught the drum line of Rochester Crusaders, again taking top score at the AL nationals. From 1974 to ‘79, he was percussion writer and instructor for Phoenix drum and bugle corps, New York state champions in 1976. He served as a Drum Corps Associates (DCA) percussion judge from 1978 to 1991. He was inducted into the Rochester Crusaders Hall of Fame in 1997. He has been a staff advisor with the Grenadiers, of Kingston, Ontario since 1996.

ROBERT PETERSON
Bobby Peterson’s 40 years of drum corps involvement began with the St. George Cadets. During more than four decades of activity, he taught drumming to more than two dozen corps, and founded the All States Judging Association and judged contests for the Mid Atlantic, Eastern States, DCI and DCA associations. He played in the Holy Name Cadets’ drum line in the mid 1950s, and later played with Hawthorne Caballeros. He played a snare drum in the first parade of the Hawthorne Caballeros alumni drum and bugle corps.

GERALD SHELLMER
Gerry Shellmer first played snare drum with Most Precious Crusaders before moving up to the drum line of the Princemen. For almost 20 years from 1959 to 1978, he was the percussion instructor for many well-known junior and senior corps, including the Garfield Cadets. In 1962, he was the first senior individual national drumming champion. He is widely known and admired for his innovations in percussion instrumentation, and has contributed a number of unique ideas in percussion arranging.

STEVE VICKERS
In 1961, Steve Vickers was a cymbal player with the Jets, the feeder corps for the Sky Ryders. He became the Jet’s corps director while still a junior in high school. After performing with Sky Ryders from 1967 through 1970, he graduated from the University of Kansas in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism. He used his advertising and journalism skills to perform public relations and administrative duties with Sky Ryders, Blue Knights, Madison Scouts and Capitol Aires. From 1985 until 1992, he was chairman of the DCI championships planning group. He is perhaps best known as the publisher of Drum Corps World (DCW), the publication which has become the activity’s key source of information for all types of pageantry units. He first worked as an editor at DCW in 1973, then purchased the newspaper the following year from founders Don Whiteley and Jim Jones. He served on the Madison Scouts board of directors for 15 years, and handled the travel arrangements for the Scout’s 16-day tour of Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in 1988. He published A History of Drum and Bugle Corps, a 432-page hardcover book about the activity in 2002. A second volume was published a few years later.

INDUCTED 1993
PHILIP J. CERIMELI
Phil Ceremili played in the horn lines of several junior and senior corps, spending 18 years with Syracuse Brigadiers. He also served as the Brigadiers’ director for 10 years, and was business manager for three years. He served as the drill coordinator of the Cicero-North Syracuse Northstars marching band and color guard for 15 years. He was also associated with the All American and New York State Federation of Judges.

CLIFFORD M. FISHER
Cliff Fisher was a drummer and drum instructor with the Old Doremus Post drum and bugle corps, the Princemen and the Milton Post corps for 11 years. He also served as the combination drum and drill instructor for such well-known corps as Most Precious Blood Crusaders, St. Kevin’s Emerald Knights, Immaculate Conception Reveries, Herald and Andrew Post and the Marlboro drum corps. He was a member of the Princemen’s executive board for 35 years, and a judge with the All American and Bay States judging associations for 20 years. He was named National Legionnaire of the Year in 1960.

PHILIP GENTILE
St. Andrew's of Baltimore was the initial stop for Mr. Gentile on a drum corps life which would span 6 decades.  He began there as a soprano horn in 1949.  He was also a soprano in St. James Cadets before joining the Dundalk Cadets as their Drum Major.  As a senior he joined Archer Epler as their drum major in 1960.  The Yankee Rebels was his next stop in 1962 and there he remains.  He has served as a soprano horn, drill and horn instructor, Drum Major, Program Coordinator, Assistant Director, and Director.

GEORGE PARKS
George Parks served in a number of roles with Reading Buccaneers, including horn player, head drill instructor and show coordinator, from 1975 until 1987. He is the founder and president of the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy, an Applied Tuba professor, director of the Minutemen Marching Band and a music professor at the University of Massachusetts. Known as the “Mace-Bearing Professor,” he revolutionized the art of drum majoring. He dazzled audiences for many years with his high levels of showmanship, professionalism and his actions as a field general.

JAMES PINETTE
James Pinette began his drum corps involvement in 1936 with the Immaculate Conception Cadets of Malden, Massachusetts, and was still active more than 50 years later, with the Lieutenant Norman Prince Alumni Association and Chorus. His long time association with the Princemen began in 1946. Over many years, he was the drill instructor for the corps, president of the alumni association and director and manager of the Princemen chorus and alumni group. He also played with Sacred Heart Crusaders from 1942 to 1945. His instructing career stretched from 1946 to 1958, teaching drill to such other organizations as the Sacred Heart Crusaders, Immaculate Conception drum corps and drill team. He also served as a judge for the All American, Bay States, and Continental judging associations.

JAMES PRIME
Jim Prime’s drum corps career spanned more than 40 years. He was a baritone player with the Yellow Jackets, Sentinels and Blue Eagles, all from Pennsylvania. He was the music aranger for the Chessmen, Minutemen, Silver Beavers, Yellow Jackets, Sentinels and Blue Eagles. He also held various positions with the National Judges Association, Drum Corps Associates, Drum Corps International and the New Jersey Color Guard Association.

JIM RUSSO
Jim Russo’s drum corps involvement began when he was just seven years old. Over the years, he has been a horn player, drummer and drum major with a number of corps. He served as a marching instructor with a number of groups for more than 20 years. For two decades, he was a marching instructor, administrator and drum major with Hawthorne Caballeros. He is probably best known for his charismatic appearances as the Cabs’ drum major. He has been a judge with the MAA, Eastern and New Jersey judging associations. He has also marched as drum major of the Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni Corps. He was drum major when the Alumni Corps made its first appearance in Canada, during the New Waterloo Band Festival in Waterloo, Ontario in August, 2005. He has also been a consultant with Empire Statesmen, of Rochester, NY.

INDUCTED 1992

RICHARD ANDERSON
‘Butch’ Anderson is best remembered as the flamboyant drum major of the New York Skyliners throughout the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. He joined Skyliners in 1970, as a soprano player. He left for a season to march as drum major of Syracuse Brigadiers, then returned to New York in 1972 as assistant drum major behind Walter Winkelman. His early music education began in the fourth grade, with teacher Brad Longdo, and continued through the end of high school. He was also a solo soprano player, horn instructor and show co-ordinator with Skyliners. He previously played a horn with both the Schuylerville Green Sabres and the Interstatesmen, of Troy, NY and Pittsfield, MA, and marched as drum major with both the Marksmen and Syracuse Brigadiers. He was horn instructor for many corps, notably Pittsfield Skyhawks, Pittsfield Pom Poms, Saratoga Hurricanes, Emerald Knights, Muchachos and Johnstown Patriots. He served as show coordinator for the Skyliners during two separate periods in the 1980s, and helped institute a contest in Albany NY organized by a group of lawyers, called Law, Order and Justice

FRANK GERRIS
During Frank Gerris’ long association with Hawthorne Caballeros, the corps won five Drum Corps Associates (DCA) world championships up until 1992. He served as drill designer and instructor for the Caballeros, and provided the same services for the Woodsiders and Hawthorne Muchachos. He was drum major of Ballantine Brewers drum and bugle corps; drum major and soprano player with Woodsiders; and soprano player with Our Lady of Good Counsel. He was both brass instructor and director of St. Michael’s of Jersey City, NJ. He has judged many contests for marching bands, drum and bugle corps and color guards, including DCA and Drum Corps International (DCI) contests. His activity began in 1947, playing soprano horn with Our Lady of Good Counsel then joining the Woodsiders in 1956. His proposal that field judges use tape recorders while evaluating corps on the contest field was accepted by DCI, and his proposal to allow competing corps to start their routine at any position on the field was accepted by DCA. He has served as chair of the DCA marching and manoeuvring rules congress and helped re-write the DCA rule book.

LARRY HERSHMAN
Over a period of 20 years, Larry Hershman played all the percussion instruments and soprano horn with the Westshoremen, of Harrisburg, PA. He then devoted many more years to the corps as marching and maneuvering instructor, show coordinator, business manager and director. He was the show coordinator and marching instructor for the United States Naval Academy drum and bugle corps from 1983 to 1986. While serving on the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) board of directors, he chaired the committee which completely revised the organization’s bylaws, rules and regulations and devised the mileage system used by DCA in dealing with contest sponsors. He also applied his skills as a marching instructor and program director with the Bluecoats junior drum and bugle corps, of Canton, Ohio. He has judged for several organizations, including Mid Atlantic, National, KIDA, CIDA, CBA and the International Band Fest. He organized a number of ongoing drum and bugle corps contests and concerts, including the Carlisle Review of the Corps, Serenade in Brass and the Hershey Invitational senior/junior contest.

GERALD HOLTON
Bob Holton played soprano horn for the F. A. MacKenzie Post 165 drum and bugle corps and St. Vincent’s Cadets, of Bayonne, NJ. He then marched for more than 30 years in the color guard of New York Skyliners. He also functioned as Skyliners’ drill designer, marching instructor and show coordinator. He was also treasurer, assistant director and director of Skyliners. He was color guard coordinator and marching instructor for St. Andrew’s Bridgemen. He was also marching instructor for other corps, including New London Surfers, Cranford Patriots, New York Lancers and Wayne Monarchs. He was a judge in a number of organizations, including Eastern States, Cavalcade, All American and National judges associations. He was the first to use a live animal in a field show: when the Bridgemen played the William Tell Overture, popularly known as the theme from The Lone Ranger television show, a white horse and rider entered the field and galloped to the 50 yard line, where the horse rose on its hind legs to salute the crowd. He was also the first to depart from the use of conventional flags, when he designed a stylized black, red and white “S” flag used by Skyliners’ color guard.

JACK REILLY
Jack Reilly played first soprano for a remarkable 46 years with Archer-Epler Musketeers. In addition to this impressive performance record, he also coordinated many contests sponsored by the corps. His long record of commitment and dedication to his own group and the drum corps community in general earned him widespread admiration. He was considered by many of his peers to be an ideal marching member.

EDWARD TRAINER
Ed Trainer was active in the drum and bugle corps community in New England for more than half a century. He served as director of the Braintree Class C and Class A junior drum and bugle corps from 1949 well into the 1960s and was both treasurer and director of Lieutenant Norman Prince drum and bugle corps. He devoted 35 years to the Eastern Massachusetts Drum and Bugle Corps Association, serving as treasurer and coordinator. He also served as an administrator on the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) executive board. He organized and ran the Princemen’s Drumfest contest for 12 years

WILLIAM WILDEMORE
‘Windy’ Wildemore participated in drum and bugle corps activity for more than 60 years, starting with a Boy Scout group in 1933, and performing as a horn player, drummer, administrator and judge at various times. He played soprano horn for the Community League junior corps for 10 years. He served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1944 during World War II. In 1946, he helped organize the Imhof Thunderbirds senior corps in Pennsylvania. The Thunderbirds won the American Legion state championship for several years. Beginning in 1950, he performed in the percussion section of the Reilly Raiders and was business manager of the corps for more than 10 years. Reilly Raiders were selected as the corps of the decade by the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame during these years. He organized and served as chief judge of the National Judges Association (NJA) for three decades and was chief judge of Drum Corps Associates (DCA) for four years. Over a number of years, he helped form several drum and bugle corps, marching band and color guard contest circuits and championship contests, including the Eastern States Circuit, which had 30 member corps and the NJA Indoor Guard Association, with more than 100 member color guards.

INDUCTED 1991

MICHAEL CORSO
Michael ‘Red’ Corso has held positions in the brass sections of such corps as Antonia Mangione Post drum and bugle corps, Troop 77 BSA drum and bugle corps, Skylarks and the Matadors. He instructed both the brass and percussion sections of Troop 77, the brass section of the Longhorns. He was corps director of Troop 77, and founded the Longhorns, Skylarks and the Matadors. He has also been a member of the Rhode Island Drum Corps Association, the Greater New England Yankee Circuit, and served on the executive board of the Red Carpet Association. He held the position of treasurer of Drum Corps Associates (DCA) for 15 years.

FRANK FERRARO
Frank Ferraro was in the brass section of the Greater Reading Post 179 corps and West Reading Police Cadets before becoming drum major of Reading Buccaneers. He served as music director or arranger with such corps as West Reading, Schuylkill Haven, York White Roses, Milton Keystoners, Westshoremen and the Buccaneers. He has also been a judge with the Mid Atlantic, All American, DCA and CBA judges associations. He was a judge for such major events as the Festival of States, Cherry Festival, Miss America parade and more. He won the VFW national champion soprano bugler title in 1951, at the convention held in New York City. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music from West Chester University, a Master of Arts Degree in Music from Columbia University and worked as a music educator in Pennsylvania public schools for 40 years.

WILLIAM HAYES
Bill Hayes was first affiliated with the Sal MacKenzie Post corps. Like many other drum corps veterans in the northeast, he played with and instructed both Hawthorne Caballeros and New York Skyliners at various times during his drum corps career. He also developed outstanding brass sections for Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, St. Catharine’s of Sienna Queensmen, and Florida Vanguard of Miami. He also judged marching and maneuvering, horns and music for several judging associations. While playing for the Caballeros, he was widely admired and recognized for his soprano solo in “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White.”

ROBERT NEUHOFF
Bob Neuhoff has been affiliated with the brass sections of St. Michael’s, St. Patrick’s, St. Vincent’s, St. Anne’s and Saldarini Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post drum corps. He also performed in the brass section of the S. H. Young American Legion Post corps, and later served as color guard captain. With the Skyliners, he instructed the guard, taught marching and maneuvering, and also served as show coordinator, director, business manager and a trustee of the corporation. He was chairman of the popular “Evening With The Corps” and “Afternoon With The Guards” shows, and organized many Drum Corps Associates (DCA) contests. He has been involved with a number of high school marching bands and has held administrative positions with several drum and bugle contest circuits.

FRANK PISILLO
Frank Pisillo was a baritone soloist with several leading corps, including: West New York Post 15 American Legion, Hawthorne Caballeros, Our Lady of Grace and Con Edison. He also instructed the brass sections of Knights of Columbus, St. Lucy’s Cadets, Hawthorne Muchachos, Bayonne Bridgemen and Caballeros. He served as director of the Knights of Columbus and show coordinator, president and public relations director for the Caballeros. He judged all brass captions for the All American and National Judges Associations. After retiring and moving to Dunnellon, FL he was responsible for the formation of a highly-regarded chorus.

INDUCTED 1990

COSMO BARBARO
Cosmo Barbaro has been affiliated with a number of the best-known corps in upstate New York, and several in other areas. At various times, he was associated with Geneva Appleknockers, Auburn Purple Lancers, Rochester Crusaders, Rochester Empire Statesmen, Dutch Boy, of Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, Connecticut Hurricanes and Chicago Cavaliers. He has served as a judge with Drum Corps International (DCI) and Drum Corps Associates (DCA), the All American Judges Association, the Pennsylvania Federation of Judges and Central States Judges. He is a past president of the Percussive Arts Society, and has served as a clinician and endorser with Ludwig Drums.

DENNIS DELUCIA
Dennis De Lucia has been a clinician and endorser for number of major percussion instrument manufacturers, and has taught many of the top drum lines in North America. He has been associated with a number of well-known and championship corps, including Dumont Police Cadets, Hawthorne Muchachos, Bayonne Bridgemen, Long Island Sunrisers, Hawthorne Caballeros, Star of Indiana, Velvet Knights of California, and the Crossmen of Pennsylvania. He is widely known as a color commentator during telecasts of the Drum Corps International (DCI) championships.

WILLIAM DUCHARME
‘Duke’ Ducharme was associated with corps in New England for more than five decades, beginning in 1933 playing bass drum and cymbals with Our Lady of Hope drum and bugle corps. From 1934 to 1939, he played cymbals, bugle and then marched as drum major of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 70 drum and bugle corps in Springfield, Massachusetts. He played bugle and twirled baton with American Legion (AL) Post 21 in Springfield when he returned to drum corps activity following World War II. He had been drum major of the 104th Infantry Band of the National Guard during high school, and marched as drum major of three different United States Army bands during his years of service. He organized the VFW Post 70 Dukes in 1952, and in 1956 organized the Springfield Marksmen. His other corps affiliations included the Targets, Olympians, Holy Name of Massachusetts, Patrick Triggs corps and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He was also affiliated with the Massachusetts and Connecticut Fife and Drum organization and the Yankee Drum and Bugle Corps circuit. He judged for the All American Judges Association. He was a marching and maneuvering judge on the Northeastern Circuit for many years. He was also a regular contributor to the Drum Corps International (DCI) scholarship fund.

ARAM KAZAZIAN
Mo Kazazian was a well-known clinician for judging associations across the United States. He was also a long-serving judge with a number of associations, including Drum Corps International (DCI) and Drum Corps Associates (DCA), Eastern States, American Legion and CYO.

WILLIAM LAWLER
Bill Lawler was a member of the Archer-Epler Musketeers, sponsored at the time by the Upper Darby Post 214. He was also associated with a number of other Pennsylvania corps, including Blackwood Brigadiers, Media Fawns, Yearsley Cadets, John Wanamaker American Legion Post, Honeybrook senior corps, Sahler Sedan Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) senior corps and Westchester VFW seniors. He judged for both Drum Corps Associates (DCA) and the Mid Atlantic Judges Association.

JOHN PRATT
Jack Pratt is one of the most prolific percussion writers in the drum corps community. He served as rudimental drum instructor of field music with the U.S. Military Academy band at West Point from 1950 to 1969, and was one the first to urge the use of large drum lines, paving the way to modern percussion sections of 30 or more members which began to appear on the contest field by the late 1960s. As an exponent of large drum lines, he urged that the level of difficulty not be reduced and that various performance factors not be sacrificed. His contributions and achievements in drumming were further recognized when he was inducted as a member of the world-wide Percussive Arts Society. He taught the Interstatesmen in the 1960s, when he introduced the rudimental bass drum to the drum corps community, as part of his unique concept of percussion voicing. He has been associated with a number of other corps, including Geneva Appleknockers, Troop 12 Indians, Kingsmen, Lakers, Criterions, Hawthorne Caballeros, King’s Regiment, Doremus Post, Crimson Kings Tri-County Cavaliers, Rochester Grey Knights, Ambassadors. He has judged for the All American and Metro All American associations.

DANNY RAYMOND SR.
Danny Raymond taught the drum lines of such well-known corps as St. Vincent’s Cadets, St. Lucy’s Cadets, Garfield Cadets, Keyport Continentals, Garden Statesmen and New York Skyliners. He judged for the Charlie Nabors Judges Association, the Mid Atlantic Judges Association, the National Judges Association and DCA.

INDUCTED 1989

JOSEPH MARELLA
Joe Marrella’s half-century association with drum and bugle corps began with instruction in rudimental drumming with the Vasella Musketeers in 1956. He was snare drummer and section leader in the drum line known as the best in the country and its nationally-known drum quartet. His 25 years of teaching drums began at age 20 in 1963, with the Haddonfield Royaleers all girl drum and bugle corps. In the following quarter-century he taught many area corps at the same time, often spending five nights a week with his students. He fielded a Blue Rock drum line with eight snares in 1971, the first time such a large snare section had been featured by a junior corps. That drum line won the National Drum Trophy awarded by the Ludwig company with a score of 19.1 out of 20, the highest score ever recorded to that point. He has been associated with such other nationally-ranked junior corps as Hawthorne Muchachos and Casper Troopers. With 27th Lancers, he served as both drum instructor and show coordinator. He was associated with a number of senior corps, including Reading Buccaneers, Yankee Rebels, Erie Thunderbirds, Rochester Crusaders, Westshoremen and Skyliners. He has served as a judge and clinician with Drum Corps Associates (DCA), and developed a general effect clinic for DCA judges. He has been a judge for American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and major independent contests.

JOSEPH McNAUGHT
Joe McNaught served in every elected position in with the administration of Lt. Norman Prince (the Princemen) senior drum and bugle corps, including secretary, treasurer, president, instructor and music arranger. He was also an arranger for St. Thomas More Cadets and Immaculate Conception Reveries junior corps. He was the founder, director and arranger for the Norman Prince Alumni Chorus. He served as chair of the committee which arranged the Senior Corps Reunion (now known as the Great Alliance of Seniors, or GAS) of 1989. From 1961 to 1964, he judged horns and general effect horns for the All American Judges Association. His drum corps activities began when he joined the Immaculate Conception Grammar School Cadets, of Malden, Massachusetts in 1936, as a bugler.

ALBERT MURA
Al Mura was an original member of the Holy Name Cadets (later the Garfield Cadets) when the Corps started in 1934.  Starting as a solo soprano bugler, he later became Drum Major in 1939, leading them to their first, of many American Legion National Championships, at Boston in 1940.  He retained that position until 1942 when he entered the U.S. Navy.  In 1948, he was asked to become the Musical Director, Brass Instructor and arranger for the Hawthorne Caballeros.  He was solo soprano and Concertmaster until 1963, seeing the Cabs win many State and National titles.  Many present HOF members were under his tutelage.  He was a member of Eastern States, Northeastern States, and National Judges Associations, judging all Brass captions for 36 years.  He judged many State and National, DCA, and DCI contests.  Al has a BA and MA in Music from Montclair State and Columbia University.  From 1949-1954, Al was Brass Instructor and Arranger for the Holy Name Cadets, seeing them win numerous State and National titles.  He also taught the St. George Cadets and CW Townsmen.
 

DONALD PESCEONE
Don Pesceone was named executive director of Drum Corps International (DCI) when the organization was formed in the 1973, and served in that position until 1994. He worked closely with Hall of Fame member Pepe Notaro to establish the A/A-60 divisions in DCI, to allow smaller units to compete for an international championship with other corps of the same caliber. His drum and bugle corps activity included playing French horn with the Mel Tierney and Skokie Vanguard junior drum and bugle corps in the Chicago area and the Winfield Scott Rebels senior corps of Maywood, Illinois. He has been a marching instructor and designer for the Vanguard, the Argonne Rebels and Salina Silver Sabres of Kansas and Stockton Commodores of California. He was business manager of Skokie Vanguard in 1961 and 1962. He was a marching and manoeuvring judge with the All American and Central States Judges Association. When he was hired to be DCI’s first executive director, the headquarters consisted of his desk at home and a few files. He gave up his regular job to build DCI, a considerable financial risk for his family, which included his wife Mary and three young children. Mary became the first important staff member of DCI, taking on the positions of ticket seller, secretary, cook, office manager, director’s liaison, chauffeur, contest coordinator, tabulator, shipping and postal clerk. Both Don and Mary Pesceone are members of the DCI Hall of Fame.

DAVE RICHARDS
Dave Richards was a baritone bugler with the Militaires of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a playing member, instructor and arranger for the Boys of ‘76 drum and bugle corps in Racine, Wisconsin from 1956 to 1970. He also served as instructor and arranger for the Yankee Rebels of Baltimore and Harvey Seeds drum and bugle corps of Miami Florida. He was corps director and show coordinator with the Capitolaires all-girls corps of Madison, Wisconsin in 1976. He has been a music arranger, instructor, consultant and guest instructor for junior corps on both sides of the U.S./Canada border, including St. John’s Girls of Brantford, Ontario, the Troopers of Casper, Wyoming, Our Lady of Mercy Girls, Starlites and St. Mathias Cadets all of Milwaukee, Des Plaines Vanguard. He was an adjudicator for 25 years with the All American, Central States, Wisconsin Federation of Judges and Drum Corps International (DCI) and Drum Corps Midwest (DCM). He has also served in several other positions with DCI, including administrator of the annual solo and ensemble contests.

RAYMOND SAMORA
Ray Samora spent his business life in music and video productions. He created the Drum Corps News publication and also established and headed Fleetwood Recording Studios, which recorded drum and bugle corps competitions across the continent in the 1950s and ‘60s, then produced and distributed LP records through a wide variety of retail outlets. Fleetwood introduced hi-fi and stereo sound to drum corps albums, eight track and tape cassettes. Fleetwood, founded with partner Vincent Giarusso, also produced sports albums, including one titled “Impossible Dream,” which chronicled the 1967 Boston Red Sox baseball team. He was producer of the World Open Championships and Danny Thomas Invitational contests for many years. He also produced the Carnegie Hall and Felt Forum indoor winter concerts. The World Open Championship was the first international championship contest, the forerunner of later national-scale competitions as the CYO Championships, U.S. Open, Drum Corps International (DCI) and Drum Corps Associates (DCA) championship tournaments.

JACK WHELAN
Jack Whelan played soprano bugle for 16 years: eight with the Y.D. drum and bugle corps from 1933 to 1941, and eight more with Lieutenant Norman Prince, from 1948 to 1955. He also served on the Princemen’s board of directors for three years. He taught marching and maneuvering to many of the best-known corps in New England, including Most Precious Blood of Hyde Park, Immaculate Conception of Winchester and St. Mary’s Cardinals of Beverly. St. Anthony’s drill team won the VFW nationals 12 times while he was instructor. He served as a judge with the All American, National, Eastern States and Massachusetts judges associations, and judged in both the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Drum Corps International national contests.. He was one of the organizers of the Northeastern Judges Association, and was chief judge and co-ordinator for the Maine Band Directors Association. He served as the World Open co-director and chief judge; the CYO Nationals coordinator and judge.

INDUCTED 1988
JOSEPH COOK
Joe Cook was affiliated with Syracuse Brigadiers for many years: 12 years as a horn player, and six years as business manager. He was widely recognized for his organizational abilities. He served as New York State American Legion Contests chairman, and was a member of the American Legion National Contests committee for many years. He was a member of the New York State Federation of Contest Judges. He co-founded the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) sales program. His drum corps activity began when he was a bugler with Troop 42 Boy Scouts drum and bugle corps. Before joining the Brigadiers, he spent five years as a bugler with Bordeaux Post Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) junior drum corps. He later served as corps director of Bordeaux Post

EARL JOYCE
Earl Joyce’s first association with drum and bugle corps activity was as a drummer and drum major with the George Bell Junior drum and bugle corps from 1942 to 1951. He then became a drummer and drum major with the Chicago Cavaliers. He began instructing drums and teaching marching and maneuvering in 1949 with George Bell, then Cavaliers, then many other corps and bands until 1977. He was a judge with several associations, including Central States Judging Association (CSJA), All American and Midwest Color Guard, Drum Corps International (DCI), Drum Corps Associates (DCA), Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) and Winter Guard International (WGI). During his association with CSJA, he helped establish national judging and terminology standards in marching and maneuvering. His music training began in 1943, when he first played drums in the St. Angela grade school band. Later in the 1940s, he won several Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) individual and ensemble drumming titles at the Illinois state level and the national level.

WILLIAM KAUFFMANN
Bill Kaufmann was affiliated with most of the best-known junior and senior corps in the northeast. At various times, he was associated with Liberty Bell Cadets and Garfield Cadets in the junior category and Reilly Raiders and Archer-Epler Musketeers senior corps. He has also been a percussion adjudicator with the National Judges Association, Drum Corps Associates (DCA) and Drum Corps International (DCI). He first played soprano horn with Hamilton Fish Cadets in 1949, before marching with Liberty Bell for the next seven years, when he played soprano horn and tenor and snare drum. In addition to instructing Garfield and Archer-Epler, he has taught the percussion sections of Hawthorne Caballeros, Reading Buccaneers, Westshoremen, Bracken Cavaliers, Audubon Bon-Bons, Ridley Park Rangers, 507 Hornets, Crossmen and Oakenshield.

LEW KEPPLER
Lew Keppler was affiliated with one of central Pennsylvania’s best-known senior corps: the Milton Keystoners. He first played bugle with the junior corps in Milton, then marched as the Keystoners drum major for nine years, winning six best drum major awards. He was also the drill instructor and business manager for many years. Under his direction and management, the Keystoners won two Senior B class American Legion (AL) state championships and one Senior B class Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) national title. The Keystoners often had higher marching and maneuvering scores than such nationally-recognized corps as Reilly Raiders and Archer-Epler Musketeers. He served on the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) contests committee. In the 1950s, he was well-known as the organizer of the popular Cavalcade of Champions annual contest, held in Bucknell University stadium.

THOMAS MARTIN
Tommy Martin first played a horn with St. Brigid’s Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps, sponsored by the fire department in Ridgewood, Queens, in 1945. He became a member of Consolidated Edison Lamplighters for the 1951 season, then marched with St. Joseph’s Ironbound Cadets, of Newark, NJ through 1955. The New York Skyliners became his drum corps home in 1956. He is best remembered as an exciting soprano soloist with a super-articulated approach that became well-known throughout the drum corps world. His solos also helped create a unique identi