Railmen 75th Anniversary Alumni Corps

[CowboyTau]

For more information, to support, source equipment or follow the movement, please search 75th Anniversary Railmen Drum and Bugle Alumni Corps on Facebook. In 2014 the Railmen Drum and Bugle Corps will reunite to celebrate the 75th Anniversary since the corps' inception. We will field an Alumni Corps at the Omaha DCI Show in 2014. We welcome all alumni to join this page and participate in what is looking to be the largest assembling of our family, EVER!

Historical look at the Railmen:

The Railmen were formed in 1939 by the Union Pacific Railroad Company as "The Union Pacific Drum and Bugle Corps," a local music organization to perform in parades and special events for the railroad. Specifically, the group was organized in celebration of Cecil B. DeMille’s film, "Union Pacific." The "Golden Spike Days" event was held in Omaha on April 28, 1939, starting a four day celebration for the Movie Premier. DeMille, Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea, and other celebrities were brought in (by train of course) for the celebration.

At the corps inception, participation was restricted to Union Pacific employee’s children. .. The founder, Chris Jensen, was directing the Elks D&BC at the time when Mr. Jeffers, UP President at the time, saw it and wondered why Chris (UP employee) couldn’t do something like this for employees kids. It was such a success that he asked Mr. Jensen to continue with the corps. The 1st corps uniform mirrored those of a UP engineer: bib overalls, neck kerchiefs, and engineer hats. Instead of having a bugle (or soprano) line, they used ordinary trumpets, as well as batons instead of flags, sabers, rifles, etc. ..

In 1971 Ken Whittle took over the corps from Chris Jensen and began the corps transition from "kiddie" corps to a full competitive unit. Two valve "G" bugles and "Bridgmen" Style uniforms were purchased and the corps quickly became successful parade corps. ..

When the corps went competitive in 1983, membership was opened to "nonrailroaders." A new staff was brought in to bring the corps on the field. Frank Troyka, Madison Scout alum instructed the guard and designed the drill. Pete Tolhuizen was brought in to work the brass and Larry Lawless worked the percussion.

In 1984, the Railmen became a competitive, touring group and in 1985 traveled to it’s first Drum Corps International Championship, coming away with a Class A finalist Position. The corps continued to develop, rising through the ranks and establishing itself as an entertaing, crowd favorite. ..

Facing budget cuts in 1988, Union Pacific, not interested in funding a touring, competitive corps, and content with its previous arrangement, dropped funding and the corps officailly separated from the railroad. .. Shane Macklin took the reins of the Railmen as Director at the age of 21, a Nebraska native and fresh Madison Scout age out. Bringing in a new staff and recruitment team, Macklin oversaw the re-formation of the Railmen into a Not for Profit youth organization. ..

From 1988 through 1995 the average age of the corps raised from 15 to 18 years, with members choosing to march through their age out year (21 years) instead to leaving to march in other corps. Restructuring the corps while building on its previous success, the Railmen earned Drum Corps International "Top 25" member corps status in 1989. ..

Donations were hard to come by since the corps was known in the Omaha area as the "Union Pacific" corps and the assumption was the railroad met all our financial needs. Funding relied largely on income from DCI and DCM sponsored contests and membership dues.

By 1993, the corps was not able to meet its obligations and staff salaries went unpaid. The Railmen were not able to field a junior corps for the first time in 1994, yet the corps competed as a Senior Corps, earning a DCM finalist position in the Senior Division. I

n 1995 the corps fielded its last junior corps with a reduced touring schedule and increased member dues. By the end of the 1995 season, the board had no choice but to fold the competitive organization due to lack of funding .. All that being said, the Railmen consitently brought a crowd pleasing show to the audience while providing a unique and educational music experience for its members. This page celebrates the success of the Railmen Drum and Bugle Corps family.