That's current director Adolph DeGrauwe on the far right.
To Rita's left is Jim Anderson and the first guy in the second row is John Anderson. Their parents died in a car accident on the way to 1980 DCI in Birmingham.
I'll go for the obscurities:
75 GBV--"City of Brass"
75 Precisionnaires--"Spain"
76 Kilts--"Linus and Lucy"
78 Garfield--"Pieces of Dreams"
78 SofA--"Higher and Higher" turn up the mixer on the middle voices, though
79 BD--"Chicago III Suite" turn down everything on the mixer but Gary Gilroy on the marimba
Mmmmm......this is the '74 corps.
The drummer third from the right is overage. I have no idea what kind of competitive advantage that gave a "C" class corps from Wisconsin in shows against the likes of the Port Washington Windjammers, the West Bend Patriots and the Park Falls Brass Regiment, but it DOES prove that not only the Muchachos and Bridgemen were cheating. :(
Rifles R to L:
Steve Szydelko, Brian Nash, the next two guys I can't recall, Mark Tatum, John Van Dorpe, Rick "Chachi" Slupinski, Ron Perez, Paul McKeever, and the rest I'm blanking on.
I'm gonna stop. 'cuz I don't recognize some guys anymore.
Quints L to R
Todd Faughner, for the life of me, I can't remember the name of that red-headed dude, Jim Fowler, Bryan Morhardt, Dale Tyna and Dave Serino.
Snares L to R: Terry DeJong is out of the picture, Bret Kuhn, Mark Metzcus, Tony DiMartino, Matt O'Brien, Mark Baker, Ron Low, Mike Pratt, Kevin Smith (it's his birthday today) and Dr. Marvin Jackson.
He was also the corps director of the Cedarburg Thunderbolts in 1973 when they merged with Roman Blenski's St. Patrick's Imperials, forming The Thing.
He was the music director/horn instructor for my first corps in '75.
Russ Epps is apparently bartending at George's, so I was invited to Racine to have a drink with Russ, and then call the Funeral Home to get Tommy to come and raise a glass or two with us.
Yep. I assisted with an autopsy this morning, and the poor guy was going to Maresh-Meredith Funeral Home in Racine. Guess who picked him up?
We spent a good 45 minutes talking early-70s Wisconsin drum corps. All within two blocks of Fruth Field, former site for the Night of Splendor.
I can throw out some names that were discussed if you're interested, Jim Anello.