TRacer Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 (edited) Who are some people in drum corps who personally influenced you or made a large impact on your life? Here they are...most are good: (1) Gary Meeghan -- VF horn instructor who later went on to teach SCV Cadets... a '75 Purple Lancers vet and a guy who cared about each individual player from the depths of his heart. My mom still talks about him. (2) Most anyone who marched The Red Team would list Gail Royer; I am no different. The interview he did on the DVD years ago was a true snapshot of the man. (3) Charlie Groh, though he doesn't know it. (4) Chas Anderson -- The Good: A brilliant marching technical mind, balanced by... -- The Bad: His "intriguing" motivational methods which got the best of him, and I will stop right there. (5) Ron Zeilinger, longtime early 80's VK vet and co-founder of Impulse D&BC, DCI's Div III Champion in 2006, for his tireless community focus. (6) The guy who I first met in 1976 who later introduced me to DC in 1979, took me to my first West Coast Express corps rehearsal, and rode up with me to BD auditions in December 1980...he marched in SCV's hornline and inspired me to do the same in '84. We also marched KAC together from 2005-2008; I got him into KAC and introduced him to my wife, who was a horn player in KAC as well. (7) The same guy I listed in (#6), for "inspiring" my wife to end our 22-year relationship to be with him after our time in KAC, the catalyst behind my son asking me, "Where's mom??" for a year, and the reason why I spent my 20th anniversary three weeks ago sitting in a family law office, planning my exit strategy. That last one was listed without any bitterness, because I'm too busy ---- moving forward ----> . Edited January 19, 2013 by TRacer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OC Euph Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 I may get flamed by some of the peeps from the Northwest for this one. Mike Leone. Now some know him as a man that has caused much drama in the northwest due to his... well some same rudeness, or lack of tact. Or just plain cutthroat attitude. Some blame him for the rebuilding the northwest corps had to do within the last 8 years. BUT... This man helped bring the Oregon Crusaders from this tiny 20-30 member corps, into the Division III champions overnight. His passion for the activity, and just raw emotion over the performances each and every night, really brought out the better marcher in me. I felt his anger, and fed off the energy. My next mention, has been a mentor in and outside of Drum Corps. Richard Kibbey. This old man has seen virtually the entire growth of the Drum Corps community. Marching in the OOOOLLLD days (lol)... With his hunched back, bad eyes, he had some of the best advise and instruction of anyone. He is also I believe the only instructor, to have been with the Oregon Crusaders in some way or other since day one, whether it be as an instructor, or a member of the board, or simply a volunteer. The Voice. (dunno his name) Not much has to be said. The announcer for DCI gives me goosebumps everytime I hear him announce my Corps, and has never been that way with any other announcer lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
contrajedi8 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 (edited) Mike Loeffelholz, Mike "Ivan" Burke, Mark Palise, Dann Petersen, Steve Vento, Kevin Christie, TR Fitzgibbon, Scott Boerma, Mark Waymire, Kevin Guidry, Greg Guffey, Scott Johnson (SW bus driver), Chad Truitt, Eddie Dixon, Loni Thernes, G Jon Thomann, Josh Ray. I either marched with, was taught by, taught with, driven around by, or fit into a uniform by all these people. They are amazing. I love them. I will never be able to repay them for what they have given to me. Edited for spelling. Loeffelholz is a tough one. Edited January 20, 2013 by contrajedi8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerriTroop Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 The person who got me to my first drum corps weekend camp, high school friend J.J. Johnson (not the famed jazz artist though) The person who convinced me to join him at Troopers, Nighthawks friend Steve McDonald. The first Trooper instructor I met, Gabe Luchetta. That man was (and is) intense. He pushed us hard and made me a much better performer. Jim Jones and his wife Grace. Mysterious and subtly funny man of great importance to all who ever wore a Trooper uniform. Grace was a quiet presence of love and support. "Mom" Gilbert for her patience and care for all of us on the road. George Zingali. Never met the man, but 1983 was revolutionary thanks to him. Garfield's drill made my jaw drop every time. Whoever decided to do the pants changing tunnel trick with SCV. Loved it!!! And many, many more. But I have to also say thank you to my mom who took the giant leap of faith to help me get to Casper in May of 1985. I don't think she ever knew just how important that decision was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smj02 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 (edited) Speaking as someone who's only been a fan: everybody who gets out on the field and does their thing...and this has been the case since I discovered drum corps as a kid. Sorry, I don't know how to add the quote box thingy, but this is from a review of the Blue Saints I wrote back in 2006. Taken out of context, it might sound a little weird, but I think the sentiment comes across reasonably well. "As they were passing in review - to a standing O from a crowd that had really wanted to see them succeed and appreciated their effort - they stared straight ahead, pointed their toes to the sky, and looked proud, just like the Madison Scouts, Boston Crusaders, and everyone else on the field tonight. As they passed, I felt genuinely appreciative that each of them had the courage to get out there and give it their all. I hope that by August, each of them can have that toes-to-the-sky feeling of satisfaction and confidence from their first step onto the field to their last step off of it. No matter what their score, they would truly be champions." Edited January 20, 2013 by smj02 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smj02 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Anybody else? I love reading these! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Appleknocker Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Dr. David Kampschroer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IllianaLancerContra Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Don Kaihatsu " OK - we are going to work on two new skills - (1) be quiet, and (2) pay attention" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirrormen Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 (edited) Easy, the 2007 Glassmen brass staff, specifically Mark Waymire and Andy Putnam. Though it didn't start out that way, we ended up with a completely new brass staff by June. Though accepting new things is tough, we ended up being the best brass section the corps had had in a while and since if you ask me. We definitely grew to appreciate how that staff worked day in and day out to teach, be friendly, be funny, be dedicated to our success. That summer was definitely grow up time. Waymire makes you think and is pretty honest with putting educated truth into actions. As a young member it is so easy to think there is one way to do things, even if you don't realize they don't work so well, or don't really apply to growth over long periods of time. I have never seen any staff work so hard in my life and certainly not more than those two guys. That example is what I bring to my students everyday. Edited January 21, 2013 by mirrormen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drumno5 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Fred Wolf and Jim Hurley. Forgot to mention Dave Reuter, and later in my career, Al DiCroce. Fred O. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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