History of the SkyRyders

[Mark Time]

Here is some general info on the corps:

Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps is currently inactive since the last season of 1993 but come from a long tradition of marching. They were formed in 1955 under the sponsorship of Lyle Rischel American Legion Post #68 in Hutchinson, Kansas. The competitions were associated with the Great Plains Drum and Bugle Corps circuit where Sky Ryders placed first in the Kansas State American Legion Championships in 1959, '60, '61, '62 and '64. The corps finished top ten in the American Legion National Championships in 1959, '60, '61 and '62. Sky Ryders tied first place in Houston during the American Legion contest in 1979 with the Long Island Kingsman scoring 76.80.

Sky Ryders entered the world field with Drum Corps International's first competition in 1972 placing twentieth. They reached DCI top twelve in 1982 and finished finals that year in tenth place, marking the first time of making top twelve. The corps finished top twelve in another five years: 1983, 12th; 1986, 9th; 1987, 12th; 1988, 12th; and 1991, 12th.

Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps moved to Texas in 1990 and was the last corps in the state to place top twelve in DCI (1991). 1993 marked the last time Sky Ryders competed on the field finishing twentieth in DCI Quarter Finals.

Several Drum Corps Hall-of-Famers have emerged from Sky Ryders Alumni including the late George Tuthill, John Simpson and Steve Vickers. Many of our alumni knew them and they were all well very talented and well-liked.

George Tuthill was a Sky Ryders Drum Corps Alumni and elected into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2000. George began his drumming career with the St. Anne's Cadets in 1957 as a snare drummer along with the Fairlawn Police Cadets and the Hawthorne Caballeros. George became the assistant drum major with the Hawthorne Caballeros and served from 1972 until 1978. Mr. Tuthill was percussion arranger and drum instructor for numerous corps including Sky Ryders, Garfield Cadets, Blessed Sacrement, Cavaliers, Hawthorne Caballeros and Long Island Sunrisers. George judged with the Mid-Atlantic, All-State and DCI Judges Association. George Tuthill served as Executive Director for Hutchinson, KS Sky Ryders Drum Corps, Kansas City Sky Ryders Drum Corps and the Argonauts. He will be sadly missed.

John Simpson was a Sky Ryders Alumni who taught school from 1969 until his retirement in 1999 and elected into the Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2000. John Simpson played with Sky Ryders Drum Corps in 1954 as well with the United States Air Force Drum Corps and the Skyliners Drum Corps. John instructed Sky Ryders, Bridgemen, Star of Indiana, Troopers, North Star and Yankee Rebels drum corps. Mr. Simpson also served as a brass consultant for the Hawthorne Caballeros.

Last but definitely not least is Steve Vickers. Steve has always been actively involved in drum corps. Steve is a Sky Ryders Alumni and was inducted into the Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 1994. Steve Vickers has produced and owned Drum Corps World since the 1970s. Steve still publishes Drum Corps World and remains one of Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps' most distinguished alumni.

Thanks, Tim! ('88 mellos rule!)

[84skyrydr]

79 or 80 for the live pidgeons? I truly didn't think it was us, but that last week before the semis they tried to throw everything into the closer, they just couldn't find a floating kitchen sink :P . One other Sky Ryder of note for the younger ska music scene is the drummer from the band "311" marched in Sky in the late 80s. They have sold quite a few records and he still talks about his days in the corps.

[SkyRyder_FMM]

79 or 80 for the live pidgeons? I truly didn't think it was us, but that last week before the semis they tried to throw everything into the closer, they just couldn't find a floating kitchen sink :P . One other Sky Ryder of note for the younger ska music scene is the drummer from the band "311" marched in Sky in the late 80s. They have sold quite a few records and he still talks about his days in the corps.

That's Chad Sexton. He marched snare with Sky in 86 and 87. He also marched with the Railmen in 84 and 85. Really nice guy - always had a big ole s&%t-eating grin on his face too.

[SkyRyder_FMM]

Thanks, Tim! ('88 mellos rule!)

Thanks Brent. I actually thought the mello line was alot better in 86. The corps had an average age of something like 16 in 86 (we were a young bunch that year). The melly line had five 19 year olds and three age-outs. We were the old folks in the corps that year. The 8 of us could drown out the entire horn line when we really cut loose.

[WWonka]

We toured a lot with SkyRyders in '88 being from the same part of the country. (Black Gold) I cussed you guys for a long time because I had the jazzy version of "A few of my favorite things." stuck in my head forever. :P

[cavies79]

What was the real reason the corps folded? I've heard that the corps director at the time didn't manage the money correctly. I wish the corps had stayed in Hutchinson, if it meant they would still be around. It just doesn't make sense that with all of the kids from Texas, they had to fold. I hope that the same fate doesn't happen to xmen.

I always enjoyed Sky. I wish they would start up again in Kansas and make a comeback.

Edited June 4, 2007 by cavies79

[ChicagoFan]

I don't remember pigeons in 79-80, though I do seem to recall baloons being released from behind the giant rainbow at the end of the closer.

[cowtown]

I always thought of them as the red cavaliers - I swear they had the same rifle lines or maybe just the same work

[SkyRyder_FMM]

What was the real reason the corps folded? I've heard that the corps director at the time didn't manage the money correctly. I wish the corps had stayed in Hutchinson, if it meant they would still be around. It just doesn't make sense that with all of the kids from Texas, they had to fold. I hope that the same fate doesn't happen to xmen.

I always enjoyed Sky. I wish they would start up again in Kansas and make a comeback.

There are others here who might have more info on the matter than I do. But from what I understand, it was not an issue of management of money. Once the corps moved to Texas, there was a lack of a support network in place to help with all the stuff that needs to get done to get a corps on the field and down the road. Also, a few months before the 94 season kicked off, many school districts in Texas changed to year-round school formats, and the corps lost a ton of members (something like 20 horns, when they only had around 40+ at the time). Because of the sudden loss of members just before the summer, the corps went inactive in 94, and they intended to come back in 95. The lack of support burned out the director, and with noone to take over the helm, the corps just faded away. The former director has been a long time volunteer for the Blue Knights ever since. I saw him with them last summer in fact.

[SkyRyder_FMM]

I don't remember pigeons in 79-80, though I do seem to recall baloons being released from behind the giant rainbow at the end of the closer.

The baloons were the norm; however, they tried releasing pigeons one year. They learned (the hard way) that pigeons do not fly at night, and just hung out around the field. After that, the rules were changed so you couldn't use birds. The corps made t-shirts that showed the rainbow, a pigeon, and the words "Birds can't fly in DCI"

Edited June 6, 2007 by SkyRyder_FMM