Colts Drum and Bugle Corps

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Colts

Location	Dubuque, Iowa
Division	World Class
Founded	1963
Director	Greg Orwoll
Championship Titles	None
Corps Uniform	Red and silver jackets with black pants and red shakos/plumes.

The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps are a World Class (formerly Division I) drum and bugle corps based in Dubuque, Iowa and founded in 1963, and are a member corps of Drum Corps International. Also known at times as the Dubuque Junior Dukes, the Legionnaires, and the Colt .45s, the Colts are a recurring DCI finalist corps, and may have been the first corps to perform in an irregular meter, using a piece in a 7/4 time signature during their 1970 show.

Slightly larger than LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Dubuque is the second smallest metropolitan area in the nation with a World Class touring corps, and as such they enjoy strong community support. Friday night bingo at the corps hall is extremely popular.

The Colts are eight time DCI finalists. Their highest finish was in 1995, when they placed 9th.

The Colts are currently directed by Greg Orwoll.

1 The Dubuque Junior Dukes
2 The Legionnaires
3 Colt .45
4 The Colts
5 Colt Cadets and other local programs
6 External links

[edit] The Dubuque Junior Dukes

In the spring of 1963 The American Legion of Dubuque Iowa decided to start a junior drum corps, an ad was placed in the paper asking for boys who were interested to come to the Legion hall for a meeting. There they we're given old drums and bugles from the senior drum corps, the "Dukes of Dubuque." They adopted the name, the Dubuque Junior Dukes, from the Senior Corp. Their first uniforms consisted of black pants, black shoes and while shirts. They wore black and white overseas caps with a red tassel. The name Junior Dukes appeared on the cap, as well as the "Fluer de lis." The Corps first Drum Major was Barry Buelow. The Junior Dukes consisted of 24 horns, 10 drums, 2 flags and 2 colorguard, who actually guarded the "colors" or the American Flag. The first two years were parade units, and when the Dukes of Dubuque founded the corps was taken over by Dick Davis, Clerance Hagge and Bob Buelow. In 1965 the Dukes, decided it was time for a name change.

[edit] The Legionnaires

From 1965-1968 the corps was known as the Legionnaires. The corps only had 15 returning members, so it expanded to include youth who were 13-15 years old as well. The uniforms changed to black shirts, pants and shoes, and white scarves. In the fall of 1965, girls were allowed to join the corps. The corps was numbered 42 and the 1965-1969 Drum Major was Rob Astgen. In 1966 the corps had 75 members, ranging from 11-16 years old. The corp earned its first trophy, taking 2^nd place in Hazel Green, WI. The corps parents and booster club was also founded November 16^th 1969. In 1967 the Legionnaires had 80 members, averaged at age 16. The Cadets were started as a feeder corps for the Legionnaires. In 1968 The corps traveled over 4000 miles, and had 82 members, the Cadets had 80. The Legionnaires took 8 first place trophies and 4 second place trophies. The city of Dubuque proclaimed the Legionnaires as "Junior Ambassadors of Goodwill" for the city and presented with the Dubuque flag.

[edit] Colt .45

The Legionnaires changed their name to the Colt .45 on November 14^th 1968. The "Colts" wore western themed uniforms and played western themed music. The Colts participated in 18 events throughout Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan and won the Iowa VFW Junior Championship. The Cadets were numbered at 86 and had their first field drill. In 1970 the corps won the Iowa State American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps Show and the color guard won the Iowa State American Legion Color Guard Championship with less then three weeks to prepare. They also performed the Colt. 45 stomp, which was the first non-standard meter arrangement in drum-corps activity. The Drum Major from 1970-1973 was John "Fuzzy" Hartman. In 1971 Harlow Haas took over as director, the corps took first place at the American Legion Color Guard Championships. They also purchased new horns and drums for roughly $6000. In 1972 Eldon "Fritz" Biver took over as the director. The corps traveled over 6,000 miles this year and placed 12^th in the American Legion Nationals, and 9^th in the VFW Nationals. The budget of the corp increased to $42,000 this year. In 1973 the corps placed 2nd at the state legion championships and went on tour to New Orleans, Louisiana for the VFW nationals placing 5^th. The also played during half-time Bears/Lions game at soldier field in Chicago. In 1974 the corps placed 3^rd at the American Legion Championship. Joe McFarlane took over as Drum Major. In 1975 the band was directed by Dick "Sarge" Feipel, and the Drum Major was Kevin O'Toole.

[edit] The Colts

In 1976 the corps dropped the ".45" from their name due to limitations on western music. The Colts consisted of 105 members, but 23 quit during the summer. The corps had two uniforms for marching both parade and field shows. Tom Faulkner took over as director and Kevin O'Toole remained the Drum Major. The Colts took 25th at the VFW championships in New York. The Color Guard scored the highest number of points in DCI history. Jim Killoran took of as Executive Director and Jim Mason took over as Director in 1977. Bob Vasquez took over as the Drum Major of the corps. The corps reached its largest size of 120 members, only 9 of which were from outside of Dubuque. The corp played 26^th at DCI, but due to a disqualification ended up in 25^th. They placed 12^th at the American Legion Championships. In 1978 Jim Killoran left the Colts. The corps also purchased new bugles for $21,543. The corps began to become more like a family, and they practiced for 12-15 hour days. Bob Vasquez was named 3rd runner-up for Best Drum Major of the Year by Drum Corps World and Jolene Miller-O'Toole was named Color Guard Captain of the Year by Drum Corps World. In 1979 the Drum Line and Color guard received new uniforms and the corps also played for President Jimmy Carter, Dave Kapp, the corps Drum Major, shook hands with the president, who said the corps "sounded great." The corps established the Robert M. Buelow Award 1980 which paid tribute to Bob for his 17 years of service. The corps purchased three buses, which they dubbed the Poseidon, the Lusitania and the Titanic. They also received a lot of publicity in Dubuque as the Colts Drum and Bugle Corp. Larry Rothbard took over as Drum Major. In 1982 the corps had two Drum Majors, Keith Scharnau and Tim Shirey. Greg Orwoll joined the staff, and the Colts placed 24^th in DCI. This placement finally met their goal of placing in the top 25. In 1983 the Colts introduced the first complete show design in DCI history. They used their show to tell a story. In North Carolina, the crowd actually booed their 2^nd place finish, believing they should have gotten first. This showed the Colts that numbers and placement didn't matter, it is the performance. In 1984 The Colts used four trap sets in their show and bought horns from the bankrupt Memphis Blue Brass Band. After seven years Jim Mason left the Corp. Greg Orwoll took over the corps in 1985, and still serves as director today. The corps placed 16^th in the DCI final, their highest yet. During the summer the corps was proclaimed "Iowa's Ambassadors of Music" by Governor Terry Branstad. In 1986 JJ Miller took over as the Drum Major of the corps and the corps received new uniforms. They placed 20^th in DCI finals that year. In 1987 Julie Yanda and Bart Miller were the corps' drum majors. Julie was the Colts' first female Drum Major. The corps dropped the trapset line and the Colts finished 20^th that season. Ky Hascall was the Drum Major in 1988. The corps' musical arrangers brought a different approach to jazz that season. 75% of the corps were Iowa high school and college students. The corps placed 18th that year. The corps also defeated their rival "Troopers" that year. In 1989 during Dubuque's Music on the March show, disaster stuck as it rained 3/4 of an inch after the first 90 minutes of the show. 15 buses were stuck in the mud and it took until 3 am for tow trucks to pull them out. The show was dubbed the Music in the Mud for several years after. The show announcer was also the local meteorologist and moved out of town soon after. In 1990 the corps had another uniform change, and also switched to silver-plated instruments. Shane Oswald took over as Drum Major. The corps placed 23^rd in the DCI Finals. 1990 was a turning point for the Colts. A new priority was made to march only the members who wanted to be a Colt. In 1991 the Colts' pants changed to white from the previously worn black, which were sewn by over 90 volunteers in a two month period. Anne Keller was the Drum Major and the corps placed 22^nd at DCI Finals. In 1992 the Colts placed 20^th at the DCI Finals, and also continued to build a strong member base in Iowa. In 1993 the Colts took 12^th at the DCI world finals. The Corp also purchased 10 new mellophones. The Colts Alumni Association and the Colts Hall of Fame was formed. The Hall of Fame is a way to recognize the people who have been a vital part of the Colts history. Inductees were Eldon "Fritz" Biver, Bob Buelow, Dick Fox, Harlow Haas, Clarence Hagge, Mel Hein and Merle Mathis. Christian Baughman served as Drum Major. The corps took 12^th again in 1994 and Beth Miller and Alan Becki were inducted into Colts Hall of Fame. The corps saw six members coming all the way from Japan in 1995 and the corps bought 10 new Yamaha Tubas. Derald and Jean Schrobilgen and Steve Delaney were inducted into the Colts Hall of Fame. The corps finished 9^th in DCI finals. In 1996 the Corp aged out 31 members, which beat 1995's record of 17. The corps also had three European and two Japanese members. The corps placed 11^th that year. The corps placed 13^th in 1997, and Emily Neuendorf and Bryan Sulzer took over as Drum Majors. The corps had 11 age-outs. This was also the first time the corps had a two-time age-out. A recent rule change allowed 22 year olds to march, provided they turned 22 during the summer. Jessica Bibb was eligible for this rule but opted to age-out at 21 in 1996. With two weeks left in the season a member unexpectedly had to leave the tour. Jessica was traveling with the corps as a cook. She was persuaded to come out of her "retirement" to fill the newly opened spot. After three days of rehearsal she was in the show and made her final appearance as a Colt, again. 1998 held a disaster when the corps buses got into an accident. Six injured members were sent to the hospital. The rest of the competing corps arrived at the show, where the other corps pitched in to help the Colts regain their footing by donating food, supplies, and time. The Phantom Regiment played "Amazing Grace" for the Colts. The Colts bounced back from the accidents and placed 12^th in the finals. In 1999 the corps was busy throughout the season. While in Denver, Colorado, the corps kitchen truck caught fire. They stayed in a town in Nebraska, who helped out the corps, donating time, supplies, and money so the truck could rejoin the corps. At the DCI finals, all of the corps participating gathered on the field to play "America/Oh Canada." On Wednesday a number of participants went to Solo/Ensemble contest. Later that night, the corps found out they had a World Champion Cymbal Line. Consisting of Mark Sulzer, Heather Stoner, Susan Stockseth, Lauren Paul, Adam Steffen, and Ryan Whitehouse, the line had a score of 97 out of 100. The corps once again placed 12^th that year. In 2000 Jeremiah "Dusty" Johnson took over as the corps Drum Major and Jason Czaja/Aniela Lemanski served as Backfield Conductors. The corps placed 14^th that year. The corps also bought the corps hall, which happyed to be the same building to which the Colts lost their lease to in 1981. In 2001 Brian Greenleaf came in as the new Color guard caption head, and Michael James was the Color guard designer. Brett Hall came back to the brass staff this year, but in the position of caption head. The Colts also welcomed Dr. Mike Robinson in as the new Music Coordinator, and Michael Klesch wrote a wonderful and well written and exciting brass book. Mark Smith (percussion caption head) and Ryan Thomas wrote an intense and innovative percussion book that year as well. The corps performed at Bands of America in Normal, Illinois and defeated the Madison Scouts for the first time. Seth Banwell took over as Drum Major.

All of the above information was taken from www.colts.org.

[edit] Colt Cadets and other local programs

The Colts youth organization also supports the Colt Cadets, an Open Class (formerly Division II) drum corps geared at ages 11-17. It is one of only three cadet corps remaining in DCI and the only one geared at such a young age group.

The director of the Colt Cadets, and youth programs director is Vicki Schaffer, who has been with the Colts organization first as a member in 1994 and 1995 and on the administrative staff since 2001.

The Colts Youth Organization also sponsors additional local programs, including Vocal Fusion, a school-year song and movement program for grades 3-8, the Colts Summer Band Program, offering private lessons and a concert band experience in the summer and PanrhythmiX, a steel drum and percussion program based at Prescott Elementary School, a fine arts magnet school.

A total of 360 young people, grade 3 through age 21 are members of Colts programs, and 240 of them are local and immediate area residents.

Iowa Governor Chester Culver named the Colts "Iowa's Ambassadors of Music" in 2007.