1981
Music
Turkey in the Straw
Central Park
En Sueno
Battle Hymn
Awards & Recognitions
DCI Individual and Ensemble Contest:
Snare: Randall Beach - 68.15 - 25th
Multi-tenor: Dave Watson - 64.75 - 9th
Corps Members
Drum Major: John Masterson
Guard Captains: Ronda Renick & Dianne Wagner
Sue Barella, Judy Boyce, Heather Briggs, Patti Cuthill, Trudy Finnegan, Kelly Halstead, Megan McKnight, Lea Mittlestadt, Shawn Mulligan, Karen Naper, Becky Nordin, Yvonne Peterson, Jeanne Abrew, Amanda Anderson, Bambi Anderson, Edie Bauerkemper, Tammy Beaumont, Christa Berry, Letha Bollschweiler, Lisa Broz, Sara Cecil, Jacque Edgett, Jenifer Goodyear, Kim Hull, Debra Jankowski, Robyn Langendorfer, Kyle McCoy, Cynthia Owens, Noel Reynolds, Julie Tatman, Sylvia Terrazas, Angie Trautman, Janice Tucker, Randall Beach, Ron David, Mark Defrates, Eric Fernelius, Dave Glyde, Ken Lancaster, John McCoy, Cary Odell, Dick O’Hearn, Allen Sanderson, Jon VanZandt, David Haining, Mike Palumbo, Steve Ramirez, Jeff Thomas, Dave Watson, Scott Johnson, Chris McKnight, Joe Rimmer, Marty Stroh, Gary Waits, Darren Bessett, Rufus Lewis, Greg Thomas, Rob Shuster, Jim Waldorf, Robby Abrew, Heidi Burghardt, Steve Flake, Jim VonOsterheldt, Yvonne Wagner, Vincent King, Carrie Kolacny, Jeff Strong, Bill Cooke, Kevin Deisher, Kent Ditimer, Lon Goode, Dave Hewitt, Paul Hunter, Bill Meyer, Nathan Rieth, Mike Romero, Kelly Smith, Harold York, Gary Donofrio, Tami Dye, Duane Evans, Kevin Rowland, Greg Streuber, Tom Walsh, Russell Bridgwater, Kurt Gilbert, Lisa Jones, Barry Sheperd, Nancy Sprenger, Glenn Hemberger, Justin Olson, Rick Provence, Andrew Tyburczy, Benjy Woolf, Rob Billings, Marianne Cartwright, Melissa French, Jon Skelton, Debbie Tatman, Chuck Brumbaugh, Al Nichols, Marshall Smith, Kevin Williams, Andy Winters, Blaine Heckart, Brett Hobza, Dan McKnight, Todd Swanson, Jeff Barnes, Mike Bauerkemper, Kirk Bertagnole, George Brauneis, Karl Gilbert, AJ Christoff, Al Donelson, Brad Finch, Jeff Frazier, Mike McCarthy, Mary Werner
From the Drum Corps International Yearbook:
Jim Jones had a dream in 1957. From a small prairie town in Wyoming, he wanted to create a drum and bugle corps that would someday make the finals of the American Legion National championships. What he created was the Troopers of Casper, Wyoming, and as everyone knows, they’ve done a whole lot more than just make finals.
Jim’s drum corps experience dates back to 1933, when he went to a Legion convention with his mother and saw his first corps. “It was a unique, beautiful sound; it was pageantry. I said, ‘I like that!’ “ From then on, he was involved in everything from small parade corps to military corps. Finally, in ‘57, he founded the Troopers. “I had a goal that we would make Legion finals. I never figured we’d win the championship.”
The first time the Troopers went to Legion in Denver, in 1961, they stunned the drum corps world by placing fourth. From then on, the corps climbed, becoming more and more popular with crowds every- where. Finally, in 1966, the Troopers picked up their first national title, the VFW championship.
Jones smiles. “The first time you win a big title, the anticipation is greater than the realization. It’s nice to win, but trying to win is the name of the game.”
That’s not just hot air, either. Jones really believes it, and that’s what he tells the Troopers. Jones is like a father to the kids, taking an active interest in their lives. It’s his love of kids that has kept him in the activity since 1933.
“I enjoy being with young people-it’s time off from my job. They’re great people, they work hard, they try. They are friendly, nice, and more mature than a lot of adults. They’re my friends. A friendship is something you acquire only through sharing experiences with someone over along time. That’s why I’m friends with so many of these kids. I have more in common with them than with most people my own age. “I was examining my goals a few years ago, realizing I wasn’t going to do this forever, but I couldn’t think of anything I would rather do- anything as much fun or as exciting.”
Jones’ talk isn’t idle. In the beginning he taught the entire corps-brass, drums, and marching. He still helps teach the drums, helps when the drill writer gets stuck, and takes part in teaching the kids to march. Though he has an extremely talented staff, Jim Jones insists on keeping his hand on the corps. This not only makes the Troopers one of the finest and most emotional units around, but provides a very close, almost family-like experience for the members.
In his 60’s now, Jones still loves the activity he founded nearly 25 years ago. “The kids are worth it. They are highly motivated, disciplined, and well mannered. That’s so I can stand them,” he laughs.
He wants to make the Troopers a good experience for kids-a place for kids who want to succeed to be around others who want to succeed, where all will work toward the same goal. And if they do work hard, pay attention, and immerse themselves in the experience, they’ll get more than a tour of the country. They’ll get a lot of love.
A Personal Remembrance
by Jeff Thomas
I remember an early season sectional in ‘81, when our center snare talked to all of us about how he came back to the 11th after marching with SCV. He talked about the kind of dedication it took to excel, and that he wanted to be a Trooper because he wanted to be part of a line where the members cared about the LINE first, not themselves. You could just see the backs of all the other snares straighten up. As I recall, it was a focused, intense practice.
Later, at prelims in Montreal, various members were walking underneath the stands after our performance. We knew our score, but most of us were sweating about North Star. When it came time to announce North Star’s score, Troopers rushed into the portals that opened to the field. There were small clusters of Troopers, guard members and cymbal players and sopranos in tiny knots, frigid with anticipation. And when the score was announced, a moment passed while everyone did the math, and suddenly everyone knew they had made it. Rifles and contras, tenors and basses, flags and pit -- everyone grabbed on to whoever was closest and jumped up and down.
The next night, after our finals performance and after we were dismissed, I caught sight of Mr. Jones. He was just sort of looking over all the heads of the members, taking in the scene of an entire corps coming down from its final effort, a scene of exhilaration, relief and numbness. I had just finished my first year and didn’t quite know what I was feeling myself. The only thing I could think to do was to walk up to him and say thank you. He seemed surprised, laughed, and said, “No. Thank you.” You could tell that a moment like this was a big part of what he lived for. He was devotion personified.
