1985
Music
Copland Sampler
Buckaroo Holiday
Red Pony
Awards & Recognitions
1st DCI corps to appear in the Pasadena (CA) Rose Bowl Parade
Jim Jones inducted into DCI Hall of Fame
DCI Individual and Ensemble Contest:
Chris Eble - DCI Soprano Champion
Snare: Mike Bailey - 97.00 - 4th
Multi-tenor: Steve Bakker - 93.00 - 6th
Corps Members
Drum Major: Tom Walsh
Guard Captain: Lisa Broz & Letha Bollschweiler
Trisha Estes, Cindy Jammerman, Lisa Kessler, Jill Pesceone, Suzanne Rimmer, Kelly Schultz, Angie Trautman, Gina Woodward, Amanda Anderson, Teresa Andreen, Cyndi Brubaker, Joann Brumbaugh, Sandy Dietz, Novella Donaldson, Vickie French, Gayle Garner, Kari Gilbert, Michelle Heiney, Kathy McAllister, Shari McAllister, Julie McConaghy, Jari Webber, Lisa Weatherbee, Diana Doyle, Cindi Christofel, Chris Eble, Andy Ingram, Jim Ingram, Ken Jarman, Darrell Pearson, Steve Takata, Mark Teppo, Rick Zeller, Mario Freese, Jenny Gordon, Wendy Heddon, Ron Marmash, Laura Mitchell, Tony Monterastelli, Jenny Burnett, Elizabeth Gill, Eric McConaghy, Scott Stewart, Kim Thomen, Sheron Thomen, Jeff Cates, Haywood Embry, Kyle Gilbert, Kurt Gilbert, Betsy Gordon, Phil Haines, Brian Jacky, Karen Kohler, Randy Lewis, Lynn Sargent, Jason Buckingham, Karl Gilbert, Roger Hall, Mary Purser, Phil Votaw, Brian Grussendorf, Ross Hocksteadler, Nick Johnson, Jeff Merchant, Julie Past, Karen Wolcott, Paul Carrion, Alex Clegg, Reuben Ferguson, Angela Lade, Nancy Whitney, Tom Becker, AJ Christoff, Steve Flick, Wes Ford, Joe Hall, Boyd Perkins, Mark Adams, Pat Amann, Mike Bailey, Steve Bakker, Tyree Cline, Jason Johnson, Kevin Obenland, Nick Phillips, Lonnie Thompson, Bob Dietz, Scott Eddowes, Keith Hocksteadler, Steve Ramirez, Tom Dietz, Bob McComb, Mark Trautman, Lance Waldorf, Roy Wheeler, Carl Cook, Terry Beckler, Terri Gailey, Steve McDonald, Scott Miller, Jim Waldorf, Shawn Alsup, Jamie Carr, Chris Hunt, Will Snell
From the DCI Yearbook:
Drum major Tom Walsh stood bolt upright under a burning sun in the heat of an Allentown afternoon, thinking about a lot of things, --his decade with the Troopers, a flashy new program, the last shows of his career. The young veteran was poised on the brink of several thresholds; on for his corps, on for himself. The Troopers made a number of drastic changes in 1985, in the Aaron Copland musical program, in the new color guard uniforms, and above all else, in the ratings at the end of the season, marking a return to the top 12 after an extended hiatus.
Explained Walsh, “We’re trying to bring in some modern music and some new moves, and we hope to make a few more new Trooper hits for everybody. It’s pretty effective, and it’s perfect for us. It was a good move to make. We match up well with Copland’s style.”
It was a risk, gambling with the affections of the most vocal and hardcore fans in drum cops, and yet it was accomplished without damage to the Trooper tradition or mystique. Said founder and director Jim Jones, “We’re getting into a more classical vein of music. We used an opener by Clifton Williams, and some well-known Aaron Copland pieces. But they are western in nature and befitting our theme.
“It’s music that I’ve always enjoyed; something I can identify with and have a good time. I’ve always programmed a corps for audience identification with the music, and that won’t change.”
Reflected M&M instructor Dennis Tischauser, ”We want to break with the old image in favor of a more sophisticated approach. We’re looking for more of a smooth, tasty touch, while still being the Troopers.” It was a gamble that paid dividends. Said Tischauser, “It’s a fine line trying to be the Troopers while having a program that is competitive with everyone else.”
There’s still no mistaking the Wyoming corps at this crossroad in its evolution. Who can execute a flag presentation like the Troopers? Or light a fire under an audience with a radiant, rippling sunburst?
Another Trooper trademark is the hard-edged enthusiasm of its members, an element they were hardly lacking in 1985. Said drum line veteran Steve Ramirez, “I’m aging out this year, so I’m pushing real hard. Some people might think I’m being a big pain, but I’m just trying to get everybody moving as quickly as possible, and to play all out all the time.”
The Troopers are a hard habit to break. Consider Randall Lewis, who blows charge from the stands for the Casper legends. The Streator, Illinois, resident sounded the charge for the Troopers in the mid-sixties, before “kind of getting away from drum corps for a while.” But when his son was old enough to march, and “was fortunate enough to make the Troopers, I got out the old horn and started blowing charge again.”
The landscape has changed from rugged lowlands to sweeping bluffs, but it’s still a distinctly western terrain, and the Troopers are still one of a kind.
California resident praises Troopers’ Rose appearance
Dear Mayor of Casper:
On January 1, 1985, my wife and I attended the Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA, for the first time. We had viewed the parade many times on television, but television does not convey the color of the floats or the excellent marching and music of the various units.
In this years’ parade your Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps from Casper, WY, was far superior to any other marching unit. Other units such as the USC Band, Ohio State Band, U.S. Marine Corps Band and others were in the parade, but they did not measure up to the Troopers.
The people making up the Troopers have my congratulations for a job very well done. As they passed our vantage point they completely electrified and captured their parade viewers.
Contributing to this was shined boots, neat uniforms, neat hats, hats at the same angle, heads up, chins out, shoulders back, a straight back, good step length, a good cadence, straight ranks, files and diagonals and a radiation of extreme pride in themselves and their unit.
Since the parade I have asked the question, “which was the best marching unit in the Rose Parade?” of a bank manager, a neighbor, a relative and people on our bus returning from the parade and, without exception, they all responded, “the Troopers from Casper, WY.”
Again, my congratulations to the Troopers and the director and assistants who are behind this unit all of whom have no doubt worked quite hard to get the unit to the level of proficiency shown.
G.M. Stone, Jr., Redondo Beach, CA
