1964

With the holidays behind us and a new board of officers, a long hard winter practice session lay ahead to prepare for the” Big Year.” We knew we would have to work hard and long to meet the challenge of the new season.

Everyone in drum corps circles were talking about the progress the Kingsmen have made since their first M&M appearance in 1958 and we were, “the corps to watch,” as we set our goal to best the Gray Knight Drum Corps of Rochester, NY.

As we sunk our teeth into our work of learning the new songs and improving on the old ones, the winter turned to spring and we decided it was time for a little break in the routine and have a social gathering for the corps members and invited guests.

This was held as an Open House in April at the Lake St. fire hall. The wives, mothers, and girlfriends, along with corps members, decorated the hall and prepared a buffet luncheon. The Corps put on a demonstration for all guests which included an explanation of each type of horn, its sound quality, and how each part added to the over all sound of each musical arrangement.

After, the tables were cleared and moved, and Dick Levesque & his band played dance music until the wee hours of the morning. Needless, to say, it was a gala party and one of the most successful social affairs the corps ever put on.

May arrived and our M&M practice moved outside and the drill was practiced and practiced until we were ready for the “Big” season.

The new uniforms, which were started by the 1963 Board of Directors and continued and completed by this board arrived. The white Eisenhower jackets with the light blue lapel, black pants with blue & white striping down the outside seam, chrome decorated Shakos with light blue plumes, blue gloves, and black shoes gave us the new look to go with the new sound.

We also purchased 2 contra bass horns and with a truck to carry our uniforms, flags and other balky equipment we were ready for everyone.

Corps officers for 1964 were:
President Richard Dougherty
V. President Eugene Forness
Secretary William Edgar
Treasurer Sam Hutka
Senator Gerald Miller
Corps Commander Leroy Thompson
Business Manager Jack Keller
Bugle Sgt. Donald Ahrens
Drum Sgt. Ralph Trauser
Color Guard Sgt. Peter Brown
Field Director & Drum Major Richard McClain
Asst. Drum Major David Betz
Chaplain Ira Chatley
Custodian Marlin Goodheart
Asst. Custodian James Crawford
Publicity James Kessler
Richard Dougherty

Bugle Instructor & Musical Arranger Milt Shettler
Drum Instructor Douglas Reynolds
M&M Instructor & Drill Arranger Richard McClain

Field Competitions 1964

Endicott, N.Y. June 6 2nd Place $400
Rochester, N.Y. June 20 3rd Place $600
Union City, PA. June 27 1st Place $500
Dunkirk, N.Y. July 4 2nd Place $400
Guelph, Ont. July 11 1st Place $500
Rome, N.Y. July 18 4th Place $300
Toronto, Ont. Aug 15 1st Place $500
Titusville, PA. Aug 22 3rd Place $450
Helmuth, N.Y. Aug 23 1st Place $300
Buffalo, N.Y. Aug 29 3rd Place $1,000
Lock Haven, PA. Sept 5 3rd Place $400
NyPenn-Buffalo Sept 6 1st Place $225
Hamilton, Ont. Sept 19 3rd Place $500

Total Prize money for the above 13 Field Competitions $6,075
Parades & Exhibitions 625
Total Winnings $6,700

We made a total of 21 full dress public appearances including the 13 field competitions.

Highlights of the 1964 Season

Among the number of great shows we participated in, the outstanding one was the show in Rome, N.Y., when we competed against the Syracuse Brigadiers, N.Y. State Champions and also the National Champion Hawthorne Caballeros. Although we ended up 4th, we put on a commendable show, made many new friends, and our name was spread along the East Coast where people had never heard of us before.

The July 25, 1964 5th Annual Music in Motion show was won by the Crusaders of Irondequoit, N.Y. before another sell-out crowd. 2nd Canadian Commanders, 3rd Gray Knights of Rochester, 4th Marching Ambassadors from Port Credit, Ontario, 5th Gauchos from Fulton, N.Y.

We won first place at the Southwestern Firemen’s Convention parade and the NY-Penn contest.

On Sept. 19th we competed in the International Pageant in Hamilton, Ont. We stopped the show when Elmer Morgan’s little boy Billie, walked across the field, dressed like the comic strip “Little King.” His costume was designed and made by Elmer’s wife Louise. The “Little King” was incorporated as our corps emblem on our bass drums.

A long-play recording was being pressed with the Kingsmen on one side and the Conn. Hurricanes on the other. This should be on sale before Christmas.

Eastern Review rated us Number 10 in the Eastern United States.

Donald Symington and members of the board formulated plans to have a standstill contest in Kleinhan’s Music Hall in April 1965.

On Sat., Nov. 26th the annual Drum Corps banquet was held in the Lake St. Fire Hall. The delicious dinner was catered by the West End and Music by the High Lites. After the usual after dinner speeches and thank-you’s from the guests of honor and officers, President Dougherty awarded the New-Member-Of-The-Year Award to Bill Miller and Gene Forness presented the Kingmen-Of-The-Year award to Richard Dougherty. This was one of the best banquets ever held, and a grand time was had by all.

Eugene Forness – V. Pres 1964