Johnsonburg History

1
Johnsonburg History

• The History Of Drum Bugle Corps in Johnsonburg

2
Overview

• Since 1936 Johnsonburg as had a Drum Corps in
  every Decade
• Total of Four Different Corps
• The Yellow Jackets, Red Rockets, Diplomats and
  Grey Knights

3
The Beginning gt 1936

• Armstrong Hose Company
• Started by Sylvester Hunky Feronti and Charles
  Feronti
• Attended many parades and exhibitions In the next
  several years
• One year took 16 First places and one second (
  claimed all judges were from Tyrone in Tyrone)

4
The Beginning Continued

• Corps deactivated during WW II
• Reorganized in 1947
• Corps becomes known as the Yellow Jackets because
  of their uniforms
• Attended many Competitions and parades until 1963
  and were very successful

5
Central Hose Company

• Junior Drum Corps was formed in August 1939
  Central Hose Junior Drum and Bugle Corps
• Leo Olszewski main force behind the creation of
  the Corps
• Other members of Central Hose Co.
• Don Blint Sr., Jack Condon Ed Dubler, Cecil
  Lynch, Alvin Davidson, Richard Dubler
• Don Blint Sr. is the Instructor
• Performed at Shamrocks games
• Shamrocks were Minor League football from
  Johnsonburg
• Went inactive in 1942, 37 members served in WWII

6
Central Hose contd

• Reorganized in 1947
• NorthWestern PA Champs in 1947
• In 1949 milestone event, Don Blint Sr. goes to
  Armstrong Hose
• A young Eugene Sallack instructs hornline
• Became known as the Red Rockets
• Competed in many more parades and field
  competitions and were very successful for the
  next several years
• Disbanded in 1963 due to lack of membership

7
Diplomats

• In fall of 1967 Diplomat era begins
• Members from both Red Rockets and Yellow Jackets
• Eugene Sallack, Don McGonigal
• Charles Holmberg, Don Speaker organize the
  corps
• 1968 first season many parades and concerts,
  corps flourishes

8
Diplomats Contd

• Winter of 1970 corps struggles
• With members coming home in 1971 from Viet Nam
  war corps is re-energized
• 1973 corps begins to compete in field competions
• Finals finds the corps in last place 12th place
• The corps management refocuses

9
Diplomats contd

• The corps steps up recruiting and total
  performance package,
• determined never to come in last place again
• From 1973 to 1979 the corps improves and begin to
  win several competitions
• Named Elk County Musical Ambassadors
• The corps never placed last again
• The Corps takes 2nd place in Championships, only
  losing by tenths to Erie Thunderbirds
• The corps competed with 54 Brass, 22 Percussion
  and 25 Color Guard

10
Diplomats contd

• The corps enjoyed success until 1979
• Due to economic reasons the corps disbands in the
  fall of 1979

11
Grey Knights

• After several years of silence the Grey Knights
  are formed in 1985
• Several members from the Diplomats organized the
  new group (Don McGonigal, Tom Detwiler, Gene
  Sallack, Charles Holmberg, Ed McAlee and Wayne
  Decker)
• No Equipment, Corps purchases equipment from
  Blackwatch of Mt Morris, New Jersey

12
Grey Knights contd

• Summer of 1986 the Grey Knights first
  performances begin
• Quickly the Corps becomes very popular while
  performing in many parades and concerts
• In 1990 the corps begins competing in field
  competitions and joins the DCA
• DCA is the national ruling body for senior drum
  bugle corps
• The corps competes with other corps from across
  the US, performing in PA, NY, NJ, MD and Canada

13
Grey Knights contd

• Recognizing the need for smaller corps to compete
  on an even playing field, in 1996 the corps
  sponsors a movement to create a Class A Division
  within the DCA structure
• The move is accepted unanimously
• Before the new class was created an average of 12
  corps competed in DCA Finals. Today DCA has an
  average of 27 corps competing

14
Grey Knights contd

• The corps continued to be active until 2006
• The corps goes inactive in 2006
• some members decide to take some time off

15
2010 Grey Knights

• Request from BiCentinial Cmte
• Grey Knights reorganizes in August 2009
• Begin to rehearse in fall of 2009
• Management decides to use tunes from the past
• 2010 Music selection includes Cherry Pink and
  Apple Blossom White, Dixie/ Glory, Georgia On My
  Mind, Just a Gigolo ( corps signature tune) and a
  Santana collection

16
2010 Grey Knight Management

• Corps Director Don McGonigal
• Co-Director Tom Detwiler, Gene Sallack
• Treasurer Don BlintMarketing / Recruiting
  Donald (Bud) SpeakerEquipment Rich FiscusMusic
  Custodian Gene Breindel.....and the voice of
  reason Eddie McAleeHorn Instructor Gene
  Sallack(celebrating 61 years of Instructing)
• Drumline Instructors Ed Kujawa and Rich
  TaylorGuard Renee Blankenship
• Todays Grey Knights are comprised of 34 Brass, 15
  Percussion and Guard unknown Just starting

17
GREY KNIGHTS 25th

• THE CORPS IS CELEBRATING THEIR 25th ANNIVERSARY
  IN 2010