1928 Racine Boys of 76 Drum & Bugle Corps
Researched & written by George Fennell Copyright 2007
At the Racine Boys of 76 Drum and Bugle Corps’ last meeting in 1927 the corps in a very business like manner re-
organized itself and elected officers for the coming year.
Fred T. Maxted, commander of the drum corps for the past four years, was elected president. Maxted had been
associated with the drum corps since its organization more than eleven years ago. Starting originally as a drummer,
Maxted became the drum corps’ captain when Joseph Oliver retired in 1924.
Paul Poulson, also one of the first members of the drum corps, was elected secretary, and Richard “Dick” Buckley
was named treasurer. Attorney Fred Helm succeeded Dave Semmes as business manager.
Allen Gere, another 11-year man, continued in the capacity of bugle instructor, and Fred Schulte, who had been a
member of the drum corps as a drummer, a bugler and an instructor for at least the past eight years continued as
their drum instructor.
New music was handed out immediately upon the drum corps return from the American Legion national convention
in Paris, France. Weekly rehearsals began at this time too and were held right up to the time that the drum corps
left for the 1928 American legion national convention in San Antonio in October.
The Boys of 76 Drum and Bugle Corps again set its sights on winning the 1928 American Legion national
championship. Moral was high. The members were very enthusiastic and worked very hard at rehearsals
throughout the coming months prior to leaving for San Antonio, Texas.
But the corps still found time for social activities too. The first of these was a stag party held beginning at 2 pm on
Saturday, January 21, 1928 at the Hillcrest Lodge, Eagle Lake, WI. Fred Maxted owned the Hillcrest Lodge.
In addition to the drum corps entire personnel, “retired” drum corps members along with prospective new members
were invited. A number of Legionnaires from throughout Wisconsin who were prominent in state American Legion
affairs were also invited to attend.
At the April, 1928 meeting Fred Maxted outlined plans to the members of the corps for raising the $6,500 needed to
send the drum corps to the American Legion national convention in San Antonio, TX that coming October.
Fred Maxted explained that the drum corps would attempt to finance itself by staging a dance at Memorial Hall in
Racine on September 7th. Prizes were to be given away to help insure a large attendance.
Fred Maxted also said the he was trying to arrange to have the drum corps appear as one of the musical attractions
at the next Wisconsin State Fair. Money paid to the drum corps for this service would also be turned over to the
San Antonio trip fund. The drum corps would also make other appearances during the summer to earn additional
money for the San Antonio trip.
The members of the drum corps endorsed these plans and decided to do all that they could to make this trip
possible.
The Racine American Legion Post 76 “Boys of 76” Drum and Bugle Corps didn’t attend the 1928 state American
Legion convention which was held in Wausau, WI that summer. The results of this contest, however, are very
interesting.
Following the American Legion’s state convention parade, more than 5,000 people attended the band and drum
corps contest at Marathon Park in Wausau, WI.
The Superior, WI American Legion Post drum and bugle corps won first place followed in order by La Crosse,
Marinette, Menomonie, Eau Claire Forty et Eight and Oshkosh.
In the band contest the Milwaukee County American Legion Band repeated as winner followed in order by Green
Bay, Waukesha, Oconomowoc and Reedsburg.
On Monday, September 3, 1928, the Racine American Legion Post 76 Drum and Bugle corps led Racine’s Labor
Day Parade. At 10:30 a.m. the Racine American Legion Post 76 Drum and Bugle Corps headed the parade which
left the Memorial Hall neighborhood in downtown Racine and ended at Lakeview Park. As the parade passed by
the Eagles Club located on Main Street at Hamilton Street they were joined by the Senior Eagles and Junior Eagles
drill teams. The parade then continued north up Main Street to High Street, then east to Michigan Boulevard and
from there north to Lakeview Park.
Racine’s all-day Labor Day celebration featured afternoon and evening programs at both Lakeview Park and across
the street at the Racine Zoo. At 2 pm the Racine American Legion Post 76 Drum and Bugle Corps opened the
Labor Day program at Lakeview Park with an exhibition on the baseball diamond there. In the evening another
exhibition was presented by the Racine American Legion Post 76 Drum and Bugle Corps.
On Wednesday night, September 5, 1928, the Racine American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps held an Open
House. Approximately 2,000 people attended. The drum corps performed an exhibition behind Memorial Hall. Herr
Fritz’s German Band was to provide much of the evening’s entertainment however due to short notice several
members were unable to arrive in time for their concert so that portion of the evenings program was omitted.
On Friday, September 7, 1928 the Racine American Legion Post 76 Drum and Bugle Corps held a Ball at Memorial
Hall. This was the biggest affair ever sponsored by the drum corps. Chuck Petersen’s “Serenaders” provided music
for the dancers from 9 pm to 1 am. The success of this dance was critical to the drum corps finances because they
were just giving this one big dance this year as opposed to the four dances that they held last year. This dance was
the final part of the financial campaign to send the drum corps on their trip to the 32nd Division convention in Waco,
Texas and the American Legion National Convention in San Antonio, Texas. The dance was a success!
“Thousands of dancers crowded the spacious floors of Memorial Hall” it was reported the next day in the Racine
Times-Call newspaper.
The committees for the American Legion Post 76 drum and Bugle Corps dance were as follows:
General committee: Fred Maxted, Fred H. Helm, J. D. Costello and David E. Semmes.
Refreshments: Viggo Matson, Frank Smith, Victor Schoening, Lee Foreman, Clarence Grise, C. A. Gillman, Reeve
W. Jordan, F. M. Buckley, William E. Hapke, Henry Winkles, Norbert Peil, E. Kay and Warren Carmen.
Check room: Elmer Erb, Mark Peil, Andrew Shymanski, Leonard Beck, Ed Jerstad, Elmer Sanville, Ben Parker, E.
Asplund, Harold Griffith, Carl Huber, John Manalli, Bernhardt Larson, A. Anderson, William Gersonde, Ed Hahn,
Arthur Potterville, L. Johnson, M. Weber, Alex Zimmerman, F. L. Schacht, Selmer Valsvik and Charles Schneider.
Door selling: Ed Rapps, Ray LaChance, Milton Young, Vincent Hood, David E. Semmes, Denny Nelson, Harry
Groenke, Don Morey and R. Weber.
Receiving: Jacob Mauer, Charles Alexande, Alvin Christensen, Elmer Hillberg, Ed Murphy, G. Johnson, W. Hanson
and L. Niessen.
Checking tickets: R. Buckley, P. Poulson, B. Smollen, Allen Gere and Chester Nelson.
John Philip Sousa and his famous band arrived in Racine on Tuesday, September 18, 1928. Racine’s city officials,
merchants, businessmen and members of luncheon clubs welcomed Sousa at noon during a luncheon arranged by
the Racine Exchange Club.
Sousa’s 1928 tour celebrated his 50th year as a conductor.
Two concerts were given by Sousa and his band at Memorial Hall. They were sponsored by the local society of the
Daughters of Isabelle. A matinee performance was given at 3:30 pm especially for children. The children were
excused from classes at 3 pm to attend this concert which featured musical numbers of interest to a juvenile
audience.
Prior to the evening concert the Racine American Legion Post 76 Drum and Bugle Corps met John Phillip Sousa at
the Hotel Racine. After playing a concert for Sousa at the Hotel Racine, the drum corps then escorted Sousa to
Memorial Hall where Sousa presented the Boys of 76 a beautiful parade flag. Fred Helm, business manager of the
drum corps, accepted the gift. Sousa and his band then played their evening concert of various numbers to around
1,000 people in attendance at Memorial Hall.
The day before the American Legion Post 76 drum and Bugle Corps was scheduled to leave on their trip to the
American Legion National Convention in San Antonio, Texas, members of the organization were fearful of the failure
of the proper financing for the trip. The drum corps had raised $8,056 up to this point but this was still not enough
money to cover the cost of this trip. At the last minute the drum corps received the following donations which then
gave the drum corps more than enough money to pay for the trip: $500 from William Horlick Sr., $100 from the
Wisconsin Gas & Electric Co., $10 from the Lakeside Printing Co., $15 from the Mohr-Jones Hardware Co., $10 from
the Ingeman Body Shop, $25 from the Kiwanis Club, $25 from Fred Bauman, $10 from Edward Rapps Sr., $10 from
B. F. Nield and $25 from Dr. G. W. Nott.
So at 6:15 pm on Thursday, October 4, 1928 the Racine American Legion Post 76 Drum and Bugle Corps marched
from Memorial Hall in Downtown Racine to the St. Paul Rail Road Station at the foot of Main Street. The drum corps
then boarded the special train of 10 cars and left at 10 pm on their long trek to San Antonio, Texas.
The three top Wisconsin American Legion drum and bugle corps, Beloit, Fond du Lac and Racine attended the
American Legion National Convention in San Antonio, TX.
Beloit’s Myron C. West Post drum and bugle corps left Beloit at 7 pm on Saturday, October 6, 1928 for San Antonio
in a special train over the Milwaukee Railroad. On the way the special train will stop in Rockford, IL long enough to
pick up the Rockford drum corps. They reached San Antonio Monday morning, October 8, 1928. Monday was
spent in registration and getting information regarding the program for the remainder of the week.
Fond du Lac’s Maj. A. M. Trier Post drum and bugle corps and Ladies Auxiliary left Fond du Lac at 10:15 pm on
Friday, October 5, 1928 on a special train over the Soo Line Railroad for San Antonio, TX. This special train was
named “The Wisconsin State Commander’s Special” in honor of R. F. Hoehl of Superior, WI, the newly elected state
American Legion Commander, who accompanied this delegation on their trip to San Antonio.
On the trip south the Fond du Lac drum and bugle corps stopped at Waco, TX. Arriving at Waco at 8:30 am on
Sunday, 10-07-1928, they took part in the parade of the Thirty-Second Division reunion at 1 pm. Local newspapers
reporting on the parade called Carl Schroeder, Fond du Lac’s drum major, “the world’s highest stepping drum
major”. The Fond du Lac drum and bugle corps then left Waco at 12:15 am on Monday, 10-08-1928, and arrived in
San Antonio at 7:05 am later that same morning.
The Racine American Legion Post 76 drum and bugle corps marched in parade formation from Memorial Hall in
downtown Racine at 6:15 pm on Thursday, October 4, 1928 to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad station at
the foot of Main Street to begin their trek to San Antonio, TX. Their special train left over the St. Paul road at 10 pm
Thursday night.
Several stops were made along the way to San Antonio, TX. Stops were made at Kansas City, MO; Emporia, KS;
Wichita, KS; Arkansas City, KS; Oklahoma City, OK and Dallas TX. At the stops in Kansas City, Wichita,
Oklahoma City and Dallas the Racine Post 76 drum and bugle corps either staged a parade or performed an
exhibition. At the stop in Emporia, KS they attended a luncheon. At Arkansas City they attended another luncheon,
however they also played a concert there too.
Following their two hour stop in Dallas the Racine Post 76 drum and bugle corps arrived in Waco, TX at 11:45 am on
Saturday, 10-06-1928. Upon their arrival the drum corps fell in and paraded to the Cotton Palace for a barbecue.
On Saturday the Racine Post 76 drum and bugle corps performed an exhibition between halves at the football game
at Baylor University. The drum corps performed again Saturday night at a dance held in their honor. Sunday
morning the drum corps practiced and then at 1 pm they took part in the Thirty-Second Division reunion’s parade.
The heat was so intense during the parade that four of the men dropped from the ranks.
The Racine Post 76 drum and bugle corps then left Waco at 3 pm on Sunday, 10-07-1928 for San Antonio, TX.
After making one last stop in Austin, TX where the drum corps staged another parade, the Racine Post 76 drum and
bugle corps finally arrived in San Antonio, TX at 9:30 pm Sunday evening.
At all of these stops the Racine Post 76 drum and bugle corps appeared in Army uniforms, saving their famous white
uniforms for use in San Antonio.
Two members of the Racine Post drum and bugle corps were robbed enroute to san Antonio, TX. The porter of the
train was charged and taken off the train. A collection for the two victims was taken.
On Monday morning, October 08, 1928, the tenth annual national convention of the American Legion opened in San
Antonio, TX for a five day session.
The members of the Racine Post 76 drum and bugle corps were housed at the San Antonio Y.M.C.A.
The Racine Post 76 drum and bugle corps spent much of Monday parading around downtown San Antonio
serenading dignitaries at the hotels and performing exhibitions along with many of the other musical units in
attendance. However, at 11 am Monday the Racine Post 76 drum and bugle corps boarded buses and went out to
Foch Field where the preliminary drum corps contest was to be held on Wednesday. There they practiced for two
hours in 85 degree heat.
The Racine Post 76 drum and bugle corps was very confident in their appearance in San Antonio because of
William Horlick Sr. Prior to the drum corps leaving for San Antonio, William Horlick Sr. financed the re-plating of their
chrome helmets and other similar equipment, he outfitted the drum major in a complete new uniform, he paid for new
belts and puttees for each member, and he paid for having all of the drum corps uniforms cleaned and repaired.
This insured that the Racine Post 76 drum and bugle corps would make their best possible personal appearance.
On Tuesday, October 9, 1928, nearly 200,000 people watched the American Legion National Convention’s big
parade which began at 11 am in San Antonio. The parade was finished four hours later at 3 pm.
The Wisconsin delegation was perhaps the largest in the entire parade. There were seven musical units from
Wisconsin in the parade: the Beloit, Fond du Lac, Fort Atkinson and Racine drum and bugle corps along with the
Beaver Dam, Kenosha and Milwaukee Girls Bands.
The Fond du Lac drum and bugle corps was honored when it was chosen on Tuesday as the official drum corps of
the Wisconsin delegation in attendance at the National American Legion Convention. As a result of this honor the
Fond du Lac drum and bugle corps led the Wisconsin contingent in Tuesday’s parade.
Also on Tuesday, 10-09-1928, it was voted at a meeting of commanders of the American Legion drum and bugle
corps to judge the drum corps in actual competition to determine the winners in place of the old method of picking
the winners as they paraded past the reviewing stand in the American Legions big parade.
Due to the large number of drum and bugle corps in attendance a preliminary competition was held at Foch Field at
Fort Sam Houston beginning at 8 am on Wednesday, 10-10-1928. For the preliminary competition each corps was
allowed to drill for between 5 and 10 minutes. There were forty-six drum corps in the preliminary competition.
The top fifteen drum corps from the preliminary competition then competed in the finals held at Foch Field at Fort
Sam Houston beginning at 8 am on Thursday, 10-11-1928. Drawings for the position that each of the finalists would
appear in the finals competition was held on Wednesday night, 10-10-1928 at 8 pm. Beloit drew the first position
while Racine drew twelfth and Rockford drew tenth.
The Fond du Lac, WI and the Sioux City, IA drum corps were selected as the alternates in case any of the fifteen
finalists did not compete. Apparently one of the finalists chose not to compete because the Fond du Lac drum
corps did compete in the finals.
Perfect score was 180 and the finals competition results are as follows:
1. 177.900 Miami, FL
2. 177.595 Salem, OR
3. 176.566 Frankfort, PA
4. 176.197 South Pasadena, CA
5. 175.700 Ogden, UT
6. 175.575 Pierre, SD
7. 175.436 Ft. Dodge, IA
8. 175.398 Fond du Lac, WI
9. 175.236 Beloit, WI
10. 175.099 Racine, WI
11. 174.948 Chicago, IL
12. 174.699 Tulsa, OK
13. 174.626 Rockford, IL
14. 173.851 Aberdeen, SD
15. 172.569 Kingston, NY
Drum corps and band cash prizes were awarded as follows: First place, $1,000; second place, $750; third place,
$500 and fourth place, $250.
The band competition results are as follows: Wichita, KS, first; Sioux City, IA Monahan Post Band, four times winner
of the national championship, was second; Greenville OH, third; Rochester, NY, fourth; Kenosha, WI, fifth and
Beaver Dam, sixth.
When the Beloit American Legion drum and bugle corps left for San Antonio, TX there was much anxiety over its
chances to finish among the top 15 and make finals at the American Legion National Championship. Sickness
among several of its members prevented them from attending. However, despite missing several of their members
they still made finals.
The Beloit drum and bugle corps left San Antonio Thursday afternoon by train on its return trip back home to Beloit,
WI. The drum corps spent Friday in New Orleans. They left New Orleans at midnight on Friday for Vicksburg, MS.
Arriving in Vicksburg at 7 am the Beloit Legionnaires spent four hours visiting this historic city. The Beloit drum and
bugle corps then arrived back in Beloit at 5:45 Sunday afternoon, 10-14-1928.
The Fond du Lac drum and bugle corps left San Antonio, TX at 10 am on Friday, 10-12-1928. Stops were made at
Houston, New Orleans, Vicksburg and Memphis. At Houston on Friday the drum corps was entertained by the
Association of Commerce. After spending Saturday in New Orleans they left Sunday morning on the last leg of their
journey home. They stopped at Vicksburg for a visit to the National Cemetery there and then stopped at Memphis
for supper. They arrived back in Fond du Lac at 2:30 pm Monday afternoon, 10-15-1928. Although there was no
formal celebration when they arrived back in Fond du Lac, a delegation representing many of Fond du Lac’s civic
organizations met the train when it arrived.
Before the Racine drum and bugle corps began their return trip back to Racine they paid a visit to Mexico. On
Thursday, 10-11-1928, the drum corps chartered a bus and spent the day in Mexico. They went to Laredo and
Nuevo Laredo. While there they were suppose to attend a bull fight. However when they saw the dead horses and
bulls that had been in fights the previous day they decided not to see the bull fight.
The Racine drum and bugle corps left San Antonio at midnight on Friday, 10-12-1928 by train. Stops on the return
trip to Racine included one at Hot Springs, Ark., where a dinner dance was held for them, at St. Louis, MO for a
parade and at Springfield, IL where they stopped just long enough to place a wreath on the tomb of Abraham
Lincoln.
The Racine drum and bugle corps was scheduled to arrive back in Racine at 9:30 pm on Sunday night, 10-14-
1928. However the Racine drum corps returned home Sunday night around 11 pm which was about an hour and a
half later than their scheduled arrival time. They were held over at Chicago due to the fact that a clear track could
not be obtained for their special train. Still they were greeted by a crowd of several hundred people who had waited
for the drum corps to return.
Plans for a welcoming parade and reception were abandoned when the special train was delayed about an hour and
a half in Chicago.
The Racine drum corps members stepped from the train carrying armfuls of souvenirs - 10 gallon hats, canes and
convention ribbons.
The Racine drum and bugle corps assembled near the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul & railroad station on Main
Street. With their heads held high and drumsticks rolling out a steady beat the Racine drum and bugle corps
marched back to Memorial Hall on the same street which had been their route 10 days before. The drum corps
disbanded upon its arrival at Memorial Hall and each of the members was hurried away to his home. They had not
won the drum corps championship but they were welcomed home as if they had.
Members of the drum corps expressed relief in escaping the oppressive heat of the south.
“Texas! A hot place, believe me,” said one Racine drum corps member according to the Racine Journal-Times.
“We had a wonderful time, the entertainment was great - but it sure was hot down there. They don’t even have
thermometers because they know its hot. As for the cool nights that we expected, we did get a few cool breezes one
night but they came from the gulf and didn’t help much.”
William F. Ludwig, president of the famous drum making company from Chicago which bears his name, made the trip
to San Antonio, TX for the American Legion national convention with the Racine drum and bugle corps.
William F. Ludwig stated in his written report to the Racine drum and bugle corps afterward that “drum and bugle
corps are becoming more proficient in presenting technical points of music. Less attention seems to be given to the
difficult maneuvers with which Racine has amazed Legionnaires in previous national conventions.” His report went
on to offer suggestions on what Racine could do to continue to be successful at future American Legion national
drum and bugle corps competitions.
In a review of the score sheets from the 1928 American Legion finals it should be noted that in Marching &
Maneuvering (M & M) the Racine drum corps received a perfect score of 40 points from one judge and 39.999 from
the other judge. It was the Racine drum corps’ playing ability in drums and bugles at both prelims and finals that
cost them their chances of a higher placement or even winning.
A number of changes in rules and standards governing drum and bugle corps competitions at future state
conventions of the American Legion were voted on at a conference held in Milwaukee on Tuesday, December 4,
1928. Representatives from the American Legion drum and bugle corps from Racine, Beloit, Marinette, Superior
and Fond du Lac were in attendance. State Commander Reginald Hoehle and State Adjutant Austin A. Petersen
also attended the conference on drum corps competition rules.
The following recommendations were voted:
First, that in future drum corps competitions in Wisconsin the same rules be used as now are used in national
competitions as far as methods of scoring and distribution of points are concerned.
Second, that unless there are more than ten drum corps in competition at a state convention, no preliminary contest
be held - all drum corps will be permitted to enter final competition.
Third, that in future competitions all members of competing drum corps be Legionnaires.
Fourth, that at least two military men of rank of captain or above be asked to serve on the judges’ committee to rate
drum corps on appearance, marching ability and the like.
Fifth, that one judge be appointed to judge drum sections and another judge to judge fife and bugle sections, all
judges to be from outside of Wisconsin and their names to be withheld from contestants until the time of competition.
These recommendations were adopted at a meeting of the state executive committee which was held on Sunday,
January 27, 1929, at Portage, WI, in connection with the Mid-winter Conference of the American Legion’s state
department.