Welcome to the History of the Racine Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps - Part 1: The First 25 Years.
Researched & Written by George Fennell. Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved.
The entire contents of this page, written and/or photos, are used with the permission of George Fennell
and are intended for use solely by this website: www.racinekiltiealumni.org.
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THE HISTORY OF THE RACINE SCOUTS DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS.
Part 1: 1927 - 1952 The First 25 Years.
The Racine Scouts drum and bugle corps, which through the years has literally marched its way thousands of miles
winning acclaim throughout the United States and Canada, had its beginnings as a troop activity in the fall of 1927.
The corps came into being in Boy Scout Troop 15 of the Church of the Atonement with Elof Erickson, then
Scoutmaster, as the originator. The corps is said to be the "brainchild" of Elof Erickson who came up with the idea
while he was scoutmaster for Troop 15. Earl Ray became drum instructor, and William L. Peterson became bugle
instructor and director to carry out the project.
Two others who were instrumental in those early days in pushing development of the Corps were Norbert Zinnen,
who became an instructor the following year, and the Carl Lange who became scoutmaster two years later.
Peterson was director of the corps for at least the first 25-years of the Racine Scout drum and bugle corps'
existence.
The young men from Troop 15 quickly earned the nickname "the noisy nomads" by practicing their drill and music in
the streets of Racine. Because instruments were unavailable at first, the boys sang or hummed their music.
Interestingly, Racine's Boy Scout Troop 15 was not the first Boy Scout Troop or Council in Racine to organize a
drum and bugle corps. As the Boy Scout movement swept the country with astonishing rapidity after the opening of
the national headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America on the 12th of June, 1910, many of these first Boy Scout
Troops, because of their para-military nature, decided to train their Boy Scout Troop members in the art of
marching, drumming and bugling as part of their program. Among the first in the country to organize a drum and
bugle corps were the Boy Scout Troop at the First Methodist Church, Des Moines, IA, in January of 1911 and Boy
Scout Troop 1 of Fort Wayne, IN, in February of 1911.
As a side note, by December of 1912 the Fort Wayne, IN, Boy Scout Council had five troops with a combined total
active membership of about 250 boys. One of these troops, Fort Wayne's Boy Scout Troop 1, with an active
membership of only 75 members, by that time had organized within its own troop a band, a drum and bugle corps, a
drill team, signal corps, a hospital corps and two basketball teams.
As far as I can tell, the first Boy Scout Drum and bugle corps organized in Wisconsin was by the Janesville, WI, Boy
Scout Council in November, 1911. The Harry L Gifford Camp of the United Spanish War Veterans donated the
money used to purchase new instruments for the drum corps and their hall was used for meetings and practices.
Probably the second one organized in Wisconsin was organized by the La Crosse Boy Scout Council on March 5,
1914. Their first public appearance was at the Memorial Day parade and exercises held there on Sunday, May
24,1914. They remained active as a boy scout drum and bugle corps for many, many years.
The first Boy Scout drum and bugle corps in Racine was organized by Boy Scout Troop 12 sometime during 1917.
They were only active during 1917. In one instance, they took part in two big parades in Racine which were held in
connection with the Liberty Loan campaign. Both of these parades were held on Saturday, October 20, 1917. One
parade was staged in the afternoon and the other parade was staged in the evening. The Racine Boy Scout Troop
12 drum corps headed the five Boy Scout Troops of Racine as they marched through the city selling bonds. As a
result of this effort, they sold $5,000 worth of bonds. At the conclusion of the evenings parade, the boys were all
taken for a ride around Racine in a truck donated for that purpose by J. W. Bate.
Discussions surrounding the feasibility of organizing a council-wide Boy Scout drum and bugle corps in Racine were
taking place by the city's scouting officials during the summer of 1918. The matter was first taken up on August 13,
1918, when the Boy Scouts of Racine met at a meeting at Lake Park. The two main items on the agenda at this
council-wide meeting were discussions regarding camp for the week of Aug. 23 to 29 and the matter of organizing a
drum corps. At a wiener roast for the city's Boy Scouts on Friday, Sept. 6, 1918, at Lake Park in front of the Elk's
Club House, plans were first made for the organization of a drum and bugle corps. On Monday afternoon, Sept. 16,
1918, it was announced in the Racine Journal-News "Boy Scouts Here Will Have A Drum And Bugle Corps". The
drum corps first practice was held on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 1918, at 7:30 pm at McMynn School. The drum corps
was open to any Boy Scout in Racine. Thus, Racine's second Boy Scout drum and bugle corps was born. They
were very active, and I mean very active, until they disbanded at the end of 1920.
Many Wisconsin American Legion Posts in the early 1920's decided that one of the ways to be a great community
asset was to back their local Scouting organizations in every way that they could. As a result of this philosophy the
Teddy Budlong Post No. 39 of Marinette, WI, organized a Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps during the winter of
1922 - 1923. Marinette's Teddy Budlong Post No. 39 already had its own American Legion Post Drum and Bugle
Corps, so it's experienced Legionnaires were put in charge of running and instructing the new Boy Scout corps.
Initially there were over 40 Boy Scouts in the corps. In addition to some bugles already owned by the Boy Scout
Troop for its buglers, 20 new bugles, 8 new snare drums and 2 new bass drums were purchased and added to the
equipment.
Also, in March of 1923 the Girl Scouts of the 17 troops in Kenosha, along with much help from Kenosha's American
Legion Post 21, organized a drum corps. It was just a drum corps, so there were no buglers or fifes. Marching
instructors were provided by members of the Kenosha American Legion Post 21 while M. R. Jackson instructed the
drummers. Response was excellent and many girls showed up for try-outs. Sixteen girls were chosen for regular
drummers and sixteen for substitutes. Drum practices were held every Saturday from three to four o'clock at the
Kenosha Boy Scout Headquarters. Drill rehearsals were held the second week of each month after school from five
to six o'clock during the school year.
A tremendous amount of credit must be given to the Wisconsin American Legion for their help in organizing many of
Wisconsin's first Scout drum and bugle corps. The quality, support and dedication of their leaders and instructors
involved with these initial Wisconsin Scout drum and bugle corps helped to create impressive drum and bugle corps
that would later be copied by other Scout Troops and Councils throughout Wisconsin and the nation. Wisconsin
would become not only one the nation's leaders in terms of the number of Boy Scout drum and bugle corps that
ever operated in a state, but more significantly, Wisconsin would become the nation's leader in terms of their
competitive successes while operating as Boy Scout and Explorer Scout Troops. Led by the Racine and Madison
Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, who both still exist to this day, Wisconsin's Boy Scout drum and bugle corps have
traveled worldwide, entertained millions and won countless trophies in both local and national competitions.
In 1928, the Boy Scout drum and bugle corps marched in Racine's famous Fourth of July parade for the first time.
In 1929 the Boy Scout drum and bugle corps not only marched in Racine's Fourth of July parade, but they also
performed during the afternoon fireworks program at the Racine Zoo. Events at the Racine Zoo on Thursday, July
4, 1929, included daylight fireworks in the afternoon at Zoo Park. The Troop 15 Drum and Bugle Corps played taps
when "one night piece" was set off which displayed the American Flag's colors. Also during the events at Zoo Park
the Washington Jr. High School Drum and Bugle Corps from Racine and the Milwaukee Kilties Girls Drum Corps put
on exhibitions.
1929 saw the first big trip for the Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps. On Saturday October 5, 1929, the
Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps of Troop 15 traveled to Madison, WI, for the Wisconsin - Colgate football
game at Camp Randall Stadium. Boy Scouts from all over the state of Wisconsin were invited by the University of
Wisconsin to come to the game as part of a Boy Scout Day. Admission was free to all Boy Scouts who presented
their unexpired B.S.A. certificate.
The Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps left Racine at 8 a.m. Saturday, October 5, 1929, in a special truck
provided by James Collier, a superintendent at S. C. Johnson & Co. Carl Lange, Scoutmaster; Directors Earl Ray
and William Peterson, Committeemen Frank Andrews and Edward Speer and District Commissioner Joseph Patrick
accompanied the 52 boys of the drum corps.
At noon Boy Scouts from all over the state gathered in front of the University of Wisconsin's Library on the lower
campus. Following a program of songs and speeches the entire assemblage, estimated at some 1,500 Boy Scouts,
marched down State Street to the State Capital building headed by the Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps. A
short while later they marched from the State Capital Building to Camp Randall Stadium where the game was
played. The second parade was again headed by the Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps. . Between halves
of the game the Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps put on an exhibition.
It was announced in October of 1931 that the corps was considering reorganizing under the auspices of the Racine
County Boy Scout Council. A committee was appointed by Racine Boy Scout Commissioner Joseph J. Patrick to
study the feasibility of organizing a council-wide drum and bugle corps. This committee included himself, Joseph J.
Patrick, as the committee's chairman, Boyd Adams, John Brown and Boy Scout Executive Arthur Gruhl. Racine Boy
Scout Commissioner Joseph J. Patrick then called a meeting which was held at 7:30 pm on Thursday, October 8,
1931, in the gymnasium of the Racine Police Station on the corner of Third and Lake Avenue. The purpose of this
meeting was to gauge the amount of interest Racine area Boy Scouts had in organizing a council-wide drum and
bugle corps. This meeting was very well attended with boys from at least fourteen troops attending. I must note here
that this committee was very open to other civic organizations stepping in to sponsor this new drum and bugle
corps. They made this publicly known and solicited sponsors in the local Racine newspapers at the time. This
would suggest to me that this committee would have seriously considered someone other than the Racine County
Boy Scout Council to sponsor this new drum and bugle corps. However, the decision was made to form a council-
wide drum and bugle corps. This decision now made it possible for all Boy Scouts from Racine and Racine County to
join. However, in order to join each Boy Scout was expected to supply his own equipment. Also, each Boy Scout
would have to be at least a Second Class Boy Scout in rank and in good standing in his troop. Fortunately Earl Ray,
William Peterson and "Shorty" Zinnen continued on with the new council-wide drum and bugle corps as its leaders
and instructors.
During the 1930's the corps was officially designated as National Boy Scout Region Seven's own musical unit. It was
now the oldest musical organization in Scouting, in point of continuous service.
The corps trophies and awards are too numerous to list. It has won many, many competitions. During the 1930's it
was one of the favorites at the Chicago Tournament of Music beginning when it first appeared there in 1930 and
swept off with first place honors.
For six years beginning in 1935 and continuing through 1940 the Racine Scouts drum and bugle corps was
undefeated in competition. Some of their victories during this six year period included the Kenosha "Round-Up" in
1939 and 1940, Riverview Amusement Park's "Tournament of Champions" at Chicago in 1940, and three
consecutive victories at the "Chicagoland Music Festival" from 1935 through 1937. In fact, with its victory in 1935
the corps attained the highest score ever recorded by a drum and bugle corps at the Chicagoland Music Festival -
98.30.
The Racine Scouts repertoire for 1936 included "Onward Christian Soldiers", "On Wisconsin" and "Lullaby of
Broadway".
From June 30 through July 9, 1937, the Racine Boy Scouts drum and bugle corps attended the National Boy Scout
Jamboree at Washington, D.C. A fund raising campaign by the Racine Association of Commerce raised the funds
needed to make this trip possible for the drum corps. Making this trip with the drum corps were Racine Scout
Executive Arthur M. Gruhl, Corps Director William Peterson and Scoutmasters Percy Dawson and Wallace Brown.
On Wednesday night, June 30th, just over twenty-five thousand Boy Scouts witnessed a concert performed by the
Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps at the national jamboree in Washington, D.C. Afterward when referring to
the Racine Scout Drum and Bugle corps, the Jamboree Journal said, "The Racine corps, now 10 years old, is one of
the best known musical organizations in the middle west. The fine equipment made possible by the people of
Racine and the mothers of the boys, their training by volunteer scouters, their immaculate appearance, their
maneuvering and visible rhythm, their repertoire ranging from swing music through conventional drum corps music
to the classics, combine to make this corps the finest of its kind."
Other highlights for the Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps during their trip to the 1937 national jamboree in
Washington, D. C., include on Monday, July 5th, the drum corps led 5,000 Boy Scouts to the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier and played a concert there during a downpour of rain. On Tuesday, July 6th, the drum corps played a
concert during ceremonies at the Washington Monument. Also on Tuesday, July 6th, at 5:15 pm a concert by the
Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps was broadcast on the NBC radio network drum corps with WMAL,
Washington, as the key station.
Because of attending the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Washington, D.C. over the 4th of July in 1937, the Racine
Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps was unable to participate in the Fourth of July parade and festivities back home in
Racine.
On Monday afternoon, August 9, 1937, the Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps participated in the Wisconsin
American Legion State Convention's parade through downtown Milwaukee. This was the first time that the drum
corps ever appeared at a Wisconsin American Legion State Convention. Sponsored by American Legion Post 76,
the Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps won first prize as the best Scout drum and bugle corps entered in the
parade, getting $25, while the Rhinelander Scouts were second. However, they did not compete in the convention's
annual drum and bugle corps contest. The 1937 American Legion parade, especially the Racine section, was
broadcast over radio station WRJN of Racine.
In 1938 the Racine Scouts inspired a group of businessmen in Madison, WI to organize a new drum and bugle
corps. By providing staff, music and general support, the Racine Scouts played a critical role in starting the Madison
Scouts.
Also in 1938 the Racine Scouts had another performance on national radio, playing on NBC's "Worldwide Round
Up" broadcast. Also in 1938 they performed playing single piston bugles for their first time at the Century of
Progress World's Fair in Chicago.
On Monday, April 24, 1939, Denmark's Crown Prince Frederick and Princess Ingrid visited Racine. A banquet and a
public reception was held for them beginning at 12:30 pm in Memorial Hall in downtown Racine. As part of the
ceremonies to welcome the Danish Crown Prince and Princess at Memorial Hall, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from
Racine were stationed outside the entrance to Memorial Hall. A line of policemen stood behind the Boy and Girl
Scouts. The Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps was stationed in a small parkway just south of the building.
Upon the arrival of Denmark's Crown Prince and Princess at Memorial Hall, all the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and
Policemen stood at attention followed by the Racine Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps playing both the Danish and
the United States' national anthems. Uniformed members of Racine's American Legion Post 76 Drum and Bugle
Corps served as ushers for this banquet in the main auditorium.
In 1939 the Wisconsin VFW State Convention was held in Racine. On Saturday, June 24, 1939, as part of the
Wisconsin VFW State Convention, a parade was held at 3 pm in downtown Racine. The Racine Boy Scout Drum
and Bugle Corps headed a section of this parade. They did not, however, compete Saturday night in the drum
corps competition at Racine's Horlick Athletic Field. This marked their first appearance at a Wisconsin VFW State
Convention.
In local competition during 1941 the Racine Scouts again won Riverview Amusement Park's "Tournament of
Champions" at Chicago for the second year in a row and they also won the Kenosha "Round-Up" for the third
consecutive year.
In 1941 the Racine Scouts drum and bugle corps competed in a national competition for their first time. Sponsored
by Racine's American Legion Post 76, the Racine Scouts drum and bugle corps placed 7th in the "Junior
Sponsored" competition at the 1941 American Legion National Championship held in Municipal Stadium at
Wauwatosa, WI. The Racine Scouts wouldn't compete at another national championship again until 1953 when they
competed in the VFW National Championship held in Milwaukee, WI.
Many alumni of the Racine Scouts drum and bugle corps served their country in World war II. Some didn't come
back including Medal of Honor winner Jack Jerstad.
On August 1, 1943, he served as a pilot of the lead aircraft of his group in a daring low-level attack against enemy
oil refineries and installations at Ploesti, Romania. Three miles from the target his airplane was hit, badly damaged
and set on fire. Ignoring the fact that he was flying over a field suitable for a forced landing, he kept the course.
After the bombs of his aircraft were released on the target, the fire in his aircraft became so intense as to make
further progress impossible and he crashed into the target area. Maj. Jerstad set an example of courage,
dedication and heroism which will always serve as an inspiration to not only those in the U. S. Armed Forces, but to
all of us.
During the war years of World War II the Racine Scouts drum and bugle corps did it's part by performing in many
parades and exhibitions in support of the community of Racine's efforts to sell war bonds.
In April of 1947 the Racine Scouts traveled to Dearborn, MI, to honor Henry Ford and play for his funeral. Also that
year the Racine Scouts were the first "outside" unit to participate in the National Music Camps at Interlochen, MI.
The Racine Scouts also attended the National Boy Scout Jamboree where Don Warren saw the corps perform and
got an idea. The result was the beginning of the Chicago Cavaliers. Who knows how many other drum and bugle
corps can attribute their creation in some way or another to the Racine Scouts.
The Wisconsin American Legion State Conventions annual “Tournament of Music” Drum and Bugle Corps Contest
was held in Marquette University’s Stadium, Milwaukee, on Saturday night, July 31, 1948. Scoring 88.06 points, the
Racine Boy Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, sponsored by Racine's Harvey R. Hansen American legion Post 310,
took first place at this contest in the junior sponsored competition. This was their first American Legion State
Championship.
In 1949 the up and coming Racine Kilties drum and bugle corps had become a corps that had “arrived” so to
speak. As a result of the Kilties winning prelims and their third place finish in finals at the prestigious Spectacle of
Music in South Milwaukee, after having placed 13th out of 14 corps there in prelims in 1948, everyone in Racine
was anticipating the first meeting of the 1949 season between the Kilties and the Racine Boy Scouts.
Sparked by a published letter to the editor of the Racine Journal Times newspaper which praised the fine job that
the Kilties did at the Spectacle of Music at South Milwaukee, fans of both Racine corps then sent in many letters to
the editor of the Racine Journal Times newspaper which were published that argued about who the better corps
was. This, in my opinion, was the start of the great rivalry between these two Racine corps as prior to this season
the Kilties had never been a threat to the Boys Scouts competitively.
The two Racine corps finally met at the American Legion State Championship in Milwaukee on Friday, 8-12-49.
The Racine Boy Scouts, having much older and experienced members, won the junior sponsored competition at the
1949 American Legion State Championship for the second year in a row. The Kilties took second. The Racine Boy
Scouts had 88.90, while the Kilties scored 87.10. Two days later at Elkhorn, WI, the two corps met again with the
Racine Boy Scouts taking first place with a score of 93.1 while the Kilties were second with 92.2. This settled the
argument for 1949 but the rivalry between these two corps continued on for decades.
In 1950 Racine's Boy Scouts drum and bugle corps won first place in competition with 28 other drum and bugle
corps from four mid-western states at the annual "Tournament of Music" held at Riverview Amusement Park in
Chicago.
This victory continued a string of victories which was run up in Chicago at the "Tournament of Music" by the Racine
Scouts. The Tournament of Music was first held in 1940 and continued through 1942. It was discontinued through
three war years. The event was resumed in 1946, and with their victory in 1950 the Racine Scouts drum and bugle
corps has won first place every year since the competition was inaugurated.
Its greatest honor, however, came at the Boy Scout National Jamboree at Valley Forge, Penn., in 1950 where
National Chief Scout Executive Arthur A. Schuck named the Racine organization "Champions of Scouting." The title
established the Racine group as the outstanding musical organization in the Boy Scouts of America.
After attending this National Jamboree at Valley Forge, PA in 1950, the Racine Scouts traveled to New York City for
two days of sight-seeing before heading for home. On the evening of July 7th, 1950, the Racine Boy Scouts drum
and bugle corps performed on Times Square in downtown New York City.
As a result of the efforts of Arthur M. Gruhl, Chief Scout executive of the Racine County Boy Scouts, the corps
managed to be granted permission to play on Times Square when even the Manhattan Corps was refused. Gruhl
first asked permission from the captain of the police precinct and was refused. After cutting red tape and calls on
several city officials, including Mayor William E. O'Dwyer, Gruhl finally was led to a park commissioner who granted
a permit to use the park area in the triangle formed by Broadway.
The commissioner said it would be all right for the corps to play in the park area, but he couldn't grant permission for
them to use the street. A New York policeman attempted to stop the performance, but by the time the precinct
captain was on the scene, the corps broke into the National Anthem and left, with the traffic police in the middle of a
mid-town traffic jam.
Also in 1950 while the corps was in New York City after attending the National Boy Scout Jamboree in Valley Forge,
PA, recordings were made of the Racine Scout drum and bugle corps for worldwide radio broadcast by NBC on its
"Voice of America" program.
In 1951 the Racine Boy Scouts drum and bugle corps again won first place at the annual "Tournament of Music"
held at Riverview Park in Chicago, however this time they competed in the Boy Scouts drum and bugle corps
division. The Racine Kilties took top honors in the junior drum and bugle corps division.
Among its honors, the Racine corps opened the sessions of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America at
Chicago in 1951.
In 1951 and 1952 the Racine Scouts were again very successful competitively winning both the Wisconsin American
Legion State Championship and the Wisconsin State Fair Championship in 1951. They also placed in the top three
in just about every contest they entered during these two years.