Research on Individual Rudimental Nat'l Champions

  As most readers of my webpage are aware, I've been trying to archive all national
rudimental contests in an effort to keep the memory alive of those that paved the way.
Many have asked why I don't include other percussion instruments and as well as the ensembles
from these contests. Some instruments, like tympani and keyboard, are not representative
of the rudimental mainstay, so I chose not to include them. I may include bass drum and
rudimental ensembles in the future. 

 I appreciate any piece of information from readers of my webpage that helps
accomplish this goal, whether it be corrections on name misspellings or scores, supplying
affiliated corps, or sending me entire lists. Every little bit helps. Please drop me a
line if you have any information, no matter how small the detail, even if it's from
memory.

  I've scanned pretty much all my books and pamplets in an effort to find
information about national rudimental contests from the early years, hoping to plug 
all the holes in my archive tables. Some of the information I've found is incomplete,
some is contradictory to other sources. 

  Some historical information:

  The earliest record of fife and drum corps giving troop signals is in 1332, and 
quickly spread through Europe.

  The earliest mention of rudiments is 1688. The flam, dragge, roofe, diddle, and
rowle are in the "Academy of Armoury" by Randle Holme III.

  Field musicians, drums and bugles, were competing in 1515 (Marignano) and 1525
(Pavia).

  Drummers practicing too close to the hall of representatives during the Revolutionary
War caused Congress to pass a bill restricting practice within earshot.

  Two rudimental books written in the 1800's, "The Drummer's and Fifers Guide" by Bruce
and Emmett (1862) and "System of Instruction for the Drum and Fife" by Gardner Strube
(1869) are responsible for the formation of the National Association of Rudimental
Drummers (NARD) in 1933, the sole purpose being to standardize the rudiments. Many national 
contests through the 1920's differed on whether to open/close the Long Roll based on Bruce 
and Emmett (accent on 2nd tap and decel the roll) or by Strube's method (no accent, stop 
the roll once top speed is achieved).

  In the 1880's there is evidence that drum corps in the US were competing. 

  Sometime during the 1800's the popularity of the bugle in the Calvary gave forth a new 
animal, the drum and bugle corps where before the corps consisted of drum and fifes from 
the revolutionary days.

  The "ancient" style of rudimental drumming is still alive today, many drum and fife
corps exist in New England and still hold musters along with individual competitions.

  J. Burns Moore was the first President of NARD. He was the grandfather teacher of Earl
Sturtze, who is the most proficient rudimental teacher ever to emerge, having the most
national individual champions and championship drumlines in his teaching lineage than
any other rudimental influence.

  The first American Legion Nat'l contest was in 1921 and included contests in individual 
drumming. The first Nat'l VFW contest was in 1928. Junior divisions were not added until 
1936 and 1937 respectively.



  That's a few historical tidbits. Here's some incomplete information I found.



FROM FOUNDERS OF NARD (picture of NARD founders with brief bio of each)

  Bill Flowers - Winner of National Contests (doesn't say which contests or when).
  Joe Hathaway - Winner of 1932 American Legion (doesn't say national, but would've
                 been senior)
  Heinie Gerlach - 4 time American Legion Nat'l champion (no years given).

CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS TO MARCHING PERCUSSION by Wm McGrath Jr
Percussionist, vol 17 no. 3 1980.

  William F Ludwig - 1933 American Legion National champ (Wm F does not mention this
                     in his list of accomplishments).
  George Satchell - 1952 VFW Senior snare champion
  Earl Strutze - 1928 National drum champion (doesn't say which contest).
  John Mazarakos - 1939 Jr World's Fair contest champion (this is contradicted by
                   other sources, see below)
                   1949, 1950 - American Legion Nat'l champion with Skyliners.
  Frank Arsenault - 1939 Sr World's Fair champion (contradicted in other sources)
                    51-53 National AL champion (contradicted in other sources)
  John Flowers - 1962 National Snare champion, with Archer Epler (son of NARD
                 founder Bill Flowers? If so, may be the only father/son nat'l
                 champions. This info contradicts a list I receieved that has
                 Germed Shellmer as the 1962 Sr VFW Champion).

NOMINEES FOR PRESIDENT NARD Pamplet issued in 1975

  Irving Block - 1935 "First Award" at nat'l contest, marched in Civil War Veterans
                 drum corps (doesn't say what contest, and doesn't describe what
                 a "first award" is).
  Harold Prentice - 1953 National VFW snare drum champion (jr or sr?)
 
IN MEMORIUM Obit for Frank Arsenault, Percussive Notes v13 no 2, 1975

  Frank Arsenault - 1939 won National Jr competition (contradicts above source)
                    Says he retired from individual competition after winning his
                    2nd national sr title in '52 (contradicts above source)

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DRUMMING paragraph in Percussive Notes vol 1 no 18, 1979

  Robert Kalkofen - Marched with Troopers, 3 time nat'l champion (doesn't say
                    which contest).

MY LIFE AT THE DRUMS pamplet by Wm F Ludwig

  States there were 7 contestants at first national individual rudimental
  contest held in Flint Michigan in 1929 (school? open invitational?)

STYLE AND TECHNIQUE FOR DRUM CORPS DRUMMING Pamplet by Mike Stefanowicz, issued
by Ludwig Drums

  Bio on Mike says he was "7 time nat'l champion". Only mentions 2 titles, "won
  nat'l VFW sr title twice and runner up twice between '58-'63". The "7 time"
  may include runner up placings since "his proudest win was 2nd place to Bobby
  Redican in National NARD contest in 1940."

  Also says "Taught Del Blake, Nat'l Champion from Archer Epler" (no year given).

NOTES FROM BOBBY REDICAN AS TOLD TO KEN MAZUR phone interview

  1940 National Nard Contest in Boston, Jr division won by Bobby Redican. Other
  contestants in jr division include James b Ryan, Mike Stefanowicz, Sig Trybus,
  Frank Arsenault. Senior division won by Vincent Mott, Wm F Ludwig placed low.

  1939 Frank Arsenault winner of Jr division at ADA World's Fair contest, Jim O'Neil
  2nd, Bobby Redican 4th (16 yrs old). Billy Moriarty from Lancraft Fife and Drum
  Corps winner of senior div.

ART OF DRUMMING J. Burns Moore's book of drumming

  Has a solo identified as 1936 American Legion championship solo won by Vincent Mott
  from Paterson, NJ.

VARIOUS REMO ADS

  Claim Rob Carson was 3 time Nat'l snare champion (no years/contests given)

BILL REAMER Article by Brian Seibel in Rudimental Percussionist

  States that Bill Reamer was 4 time Nat'l champ (does not give years).



There you have it. Stats from all this info include (does not at this time include PAS):

  At least one 4 time champion, NARD founder Heinie Gerlach. If Arsenault won 51-53 AL
  he would be a second 4 time champion, Bill Reamer could also be a 4 time champion.

  Known 3 time champions: Heinie Gerlach, Frank Arsenault, John Dowlan, Mitch Markovitch,
  Gary Pagnozzi, Charley Poole, Robbie Robinson, Frank Nash. Others that may have won
  3 times: Rob Carson and Robert Kalkofen. The wins of Dowlan, Markovitch, Pagnozzi are 
  consecutive. If Frank Arsenault won in '53 then he also holds a 3-peat win. If Gerlach or 
  Reamer had 4 wins consecutively at the same contest it would hold the record (as far as 
  we know) for consecutive wins.

  There have been numerous 2 time champions.    
  
  



  
  

Further research has uncovered the following:


1.) Emails from Rita Macey informed me that Bill Reamer won the nat'l VFW snare titles in
1938, 1941, and 1946. I already had information that he won in 1947. He represented
Archer-Epler all 4 years. Archer-Epler was a junior corps before WWII, and reformed as
a senior corps after the war. I do not yet have verification of his wins, but if true,
not only would he have been a 4-time nat'l champion, he may have been the first person
to win as a junior and senior.


2.) Frank Arsenault was a 3-time Nat'l Snare Champion. He won the 1939 World's Fair contest

as a junior, and the 1951 and 1952 American Legion. Although his AL wins had him listed 

under the Open Junior classifications, his age at that time placed him as a senior. He

may have been the second person to win both as a junior and as a senior.

3.) Donald Mihok also crossed the junior senior lines, winning as a junior in 1949 representing

Osmond Cadets, and again in 1957 under Archer-Epler.


4.) I have not been able to confirm  3 wins for Bob Kalkoufen, but I did confirm that he won

VFW tenor individuals in 1966, and snare at All American in 1969. It's very possible he may have

won tenors at All American in 67 or 68, making for a 3rd win, but finding records for All

American has been daunting. He may be the only person to have won a nat'l tenor and snare title.

5.) John Dowlan may have been the first 3-peat nat'l champion (Sr VFW snare, 1949-1951). He possibly 
would have won more, but was told by Tony Schlecta after his third win not to come back.


6.) I still have not been able to confirm Heinie Gerlach's 4 wins.


7.) Rob Carson may be the youngest nat'l champion. His 1972 All American win would place him at 14
or 15.


8.) Bill Carnes also won a nat'l title as a jr. and sr., winning DCI tenors in 1986, and DCA tenors
in 89 and 90.


9.) Another 3-peat champion, Don Mercurio, won DCA tenors from 1996-1998. He also won 91, making
him a 4 time title holder for tenors.


10.) Three more 3-peats can be added to the list. Rick Beckham, winning DCA from 1999-2001. Pat
Fitz-Gibbon, winning DCI from 2000-2002. James Christian won three straight DCA tenor titles
from 2001-2003. Rick Beckham also won his 4th title in 2003.


Other information that can be corrected from above:


1.) The 1933 VFW Jr. Snare champion was William F. Ludwig II.


2.) John Flowers won the VFW Sr. Snare in 1961, in Miami.