Black Knights

The Black Knights drum & bugle corps was founded by Dick Hoppe and Drum Corps Hall of Famer Tom Peashey in the fall of 1968 as a parade corps.

Over the first two years, the corps built its organization and membership in preparation for field competition by remaining involved in parades and exhibitions within the community and surrounding areas. They entered the field of competition in 1971 as members of the Penn-York Association, placing 4^th in the “Class B” championships. In 1972, the Black Knights took a giant step on the field when they competed at the US Open “Class A” championships, placing 17^th in the prelims and were crowned the Penn-York “Class B” champions. The following season saw the corps continue its ascent in the rankings with a 12^th place finish at the US Open “Class A” prelims and finished 8^th at the Penn-York “Class A” championships.

As a change of venue, the corps traveled to Boston and competed at the 1974 World Open “Class B” preliminaries, placing 10^th and won the “Class A” Penn-York title. In 1975, the Knights returned to the US Open “Class A” championships, earning a 7^th place finalist position and appeared at the DCI “Class A” prelims, placing 7^th, two places out of a finals spot. The corps went inactive from 1976 to 1977 and reorganized in 1978 as a parade corps, returning to field competition in 1981 as members of the Drum Corps NY (DCNY) Association, under the name Owego Knights, where they placed 2^nd in the “Class C” division and won the 1982 DCNY “Class C” championships.

The corps was scheduled to compete in 1983 but unfortunately was unsuccessful in returning to the field of competition and disbanded.

Paul Legault (DCX)

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