Blackhawks Senior

The Blackhawks drum and bugle corps was originally organized in 1921 as the Kankakee American Legion (AL) Post 85, under the direction of George T. Coash, who had built up the membership from initially fifteen men.

The plan was inaugurated through a local newspaper and the response was immediate and satisfactory. After its formation, they participated at the IL state convention the first two seasons, entering field competition at the 1923 state championships, winning the title and repeated as state champions the following season. They also competed at their first AL Nationals in St. Paul, placing 5^th. In 1925, the corps participated in the state Legion parade and traveled to Omaha, where they moved up to 3^rd place at the Legion Nationals. After recapturing the state convention crown in 1926, the unit finished in 2^nd place at the AL Nationals in Philadelphia.

The following year, the went on to a third state championship before traveling across the ocean to participate in the 1927 AL Nationals held in Paris, where they once again placed 2nd in competition. Over the next 7 years, the Kankakee Post 85 competed at four National Legion conventions, placing as a finalist in 1929 in Louisville and in 10^th position in Detroit in 1931. They also participated in the AL National prelims in 1928 in San Antonio and 1933 in Chicago, their final National appearance. During that same period, they won their 5^th state championship in 1931.

From 1935 to 1941, the corps remained active, mostly in local and military events, until the start of the 2^nd World War. In 1949, the Kankakee Post reorganized and began rebuilding the unit that allowed them to return to the field of competition in 1952 at the IL State Fair. Over the next 4 years, they would appear in state and State Fair competitions. From 1950 to 1958, the Kankakee Post 85 won the IL State Fair championships in the men’s drill team division.

In 1957, the Post 85 Legion renamed the corps the Blackhawks as they participated perennially at the IL State Fair, finishing 3^rd in 1957 and moved up to 2^nd place the following year. The corps placed 2^nd at the 1959 IL state contest and at the 1960 and 1962 IL State Fair, the Blackhawks finished in 3^rd position. The Kankakee unit placed 4^th at the 1963 state championships.

They disbanded in 1964.

Paul Legault (DCX)

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From Gary Moore: Marching to the beat of a new drum corps …, by
Gary Moore, Kankakee Daily Journal, June 7, 2018:

A rich drum and bugle corps history

As the troops came home from World War I, patriotism was at
a fever pitch, and the returning troops still were in the spirit. The Kankakee
American Legion, Post 85, started a drum and bugle corps comprised of returning
veterans. In the old Kankakee post, there was a picture of a Kankakee Army unit
marching through the Arc de Triomphe in victory at the end of the war, 100
years ago, in 1918. In 1927, many of the same Kankakee veterans returned to
Paris with the Kankakee Post 85 American Legion drum and bugle corps, known
later as the Blackhawks, to compete in the American Legion National
Championship. They did so to celebrate the anniversary of the end of the war.

The Post 85 marching musical unit was formed in 1921 and
began a continuum of drum corps activity until 1975. In 1979, local residents,
Tom Billadeau and Marty Benoit, founded the Royal Grenadiers Drum & Bugles
Corps of Kankakee County. The Royal Grenadiers continued operation through
1985. There has not been a local drum and bugle corps since.

The list of Kankakee area corps is long and distinguished,
beginning with the Kankakee Post 85 in 1921 through the Royal Grenadiers in
1985. Along the way, there were the Blackhawks, Sr. and Jr. corps, the Kankakee
Challengers, the Legion Lancers and Momence White Tornados. These corps took
kids off the street, gave them a sense of belonging and purpose, while molding
their lives in a profound and positive way. When speaking to alumni of any of
these corps, they often will tell you their participation in the drum corps
activity were the best and most important years of their lives. I met my wife
through this activity in 1973, and we know dozens of drum and bugle corps
couples.

Gary W. Moore is a Kankakee native and current
Bourbonnais resident. He is an entrepreneur, business executive, motivational
speaker, sales trainer, musician and author. He wrote the critically acclaimed
book, “Playing with the Enemy,’’ winner of the 2006 Military Writers Society of
America Book of the Year. Contact him at garywmoore.com.

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