Diamonds

The Diamonds drum and bugle corps was originally organized in 1966 as the Junior Deputies parade corps under the sponsorship of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. In January 1969, under the leadership of director Chuck Christian, they reorganized as the Diamonds, a competitive unit and sponsored by the American Legion (AL) Post 33 and VFW Post 706, both of Pensacola.

The name was chosen because it was an easy symbol to reproduce and the implications of quality and brilliance brought it to mind. The instructional staff comprised of Mike Strasser, drum major for the Pensacola High School band and Tommy Barrett, former member of the St. Lucy’s Cadets along with a past member of the Chicago Cavaliers, a past member of the Troopers, stationed at Navy Pensacola and theAssistant Band director of Tate High School.

The corps rehearsed in the practice halls at a private Christian School with borrowed instruments from the Sheriff’s Department and white shirts, black pants, knee length black skirts, a homemade sash of silver and black and a cummerbund of the same. They wore black cowboy hats with black shoes and the guard carried silver flags with a Black Diamond.

The Diamonds entered the field of competition in both the 1969 AL and VFW “Class B” state championships, winning both titles and ended the season with an appearance in the AL Nationals, placing 20^th in the preliminary round. The following year saw the corps crowned the 1970 VFW “Class A” state champions and finished 33^rd in the prelims of the VFW Nationals. The corps remained active as a parade and exhibition group the next year.

They disbanded in 1972. 

Tommy Barrett - April 2016; Paul Legault (DCX)

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