Chevaliers

The Chevaliers drum and bugle corps, sponsored by Becker Chapman Post 138 of the American Legion (AL) of Waterloo, was organized in February 1962. The charter membership consisted of 53 boys, under the leadership of Leon Hubbard, previous manager of the Post 138 senior corps.

The name chosen for the group was submitted by corps member Gregory Page, who received a savings bond worth $25.00 for the suggestion. Their uniforms were black trousers, white sport shirts, bright red ascots and sashes with overseas caps. During the first three years, they participated mainly in parades and exhibitions, except for the State Legion contest, where they placed 3^rd each year. In 1965, the corps became a member of Badgerland Association and the following summer, began competing in and out of state shows.

They sponsored their own "Rhythm in Motion" show from 1963 to 1974. From 1964 through 1971. the show included the choosing of a queen. In 1966, girls were included in the corps for the first time, and membership jumped to 77. In April of 1966, 75 new uniforms were purchased at the cost of $52.00. In 1966 and 1967, the corps once again placed 3^rd at the state convention, continuing to compete regionally over the next two seasons. In July of 1969, a dispute arose and the corps was reorganized including the first awards banquet, held in the fall of 1969.

In 1970, the corps toured for the first time to Wyoming and represented Iowa at the American Legion Nationals, placing 12^th in the prelims as well as a 7^th place finish at the Mid-American circuit championships. That same year, the feeder corps, Chevaliers II's was organized. Their uniforms consisted of black trousers, white shirts, and red cummerbunds. The following year, the Chevaliers finished 3^rd at the state convention and placed 16^th in the prelims of the 1971 World Pageant championships.

The corps returned to both the 1972 AL Nationals’ and participated in their only  VFW Nationals, where they finished 21^st in both championships and 2^nd at the IA AL state contest. They also won the “All Iowa” championship at State Center. The 1973 season was a successful year for the corps, when they were crowned the IA AL champion along with appearances in the “Open Class” prelims of both the DCI (32^nd) and the US Open (35^th) championships. 1974, their final season, the Chevaliers traveled extensively, earning a 2^nd place finish at the AL Nationals, highlighted by leading the parade at Disney World in Miami. They also saw preliminary action in the “Open Class” of the US Open (21^st) and the DCI Midwest (12^th). They finished bridesmaid at the state championships.

Over the years, their personnel included such individuals as Kenneth Asa, chairman, Paul Johnson and Bob Kehe, corps directors, Cecil Poyner, Bob Allen, Scott Elliott corps manager, Tom Manley, Spence Tyler, Dave Allen, Tom Kasten, Tim Chamberland, Ken McElhaney, Dale Hopper on brass, Bob Kehe and Bill Scully Jr., Ron Herrmann, Jack Dunlevy, Ned Johnson, Terry Tomlin, Gary Moore, Al Jacobsen on percussion, Dennis Sommers, Jerry Dircks, Louis Feibel, Don Scheer, Craig Burch, Paul Litteau, Kent White, Bob Guetzlaff, Bob Wis on visual, Herb Dircks on guard.

In May of 1975, the Chevaliers merged with the Royals and became the Royal Chevaliers.

Chevalier History taken from our reunion book from July 1993. submitted by Sharon Delaney 1/12/2010; Paul Legault (DCX)

Members (7)