Ambassadors

The Lakewood Ambassadors was originally formed in the fall of 1954 as the Boy Scout Troop 132 drum & bugle corps and sponsored by the Lakewood American Legion Post 496.

The corps was founded by the well-respected grandfather of southern California drum corps, Bill Francis, the only director for the group throughout its history. Two of the more notable catches were the Ambassadors’ former drum major, Don Arnette and the well-known drill instructor, Joe O'Day. The corps was incorporated at the home of the Lakewood Pan American Festival Association. They sponsored an annual “Bugles Over the Blue Pacific” drum corps competition held in May and the “Portrait in Brass” in October.

In their first two years of activity, the corps won eight first-place trophies in parades from Santa Barbara to San Diego. They continued there success throughout the state over the next two seasons. In 1959, the corps went coed and entered the field of competition as the Ambassadors, adding the Golden State VFW Post 279 and the Northern Nevada Sign as sponsors.

They competed at the VFW Nationals, placing 9^th in the finals. The corps’ colors were red, blue and white. In 1960, the Ambassadors appeared at the CA AL State championships and returned the following year, placing 8^th. The next two seasons saw the corps compete at the National level with a 9^th place finish at the finals of the 1962 American Legion and coincidentally, placing 9^th at the 1963 VFW finals’ championships. Among the Ambassadors’ other awards were the 1963 VFW State strutting drum major, Dan Arnette and the National bugle quartet champions.

From 1962 to 1970, the Ambassadors sponsored the Hector A Magoni Esquela drum and bugle corps, known as the Mexican Cadets, as part of an exchange under the Pan American festival. Under drum major Bill Davis, the corps continued to compete regionally in 1964, including their annual travel to the State championships. They also performed at the Department of Hawaii AL Junior Baseball tournament in August.

Over the next three seasons, the Ambassadors continued regional field competition and converted to a parade and exhibition group in 1968 and 1969. In 1970, the corps merged with the Royal Guardsmen of Carson to form the California Crusaders.

Members (19)