Casper, WY United States
Founded: 1957
CORPS Photos
James E. "Jim" Jones, a Casper, Wyoming building contractor and United States Army Air Forces veteran of World War II had won the American Legion individual snare drum championship as a member of Casper's Sons of the American Legion drum and bugle corps, in which he had also been the corps manager from age fifteen. To give a younger generation the same opportunities, Jones formed the Troopers in 1957 as an activity for local youth/ He did so in a veritable drum corps vacuum on the Great Plains, where there were no other corps for hundreds of miles around. In order to fund the new corps, Jones personally took out a $4,000 loan to buy drums and bugles. He decided to name the new corps the Troopers in honor of the 11th Ohio Cavalry, a U.S. Army unit stationed at Fort Caspar, Wyoming Territory during the Civil War to protect telegraph and mail service and the supply trains traveling west on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails. The Troopers' initial sponsor was the same Casper American Legion that had sponsored his own earlier S.A.L. corps. The corps' first cavalry uniforms were made from hand-me-down items and Boy Scout uniforms at a cost of about cost $13 each.
Early on Jones established the policy that "if a kid wanted to be in it, he could," a policy that continued for many years. As part of the open-door policy, the corps was co-ed, allowing and encouraging girls to perform right alongside boys from the very beginning, although the guard remained exclusively female for many years. The Troopers appeared in public for the first time at the state American Legion Convention.in Riverton, Wyoming, There they began their long tradition of Western-themed shows by playing "Ghost Riders in the Sky," "Wagon Wheels," and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." After its first season as only a parade corps, in 1958 the corps entered its first field competitions. . Because of their hometown's location, far from most competition, the Troopers were one of the pioneers of long-distance bus travel, a concept now central to the summer drum corps experience. Jim Jones chartered passenger buses to carry the Troopers around the country on trips that would last for several weeks, making the corps a "touring corps." Jones fairly well wrote the book on drum corps travel, establishing principles and practices that are standard today. To help cover the expenses of their touring, the corps' buses were then, as they still are today, accompanied by the "Sheep Wagon", a trailer set up to look like a small covered wagon that sells Troopers souvenirs wherever they perform.
The corps' first national competition came at the 1961 American Legion National Championships in Dallas, where the corps finished fourth. In 1965 the corps won their first major title, the World Open. The next year, they were VFW National Champions. The Troopers went on to win the World Open in 1969 and 1970, CYO in 1968, '69 and '70, and then VFW again in 1970. They also performed on national TV in 1970 during halftime of a Minnesota Vikings game. In 1971, the Troopers were the stars of their own television special, "The Troopers Are Coming", narrated by actor Walter Brennan.
The Troopers were one of the innovators in the move away from strictly linear drill; they introduced a circular drill element, the "Sunburst" which drew enthusiastic crowd approval for many years. Meanwhile, the corps' musical theme was unabashedly patriotic and celebratory of the Western tradition and of national patriotism, earning them the nickname, "America's corps.
In 1971, Jim Jones and Cavaliers founder Don Warren pulled together the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers to form the Midwest Combine. This was a reaction to the rigid, inflexible rules of the American Legion and VFW (the primary rule makers and sponsors of both corps and shows) and the low or nonexistent performance fees paid for appearing in the various competitions. A similar group of Eastern corps, the United Organization of Junior Corps (also known as the "Alliance"), was formed by the 27th Lancers, Garfield Cadets, Boston Crusaders, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, and Blue Rock. These corps stated that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. The Combine and Alliance members further declared that the corps should be making their own rules, operating their own competitions and championships, and keeping the bulk of the monies those shows earned.
For the 1971 season, the Combine corps stuck together, offering show promoters the five corps as a package. Despite pressure on show sponsors, judges, and other drum corps, the Combine corps were not only booked into a number of shows together, but they found a host for a show of their own, which was a spectacular success despite fears of failure.
In 1972, the Troopers, along with the nine other corps from the Midwest Combine and the Alliance, plus the Anaheim Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, and De La Salle Oaklands were founding members of Drum Corps International (DCI), which remains as the sanctioning body for junior corps in North America.
The Troopers were Top 12 Finalists at the first four DCI Championships, 1972-75, returning to Finals in '89 and '81. When DCI went to a preims, semifinals, finals format in 1983, Troopers were in semis seven out of the first eight years and in Finals two of those years.. In 1985, the year of Jim Jones' induction in the DCI Hall of Fame, the Troopers shifted musically to a more sophisticated repertoire, initially especially featuring that of Aaron Copland, and the color guard got new, more contemporary uniforms. The changes helped propel the corps back into DCI Finals, at ninth place--- the corps has not finished higher since then. The Troopers had opened 1985 also by marching in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade.
In the middle of the 1980s, the Wyoming legislature declared the Troopers the "Official Musical Ambassadors" of the state. The corps spent a large part of 1990 traveling throughout the state to help celebrate the Centennial of the State of Wyoming.
Jim Jones retired as director in 1988, after 30 years at the helm of the corps. Trooper alumni who are also DCI Hall-of-Famers include Fred Sanford, Pete Emmons, and Gene Monterastelli..
For some years following Jim Jones' retirement, the Troopers struggled to attract members and quality staff. The corps gained DCI semifinals only three timesa between 1989 and 2005, the last being in 1995. During those years, the corps also began to encounter financial difficulties.
The Troopers went inactive for the 2006 season to reorganize.
Opening their program with "Ghost Riders in the Sky," the Troopers returned to the field in 2007 bigger, better, and with a more stable organization. The corps returned to DCI semifinals in 2008, the first time in a dozen years.
The 2009 "Western Side Story" show, a "westernized" program loosely based on the classic Broadway hit by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim placed 12th at the DCI Championships. It was the Troopers first finalist appearance since 1986--- two or more years before any of that season's members had been born.
Although the Troopers have not returned to Finals since 2009, they have challenged for a placement and have been a semifinalist every year since with shows that once would have easily been in Finals. Only the recent overall growth in the strength of nearly every other corps has prevented their being more successful.
Continuing Jim Jones' philosophy, the Troopers of the 21st century, often called "America's Corps," carry on their long traditions of honor, loyalty, and dedication.
The 2020 season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The corps returned to the field for the non-competitive 2021 season.
[The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps; Encyclopedia of Drum and Bugle Corps, 1966; A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, Vickers, 2002-03; Drum Corps World, multiple issues; Drum Corps International]
Highest Score 52.800
Final show in DCX Archives July 1, 1960 Out Of The Spotlight New Rochelle NY placed 6 with a score of 52.800
Highest Score 75.066
Final show in DCX Archives September 9, 1961 American Legion National Championships Denver CO placed 4 with a score of 75.066
Highest Score 79.600
Final show in DCX Archives October 6, 1962 American Legion National Championships Las Vegas NV placed 3 with a score of 77.083
Highest Score 85.030
Final show in DCX Archives August 28, 1963 VFW Nationals Finals Seattle WA placed 2 with a score of 81.400
Highest Score 90.650
Final show in DCX Archives September 2, 1964 World's Fair VFW Day Championship New York NY placed 5 with a score of 82.800
Highest Score 85.860
Final show in DCX Archives August 29, 1965 Windchester MA placed 2 with a score of 77.030
Highest Score 90.450
Final show in DCX Archives August 28, 1966 American Legion National Championships Washington DC placed 4 with a score of 80.500
Highest Score 91.450
Final show in DCX Archives August 25, 1967 VFW Nationals New Orleans LA placed 2 with a score of 87.200
Highest Score 90.350
Final show in DCX Archives August 24, 1968 CYO Nationals Lowell MA placed 1 with a score of 83.650
Highest Score 89.550
Final show in DCX Archives August 24, 1969 American Legion National Championships (prelims) Atlanta GA placed 2 with a score of 82.850
Highest Score 90.500
Final show in DCX Archives August 22, 1970 World Open Prelims Lynn MA placed 2 with a score of 79.850
Highest Score 91.100
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1971 VFW Nationals Dallas TX placed 2 with a score of 89.000
Highest Score 83.700
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1972 DCI World Championships Whitewater WI placed 6 with a score of 81.950
Highest Score 88.250
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1973 World Pageant of Drums sponsored by the Wisconsin State Fair (finals) West Allis WI placed 2 with a score of 88.250
Highest Score 85.650
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1974 Syracuse NY placed 5 with a score of 81.550
Highest Score 79.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 16, 1975 DCI World Championships Philadelphia PA placed 12 with a score of 76.200
Highest Score 82.750
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1976 DCI World Championships - Prelims Philadelphia PA placed 13 with a score of 82.750
Highest Score 78.800
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1977 DCI World Championships - Prelims Boulder CO placed 19 with a score of 78.800
Highest Score 74.250
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1978 DCI World Championships - Prelims Boulder CO placed 20 with a score of 74.250
Highest Score 81.900
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1979 DCI World Championships Birmingham AL placed 12 with a score of 77.900
Highest Score 77.500
Final show in DCX Archives August 15, 1980 DCI World Championships Prelims Birmingham AL placed 14 with a score of 76.650
Highest Score 81.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 22, 1981 DCI World Championships Montreal QUE Canada placed 12 with a score of 78.100
Highest Score 80.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1982 DCI World Championships Prelims Montreal QUE Canada placed 14 with a score of 77.600
Highest Score 79.050
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1983 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Miami FL placed 15 with a score of 76.850
Highest Score 86.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1984 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Atlanta GA placed 13 with a score of 85.200
Highest Score 87.900
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1985 DCI World Championships Madison WI placed 9 with a score of 86.700
Highest Score 85.900
Final show in DCX Archives August 16, 1986 DCI World Championships Madison WI placed 11 with a score of 83.500
Highest Score 83.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 1987 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Madison WI placed 17 with a score of 81.000
Highest Score 80.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1988 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Kansas City MO placed 19 with a score of 77.800
Highest Score 78.500
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1989 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Kansas City MO placed 18 with a score of 78.000
Highest Score 81.100
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1990 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Buffalo NY placed 17 with a score of 80.250
Highest Score 74.900
Final show in DCX Archives August 15, 1991 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Dallas TX placed 21 with a score of 74.900
Highest Score 79.300
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 1992 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Madison WI placed 19 with a score of 76.100
Highest Score 77.100
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1993 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Jackson MS placed 19 with a score of 77.100
Highest Score 81.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1994 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Foxboro MA placed 14 with a score of 81.600
Highest Score 81.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 1995 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Buffalo NY placed 14 with a score of 80.700
Highest Score 74.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 15, 1996 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Orlando FL placed 19 with a score of 74.400
Highest Score 68.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 1997 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Orlando FL placed 25 with a score of 68.000
Highest Score 68.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 1998 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Orlando FL placed 24 with a score of 68.600
Highest Score 73.800
Final show in DCX Archives August 12, 1999 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Madison WI placed 21 with a score of 73.800
Highest Score 73.650
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2000 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals College Park MD placed 19 with a score of 73.650
Highest Score 76.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 2001 DCI Championships - Div I Quarter Finals Buffalo NY placed 19 with a score of 76.200
Highest Score 75.550
Final show in DCX Archives August 8, 2002 World Championships Quarterfinals Madison WI placed 21 with a score of 75.550
Highest Score 75.550
Final show in DCX Archives August 7, 2003 DCI Championships - Div I Quarterfinals Orlando FL placed 22 with a score of 75.450
Highest Score 76.050
Final show in DCX Archives August 5, 2004 DCI World Championships - Div I Quarter Finals Denver CO placed 23 with a score of 74.925
Highest Score 74.700
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 2005 DCI World Championships - Div I Quarterfinals Foxboro MA placed 22 with a score of 71.675
Highest Score 80.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 2007 DCI World Championships Quarterfinals Pasadena CA placed 20 with a score of 77.550
Highest Score 82.250
Final show in DCX Archives August 8, 2008 World Class Semi-Finals Bloomington IN placed 16 with a score of 81.100
Highest Score 86.050
Final show in DCX Archives August 8, 2009 DCI World Championships World Class Finals Indianapolis IN placed 12 with a score of 85.100
Highest Score 84.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 2010 World Class Semifinals Indianapolis IN placed 15 with a score of 83.350
Highest Score 84.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 12, 2011 DCI World Championship Semifinals Indianapolis IN placed 14 with a score of 83.200
Highest Score 77.650
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2012 DCI World Championship Semifinals Indianapolis IN placed 18 with a score of 77.650
Highest Score 86.050
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 2013 DCI World Championship Semifinals Indianapolis IN placed 13 with a score of 86.050
Highest Score 84.775
Final show in DCX Archives August 8, 2014 DCI World Championship Semifinals Indianapolis IN placed 14 with a score of 84.775
Highest Score 83.800
Final show in DCX Archives August 7, 2015 DCI World Championship Semifinals Indianapolis IN placed 13 with a score of 83.800
Highest Score 83.438
Final show in DCX Archives August 12, 2016 DCI World Championship Semifinals Indianapolis IN placed 14 with a score of 83.275
Highest Score 81.275
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 2017 DCI World Championship Semifinals presented by Earasers Indianapolis IN placed 17 with a score of 81.275
Highest Score 81.788
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2018 DCI World Championship Semifinals Indianapolis IN United States placed 17 with a score of 81.788
Highest Score 81.663
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 2019 DCI World Championship Semifinals Indianapolis IN United States placed 18 with a score of 81.663
Highest Score 0.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 2021 DCI Celebration - Indianapolis Indianapolis IN United States
Highest Score 87.425
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 2022 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN USA placed 12 with a score of 86.425
Highest Score 89.475
Final show in DCX Archives August 12, 2023 DCI Finals Indianapolis IN United States placed 10 with a score of 89.475
Highest Score 88.950
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2024 DCI World Class Finals Indianapolis IN placed 10 with a score of 88.950
Member Name | Section | Years Involved |
---|---|---|
Bailey, Trevor | Brass | 2003 to 2006 |
Beerman, Jon | Soprano | 1983 to 1984 |
Beraun, Sergio | Mellophone | 2003 |
Beraun, Sergio | Soprano | 2004 |
Blair, Joshua | Mellophone | 2002 |
Boden, Kenneth | Soprano | 1982 |
Boyce, Jonathan | Bassline(auditioning) | 2004 |
Boyce, Jonathan | bassline | 2004 |
Bradford, Scott | Baritone | 1998 to 2001 |
Brown, Erik | Soprano | 2000 |
Brown, Robyn | Guard | 1984 |
Carlson, Chris | snare | 2003 |
Chagnon, Pat | Hornline | 1987 |
Claussen, Mikahla | colorguard | 2003 |
Coppinger, Jonathan | Snare | 2007 to 2011 |
Crocker, Greg | Soprano | 1989 to 1990 |
Cross, Megan | Baritone | 2005; 2007 to 2008 |
Cuglietta, Ethan | Trumpet | 2007 to 2009 |
Davenport, Paul | Baritone | 2007 to 2009 |
Deisher, Kevin | Soprano | 1981 |
Delohery, Amy | Soprano | 1980 to 1981 |
Dillavou, Phil | Contra | 2004 |
Donelson, Al | Contrabass | 1979 to 1981 |
Doogan, Tom | Percussion | 1982 |
Eagle, Wes | Contra | 1999 |
Fairchild, Allyson | Colorguard | 2003 to 2008 |
Fairchild, Allyson | Rifle/Colorguard | 2003 to 2005; 2007 to 2008 |
Feuerborn, David | Baritone | 2005 |
Feuerborn, Lory | Colorgaurd | 2005 to 2012 |
Feuerborn, Mark | Contra | 2004 to 2005 |
Fiedler (Smith), Kellie | Colorguard | 1989 to 1992 |
Fiedler, Shannon | Drum Line | 1990 to 1992 |
Fleenor, Clinton | Percussion | 1983 |
Foley, Kristina | Soprano | 2002 to 2004 |
Fouse, Courtney | Color Guard | 2005 |
Freelend, Mike | Mellophone | 2004 to 2005 |
Gilbert, Chuck | Brass | 1989 to 1990 |
Gough, Michael | Soprano/Drum Major | 2000 to 2003 |
Gough, Michael | Soprano | 2001 to 2002 |
Gough, Michael | Drum Major | 2003 to 2004 |
Gough, Michael | America's Core (Documentary) | 2007 |
Gough, Michael | Hell Bent For Victory (Documentary) | 2009 |
Greenwald, John M | percussion | 1976 |
Grissom, Chris | Colorguard | 2000 |
Grissom, Chris | Colorguard | 2000 |
Guldin, Justene | Mellophone | 2005 |
Hawley, Spencer | Color Gaurd | 2002 |
Hawley, Spencer | Color Guard | 2002 |
Hersh, Justine | Baritone | 2003 |
Hill, Samuel | Soprano | 2005 |
Holden III, Charles | Baritone | 2002 |
Holtz, Erin | Mellophone | 2004 to 2005 |
Jankowski, Debbie | Flag Line | 1981 |
Johnson, Tamara | Color Guard | 2005 |
Jones, David | Brass Tech | 1999 to 2000 |
Kawai, Daigo | Mellophone | 2003 |
Kimsey, Amy | Mellophone | 1984 |
Kimsey, Amy | Marching Tech | 1985 |
Koehn, Eli | ContraBass | 2002 to 2003 |
Koehn, Eli | Contrabass | 2002 to 2005 |
Labrosse, Charlotte | Contra Bass | 1995 |
Leitzel, Alex | Mellophone | 2003 |
Lennox, Christopher | Bass Tech | 2009 |
Lippincott, Matthew | Battery (snare) | 1999 |
Lynge, Brandon | Pit Percussion | 2003 |
MAYEUX, RANDY | Baritone | 2002 |
MacKenzie, Yvette | Mellophone | 2005 |
Madonia, Jimmy | Front Ensemble | 2005 |
McDonald, Steve | Pit | 1985 to 1987 |
McLarty, Jerry | Baritone | 2007 |
Medford, Ed | Contra, Visual, Drill Design, Pres. Inauguration | 1987 to 1992; 2000 to 2001 |
Merchant, Wil | Trumpet/Soprano | 2012 |
Miehe, Nicholas | Tuba | 2010 |
Millard, Braden | Soprano | 2016; 2018 |
Minar, Ryan | Beritone | 1996 |
Murphy, Mat | Hornline/Contrabass | 1998 to 2003 |
Neely, Jen | mellophone | 2004 |
Oneyear, Kari | Color Guard | 1983 |
Pack, Connor | Brass (Trumpet/Soprano) | 2010 to 2012 |
Pack, Connor | Trumpet | 2010 to 2012 |
Paddie, John | Bass Drum | 2008 |
Perkins, Daniel | Drum Major | 1997 to 2002 |
Petropavlovskikh, Anastasia | colorguard | 2004 to 2007 |
Poste, Mike | Cymbal Line | 2001 |
Prescott, Kayla | Guard | 2003 |
Pyburn, Ariana | Baritone | 2007 |
Rayas, Jimmy | brass | 2003 to 2006 |
Rayas, Jimmy | baritone/soprano | 2003 to 2006 |
Richard, Kristen “KK” | Visual Staff | 2016 |
Riehl, Tim | Tuba | 2007 |
Ryals, Lauren | Front Ensemble | 2002 to 2005 |
Sampson-Davis, Kobina | Trumpets | 2015 |
Shortall, Mike | Drumline | 2007 |
Shreeman, Ryan | Brass | 2005 to 2007 |
Specht, Genny | color guard | 1995 to 1996 |
Srubar, Karl | Bass line | 2002 |
Srubar, Karl | Bass line (Auditioning) | 2005 |
Sturm, Eileen | Guard | 1986 |
Suzuki, Kenta | cymbals | 2004 |
Thiem, Vicki | soprano | 2004 to 2005; 2007 to 2008 |
Tonnies, Teresa | rifle line | 1977 |
Trader, Kyle | Soprano | 2004 to 2005 |
Underwood, Megan | Guard-Flag | 2003 to 2010 |
Uzick, Matt | Trumpet | 2010 |
Villarreal, Samuel | Color Guard | 1996; 1998 |
Waits, Gary | Drum Line Cymbals | 1980 |
Waits, Gary | Drum Line Bass Drum | 1981 to 1983 |
Watson, Scott | Front Ensemble | 2004 to 2005 |
Williams, Justine | mellophone | 2005 |
Williams, Tim | Tenors/Quads | 2003 to 2008 |
Wilson, Tristian | Brass/Soprano | 2000 to 2005 |
Wiselogel, Dieter | Baritone/Euphonium/Contrabass | 2003 to 2008 |
Woods, Josiah | Soprano | 2008 |
Young, Mike | Baritone | 2004 to 2005 |
ahram, danya | Color Guard | 2005 |
doherty, mike | soprano | 1972 to 1975 |
hawley, spencer | color guard (flag) | 2002 |
lewis, rufus | timpani | 1980 to 1981 |
riehl, tim | contra | 2004 to 2005 |
CORPS 88 items
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