1922 Boys of 76:
Researched and written by George Fennell. COPYRIGHT 2004
The drum corps at this time wore U. S. Army regulation O. D.'s as its uniform. All of the members of the drum and bugle corps
were ex-service men and therefore, were entitled to were this uniform.
Through the public-spiritedness of the Racine citizens who appreciated what the drum corps had done, the drum and bugle
corps members were fitted out with natty white uniforms with black puttees and other equipment to match shortly before the
American Legion state convention at Beloit in August of 1922. The uniforms alone represented an investment of several
thousand dollars and they set off to good advantage the excellent physical build of the young men.
Chas. C. Younggreen, Athur Loeb and the Racine Association of Commerce took prominent part in procuring the new uniforms.
They were made possible through a brilliant scheme evolved by them. Younggreen was chairman of the committee appointed to
push the scheme through to successful conclusion.
Business men, professional men and manufacturers were approached in the drive. Each was asked to subscribe sufficient
money to pay for one uniform. Then the name of each donor was sewn in the inner pocket fo the uniform coat.
The novelty of this scheme appealed and there was a liberal response. Younggreen, Loeb and their assistants had the uniforms
assured.
After the money for the uniforms was procured, various firms cooperated with the drum and bugle corps to see that the
equipment was up to snuff. Dan Metcalf had charge of the uniforms; the Davis Shoe Co., the shoes; the Hartmann Trunk Co.
furnished the trunks for the bugles, drums and uniforms; and the Avenue Music Store the bugles. Mrs. Roy Allen presented the
corps with the numerous silk banners embroidered with "76", the Racine American Legion Post's numbers, which hung from the
bugles.
Members of the Racine American Legion "Boys of 76" drum and bugle corps donned their new uniforms for the first time Monday
night, 8-21-22, and paraded through the business district of Racine. They marched to the Association of Commerce rooms
where they gave a short concert. Many favorable comments on the uniform were heard along the line of march.
The new uniforms consisted of white serge suits, white caps, black Sam Brown belts, black puttees and black shoes. The caps
are oversea style and each bears the number "76". The trimmings on the uniforms of the drummers and buglers are blue while
the trimmings on the drum major uniforms are gold.
Everything was in readiness for the first public appearance of the drum and bugle corps on the date of the annual state
convention of the American Legion at Beloit. The men made the trip by train and in automobiles. They wore regulation O.D. A
dozen or more musical organizations from other cities that planned to compete for honors had delegates at the depot when the
train pulled into Beloit. They had heard so much of the Racine drum and bugle corps that they smiled when they saw that the
much-vaunted uniforms were ordinary army issue.
The afternoon of the parade arrived. 10,000 people were crowded along the line of march for the parade of ex-servicemen of
Wisconsin which was the feature of the American Legion celebration.
It had been a trying day. The heat seemed to press downward with not a breeze to alleviate it. By noon even the biggest and
lightest fitting clothing had become form-fitting and coatless men were conventional.
But game to the core, the crown stuck through the morning program and then immediately after the noon lunch they turned out for
the parade.
Then came a deluge of rain. The first section of the parade was marching in the parade at the time. People began racing for
shelter. Shouts from farther down the line of march then started to attract attention. Curiosity aroused, they returned to the
curbing. The next instant they joined in the swelling applause given the 65 white uniformed drummers and buglers of the Racine
American Legion Post 76.
There was no doubt in the judge's minds as to whom should be awarded the prize for the best ex-service men's musical
organization in Wisconsin. The American Legion Band from Beaver Dam was the only other real contender. But the honor was a
hollow one because it carried no cash prize with it nor any arrangement for sending the Boys of 76 to the American Legion's
national convention in New Orleans as Wisconsin's musical representative.
A few days later the Boys of 76 drum and bugle corps received first prize honors and a big cash award for the second year in a
row in the 32nd Division Convention's parade at Madison.
Members of the drum and bugle corps in 1922 were:
Drum Majors: George Johnson, Joe Oliver.
Drummers: Mike Costello, Alvin Christensen, Olle Dahlberg, Elmer Erb, Guy Greene, Walter Gearen, Gorman Hall, H. Hansen,
Edward Hill, J. Jordan, R. Jerstad, Geo. Lanser, W. Larsen, Fred Maxted, Charles Nesetril, Mike Oberst, Frank O'Laughlin, Mark
Peil, Mervil Peil, Fred Pfister, Ed Rapps, Bert Rammel, F. Rowley, Edwin Schowalter and Ralph Zinnen.
Buglers: Arthur Anderson, Arnold Anderson, Washington Bezucha, Edward Burres, Walter Turby, Ralph Gitzen, A. Hecker, Geo.
Hilgers, Al McCue, Roy Stream, F. Sorenson, F. Sieger, J. Svoboda, Roy Schaeffer, Leston Semmes, L. Van Sickle, Ed Wadewitz,
Christ Wright, and Allan Gere.
Bass drummers: Joe Janaches, Wm. Higgins and Art Peterson.
Carriers: Earl Ray, Stanley Anderson and Herbert Brown.
"On to New Orleans" was the slogan of the Boys of 76 drum and bugle corps from this point until October 14 when the annual
American Legion national convention was held. Wm. Wadewitz was in charge of the arrangements.
On Thursday, 10-12-22, at the meeting of the American Legion Post 76, it was definitely decided that it could not meet the
expense of sending its drum and bugle corps to New Orleans for the national convention of the American Legion. It was
estimated that the cost of financing this trip would be close to $4,500.
The drum corps appeared at this meeting and rendered several solutions, however, the Board of Governors still decided to call
off the proposed trip.
The $4,500 was raised late Saturday afternoon, 10-14-22, by Harry Hinners of the Junction Jewelry Co., Oscar Fringe of the the
Washington Avenue Pharmacy, Martin Hitzelberger of the Washington Avenue Music Shop and Cornelius Olson of the Racine
City Bank. When word reached these four around 2 p.m. Saturday, they made a canvass of the Columbia Corner merchants at
the Junction in Racine (Uptown ) and in one and a half hours they had obtained pledges totalling $4,500.
The Boys of 76 drum and bugle corps left for New Orleans on the North Shore railroad at 3:30 p.m. Monday, 10-16-22. A change
was made to an Illinois Central train to New Orleans in Chicago. Wherever there were stops and time permitted the drum and
bugle corps paraded.
The Boys of 76 drum and Bugle corps arrived in New Orleans on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 8:45. The drum corps spent the day and
night marching through the leading streets and playing in the leading hotels of New Orleans. They received tremendous
applause everywhere.
The big parade was held on Wednesday, 10-18-22. The confidence of the Junction merchants was justified when the Boys of 76
captured first prize in New Orleans in a field of drum and bugle corps from all over the country. It scored 95 points. Second prize
for drum corps was won by the Hanford Post No. 5 drum and bugle corps of Iowa. No third prize was offered for drum corps.
First and second prizes in bands went to the Edward H. Monahan Post 64 Band of Iowa followed by the Garret Cochrane Post No.
1Band of Pennsylvania.
First prize carried with it a cash prize of $250. They also won another honor. Boys of 76's Drum Major George Johnson was
voted best drum major and received a handsome gold-plated baton. He was described as a "jaunty-stepping peacock."
The Boys of 76 drum and bugle corps arrived home on Saturday, 10-21-22.
The Boys of 76 drum and bugle corps were given a victory banquet by the Elks and the Junction merchants at the Elks Club on
Monday night, 10-23-23.
With its victory at New Orleans, the Boys of 76 were designated the official drum and bugle corps of the national American
Legion.
The 1922 American Legion Nationals, as in 1921, was a parade competition only. Here is the article from the Racine Journal-
News, Thursday, 10-19-22 that describes the Boys of 76’s victory:
“Legion Drum and Bugle Corps wins national honor. Racine given great ovation. - Whaley.”
So read a telegram which Mayor A. J. Hunt received this morning, while captain Walter L. Haight, commander of Racine Post,
received a more detailed account telling the glad news that Racine’s pride, the drum and bugle corps of Racine Post 76,
American Legion, had won first prize offered to drum corps in the big national Legion parade in New Orleans yesterday, and
straight away plans were made for a royal reception for the boys when they come home.
Second prize for drum and bugle corps was won by the Hanford Post No. 5, of Iowa. Thirteen other posts besides Racine
participated in the drum and bugle corps contest in which Racine won first honors and fifty bands took part which was won by the
band of Edward H. Monahan Post No. 64, of Iowa. The announcements of who won prizes in their respective class in the contest
yesterday in the American Legion parade was made tonight.
The Racine drum corps really deserves the honor that has been conferred upon it. It is no social organization made up at the last
minute and dressed up in comic opera suits to capture a prize at a Legion holiday.
They won. Is it any small wonder? When the group of 55 lads, clothed in white serge army breeches and Canadian officers
coats, white overseas caps and black puttees and Sam Browne belts, swung down the streets of Beloit (A.L. State) the crowd
went wild. A few days later in Madison (32nd Division Association parade) they received the same ovation, and now at New
Orleans, where brilliant and splendid youths from all over the country are assembled, the country takes off its hat to the boys of ’
76. Racine’s boys were cheered as being the finest outfit that ever marched in military parade.
Drum Major Johnson was known all over France as the best drum major in the country. He sure likes his work, too. Dressed up
in his pure white and gold West Point officers’ dress uniform, he leads the Racine drummers and buglers with undeniable
“class”.
The Article in the Racine Times-Call, Thursday, 10-19-22, also similarly describes the Boys of 76’s victory:
The Racine drum and bugle corps won first honors out of a field of 13 similar organizations, according to a telegram received
today by Walter L. Haight, commander of the Racine post.
Although competing against similar musical organizations from every state in the union, the Racine youths found no difficulty in
romping away with the highest award. As they swung along Canal street, in the wake of dozens of other drum corps and bands
that had been given preference in the line of march, the crowds that packed the sidewalks tore loose. The spontaneous bursts of
applause were deafening. Long before the drum corps had arrived opposite the reviewing stand, the judges had been given
their cue by the spectators.
Appearance, musical ability and marching were the three points on which the Racine organization won the award. Old Sol was
with the local delegation. The sun’s rays accentuated the dazzling effect of the cream white uniforms - each one adorning a
jaunty-stepping, physically-fit youth. The conscientious practice of the past several months was evident in the musical selections
that were played along the route.
In marching ability, there was no competition. Every member of the drum and bugle corps is an ex-service man, and the various
maneuvers they were called upon to make during the parade came as second nature to them.
The award carries with it a cash prize of $500, according to information given out by local Legion headquarters. (It should be
noted that it cost $4,700 to send the American Legion Post Drum and Bugle Corps to the American Legion National Convention
in New Orleans, La., back in 1922).
The band of Edward H. Monahan Post No. 64, of Iowa, won first prize in its division. The band winning second honors was that of
the Garret Cochrane Post No. 1, of Pennsylvania. Third prize was won by the band of John E. Miller Post No. 146 of Beaver Dam,
Wis.
Manford Post No. 5, of Iowa, won second prize in the drum and bugle corps competition.
The Racine drum corps is a consolidation of musical organizations of the 32nd Division Association, the Elks Club and the
Racine Post No. 76 of the American Legion.
From 1920 through 1926 Racine had a National Football League Franchise, the Racine Horlick-Legion that played at Horlick’s
Athletic Field. On Sunday, October 22, 1922, the Racine Post No. 76 Drum and Bugle Corps paraded in full splendor before and
during the halve of the Toledo Maroons vs. the Racine Horlick-Legion and Drum Major Johnson carried the jeweled baton that
was presented to him at New Orleans for being voted the best drum major in the American Legion national convention parade.
The Racine Horlick-Legion, however, lost to the Toledo Maroons 7 - 0 in front of 3,500 fans. Long penalties and costly fumbles
lost the game for the locals.
Yes, Horlick Field is an original NFL football field. The Horlick-Legion was an original NFL football team and was half owned by
Racine’s William Horlick of Horlick’s Malted Milk and the Racine American Legion Post No. 76. They split the $500 NFL franchise
fee. The Racine Horlick-Legion moved twice before moving to Detroit and becoming the Detroit Lions.
Armistice Day was held on November 11, 1922. The Boys of 76 led Racine's afternoon parade which formed on Monument
Square in downtown Racine. The parade also included a number of automobiles, all appropriately decorated for the occasion.
That night the Boys of 76 drum and bugle corps appeared at the Armistice Ball in the auditorium at Milwaukee. The trip was
made in buses and the drum and bugle corps' appearance was extensively advertised in Milwaukee.