1925 AMERICAN LEGION NATIONALS
By George Fennell
Copyright - This article appeared in the March, 2004 issue of Drum Corps World
The 1925 American Legion National Convention was held from October 5 - 9 in Omaha, Neb.
The Racine American Legion Post 76 drum and bugle corps left Racine Sunday morning at 4:30 a.m. on a
special train on the Chicago & North Western railroad. Nearly 200 Racine Legionnaires made the trip
including the drum and bugle corps, the glee club, the string orchestra and the quartet. Quite a number were
accompanied by their wives. No long stops were made by the special so no exhibitions were staged on the way
to Omaha by the drum and bugle corps. The special train arrived in Omaha on Sunday evening at 7:45 p.m.
Sleeping accommodations for the Racine delegation including the drum and bugle corps were at the Omaha
Athletic Club where they slept on cots placed in the gymnasium.
Through the efforts of the Racine Association of Commerce, approximately $1,800 had been raised to help
defray the expenses of the trip and to help pay for the new uniforms for the drum corps that arrived the week
before the drum corps left for Omaha. Merchants and manufacturers contributed, the merchants giving 10 per
cent of their gross sales on Sept. 22 toward the fund.
Most legionnaires had arrived in Omaha from throughout the country by Sunday night, Oct. 4th, and an all night
celebration preceded the opening of the seventh annual national convention of the American Legion. “Omaha
is yours,” Mayor James C. Dahlman told the convention Monday morning in recognition of their taking of it the
night before.
The Racine American Legion Post 76 drum and bugle corps made its appearance on the streets of Omaha
early Monday morning. They spent the whole morning serenading delegates in the national convention hall
and performing at local newspaper offices. Numerous requests were received by the corps for its appearance
so the rest of the day was spent performing for the numerous requests at local hotels and other places where
Legion crowds were concentrated.
The Racine “Boys of 76” constituted one of the eleven Wisconsin American Legion bands and drum corps in
Omaha. One of the others, Beloit’s Myron C. West Post No. 48 drum and bugle corps arrived in Omaha by
train on Monday morning.
Accompanying Beloit’s drum and bugle corps was a live eagle owned by Lee Kimberly. It was a Wisconsin
eagle, Old Abe, that led the Wisconsin troops in the Civil War and if the Beloit drum and bugle corps has its way
it will be a Beloit eagle that leads them to victory in the drum and bugle corps contest. It was reported that the
eagle seemed to enjoy all the attention he received at the convention.
The Beloit drum and bugle corps did not get into uniform Monday and rested up for the big American Legion
national convention parade that would begin the next day, Tuesday, at 2 p.m. Also, there was a drizzling rain
Monday and the men believed that a freshly pressed uniform free from the rain, mud and street grime would
present a much more pleasing appearance for Tuesday’s big parade.
President Coolidge addressed the legionnaires at the Tuesday morning session of the convention. The
American Legion band from Cadott, Wis., had been smuggled into the convention hall by Wisconsin
Legionnaires during the early morning before the delegates began to arrive.
At the conclusion of the President’s speech, the strains of “On Wisconsin” played by the Cadott band sounded
over the convention floor to everyone‘s surprise. No musical organization was supposed to have been allowed
in the convention hall for this session.
The American Legion national convention parade followed the morning session and began at 2 p.m. The
President and Mrs. Coolidge along with American Legion, Nebraska and Omaha dignitaries and high officials
were present in the reviewing stand which was located across the street from Central High School.
President Coolidge was the first President of the United States to attend an American Legion national
convention.
The streets were lined with thousands of people. All of Omaha and the countryside for miles around ceased
activities in order for people to attend the parade.
More than 100,000 marching Legionnaires provided spectators with a wonderful kaleidoscopic spectacle.
The first division of the parade was headed by its marshal, followed by Legionnaires from the 48 states and
several foreign countries.
The second division comprised veterans from other organizations including the G. A. R., the U. S. W. V., the
Disabled Veterans of the World War, Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Knights of Columbus
and Jewish Welfare.
The third division comprised floats.
There were reportedly 35 drum and bugle corps in competition in Tuesday’s big parade with the high five corps
to compete Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Ak-Sar-Ben Field in the final contest to choose the best of all American
Legion drum and bugle corps.
The high five corps from Tuesday’s big American Legion national convention parade were as follows:
1. 95.5 Kankakee, Illinois
2. 94.0 St. Paul, Minnesota
3. 93.5 Racine, Wisconsin
Tied for fourth place with a score of 91 points each were Council Bluffs, Iowa and Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
The Beloit, Wisconsin drum and bugle corps finished in sixth place with a score of 88.5 points giving Wisconsin
three drum corps in the top six. However, the eagle failed to lead the Beloit drum corps to victory. During the
parade, the Beloit drum and bugle corps was led by a decorated car with Lee Kimberly’s eagle standing on the
car’s hood.
After the parade the Racine drum and bugle corps lodged a protest against the St. Paul drum and bugle corps
for some unknown reason. The Beloit drum and bugle corps was told that it might be competing in the finals
because of the possible disqualification of one of the top five drum and bugle corps for breaking a parade rule.
However, the Racine drum and bugle corps’ protest was disallowed by the committee.
Dr. P. A. Howell, manager of the Beloit drum and bugle corps, told the Beloit Daily News “Had the printed
regulations been adhered to by all organizations participating in the parade Tuesday I feel sure that the Beloit
drum and bugle corps would have placed among the five final contestants.”
Because of their third place finish and the keen competition expected in the final competition on Thursday, the
Racine American Legion drum corps sent an S. O. S. out from Omaha Wednesday asking Joseph Oliver,
former corps drillmaster who was back in Racine, to round up as many members of the corps who didn’t make
the trip as possible and to hasten with them to Omaha for the final showdown.
Joseph Oliver, drillmaster and veteran of the three previous American Legion national conventions in which the
“Boys of 76” emerged triumphant, did his best to round up as many as possible and left with eight “crack”
drummers for Omaha on the 4:30 pm. train Wednesday.
Although the Racine American Legion drum and bugle corps had won the past three national championships,
the same men did not taken part each time. This year many of the members were “rookies” and were entering
national competition for their first time. Also, some veteran members of the corps didn’t make the trip. So, as a
result of their third place rating in the parade, it was felt necessary to try to bolster the corps chances of
winning by adding as many veteran members of the corps still back in Racine that could be persuaded to come
to Omaha for Thursday night’s final competition.
This strategy paid off for the Racine “Boys of 76” as they won the American Legion National Championship for
the fourth consecutive time under the flood lights Thursday night with a score of 88.0 points. St. Paul was
second with 85.5 points and third place went to Kankakee, Ill., with a score of 81.5 points. Fourth place went to
Fond du Lac with 75.5 and fifth to Council Bluffs, Iowa, with 56.5.
The Racine American Legion drum corps victory earned them a cash prize of $750, a field drum and other
“accoutrements” valued at $200. For second place St. Paul received a $500 cash prize and Kankakee, Ill.,
received the third place cash prize of $250.
The 7:30 p.m. final competition was transferred on account of rain from Ak-Sar-Ben Field to Douglas Street,
one of the principal downtown streets, and was witnessed by thousands. Judges were Capt. J. Bartholomew
Conmy and Lt. R. G. Howie of Fort Omaha; George A. Smith, George Shutts and Charles J. Assman.
Judging was based on 20 points maximum allowed for each of the 5 captions: Uniforms, Marching Appearance,
Rhythm, Cadence and Maneuvers.
The complete official score card for the final competition was as follows:
Racine - Uniforms, 17; marching appearance, 19; rhythm, 15; cadence, 19; maneuvers, 18. Total points, 88.
St. Paul - Uniforms, 12; marching appearance, 18; rhythm, 19; cadence, 17.5; maneuvers, 19. Total points,
85.5.
Kankakee - Uniforms, 18; marching appearance, 17; rhythm, 16; cadence, 19.5; maneuvers, 10. Total
points, 80.5.
Fond du Lac - Uniforms, 16; marching appearance, 15; rhythm, 14; cadence, 18.5; maneuvers, 8. Total
points, 71.5.
Council Bluffs - Uniforms, 15; marching appearance, 12; rhythm, 10; cadence, 16.5; maneuvers, 3. Total
points, 56.5.
The Individual drumming contest was won by George Powers of St. Paul. Fred Schulte of Racine‘s Boys of 76,
who during World War I played in John Philip Sousa’s 300 member Bluejacket band (“Jackie” band) at the
Great Lakes Naval Training Station, placed second among the many contestants.
Racine’s drum and bugle corps won its laurels in Omaha mostly because of Fred Maxted, drillmaster, Joe
Oliver, former drillmaster, later stated. “We faced the stiffest competition ever met with and came out victorious
because we had a man like Maxted at the head of the corps. I can’t say enough about his work and interest in
bringing the first honors back to Racine again. All of the fellows appreciate it.”
Conduct of the Legionnaires at the Omaha national convention of the American Legion was severely criticized
on the floor of the convention by Francis J. Good of Massachusetts, chairman of the committee on resolutions.
Francis J. Good declared the Omaha convention was the worst in point of rowdyism and misbehavior of any in
the history of the American Legion. He asked that efforts be made to prevent rowdyism at future conventions.
However, the Racine Association of Commerce received the following letter from the Omaha Athletic Club that
congratulated the Racine drum and bugle corps on the gentlemanly behavior of the musicians and on the
entertainment they gave for the thousands at the convention:
“Gentlemen: You may be interested to know about the boys whom you sent to Omaha as a delegation to the
American Legion Convention.”
“We have in mind the Drum and Bugle Corps of Racine, Wis., whom we have sheltered during their stay in our
city. They are certainly as fine and fit a body of men as ever delighted a body of on-lookers of any parade ever
held in any place. We envy your boys.”
“During their stay at our club they behaved in the most gentlemanly manner, and it is with pleasure that I
discharge a duty, which has been imposed upon me by the board of directors, to inform you gentlemen how
well the Drum and Bugle Corps of Racine behaved.”
“Every one agreed that it was a just decision when the first prize was awarded to them, although there were
many other fine drum corps from all over the United States.”
“We certainly do hope that the boys will again be successful in Pennsylvania, where they intend going next
year.”
“The writer, personally, will be sorry when they are gone, and so will be the members of our club, who have
been entertained by their performances during the week.”
“Good luck to them.”
“Respectfully yours,
OMAHA ATHLETIC CLUB,
By Peter Hausen, Mgr.”
Several drum corps including Beloit and Rockford had a resolution drawn up and presented to a proper
committee asking that in the future the national organization of the American Legion assume greater powers
over certain competitive features than in the past. The drum corps believed that the national organization
should have more power over the competition than local committees.
Eleven Racine Legionnaires, returning from the convention, had another thrill added to the many that they had
experienced during the past week. When their train was five miles from Grand Junction, Ia., the rims came off
five drive wheels of the locomotive. The next instant they were thrown from their seats as the engineer applied
the air. Most of them were in the dining car and had meals dumped in their laps and spattered over their
clothes. They were held up at Grand Junction for four hours while repairs were made. Railroad men declared
it was a miracle that the entire train did not leave the tracks.
The special train bearing the victorious Racine American Legion Post 76 drum and bugle corps arrived at
Racine’s Junction Station at 6:25 p.m. on Saturday, October 10th. Wintry blasts did not chill the enthusiasm of
the citizens of Racine who turned out en masse to greet them upon their return from the national American
Legion convention at Omaha.
Upon their arrival, the Racine drum and bugle corps went to the Belle City Manufacturing Co. plant where they
changed from civilian clothes to their uniforms. This was the first time that these new uniforms were seen by
the people of Racine as they were never used before the Omaha trip. Shortly after 7 p.m., led by five
motorcycle policemen, city authorities and American Legion officials in cars, the boys marched down Junction
Avenue to Washington Avenue, over to West Sixth Street and into Monument Square to put on for the
thousands of townspeople gathered there the same drill that won the honors at Omaha.
The Racine Journal News described the Racine American Legion drum and bugle corps’ appearance during
this parade as follows:
“Arms swinging jauntily, feet stepping forward as though one lever controlled the whole drum and bugle corps,
every steel helmet at the same angle, uniforms as neat as though just taken out of a tailor’s box, the victorious
Racine American Legion drum and bugle corps captured the town by storm.”
They were greeted by thousands along the line of march from Junction Station to downtown. Honking
automobile horns helped swell the cheering of the people. Confetti and streamers of many-colored paper were
thrown down from the windows of buildings on Monument Square.
The drum and bugle corps arrived downtown shortly before 8 p.m. and Monument Square was already full of
people with more hurrying to get there.
Racine Police Chief Baker had mobilized enough police officers to handle the anticipated crowd of 10,000
people that were expected to be there in Monument Square for the Racine drum and bugle corps’ exhibition.
As soon as the Racine drum and bugle corps came into sight marching down West Sixth Street, policemen shut
off all traffic between Fifth and Sixth Streets so there would be no interference with the planned drum corps
exhibition that was to be put on there.
The crowd was silent for 15 minutes as the drum corps went through its maneuvers on Monument Square. The
Racine Journal News described their performance as follows:
“They drilled as a whole and in sections, getting into formations from which the spectators never thought they
would be able to extricate themselves. Not a missed beat of a drum, not a faltering note from a bugle, not a
single jumble in the maneuvers. With a last triumphant grand flourish of drums and bugles they came together
in regular formation at the north end of the impromptu arena after 15 minutes of drilling and quietly disbanded.”
Charles Tiede brought back with him from Omaha a number of pictures of the various American Legion drum
and bugle corps that competed against the Racine drum corps there. These were displayed in the windows of
Zahn’s Department store on Monument Square in downtown Racine.