Legendary Drum Majors
Looks like a very hot topic of conversation.
Please excuse my selection, but I'll stick by my personal opinions in regards to the topic with respect to everyone else's personal views. My selection is based on drum majors that have left, and some that are still working and leaving a legacy behind. These are some of the people that I think have really impacted lives, and should really be considered as "Legendary". Most of these are from the last ten years, and I ask to put into account that it's because I am part of the 1990's generation of drum majors.
George Gullet from Arizona State University, 19.. ??
He was my inspiration for his 26th and 27th year (His last years before transferring to Nogales HS Administration) working as the band director for John A. Rowland HS. I don't know much about his spinning capabilities, or what he accomplished as an active drum major. What I do know is that his experiences then helped him through the 27 years that he served for the Rowland Unified School District. From my understanding, he started the music program for that district, and molded it to include the 10+ elementary schools, to feed into the three intermediate schools, and to progress to the two high schools, Rowland and Nogales. The music program there was AMAZING because it integrated all the music students every other year into one gym for the district concert. He also inspired his student-leaders to strive, and he led our music program at the high school with prestige. If it wasn't for him, I would never have considered trying out since I was a Freshman in HS, and finally accomplishing and reaching that goal when I was a Senior.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 27 years of service to the Rowland Unified School District
Rocky Ehrich from Gladstone HS, 1997
State Champion in Mil. Masters 1997, currently coaching multiple schools, actively competing as a Mace Drum Major for the Scottish Games.
SPECIALTY: Military baton, American Mace, Scottish Mace. Teaches Military baton styles consistent of classic tricks.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Jason and Holly Ehrich, David Lopez, Bryan Millares, Mai Vo, Peter and Christina Nguyen
Miriam Lieu from Arcadia HS, 1999
She wasn't the head drum major, and only competed in L pattern twice her senior year. She still contributes to the sport by actively coaching and adjudicating.
SPECIALTY: Unique style and off-the-wall tricks.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Ben Jiang, Kyle Terry
Honorable Mention:
Ben Schroeder from Glendora HS, 199. ??
Jennifer Tran from Montebello HS AND Alan Riley from Arcadia HS, 2006-2007 (one of the best "friendly" rivalries EVER)
ALL Tetzlaff Drum Majors, with special mention to the first set of kids that competed in 2000 (they paved the way to the flood of drum majors from their school in the Mil. Apprentice division every year)
Brittney Barnes from Rancho Buena Vista HS, 2006 (the only other drum major to really challenge and beat Jennifer Tran and Alan Riley)
ALL Montebello Drum Majors that competed wearing the Buzzbee (try spinning and competing wearing their uniform and you'll understand)
Lastly, my greatest mention for our proposed "Legendary Drum Majors"...
ALL of the drum majors from the lesser-known schools!!! Those are the drum majors that surprise the "top favorites" from the bigger schools. They deserve a lot of mention because most of them have gone through and taught themselves tricks passed on from previous generations of drum majors from their area. They're the ones that don't have the luxuries or influence of outside coaches. They were the drum majors that were not exposed to the L-pattern scene, yet they still came out there and surprised everyone when they beat State Champions on the street. Those to me ARE the Legendary Drum Majors. You know who you are, you know which schools you're from. Pat yourselves on the back and give yourself a hug from me, because I know how it is to come from one of those schools.