Special thanks to Louis Grubb and Joe Boley
Note: Some of this stuff happened half a century ago and may not be accurate. Please email corrections to the webmaster.
The early corps used WW 1 Army surplus "blaster" bugles that did not have valves. Some members could not read music, so they played by ear. No one had uniforms. Some members of the corps were in second grade. Some members had to play the bugle every morning when they raised the flag at EE Morison Elementary School. They had to walk miles through snow to get to practice. (I made up the part about the snow).
John Taff. Organizer and director. 1947-1949.
1947 - Sponsored by St. Rose and Knights of Columbus.
1948 - Sponsored by American Legion. Argonne Post #180.
1949 - First appearance at American Legion State Convention in Pratt, KS.
Alton Foster. Great Bend High School band director 1949-1954.
1952 & 1953 - Director of the Great Bend Drum & Bugle Corps
Marvin Downey became director after Foster left.
James Sanner. Great Bend High School band director 1954-1958.
Directed the corps during his tenure at the high school. The corps made significant progress.
In 1955 the name of the Great Bend Drum and Bugle Corps was changed to
the Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps. The same year they defeated
the Wichita corps to win the state championship. They went to Miami Beach for the nationals
and came in 12th.
In 1956 the corps again won state and went to Los Angeles for nationals and placed 3rd. The first March of Champions was held that year.
In 1957 the corps again won state and went to Atlantic City for Nationals. The corps traveled by train to Philadelphia. Talk to Val Lindholm about Lou and Val sneaking out of the hotel and checking back in with Glen Opie at the front several times; even though they were on the 10th floor of the hotel (dumbwaiters have more than use).
1959-1969. Glenn Opie, Sandra Opie and Joe Boley co-directed the corps until Boley retired in 1969. During this era the drum world went through significant changes. Professional staff was hired (sometimes with success sometimes not), the season was extended, expenses (travel and local) were on the rise, funding procedures were changing and sponsorship changes were on the horizon.
1959 - 1973 Glenn and Sandra Opie continue with success until they retired in 1973.
1971-1972 Brian Pennington (along with the legendary Sandra Opie) was a Music Director and Brass Instructor for Argonne. Brian Pennington also taught in the Great Bend School system. He gave private lessons both in his home and in the band room at the Roosevelt Junior High School.