Royales Drum and Bugle Corps Alumni


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flashback: 1970

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Welcome to the
Flashback of 1970 :

Officers & Directors

Director.................................Fred Wolf, Jr.
Assistant Director ......................Susuma Oka
Assistant Director.......................Al Stout
Director "B" Corps.......................Al Stout
Business Manager.........................Bill Hansen
Coordinator..............................Don Venberg
Wardrobe Mistress........................Lorraine Hinkledire
Wardrobe Mistress........................Marie Wolf
Transportation Director..................Joe Trifari
Fund Raising.............................Edna Lehman
President................................Mike Petrone
1st Vice President.......................George Buntin
2nd Vice President.......................Al Stout
Secretary................................Marie Wolf
Treasurer................................Kay Compton
Marching & Maneuvering...................Michael Petrone
Horns and Drums..........................Dave Reuter
Horns and Drums..........................Fred Wolf III
Asst. Horns & Drums......................Bob Johns
Color Guard..............................Hank Voss
"B" Guard................................Cliff Fitzgerald
"B" Drums................................Robert Wolf
"B" Horns................................Al Stout

CORPS MEMBERS: (as of March 14, 1970)

Drum Major Drum Majorette Dale Bennett Patty Bryant

HORN LINE:
Lorie Babson John Francese Leland Lundervold Don Bennett Larry Francese Keith Moffett Steve Brand Carl Fritsche Louis Morris Carl Bullock Bob Hansen Dan O'Donnell Chuck Buntin Sue Hansen David O'Donnell Fran Buntin Debbie Horton Rusty Russell Benny Compton Ed Hughes Debbie Stout Ken Compton Mike Hughes Glenn Stout Mike Compton Phyllis Jackson Richard Stout David Derbl Lois Kozusko Robert Stout John Egan Doug Lambert Steve Tier Karen Farrah Ken Lambert Ricky Tromboli Don Francese Marcie Lehmann Laurel Venberg Jerry Francese

DRUM LINE:
Darnell Brown Tom Koch Robert Riley Mark Buntin Richard Lehmann Quenston Staten Paul DeCaprio Bill Morris Doug Stone Hilton Gratz Fred Oltarzewski Guy Stone Keith Hubbard Bob Riley Robert Watkins Thadeus Hubbard Mike Riley Ed Wolf

COLOR GUARD:
CAPTAIN: CO-CAPTAIN: Sheila Murphy (deceased) Sue Oka Janice Akers Jackie Conover Colleen Manning Candi Alcrim Jackie Egan Sonja Phillips Randi Alcrim Valerie Gratz Sandy Stone Sandi Alcrim Heide Havice Denise Trifari Louise Brand Debbie Hinkledire Debbie West Sylvia Brown Michelle Layne Debbie White Narda Carroll Terri Lane

FEEDER CORPS:
DRUMS:
Myron Blueford Jim Goeloe Tim Nolan Barry Bottini Don Hill Jerry Staten Richard Bowen Chris Lehmann

HORNS:
David Bell Rich Kulpa Peter O'Donnell Kim Betts Larry Lundervold Bill Stegner Ted Bullock Tom Mansfield Joe Stegner Mike DeCaprio Rita McLeod Marie Weaver Debbie Ferrugia

COLOR GUARD:
Debbie Bowen Cheryl Hubbard Michelle Marz Brunell Brown Laura Johnson Margie Parmiter Shirley Hanley Noreen Manning Michelle Rockhill

Royales Undefeated in Winter Standstill Contests

In 1969, the Royales were a constant second place runner-up in the winter standstill ensemble contests. They were always trying to catch up to the chapter champions. The Royales finally tied the leaders in musical ability at the last show of the season on May 17th. In 1970, The Royales, more experienced and much improved, began the new season with an upset victory over the 1969 chapter champions, The Manville Crusaders of Manville NJ, and the all chapter champions, the Earls of Buck from Bucks County, Pa. The contest was held in Woodbridge High School sponsored by The Blue Angels of Iselin. Drum Major Dale Bennett took best drum major of the show and Robert Watkins, rudimental bass player, won the annual memorial trophy for the second time in a row.
This show was a sign of things to come, as the Royales continued the season by taking first place in every single competition of the indoor season. Also, Drum Major Dale Bennet took the first place trophy for best drum major in show in EVERY contest that a trophy of this type was awarded. A special tribute has to be given to the Royales' instructors, Dave Reuter and Fred Wolf III.

Cost of Running a Corps in 1970

Instructors..........................$128.00 a month
Bus Liability Insurance..............$482.00 a year
Total transportation costs.........$3,000.00 a year
New Uniforms...................... $5,000.00 plus
Total annual operating expenses...$18,500.00 a year
The Eatontown Recreation Commission provided the instructors' fees, corps member liability insurance and Eatontown school facilities for practices, (custodian fees). The Eatontown Borough Council provided most of the funds to buy new uniforms. The Corps itself paid for instruments, instructors, all transportation costs and all other misc. expenses. During 1970, the Royales also signed a one year sponsor contract with Oakhurst VFW Post 2226. The Long Branch Exchange Club donated a portion of the proceeds from a circus that they held at Monmouth Mall (then the Monmouth Shopping Center).

Second Annual Home Show

The Royales held their second annual Drum Corps and Color Guard contest at Monmouth Regional High School on Saturday evening, March 14. The show was dedicated to Shiela Mae Murphy, our beloved Color Guard Captain, who passed away January 15, 1970. Twenty-two units competed for trophies under separate divisions of Color Guard, Ensemble, (maximum 20 playing members) and Full Corps. One corps from Oceanside, L.I. NY travelled over 120 miles to our show. (It took them 3 hours) The Lakers from Greenwood Lake, NY also travelled over 100 miles.

An annual memorial trophy in memory of Sheila Murphy was awarded to the best Color Guard Captain.

The beginning of the show was marked by a rousing exhibition by the Royales beginners group. Though small in stature, they showed that they are fast becoming a talented group of their own. Spontaneous applause was given the group for their rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In."

The highlight of the show was the exhibition by the Royales, resplendent in new uniforms. A rousing ovation by the "standing room only" crowd was given the Royales as they faultlessly played selections of; The Triumphal March, Born Free, Exodus and Love Me Forever.

Royales Join Competitive Circuit

In 1970, the Royales joined the Garden State marching and maneuvering circuit. and marched throughout NJ and NY including the American Legion States Convention Competition and the VFW States Convention Contest.

1970 was also the first year that the Royales traveled to Lynn, Massachusetts to compete in the famous "World Open" Drum & Bugle Coprs contest. We left on August 20th and returned on August 23rd.

Dave Reuter Transferred Overseas

The Royales lost one of their best instructors, David Reuter, who taught horns and drums since the inception of the corps. He was stationed at Fort Monmouth but got orders to ship overseas for the U.S. Army.
Efforts were made with Congressman James Howard to keep Dave at Fort Monmouth but the Army said no.

Royales Receive Thanks From President Nixon

In 1970, President Richard Nixon sent his thanks to the Royales for our participation in his campaign rally at Monmouth Shopping Center in October of 1978.

Royales Win Best Rifle Trophy at Championship Show!

April 11, 1970 - The Royales Rifle line, under the leadership of Rifle Captain, Jackie Egan, took the Best Rifle Line award at the Chapter III Championships dispite a rather lack-luster 6th place overall color guard score. The working rifle line consisted of Jackie Egan, Narda Carroll, Lou Anne Brand, Sylvia Brown and Sandy Alcrim. The Rifles in the American Flag Section were Randi Alcrim and Noreen (Noni) Manning.

Royales Take 3rd Place At Their First World Open

The Royales took third place in Class B Finals of the World Open Championships Contest held in Manning Bowl, Lynn, Mass. A total of 103 members (including adults) left Eatontown Boro Hall Wednesday night and stayed at the Happy Valley Country Club in Lynn. Thursday evening we participated in a huge parade, viewed by over 75,000 spectators, including about 35 Drum and Bugle Corps.
In the preliminaries, we competed against 24 other corps from throughout the United States and Canada, gaining a third place with a score of 62.55 and the right to compete in the finals. Only the top five corps were allowed to compete in the finals.
We returned to Eatontown on Sunday evening and, upon arriving at the boundaries of Eatontown, we were greeted by Mayor Werner and a police escort to boro hall where over 200 people were on hand to welcome us. We performed an enthusiastic exhibition for the crowd of wellwishers.
In early October, Eatontown celebrated "Royales Day" in honor of this accomplishment. The event was staged at Ira Wolcott Playground. As part of the celebration, we put an a full uniform exhibition for the residents.