1967-1968 Vermilion Sailor Marching Band

Head Majorette: Candy Athey

Members: M. Bachman, P. Bachman, G. Bacus, B. Berk, T. Boggess, P. Booker, C. Browning, D. Burrows, H. Coultrip, P. Curran, B. Faris, L. Gauman, P. Glinka, A. Goudvis, K. Hasenflue, S. Heberling, M. Heys, N. Jeffrey, J. Jordan, J, Kerchinske, J. Kobza, T. Konnery, C. Athey, C. Gleason, J. Leahy, J. Lenhart, J. Newbill, G. Washabaugh, A. Wise, P. Martin, T. Martin, M. Nedro, J. Neff, B. Nichols, R. Ochse, J. Mongomery, D. Pretzer, A. Schlesselman, J. Schnitzlet, B. Schellhouse, B. Snell, N. Ward, K. Watkins, L. West, I. Zalar, B. Evenson, M. Liston, J. McClurkin, M. Minich, C. Opatkin, D. Rust, T. Yeamans, S. Baker, K. Burger, P. Butler, L. Cline, J. Green, C. Griswold, G. Kishman, A. Polzin, J. Smarr, L. Thompson, J. West, K. Hess, B. Johnson, S. Slone, I. Wenzel, R. Brown, R. Davidson, P. Newton, D. Pintur, R. Browning, P. Filmore, M. Hart, E. McClimans, L. McCullough, V. Pack, G. Rodgers, M. Wakefield, C. Ziemke, K. Burrows, H. Casterline, M. Griffith, G. Grob, B. McClimans, J. Prete, D. Shobert, R. Shobert, D. Tansey, E. Brown, M. Burley, G. Duncan, M. Johnson, P. Novotny, J. Showalter, H. Steinmetz, D. Walker, M. Wolf

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Candy Chosen Head Majorette

Tryouts for the 1967-1968 Sailor Band Majorettes were held on May 4 in the high school bandroom.

The tryouts were to pick a new head majorette for next season and to pick three new majorettes to fill vacancies left by this year’s graduating seniors. The girls were picked by Mr. Burt with advice from Sue Fultz, this year’s head majorette and the rest of the senior twirlers.

There were six freshmen, ten sophomores, and five juniors trying out this year for majorette. They were judged by their ability to march and twirl as well as their poise.

Congratulations to the girls who were chosen: Candy Athey head majorette, Ava Wise, Gail Washabaugh, Carol Gleason, Janet Leahy, Janet Newbill, and Jackie Lenhart.

Banquet “67”

Last Tuesday, November 28, 1967, a banquet was given for the Sailor Marching Band.

Dr. Zinn and Mrs. Zinn, Mr. and Mrs. Schroeader, and Mr. and Mrs. Geib were the honored guests who attended. Mr. and Mrs. Henry and Mrs. Burt were also present.

The evening started out with a fine dinner prepared by Mrs. Duncon and the staff with some Freshmen band members doing the serving. After the meal introductions were made then Mr. Burt read the last will and testament of the Seniors.

The evening was very enjoyable and memorable to all.

Band Magazine Drive On

Next week students who are members of the junior and senior high school bands and vocal music groups of the Vermilion Schools will be selling magazine subscriptions as the annual Music Booster Magazine Subscription Drive gets underway.

The subscription drive is the major fundraising project of the Music Boosters and the proceeds this year will be used for the purchase of sound equipment and a tape recorder, as well as maintenance and replacement of band uniforms and choir robes. Co-chairmen are Mrs. Edwin Ziemke and Mrs. Warren Wangus; captains include Mrs. George Greenwood, Mrs. A.H. Hart, Jr, Mrs. Robert Lijegren, Mrs. E.A. McClurkin, Mrs. Roger Ruetenik and Mrs. William Henkes.

The goal this year is 1,000 subscriptions. Renewals as well as new subscriptions will be accepted. Students selling 12 and 25 subscriptions will receive prizes.

Each student who sells a subscription to one of the following four magazines will receive a stuffed animal: American Home, Ladies Home Journal, or Newsweek.

Each salesman will carry identification with him

Sailor Band Marches Again

“Vermilion High School is proud to present the 1968 Sailor Marching band under the direction of Mr. William Burt, assisted by Mr. David Henry, under the field direction tonight of head majorette, Miss Candy Athey!” With this announcement and the Anchors Aweigh fanfare, the best band in the conference steps smartly onto the field and puts on a show that makes not only the Vermilion fans, but spectators from other schools sit up and take notice.

Vermilion’s precision military marching progressive drills and Moffit arrangements are what sets them apart from other bands in the area, who do mostly dance routines. Vermilion’s “company front” style (marching in one long line instead of a solid block) and military routines require much practice and drilling, as well as a good deal of planning on paper before they can even be tried on the field. All of the music has to be memorized and the drills learned. They are fitted together re-arranged and edited several times, practiced over and over again, and finally put on display on Friday night.

This year the band has had difficulty in practicing because there is no football field yet at the new school. On afternoons when the weather is good the band is transported by school buses to the Junior High, where they stay and practice until 3:30 or 4:00.

The majorettes, a vital part of the band, attend Summer camps as well as all of the regular practice sessions. Each week they are featured in a routine that they have to work pretty hard to get ready. Their efforts are greatly appreciated by the band, as well as the fans. The band would also like to thank the cheerleaders for their support.

The next two weeks are going to be the busiest ones of the football season for the band members. October 4 is the night of the game with Oberlin, Vermilion’s rival for the No. 1 band of the conference. On October 5, Vermilion’s Sailors have been invited to attend the Annual Oberlin Band Festival. On Oct. 6 the band is scheduled to play for the dedication of the new high school. Then the following weekend, the game on Fri. is with New London and Saturday is the first Bellevue Band Festival in Bellevue, Ohio.

The band’s activities by no means end with the termination of football season. Concert band then follows with Winter and Spring. Concerts and the Lakeland Conference Band Festival. The pep band also adds much spirit to the basketball games. In the late spring, the band changes back to marching again to get ready for the Memorial Day and the Festival of the Fish Parades.

A good band requires planning, time, patience, and spirit. But before any marching unit can develop any of these qualities, it must have a good director. Vermilion is very fortunate to have one of the best of all, Mr. Burt. Mr. Henry, who acts as Mr. Burt’s assistant, is also a great help in a band the size of Vermilion’s.

A good band is made up of individuals who must: 1: “Be at the right place, at the right time, with the right equipment, in the right frame of mind”; 2. “March with the feeling of good rhythm!”; and 3. have “Espirit de corps!” Vermilion’s Sailor Marching Band has all of these qualities, stick around during the half-time and see what they can do with them.

Nostalgia Strikes Senior Band

Last Friday was the last football game of the season for all the students at VHS. But for the Senior band members, it also meant they had performed in their final half-time show.

Many of them regarded this with mixed emotions. Of course, the last show meant no more sessions on the cold, windy, sometimes muddy practice field, no more cold, wet feet or nervous stomachs on Friday nights, no more lining up for the show and then wishing you had taken the time for a short trip to the restroom, no more fighting over the “dead chickens”, and so on. But, after three years of marching, it also meant, no more applause from the appreciative crowd when you know you have done your best to give a good performance, no more “thumbs up” praise from Mr. Burt, no more pep talks, no more meeting kids in other bands, no more “which school can play the loudest” jam session at the band festivals, and more experiences that none of them will ever forget.

All the Senior Sailors in the marching band would like to express their appreciation to Mr. Burt for demonstrating a remarkable amount of patience when they were in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong equipment (if they had any equipment at all) in the wrong frame of mind. They would like to thank Mr. Henry, the bus drivers, the Music Booster, and the school officials for their help, cooperation, support, and understanding.

Last Friday the Senior band members received corsages and boutonnieres from the Music Boosters. They say thanks again to them. Then Friday evening, the half-time show the senior musicians in “The Stripper”.

Although they will have the opportunity to march again next spring for the Memorial Day and Fish Festival Parades, it just won’t be the same as a football show. The memory of the last game will stay with them for a long time to come.

Festival Success

The new Bellevue High School Stadium was the scene of the first Bellevue Band Festival last Saturday night. Six hundred and fifty high school musicians performed before an enthusiastic audience in the show sponsored by the Bellevue Redmen Boosters. Vermilion’s Sailor Band was proud to participate in this fine show.

The Bellevue High band opened the evening with the flag-raising ceremonies. They were followed by the fine performances of the Edison High Charger Band (Berlin-Milan), and the Norwalk High band, the Margaretta Polar Bears, Vermilion’s Sailors, Tiffin Columbian’s Tornados, and Sandusky’s Blue Streaks.

After the festival, the units were treated to ham sandwiches and pop by the Bellevue Band Boosters.

Farewell Salute

As most of you know, the Clearview game was the last game the Senior band members marched. Most of these Seniors marched for two or three years and had different feelings toward marching bands. Some are relieved that it is over yet some will miss it.

The members of the VHS Marching Band and the instruments they play are: Cornets: Larry Gauman, Mike Heys, Ted Konnerth, Phyllis Books, Cinda Browning, Ken Watkins, Patty Martine, Bob Nichols, and Ann Goudvis. Trombones: Debbie Rust, Toni Yeamans, and Jack McClurkin. Sousaphones: Dennis Pintur, Russell Davidson, and Charlie Brown. Baritone: Sid Slone, and Bonnie Johnson. Saxophone: Ellen Brown, and Glenn Duncan. Clarinets: JoAnn West, Amber Poizin, Judy Smarr, and Lynette Cline. Flutes: Lynn McCullough, and Pat Fillmore.

These Seniors stuck with it through summer practices, wrong notes, concerts, soggy fields, the bus getting lost, and the joy of the welcoming applause after the grand performance. Yes, these seniors have worthily received the name of the GREAT Vermilion Sailor Marching band.

Good luck and Best wishes, seniors, in your upcoming “debut” with the world. Underclassmen, keep up the great work and be proud you are a Salilor.

Vermilion Bands – Vermilion Sailor Marching Bands – 1960-1969 Vermilion Sailor Marching Bands