The Argonne Rebels, formed in 1948, was a junior marching and maneuvering corps based in Great Bend, Kansas. Legend has it that the group's name resulted when an enthusiastic parent yelled, "Go, you rebels!" during a 1952 contest.In the 1960s the Rebels were competitive in both the American Legion and VFW Nationals, and they made Finals in the American Legion Nationals. Their highest finishes were wins in the American Legion Junior Prelims in 1971 and 1972. The corps' horn line took high brass in VFW competition in 1970 and 1971, and finished fifth in the first DCI competition in 1972.
The corps was particularly noted for its horn line. Their brass instructor during these years was Sandra Opie, who later became a judge and a member of the DCI Hall of Fame.
The Argonne Rebels folded after the 1979 season, but re-appeared in a lower class in the mid 1980s. Their highest DCI finish was tenth in Class A competition in 1983. The corps' winter guard organization continued to compete until 1995, and the organization name still exists in Great Bend.
[A History of Drum and Bugle Corps, 2002; rec.arts.marching.drumcorps, aduncan@aol.com, 5/28/02; frankareme, 1/14/99; DCW, 8/30/02, p.8; DCW, 6/8/90, p.2, inter alia]
![[Back to corpsreps.com Homepage]](corpsreps.gif)