The Presidents Drum and Bugle Corps, formed in 1950, was Tennessee's first drum and bugle corps. The corps competed nationally in the early 1950s, including in Los Angeles in 1952 where they finished second in the VFW Nationals. It was on a stopover on that trip that corps members met Dwight Eisenhower during his presidential campaign.This senior corps became a junior corps in about 1954, and participated in numerous drum and bugle corps contests, two presidential inaugural parades, several gubernatorial inaugural parades, and many special parades and exhibitions. They placed eighth in the VFW Nationals in 1957, seventh in VFW Nationals in 1956, and fourth in the 1959 VFW Nationals in Los Angeles. The Presidents were deactivated in 1972, but were reactivated in November, 1999, as a junior corps, largely through the efforts of its new director, Bill Clendenon.
The Presidents made the switch to senior drum corps in 2002, believing DCA to be more supportive of new corps. They plan to build on their rich heritage, a large number of alumni, and some talented new instructors to propel the corps back into national contention. Although many of its current members are local, the corps is a multi-state organization consisting of businessmen, music directors, corps instructors, drum corps enthusiasts, drum corps members, and alumni from several areas in Tennessee and Virginia.
The corps colors are green and white, with a broad white diagonal belt and buckle.
The corps’ mission statement reads: “To provide the tradition of drum and bugle corps to all young adults regardless of race, creed, or ethnic background."
[www.prescorps.org; Bill Clendenon; DCW, 6/6/03, p.3]
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