List of drum majors, commanders and directors of the Highty-Tighties
This is a list of the leadership of the Highty-Tighties, the Regimental Band of the Corps of Cadets of Virginia Tech.
Information in the following table is extracted from Bugle and personal accounts. The size of the band does not include the Director, faculty and staff that played with the band. The totals also do not include the Bugle Corps when it was a separate organization. LtCol Ellison Adger Smyth, Jr., Professor of biology, played in the band routinely from 1892 until he retired in 1906. Professor Smyth came to VPI in 1891 and was active in establishing the band and orchestra. Major John H. Shultz (Steward of the Dining Hall, class of 1908), Major J. Eoff, and Major Lorenzo M. Hale also played in the band. These faculty and staff are included in photographs of the band. Mr. Charles Owen, was also an 'unofficial' part of the band from 1892 to 1910 and he is included in the Bugle photographs of the band in 1908. A tribute poem after he died appeared in the 1910 Bugle.
Grad. Year |
Drum Major |
Commander |
Director |
Band Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1892-1893 |
Sergeant Clifford West Anderson |
1st Lt Frank Daniel Wilson |
Major James Patton Harvey |
121/16 |
1894 |
unknown |
unknown |
Major James Patton Harvey |
|
1895 |
W. R. Karr |
1st Lt John William Sample |
Major James Patton Harvey |
19 |
1896 |
Leslie Helm Lancaster |
Captain Osceola Claiborne Thompson |
Major James Patton Harvey |
25 |
1897 |
Brandner |
Captain H. H. Hurt |
Major James Patton Harvey |
23 |
1898 |
Arthur Middleton Cannon |
unknown |
Major James Patton Harvey; Acting Director Cadet Frank Clifton Carper (Class of 1899, also director of the Mandolin Orchestra) |
25 |
1899 |
W. H. Snook |
unknown |
Major James Patton Harvey; Acting Director Cadet Frank Clifton Carper (Class of 1899) |
23 |
1900 |
unknown |
Captain J. R. Brown |
Major James Patton Harvey; Acting Director for part of the year Cadet Frank C. Carper (Class of 1899) |
19 |
1901 |
unknown |
unknown |
Major James Patton Harvey |
29 |
1902 |
Unknown |
Captain Julius Clarence Dantzler |
Major James Patton Harvey |
12 |
1903 |
1st SGT Gantt |
Captain Henry Clay Michie |
Major James Patton Harvey |
30 |
1904 |
Private William Wilson Chase |
Captain H. H. Hill |
Major James Patton Harvey |
22 |
1905 |
Unknown |
Captain J. T. Williams |
Major James Patton Harvey |
29 |
1906 |
Sgt Jacob Wise Old |
Unknown |
Major Hugh Douglas McTier; Assistant Capt H. H. Hill Class of 1904 |
24 |
1907 |
Captain Jacob Wise Old |
Captain E. H. Taylor |
Major Hugh Douglas McTier |
23 |
1908 |
Unknown |
Captain Robert Sheffey Poole |
Major Hugh Douglas McTier |
21 |
1909 |
Unknown |
Captain Raymond Arthur Calvert |
Major Hugh Douglas McTier |
22 |
1910 |
Unknown |
1st SGT Alexander Atkinson Waldrop |
Major Hugh Douglas McTier |
28 |
1911 |
Unknown |
Captain Alexander Atkinson Waldrop |
Lt Marsden Churchhill Smith, Class of 1911 |
23 |
1912 |
Morris Wooten Loving |
Captain Wallace Clark Dixon |
Major James Patton Harvey |
20 |
1913 |
Unknown |
Corporals R. C. Brauer and A. D. Hedrick |
Major James Patton Harvey |
20 |
1914 |
C. A. Cutchins |
1st Sgt R. C. Brauer |
Major James Patton Harvey; Marsden Smith |
15 |
1915 |
C. A. Cutchins |
Captain R. C. Brauer |
Major James Patton Harvey; Acting Director Major H. H. Hill |
20 |
1916 |
C. A. Cutchins |
Lt James Leslie Maddux |
Peter Ubaldo Janutolo Class of 1913 |
19 |
1917 |
Harry Preston Humphries |
Captain Athol Herman Cox |
James Soloman Schaeffer |
24 |
1918 |
Harry Luck Rosenbaum |
1st SGT D. R. Taylor |
Jim Schaeffer |
27 |
1919 |
Unknown |
Captain Dayton Rice Taylor |
Jim Schaeffer |
35 |
1920 |
1st Lt Lewis Orian Wrenn |
Captain James Elisha Old |
Jim Schaeffer |
36 |
1921 |
Unknown |
Captain DeWitt Clinton Wo |
Jim Schaeffer |
33 |
1922 |
SGT William Walter LeFevre |
Captain John Bryon Herring |
Professor William Luther Skaggs |
32 |
1923 |
Unknown |
Captain William McKinley Haller |
Professor William Luther Skaggs |
40 |
1924 |
Unknown |
Captain Herman Lemuel Pritchard |
Professor William Luther Skaggs |
49 |
1925 |
Unknown |
Captain William Dana Harmon |
Professor William Luther Skaggs |
50 |
1926 |
Captain Robert Barrett Skinner |
Professor William Luther Skaggs |
85 |
|
1927 |
Unknown |
Captain Leslie Avery Shaw |
Professor William Luther Skaggs |
78 |
1928 |
Unknown |
Captain Grover Guy Tucker |
Mr. G. A. Johnson |
66 |
1929 |
Unknown |
Captain G. P. Shelhorse |
Mr. G. A. Johnson |
65 |
1930 |
Unknown |
Captain Howard Eugene Callahan |
Mr. G. A. Johnson |
65 |
1931 |
Unknown |
Captain Thomas Allen Phillips |
G. A. Johnson |
74 |
1932 |
Unknown |
Captain James Raymond Frost |
G. A. Johnson |
60 |
1933 |
Unknown |
Captain Arlie Curtis Huffman |
G. A. Johnson |
64 |
1934 |
Unknown |
Captain George Arthur Mohler, Jr. |
G. A. Johnson |
45 |
1935 |
Unknown |
Captain Charles Bradley McElroy |
G. A. Johnson |
56 |
1936 |
G. C. Starbuck |
Captain Guy Russel Davis |
G. A. Johnson |
80 |
1937 |
Lt |
Captain Harry Martin Meyers, Jr |
James Soloman Schaeffer |
|
1938 |
Lt |
Captain William Madison LaFon, Jr. |
Jim Schaeffer |
96 |
1939 |
Lt |
Captain John Sanford Hill |
Jim Schaeffer |
115 |
1940 |
Lt |
Captain Lonnie Hammond |
Jim Schaeffer |
120 |
1941 |
Lt |
Captain Thomas Edward Bebout |
Jim Schaeffer |
119 |
1942 |
Lt |
Captain Edward Eugene Jones, Jr |
Jim Schaeffer |
140 |
1943 |
Lt |
Captain Robert Clifton Hughes |
Jim Schaeffer |
119 |
1944 |
Lt |
Captain |
Jim Schaeffer |
|
1945 |
Lt |
Captain |
Jim Schaeffer |
|
1946 |
Lt |
Captain |
Jim Schaeffer |
|
1947 |
Lt |
Captain Joseph Ellis Nixon |
Jim Schaeffer |
93 |
1948 |
Lt |
Captain Garland Wright Headley |
Jim Schaeffer |
101 |
1949 |
Lt William Eads Beamer |
Captain Leon Edwin Boswell |
Jim Schaeffer |
111 |
1950 |
2nd Lt J. J. Pohl |
Captain W. Sterling Carter |
Jim Schaeffer |
111 |
1951 |
Lt |
Captain Frank V. Lane |
Jim Schaeffer |
59 |
1952 |
Lt |
Captain J. F. Neel |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1953 |
Lt |
Captain John William Mayhugh |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1954 |
Lt Charles Emerson Morgan, Jr. |
Captain William Townsend Powell |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1955 |
2nd Lt S. E. Bateman |
Captain W. R. Jebson |
Thomas Dobbyns |
93 |
1956 |
Lt |
Captain |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1957 |
Lt |
Captain K. N. Ellis |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1958 |
Lt |
Captain |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1959 |
Lt T. O. Williams |
Captain |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1960 |
Lt |
Captain |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1961 |
Lt |
Captain |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1962 |
Lt Willie White |
Captain Ralph Jones |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1963 |
Lt |
Captain |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1964 |
Lt Derek James |
Captain Curtis J. Thompkins |
Thomas Dobbyns |
140 |
1965 |
Lt Grover Alexander Josey/ Herbert Cox |
Captain Dalton Randall Butts/ Grover Alexander Josey |
Thomas Dobbyns |
120 |
1966 |
Lt Robert Cobb |
Captain Lane Crafton |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1967 |
2nd Lt Hermann E. Frese/ John D. Irvin |
Captain Charles Owen Cornelison |
Thomas Dobbyns |
114 |
1968 |
Lt Marion L. Simpson |
Captain Karl E. Krumpke |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1969 |
Lt Jerome Francis Gough |
Captain Steven H. Wickham |
Thomas Dobbyns |
112 |
1970 |
Lt James K. Asselstine |
Captain John T. Wells |
Thomas Dobbyns |
107 |
1971 |
Lt Joe Yates |
Captain Thomas A. Herbeck |
Thomas Dobbyns |
|
1972 |
Lt Christopher Bise |
Captain James P. Welch |
Joseph G. Lamoureux |
|
1973 |
Lt S. L. Spradlin |
Captain Martin D. Bush |
Joseph G. Lamoureux |
86 |
1974 |
Lt Gary Herbek |
Captain David J. Kirks |
Joseph G. Lamoureux, Assistant David Widder |
71 |
1975 |
Lt Robert Stephenson |
Captain Eugene Watson |
Joseph G. Lamoureux |
|
1976 |
Lt John Matthew Eliff, III |
Captain Scott Allan Smith |
Joseph G. Lamoureux |
|
1977 |
Lt Craig Cockerham |
Captain Paul E. Christensen |
Joseph G. Lamoureux |
71 |
1978 |
Lt Stephen D. McAdams |
Captain Michael E. Gathright |
Dr. James R. Sochinski |
50 |
1979 |
Lt |
Captain David P. Williams |
Dr. James R. Sochinski |
|
1980 |
Lt Kevin St. Jaques |
Major Steven V. Weiler |
Mr. Johnny Pherigo |
|
1981 |
Lt Gary W. Kunsman |
Major Toney L. Fender |
Mr. Johnny Pherigo |
71 |
1981 |
Lt Gary W. Kunsman |
Major Toney L. Fender |
Mr. Wallace Easter |
72 |
1982 |
Lt Michael O. Kiersewski |
Major Gilbert P. Andia |
Mr. Wallace Easter |
|
1983 |
Lt Matthew P. Newman |
Major Scott Otey (1st African American Band commander) |
Wallace Easter |
|
1984 |
Lt Tom Fass |
Major John M. Fyfe |
Mr. Wallace Easter |
83 |
1985 |
Lt Kenneth P. Rodgers |
Major Todd Shenk (Captain Eric Claunch, acting commander winter quarter) |
Mr. Wallace Easter |
96 |
1986 |
Lt Dale McBane |
Major Lisa Williams (1st African American, female Band commander) |
Mr. Wallace Easter |
|
1987 |
Lt Ralph T. Bradley (first African American Drum Major) |
Major Robert P. Repass, Jr. |
Mr. Wallace Easter |
|
1988 |
Lt Daniel Kelly |
Major Brian Hepp |
Mr. Wallace Easter |
|
1989 |
Lt Steven Richardson |
Major Robert Lowerre |
Mr. Wallace Easter |
|
1990 |
Lt David Powell |
Major Michael Courtade |
Mr. Wallace Easter |
|
1991 |
Lt Greg Gilbreath |
Major Nathaniel C. Cluff |
Mr. Wallace Easter |
|
1992 |
Lt Lori L. Keck (First Female Drum Major) |
Major James Perkins |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
67 |
1993 |
Lt Chris Sipe |
Major Douglas Wilson |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
74 |
1994 |
Lt Jeff Chown |
Major Kristy Branstetter |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
79 |
1995 |
Lt James Reed |
Major Mark Walker |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
91 |
1996 |
Lt Chris Chown |
Major Jasper Jeffers |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
106 |
1997 |
Lt John Kilareski |
Major Gregory Lowe |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
|
1998 |
Lt Matthew Cordani |
Major Matthew Sutton |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
|
1999 |
Lt Chris Hauver |
Major Carlton "Bubba" Fox |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
95 |
2000 |
Lt Vaughn Dickenson |
Major Drew Borovies |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
|
2001 |
Lt Jeremy Kerfoot |
Major Frank Theising |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
83 |
2002 |
Captain Leo Manster |
Major Heather Gardner |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
94 |
2003 |
Captain H. Christopher Walsh |
Majors Jason E. Troutman; Kathryn Jones |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
86 |
2004 |
Captain Dan Layman |
Majors Phillip Staso; Joseph Adelmann |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
84 |
2005 |
Captain Benjamin J. Thomas |
Majors Patrick B. Lowther, David Kline |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
96 |
2006 |
Captain Sam Doran |
Majors Roberto Oteiza, Tyson Griffith |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
116 |
2007 |
Captain Stephen F. Schuyler |
Majors Darren M. Zega, Timothy J. Bedell |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
117 |
2008 |
Captain John B. Cook |
Major Mark R. Amos |
MAJ George McNeill, Va. Militia |
113 |
1 Number in Bugle Corps, independent of Band Company.