Jim Jones (41)

Jim Jones was the Founding Director of The Troopers Drum And Bugle Corps of Casper, WY. Born October 26, 1921, Died June 8, 1994. In his own youth, Jones had won the American Legion individual snare drum championship while a member of Casper's Sons of the American Legion drum and bugle corps, in which he had also been the corps manager from age fifteen. After his distinguished service in the Army Air Force in World War II, Jones returned to Casper and started the Troopers. He decided to name the new corps the Troopers to honor the 11th Ohio Cavalry, a United States Army unit stationed at Fort Caspar, Wyoming Territory, to protect supply trains during the Indian Wars of the 19th Century. In order to fund the new corps, Jones took out a $4,000 loan to purchase drums and bugles. At that time, he was already a successful contractor, but he devoted his time and energy into building what was to become one of the most popular drum and bugle corps in the world. Jones revolutionized the drum corps activity by putting the Troopers "on the road" to perform at competitions all over the country, thus setting the standards for touring drum corps in the 1960s and 1970s. In its 33-year history, the Troopers have won 11 international championships and have consistently been among the top 20 drum corps in the world. Jones was also one of the founders of Drum Corps International (DCI). He, along with Dr. David Kampschroer of the Blue Stars Drum And Bugle Corps, Gail R. Royer of Santa Clara Vanguard, Don Warren (6) of the Chicago Cavaliers and Bill Howard (10) of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, came together in 1971 to create the Midwest Combine, which, along with the UOJC, became the foundation for Drum Corps International. For his contributions to drum corps, Jones was inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1985. In his honor DCI has established the Jim Jones Leadership Award, given each year to one drum major as selected by a committee of DCI Hall of Fame members.