The Official Site for the 2002, 2003 AND 2004 Royal-Airs Reunion Corps and The Royal-Airs Junior Drum and Bugle Corps
(Place your mouse on the portrait...presto!)
The Alamo Rangers organized in 1954 and four short years later, after purchasing uniforms from the Belmont Grenadiers, formed the legend that is now the Chicago Royal-Airs.The Royal-Airs revitalized the full-corps company front and the ever-popular American Flag presentation. The Van Gilder portrait above was donated by corps members from Minnesota. It hung in Royal-Air Hall from 1965 until the corps folded in 1969.Reunited in 2002, following a 34-year absence from the field, the Royal-Airs set a new standard for alumni corps around the nation. The Royal-Airs Reunion Corps paid tribute to its founder, Sie Lurye, in 2002. In 2003 the Big Blue dedicated its season to Col. Truman Crawford, brass arranger from 1962-1968. Then, in 2004 and 2005 the Royal-Air Alumni Corps entered the field with totally revitalized programs committed to providing marching members and drum corps fans more opportunities to experience military style drum corps and the tradition of one of the most renowned corps in drum corps history. Now, 2008 brings a rejuvinated Royal-Airs corps to the field. Under the direction of Ken Norman, the corps has been impressive as a concert/exhibition corps and is looking to grow in 2009.
There are at least seven people who either worked with RA and MOB or who influenced the direction of RA and MOB: Donny Allen, Roman Blenski, Truman Crawford,
Sie Lurye, Ken Norman, Steve Vickers, Don Warren.
A special thanks to Adrianne Kaplan, John Aslakson, Cindy Bateman, Chris Ferrara, David Dean, and "Smitty", Vicki Martin, Kathy Roberge, Denise Szlagowski, Ken Szadowski, Barb Stoffel, Nancy Bender,Bob Waninski, Dave Borck,Peg Saip, Jim White, Jeff Williams, Bob Mujica, Mike Margraf,David Plein and Dan Landbo for pictoral contributions to this website.
Reunited in 2002, following a 34-year absence from the field, the Royal-Airs set a new standard for alumni corps around the nation. The Royal-Airs Reunion Corps paid tribute to its founder, Sie Lurye, in 2002. In 2003 the Big Blue dedicated its season to Col. Truman Crawford, brass arranger from 1962-1968. Then, in 2004 and 2005 the Royal-Air Alumni Corps entered the field with totally revitalized programs committed to providing marching members and drum corps fans more opportunities to experience military style drum corps and the tradition of one of the most renowned corps in drum corps history. Now, 2008 brings a rejuvinated Royal-Airs corps to the field. Under the direction of Ken Norman, the corps has been impressive as a concert/exhibition corps and is looking to grow in 2009.
