Sky Ryders
Drum and Bugle Corps is currently inactive since
the last season of 1993 but come from a long tradition of
marching. They were formed in 1955 under the sponsorship of
Lyle Rischel American Legion Post #68 in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The competitions were associated with the Great Plains Drum
and Bugle Corps circuit where Sky Ryders placed first in the
Kansas State American Legion Championships in 1959,
'60,
'61,
'62
and '64.
The corps finished top ten in the American Legion National
Championships in 1959, '60, '61 and '62. Sky Ryders tied first
place in Houston during the American Legion
contest in 1979 with the Long Island Kingsman
scoring 76.80.
Sky Ryders entered the world field with Drum Corps International's first competition
in 1972
placing twentieth. They reached DCI top twelve in 1982
and finished finals that year in tenth place, marking the
first time of making top twelve. The corps finished top twelve
in another five years: 1983,
12th; 1986,
9th; 1987,
12th; 1988,
12th; and 1991,
12th.
Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps moved to Texas
in 1990
and was the last corps in the state to place top twelve in
DCI (1991).
1993
marked the last time Sky Ryders competed on the field finishing
twentieth in DCI Quarter Finals.
Several Drum Corps Hall-of-Famers have emerged
from Sky Ryders Alumni including the late George Tuthill,
John Simpson and Steve Vickers. Many of our alumni knew them
and they were all well very talented and well-liked.
George Tuthill was a Sky Ryders Drum Corps Alumni
and elected into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame
in 2000. George began his drumming career with the St. Anne's
Cadets in 1957 as a snare drummer along with the Fairlawn
Police Cadets and the Hawthorne Caballeros. George became
the assistant drum major with the Hawthorne Caballeros and
served from 1972 until 1978. Mr. Tuthill was percussion arranger
and drum instructor for numerous corps including Sky Ryders,
Garfield Cadets,
Blessed Sacrement, Cavaliers, Hawthorne Caballeros
and Long Island Sunrisers. George judged with the Mid-Atlantic,
All-State and DCI Judges Association. George Tuthill served
as Executive Director for Hutchinson, KS Sky Ryders Drum Corps,
Kansas City Sky Ryders Drum Corps and the Argonauts. He will
be sadly missed.
John Simpson was a Sky Ryders Alumni who taught
school from 1969 until his retirement in 1999 and elected
into the Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2000. John Simpson played
with Sky Ryders Drum Corps in 1954 as well with the United
States Air Force Drum Corps and the Skyliners Drum Corps. John instructed
Sky Ryders, Bridgemen, Star of Indiana,
Troopers, North Star
and Yankee Rebels drum corps.
Mr. Simpson also served as a brass consultant for the Hawthorne
Caballeros.
Last but definitely not least is Steve Vickers.
Steve has always been actively involved in drum corps. Steve
is a Sky Ryders Alumni and was inducted into the Drum Corps
Hall of Fame in 1994. Steve Vickers has produced and owned
Drum Corps World since the
1970s. Steve still publishes Drum Corps World and remains
one of Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps' most distinguished
alumni.
