Northernaires Drum & Bugle Corps

Northernaires Trivia

In 1953, the first boy to signup to become a Northernaire, or more correctly a member of the D.A.R Boys Club Drum & Bugle Corps, was Mickey Pichette.

The person who came up with the name Northernaires was Rick Sonntag in 1958.

In 1970, the corps opened its ranks to girls. The first girl to sign-up was Eileen Quick. Gloria Meyer was number two.

The person who spent the most years as a marching member of the Northernaires was Terry Heckle, 12 years as drum major. Tom Ennis spent the second most, 11 years as soprano.

The first marching member of the corps who was married was Gene Nason. Chris Wellner was the second.

The Northernaires won the first contest in which they ever competed in 1956.

In the early 60's the color guard became the honor guard at Robert and Roberta Tordeur's wedding. Bob was the corps' assistant business manager in the '50s and '60s.

Seven corps members marched more then one position during their years with the corps; Rick Sonntag,baritone, tenor, and soprano, Punky Pesola, baritone and drum major, Jack Fisher, soprano and drum major, John Schneider, glockenspiel and baritone, Doug Klatt, color guard and snare, Ted Decker, cymbals and bass drum, Chris Wellner, soprano, bass drum, triple tenor, snare, baritone, contra, drum major, color guard sergeant, and winter color guard. Does anyone know of somebody else who did the same?

In 1982, when Chris Wellner was drum major, no snare drummers showed up for a parade in Coleman, WI. Chris strapped on a snare and played the entire parade in his white, drum major, "Zulu" uniform.

Bruce, David, and Robbie Hultgren were the only three brothers to march in the same section and same year, 1967 bugle section.

The Northernaires were the first unit to perform at halftime in the very first league game at Green Bay's Lambeau Field in 1958. The full show was broadcast on CBS.

The Northernaires was the only corps to be at every Appleton Americanos' Fiesta Musicana de los Americanos show from 1959 through 1967.

Approximately 1600 young men and women passed through the ranks of the Northernaires during their 32 year existence as a junior corps. Can you name brother, sister, and brother/sister combinations who marched with the Northernaires over those 20 years? Here's what various alumni can remember...so far.

Mickey and Tom Pichette
Dan and Rick Ross
Mark, Tom, and Paul Ennis
Ron and Ed Velich
Walter and Dan Durow
Steve and Dave Olsen
Forrest and Doug Coleman
Ray, Jim, and John Evans
Joe, George, and Pat Lemire
Jim and Jeff Theriault
Ted and Dan Witt
Chuck, Larry, Jim, and Kathy Vojcihoski
John and Mike Farley
Tom and Barb Lahaye
Steve and Jon Grenier
Dick, Jim, and Ken Cairns
Gene and Mary Nason
Chris, Terri, David, and Tracy Wellner

Jeff, Scott, and Cindy Rupert
John and Ann Campbell
Bob, Harriet, and Lucy Snell
Barry and Gary Jenkins
Peggy and Rodger Crossman
Pat and Rick Collins
Tom and Bert Hayward
Donna, Lisa, and Cindy Bertrand
John and Donna Gunderson
Donna and Mary Everard
Charlene, Molly, and Kelly Malone and Carol Johnson (half sister)
Mark and John Minslaff
Doug and Kim Dettman
Ken and John Thompson
Earl and John Brumschriber
Linda and Laura Bauman
Sherry and Lynette Vieth
Patty and Gary Pomerenke

There were a few uncle/nephew/niece combinations to have marched with the Northernaires.

Tom (uncle) and Dick (nephew) Barley. They marched together for a year or two. See picture in 1963 archive.
Mickey (uncle) and Andre (nephew) Pichette.
Bill Gressel (uncle) and Chris, Terri, David, and Tracy Wellner (nephew/niece).

Not only did Andre Pichette's uncle Mickey march with the Northernaires but so did his father Tom.

The only three generation family to march with the Northernaires is the Wellners. In the picture, that's grandson, Tyler, on the left, father, Guy, in the middle, and son, Chris, on the right. They marched with the 2009 Arena Corps.