The Seattle Hurricanes, American Legion (University) Post #11, Sr. Drum & Bugle Corps
1927 – 1966
Please see “Washington State American Legion Corps” under the “Pre-1960 Corps” page for more details.
History –
The Hurricanes were organized in 1927 and have been Washington State Senior AL Champions eight times in 1937-38, 1951, 1953, 1959-60, and 1962-63. They have participated in hundreds of ceremonies, parades and competitions around the Pacific Northwest.
The Hurricanes were probably the most devoted and active of the senior corps and its members have aided in the formation of Junior Drum & Bugle Corps. This Corps could well be called the “daddy” of the Seattle Junior Corps.
Notable Hurricane members and the junior corps were affiliated with:
Jack Avery –
1948 – 1962 Director of the Hurricanes Sr D&BC (American Legion University Post #11) (Seattle, WA)
1948 – 1962 Marching member (baritone), Hurricanes Sr. D&BC (Seattle, WA)
1949 – 1954 Director of the Nile Temple Sr D&BC (Seattle, WA)
1951 Director of the DeMolay Jr D&BC (Seattle, WA)
1953 – 1971 Director (off and on) of the Grenadiers Sr. D&BC (Bremerton, WA)
1958 – 1962 Founder / Director / Music Instructor Thunderbirds Jr D&BC (Seattle, WA)
1963 – 1965 Co-Founder / Director / Music Instructor Thunderbird Cadets Jr D&BC (Seattle, WA)
1966 – 1972 Marching member (baritone), Grenadiers Sr. D&BC (Bremerton, WA)
1966 – 1972 Co-Founder / Director / Music Instructor Cascade Cadets (Seattle Cascades) Jr. D&BC
1966 Music Instructor Blue Angels Jr. D&BC (Renton, WA)
Mike Stefanowicz – Drum instructor, Thunderbirds and Hurricanes
Frank Sousa – Founder/Director, Renton Blue Angels
Fred Lopez – Director 1970 Thunderbirds and 1979 -? Marauders.
John Broderick – Founder/Director/ Drum instructor, Seattle CYO Squires (Shamrocks), and Bel Airs
Al Whitman – Horn Instructor, CYO Squires (Shamrocks), Bell Airs
Ray Frederickson – Music Director, the Bell-Airs. Asst. Mgr., Shamrocks
Bob Aklin – Drum instructor, The Bell-Airs
Jerry Chambers – Founder / Director El Toreador and Amigos
Lloyd King – Horn Instructor, Amigos
August 17, 1938
Washington State American Legion Convention in Bellingham – Battery Field
Retreat from left to right:
University AL Post #11 (Seattle Hurricanes) First Place. Albert J. Hamilton AL Post #7 (Fighting Falcons) Exhibition.
Auburn AL Post #78 (Blackhawks). Cashmere AL Post #64 far right.
Photo donated by Albert J. Hamilton AL Post #7, Bellingham Washington via
Robert Meyers, Post Historian to whom we applaud his dedication to the preservation of Post #7 history.
PNWDC.com
1937 Washington State American Legion Convention Pin
Drum Corps Show won by – Seattle University Post #11, AKA: Hurricanes
Squint, and you can see the Hurricanes’ pants in the background!
RANDOM TRIVIA – Our corps Director in the 1970’s would call a baton girl to lead us in parades. At the time I thought, what the heck? But now I see that our Director was just old school. Kinda neat.
1955 Hurricanes
John Broderick – Front row, third from the left. Al Whittman – back row, fourth from the right.
Both are founders of the Seattle Shamrocks Jr D&BC
(Article Below)
1961 Retreat. L to R – Blue Knights Sr, Hurricanes Sr, Trophy Presenter, Hurricanes Sr, Thunderbirds, Shamrocks
1961
August 12, 1962
Washington State American Legion Championships in Bellingham, WA
Senior corps trophy presented to Gordon Gould, Hurricanes Drum Major
We believe that the old Hurricanes uniforms went to the BC Ambassadors of Richmond British Columbia. The Hurricanes ceased in 1966 and the BC Ambassadors started in 1967 with 24 kids. See the uniform comparison in the photos below. Black and silver uniforms, different shakos.
