Eye Openers

The Eye Openers drum and bugle corps was formed in February 1972 of members from the areas of Marshalltown, State Center, Le Grand and Green Mountain and their sponsors included the Marshalltown Kiwanis Club, the Morning Optimist Club, Frank Lewis Glick AL Post 46 of the American Legion and the United Auto Workers Union.

In their inaugural season, the corps competed in the 1972 AL State convention, placing 7^th and participated in many regional parades. In August of 1972 the unit lost its director and 2 instructors due to job transfers of these people. The following season, the corps continued its’ ascent in regional competition and that fall, they reorganized, and the executive board engaged Elmer Mowry as the corps director.

In 1974, the corps posted another 7^th place finish in state competition, improving to 4^th position in the 1975 IA AL championships along with an appearance in the American Legion Nationals, placing 25^th in the preliminaries. In 1976, the Eye Openers ranked 8^th in the Mid-American circuit finals and appeared in the 1977 DCI “Class A” prelims, finishing 23^rd.

Over the years, instructional and administrative staff included Evelyn Mowry, as instructor and assistant director, Ken Nason and Mr. Melborne, brass; Don Smalley, percussion, and Vern DeLawyer on visual. Music was written by Dan and David Crosser and Jim and Jackie Bacino on administration. The Eye-Openers' feeder corps was called the Winks. The Eye Openers' feeder corps was called the Winks.

The corps disbanded in 1978.

Paul Legault (DCX)

Members (6)