# Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps

The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Casper, Wyoming, the Troopers was one of the thirteen founding member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI).

## History
### The early years

James E. "Jim" Jones, a Casper, Wyoming building contractor and a veteran of the World War II United States Army Air Forces founded the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps in 1957 as an activity for local youth. In his own youth, Jones had won the American Legion individual snare drum championship while a member of Casper's Sons of the American Legion drum and bugle corps, in which he had also been the corps manager from age fifteen. He decided to name the new corps the Troopers to honor the 11th Ohio Cavalry Regiment, a United States Army unit stationed at Fort Caspar, Wyoming Territory, to protect supply trains during the Indian Wars of the 19th Century. In order to fund the new corps, Jones took out a $4,000 loan to purchase drums and bugles.
In its first season, the Troopers were sponsored by the Casper American Legion post, were strictly a parade corps, and made the corps' first appearance at the State American Legion Convention in Riverton, Wyoming. In 1958, the corps entered its first field competitions. As it was necessary for the Troopers to travel extensively to compete in drum and bugle corps competitions, Jones chartered passenger buses to carry the Troopers across and around the country on trips that would last for several weeks, making the corps a "touring corps", a concept that was unusual at the time.
Their first national contest was the 1961 American Legion Championships in Denver, where the corps finished fourth. The Troopers' first major victory was in the 1965 World Open in Bridgeport, Connecticut. In 1966, the Troopers won the VFW Nationals. In 1967, the Wyoming State Legislature designated the Troopers as Wyoming's Musical Ambassadors.
The corps won the CYO Nationals three years in a row, from 1968 to 1970. In 1970, they won their second VFW National Championship in Miami Beach, added their third CYO title in Boston, and appeared on national TV during the halftime of a Minnesota Vikings NFL game. In 1971, the Troopers were the stars of a television special, "The Troopers Are Coming", narrated by actor Walter Brennan.

### The Drum Corps International era

In 1971, at the urging of Jim Jones and Cavaliers founder Don Warren, the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers formed the Midwest Combine. This action was taken in reaction to the rigid, inflexible rules of the American Legion and VFW (the primary rule makers and sponsors of both corps and shows) and the low or nonexistent performance fees paid for appearing in the various competitions. The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. (A similar group of Eastern corps, the United Organization of Junior Corps, known as the "Alliance", was formed by the 27th Lancers, Garfield Cadets, Boston Crusaders, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, and Blue Rock.) The Combine members felt that the corps should be making their own rules, operating their own competitions and championships, and keeping the bulk of the profit that shows earned. For the 1971 season, the group of corps stuck together, offering show promoters the five corps as a package.
In 1972, the Troopers, along with the nine other corps from the Midwest Combine and the Alliance, plus the Anaheim Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, and De La Salle Oaklands became the founding members of Drum Corps International, which remains as the current sanctioning body for junior corps in North America. At the first DCI World Championships in Whitewater, Wisconsin, the Troopers finished in sixth place. For DCI's first four years, Troopers were an annual finalists. Jim Jones retired as the Troopers' director in 1987.
In 2005, the DCI Board of Directors suspended the Troopers from competition for non-compliance with membership rules. The corps was inactive for the 2006 season, while they reorganized. On October 3, 2006, the Troopers were reinstated as a Division I corps. The Troopers returned to competition for the 2007 season.
In 2021, corps director Kristy Jackson stepped down after facing allegations of gross negligence. Michael Gough replaced her in January of the same year. Following the conclusion of the 2023 season, Michael Gough stepped into the role of executive director, and Mary Duerkop, the former brass caption head, became corps director.

## Show summary (1972–2025)

Source:
Key :
* Pale green background indicates DCI World Class Semifinalist
* Pale blue background indicates DCI World Class Finalist
* 1 2 From 1972-1991, the Troopers competed in Open Class; from 1992-2007 in Division I, and since 2008 in World Class. These are the same tier, just renamed.
| Year | Repertoire | World Championships | World Championships |
| Year | Repertoire | Score | Placement |
| 1972 | Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones / Battle Hymn of the Republic by William Steffe & Julia Ward Howe / Cincinnati Kid by Lalo Schifrin & Dorcas Cochran / When Johnny Comes Marching Home by Louis Lambert (Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore) / How the West Was Won by Alfred Newman | 81.95 | 6th Place Open Class Finalist |
| 1973 | Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones / The Eagle Screams by Nelson Riddle / Black Saddle by Michael Hennagin / Wedding Dance (from Hassaneh Suite) by Jacques Press / Thanksgiving Hymn by Eduard Kremser / Day By Day (from Godspell) by Stephen Schwartz / Battle Hymn of the Republic by William Steffe & Julia Ward Howe | 86.15 | 2nd Place Open Class Finalist |
| 1974 | Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones / Yankee Doodle (Traditional) / Yellow Rose of Texas (Traditional) / The Virginian by Percy Faith / Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield / Thanksgiving Prayer by Eduard Kremser / Day By Day (from Godspell) by Stephen Schwartz / Battle Hymn of the Republic by William Steffe & Julia Ward Howe | 85.65 | 5th Place Open Class Finalist |
| 1975 | Introduction and Fantasia by Rex Mitchell / Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield / Gentle On My Mind by John Hartford / Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky / The Virginian by Percy Faith / No Goodbye (from How the West Was Won) by Alfred Newman / Bound for the Promised Land (from How the West Was Won) by Ken Darby & Robert Emmett Dolan | 76.20 | 12th Place Open Class Finalist |
| 1976 | Roundabout by Jon Anderson & Steve Howe (Yes) / Alabama Jubilee by George L. Cobb & Jack Yellen / Land of Make Believe by Chuck Mangione / Looking for Space by John Denver / Jet by Paul & Linda McCartney (Wings) | 82.75 | 13th Place Open Class |
| 1977 | Hang 'em High by Dominic Frontiere / When Johnny Comes Marching Home by Louis Lambert (Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore) / Rodeo by Aaron Copland / Drunken Cowboy / Billy's Death (from Billy the Kid) & Hoedown (from Rodeo) by Aaron Copland / Farandole by Georges Bizet / Bound for the Promised Land (from How the West Was Won) by Ken Darby & Robert Emmett Dolan / Shenandoah (Traditional) / Wild Wild West by Richard Markowitz | 78.80 | 20th Place Open Class |
| 1978 | Hang 'em High by Dominic Frontiere / American Salute by Morton Gould / Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin / Rodeo & Hoedown (from Rodeo) by Aaron Copland / Farandole by Georges Bizet / The Ballad of Billy the Kid by Billy Joel / The Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone | 74.25 | 20th Place Open Class |
| 1979 | Variations on a Scene by Alan Broadbent / Aquarius & Let The Sunshine In (from Hair) by Galt MacDermot, James Rado & Gerome Ragni / The Ballad of Billy the Kid by Billy Joel / The Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone / Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones | 77.90 | 12th Place Open Class Finalist |
| 1980 | Theme from The Cowboys by John Williams / Shenandoah (Traditional) / Turkey in the Straw (Traditional) / Central Park by Chick Corea / The Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone / Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones | 76.65 | 14th Place Open Class |
| 1981 | Theme from The Cowboys by John Williams / Turkey in the Straw (Traditional) / Central Park by Chick Corea / En Sueno by Albert Kunzelmann / Shenandoah (Traditional) / Battle Hymn of the Republic by William Steffe & Julia Ward Howe | 78.10 | 12th Place Open Class Finalist |
| 1982 | Wabash Cannonball (Traditional) / En Sueno by Albert Kunzelmann / Shenandoah (Traditional) / Battle Hymn of the Republic by William Steffe & Julia Ward Howe | 77.60 | 14th Place Open Class |
| 1983 | 25th Anniversary Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones / Battle Hymn of the Republic by William Steffe & Julia Ward Howe / Pops Hoedown by Richard Hayman / It Was a Very Good Year by Ervin Drake / How the West Was Won by Alfred Newman | 76.85 | 15th Place Open Class Semifinalist |
| 1984 | Battle Hymn of the Republic by William Steffe & Julia Ward Howe / Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones / High Noon by Dimitri Tiomkin & Ned Washington / The Aggie Song (from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) by Carol Hall | 85.20 | 13th Place Open Class Semifinalist |
| 1985 | Symphonic Dance No. 3 - Fiesta by Clifton Williams / Third Symphony, Buckaroo Holiday (from Rodeo) & The Red Pony by Aaron Copland | 86.70 | 9th Place Open Class Finalist |
| 1986 | American Salute by Morton Gould / Silverado by Bruce Broughton / Prayer of Thanksgiving (Traditional) / The Red Pony by Aaron Copland / Battle Hymn of the Republic by William Steffe & Julia Ward Howe | 83.50 | 11th Place Open Class Finalist |
| 1987 | He's Gone Away (Traditional) / American Overture by Morton Gould / Third Symphony by Aaron Copland / When Johnny Comes Marching Home by Louis Lambert (Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore) | 81.00 | 17th Place Open Class Semifinalist |
| 1988 | Magnificent Seven by Elmer Bernstein / Corral Nocturne & Hoedown (from Rodeo) by Aaron Copland / Silverado by Bruce Broughton | 77.80 | 19th Place Open Class Semifinalist |
| 1989 | How the West Was Won How the West Was Won, Cheyennes & No Goodbyes by Lionel Newman / Bound for the Promised Land by Ken Darby & Robert Emmett Dolan | 78.00 | 18th Place Open Class |
| 1990 | Music for the Centennial of the State of Wyoming How the West Was Won by Alfred Newman / Silverado by Bruce Broughton / Pop's Hoedown by Richard Hayman / Shenandoah (Traditional) / America the Beautiful by Samuel A. Ward & Katharine Lee Bates | 80.25 | 17th Place Open Class Semifinalist |
| 1991 | The Cowboys from Sunset / Lonesome Dove by Basil Poledouris / Oklahoma Crude by Henry Mancini / "Orange Blossom Special" by Ervin T. Rouse / Music from Dances With Wolves by John Barry / America the Beautiful by Samuel A. Ward & Katharine Lee Bates | 74.90 | 21st Place Open Class |
| 1992 | A Western Odyssey Flag of Stars by Gordon Jacob / Cool, Clear Water by Bob Nolan / "Unsquare Dance" by Dave Brubeck / The Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone / Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones | 76.10 | 19th Place Division I |
| 1993 | The Last Crossing: East Moves West Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar / Cheyennes (from How the West Was Won) by Alfred Newman / Western Overture by Thom Ritter George / Charles County Overture by Joseph Willcox Jenkins / Battle Hymn of the Republic by William Steffe & Julia Ward Howe | 77.10 | 19th Place Division I |
| 1994 | Southwestern Sketches Sunrise by Fred Taylor / Scherzo by John Cheetham / Santa Fe Saga by Morton Gould / Symphonic Dance No. 3 - Fiesta by Clifton Williams | 81.60 | 14th Place Division I Semifinalist |
| 1995 | A Copland Canvas Third Symphony, Mvt. 4; Fanfare for the Common Man & Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland | 80.70 | 14th Place Division I Semifinalist |
| 1996 | American Jubilee The Wind and The Lion by Jerry Goldsmith / Shenandoah (Traditional) / Outdoor Overture by Aaron Copland / Camptown Races by Stephen Foster | 74.40 | 19th Place Division I |
| 1997 | American Salute by Morton Gould / The Way West by Bronisław Kaper / Magnificent Seven by Elmer Bernstein / America the Beautiful by Samuel A. Ward & Katharine Lee Bates | 68.00 | 20th Place Division I |
| 1998 | Forging a Frontier The Getaway (from Silverado), The Family (from Tombstone) & McKendrick Attack (from Silverado) by Bruce Broughton / Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones | 68.60 | 24th Place Division I |
| 1999 | Billy the Kid Billy the Kid by Aaron Copland | 73.80 | 21st Place Division I |
| 2000 | Symphony of Freedom America the Beautiful by Samuel A. Ward & Katharine Lee Bates / America's Struggle (Original) / America (from West Side Story) by Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim / Amazing Grace by John Newton, adapted by William Walker / Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa | 73.65 | 19th Place Division I |
| 2001 | Tribute to An Uncommon Man Outdoor Overture, El Salon Mexico & Down a Country Lane by Aaron Copland / Chorale & Shaker Dance by John Zdechlik | 76.20 | 19th Place Division I |
| 2002 | Red, White and Blue Javelin by Michael Torke / American Elegy by Frank Ticheli / Into the Storm (from Stormworks) by Stephen Melillo | 75.55 | 21st Place Division I |
| 2003 | Reflections of the Blue and Gray The Great Locomotive Chase by Robert W. Smith / Gently Flows the Amber Grain by Brian Scott / Battle Music by David Holsinger / Masque by Kenneth Hesketh | 75.45 | 22nd Place Division I |
| 2004 | The Troopers Are Coming Carriage of the Spirits & The Chase (from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) by Ennio Morricone / America the Beautiful by Samuel A. Ward & Katharine Lee Bates / Shenandoah (Traditional) / Finishing It by Bruce Broughton / Down in the Valley (Traditional) / Rodeo by Paul Hart / Houston by David Benoit / Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones / Magnificent Seven by Elmer Bernstein / Taps by Daniel Butterfield | 74.925 | 23rd Place Division I |
| 2005 | Gold Rush The Gates of Gold (for Violin and Orchestra) by Joseph Curiale / Death by Triple Fiddle by Sam Bush & Mike Marshall / She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain (Traditional) | 71.675 | 22nd Place Division I |
| 2006 | Corps inactive | Corps inactive | Corps inactive |
| 2007 | Awakening Joy (from Awakening) by Joseph Curiale / "Unsquare Dance" by Dave Brubeck / Ever Braver, Ever Stronger by Gordon Goodwin / American Faces by David Holsinger | 77.55 | 20th Place Division I |
| 2008 | Iron Horse Express Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones / Canyon of Heroes by Sean O'Loughlin / The Ghost Train Triptych by Eric Whitacre / Sasparilla by John Mackey / Song of the Gandy Dancers by Richard Saucedo / The Great Revival by William Gordon | 81.10 | 16th Place World Class Semifinalist |
| 2009 | Western Side Story Cave by Russell Peck / Maria & Somewhere (from West Side Story) by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim / Adelina de Maya by Joseph Curiale / America (from West Side Story) by Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim / Spaghetti Western by Michael Daugherty / One Hand, One Heart (from West Side Story) by Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim / Pentium by Peter Graham / West Side Story Reprise by Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim | 85.10 | 12th Place World Class Finalist |
| 2010 | Wanted Wanted Dead or Alive by Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora / Trittico by Václav Nelhýbel / Proven Lands (from There Will Be Blood) by Jonny Greenwood / Suite from Our Town by Aaron Copland / Borinage by Michael Gordon / Journey to the Center of the Earth by Peter Graham / Night Flight (from Swing Shift) by Kenji Bunch | 83.35 | 15th Place World Class Semifinalist |
| 2011 | The Road Home The Old Church by Stephen Paulus / China Gates by John Adams / Memory (from Nepomuk's Dances, Mvt. 3) by Marcelo Zarvos / Muted and Sensuous (from Four Piano Blues) by Aaron Copland / Mama by Edgar Meyer | 83.20 | 14th Place World Class Semifinalist |
| 2012 | This Was the Future Galop from Souvenirs, Op. 28 by Samuel Barber / Music for Theater & The Heiress by Aaron Copland | 77.65 | 18th Place World Class Semifinalist |
| 2013 | Magnificent 11 Fanfare for the 11th by Robert W. Smith / Theme from The Magnificent Seven by Elmer Bernstein / John Dunbar's Theme (from Dances with Wolves) by John Barry / Tribal Spirits by Paul Rennick / Battle Hymn of the Republic by William Steffe & Julia Ward Howe | 86.05 | 13th Place World Class Semifinalist |
| 2014 | A People's House A People's House by Robert W. Smith / The Ramparts by Clifton Williams / Distant Images by Sandi & Paul Rennick / Lincoln by Robert W. Smith / Oh Shenandoah (Traditional) / America the Beautiful by Samuel A. Ward & Katharine Lee Bates | 84.775 | 14th Place World Class Semifinalist |
| 2015 | Wild Horses Dreamer by John Debney / Open Spaces by Robert W. Smith / Wild Horses by Natasha Bedingfield, Andrew Frampton & Wayne Wilkins / Adrenaline City by Adam Gorb | 83.800 | 13th Place World Class Semifinalist |
| 2016 | Hero Fanfare & Fire by Robert W. Smith / War Psalm by Paul Rennick / Walking with Heroes by Paul Lovatt-Cooper / Symphony No. 1, Mvt. 1 by John Corigliano / Fix You by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman & Will Champion (Coldplay) | 83.275 | 14th Place World Class Semifinalist |
| 2017 | Duels & Duets Part I – The Foe – Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev Part II – The Friend – Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev Part III – The Lover – Black Heart Tango by Robert W. Smith & Paul Rennick / Nessun Dorma by Giacomo Puccini Part IV – The Foil – The Foil by Robert W. Smith | 81.275 | 17th Place World Class Semifinalist |
| 2018 | The New Road West Welcome to the Black Parade by Bob Bryar, Frank Iero, Ray Toro, Gerard Way & Mikey Way (My Chemical Romance) / Toward The Splendid City by Richard Danielpour / Canyon Echoes by Robert W. Smith / Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell / New Road West by Robert W. Smith | 81.787 | 17th Place World Class Semifinalist |
| 2019 | Beyond Boundaries Divertimento for Band, Opus 42 by Vincent Persichetti / Enterprising Young Men (from Star Trek) by Michael Giacchino / Wondrous Light by John Estacio / To The Stars by Randy Edelman / Chorale VI Cantus – Song of Aeolus by Karl Jenkins / Main title, Krill Attack & Shuttle Escape (from The Orville) by Bruce Broughton | 81.663 | 18th Place World Class Semifinalist |
| 2020 | Season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | Unleashed The Triumph of Time by Peter Graham / Knockin' on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan / Eclipse by Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright & David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) | No scored competitions | No scored competitions |
| 2022 | VorAcious When Johnny Comes Marching Home by Louis Lambert (Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore) / Without Warning by Stephen Melillo / The Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone / Nothing Else Matters by James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich / Dance of the Earth by Igor Stravinsky / Original music by Tim Snyder & Paul Rennick | 86.425 | 12th Place World Class Finalist |
| 2023 | To Lasso the Sun L’ultima diligenza di Red Rock (from The Hateful Eight) by Ennio Morricone / Harrison's Dream by Peter Graham / Jesu, meine Freude by Johann Sebastian Bach / Theme (from Once Upon a Time in the West) by Ennio Morricone / As if a Voice Were in Them by Oliver Waespi / Final Duel (from Once Upon a Time in the West) by Ennio Morricone | 89.475 | 10th Place World Class Finalist |
| 2024 | Dance with the Devil The Other Side by Tim Snyder, Paul Rennick & Justin Shelton / Hyperlink by Peter Graham / House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals / Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (from Kill Bill: Volume 1) by Santa Esmeralda / Wait Of The World by Stephen Melillo | 88.950 | 10th Place World Class Finalist |
| 2025 | The Final Sunset Original music by Paul and Sandi Rennick / Embarking and Setting Sail by Thomas Bergersen / Many Mothers (from Mad Max: Fury Road) by Junkie XL / In This Heart by Sinéad O'Connor / Funeral for a Friend by Elton John / Symphony No. 2 in C Minor by Gustav Mahler | | |

## Caption awards

At the annual World Championship Finals, Drum Corps International presents awards to the corps with the high average scores from prelims, semifinals, and finals in five captions. Prior to 2000 and the adoption of the current scoring format, the Troopers have won these captions:
High Visual Award
* 1972, 1973, 1974
High Color Guard Award
* 1973