April 29, 2005

Purdue ROTC drill team to hold reunion, Hall of Fame ceremony

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Members of the Purdue University ROTC drill team, which won six national collegiate championships in the 1950s and 1960s, will have a reunion and Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday (May 7) at the Purdue Armory.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature a ceremonial march and military drill by reunion attendees.

Five drill team members, who were recently inducted into the Purdue ROTC Hall of Fame, also will be honored during the event. The inductees are Jim Record, Frank Hughes, Bob Cockrum, Bruce Braun and Terry Ryan.

"Most of these guys are in their 60s or 70s now, and they haven't done this sort of drill in about 40 years, so it is definitely going to be something to see," said David Tate, Purdue ROTC Hall of Fame chair. "It always is impressive to see a military drill in action, but these guys were simply the hands-down best at it in their day."

Other events scheduled for the reunion include lunch and a silent march in tribute to late drill team member Lyle Lockwood. Reunion attendees also will take part in a cocktail party and banquet dinner after the ceremonies, followed by a hog roast on Sunday (May 8).

The Purdue drill team, composed of members of Purdue's U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force ROTC programs, was formed in 1947 by seven former marines. The team went on to win many state and national awards for their performance.

The team was named national collegiate champion in 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1962, while earning second-place finishes in 1957, 1961 and 1963. The team also took first at the Indianapolis 500 Parade in 1957-59 as well as at the national Cherry Blossom Festival in 1955, 1957 and 1959. In 1960, the team put on an exhibition for President John F. Kennedy.

Purdue ROTC now has three drill teams, including one for the U.S. Army, one for the U.S. Air Force and a combined team for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

Writer: Aaron Martin, (765) 496-3133, martinac@purdue.edu

Source: David Tate, (765) 494-1392, dgtate@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Media are welcome at the event. To make arrangements, contact David Tate, Purdue ROTC Hall of Fame chair, at (765) 494-1392, dgtate@purdue.edu.

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