There were many nicknames for members, some of which gave an insight into their personalities and some which just seemed to fit for various reasons. Here are a few that we remember: Lurch (Diane Ruchalski); Mocha (Jim Anderson); Smiley (Julie Parilla); Brutus (Bill Lynn); Mouth (Sue Rumsfeld); Duke (Joe Minogue); Bobbo (Bob Walensa). I'm sure there are some very interesting ones out there from over the years that you can add to the list.

What did you do in the Corps? Chaperone, cook, nurse, fund raiser, etc.

What years were you a Corps member? 1973-1979

Dianne, this is an great topic. Interesting.

When I was a marching member, we really didn't have a lot of nicknames, other than those which were "name related". Jim Chitkowski was "Chick". Charles was "Chuck", etc. (Of course, I didn't know ALL the names for all members).

I am really looking forward to hearing more nicknames.

What did you do in the Corps? drummer

What years were you a Corps member? 1958-63

George used to call the mallet players the "Orb Line", and there was one for Joey Snyder that I can't repeat.

In 73 Primo was the "Human Ashtray" - anyone else remember that one?

What did you do in the Corps? Snare; Drum Major; Drum Instructor/Arranger

What years were you a Corps member? 1970-73; 78-79

And Gary Sands was "BA".

What did you do in the Corps? Snare; Drum Major; Drum Instructor/Arranger

What years were you a Corps member? 1970-73; 78-79

I recollect "Igor," "Chops," "Gobbs," "Kansas," "Two Note," "Mouse," and "Clack,"right off the top of my head. There were others that need to be censored.

The programs from the end of year banquets covering the years I was in the Imperials (1962 through 1966) probably have a few more.

It is funny how nicknames stick. When my son, Matt, started playing high school baseball his teammates called him "Black Jack." His uniform number was "21." But after a spring tournament in Reno his first varsity season, his teammates, started calling him "Sandman" which morphed to "Sandy" by the time he got to college. My wife and I couldn't figure that one out and really didn't want to know the specifics--my experience in Norwood gave me that perspective ("What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.") . That nickname stuck through college and even today his former junior college coach and coach at UC-San Diego still call him "Sandy." Turns out that in high school he had a fake id with the last name "Sanderson."

What did you do in the Corps? Baritone

What years were you a Corps member? Cadets 59-61 Imperials 62 through 66

Bob, it seems between Diane, you and I that we all omitted "Bongo Bennie" from the list [Vince Vacala]. I am sure there were others, but off hand I can't think of any. Perhaps some of the 70,s members who read these posts, but do not post, can come up with some more.

What did you do in the Corps? Cadet Manager 1975, Imperial Manager 1976-1979

There were three sisters, one of which did not much resemble the other two and they called her Smith. The sisters names were Cheryl in guard, Jan in percussion and Smith.

Russ Laverde (sp), aka Taco

I am sure there are 100's more that I cannot remember.

Won't be long till the season begins.

What did you do in the Corps? Guard

What years were you a Corps member? 1973-1977

Penny,

The Pyrek sisters! Jan started in the guard and moved to cymbals in 1973, which may have been the first time a girl was ever in Norwood's drum line, if I remember correctly. She later married Ted Berg, who marched in the Cavaliers with me in 1974. I saw her at a reunion in 1996.

What did you do in the Corps? Snare; Drum Major; Drum Instructor/Arranger

What years were you a Corps member? 1970-73; 78-79

Scott Levin = Ace
Joe Novak = Joe not Bob
Bob Olsen = Bob not Joe

We also had a Spanky

What did you do in the Corps? Cymbals, Bass Drum, Tenor

What years were you a Corps member? 1980 - 1983

These are great to hear, but some need explanation for "those
who weren't there".

But, we ALL had nicknames for our friends. That is one more thing that made drum corps fun.

I'm not sure how many we could explain and escape the censors!

The "Orb Line" had to do with the physical appearance of the girls.

Gary Sands "BA" stood for "Bad A**".

"Bongo Bennie" was because he marched a set of two bongos and two timbales.

"The Human Ashtray" was because Primo's chest was majorly sunken in.

And as for Joey Snyder's nickname - I wont' even begin to go there...

What did you do in the Corps? Snare, Drum Major, Drum Instructor/Arranger

What years were you a Corps member? 1970-73; 78-79

Scott Levin aka Ace he had 2 left feet
We had a Junior (dont remember his name LOL) He was a small kid
Baby Huey (I must be old because I dont recall his name either)

What years were you a Corps member? 78-83

Wasn't there a Baby Huey in Cavies? I'm kinda thinking of a large cymbal player. Would appreciate some help to unscrambled my brain.

Bucky - (Gerry Kozaritz) NP Drum Major

Yes, Baby Huey was a cymbal player with the Cavaliers - your brain is just fine, Donna!

And when was Bucky Drum Major? I remember him playing contra. Didn't he come from the Royal Airs? I seem to remember seeing a picture of him in that uniform.

What did you do in the Corps? Snare; Drum Major; Drum Instructor/Arranger

What years were you a Corps member? 1970-73; 78-79

Bob,

Maybe 72 or 74? Don't know about the Royalaires. Yes he also played Contra.

Bucky, Came from the B corps. DM. was after 74.

Thanks, Larry. I don't know why I had him in the Royals. But I knew he wasn't DM in 72 or 73.

What did you do in the Corps? Snare; Drum Major; Drum Instructor/Arranger

What years were you a Corps member? 1970-73; 78-79

Didn’t Bucky open a bar around Chicago and if so is it still around?
What was the name of it?

Found more names/nicknames in the 1976 year book and thought they might stir up some memories. These were listed by the members:
Jim Anderson - Andy (don't know what happened to Mocha?)
Jim Fetty - Big Jim
Karen Healy - Chicken legs
Anne Kurbat - St. Nick
Pete Lambesis - Not Frenchy
Jeannine Lisack - Dinsdale
Bob Littlefield - Boobie
Mike McKenna - Zero
Dan Noel - Midnight Rambler
John Osenga - Big Red
Julie Parilla - Smiley
Diane Ruchalski - Lurch
Jim Snyder - Big Goober
Joe Snyder - Wilbur
Tim Vergin - All American Doll
Vito Congine - Vic
Guy Devereaix = Whitey
Glenn Fletcher - Beaver
Jim Goff - Young Gypsy Colt
Jackie Henker - Re-Re
Dan Kalvig - Alfie
Pat Schneider - Ma
Brad Tucker - Jew-(not politically correct but he put this
down)
Robert Walensa - Bobbo
Mike Zajdel - Mike
Diane Baker - Dee Dee
Cathy Fiduccia - Foo
Judy Gill - Doll
Jennifer Heyd - Heydie
Penny Kennedy - Ralph
Sue Rumsfield - Motor Mouth
Andrea Tryba - Andi

Perhaps these too wil conjure up some forgotten faces.

What did you do in the Corps? Chaperone, nurse, cook, bottle washer

What years were you a Corps member? 1973-1979