It comes as no surprise to hear that many Imperials attended Taft High School .. after all, it is IN Norwood Park!

Opened in 1939, most corps members from the 1940s and later attended Taft. The Taft alumni have an active alumni group, including publishing a newsletter. From time to time, Taft graduates talk about the Corps and their memories. As this becomes available, we'll post some comments here.

Taft recently held a ceremony dedicating a plaque in memory of JOE KUPCINET (yes, brother of Irv) who was their first football coach. Imperial alumnus CHARLES (BUD) TRICK came in from Florida to attend that event. Bud was one of the early snare drummers in the corps .. 1928.

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What did you do in the Corps? drummer; quartermaster 1964-66, ass't drum instructor 1964-70

What years were you a Corps member? 1958 -1963

It might be interesting to hear Taft stories from other Imperials who attended Taft ..... especially those which deal with fellow corps members.

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What did you do in the Corps? drummer; quartermaster 1964-66, ass't drum instructor 1964-70

What years were you a Corps member? 1958 -1963

I recollect Kupcinet as one of the vice principals at Taft. He stopped coaching football the year before I started at Taft.

Only dealing with him was in 1963. That year the Imperials marched in the Indy 500 Parade. It was mid-week and required being away from school for a day. My parents had to write a note and I had to take it to him for approval. I do recollect that he'd hear of the corps.

He did look and sound a lot like his younger brother, Irv, the newspaper columnist and local TV personality. I recollect that both brothers might have played briefly in the NFL.