Longevity, consistency, passion, and excellence. Those are the
words which best describe Kim Robinson. Kim stands alone in the
history of the Crossmen, having marched an astounding eleven seasons
-- a feat that, it's safe to say, will never be duplicated. Her
family was immersed in the drum corps activity for several years,
and when her father assumed the role of director of the newly formed
Crossmen, she knew she wanted to be a part of it despite her young
age. When the Keystone Regiment and 507 Hornets merged for the
1975 season, there were a handful of kids who were eleven and twelve
years of age. It was decided that the age limit for the new corps
would be raised to fourteen. This discouraged all except three
girls who wanted to try out for the color guard. Ultimately, they
carried the corps banner in parades and were the American flag
section on the field. Kim was one of these girls. Through determination
and practicing everyday in the backyard, she made the flag line.
With the experience she acquired early on in her drum corps career,
Kim could have chosen to march anywhere else once she was old enough
to do so. Yet she stuck with the Crossmen through thick and thin,
good and bad, into the top 12 or not. This unparalleled level of
dedication, loyalty, and faithfulness to the corps was an inspiration.
In keeping the spirit alive and helping to push the corps to its
limits, she encouraged all those around her to stay positive and
persevere in the corps’ continuing pursuit of excellence
and recognition during some very difficult times.
During her years
in the corps, she served in all facets for the Crossmen color guard
including that of a "player/coach" for the winter of
1983 when there were few instructors. She handled her duties with
determination while displaying a set of ideals and values that
were far beyond her years. This kind of maturity, of course, was
nothing new to Kim. Her first teaching job outside of drum corps
was at Great Valley High School. She was only fifteen. In addition,
she has taught the marching bands and indoor guards at Conrad Weiser
High School and Bensalem High School.
Kim also proudly served as
a clinician representing the Crossmen in the United Kingdom with
the Ace of Harp Drum and Bugle Corps, leaving her mark as a skilled
instructor and bringing that trademark Crossmen style and passion
to a new group of performers across the seas.
Kim is the fourth
member of the Robinson family to be inducted into the Crossmen
Hall of Fame, joining her father, mother and older brother. She
currently resides in West Chester, PA with her husband Jeff and
two wonderful children, Paul and Zach.
