Harold "Robby" Robinson, Sr.
It started in the fall of 1974. In order for the merger of Keystone Regiment and 507 to work, Robby knew it had to also be a merger of everyone from Administration, Instructional Staff and parents. He knew what the kids wanted. They were talented drum corps kids that wanted to compete on the field with the best DCI Corps in the country. With his many years of marching, teaching and judging, he knew he could make this merger happen.
A lot had to be done in a short span of six months to make this new corps ready for the field. The "CROSSMEN", the name for the new corps, was voted on by the members. Lots of meetings, lots of plans, things to accomplish, decisions to be made. It was decided very soon that the twelve person Board of Directors wasn't working in this unusual situation. He needed people who would step up to the plate and dedicate themselves to this major undertaking. Decisions needed to be made daily, rather than monthly. So he enlisted people that he knew would support this huge challenge.
With the instructional staff solidified, money and uniforms were the next priority on the agenda.
Of course, there was no money yet, so Robby's first dip into his personal money was for uniforms and buses. From this moment on, the kids were his priority. The Crossmen made their first field appearance in May 1975, in Lancaster, PA and have competed every season to this day. Quite an accomplishment for a merger corps, the only successful one in DCI history.
When out of state kids started showing up for weekend camps, Robby took them home. At times, there were as many as thirty-five kids sleeping on every inch of floor in the Robinson Home.
For several years heading down the road, Robby had these "boot straps" made from the strongest substance known to man, that would be the Human Spirit. Time and time again, he stood before 120+ kids and convinced them that everything would be alright. He would say, "just pull yourselves up by the boot straps, we're going to bring the house down tonight.
Robby wrote these words for the members to sing to the tune of Russian Christmas. They say it all....
From blue and green we came, together, gray and red did make us one.
With our pride, spirit, unity, guidelines for victory, these made us what we are....
THE CROSSMEN
The rest is history...
A lot had to be done in a short span of six months to make this new corps ready for the field. The "CROSSMEN", the name for the new corps, was voted on by the members. Lots of meetings, lots of plans, things to accomplish, decisions to be made. It was decided very soon that the twelve person Board of Directors wasn't working in this unusual situation. He needed people who would step up to the plate and dedicate themselves to this major undertaking. Decisions needed to be made daily, rather than monthly. So he enlisted people that he knew would support this huge challenge.
With the instructional staff solidified, money and uniforms were the next priority on the agenda.
Of course, there was no money yet, so Robby's first dip into his personal money was for uniforms and buses. From this moment on, the kids were his priority. The Crossmen made their first field appearance in May 1975, in Lancaster, PA and have competed every season to this day. Quite an accomplishment for a merger corps, the only successful one in DCI history.
When out of state kids started showing up for weekend camps, Robby took them home. At times, there were as many as thirty-five kids sleeping on every inch of floor in the Robinson Home.
For several years heading down the road, Robby had these "boot straps" made from the strongest substance known to man, that would be the Human Spirit. Time and time again, he stood before 120+ kids and convinced them that everything would be alright. He would say, "just pull yourselves up by the boot straps, we're going to bring the house down tonight.
Robby wrote these words for the members to sing to the tune of Russian Christmas. They say it all....
From blue and green we came, together, gray and red did make us one.
With our pride, spirit, unity, guidelines for victory, these made us what we are....
THE CROSSMEN
The rest is history...
