Fred Morrison

Fred Morrison’s induction into the Crossmen Hall of Fame recognizes his extraordinary leadership, vision, and commitment to preserving the future of the corps during one of the most significant turning points in Crossmen history.

There are stories about people growing up near one another, walking the same streets, attending the same schools, and somehow never crossing paths until life brings them together years later in a completely different place. In many ways, that is the story of Fred Morrison and the Crossmen.

Fred grew up in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Crossmen were born in Delaware County, only a few miles away. Fred attended West Chester University at the same time that a number of the earliest Crossmen members were also there. Yet during those years, Fred and the Crossmen did not know one another. Their paths were close, but they had not yet connected.

As the Crossmen began making their mark in the drum corps world, Fred moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he built a successful career in business. Years later, the world of marching music entered Fred’s life when he became a band parent — and not just an ordinary band parent. From 2003 through 2006, Fred served as president of the Ronald Reagan High School Band Parents’ Association, helping support one of the premier scholastic band programs in the country.

Fred’s drum corps journey began as a volunteer with Carolina Crown. That experience introduced him to the power of the activity at the national level and helped prepare him for the role he would later play in the future of the Crossmen.

In the mid-2000s, as the Crossmen faced an uncertain future, Fred stepped forward. Along with several current Crossmen Hall of Fame members, he entered into negotiations with YEA to bring the corps to San Antonio. It was a bold and necessary move — one that many would agree saved the Crossmen from extinction.

When Fred Morrison brought the Crossmen to Texas, he brought far more than a name, equipment, and an organization. He brought the history, traditions, identity, and spirit of Bones to a new home. At a time when relocation could have meant losing connection to the corps’ roots, Fred understood the importance of honoring where the Crossmen came from while building a sustainable future for where they were going.

Fred has served as Executive Director of the Crossmen since 2007 and Corps Director since 2010. Under his leadership, the corps established itself in San Antonio, built a new foundation, and continued providing life-changing experiences for young performers. His work helped ensure that the Crossmen would not only survive, but continue to grow as a World Class drum corps.

Fred’s leadership has also extended across Drum Corps International. Since 2010, he has served as a member of the DCI Board of Directors. His service has included roles as Treasurer of the DCI Board, Chairman of the DCI Finance Committee, Chairman of the Combined Purchasing Committee, and member of the Governance and Business Development committees. He has also served as Chairman of the DCI Board, reflecting the respect he has earned throughout the activity.

For Crossmen alumni, Fred’s greatest legacy is deeply personal. He protected the corps at a moment when its future was far from certain. He welcomed the Crossmen into a new home while preserving the traditions that generations of alumni hold close to their hearts. He understood that the Crossmen were not simply an organization to be managed, but a family, a history, and a spirit to be carried forward.

Fred’s story with the Crossmen may have begun years after both were rooted in Delaware County, but when their paths finally came together, it changed the future of the corps. Because of his vision, determination, business leadership, and respect for the Crossmen legacy, Bones lives on.

For his role in bringing the Crossmen to San Antonio, his leadership as Executive Director and Corps Director, his service to Drum Corps International, and his lasting commitment to preserving the spirit and future of the corps, we proudly honor Fred Morrison as a member of the Crossmen Hall of Fame Class of 2016.

Fred, we are forever grateful to you and Maureen for all you have given to the Crossmen family.