Woodrow Sonny McQuiston

There have been many individuals throughout the years who have been key to the growth and success of the Crossmen Drum Corps. Many are in the Crossmen Hall of Fame. However, there is only one individual who is the key to the existence of the Crossmen. That person is Woodrow “Sonny” McQuiston.

In the late 60s and early 70s, Sonny McQuiston was the director of the 507 Hornets Drum and Bugle Corps. He started as a volunteer bus driver and quickly stepped up to fill the role of corps director. In 1974, Robby Robinson, the director of the Keystone Regiment, asked Sonny to take over the reins of the Keystone Regiment. Sonny said yes.

The 507 Hornets were from Norwood and the Keystone Regiment was from Newtown Square, a mere 9 miles apart in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

For this reason, many of the members from each corps knew each other from school, were related to each other or had marched in both corps. During the early 70s, older members of both corps became interested in the newly formed drum corps organization known as DCI and they dreamed of marching at that level of excellence. Even though the two corps were competitors, sometime during the ‘74 season, thoughts of a merger began to circulate among the leaders and they approached Sonny with the idea. Because of his connections with both corps, Sonny was the one and possibly only person who could pull this off.

After pitching the idea to the boards of directors from each corps, Sonny got the go ahead to schedule a joint rehearsal at the Hornets practice site at the Boeing Company later to be nicknamed Boeing Beach. The get together was a success. Sadly, Sonny was not chosen to become the Director of the new corps. The boards from both corps felt that Harold “Robby” Robinson, with his business background and years of drum corps experience, would be the right person to lead the newly formed Crossmen. Sonny accepted this decision and humbly opened the way for the best path forward.

To this day Sonny keeps in contact with “his kids” from 507 and Keystone to see how they are doing. He has sat quietly in the background over the years watching his creation become one of the nations most successful and historic drum corps. He has never asked to be recognized. Well this year, the Crossmen Hall of Fame has wisely decided that “better late than never” applies here.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Crossmen, the Crossmen Alumni Association, and the Crossmen Hall of Fame Committee are proud to induct into the Crossmen Hall of Fame Class of 2020… Sonny McQuiston.