On Saturday January 26th, Steve Vickers was inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame. As the editor and owner of Drum Corps World, Vickers has had a front row seat to the evolution of drum corps and has subsequently become the preeminent historian of the activity. Steve is also a long time member of our board of directors, tireless volunteer and foremost a fan of the Madison Scouts.

It is with great respect and appreciation that the Madison Scouts congratulate Steve on this lifetime achievement. At the awards ceremony, Steve was introduced by Steve Powers, Madison Scout alumnus and former colleague at Drum Corps World. Following is the text of his introduction:

I am honored to be here today to present my friend and colleague, Steve Vickers, for induction into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame. For the past decade, I have hoped Steve would be enshrined into the Hall and I’m incredibly happy for him on this special occasion.

Steve and I met in 1989 when I was a member of the Madison Scouts. During the summer tour, I distinctly remember Steve’s devout interest in the drum and bugle corps activity and a few of the stories he shared with me. Later that year at the corps banquet, I ran into Steve again and he asked if I would be marching the following summer. Like many young people, I was struggling to find the financial resources to be a part of something I loved, while simultaneously paying for something I needed...my college education. When I told him that I would not be able to return to the corps, Steve was kind enough to offer me an interview to work as a summer intern at Drum Corps World. And so began a friendship that has lasted almost two decades now.

Like many of you, Steve’s involvement in drum corps began innocently and inconspicuously as a member of the Hutchinson, KS, Jets – the feeder corps to the Sky Ryders -- in 1961. His lifetime involvement with this great activity began as a bass drummer. After a few years as a member of the Jets, he advanced to the Sky Ryders where he played French horn and mellophone. While still a high school student, Steve served as director of the Jets. . . . although we still do not know whether he had a vote with the VFW rules committee. <laughter>

Over the years, I have heard a lot of stories about the “old days” and, being an advocate of progressive drum corps, I must confess that on occasion the stories grew old. <laughter> But, in all fairness, there are two things I must admit. First, there’s something appealing about the idea of being a part of an organization that truly represents its community, with local members, local staff and parent volunteers. And, second, I sincerely appreciate Steve’s ability to show respect for this activity’s history. That is something that, despite some of our philosophical differences, has – and always will – stay with me.

In 1971, Steve graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Journalism. Throughout college, he was a reporter for Drum Corps News, covering the Plains States for Dick Blake. After working a handful of “starter” jobs after graduating from college, Steve was offered the position of editor of Drum Corps World by Don Whiteley in 1973. As I recall the story, Steve’s phone rang one day and the voice on the other end of the line uttered five words that would change Steve’s life forever, and they weren’t “Do you take this woman . . .?” <laughter>

Don simply asked, “Do you want the job?”  Without hesitation, Steve jumped at the opportunity.

Since that day, Steve has devoted – and I do mean DEVOTED – his existence to drum corps.

For the past 34 years, he has been the publisher and owner of Drum Corps World, a publication that needs no introduction with this crowd. During the 11 years I had the opportunity to work alongside Steve, I witnessed many scenarios where he was questioned by influential members of the activity for the publication’s reporting on various topics. Far more often, however, I was on the receiving end of a stern lecture about why we would not, under any circumstances, be running a story that I was proposing because it was not in the best interest of the activity.

I guess that’s why Steve is being inducted and I’m the one doing the introduction . . . <laughter>

Steve has also served as chairman of seven DCI Championships in Madison. I can testify that many of the great things enjoyed by the corps and fans during championships in Madison were a result of the hundreds of hours of effort Steve put into each of those events, not to mention a tireless effort to promote DCI in the Madison community. One of the great challenges Steve overcame included finding housing for 80 corps during the 1985 and 1986 championships.  More importantly, however, is the fact that his efforts directly resulted in DCI becoming the first organization not directly affiliated with the university to use Camp Randall Stadium. Steve’s efforts not only opened the door to DCI, but also to Genesis, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones and the Green Bay Packers.

Without question, some of the best championship events ever have been held in Madison, and I attribute much of this success to Steve’s passion for helping DCI.

For over 30 years, Steve has also been active as a member of several corps’ boards of directors. When he lived in Denver, Steve served on the Blue Knights’ board, and subsequently filled similar positions with the CapitolAires, Capital Sound and the Madison Scouts. Had his office been in Rosemont, Boston, Concord, Garfield...Bergenfield...Hackensack...Allentown...I’m sure he would have been willing to serve on those corps’ boards as well. <laughter>

Aside from the work he has done with Drum Corps World, Steve has also published two incredibly important history books that will preserve the activity’s past forever. As well, he completed the "Drum Corps International: the First 35 years in Photos" book that was released last spring and is a companion volume to the upcoming written DCI history that will be released this summer.

As I considered the words required to convey the significance of Steve’s contributions to DCI, it became overwhelming. Thousands of people participate in DCI each summer. Hundreds have made a substantial impact on the activity. Just 83 share this honor.  Words like integrity, excellence and honor come to mind when I look at the list of members. Good friends of Steve’s like Jim Jones, George Bonfiglio, Gail Royer, Dr. Bernie Baggs, Roman Blenski and Don Whiteley, among others, have set the standard by which induction into the Hall is judged. I stand here today and, with complete confidence, tell you that Steve Vickers indeed lives up to this standard.

If you were to ask Steve about his contributions to the activity, he would be hard-pressed to give you an answer and would like say something like, “I’ve been fortunate to do something I love every day of my professional life.” How many of us can say that?

Being asked to present Steve for induction into the DCI Hall of Fame is, without question, one of the greatest honors of my lifetime, and I am proud to present to you my good friend Steve Vickers as an inductee to the DCI Hall of Fame.”