List of drum majors, commanders and directors of the Highty-Tighties

This is a list of the leadership of the Highty-Tighties, the Regimental Band of the Corps of Cadets of Virginia Tech.

Information in the following table is extracted from "Bugle" and personal accounts. The size of the band does not include the Director, faculty and staff that played with the band. The totals also do not include the Bugle Corps when it was a separate organization. LtCol Ellison Adger Smyth, Jr., Professor of biology, played in the band routinely from 1892 until he retired in 1906. Professor Smyth came to VPI in 1891 and was active in establishing the band and orchestra. Major John H. Shultz (Steward of the Dining Hall, class of 1908), Major J. Eoff, and Major Lorenzo M. Hale also played in the band. These faculty and staff are included in photographs of the band. Mr. Charles Owen, was also an 'unofficial' part of the band from 1892 to 1910 and he is included in the "Bugle" photographs of the band in 1908. A tribute poem after he died appeared in the 1910 "Bugle".

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="orange"
+ Highty-Tighty Leadership! Grad. Year! Drum Major! Commander! Director! Band Size
-
1892-1893
Sergeant Clifford West Anderson
1st Lt Frank Daniel Wilson
Major James Patton Harvey
12¹/16
-
1894
unknown
unknown
Major James Patton Harvey
-
1895
W. R. Karr
1st Lt John William Sample
Major James Patton Harvey
19
-
1896
Leslie Helm Lancaster
Captain Osceola Claiborne Thompson
Major James Patton Harvey
25
-
1897
Brandner
Captain H. H. Hurt
Major James Patton Harvey
23
-
1898
Arthur Middleton Cannon
unknown
Major James Patton Harvey; Acting Director Cadet Frank Clifton Carper (Class of 1899, also director of the Mandolin Orchestra)
25
-
1899
W. H. Snook
unknown
Major James Patton Harvey; Acting Director Cadet Frank Clifton Carper (Class of 1899)
23
-
1900
unknown
Captain J. R. Brown
Major James Patton Harvey; Acting Director for part of the year Cadet Frank C. Carper (Class of 1899)
19
-
1901
unknown
unknown
Major James Patton Harvey
29
-
1902
Unknown
Captain Julius Clarence Dantzler
Major James Patton Harvey
12
-
1903
1st SGT Gantt
Captain Henry Clay Michie
Major James Patton Harvey
30
-
1904
Private William Wilson Chase
Captain H. H. Hill
Major James Patton Harvey
22
-
1905
Unknown
Captain J. T. Williams
Major James Patton Harvey
29
-
1906
Sgt Jacob Wise Old
Unknown
Major Hugh Douglas McTier; Assistant Capt H. H. Hill Class of 1904
24
-
1907
Captain Jacob Wise Old
Captain E. H. Taylor
Major Hugh Douglas McTier
23
-
1908
Unknown
Captain Robert Sheffey Poole
Major Hugh Douglas McTier
21
-
1909
Unknown
Captain Raymond Arthur Calvert
Major Hugh Douglas McTier
22
-
1910
Unknown
1st SGT Alexander Atkinson Waldrop
Major Hugh Douglas McTier
28
-
1911
Unknown
Captain Alexander Atkinson Waldrop
Lt Marsden Churchhill Smith, Class of 1911
23
-
1912
Morris Wooten Loving
Captain Wallace Clark Dixon
Major James Patton Harvey
20
-
1913
Unknown
Corporals R. C. Brauer and A. D. Hedrick
Major James Patton Harvey
20
-
1914
C. A. Cutchins
1st Sgt R. C. Brauer
Major James Patton Harvey; Marsden Smith
15
-
1915
C. A. Cutchins
Captain R. C. Brauer
Major James Patton Harvey; Acting Director Major H. H. Hill
20
-
1916
C. A. Cutchins
Lt James Leslie Maddux
Peter Ubaldo Janutolo Class of 1913
19
-
1917
Harry Preston Humphries
Captain Athol Herman Cox
James Soloman Schaeffer
24
-
1918
Harry Luck Rosenbaum
1st SGT D. R. Taylor
Jim Schaeffer
27
-
1919
Unknown
Captain Dayton Rice Taylor
Jim Schaeffer
35
-
1920
1st Lt Lewis Orian Wrenn
Captain James Elisha Old
Jim Schaeffer
36
-
1921
Unknown
Captain DeWitt Clinton Wo
Jim Schaeffer
33
-
1922
SGT William Walter LeFevre
Captain John Bryon Herring
Professor William Luther Skaggs
32
-
1923
Unknown
Captain William McKinley Haller
Professor William Luther Skaggs
40
-
1924
Unknown
Captain Herman Lemuel Pritchard
Professor William Luther Skaggs
49
-
1925
Unknown
Captain William Dana Harmon
Professor William Luther Skaggs
50
-
1926|
Captain Robert Barrett Skinner
Professor William Luther Skaggs
85
-
1927
Unknown
Captain Leslie Avery Shaw
Professor William Luther Skaggs
78
-
1928
Unknown
Captain Grover Guy Tucker
Mr. G. A. Johnson
66
-
1929
Unknown
Captain G. P. Shelhorse
Mr. G. A. Johnson
65
-
1930
Unknown
Captain Howard Eugene Callahan
Mr. G. A. Johnson
65
-
1931
Unknown
Captain Thomas Allen Phillips
G. A. Johnson
74
-
1932
Unknown
Captain James Raymond Frost
G. A. Johnson
60
-
1933
Unknown
Captain Arlie Curtis Huffman
G. A. Johnson
64
-
1934
Unknown
Captain George Arthur Mohler, Jr.
G. A. Johnson
45
-
1935
Unknown
Captain Charles Bradley McElroy
G. A. Johnson
56
-
1936
G. C. Starbuck
Captain Guy Russel Davis
G. A. Johnson
80
-
1937
Lt
Captain Harry Martin Meyers, Jr
James Soloman Schaeffer|
-
1938
Lt
Captain William Madison LaFon, Jr.
Jim Schaeffer
96
-
1939
Lt
Captain John Sanford Hill
Jim Schaeffer
115
-
1940
Lt
Captain Lonnie Hammond
Jim Schaeffer
120
-
1941
Lt
Captain Thomas Edward Bebout
Jim Schaeffer
119
-
1942
Lt
Captain Edward Eugene Jones, Jr
Jim Schaeffer
140
-
1943
Lt
Captain Robert Clifton Hughes
Jim Schaeffer
119
-
1944
Lt
Captain
Jim Schaeffer

-
1945
Lt
Captain
Jim Schaeffer

-
1946
Lt
Captain
Jim Schaeffer

-
1947
Lt
Captain Joseph Ellis Nixon
Jim Schaeffer
93
-
1948
Lt
Captain Garland Wright Headley
Jim Schaeffer
101
-
1949
Lt William Eads Beamer
Captain Leon Edwin Boswell
Jim Schaeffer
111
-
1950
2nd Lt J. J. Pohl
Captain W. Sterling Carter
Jim Schaeffer
111
-
1951
Lt
Captain Frank V. Lane
Jim Schaeffer
59
-
1952
Lt
Captain J. F. Neel
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1953
Lt
Captain John William Mayhugh
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1954
Lt Charles Emerson Morgan, Jr.
Captain William Townsend Powell
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1955
2nd Lt Stan E. Bateman
Captain William Robert Jebson
Thomas Dobbyns
93
-
1956
Lt Donald Torbert
Captain Bruce McFadden
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1957
Lt Nick Valdrighi
Captain Kenneth N. Ellis
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1958
Lt
Captain
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1959
Lt T. O. Williams
Captain
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1960
1st Lt Donald R. Barnard
Captain Ronald D. Oslin
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1961
2nd Lt William I. White
Captain Ralph G. Jones
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1962
1st Lt Cowles A. Meredith
Captain Eugene V. Fife
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1963
1st Lt R. H. Berry
Captain W. E. Hall
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1964
Lt Derek James
Captain Curtis J. Thompkins
Thomas Dobbyns
140
-
1965
Lt Grover Alexander Josey/ Herbert Cox
Captain Dalton Randall Butts/ Grover Alexander Josey
Thomas Dobbyns
120
-
1966
Lt Robert Cobb
Captain Lane Crafton
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1967
2nd Lt Hermann E. Frese/ John D. Irvin
Captain Charles Owen Cornelison
Thomas Dobbyns
114
-
1968
Lt Marion L. Simpson
Captain Karl E. Krumpke
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1969
Lt Jerome Francis Gough
Captain Steven H. Wickham
Thomas Dobbyns
112
-
1970
Lt James K. Asselstine
Captain John T. Wells
Thomas Dobbyns
107
-
1971
Lt Joe Yates
Captain Thomas A. Herbeck
Thomas Dobbyns

-
1972
Lt Christopher Bise
Captain James P. Welch
Joseph G. Lamoureux

-
1973
Lt S. L. Spradlin
Captain Martin D. Bush
Joseph G. Lamoureux
86
-
1974
Lt Gary Herbek
Captain David J. Kirks
Joseph G. Lamoureux, Assistant David Widder
71
-
1975
Lt Robert Stephenson
Captain Eugene Watson
Joseph G. Lamoureux

-
1976
Lt John Matthew Eliff, III
Captain Scott Allan Smith
Joseph G. Lamoureux

-
1977
Lt Craig Cockerham
Captain Paul E. Christensen
Joseph G. Lamoureux
71
-
1978
Lt Stephen D. McAdams
Captain Michael E. Gathright
Dr. James R. Sochinski
50
-
1979
Lt
Captain David P. Williams
Dr. James R. Sochinski

-
1980
Lt Kevin St. Jaques
Major Steven V. Weiler
Mr. Johnny Pherigo

-
1981
Lt Gary W. Kunsman
Major Toney L. Fender
Mr. Johnny Pherigo
71

-
1981
Lt Gary W. Kunsman
Major Toney L. Fender
Mr. Wallace Easter
72
-
1982
Lt Michael O. Kiersewski
Major Gilbert P. Andia
Mr. Wallace Easter

-
1983
Lt Matthew P. Newman
Major Scott Otey (1st African American Band commander)
Wallace Easter

-
1984
Lt Tom Fass
Major John M. Fyfe
Mr. Wallace Easter
83
-
1985
Lt Kenneth P. Rodgers
Major Todd Shenk (Captain Eric Claunch, acting commander winter quarter)
Mr. Wallace Easter
96
-
1986
Lt Dale McBane
Major Lisa Williams (1st African American, female Band commander)
Mr. Wallace Easter

-
1987
Lt Ralph T. Bradley (first African American Drum Major)
Major Robert P. Repass, Jr.
Mr. Wallace Easter

-
1988
Lt Daniel Kelly
Major Brian Hepp
Mr. Wallace Easter

-
1989
Lt Steven Richardson
Major Robert Lowerre
Mr. Wallace Easter

-
1990
Lt David Powell
Major Michael Courtade
Mr. Wallace Easter

-
1991
Lt Greg Gilbreath
Major Nathaniel C. Cluff
Mr. Wallace Easter

-
1992
Lt Lori L. Keck (First Female Drum Major)
Major James Perkins
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
67
-
1993
Lt Chris Sipe
Major Douglas Wilson
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
74
-
1994
Lt Jeff Chown
Major Kristy Branstetter
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
79
-
1995
Lt James Reed
Major Mark Walker
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
91
-
1996
Lt Chris Chown
Major Jasper Jeffers
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
106
-
1997
Lt John Kilareski
Major Gregory Lowe
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]

-
1998
Lt Matthew Cordani
Major Matthew Sutton
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]

-
1999
Lt Chris Hauver
Major Carlton "Bubba" Fox
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
95
-
2000
Lt Vaughn Dickenson
Major Drew Borovies
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]

-
2001
Lt Jeremy Kerfoot
Major Frank Theising
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
83
-
2002
Captain Leo Manster
Major Heather Gardner
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
94
-
2003
Captain H. Christopher Walsh
Majors Jason E. Troutman; Kathryn Jones
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
86
-
2004
Captain Dan Layman
Majors Phillip Staso; Joseph Adelmann
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
84
-
2005
Captain Benjamin J. Thomas
Majors Patrick B. Lowther, David Kline
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
96
-
2006
Captain Sam Doran
Majors Roberto Oteiza, Tyson Griffith
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
116
-
2007
Captain Stephen F. Schuyler
Majors Darren M. Zega, Timothy J. Bedell
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
117
-
2008
Captain John B. Cook
Majors Mark R. Amos, Anthony R. LaVopa
MAJ George McNeill, [http://www.virginiamilitia.org/welcome.htm Va. Militia]
113

¹ Number in Bugle Corps, independent of Band Company.