Reilly

1949 Phila Area Soprano Bugle Champion recieving award from Judge Charles Nabors

Among many of his achievements... Bob won the 1949 Philadelphia Area Soprano Bugle Championship... hands down. His rendition has not been duplicated ever since then. For the life of me I can't remember the name of that piece, but, he would always 'tongue it' for me when ever I'd stop bye for a brush up lesson. Bob loved everybody, and especially had a heart for those in the neighboring nursing home where he often visited. In his later years, he was wheel chair bound and could be found running errands for the folks at the local nursing home. Once his motorized wheel chair over turned in the street and Bob ended up with a broken hip. Once recovered, he was back to his old self making copies of old drum corps albums and recordings. Bob was a walking-talking drum corps encyclopedia that he shared with everyone. Bob had miles and miles of recordings and videos. I will miss Bob and I am sure that you will too.

Regards,

Dolores 'Dee Cobb' Phifer

Rich Mohelski is the Guidon on the far left, followed by Alphonse, Joe Sneidinger and Jack Hackett

Farther down the line is Chick Carr, Bob Adair, Dick McDonald and Ted Locker

In 1946, after World War II, the returning veterans who had been members of a long-standing junior corps in Philadelphia before the war, the A.K. Street Post decided to start a senior corps.

The original A.K. Street Post Senior Corps was outfitted in khaki uniforms with white pith helmets.

The corps formed their own VFW post, Cpl. Frederick W. Reilly Post, #7947, Reilly Raiders. The post home was located at the corner of 5th Street and Venango St in Philadelphia. The motto over the door read "Through this door pass the best damn bugle corpsmen in the world".

The Reilly Raiders honored the name of Cpl Frederick W. Reilly, who was a Bugler in the Street Post Junior Corps, who died in the service of his country during WWll.

The Raiders first musical director was the famous C. Russel Murphy. A real Pioneer in the drum and bugle movement. Corps manager for many years was the late Morton R. Jacobs. Another colorful leader and Drum Major was William “Wild Bill” Hooten. Wild Bill worked almost all the Raiders sections until Bob Adair (Horns) & Harry Ginther (Drums) took over a number of seasons later.

Competing in their first VFW National Convention (Boston, Mass) the corps placed 2^nd bhind the Lt. Norman Prince “Princemen”. It was the following year in Cleveland, Ohio that the Raiders new dress uniforms of black and green caused a major sensation! A black officers cap trimmed in chrome, a black ¾ dress coat trimmed in green with black pants. The coat was modeled after the Royal Irish constabulary (Not the German SS as some vets thought) A Kelly green “Reilly Green) bib adorned the front of the black coat. This entirely new & unique uniform (Wingrade Uniform Company) caused many good and bad comments. However it was not long before drum corps from all over the country were to adopt the Raiders full uniform or cap.

In the early years, the corps membership came from such Philadelphia Area corps such as Tioga, Osmond, Penn Treaty, Street And Community league. Decades later, such Jr corps as McCall, Temple, Bracken and Liberty Bell would add to its membership.

In 1948, Reilly was invited to Webster Music Hall in New York City to make several recordings on the Palda Record label. These would be the first professional recordings ever produced of a Drum & Bugle Corps. There remain a few in existence to this day.

Reilly, a distinct underdog, was the winner of the very first Dream Contest held at Roosevelt Stadium in 1949. It eventually had to be moved indoor to the Armory in Jersey City because of inclement weather. Competing against the National Champions of the VFW, Lt. Norman Prince, Boston, MA, and the National Champions of the American Legion, Jersey Joes of Riverside, NJ the Reilly Raiders, were crowned the Dream Contest Champions. This set the stage for their phenomenal winning record that was to follow in ensuing years

In 1950, Reilly won its first National Championship in Chicago ,Illinois and repeated in 1958 in Ebbets field in Brooklyn, NY. In 1952 they were chartered as an American Legion Corps under the name Cpl. Frederick W. Reilly Memorial Post #656. The corps entered the 1952 Legion Contest in New York City. When the contest smoke cleared, it was the Reilly Raiders over 23 other Sr Corps from all parts of the nation. Reilly won 7 National Dream Contests. Defeating the best Sr corps year after year made Reilly popular with the fans, but disliked by other corps. As Reillys manager Jacobs once said, “Rememer the New York Yankees, they had the same problem”.

Reilly won their first National Championship in 1950, a sentinel accomplishment, from formation to the ultimate prize in only 4 years. Two years later, under the leadership of their Hall of Fame Drum Major, "Wild Bill" Hooton, they became the only Senior Corps in the United States to hold both the VFW and American Legion Championships. They eventually won 7 National Championships and 16 Pennsylvania State titles. From 1946 to 1959, they entered 129 contests with a phenomenal record of 90 first places, 31 second places and 8 third places. This enviable record and their competition accomplishments combined to catapult them to their highest honor, induction into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 1965 as the Senior Corps of the 1950's.

The musical programs of the Reilly Raiders have always had a touch of the Irish. When you hear “When Irish eyes are smiling” on the starting line, the people know Reilly has arrived!

In 1967, Reilly closed its doors, having achieved its goal of Champion of Champions through hard work, originality and not being afraid of new ideas in order to provide a great show!!

The Reilly Alumni Corps participated in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in
Dublin, Ireland in 2005. It had always been a dream of Wild Bill Hooten, their Drum
Major, to ride a White Horse in it. He passed away in 2002 but Joe Ciccippio
remembered that dream and he paid for a White Horse to precede the Corps

down the streets of Dublin with a riderless harness to symbolize their fallen
leader. Bill's wife distributed his ashes on the streets of the parade.

Joe was one of the captives taken in Iran when the Embassy was raided a
number of years ago. When asked how he managed to keep his sanity while in solitary
confinement all that time, he said he used to march around his cell humming
and singing the Reilly drill and repertoire (probably drove his captors nuts).