DANA HEERES AND BOB JACKSON
2023 AD LEGACY AWARD WINNER

Nomination Letter:
The management team of Dan Heeres and Bob Jackson are well deserving of the Legacy Award. Dan and Bob took over the running of the corps from Don Warren from 1974 until 1978. This was a time of transition for The Cavaliers, both on and off the field. Dan and Bob were only in their early 20’s when they were chosen to take over the day to day operation. It was a challenge.

The corps was beginning to change in many ways. The Cavalier Cadets were coming of age and were able to begin feeding its members into the A corps. This led to a new nucleus that in later years would evolve into a change in leadership amongst the membership. There were difficult periods to deal with at times, but Dan and Bob held the corps together and we came out stronger in the long run.

Dan Heeres marched as a baritone in the mid 1960’s and was part of the trio nicknamed “The Andrews Sisters”. Dan’s humor was legendary and kept things light, even when adversity was at hand. Dan was also instrumental in moving the corps on the road as we started feeding the members from a cook truck. Prior to this the busses would unload in a shopping center, the members would get meal money and head to the nearest fast food joint.

Bob Jackson was in the color guard from 1966-1972 and aged out as Guard Sergeant. Bob helped start the Cavaliers Winter Guard in 1978, which was the also the start of WGI. He was part of the management team and an instructor that shaped the success of The Cavaliers WGI championships in 1981,1982 ,1983. Bob was the moral compass and instilled upon the guard what it meant to be a Cavalier. He made sure the winter guard was not a separate group but recognized as part of the drum corps. Hence, when the guard went out for scores, they were in Cavalier uniforms, even though they were dressed as the Jets or James Bond just a half hour earlier.

Dan and Bob have more in common. They both married girls named Ellen.

Dan wed Ellen Shepard from the Royal Aires.

Bob wed Ellen Neely from the Skokie Vanguard.

All are still married and remain the best of friends some 50 plus years later due to the drum corps activity.