Don Warren

Founder of The Cavaliers and of Drum Corps International, Don Warren left a longstanding legacy with the thousands of members that are proud to call themselves Cavaliers. He vowed to ensure every member had the tools necessary to reach their full potential and dedicated 70 years of his life to The Cavaliers.

Under Warren’s leadership, The Cavaliers won the VFW National Championship title in Miami in 1957 and rode on to an undefeated season in 1961, later reprised in 2002. Throughout the 1960’s, Warren’s Chicago Cavaliers were the drum corps force to be reckoned with. He would go on to lead The Cavaliers and make his mark in the marching arts world, with more than 20 VFW national championships, 3 WGI World Championships, and 7 Drum Corps International World Championships under his belt. Most importantly, he would help cultivate the next generation of leaders, educators and beyond.

Warren was one of the founding fathers of the Midwest Combine, that would eventually become Drum Corps International (DCI), along with Jim Jones (Troopers), Bill Howard (Madison Scouts), Dave Kampschroer (Blue Stars) and Gail Royer (Santa Clara Vanguard). The series of meetings and phone calls between this group throughout the winter of 1970 changed the face of the marching arts and established the foundation for the activity as we know it today.

Even though Warren handed over the management of the corps in 1975, he continued to serve the organization as Chairman Emeritus and Founder on the board of directors, working with the organization directly and indirectly. Warren’s passion and commitment to the pageantry arts, as well as the opportunities he created for thousands of young performers are just a fragment of the legacy left in the wake of his passing.