Announcing The 2022 Honorary Cavalier and Adolph DeGrauwe Legacy Award Winners
The Cavaliers have selected the winners of their prestigious Honorary Cavalier and Adolph DeGrauwe Legacy Awards. This years’ recipients will be recognized live at Drum Corps International’s Cavalcade of Brass on July 3rd in Lisle, Illinois. Read on to learn more about each award and to learn about our winners!
The Adolph DeGrauwe Legacy Award is presented to Cavalier Alumni who have dedicated years of service and left a legacy of changing the organization for the better. Adolph DeGrauwe’s involvement The Cavaliers includes having been a marching member, Cavalier Cadets director, Cavaliers director, and both the vice president and the president of the board of directors. During his time as director, the corps saw a resurgence into the top tier of competitive drum corps groups. DeGrauwe’s impact is still felt by the corps today, and his namesake award is reserved for individuals who have left a powerful mark on the organization.
2022 Winners
After participating in The Cavaliers color guard in 1983 and 1984, Mark Ackerson served in leadership roles including housing coordinator, tour manager, board of directors member, assistant director, and director. Notably, he implemented the team management and operations process still used by the corps today. Tom and Pam Cabanski stated that as director, he was “never more than an e-mail or phone call away and ready to answer any and all questions, even when overseas on a layover during his full-time flying schedule as a Delta Airlines flight attendant.”
Tom Cabanski marched with The Cavaliers in the brass section in 1956-1957, after which point he used his corporate expertise to keep The Cavaliers at the cutting edge of financial and business operations as a close advisor to corps founder Don Warren. His impact includes creative financing solutions for the corps two most recent kitchen trailers, and his contributions during his long stretch of serving as the board of directors
vice president.
In 1959, Bob Hoehn became the first member of The Cavaliers to commute to Chicago from out of state (from Miami, Florida). After participating as a member, he served as the corps first personnel manager, board vice president, and director. Several alumni note that he is an exemplary model of the “brotherhood” that forms within the corps: he continued to serve as a friend and mentor to Cavaliers well beyond his 15+
years in management.
The title of Cavalier is reserved for those who marched in The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps at any point, with the exception of Honorary Cavalier award recipients. The Honorary Cavalier award is presented to nominated individuals who, for a minimum of ten years, generously contribute their time and dedication to the drum corps. The Cavaliers are incredibly proud to bestow this hard-earned honor to our most dedicated staff and volunteers.
2022 WINNERS
Chris Cunningham has served on The Cavaliers medical staff for over twenty years, his only prior affiliation with the corps being that he was an avid fan. He is an exceptional nurse, as well as a caring and compassionate partner to the staff and volunteers. Helen Turner, founder of the Cavaliers Medical Group, notes that “Chris gives the best of himself to all those he cares for and he gives each of them a piece of his heart along the way.”
A Tour Manager with The Cavaliers since 1996, Diane King provides exceptional support to members, staff, volunteers, and to the organization as a whole. In addition to tour operations, she assisted prior treasurer Don Heitzman and corps membership with tour fees and fundraising. Director Dr. Michael Vaughn said “As I assumed the role of director in 2019, knowing that Diane would be on the road with us was a source of tremendous comfort. Whatever the problem… Diane has dealt with it before, and is always more than willing to tackle it again.”
Jennifer Parent served on the corps tour management team starting in 2000, becoming Director Dr. Michael Vaughn’s assistant in 2019. She is widely viewed as a hero of the corps. In 2008, Jennifer’s quick thinking prevented what could have been a tragic and horrific incident when a cook truck got stuck in a railroad crossing. Jennifer was able to call and notify the railroad company who notified an oncoming train to stop. Adolph DeGrauwe noted Jennifer’s calm demeanor and quick thinking in the situation.