Hall of Fame

Russ Jones

Inducted: 1993

Russ Jones began his life in this activity in 1948 with the Flint Skylarks Sr. Drum Corps. By 1958, he decided that there was a need to prepare kids for the Skylarks, so he started the Corvair Cadets for juniors with the help of fellow Skylarks Charlie Rice, Bob Cobb and brother Rudy Jones. As time went on, the demands of the junior corps forced him to retire from the senior group to concentrate on the demands of the younger kids. Under his guidance, the junior corps became the Guardsmen and rose to national prominence until they place fifth in the country in Class A at the US Open in 1971 just before the era of DCI.

As the corps struggled through the 1970's, Russ' creative talents led him to patent a spinning cymbal handle, several aluminum percussion carriers and eventually the first set of quint tenor drums sets in the country in the early 1980's.

As the cost of the drum corps activity pushed the Flint corps out of existence in the early 1980's, Russ diverted his attention to the winter guard arena. In 1984 he brought in Orlando Suttles to begin the legendary Studio One. Always working in the background, Russ worked with MCGC founding father John Robertson to bring Y.E.S. Club into the sponorship of Studio One. That connection continued until Russ' death in 1995. With his death came the death of Studio One, Y.E.S. Club and that entire genre of youth activity in the Flint area. Only in recent years has the participation in the Flint area began to grow again.

Brian Liwak

Inducted: 1994

Brian has taught many units in the MCGC since 1983. Some of those units are: Bridgeport 7th Star", Rising Star, Flushing, and L'anse Creuse North. Brian has served as the MCGC Treasurer several times, including the early years of the circuit. He has always been there to make sure the MCGC ran smoothly. Brian has also been a vital part of organizing and running MCGC Championships for many years. No matter where Brian is working that day, he is making sure that all the different aspects of MCGC Championships are running smoothly.

Laura Goodman

Inducted: 1994

Laura Goodman has been a part of the circuit since 1982. She has taught many units over the years such as Bridgeport 7th Star", West Bloomfield, Lakeview, L'Anse Creuse North, Bentley, Spirit of Windsor, Silhouette, Nuance, Trenton, and Garden City. Laura was the MCGC Secretary from 1983 until 1995. She then served as President for two years until 1997. Since then Laura has been the chairperson of the Championship Awards and Scholarship committees.

Lyn DiNard

Inducted: 1994

Lyn DiNard was an instructor and judge in the late 1970's. Lyn's commentary on judges tapes gave many of todays instructors and judges the guidance needed to continue in the activity. Lyn has been a supporter of the marching activity for many years and was a standard on the GLJA judging panel for the MCGC.

John Robertson

Inducted:  1995

Along with Russ Jones", John Roberston produced many groups from the Flint area. John was a large part of the Y.E.S. Club and a founding member of the MCGC. John taught Providence for many years. John was also a judge in the Great Lakes Judging Association (GLJA).

Sharon MacLean

Inducted: 1995

Sharon MacLean is probably the most familiar voice in the MCGC. Sharon started in the circuit as an adult. She had marched in drum corps as a child and her goal is always to "give back a bit" of what she was given. She has given much. Sharon has been the director or instructor of many groups for many years. Sharon was a contest director for the MCGC for many years. Her voice announcing a show was a mainstay for several years. Sharon also served as President of the MCGC.

D. Scott Heister

Inducted: 1996

Scott came to the MCGC fresh from marching with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. He didn't know how to spin a piece of equipment", but he sure could teach and write some amazing drill for our groups. Scott has worked with groups such as West Bloomfield, Bentley, Linden, Studio One and Ypsilanti. Scott also has served on the MCGC Board of Directors as President.

J. Stephen Yoder

Inducted:  1996 (deceased)

Steve Yoder started with the MCGC in 1977. Since 1979", Steve had served on the Board of Directors in many positions, including President and Vice President. Steve was also a member of the MCGC Judges Associations (GLJA & MCGJA) since its inception. Steve served as not only a Color Guard judge, but also as a Percussion Judge. Steve was an instructor, designer or director for many of our circuit’s prominent groups including: Bridgeport 7th Star, East Side Connection, West Bloomfield, Flushing, Forte’, Northcoast Academy Winter Guard, Garden City, Glassmen Winterguard, Chesaning, CMU Metamorphosis, Arthur Hill Percussion and NorthCoast Academy Percussion.

Tom Weidner

Inducted:  1997

Tom Weidner came to Bridgeport and the MCGC in 1982. He quickly became involved with the circuit and became President in 1983 and remained in that position for several years. Tom was responsible for continuing the Bridgeport tradition of excellence in marching when he started 7th Star in 1982. Tom continues to support MCGC and is one of the vital cogs in the wheel that keeps the MCGC Championships contest running smoothly.

Dan Divish

Inducted:  1998 (deceased)

Dan Divish was a GLJA judge for many years. He spent many hours in the stands adjudicating the MCGC units. He is instrumental in organizing many parlor sessions for instructors and judges over the years. The three tier system was being put into play and Regional A Class was being added. The activity was changing from being a marching activity to being more focused on body. He spent hours educating the judging community in Michigan about these new ideas and how WGI viewed them. He was at every GLJA event supporting the activity and very involved in setting up the MCGJA. Although Dan lived in Ohio", he spent many hours in Michigan striving to make the MCGC a better place to participate.

Dannie Jones

Inducted:  1998

Nephew of the late Russ Jones. Dannie was a prominent drill writer for Studio One and many other groups from the Flint area. He served as MCGC Vice President and worked to educate the instructors on what judges expected out of the competing units.

Phil Jones

Inducted:  1998

Nephew of the late Russ Jones. Before Phil became the music that fills the time between unit performances", Phil was an instructor. Phil sponsored a color guard from Chelsea for many years. His support didn't stop there. Since then, Phil has spent hour after hour every weekend from January until April making sure the music starts when it is supposed to for each unit and that the levels are correct to make the soundtrack the best possible for the performers. Without Phil at the controls, the music our groups rely on to perform to wouldn't happen.

Joey Orefice

Inducted:  1999

Before Joey became a judge", he was responsible for putting guards on the floor like St. Charles and Chesaning. Those two units were a few of the very first guards in the the MCGC in the early 1980's. Joey's groups were always the tough ones to beat. Joey has since become very involved in what is now known as the MCGJA, formerly know as GLJA. He spends many hours giving units input on how to make their shows more effective. Joey is also the founder of West Michigan Winter Guard (WMWG).

Marci Carlberg

Inducted:  2001

Marci Carlberg", along with Joey Orefice, is responsible for putting out such outstanding groups in the 1980's such as St. Charles. Marci has been a vital part of the West Michigan Winter Guard organization for over ten years. Although Marci has never held an MCGC Board position, she has been an active part of the membership for many years. Marci currently supports the MCGC as Equipment Caption Head for the MCGJA.

Duane Cumerford

Inducted:  2002

Duane Cumerford was part of the group that originally founded and set the wheels in motion for the MCGC in 1975 and the following years. His work is the reason that so many of us have a strong circuit of which to be a part.

Manjit Gill

Inducted:  2002

Manjit Gill was very influential serving as Contest Director/Coordinator during a period of great growth and development. She defined that position for many years to come. She has been an instructor with many MCGC groups over the years. Manjit holds the distinction of teaching different groups with Scott Heister and Steve Yoder in the same season (and still being sane at the end of it). She continues to be a tabulator for MCGC and serving on committees and other functions as needed.

Dave Watt

Inducted:  2004

Dave Watt has been involved with the MCGC in some capacity for close to 20 years. His contributions to the color guard activity", both indoors and outdoors, have been tremendous. The list of units Dave has been involved with is extensive – too long to list. In the beginning, there was The Bandettes, Forte’ and Lakeview Chrysalis. In 2004 alone, he was involved with fifteen MCGC groups on some level (and some out of state). Dave has also played a key role in instructing, inspiring and mentoring many of our circuit’s instructors, judges and administrators. He concentrates on training “up and coming” instructors from his independent groups to become the next group of designers, technicians and judges within our circuit. When thinking of the West Michigan Winter Guard groups alone (Forte’, Crescendo and Interplay) over 45 names (as of 2004) came to mind immediately as instructors and designers in the MCGC, as well as MCBA, BOA, WGI and DCI – some of whom have gone on to national success, including an original four-year member of BLAST!

Dave has not only contributed to the color guard world as an instructor, designer, mentor and friend, but he has also played a key role in the administration of the MCGC and WGI. Dave has also played a significant part in the continuing education and growth of our circuit’s units, instructors and judges, spearheading the MCGC’s 2003 mission to educate our instructors on design and technique principals and promote growth within our WGI classes. The fruits of his labor are evident in the number and strength of our Regional A and WGI classes over the last few years, as well as the obvious increase in quality of design by our circuit as a whole. At our instructor and student clinics, Dave has generously volunteered his time and offered free show consultations to any member our circuit. Dave’s effort and dedication to the activity is evident in the higher quality design seen throughout our circuit at all levels.

Michael Robinson

Inducted: 2006

Mike Robinson has been involved with the MCGC since the mid-90's.  He has instructed many class champions as well as served on the MCGC Board of Directors.  He was incredibly conscientious as he performed the duties of the MCGC Treasurer.  He even performed these tasks efficiently and effectively while living in California for a year. 

Mike always brought a calm", level-headed reasoning to board meetings.  He asked the important questions which made all pause to see the situation from another side.  More important than all the hours served as a board member, Mike has been a mentor.  He has trained others to be instructors and freely given of his analystical skills including providing "judges tapes" to any unit that asked.

Mike has given many hours of his time giving input to groups that needed consulting or an outside opinion.  He has "saved the day" for many units with his cool, calculated commentary and encouragement.  Mike has never asked for recognition of all the time and effort that has meant so much to so many of us.  He is the true "Hall of Fame" model.

Richard Hogan

Inducted: 2006

Rich Hogan has been involved with the MCGC since the beginning of the percussion classes as an instructor and judge.  He attended the WGI Academy", and studied with several of the leading percussion judges.  Rich has also taught several groups over the years including Huron Valley Percussion, Novi Percussion, NorthCoast Academy and Arthur Hill Percussion.

In addition to all of these programs he has helped to develop, his most influential contribution to the MCGC is to the current competing percussion units and staff.  He has had the priviledge of instructing current staff members of Great Lakes Percussion, Eastside Fury, NorthCoast Academy and DeWitt Ice.

Rich has numerous students marching in almost every independent MCGC ensemble.  Many of these members and other students he has taught are also involved in the Drum Corps activity including Cadets, Cavaliers, Glassmen, Crossmen, Bluecoats, Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard and most of the other "Top 12" Drum Corps.  This brings his contribution to the growth of the MCGC to an unparalleled level.

Rich has greatly influenced the activity as a judge, instructor, director and so many have been able to take their groups higher thanks to his contributions. 

Dean Christopher

Inducted:  2007 (deceased)

Dean Christopher served the MCGC as a Unit Director", Staff member and designer of Trenton and Cassopolis.  He served for years as a judge and as a trainer for new judges.  He also served on the Executive Board and many committees.  Along with this were many years of dedication to all of the pageantry arts including marching band and drump corps.  Dean was also a dedicated educator.

Deceased - 2006

Dan Love

Inducted:  2007 

Dan Love has previously served as President for 2 years and Contest Coordinator for 4 years. He has also served as a Director-at-Large and on many committees. He has chaired or served on the Rules Committee each year between 1997 and 2005. Dan began his winter guard experience in 1988 as a member of Lakeview Chrysalis. Afterwards"," he went on to perform with the Forte' Winterguard. Dan also instructed the following winter guards:  Lakeview", Allegan, Troy Athens Alias, Phoenix, South Lake Entourage, Linden Wings, and Wings Independent.  Dan was instrumental in facilitating the first WGI Regional in Michigan at Troy Athens HS in 2006.

Stephanie Tortomasi

Inducted:  2007

Stephanie has been involved with the MCGC since 1988. She marched with Lakeview Chrysalis (88-91)", Studio One (92-94) and Forte’ (95-96) winter guards. She has also taught several color guards around Michigan: Troy Athens “ALIAS”, Lakeview moniker, Ypsilanti, Epiphany of Lakeland, Plymouth-Canton Open and Interplay. Stephanie has been involved with the administrative side of the circuit since 2001, initially assisting with Championships Awards.  Since then, her role evolved to meet the needs of the membership and administration by developing new communication tools and processes to aid in the management of our ever-growing circuit.  Stephanie served on the Board of Directors as Contest Coordinator for 2 years and Secretary for 1 year.  She also served on the Awards, Design, Rules, Badges and Championships committees.  She has managed all design and communications projects, primarily the MCGC website, since 2001.