DCE Close Up (21): Bob

In the DCE Close Up series you will meet the DCE personnel. Who are these people behind the scenes who offer their leasure time to run drum corps events? In this episode we'll meet the only American in our team: Bob Thomas.

Name: Bob Thomas
DCE position: DCE Education Director
Age: 53
Residence: Greensburg Pennsylvania USA
Job: Vice President of Sales for Acusis LLC


Drum corps history: "I have been in drum corps since the young age of 5. My father started teaching me to play a bugle at a very early age. At first I marched in local parades, but eventually got to march in the field. I have marched with several drum & bugle corps growing up as well as in my adulthood. I have also taught and designed for several US drum corps.
I started judging at the age of 21and have continued judging. This was my 19th year of judging for DCI. I judge between 10 and 25 drum corp shows every year, including the DCI and DCE Championships."

Working for DCE since: "I have been involved with DCE since it has started. I have judged every DCE Championship. Since becoming the education director, I have been doing clinics and listening to judges tapes. Two years ago, with the help of my good friend Adriaan de.Kruiff, we rewrote the entire judging manual. We have made it one of the best manuals."

Why? "I have really enjoyed being associated with DCE. I have met some wonderful friends. The growth of DCE has been nothing but amazing. I am so excited that each year, with good input from the DCE judges, that the corps become better every year. Every country is improving!"

Is it fun off the field? "It has been a joy and an honor to judge with my European colleagues. Since I fly over from the United States before the Championships, my time off the field is limited. I really enjoy our Friday night dinner before the contest. It is great to catch up with all my friends."

Greatest drum corps memory: "I have so many great memories growing up in drum corps. It has been a life time of wonderful times with great people. I will never forget my first DCE Championships and how excited I was to see all the European corps. I can not wait to see all of Europe in the next 5 years."
 
Do you want to be a DCE staff member yourself? Please contact us, and we'd be happy to welcome you in the DCE team!