Bengal Guards
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The Bengal Guards were a all-girl drum & bugle corps based at Orange H.S. (Texas) from 1935-1958.
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[edit] History
The Bengal Guards were founded by Mr H.J.L. Stark and Mrs. Nita Hill Stark. The corps was instructed by Band Director Frank Hubert and Drill Master Lewis Gay. Mrs. Hustmyre (who was the former director of the Red Hussars) was brought in as it's full-time director.The initial corps included one drum major, two bass drums, sixteen snares, twenty-four bugles and three honor guard. The Guards' first performance was at the Orange vs Jasper football game on October 5, 1936.
Eventually the corps would expand to included a six member bell section, a five member honor guard, five bass drums, twenty-five snares, around a dozen flag twirlers, and nearly fifty bugles. By 1944, the corps had over 115 members.
The corps travelled to such places as Chicago and New Orleans on a regular basis. It was the instructors high standards and expectations that developed a high reputation for the corps around the country. In fact in 1940, corps founder H.J.L. Stark received a telegram from Director of Bands at USC declaring that The Bengal Guards were "the best he had ever seen or judged."
In 1944, Mr Stark handed complete control of the corps over to Orange High School. The corps was disbanded in 1958. A alumni organzation was established and the alumni meet on a regular basis.
[edit] Traditions
- Two of the corps' signature tunes included "Eyes of Texas" and "The Aggie War Hymn".
- The corps' hall was nicknamed "The Jungle"
- The uniform was initially a West-Point style uniform. The one difference was that the Bengal Guards marched in white skirts as well. This uniform would later turn into a white jumpsuit style with a Army style cap.
- The corps would enter the field marching 187 BPM
[edit] Trivia
- Among the many places the corps performed was Chicago's Soldier Field, the Sugar Bowl, and the halftimes of Texas A&M vs Texas and the NFL's Dallas Texans.
- The corps had such a high reputation that when the city released a set of souvenir stamps in 1941, they included a stamp featuring The Bengal Guards.
- When First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visted Orange, she made The Guards her official Honor Guard.
- The corps was featured in a three-page pictoral spread in Life Magazine.
