John Dowlan

John Dowlan is the inventor of backsticking. He was the VFW National Snare Drum Champion in 1949, 1950, and 1951 as a member of Reilly Raiders Senior Drum Corps.

John Dowlan taught many Drum Corps' including the famous Air Force Drum & Bugle Corps (Bolling AFB). During his tenure in the Air Force he developed backsticking as a excercise to strengthen his left hand.

Around 1958, Bobby Thompson was inspired by John Dowlan and his Air Force Drum & Bugle Corps Drum Quartet to add backsticking to his Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights drum repertoire.