DAVID SHAW

Class of 2010

CADET / ADMINISTRATOR / COMMUNICATOR / ALUMNI LEADER

Cadet Years: Brass/French Horn (1950-1958)

Administration/Publicity Director (1970-1973)

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HIS CADET STORY:

Dave Shaw marched in the Cadets from 1950-1958 as a baritone player and section leader.  His career in drum corps has touched virtually every facet of the activity starting in 1950 and continuing to the current day.  He has been associated with many fine drum corps, was a writer and editor for many fine drum corps publications, and contributed significant time, talent, and effort to the promotion and development of drum corps as a unique and valuable activity for young people.  When he is asked to provide a brief profile of himself, he simply states: "born a Cadet, lived a Cadet, will die a Cadet."

Dave was an administrator of the corps during the early 70’s, during a time when being a Cadet meant going against the grain.  That time in life, surrounded by the end of the Viet Nam War, proved to be quite challenging when teaching the benefits of discipline and hard work.  Dave always held the Cadet ideals to the highest level.  He was always there to provide advice or an alternative point of view.  Dave was never one to just go along with the crowd.  We had to be different than the crowd.  We were CADETS! 

He was instrumental in recharging the relationship between the current day Cadets and their alumni.  In fact, many people have stated that Dave was the guiding force in bridging that gap, and because of his initial efforts, we now have one of the strongest alumni/current corps relationships in the activity.

Because of Dave’s writing prowess, he was a natural person to turn to when putting together the 75th Anniversary History Book.  Providing the historical information was the easy part, but putting that information in a narrative form that was easy to read, and difficult to put down, was truly an art.  Dave mastered that art, and he did it with Cadet passion.  And, when Kevin Ulrich and Greg Cinzio had discussions about different directions we should take with the book, it was always Dave that provided the clear-cut alternative with a direction that made the most sense. 

Dave’s passion for the corps and this drum corps activity together with his dedication to the Cadet pricinciples and esprit de corps, have made him one of the most respected alumni leaders of our time.