Sousa Foundation Historical Marker

The purpose of the Sudler Trophy is to identify and recognize collegiate marching bands of particular excellence that have made outstanding contributions to the American way of life. The Sudler Trophy will be awarded biannually to a college or university marching band which has demonstrated the highest of musical standards and innovative marching routines and ideas, and which has made important contributions to the advancement of the performance standards of college marching bands over a number of years.

The Sudler Trophy is made possible by a grant from Louis and Virginia Sudler of Chicago, Illinois. The annual presentation is administered and implemented by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

The Sudler Trophy is one in a series of awards developed by Mr. And Mrs. Sudler and the Sousa Foundation to recognize and to encourage excellence in the various aspects of band work. The marching band is a force which reaches countless students and audiences throughout the nation, and the purpose of the Sudler Trophy is to recognize the outstanding work and contribution of college and university marching band directors.

The trophy has been designed by the distinguished artist Ed Blackwell. It has been executed by Dieges and Clust, who also produce the Heisman Trophy. Consisting of a bronze drum major astride a football stadium and mounted on a marble base, the trophy stands 22 ½ inches high.

The formal presentation of the Sudler Trophy will take place at a time and site mutually agreeable to the recipient and to the Sousa Foundation. The recipient will be presented with the traveling trophy, which may be displayed at the recipient’s school during the following year. The school will receive for permanent possession a large plaque, on which will be engraved the names of the university along with current and former marching band directors. The current and all former marching band directors will receive personal plaques, and will be invited to participate in the presentation ceremonies. Each member of the band will receive a personalized certificate.

All publicity distributed by the Sousa Foundation will stress that the award has been given for long time contributions of that school and its directors. This is in keeping with the purpose of the award, which is to publicly recognize outstanding achievements by a collegiate marching band over a period of years. This is NOT a contest to select the BEST college band in any given year.

“When Walter Camp established the rules for football in 1880, he could hardly have foreseen the effect the halftime break would have on the course of American music. The struggle for places in the marching bands that flourish during the football season can be as spirited as competition for berths on the team itself. For every Rose Bowl trombone player strutting before a national television audience, there are thousands of aspirants practicing and hoping to be there someday."...............from “The Story of

America

” a Readers Digest Publication

Louis and Virginia Sudler were long-time supporters of the Sousa Foundation through their tireless efforts and their generous contributions. The many projects that bear their names have been endowed in perpetuity by the Sudlers.

Louis Sudler was the rare combination of successful businessman, a performing artist, and a patron of the arts. He was the founder of the Chicago real estate firm, Sudler and Company. He appeared nationally as a soloist in concert, oratorios, with symphony orchestras and concert bands, at functions honoring five U.S. presidents, and as a recording artist; a baritone, he was a member of the Chicago Civic Opera.

Primarily known for his work with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where he was chairman emeritus of The Orchestral Association, he had also demonstrated an active interest in bands and band music.

2009 - Western Carolina University

2007 – Indiana University

2006 – University of Arkansas

2005 – Penn State University

2004 – Auburn University

2003 – University of Alabama

2002 – Louisiana State University

2001 – Texas A&M University

2000 – University of Georgia

1999 – Texas Tech University

1998 – University of Massachusetts

1997 – West Virginia University

1996 – University of Nebraska

1995 – Purdue University

1994 – James Madison University

1993 – University of California Los Angeles

1992 – Northwestern University

1991 – Arizona State University

1990 – University of Iowa

1989 – University of Kansas

1988 – Michigan State University

1987 – University of Oklahoma

1986 – University of Texas at Austin

1985 – Florida A&M University

1984 – Ohio State University

1983 – University of Illinois

1982 – University of Michigan

Sousa Foundation Executive Committee

Dr. Al G. Wright, Chairman of the Board
Col John Bourgeois, President and CEO
Douglas Harter, Vice President for Finance
Catherine M. Heard, Treasurer
Gladys Wright, Vice President
Edward Lisk, Vice President for Administration
Dr. Robert Foster, Vice President

The Sudler Trophy Selection Committee
Paula A. Crider, Committee Chair

Keith Bearden Texas Tech University	Robert Foster University of Kansas	John M. Long Troy State University	Kenneth Ozzello University of Alabama	Paula Crider University of Texas
Thomas Caneva Ball State University	Rick Good Auburn University	John Madden Michigan State University	George Parks University of Massachusetts	Julian White Florida A&M University
Jay Drury West Virginia University	Timothy Gunter University of Arkansas	Brad McDavid University of Washington	Timothy Rhea Texas A&M University	David C. Woodley Indiana University
Robert C. Fleming Arizona State University	Gordon Henderson University of California – Los Angeles	Linda Moorhouse Louisiana State University	Pat Rooney James Madison University	Jon R. Woods The Ohio State University
O. Richard Bundy Penn State University			F. David Romines University of Georgia

All correspondence and inquiries should be addressed to:
The Sudler Trophy Committee

Paula Crider
pcrider@mail.utexas.edu