Windjammers Center Ring Concert Band

Windjammers Unlimited is the brain child of and exists today, due to the labors of two individuals, both lovers of circus music, who were seeking other soul mates, dedicated to the.music of the "Big Top." The thriving organization of today is the result of their dream.

Trumpeter Charles Bennett Jr. an employee of the Railroad Retirement Board and Art Stensvad, a Union Pacific Railroad engineer who is a circus music buff, organized the group in 1971. Membership #1 was issued to Bennett and #2 to Stensvad. Number 3 went to Merle Evans. Among other early members were Barbara and Buster Bailey (#17 & #18), Lloyd Fengel (#42), Loren Geiger (#12), Bob Hills (#71), Shirley Ryon (#36), John Shideler (#69), Chuck Schlarbaum. (#61), and Ward Stauth (#82), The number of persons who have been members in the past 24 years is shown by the last membership numbers issued in April which are in the 1800's.

Among the more memorable concerts Windjammer Bands have performed are the two at the Chautauqua Institute in Net York State, the concert at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and the Center Ring Concert performed at the opening performance of the Ringling Red Unit at Venice, Fla. in 1906.

The first performance of Windjammers with the Sailor Circus occurred in 1983 and has continued uninterrupted since that date. The success of these joint performances is attested to by the fact that most of the tickets for the public are gone two weeks before the performance date.

No history of Windjammers would be complete without mentioning the contribution of Ward Stauth who served for 2O years as Secretary/Treasurer. His behind the scenes work for the group went with little notice, but was very important.

Windjammers has had its share of famous bandsmen who have all aided in making the organization what it is today. First and foremost was Merle Evans. He introduced Windjammers to his wide circle of friends, supported us in every way and established the contact with the Sailor Circus which has become so much a part of our annual conventions. Among the individuals who became members through Merle's urgings were Paul Yoder, Leonard Smith, Ken Slater, John McDonald, Bob Barnhouse, Charles Payne, Earl Slocum, and many others. He truly gave the group the boost that it needed to become a recognized musical society.