History & identity

The Argonne Rebels represented Great Bend, Kansas, on the national drum corps stage and became one of the founding members of Drum Corps International. Their history connects a relatively small community with the creation of a major competitive organization.

DCI’s account of a 2015 Great Bend library exhibition describes how uniforms, photographs, and other local materials preserved that history after the corps’ disbandment in 1984. The exhibition accompanied a Smithsonian traveling program and made the corps a focus of community storytelling.

What makes this corps distinctive

The Argonne story is not only a list of championship appearances. Directors, instructors, families, and hometown support formed the organization behind those performances. DCI’s Hall of Fame profile of director Glenn Opie supplies another first-person connection to the corps’ public and civic role.

Key moments

1. 1949–1973Glenn Opie served as corps director, according to DCI’s Hall of Fame biography.
2. 1971–1972Argonne participated in DCI’s founding and opening competitive era.
3. 1984The corps disbanded.
4. 2015Great Bend Public Library featured Argonne memorabilia in a local historical exhibition.

Notable seasons & performances

Legacy & related chapters

The archive records the original Great Bend corps. Historical exhibits and alumni recollections continue its legacy, but they are not evidence of a current junior corps tour or audition program.

Watch & explore

Explore these related records from the video room. Publisher captions and dates identify the footage; alumni performances are separate from the original competitive seasons.

1971 Argonne Rebels Drum Corpsformer scout · 1971Watch & view details →1973 Argonne Rebels Drum Corpsformer scout · 1973Watch & view details →1971 Argonne Rebels @ VFW Nationals Prelims DallasRoy Perez · 1971Watch & view details →

Sources & further reading

1. DCI: Argonne Rebels subject of new Smithsonian exhibit ↗
2. DCI Hall of Fame: Glenn Opie ↗
3. Drum Corps World / DCX: Argonne Rebels history ↗

Historical overview checked October 26, 2026. Periods shown describe the chapter covered, not necessarily uninterrupted activity or a legal incorporation date. This is a growing archive; details that have not been established are left unclaimed. Historical pages are not current audition or membership notices.