Last Friday the Center acquired this bass drum that belonged to Mark R. Foutch, one of Central Illinois’ most well-known community band directors between the 1950s and 2000. According to a Hoopeston, Illinois June 16, 1952 “The Wings” newspaper article, “Dr. Mark R. Foutch was one of Champaign’s leading optometrists who manages to play in a concert band, either as its conductor or euphonium player, somewhere in Illinois just about all the time.” He was raised in Springfield, Illinois and in 1939 toured the country as a member of the Barnum and Ringling circus band. He frequently played with the Chanute 505th Air Force Band in the 1950s, and wrote the march “Air University” for the Chanute band in 1952.
During WWII, he served in the 33rd Division Band of the 130 Infantry as a euphonium player. The infantry band was better known as the Prairie Division Band since most of the members came from the Midwest. The band was principally stationed in the Philippines during the war. The drum head in the left image contains the names of the musicians, their rank, and the instrument they played in the 33rd Division Band. Mark’s name is under the red arrow and lists his home address as 1429 Whittier Avenue, Springfield, Illinois, where he grew up.
The Slingerland bass drum dates from the early 1920s and was used by the Chanute Air Force Band until it was acquired by Foutch sometime between the 1950s and 1960s. The drum head in the right image has the air force band clearly stenciled onto the head, but the 505th portion of the band’s name has been stenciled only in pencil.
When the bass drum was acquired by Foutch he turned the drum into an end table that was used to hold his martini glass each evening. According to family lore, the damage to the drum head with the names of his 33rd Division Band was the result of a spilled martini. For further information on Mark Foutch and the Mark Foutch Collection, contact Scott Schwartz at 217-333-4577.