Adolph DeGrauwe

Chairman of the Board

Adolph DeGrauwe started his drum corps career marching with the Ardennes Drum and Bugle Corps in Chicago at the age of 11. He then joined The Cavaliers in 1955 and aged out of the Corps in 1962. In 1971, Don Warren asked Adolph to return to the organization as the director of The Cavaliers Cadets and served in this capacity until becoming the director of The Cavaliers in 1979.

From 1979 to 1991, Adolph helped lead The Cavaliers' resurgence back into the upper echelon of Drum Corps International. Adolph became  Executive Vice President on the Board of Directors and took over as President from 2009 till 2016 and continues to serve on the Executive Committee. Adolph returned as corps director from 2010 to 2014.

As a deeply respected mainstay in the drum corps activity, Adolph was inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame in 2000. His long-time involvement, passion and dedication ensures The Cavaliers continue their tradition of excellence, education and innovation well into the future.

Adolph is a retired Building Maintenance Director at the University of Chicago and he his wife, Jeanne, reside in Dyer, Indiana with their dogs, horses, and camping trailer.  

Sons Steve and Scott and grandson Mitchell are also Cavaliers alumni, making the DeGrauwes the first three generation Cavalier family. Adolph promises to remain until one of his great grandsons joins the ranks of The Cavaliers.