History
Originally founded as the Maumee Suns in 1961 by the Maumee Demons Senior Drum & Bugle Corps, the group performed in parades throughout Northwest Ohio in its early years . Eventually entering the Ohio American Legion competition circuit, the corps was renamed the Glass City Optimists in 1967 . Then, in 1971, the name “Glassmen” became official . Glassmen is derived from Toledo’s standing as the “Glass Capital of the World" . That same year, the corps entered Division II competition . Following a couple years of inactivity which began in 1977, the Glassmen moved up to Division I, soon achieving DCI Member status in 1983, when they placed in the Top-25 . Between 1985 and 1995, the corps set a drum corps record by consistently placing higher at finals every year, starting in 31st position and constantly climbing to 8th . The director at this time was Dan Acheson, who was instrumental in shaping the new face of the corps and guiding them continuously upward. He went on to become director of Drum Corps International .
The Glassmen first placed in semi-finals in 1991 (17th), missed finals by a tenth of a point the next year, and broke into the Top-12 in 1993, where they have been all but two years to the present . Since 1985, the Glassmen are one of five corps to break into the elite Top-5 without winning a title . The other four are the Bluecoats, Boston Crusaders, Suncoast Sound, and Carolina Crown. . The Glassmen have been featured in LIFE magazine, on PBS Finals broadcasts, and on Japanese television . In 2004 the Glassmen began a partnership with Dynasty USA/DEG Music Products, Inc . Most recently, the 2006 season saw the first European tour by the corps, where they spent time in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and England .
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