Citation dated April 26, 1984

 

     Hugh Quigley, snare drummer with Lancraft, from 1941 on to the future.......This native son of  Wallingford some how made his way to the universal center of drumming in St. Francis parish, Fair Haven.  He started on drum pads with Earl Sturtz in 1933, and a year later joined the St. Francis Drum & Bugle Corps along with Eldrick Arsenault.  They drummed their way through dozens of parades and competitions and both are in the wall picture circa 1937-38 at the Lancraft hall. 

     In 1941 Hugh joined Lancraft and immediately put his great talents to work by winning the Connecticut senior snare drum championships in 1941 and 1942.  Shortly afterwards he was drawn into World War II and served over 3 years, mostly in the European theater of operations.  After the war, Hugh cranked up his drum beat and served notice to Connecticut snare drummers.  He won the state championship 4 more times in 1948, 1949,1952, & 1953.

     However, he saved his best for 1952 and 1953, when he triumphed with national championships in New York and St. Louis respectively. He retired as undefeated senior open snare drum champion.

     During the golden years of the 1940's and 1950's Hugh traveled the circuit and won state championships in New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and North-eastern states several times.  (he lost count.)

     Since those days of glory Hugh put his creative talents to work instructing such corps as North Haven, and Plainville, and for the last 13 years the nearly undefeatable Yalesville Jr. drummers.  He was a drum judge in the Massachusetts M&M circut, Northeastern States, and Connecticut Fifers & Drummers Association for many years.

     What else can you say about such a career except that it has been entwined with the fortunes of Lancraft?  Hugh Quigley was an inseparable part of Lancraft where as a snare drummer he created and carried the beat of the Lancraft "sound" down a thousand miles of roads for 43 years.

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