Phantom Regiment is pleased to welcome its newest inductees to the Phantom Regiment Hall of Fame. The class of 2026 will add two members to the hall of fame: Robert Cawthorne and Kerry Knodle. This brings the total number of inductees to 63. There is one criterion for the hall of fame: Someone who has made a significant, long-lasting, and positive impact on the Phantom Regiment organization.

ROBERT CAWTHORNE, who was nominated by former Phantom Regiment executive director and hall of famer Rick Valenzuela, has been involved with Phantom Regiment since 2009, initially as the videographer and expanding that role over the years to include all things merchandise and marketing-related, as well as overseeing the organization’s strong media presence.

After the corps’ championship season in 2008, Robert created a video montage celebrating Phantom Regiment. It wasn’t assigned, and he wasn’t getting paid. He simply was inspired by the corps’ great performance and wanted to help tell the story. That video eventually made it into the hands of then-executive director Valenzuela, and the two eventually met at BOA Grand Nationals that fall in Indianapolis.

The two quickly became close friends and that relationship helped shape the modern identity of the corps.

In his nominating letter, Valenzuela said of Robert, “He has an unmatched eye for the spirit of the Regiment. He understands the intensity, the pride, the tradition – and he translates it into visual content that moves people. His work elevated the Phantom Regiment brand at a time when drum corps was entering a new digital era. Through video and social media, he created buzz, deepened engagement, and brought thousands of people closer to the corps.”

Tom Blair, an Emmy Award winner, producer and Drum Corps International Hall of Fame member has followed Robert’s work and says, “Robert is a natural talent. From his earliest work with Regiment, I have been amazed by how easily he combines great storytelling with an excellent visual sense. His distinctive work has been at the forefront of the drum corps media revolution and Phantom Regiment has been the beneficiary on so many levels.”

When the challenges of the COVID pandemic hit in 2020 and the drum corps season was cancelled, Robert, along with now board vice-president Robin Lanning, was a key player in the inaugural Phan-a-Thon, a 24-hour telethon featuring live and pre-recorded content that would become the single largest fund-raising day in Phantom Regiment history: $108,000.

“Robert has made organization-defining contributions that have fundamentally strengthened Phantom Regiment’s ability to fulfill its mission. His impact on Phantom Regiment’s stability, growth, and brand strength firmly merits his induction into the Phantom Regiment Hall of Fame,” said board president Jeff Hassan in his letter supporting Robert’s nomination.

And in his supporting letter, tour director Joe Taylor said, “For more than 15 years, Robert has given his time, creativity, leadership, and personal sacrifice to Phantom Regiment. His contributions are measurable in revenue, growth, and brand strength. But they are equally visible in his loyalty, calm under pressure, and deep commitment to the success of the corps.”

When he’s not helping Phantom Regiment, which is nearly all the time, Robert lives in Crystal Lake, Ill., with his wife, Dana, and son, Colton.

KERRY KNODLE, who was nominated by Phantom Regiment Alumni Association president Neely Brooks, was a key to the corps’ competitive success in the late 1980s and early 1990s and later spearheaded the formation of Phantom Regiment’s local percussion ensemble, Rockford Rhythm.

Kerry first got involved with Phantom Regiment in 1983 as a housing parent and then as a volunteer at camp. He became assistant director when hall of famer Ron Schulz was corps director. When David St. Angel was named corps director before the 1989 season, he joined an outstanding team of tour directors that guided the corps around the country. His role was to get the members and staff from city to city safely and efficiently and manage all aspects of the corps on the road. It was a job at which he excelled.

In her letter of nomination, Brooks said, “Kerry has been a lifelong advocate for youth development. His professional background in community education allowed him to view the Regiment not just as a corps, but as an educational institution. He was a driving force behind Rockford Rhythm, ensuring that the values of the Regiment – discipline, teamwork, and musical excellence – were accessible to local youth and deeply rooted in our home city.”

In his supporting letter, hall of famer John Baumgartner said Kerry’s leadership as a tour director helped ensure that Phantom Regiment’s standards remained high while the logistical health of the corps remained stable in what would become a landmark year for the organization. Baumgartner was one of those tour directors who worked closely with Kerry for many years. Kerry’s no-nonsense approach to tour management and strong relationships with the volunteer staff were critical to the corps’ tremendous success during that time.

After a few years away, he was elected to the board of directors and, in 2000, was the leader of possibly the board’s first formal retreat. Not afraid to challenge the status quo, he spearheaded the sessions that had the board taking a serious look at itself and what it needed to do to get back on track after financial troubles almost caused the organization to shut down in 1999.

He is a Northern Illinois native and has been entrenched in the Rockford community for decades. After working as a probation officer, he founded Comprehensive Community Solutions in 1992. CCS focused on transforming neighborhoods and communities, and started the YouthBuild Rockford program, which built more than 100 units of affordable housing in Rockford. He led CCS for nearly 30 years. Additionally, he has been a member of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra percussion section since 1983, currently serving as principal percussionist.

Kerry retired from CCS in 2018. However, his involvement in the community and desire to help people improve their lives continues to this day.

“Kerry has been a loyal supporter of our mission for decades, and his selfless service behind the scenes is exactly what we look for in a Hall of Fame member,” Baumgartner said in his supporting letter.

An additional letter of support was written by hall of famers Bill and Linda Riebock. Both were volunteers with Phantom Regiment when Kerry was a tour director.

The purpose of the Phantom Regiment Hall of Fame is to honor those who have made a significant, long-lasting, and positive impact on the Phantom Regiment organization. The inductees will be honored with a private dinner followed by a public induction ceremony and celebration July 2 at Prairie Street Brewing Company in Rockford. Nominations are accepted in February of each year. More information and a full list of inductees can be found at HERE.

The Hall of Fame induction will be part of the annual Show of Shows Homecoming Party starting at 7:30 p.m. July 2. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $25 (the price will be $5 more at the door). The cost includes a variety of appetizers as well as soft drinks, iced tea and lemonade. There will be a cash bar for alcoholic beverages.

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