Connecticut Hurricanes Hall of Fame

Bill Duquette came to the Hurricanes in 1970 and played contra in those stellar horn lines of the early ‘70'’s, through 1973. Subsequent to his playing career, he returned to the Corps as it's Director and Asst. Drum Major, 1980-1984. He immediately outfitted the Corps with new uniforms and made key additions to an already excellent staff, resulting in some very competitive years, including winning the DCA Championship in 1981. Bill was once again active as the Administrative Head and staff coordinator for 1990- 92’ and once again was an integral part in quickly guiding them back to prominence in the wake of some subpar seasons. He was named “Hurricane of the Year” for 1992. In 2011 Bill became the Webmaster for the Hurricanes and beginning in 2012, he assumed a position as an Advisor to the Board of Directors.

By way of experience, Bill'’s drum corps career began in 1957 with Bridgeport’s PAL Cadets. He played baritone and later contra bass with the PAL through 1968. He has served as a marching instructor for such corps as the Connecticut Classics, New London Surfers and Notre Dame’s ND-Ettes, as well as the Bunnell High School Marching Band. Additionally, Bill has served as Director of The Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps of Georgia and as Co-Director for the Park City Pride in its inaugural year of 2003.

Jim Dugan Sr.* gained notoriety across Connecticut not simply as a popular, dynamic Hurricane, but rather through the many hundreds of people he imparted such positive influence on as a percussion instructor in the 60’'s and 70'’s. Jim'’s introduction to drum corps came in his youth when he joined the Bradford Manor Corps in East Haven. He would later join the Connecticut Yankees, where he honed his skills under the great Earl Sturtz, from 1956 through 1959. In 1960 Jim came to the Hurcs and for the next eleven years exemplified the relentless pursuit of excellence that characterized and defined the Hurricanes of the 60’'s.

Jim arranged and taught for several corps including the Connecticut Classics, the Shoreliners, Surfers, Oxford Explorers, Centuriens, Seymour Vanguards, as well as St. Aedan’'s Emerald Cadets. On the senior scene he taught the Connecticut Yankees (’'70-'’71), RI. Matadors (’'77-'’78), Hurricanes ('’79) and the Connecticut Alumni ('’84-'’90).

Ray Fallon came to the Hurricanes in 1979 as the brass arranger; brass caption head, and instructor. He continued in that capacity until 1982, then again from 1985 –to 1989, and for a short time in the early 1990’'s. He not only assumed these roles, but did so with relish. Ray simply took ownership of his horn line and drove them towards excellence, not only through his expertise, but with energy and tenacity. Under his tutelage, the Hurricanes won the DCA championship title in 1981 and contended for it in 1980 and 1982. He wrote the famous Magnificent 7 solo that has assumed it's place as part of the Hurricane's identity to this day, as well as countless other memorable musical arrangements.

Ray’'s introduction to drum corps and passion for music was born in 1960, at age 8, when he joined the Oceanside Legionaires on Long Island, where he played through 1969. His drum corps career was put on hold for a hitch with the US Army, but resumed in 1975 when he began marching, as well as writing for the Sunrisers. Ray has also arranged and/or instructed for the following corps including; the Oceanside Legionaires, Herricks Police Boys’ Club, The Medford Grenadiers, The Bayonne Bridgemen, and Bridgemen Alumni Corps, the Shoreliners, Archer-Epler Musketeers, Bengal Lancers, Yankee Rebels, Crossmen, Boston Crusaders, and the Boston Crusaders Alumni Corps, also, the Music Express and Reilly Raiders of Penn. In addition, he has taught many bands including: Ridley Park HS (Pa.), Norwalk HS, Naugatuck HS, and East Lyme HS in Connecticut.

Ray received a Bachelor of Music from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and has studied Music Competition with David Patterson, Ph.D. Harvard.

He has also served as an adjudicator for music as a member of the National Judges Association, and CMBC. He is a member of the Sunrisers Hall of fame as well as the Buglers Hall of Fame.