Color Guard 1964-1965
Drum Line 1966-1971
Corps' Director 1972-1974

In the fall of 1964, Pete came to the Sunrisers from the Miraculous Medal Orbits as a 14 year old high school sophomore. His gig was tenor drum. His problem, like so many other young drummers that came to us in 1964, was a talented and well established tenor line consisting of Donald Jenkins, Bobby “Shoes” Files, Eddie Albecht and Billy Cobham. So, Pete did what so many others have done, he joined the colorguard until a spot in the drum line opened up. It was there that Pete established himself as one most likely to succeed as an Animal. Pete's huge grin and quick wit kept the entire corps entertained. One can safely say that some of his comic dissertations bordered on the insane. Consequently, in 1968 he was voted Animal of the Year.

But Pete's participation wasn't all fun and games. He practiced tirelessly to improve his playing skills, spending hours studying and duplicating the workouts of the drum line. It was no surprise when, in 1966, he auditioned for and was accepted into the tenor line with Cobham, Files and Steve Paynter where he excelled. In the years that followed he mastered stick tenor, double tenor and triple tenor and always with a smile on his face.

As time passed, Pete started looking beyond the rim of his drum and in 1972 took over the corps as Director until family issues made it necessary for him to leave the corps. Pete Hayes gave the better part of his teenage life and young adulthood to the Sunrisers. He was the walking example of Sunrisers' “Espirit de Corps,” always on time and ready to work with a smile on his face and always arriving with a carload of people. Pete was a tireless recruiter and an excellent judge of talent and his work ethic and unflagging loyalty to the Sunrisers was an inspiration to all that marched with him. This winter when Pete joined us at the Sun Reunion Ensemble he brought that “Can Do” spirit with him. His hands may be a little slower but his Sunrisers' Spirit is just as strong as it was in 1964 and just as inspiring.

It is only fitting that we finally recognize another of our unsung heros, and induct Peter M. Hayes into the Sunrisers' Hall of Fame, Class of 2010.