So the sad news is below. Other than taking that in, I'm doin pretty good.
SPOILERS! (Click to view)
Richard E. Otto, 65, strutting drum major for Colts band
By Frederick N. Rasmussen
sun reporter
Originally published February 22, 2006
Richard E. Otto, whose high-stepping strut as drum major for the Colts Marching Band entertained football fans at Memorial Stadium for more than two decades, died of leukemia yesterday at his Rodgers Forge home. He was 65.
Standing 6 feet 8 inches, dressed in a white outfit trimmed in blue fringe and wearing a white cowboy hat, Mr. Otto became a memorable figure for those who attended Baltimore Colts football games.
For them, Mr. Otto and the high-stepping move he originated - which he accompanied with a rhythmic pumping of his baton into the air - remain an integral part of memories of the band marching down the field to lively renditions of the Colts fight songs.
"The band would come on the field in the pre-game to a fast cadence with the honor guard and cheerleaders, and once they had gone down the sidelines, Richard would come running out like a bat out of hell and do his famous strut," said John Zieman, former Colts band leader who now directs the Baltimore's Marching Ravens band. "And the crowd would go crazy."
Mr. Otto was born in Baltimore and raised on Ready Avenue in Govans. While a student at Polytechnic Institute, he was the school band's drum major from 1956 until his graduation in 1958. Three years later, he joined the Colts Marching Band and continued performing with it until 1982.
Other duties included singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before games, performing in half-time shows and sometimes filling in as band director.
"He had a very strong voice and performed the national anthem as well as anyone I've ever known. It was musically well-performed," said Art Schmersal, former Colts band director.
"He had such an excellent voice, I always wondered why Dick didn't turn professional," Mr. Zieman said.
"When he joined the band, we could tell right off he knew what he was doing. He was always well-rehearsed and meticulous about his work. He was a giant of a man, and I can still see his legs going way up and then back down," said Martin F. Brusio, a trombone player who started with the band in 1947.
"He was always out front, and when he'd get that baton going, sometimes we were a little worried about getting hit and he'd turn around and say, 'Don't worry, guys, I'm not going to jab you.' And when we made turns or an about-face, you could hear him blow that whistle for miles," he said.
In addition to going on the road and performing when the Colts played in New York, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, the band also played for Fourth of July parades in Dundalk and Towson and at Pimlico Race Course on Preakness Day, where Mr. Otto sang the national anthem before the start of the big race.
Wherever he went, Mr. Otto drew praise for his strut.
"Other drum majors would come to Baltimore to study Richard, and he always had time for them. Also, one of his uniforms was presented to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio," Mr. Zieman said.
In his professional life, Mr. Otto had worked as an account executive for a Washington travel agency and as an automobile salesman. He was a salesman at Dawn's Office Supply from 1982 until 1987, when he became a partner in Chesapeake Office Supply. He left the business in 2004 because of failing health.
Mr. Otto enjoyed eating steamed crabs and sailing the Chesapeake Bay aboard his 24-foot motor cruiser Kristy Mic.
Mr. Otto attended and sang with the choir of University Baptist Church, 3501 N. Charles St., where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Surviving are his wife of 30 years, the former Susan LaCourse; a son, Michael B. Otto of Rodgers Forge; and a daughter, Kristin L. Otto of Abingdon. His marriage to Pat Guirk ended in divorce.
I didn't know him, but it's still sad. I'd been told stories about him so often. Just a good guy, a really good guy.
By Frederick N. Rasmussen
sun reporter
Originally published February 22, 2006
Richard E. Otto, whose high-stepping strut as drum major for the Colts Marching Band entertained football fans at Memorial Stadium for more than two decades, died of leukemia yesterday at his Rodgers Forge home. He was 65.
Standing 6 feet 8 inches, dressed in a white outfit trimmed in blue fringe and wearing a white cowboy hat, Mr. Otto became a memorable figure for those who attended Baltimore Colts football games.
For them, Mr. Otto and the high-stepping move he originated - which he accompanied with a rhythmic pumping of his baton into the air - remain an integral part of memories of the band marching down the field to lively renditions of the Colts fight songs.
"The band would come on the field in the pre-game to a fast cadence with the honor guard and cheerleaders, and once they had gone down the sidelines, Richard would come running out like a bat out of hell and do his famous strut," said John Zieman, former Colts band leader who now directs the Baltimore's Marching Ravens band. "And the crowd would go crazy."
Mr. Otto was born in Baltimore and raised on Ready Avenue in Govans. While a student at Polytechnic Institute, he was the school band's drum major from 1956 until his graduation in 1958. Three years later, he joined the Colts Marching Band and continued performing with it until 1982.
Other duties included singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before games, performing in half-time shows and sometimes filling in as band director.
"He had a very strong voice and performed the national anthem as well as anyone I've ever known. It was musically well-performed," said Art Schmersal, former Colts band director.
"He had such an excellent voice, I always wondered why Dick didn't turn professional," Mr. Zieman said.
"When he joined the band, we could tell right off he knew what he was doing. He was always well-rehearsed and meticulous about his work. He was a giant of a man, and I can still see his legs going way up and then back down," said Martin F. Brusio, a trombone player who started with the band in 1947.
"He was always out front, and when he'd get that baton going, sometimes we were a little worried about getting hit and he'd turn around and say, 'Don't worry, guys, I'm not going to jab you.' And when we made turns or an about-face, you could hear him blow that whistle for miles," he said.
In addition to going on the road and performing when the Colts played in New York, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, the band also played for Fourth of July parades in Dundalk and Towson and at Pimlico Race Course on Preakness Day, where Mr. Otto sang the national anthem before the start of the big race.
Wherever he went, Mr. Otto drew praise for his strut.
"Other drum majors would come to Baltimore to study Richard, and he always had time for them. Also, one of his uniforms was presented to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio," Mr. Zieman said.
In his professional life, Mr. Otto had worked as an account executive for a Washington travel agency and as an automobile salesman. He was a salesman at Dawn's Office Supply from 1982 until 1987, when he became a partner in Chesapeake Office Supply. He left the business in 2004 because of failing health.
Mr. Otto enjoyed eating steamed crabs and sailing the Chesapeake Bay aboard his 24-foot motor cruiser Kristy Mic.
Mr. Otto attended and sang with the choir of University Baptist Church, 3501 N. Charles St., where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Surviving are his wife of 30 years, the former Susan LaCourse; a son, Michael B. Otto of Rodgers Forge; and a daughter, Kristin L. Otto of Abingdon. His marriage to Pat Guirk ended in divorce.
I didn't know him, but it's still sad. I'd been told stories about him so often. Just a good guy, a really good guy.
I'm gonna go try to make Koala's hat again. I'm failing every time, but eventually, it will work damnit.
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
Perhaps when I get a car and some money, I'll take a trip to Cali.
Who knows, I may even forget to come back. Haha.
And that is too bad about the drum major for the Colts marching band. Good luck getting up uber-early for workie tomorrow lovie!