Tommy Logan

Corps: Simcoe Royal Blues, Simcoe United Alumni, Optimists Alumni

– February 28, 2024

Tommy Logan passed away on February 28, 2024, after a battle with cancer. Tommy started his drum corps career with the Simcoe Royal Blues in 1966 along with his dad Earl. I met Tommy and Earl in 1970 when they played in Burlington Commanders, they were inseparable. When Commanders folded, Tommy and Earl continued as spectators by attending many DCA contests. In 1999 Tommy along with Robert Judd and other interested parties started United Alumni in Simcoe. Tommy was instrumental in getting funding for the instrumentation for the start-up venture. He would go on acquiring the necessary funding for whatever was needed on “his guarantee for repayment”. He joined the Optimists Alumni where we reconnected while still with Simcoe. When Gord Lefevre, Mike Thys and I left Optimists Alumni, Tommy wanted to know if we had an interest in Simcoe. He invited us down and we stayed for two years. Tommy was ecstatic and we had great times together. Tommy told me years later that he was really nervous that we would not show up after telling people we were coming down, what he didn’t know was that we were nervous wondering how we would be received. It all went well.

Tommy was a real go-getter he had a vision to bring the Alumni Corps to Simcoe with no fees. Along with Rob and the executive of Simcoe Alumni, they started The Bands Played On, an annual event of Drum Corps entertainment that saw $60,000 raised over the years for the Simcoe Lions Club. He even convinced Mighty St. Joe’s to cross the border for the event, at no cost. Fundraising, organizing trips or just social functions Tommy was a quiet and sometimes not-so-quiet dynamo. To be with Tommy was to be in the company of a Drum Corps historian, critic and aficionado. His long list of friends loved Tommy as did his wife Trish and their blended families. His 70th birthday was held last fall, Roz and I felt honoured to share that day with Tommy, Rob Judd, Len Adley Kevin Matthews and many of Tommy’s friends and family. I think I’m safe in saying on behalf of many; “thanks Tommy for all the good times and our friendships”.

Peace be with you, my friend. (from Doug MacKenzie)

Tommy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . We Remember!