William ‘Wild Bill’ Hooton began his drum corps career with Tioga Legion Post in 1931. He began as a bugle player, but soon switched to snare drum. He eventually became drum major while continuing with the snare drum. In 1936, he joined Street Post Junior Drum and Bugle Corps as drum major. He won several individual rudimental snare drum contests during this time. World War II intervened and he served on PT boats. When he returned from service, he joined the newly reformed Street Post Senior Drum and Bugle Corps as drum major. One of the former members of Street Post, Corporal Frederick W. Reilly died during the war and a new senior drum corps, The Reilly Raiders, was formed in 1946 to honor him. Russell Murphy, the musical director of the Glenside Concert Corps became Reilly’s arranger and brass instructor. Bill became one of Murphy’s pupils and began to arrange music for Reilly while also teaching the drill and performing as drum major. The Reilly Raiders won seven national championships and 16 Pennsylvania state titles and remain the only senior corps in the United States to claim the distinctive honor of winning both the American Legion and V.F.W. national championships. They were proclaimed the 1950 Corps of the Decade by the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame. From 1946 to 1959, Reilly Raiders entered 129 contests, recording 90 first place finishes, 31 second places and eight third places. During this time, he also arranged and instructed drill for other corps. He taught Pittsburgh Rockets, Milton Keystoners, Liberty Bell, Interstatesmen, Belles of St. Mary’s, Little Flower, and many others. In 1960, he left Reilly and became drill instructor and drum major for the New York Skyliners. In 1962, he joined the Yankee Rebels as drill arranger/instructor and marched with the Rebels as one of their drum majors. A work-related move to Detroit ended his association with the Rebels in 1965. He moved east when he retired. Following his induction, he was named administrator for the Hall of Fame, a position he held until his death in 1998.
