The Glassmen were founded in 1961 as the Maumee Suns, a parade corps. After changing the corps’ name to the Glass City Optimists to honor its new hometown of Toledo, the “Glass Capital of the World”, the corps adopted its current name in 1971. Glassmen hold the distinction of being the only unit in Drum Corps International history to have improved its placement 10 years in a row, from 31st to 8th place in 1995. In 1993, the corps broke into the Drum Corps International World Championship Finals for the first time.
The Glassmen were founded in 1961 as the Maumee Suns, a parade corps. After changing the corps’ name to the Glass City Optimists to honor its new hometown of Toledo, the “Glass Capital of the World”, the corps adopted its current name in 1971. Glassmen hold the distinction of being the only unit in Drum Corps International history to have improved its placement 10 years in a row, from 31st to 8th place in 1995. In 1993, the corps broke into the Drum Corps International World Championship Finals for the first time.
