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Victor Faber started his baton twirling career in 1937 under the instruction of Richard “Dick” Dougherty of Findlay, Ohio.
Faber was the Twirling Drum Major for the following Bands: Farm Bureau Band; Findlay High School Band; Ralph D. Cole Post #3 American Legion, and The Ohio University Bobcat Band.
After receiving superior ratings and championships in state, state, tri-state and national programs he went on to collect a silver medal at the Chicagoland Music Festival, hosted by the Chicago Tribune. He also won third place at the St. Louis National V.F.W. Competition. In 1949, he won the coveted Gold Medal Award in the University of Michigan Bands National Collegiate Twirling Championship.
Juggling Act
Faber entered show business and worked as a clown and a baton twirling juggling act. He worked a show with Henny Youngman and was a feature performer with the Hank Williams Show in Columbus, Ohio.
Drum Majorettes of America
In 1947, he started a baton twirling club called, Drum Majorettes of America. He designed the score sheets for twirling, strutting and best appearing. Later, the strutting was divided into fancy strutting with a fancy type uniform and military strutting with a military type uniform and military bearing. In addition, there were score sheets for other events designed by Faber, such as duets, small teams, majorette drill teams, majorette show teams and majorette corps. Also, along with twirling and strutting they also had a talent and modleing portion. Twice a year we would have a finials type of program that would let them compete for the grand title.
World Twirling Association
In 1960, following a teaching trip to Hawaii, Faber started the World Twirling Association (WTA). He left his mark on the sport of baton twirling and is know far and wide for his efforts. Interestingly enough, he is the only person ever in this field to lead a baton twirling organization that was a champion baton twirler. A true pioneer in this field, Faber’s leadership was creative and encouraging.
Faber retired in 1980 and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. He died in 2008.
G. Victor Faber Obituary
Dec. 20, 1924 – May 15, 2008 // G. Victor Faber, 83, of Brooksville, Fla., died Thursday at East Pasco Hospice Care Center in Dade City, Fla. Born Dec. 20, 1924, in Findlay, he was the son of Francis and Jennie L. Faber. On Dec. 5, 1951, he married C. Elayne Yant, who survives.
He founded the first baton twirling association, Drum Majorettes of America, in May of 1948, and the World Twirling Association in 1960. These organizations still live on, as does Faber Trophy of Napoleon, which he also founded. He was honored in 1999 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., as the founding father of baton twirling.
He is also survived by two daughters, Vicki E. (Tim) Boyers of Wesley Chapel, Fla., and Lana J. Faber of Las Vegas.; two sisters, Norma Fletcher and Edith Faber, both of Sun City, Ariz.; a brother, Francis “Hank” of Reno, Nev.; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
