To commemorate Pride Month and celebrate the life and legacy of Warren Bass, The Vintage Twirler is releasing this Special Edition commemorative sticker.
This exclusive collectible sticker is available FREE to members of the Baton Twirling Preservation Society. Membership is just $5 per month, and every dollar helps preserve baton twirling history through original research, archival subscriptions, digitization projects, and the printing of commemorative materials.
About Warren Bass
Warren Bass was one of the most accomplished feature twirlers of his era. During the early 1960s, he performed as the University of Missouri’s feature twirler, entertaining thousands of football fans with a style that combined athletic skill, precision and showmanship. At a time when opportunities for Black performers were still limited, Bass earned one of the most visible positions in college marching bands.
His story is also an important reminder that Black baton twirlers have always been part of the history of the sport, even if their contributions have too often gone unrecognized. Preserving those stories is one of the reasons The Vintage Twirler exists.
In 1964, Mizzou Alumni magazine published a feature on Bass titled, “Warren Bass Goes Marching On.” I couldn’t think of a more fitting headline to revisit more than 60 years later. While his performances belong to another era, his legacy continues to inspire baton twirlers, marching band members and historians who are working to preserve the history of baton twirling.
Despite my AIDS advocacy work, I know there are more appropriate people to create a quilt panel for Bass. But they haven’t done it yet and I’ve decided to move forward with it on my own. If anyone would like to help me or share ideas for the panel design please reach out to me.
AIDS Panel in Memory of Warren Bass
In honor of Warren’s life and legacy, The Vintage Twirler is announcing the creation of an AIDS Memorial Quilt panel in his memory.
I first wrote about Bass two years ago in June 2023, and mentioned in that post that Bass didn’t have a panel. I have thought about this many times since I first searched the quilt for his name.
Over the last 30 years, I have written about the AIDS Crisis many times, first as a professional journalist and later, on my blog, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Generation X. A year ago, I finally wrote about losing Tommy (1965-2007). Last August, I wrote a post about the life and death of Krista Blake (1972-1994). I was honored to have that post shared widely by the AIDS Memorial on Facebook and Instagram.
Through my public relations consultancy, I represent Guiding Right, a Black health organization in Oklahoma City that provides HIV and AIDS testing, counseling and prevention. I feel extremely blessed to be chosen for this work.
Despite my interest in AIDS stories, I know there are more appropriate people to create a quilt panel for Bass. But they haven’t done it yet and I’ve decided to move forward with it on my own. If anyone would like to help me or share ideas for the panel design please reach out to me.
AIDS Memorial Quilt
The AIDS epidemic claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, including countless artists, performers, musicians and athletes. In response, friends and families began creating memorial panels that became the AIDS Memorial Quilt, one of the largest community art projects ever created. Each panel tells the story of a life that mattered and ensures that person will not be forgotten.
Pride Month is a fitting time to remember Warren Bass. It is a month of celebration, but it is also a time to reflect on the lives lost during the AIDS crisis.
