Aylmer K Nichols III
Sept 28, 1964 - Dec 17, 2002

Al Nichols, long time drum corps and color guard member, instructor and judge lost his long battle with HIV/AIDS.

Some of his accomplishments include being a marching member of the Troopers as a baritone in 1982 and 1983 and the Madison Scouts - baritone in 1984; flag - 85, 86. He was acted as the guard captain in 86 when he aged out . He also marched with the State Street Review color guard in 85 .

His instructor credits were: Sundowners (writer/director) - 87-97 , Tapestry (writer/director) - 95-00 , Winston Churchill HS - 00-01 , Walton HS - 99-02 Blue Stars (guard, caption head, program coordinator) - 91-95, 98-00 and the Americanos (caption head) - 96-97 . Al also worked with Stepperettes, Sunshine Review, Lake Central HS, Marion Catholic HS, Jonesboro HS and many others. He served on the Board of Directors - Midwest Colorguard Circuit and judged winter guard, drum corps and marching band throughout the midwest, west coast and southeast regions. He was inducted as a WGI judge in the summer of 2001 . He later moved out to San Francisco in 1999 and became the Event and Volunteer Coordinator for the San Francisco Gay Mens Chorus.

There will be a memorial service for Al in San Francisco, CA in the summer of 2003 at the AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park.

Al was instrumental in establishing the "Shea Preston Memorial Scholarship" for performers in the Midwest Colorguard Circuit. This scholarship is very different than the rest in that it does not stipulate that the winner attend a college or university. It asks that she or he continue to be dedicated to the art of dance or colorguard through membership in a performance ensemble or participation in a dance program or class.