Rob Thatcher has spent the past 25 years involved in Drum Corps, and for more than half of that time he has been involved with the Bushwackers. Rob began his career in the Quad line in 1993.  Never one to be content, Rob has joked that he was finally sure he’d made the line as they took the field for Finals.  He stuck with Bush for the next two years and then marched his ageout with the Crossmen.  From there he began teaching & writing for the Skyliners from 1997-2001, and then taught Jersey Surf in 2002-2003.
That would have been a solid 10 year Drum Corps career that many would be happy with.  But as we said before, Rob has never been content.  He returned back to the beginning, coming to rejoin Bush as a marching member.  He brought with him a veteran Quad Line, and recruited his brother to join the snare line.  From that point forward, Rob was a driving force in the Percussion section for the next ten years. As a marching member, everyone looked to him as though he were on Staff, and he stepped up to take that responsibility.  In 2007, he became the Quad Tech, and then was promoted to Caption Head in 2010, and eventually Battery Arranger in 2012-2014.  Through all of those years, he also marched in the line when needed, usually on quads, but also in the Pit, or even filling in on Bass Drum.  Whatever it took to make the corps better.
That would have been a solid 10 year Drum Corps career that many would be happy with.  But as we said before, Rob has never been content.  He returned back to the beginning, coming to rejoin Bush as a marching member.  He brought with him a veteran Quad Line, and recruited his brother to join the snare line.  From that point forward, Rob was a driving force in the Percussion section for the next ten years. As a marching member, everyone looked to him as though he were on Staff, and he stepped up to take that responsibility.  In 2007, he became the Quad Tech, and then was promoted to Caption Head in 2010, and eventually Battery Arranger in 2012-2014.  Through all of those years, he also marched in the line when needed, usually on quads, but also in the Pit, or even filling in on Bass Drum.  Whatever it took to make the corps better.
Rob was a master at dealing with people.  He always knew what to say to inspire the members, or calm you down when you were frustrated.  He could defuse almost any conflict.  And though he would push you and work your ass off, his criticism was always delivered with biting humor that would keep things enjoyable.  Everyone was excited for Rob to run a rehearsal, even the brass, because you knew that not only were you going to get better, but you were going to have fun doing it.
Perhaps the most important thing about Rob, and his influence on the corps, was his constant push forward, never allowing anything to slow us down. The Bushwackers are about overcoming adversity, and Rob would embody that idea.  No matter what obstacle presented itself, it was never an excuse to not get better. If you were taught by, or taught with Rob, you finished that season better than you began it.  Not only a better musician, but a better person.
Perhaps the most important thing about Rob, and his influence on the corps, was his constant push forward, never allowing anything to slow us down. The Bushwackers are about overcoming adversity, and Rob would embody that idea.  No matter what obstacle presented itself, it was never an excuse to not get better. If you were taught by, or taught with Rob, you finished that season better than you began it.  Not only a better musician, but a better person.