1980s

With membership exceeding 300, the Marching Chiefs performed at Ohio State University. Manley Whitcomb conducted the combined bands in the National Anthem, which Dr. Shellahamer described as the “ultimate experience.” That same year, alumnus David Westberry became The Voice of the Marching Chiefs.

Sports Illustrated featured the Marching Chiefs in an eight-page picture essay in which it declared that “Florida State occasionally may lose a football game, but never a halftime show” (December 6, 1982). Dr. James Croft added the traditional end-of-the-year PRISM Concert included in the annual Tri-State Band Festival and Conducting Conference. 

After completing his two-year doctoral studies at Ohio State, Dr. Shellahamer returned to FSU, where Andre Arrouet had served as Interim Director in his absence. That same year, the Marching Chiefs performed alongside the University of Florida Band at Super Bowl XVIII in Tampa, Florida.

The Marching Chiefs reached another milestone in 1988, when membership surpassed 400 students, thus making the Chiefs the world’s largest collegiate marching band.

Robert Sheldon took over as Director and adopted the uniforms that the Chiefs wore through the 2000 season. That same year, an effort was spearheaded by several students to officially dedicate the Marching Chiefs’ field as the Manley Whitcomb Memorial Field, Home of the Marching Chiefs. Their labors bore fruit later in 1992.