The General Butler Vagabonds were formed in 1966 by Andrew Yaracs, Leo Burgess and Alex Shott.

Burgess and Yaracs wanted to find an activity that would allow them to be closer to their sons, Burgess said in a 1986 Butler Eagle article on the marching group’s 20th anniversary. They decided to form a drum and bugle corps, borrowing $5,000 to buy drums, bugles, uniforms and flags.

Initially, the Vagabonds was an all-boys organization. The name was selected by the boys themselves and proved an inspiration for the corps logo, a happy marching bum beating a drum.

Rehearsing in Yaracs’ garage and wearing maroon and black uniforms with their own white tennis shoes, the Vagabonds by the summer of 1966, in the words of Burgess in the 1986 article, “hit every firemen’s parade in Western Pennsylvania and won first place in the first 13 starts. We weren’t out for glory, we were out for money!”

With each win, more boys joined. Two school buses were acquired and later a garage.

The 110-member Vagabonds engaged in international competition and built the Vagabond Center.

In 1971, girls were welcomed into the organization.

The Vagabonds have been Class A U.S. Open National champions three times, won the VFW and American Legion State Parade championships and played at Pirates and Steelers games.