Trotting with the troop

Local News

Related Photos

EASY, BOY: Culver cadet Kord Golliher adjusts the doulbe bit in his mount’s mouth before a practice parade through the academies’ grounds and into town. Golliher is a member of Culver Academies’ Black Horse Troop and will be participating in the inaugural parade today. Photo for the P-T | Deb Saine

Discussion

January 20, 2009

<b>Peru native and Culver cadet mounted for history</b>

by Deb Saine Pharos-Tribune Tue Jan 20, 2009, 10:53 AM EST

CULVER — The command “eyes left” will be barked out by the squadron commander as Culver Academies’ Black Horse Troop and Equestriennes pass the new commander in chief during the presidential inaugural parade.

But instead of saluting President Barack Obama, Kord Golliher’s head will snap sharply to the left in unison with 99 other cadets as a collective gesture of respect.

That’s the moment Golliher, a sophomore, says he is looking forward to the most while he sits astride a black horse named Jet, trotting down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. He’s excited about the fact that he’ll “actually get to see Obama.”

“We won’t be able to salute because we’ll be carrying flags,” said the Peru native, the son of Janice Golliher Clemons and James Golliher, both of Miami County.

After attending North Miami High School in Denver his freshman year, this is Golliher’s first year at Culver. He received one of six distinguished merit scholarships awarded from the Batten Scholars Program.

According to the Culver Web site, the Batten scholarship is a full-tuition, merit scholarship that also includes room and board, required fees, uniforms, and books. The scholarship is renewable annually. Recipients must excel academically, as student leaders and in extracurricular activities.

Although Golliher had only ridden horses a couple of times in his life, he said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join the Black Horse Troop.

“I did it on a whim, to be honest,” he said. “It was like, ‘Where else could I learn to ride horses, travel and do all these great things?’”

Golliher talked it over with his mom, and they decided he shouldn’t pass up such a great opportunity

“He’s said, ‘Mom, I love this,’” said Clemons.

In addition to being a member of the troop, Golliher also takes horsemanship classes twice a week.

Although Golliher started out riding horses with names like Erma, Hershey and Paddington, he was soon doing well enough that his instructor gave him a mount that was “a little harder to ride but more picturesque,” said Golliher.

“It’s better than I expected it to be,” said Golliher, who explained that the troop is an honor guard at the academy, and its members are expected to have the cleanest rooms, get top grades and march at the highest level.

“I love the unit and the unit pride,” he said. “People look up to the troop.”

Fifteen and counting

This will be the 15th time the Black Horse Troop has been invited to participate in an inaugural parade, according to a news release from the Culver Academies. The troop’s first two appearances were in 1913 and 1917 at Woodrow Wilson’s two inaugurations.

Forty years passed before another invitation was extended, this time for Dwight D. Eisenhower’s second inauguration in 1957. This started a string of consecutive appearances at the inaugural parade through 1989. The troop marched again in 1997 at the second inauguration for Bill Clinton.

Culver’s Black Horse Troop made its first formal appearance in 1897, serving as honor guard for then Indiana Governor James Mount at the Grand Army of the Republic Encampment in Richmond.

The Culver Girls’ Academy Equestriennes first appeared at the second inauguration for Ronald Reagan in 1985.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Principal: Lewis Cass student attacked with piece of wood
A Lewis Cass Junior-Senior High School freshman remained hospitalized Friday after being attacked by a classmate with a piece of wood, the school’s principal said.

February 10, 2012
Dancing with dad: 185 fathers and daughters take to dance floor
Robert Kesling remembers eight years ago when he swooped his daughter Anna off her feet and swayed on the dance floor with the young lady that makes his heart melt.

February 10, 2012 3 Photos
Woman suing Cass Area Transit
A woman is suing Cass Area Transit and one of its employees for “erratic” driving she says left her with a broken arm.

February 10, 2012
Delays in cases of clerk-treasurer, man accused of attempted murder
The defendants in two notable court cases had hearings Thursday, but issues in both required them to be pushed back two months.

February 10, 2012
Former police chief to run for coroner
Former Logansport Police Chief Randy Rozzi filed to run for Cass County coroner Thursday as a Democrat.

February 10, 2012
Daddy/Daughter Valentine Dance
February 9, 2012
Victory worth celebrating: United Way raises more than $600,000 for area organizations
Joe Johnson stood at the front of the room where a “small army” of community leaders had just been recognized for their work in raising more than $600,000 for United Way of Cass County. “Woah,” said the incoming campaign chairman. “This is scary.”

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Accused rapist charged with felony in Arizona
A Logansport man out on bail on multiple sex-related charges was arrested last week in Arizona after police say he tried to attack his dad with a pair of kitchen knives.

February 9, 2012
Jurors: Galveston man not guilty of molest
A jury took only an hour Wednesday to decide that a Galveston man was not guilty of molesting a 9-year-old girl a decade ago.

February 9, 2012
Sen. Head to run for re-election
State Sen. Randy Head announced Wednesday he will seek re-election.

February 9, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Trotting with the troop

<b>Peru native and Culver cadet mounted for history</b>

The Indiana Senate last week approved a bill that would allow public schools to teach creationism in science classes as long as they included origin of life theories from other religions. Would you support such a measure?

Site Map

Contact Us