Tony Odello, Sr.
He was born on December 1, 1919 in Berkeley, California to his Italian immigrant parents.
In 1942 Tony was drafted into the United States Army. He served in active combat in World War II at the rank of tech sergeant and was a Sherman Tank Driver. He was a part of the D-Day Invasion in June 1944 and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. He was decorated with the European African Middle Eastern Ribbon and with the Bronze Star.
After the war Tony returned to Concord where his parents were forced to relocate during the war because of their immigrant status.
In 1947 he married Anna Oreglia whom he had known all of her life.
In 1950 they bought their home on David Court and began raising their children - Annette, Rick & Tony Jr.
In 1957 Tony & Ann Odello took over the Martinettes Drum Corps, in which their daughter Annette was a member. They changed the name creating the Concord Blue Devils Drum Corps. Their sons Rick & Tony Jr soon joined first as banner boys and then as drummers. Years later when Jerry Seawright took over running the corps Tony became very involved in transportation for the Blue Devils. He drove A corps throughout the country on tour, he also drove the twirling corps throughout the west coast. He trained drivers for the Blue Devils including his son Rick's future inlaw, Frank Milina. He maintained the busses and the trucks, and in those early years that was a huge undertaking. Money was hard to come by so the vehicles were not the best but needed to last.
Both Tony & Ann were in attendance when the Blue Devils Twirling Team, Devils Advocate, won their first World Title in Milan, Italy.
Upon retirement Tony & Ann enjoyed cheering on their four grandsons- Ryan, Adam, Ricky & Andrew, as they all were drummers in the Blue Devils starting in the C Corps then the B Corps & finally members of the A Corps.
In November of 2008 Tony & Ann celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. That December Tony turned 89 years old. Tony passed away on March 17th 2009.
In 1942 Tony was drafted into the United States Army. He served in active combat in World War II at the rank of tech sergeant and was a Sherman Tank Driver. He was a part of the D-Day Invasion in June 1944 and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. He was decorated with the European African Middle Eastern Ribbon and with the Bronze Star.
After the war Tony returned to Concord where his parents were forced to relocate during the war because of their immigrant status.
In 1947 he married Anna Oreglia whom he had known all of her life.
In 1950 they bought their home on David Court and began raising their children - Annette, Rick & Tony Jr.
In 1957 Tony & Ann Odello took over the Martinettes Drum Corps, in which their daughter Annette was a member. They changed the name creating the Concord Blue Devils Drum Corps. Their sons Rick & Tony Jr soon joined first as banner boys and then as drummers. Years later when Jerry Seawright took over running the corps Tony became very involved in transportation for the Blue Devils. He drove A corps throughout the country on tour, he also drove the twirling corps throughout the west coast. He trained drivers for the Blue Devils including his son Rick's future inlaw, Frank Milina. He maintained the busses and the trucks, and in those early years that was a huge undertaking. Money was hard to come by so the vehicles were not the best but needed to last.
Both Tony & Ann were in attendance when the Blue Devils Twirling Team, Devils Advocate, won their first World Title in Milan, Italy.
Upon retirement Tony & Ann enjoyed cheering on their four grandsons- Ryan, Adam, Ricky & Andrew, as they all were drummers in the Blue Devils starting in the C Corps then the B Corps & finally members of the A Corps.
In November of 2008 Tony & Ann celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. That December Tony turned 89 years old. Tony passed away on March 17th 2009.