Orlando Suttles

Inducted: 2012 (deceased)

Starting with the Flint Northern High School Marching Band in the mid-seventies, and then the Flint Guardsmen and Saginaires Drum and Bugle Corps, and Royale Marque, Orlando Suttles spent most of his life in this activity. He was a member of Studio One in the 80’s, and taught there as well as Linden HS and many other highly successful programs. He later took over and brought new levels of excellence to the Michigan State University guard programs, including the highly successful State of Art Winter Guard. Orlando traveled as a judge to many areas of the country, making it through the WGI Judges Academy in just two short years, and judging championships at both the state and national levels. He was very active as a clinician, and gave freely of his time to help train many adjudicators and instructors. He impacted hundreds of students as an instructor, and thousands more as a judge. The ability to travel outside of one’s own boundaries can be met with challenges, but Orlando was able to confront them and broaden his own horizons to positively affect everyone around him.