Dover High School graduate, Clayton Callender, was named head drum major for the Ohio State University Marching Band for the 2023-2024 football season. Callender was a member of the Dover Tornadoes Marching Band and was named drum major his junior and senior years. He is the first ever Dover graduate to be named drum major at the Ohio State University. The Dover community could not be more proud of what Clayton has accomplished, and he even came back to Dover on Saturday, October 5th to perform alongside the Dover Marching Tornadoes at the Dover band show. The crowd was screaming with joy for the 2022 Dover graduate, and many of the people in the stands came up to Callender afterward to congratulate him and tell him how proud they were of him.

Callender commented on his experience so far by saying, “Being the head drum major has been a dream of mine for a very long time now, and so far it’s been everything I could’ve asked for and more. My favorite part is running down the ramp during our traditional pregame and hearing the crowd roar as soon as I become visible to them. I also love getting the opportunity to make people’s day by taking pictures and talking with them any chance that I get. I love representing Dover as well. It gives me a lot of pride that I am the first Drum Major out of the 65 that have come through Ohio State to come from Dover. Every time someone yells “Go Dover” or anything about Tuscarawas County while I am marching in the band, it fills me with great pride knowing that I am making those who impacted my life so much for the first 18 years of my life proud.” 

Good luck to Clayton Callender for the rest of the 2023-2024 football season at the Ohio State University! Dover is so proud of your accomplishments and knows you will continue to make a difference!