ALUMNI WEEKEND Right: Members of the Class of 1975 enjoy Saturday’s football game at Alumni Field. Below: Members of the Class of 1970 escape to the shade on a beautiful, sunny day on campus.
Right: The lawn of Battle House was decked out with a delicious luncheon for alumni and their families. 20
Thanks to the efforts of many alumni volunteers, staff, and cherished faculty, the 2021 Alumni Weekend was a great success. The gloom of having to cancel last year’s alumni events lifted as dozens of Barons from many graduating classes filled the lawns, shared stories, reminisced, cheered the football team, and paid tribute to classmates. The weekend kicked off on Friday afternoon with a kickoff as the Barons varsity football team took the field to play North Cross of Roanoke. Alumni enjoyed the beautiful weather and tailgating along the fence at Alumni Field. Following the game, the Baron faithful gathered at McKenry Terrace to recognize the 1994 State Champion football team. We were delighted to have team coaches present: Defensive Coordinator Carl Frye, Line Coach Eric Gauss, Scout Bill Ramsey ’82, and Head Coach Don Woodward. The players were represented by Team Captain Dan Frye ’95. Coach Frye presented Coach Woodward with a commemorative football signed by his fellow coaches. Alumni Leadership Council President Burke Earley ’86 presented a second commemorative football to Coach Frye for his continued support of Baron athletics. Everyone toasted the team with Lost Boy Cider provided by the company’s founder and CEO Tristan Wright ’95.
Because of last year’s unfortunate cancellation, two classes were honored with their 50th Reunion this year. Many alumni from the Classes of 1970 and 1971 were on hand Friday night for cocktails and dinner at Battle House. Headmaster Trip Darrin and Associate Headmaster Franklin Daniels P’23 presented Distinguished Alumnus Awards to Bill Massey ’70, Ben Hiatt ’71, and John Joseph ’70. (See
page 23 for more information about their accomplishments.) Two more alumni were honored: Bill Burruss ’71 received the Baron Fund Spirit Award for his excellent leadership and long tenure as a Class Agent, and Bob Watt ’70 received the Anthony T. Noel ’78 Award for demonstrating a dedication of time, energy, and support to Blue Ridge School and his fellow alumni.
McDonald was about to rack up his second win (followed by golf) before Burke Earley eked out victory by a single clay. Saturday’s luncheon at Battle House, sponsored by the Alumni Council, featured a state of the school address by Burke Early and Parker Perkins ’84, who recognized the outstanding efforts of key alumni and invited Will Scipio ’02, Tim Bennett ’76, and Cary Justice ’90 to serve on the Alumni Council. Saturday afternoon, the Class of 1990 gathered in Morris Courtyard for a toast of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. The outstanding duo of Lee Shore ’90 and Cary Justice ’90 were recognized by Baron Fund Director Cathy Boyd for their continual excellence with the Baron Fund Spirit Award. They also received the Anthony T. Noel ’78 Award given to those who have dedicated their time and energy to support their fellow alumni and their alma mater.
Saturday morning, Baron golfers hit the links at Charlottesville’s Meadowcreek Golf Course. The foursome of Brannon Schmidt ’12, Mason Schmidt ’13, Ari McDonald ’10, and Sarah McDonald birdied 8 holes in a row on the back nine to clinch top honors for the day. Mason Schmidt also nabbed Closest to the Pin on the par 3 9th hole and former BRS staff J.C. Ignaszewski won the Longest Drive Challenge with a 300 yard shot on the par 4 16th hole. Tony Lewis ’06 won the Best Dressed Award, while Ed Diggs ’91 and his son Gabriel won the BRS Spirit Award and the Beach Award, respectively. The competition continued back on campus with the inaugural Five Stand Shooting Tournament at Rymer Range. Ari
The final event of Alumni Weekend was a memorial service held in Gibson Memorial Chapel on Sunday morning. Those gathered remembered classmates and former faculty members who have passed away. In addition to the alumni present, attendees included several former faculty and their spouses such as Paul and Gail Fehlner, Carl and Nancy Frye, John Young, Jim Niederberger, Phil and Claudia Clark, John and Abigail James, Jo McKeown and Bill Henry, Rodney and Carol Rullman, and Jerry Jared. Thank you to all of the alumni who make the trip back to The Ridge this year; we can’t wait to see you again soon. If you were not able to attend, please know that you are always welcome back on campus. Stop by any time! 21
