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TEACHERS TO BE THEIR BEST
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Mark Twain Tonight! Encore! 1/9/15 4:41 PM
Save These 2015 Dates on Your Calendar!
Ethics Day
March 13-15
Career day with a Culver twist!
May 15-17
Alumni Reunion Weekend
Celebrating the “5” and “0” classes
July 17-19
Deck 6 35th Reunion! SUMMER HOMECOMING WEEKEND
Deck 6 Alumni: We need your current contact information,
Join our Facebook page, Culver Summer Schools Deck 6
Visit alumni.Culver.org/deck6reunion
Hockey Reunion
Contact Al Loehr at
alan.loehr@culver.org or (574) 842-8235
.5 New Orlea
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ns
Nov. 13-15
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July 24-26
Join us for the ’70s New Orleans BASH!
Visit alumni.culver.org/70sbash for details
Watch your mailbox for an invitation TM
For more information or to get involved call (574) 842-7200
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Table of Contents SUPPORTING TEACHERS TO BECOME THEIR PERSONAL BEST Developed by the academic administrators, Culver’s observation-based Rank & Promotion System fosters self-awareness and collegiality, providing each instructor the opportunity to become his/her personal best. R&P also aids faculty recruitment and is being shared with other boarding schools.
page 28 Mark Twain Tonight! Encore! Hal Holbrook ’42 performs his one-man show at Culver and leaves with a “remarkable impression” of the school and its students. Read what the actor has to say about his visit and performance before a packed house, which included members of the Class of 1962 who saw his first Culver performance 52 years ago.
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Homecoming 2014: A Memorable Weekend From honoring the donor of a dorm wing and unveiling a new paddock to the gathering of 50-year and Naval Band alumni, 2014 Summer Homecoming Weekend provided a smorgasbord for returning alumni and their guests.
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MISSION
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Departments 2
Letters to the Editor
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Editorial
4 Views & Perspectives 12 Fall Sports Highlights 36 Alumni Class News 44 Culver Clubs International 48 Passings in Review
On Our Cover Culver’s academic administration and department chairs, front to back row, left to right: Cathy Tulungen, Chris Carrillo, and Susan Freymiller; Stephanie Scopelitis, Josh Pretzer, and Lynn Rasch; Dan Davidge, Louise Ericson, and Kathy Lintner; J.D. Uebler, Fred Haase, and Kevin MacNeil; Kurt Christiansen and Nick Counts. For a listing with job titles, see page 30. Photo by Camilo 'Mo' Morales.
Culver educates its students for leadership and responsible citizenship in society by developing and nurturing the whole individual – mind, spirit, body – through an integrated curriculum that emphasizes the cultivation of character. 1/9/15 4:41 PM
Letters An Eagle’s eye The summer issue of the Culver Alumni Magazine is a particularly good one. Lots of great articles and profiles. It has inspired me to more seriously consider attending my 60th reunion next year. Being a longtime vexillologist, I must observe that in the photo on page 50, the finials on the flags are incorrect. First, the eagle atop the Culver flag should be on the U.S. flag. Second, the Culver flag should have a fancy spear (not the army spear that’s on the U.S. flag). Someone wasn’t paying attention! Dr. Jim C. Acheson ’55 Port Huron, Mich.
5 ment 197 Commence
Who's on first? I enjoyed the deja vu photographs on page 33 (Summer 2014) of Rick Sherlock ’76 and Jim Dicke II ’64 swapping congratulatory duties at Iron Gate ceremonies over a 38-year span as presidents of the Culver Legion. But as much as I liked the story, the Legion president in the 1976 photograph welcoming Sherlock as a new alumnus is Thomas Sullivan ’55 and not Jim Dicke. I graduated with Rick in 1976 and know the Sullivan family, initially from being a camper and counselor at Woodcraft Camp. I taught fencing and arts and crafts to several of Sullivan’s sons and I was happy to have that connection to the gentleman offering the handshake on the lakeside of the Iron Gate when I graduated. I met Jim Dicke in the late ’70s when I was active in alumni activities. He has been a great leader and friend to Culver for many years, as well as serving as Legion president, but not in May 1976. Emmett Walsh W’71, ’76 Gulfport, Fla. Editor’s note: Good catch, Emmett! That is Legion President Tom Sullivan W’50, ’55 in the plaid suit greeting 1976 graduate Rick Sherlock. Jim Dicke II ’64 was Legion president in 1975, which happened to be the first year the Graduation Arch was used for Culver Academy for Girls. That graduation ceremony was held on the Eppley Auditorium stage because of the weather. Dicke noticed the error “but didn’t think much of it.” He said via email that he and Sherlock had talked in May about the fact that, as Legion president, Dicke greeted the graduates in Eppley Auditorium. That may have helped merge the memories since Dicke’s 50-year reunion Iron Gate ceremony was also moved to the Eppley stage, with Sherlock serving as Legion president. Regardless, Sherlock noted the significance is what is important: “It’s an interesting twist that Legion presidents greet graduating students coming through the Iron Gate and Arch. Then, those graduates who join the Legion Board and become Legion presidents greet former Legion presidents at the Iron Gate and Arch re-enactment ceremony.”
Volume 91, Issue 1
Winter 2014/2015
Culver (USPS 139-740) is published by The Culver Educational Foundation, 1300 Academy Road, Culver, Indiana 46511-1291. Opinions are those of the authors, and no material may be reproduced without the editor’s written consent. Postmaster, please send change of address notice to Culver Alumni Office, 1300 Academy Road #132, Culver, Indiana 46511-1291. Magazine design by Scott Adams Design Associates of New York City and Columbus, Ohio. Printed and mailed by West-Camp Press, Inc., Westerville, Ohio.
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE Chief Advancement Officer Michael Perry ALUMNI RELATIONS Director Alan Loehr Jr. Legion President Maj. Gen. Richard Sherlock '76 (U.S. Army, Retired) Falls Church, Virginia CSSAA President Susan Ellert SS'85 Culver, Indiana
COMMUNICATIONS Director/Strategic Communications Bill Hargraves III ’77 Editor/Culver Alumni Magazine Director/Publications Doug Haberland Asst. Director/Publications Jan Garrison Website Manager Natasha Lambrechtse
DEVELOPMENT Director Mike Hogan Director/Annual Fund Thomas Mayo ’75
INTERNATIONAL ADVANCEMENT Director Tony Giraldi ’75
Commence ment 1976
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A Word from the Editor Reflections on the keeper of a flame It can be difficult to determine where Mark Twain ends and Hal Holbrook begins. Or, which persona is really providing the thought-provoking commentary and asking the uncomfortable questions that have us thinking about equally uncomfortable answers about ourselves, our society, our world. Holbrook’s performances of Mark Twain Tonight! on the Eppley Auditorium stage in 1962 and in September 2014 are bookends to an unparalleled career. He is an icon in the entertainment industry with a long list of stage, screen, and TV accomplishments. Knowing he is a Culver man, Class of 1942, only adds to our respect and admiration.
By Doug Haberland Editor
In a new documentary, “Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey,” shown at the Academies in advance of Holbrook’s performance, director Scott Teems said Twain gave Holbrook a voice. Through the 19th-century author/humorist, Holbrook has been able to express his own anger and frustrations with humankind and the world around him. The remarkable thing is how relevant Twain’s words are for us today – words that Holbrook has kept alive. The times may have changed, but the mistrust and criticism for government and politicians have not. Twain’s social commentary, humor, and biting satire are not bound by an era. More than a century after Twain we are still wrestling with issues of bigotry and prejudice, intolerance, social injustice, political distrust, lies and deceit, tyranny and despotism.
During a session with theatre students, Holbrook raises some of those issues. “America, land of the free and home of the brave. What are you going to do about it?” he asked. But as Teems observed, if it were the 90-year-old Holbrook doing the talking on stage instead of Twain, who would be listening? Holbrook and Twain have traveled the world together since teaming up in a nightclub in The Village. “Nestled in the curve of a baby grand piano and wearing a wig,” Holbrook told students how he worked six days a week, two or three shows a night for $45 “just to get on stage. To get in front of an audience. To learn.” Launching his one-man show off-Broadway in 1959, Holbrook expected to be killed by the critics. Instead, he was an overnight success. A career was born. He credits Culver for instilling in him the self-discipline to persevere. “I had no one to push me,” Holbrook said. Yet, after all these years, he remains a man in search of himself. “I’m writing books about my life to figure out who I am,” he told students. Ironically, despite coming from a splintered childhood, Holbrook also alienated his own family during his quest of a career. But Teems says there is a trade-off for Holbrook: “He gets so much. He gives so much. He gives you the gift of Twain.” And from it Holbrook has received the gift of family. Culver family. Legions of fans.
Your Thoughts? We want Culver Alumni Magazine to be more interactive with our readers. If you see or read something you like, let us know. If you have a story idea or have a story to tell, we’d like to know that, too.
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Doug Haberland, Editor (574) 842-8365 haberld@culver.org
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Views & Perspectives Giving back is being true to your school
By John N. Buxton Head of Schools
There is the saying about the importance of knowing history so one does not repeat it. I would amend that slightly and offer a corollary: When one does know one’s history, one has the opportunity to repeat it. In 1932 when the Culver family gifted its school to its alumni, they created a document referred to as The Covenant. This covenant was an agreement or compact between the Culver family and the school’s burgeoning alumni body. The Culvers conceived of a relationship where the family would continue to provide leadership and guidance for the school, but the school would actually belong to the alumni. The alumni would take responsibility for the well-being of the school. The Legion Memorial Building had been created just a few years earlier to serve as the “hearthstone” of this symbolic home for all graduates. As some of you know, there were even bunk beds and a bistro built into the Legion Memorial Building. Theirs was a great act of leadership but also an act of love. If we fast forward 70 years to 2002, we find a school once again in need of the leadership and love of its trustee body. This time the trustees are not comprised of the Culver family with their proprietary interest in the school; these trustees are the guardians of a compact to care for and support their school. These trustees represent five decades of the Culver experience, yet they are unified in this single purpose. They are charged with fortifying the Academies to prepare it for the future and to ensure that the school is once again strong enough to be sustained by its alumni. The trustees of The Culver Educational Foundation in 2002 led the By Example
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Campaign. They contributed 70 percent of the $376.2 million raised, and they ensured that Culver would have the foundation it needed to be able to chart its own course successfully. So, in a time when the most significant problems for all secondary schools are board governance and financial sustainability, your and our trustees made the same commitment that the Culvers were envisioning when they made the gift. In some ways the trustees have once again handed the responsibility of supporting Culver back to its alumni. They needed to step in and carry the day, as it were; and now they are helping manage the institution professionally and with a great sense of devotion. We do not often highlight the work of our trustees and our volunteers, but we should. Since the early 1930s, Culver has had extraordinary leadership and service from its volunteer bodies. The CEF Board of Trustees, the Legion Board, the Summer Schools & Camps Alumni Association Board, and the parents (first the Mothers’ and Fathers’ clubs, and now the Culver Parents Board) have served and continue to serve in important ways. They devote untold hours of time thinking about both the strategic mission of the school and the strategic opportunities to improve the school. They devote hours of personal service to ensure that Culver stays on a path of sustainability and growth. They are the guardians of these Academies, and they take their roles seriously. As an example, on the first weekend of October all of our volunteer boards came together to have their fall meetings and, as importantly, to celebrate the Academies with the Live the Legacy Auction. The auction was conceived of 12 years
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ago when our parents board suggested that a good way to raise money for Culver would be to have an auction and invite all of our volunteers and friends. The response to this concept was so positive that we have made it a tradition; but it is so labor intensive that we decided we could do it only every other year. This year our parents board spent their valuable time, their incredible energy, and their personal resources to put together an event that was truly spectacular. All members of Culver’s alumni and parent boards participated fully in the evening, and when the lights went on for the silent part of the auction, over 1,000 people had assembled to support this incredible school. The over 400 items assembled for the silent auction were remarkable.
important concepts for Culver, he asked people to join him in raising their paddles to help build scholarship Two pair of custom-made Culver varsity jackets like those modeled by the opportunities Buxtons sold for $2,400 each at the Live the Legacy Auction 2014. for students. In a matter of tendent and one of its most creative 15 minutes, dozens of people in the room architects. Paul rejoined the board at had joined Miles and together they raised Culver as an accomplished professional nearly $200,000. It was simply awesome. and has stayed as true to the school as his grandfather was. He is another example Seated at the tables around me were of a Culver graduate who had a deep unmany of Culver’s trustees whose personal derstanding of the power of the covenant histories spanned those 70 to 80 years and has embraced it throughout his life. from the time of the original covenant
‘Our alumni serve and support us in a variety of ways, and in doing so are making their school stronger and more sustainable.' When one talks of an embarrassment of riches, the display tables were exactly that. Culver memorabilia, works of art, tickets to games of all the best professional teams in the Midwest, and crafts made by students and parents. The live auction featured trips to exotic places, all donated by alumni and friends, opportunities for access to highly coveted resources at Culver like graduation seating and graduation parking, and the inspiring concept of raising the paddles for scholarships. After Miles White ’73, chairman of the CEF board, explained why access and affordability are such
to that very evening. Jim Henderson’s father was a prominent leadership figure at Culver during the years of the covenant. Col. Henderson was the one responsible for admissions and alumni matters at that time, and Jim and his brothers and sisters grew up on the campus learning what love for and service to an organization is all about. Jim’s record of representing Culver is unparalleled. Not far from him was the man who recently graced the cover of the magazine, Paul Gignilliat ’49. Paul’s grandfather was Gen. Leigh Gignilliat, Culver’s superin-
People say you cannot go home again, but anyone who is a fan of the great game of baseball realizes that the object of the game is to get home. Our Legion board members, our Summer School board members, and our CEF board members have all made that successful trip around the bases. Their object was not only to find their way home, but to realize that it was home and that is was a place worth caring for. Our alumni serve and support us in a variety of ways, and in doing so are making their school stronger and more sustainable. Every year when our students go through the Iron Gate and the Graduation Arch, we remind them that upon graduation Culver becomes their school. I would want to remind you that Culver is your school. We transacted that business over 80 years ago, and I am proud of the fact that so many of you have internalized the message and embraced the opportunity. Thanks for all you do for Culver.
CULVER ALUMNI MAGAZINE
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! D L O SParent-sponsored Live the Legacy Auction nets $713,000
Live the Legacy Auction 2014 lives up to expectations as alumni, parents, and friends of Culver joined forces Oct. 3 to net $713,000 for The Culver Fund, money that supports student scholarships, programs,
Chicago auctioneer Greg ‘The G Man’ Dellinger was a bundle of energy.
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and faculty/staff salaries.
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A capacity crowd of 1,027 people attended the Culver Parents Association-sponsored event in the Henderson Ice Arena during Fall Parents Weekend. Rick ’70 and Patty Jennings (Midland, Texas) were the honorary co-chairs for their years of support and dedication to Culver. Auction co-chairs were parents Tammie Blackman Brown (Granger, Ind.), Cindy Krupp (Mishawaka, Ind.), and Maryann Snyder (Carmel, Ind.). Registered bidders vied for more than 400 items ranging from getaways and vacations to Culver memorabilia and collectables, and from sports memorabilia and tickets to faculty/staff/student offerings. The silent auction raised $140,085 and the live auction – made even livelier thanks to auctioneer Greg “The G Man” Dellinger of Chicago – generated $113,200. The generosity of Culver supporters was perhaps best illustrated by the Raise Your Paddle portion of the auction. In less than 30 minutes $194,950 was raised for student scholarships as 127 individuals made a direct tax-deductible donation at various monetary levels. A fourth of the money raised will benefit summer campers and the balance the Academies’ students. Eight donors got things started at the $10,000 level and another nine anted up $5,000 each. Thirty-seven bidders chimed in with $1,000 apiece, with 42 people contributing $100 per. Dream vacations attracted the highest bids of the evening, led by two in Florence, Italy. The 2015-16 vacation sold for $19,000 while $14,000 was paid for the 2014-15 trip. Two vacations in Acapulco, Mexico, sold for $11,000 each, and a week’s stay at a St. Croix, Virgin Islands, vacation home brought another $11,000. A Best of Live Raffle also gave one lucky person a chance to choose from the live auction items offered. Michelle Lehmann, a current parent from Noblesville, Ind., chose the dining experience at Grace Restaurant in Chicago with a bed and breakfast stay at the Four Seasons. Tickets for the raffle were $100 each or six for $500.
Haberland photo
During the silent auction phase, the winning bid for a week in Aspen, Colo., was $7,200. A glass dodecahedron chandelier sold for $6,000 and a triangular glass chandelier went for $3,500. Both chandeliers were created by Academies’ geometry students and were purchased by the same bidder. In a classic win-win scenario, that winning bidder donated both chandeliers back to the Mathematics Department and the money raised will sponsor future math seminars on campus. Also, during the silent auction, a three-night stay at Bakers Bay Golf and Ocean Club in the Bahamas sold for $6,000 and a man’s Gio Monaco chronograph timepiece generated $5,250.
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Current parent Michelle Lehmann (right) was winner of the Best of Live Raffle. She chose a dining/overnight trip to Chicago. Helping her with her selection are Culver Parents Association Coordinator Julie Barger (left) and Auction Co-Chair Cindy Krupp.
Other auction items worth noting:
• A
full set of 12 1932 Culver dinner plates brought down the hammer at $7,000. The rare black and white plates – which sold new for $15 – had a different Culver image on each plate.
• A
• A
Southern Calendar Fashion Clock No. 2 sold for $5,200. The Southern Calendar Clock Co. was formed by Culver founder H.H. Culver and two brothers in 1875 and existed until the 1890s. The movements were made by the Seth Thomas Clock Company. set of three nested antique tables with hand-painted Culver scenes by Nathan Van de Velde ’15 (Raleigh, N.C.) sold for $3,000.
• Two chances to have a matching pair of varsity jackets made (identical to those modeled by the Buxtons) sold for $2,400 each.
• Two
opportunities to fire a Culver cannon were sold for $2,300 each.
• Two
• Bidders
American Girl dolls, each sporting a handmade CGA outfit, sold for $820 and $520. warmed up to two hockey fire pits to the tune of $670 and $450.
Among the many faculty/staff items donated were a pool party at the home of Troop B counselor Tim Montgomery, a batch of Dr. Erwin’s brownies, and blacksmithing lessons with Math Department Chair Nick Counts.
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! D L SO
Photo by Lew Kopp W’66, ’71.
Members of the Class of 1982 – all parents of current Academies’ students – enjoyed the Live the Legacy Auction 2014 in October. Left to right are India Pullin Duncan, Laura Schacht Bilicic, Beau Limbocker, Bob Zehner, Sean Deery, Greg Barnes, Chris Kline, and Len Blackwell. Aaron Barberian ’82, also a current parent, was not available for the photo.
The Raise Your Paddle portion of the auction raised $194,950 for student scholarships.
Haberland photo
Rick ’70 and Patty Jennings, Honorary Auction Co-Chairs.
Photo by Lew Kopp W’66, ’71.
Haberland photo
The generosity of Culver supporters was perhaps best illustrated by the Raise Your Paddle portion of the auction. In less than 30 minutes $194,950 was raised for student scholarships
Enjoying a memorable evening at Live the Legacy Auction 2014 are Culver parents, left to right, Becky Cage, Paul Surowiec, Colin MacNab, Betsy MacNab, Cathy Surowiec, Laurie Main, and Kevin Main. Their five sons, all in the Infantry, play hockey and a couple also play lacrosse.
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Photo by Lew Kopp W’66, ’71.
CulverCurrents Teamwork results in website, video awards from CASE V Culver Academies has picked up three CASE V awards – two gold and one silver – for its fund-raising web page and recruitment videos. Culver’s “Giving to Culver” (culver.org/giving) received a gold award as the Best Website, Individual Page or Section. In the category of Best Video/DVD/CD-ROM in Student Recruitment, Culver garnered a gold award with “Forge Your Future – Constructing Worlds of Meaning” and a silver for “Forge Your Future – Character On and Off the Field.” “Worlds of Meaning” explains how academics at Culver is a part of the overall experience of teaching leadership, critical thinking, and global citizenship. “On and Off the Field” shares how character and leadership are integral parts of the athletic program. “I am very proud of our team in working together to accomplish our goals,” said Bill Hargraves III ’77, Culver’s director of Strategic Communications. Hargraves said the Admissions video was a combined effort of the Admissions Office, faculty, students, parents, Athletic Department, board support, and alumni feedback. The Development website involved input from responsive design by DWorkz of New York City, the Advancement and Communications staffs, and the Legion and CEF boards.
TO VIEW the videos, visit culver.org. TO DONATE, visit the award-winning giving page at culver.org/giving
Nationally, CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) is a professional organization in support of colleges, universities, and secondary boarding schools. CASE V involves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Michigan. 2014 Pride Awards were awarded in nearly 70 categories to more than 200 recipients representing alumni, communication, and development departments in District V. Contest winners were recognized at the CASE V District Conference in Chicago in December.
Faculty, Staff & Retiree Notes Head of Schools John Buxton is one of three new members of The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) Board of Trustees. According to the TABs release, in Buxton’s 15 years at the Academies, “there has been exponential growth in academic programming, enrollment, and fund-raising along with the creation of a talented and committed leadership team.” The 18-member self-perpetuating board is a volunteer body that works alongside staff to assure that TABS is providing the best resources, programs, and tools to the association’s 300 schools in the United States, Canada, and abroad. TABS is the public voice for college-preparatory boarding schools and the central resource for boarding school education.
TABS
Former CMA basketball coach Harry Frick III had an article published in the Summer 2014 issue of Indiana Basketball History, the quarterly magazine of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. “It takes strong men to make that steel …” was the story of the 1960 Final Four. It was the third article Frick has had published in the magazine. Frick coached Indiana high school basketball in Monticello, Bourbon, and Wabash prior to joining the Culver history faculty in 1985. He coached CMA basketball in 1991-93. Frick is the founder and former director of the Academies’ Global Studies Institute and the Rubin School for the Entrepreneur.
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CulverCurrents National publication cites Alumni designer Scott Adams of Scott Adams Design Associates has won two national design awards for his work with Culver Alumni Magazine. Adams was recognized by Graphic Design USA (GDUSA.com), a national magazine, for his work on the Summer 2013 issue.
b
Scott Adams Design Associates is in its 14th year with offices in New York City and Columbus, Ohio. The firm specializes in a wide range of strategic design projects. In addition to the Academies, its clients include Embassy Suites, Nationwide, Kenyon College, Ohio State University, and renowned maritime painter John Stobart. For five decades Graphic Design USA has sponsored competitions to spotlight areas of excellence and opportunity for creative professionals. GDUSA’s American Graphic Design
Necessity isn’t the only mother of invention. Sleep deprivation plays a pretty good part, too. At least, that’s what sparked a unique idea for Susannah Bowles Neville ’91.
spot girls
Adams won American Graphic Design Awards™ for the cover and feature spreads for the health and wellness stories in that issue, as well as for his spread on the “B-Spot Girls,” four alumnae involved in an online business venture. According to an October 2014 announcement by GDUSA, “Of the roughly 9,000 entries, just a small percentage of design projects were selected as winners … The performance is, in a nutshell, exceptional and multiple wins rarer still.”
By Kathe Brunton
Shining their Light on Beauty Products A reunion weekend meeting results in a joint business venture 32
A resident of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Neville, along with Culver alumnae — Michelle Moncrief W’86, ’92 (Fort Worth, Texas), Sarah Bernstein Tennyson ’92 (West Dundee, Illinois), and Shannon Bush Rudnicki SS’90 (Loveland, Ohio) — are partners in a new web-based business venture called b spot girls. The idea germinated about four years ago following the birth of Neville’s second child — and plenty of sleepless nights. “I remember looking in the mirror and thinking, ‘Oh, no, I need an eye cream,’” Neville said. “So I went online to see what type I should buy.” What she found, instead, was an absolute overload of products and information scattered across hundreds of beauty review websites. “I couldn’t figure out which one to buy. I thought, ‘This is crazy!’” she said. “Later, I wondered, ‘What would be helpful to women like me who want to buy a beauty product but not spend money on something that’s not going to work?’”
Moncrief suggested the name b spot girls, “because it’s kind of catchy,” and contacted a friend about creating the website. “All this happened within minutes while we were sitting there having dinner together,” she said. “Frankly, it sounded like fun,” Tennyson added. “Susannah had given me a book years ago called “Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me.” When she brought up this idea, I immediately flashed back to that book. I told her, ‘You are bringing that book to life in a much more modern twenty-first century way.’” A short but task-filled four months later, bspotgirls.com launched on the Web. “I don’t know what we thought, that there would be fireworks or something when we went live,” Neville laughed. But at their respective computers, each tracked the steadily
growing number of visi“We all learned tors to the site. about team building and “We just wanted to hit 500,” Neville leadership from a young age said. By day two, they had reached at Culver. We know how to work it. “There was a sense of relief. together as a team and how to comAnd we got municate. We stick to our agendas good feedback in those and schedules, and we are orgafirst days. We replied to all of nized. The biggest thing for me is them because we wanted that we are working together to people to know we were reading reach a common goal.” their comments.”
During the May 2012 Culver reunion, Neville found herself at the Culver Marina with Moncrief, Tennyson, and Rudnicki. She started talking about her idea. Right away, the response was fast and additional ideas dominoed.
— Shannon Bush Rudnicki W’88
Moncrief recalled, “Susannah told us how she 2013took off had been researching theSummer BB creams, which a year ago in America. She was trying to find different reviews but could never find what she wanted. She said, ‘I’m thinking about starting a company called Beauty Spot where women test products and write reviews.’ We all came on board immediately. There was no question.”
SuMMER 2013
Today, b spot girls is a beauty product review website unlike anything else out there in cyberspace. Each month, the four women select eight products that they incorporate into their daily routine. At the end of the testing period, the women write individual reviews, which are published on the website along with a one- to five-star rating. “On many of the review websites that I visited, I could tell the product was used maybe once or twice. The whole idea for b spot girls is to use the products long enough to see real results or to be able to determine if it’s not worth the money,” Neville said.
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The Summer 2013 edition garnered two design awards for Culver Alumni Magazine and Scott Adams Design Associates from Graphic Design USA magazine.
competition is open to design firms, ad agencies, corporations, non-profits, and more. It honors outstanding work of all kinds and across all media.
PATHWAYS TO A HEALTHY CULVER Health & Wellness Programs Have Employees and Students Ahead of the Pack
Student Notes In September, the Culver Chapter of the Cum Laude Honorary Society extended invitations to seniors Clare Cunningham (Richmond, Ky.) and Freda Hu (Chicago) in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements, scholarship, leadership, and character. Additional invitations will be extended through the school year and nominated members will be formally inducted into the society at the Commencement Convocation in May 2015.
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The 1st Lt. Andrew K. Stern Scholarship and Rowing Award for 2014-15 is shared by seniors Krista Trefren (Hotchkiss, Colo.) and Katrina Willis (Rolling Prairie, Ind.). The scholarship is given annually to the senior on the rowing team who best exemplifies the traits that Stern exhibited: “Dedication, Honesty, Joyfulness, Respect, and Integrity,” according to the criteria. Trefren and Willis will be co-captains this spring and are four-year members of the rowing team. A former Culver rower, Stern ’98 also captained the University of Tennessee rowing team. He was killed while serving with the Marines in Iraq on
Sept. 16, 2004. He is the only alumnus to die in the Global War on Terrorism.
•••• The Academies claimed four of the six students named National Merit Semifinalists in its geographic region. Culver’s qualifying students are Clare Cunningham (Richmond, Ky.), Kathryn McDougal (Sierra Madre, Calif.), Marlaina Parker (Marietta, Ga.), and Karen Zhu (Chesterfield, Mo.). Nationwide, 156 students from 41 boarding schools were named as semifinalists.
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Garrison photo.
Astride a Culver black horse, Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly takes to the field on the last day of his football team’s five-day preseason camp at the Academies. CMA football players, who had arrived the day before, were able to watch the final practice from the stands. The horse, appropriately, was named Patton.
IN
f e i Br Culver Academies began the 2014-
2015 school year with 827 students, the highest enrollment since 1968-69. There were 476 cadets and 351 girls. There were 163 fourth-classmen/freshmen among the 277 first-year students. The 10th-grade class was the largest with 231 students and there are 212 members of the Class of 2015. Those attending represented 43 states and 28 countries.
At an Academic Convocation on Sept. 10, returning students who earned academic honors for the second semester of the 2013-2014 school year were
recognized. 163 students received Gold A’s, signifying a grade-point average of 3.7 or better. Another 131 students were recipients of Silver A’s (3.2 GPA or better).
For the second time in four years,
the Gable Tennis Complex has been recognized by the United States Tennis Association. The indoor facility was one of 12 winners of the annual USTA Facility Awards Program, which recognizes excellence in construction or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the United States. Culver’s fivecourt indoor center opened in spring 2014 and was the lone winner in the Best Educational Institution category. The outdoor courts and tennis center received similar recognition in 2010.
With 385 athletes participating, the
proceeds from Lake Max Triathlon in August resulted in $7,300 being donated to local civic organizations, according to organizer Dana Neer, director of the Academies fitness center.
The Culver Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, and the Culver Club of Culver each received $2,100 to support their humanitarian efforts, and the Culver Boys and Girls Club received $1,000. The triathlon involves a 400-meter swim, 12 miles on a bike, and a 3.1mile run.
A private screening of the movie “Little Savages” for CEF employees involved with its production was held in August in the Eileen Dicke Theater. The town of Culver and the campus were used in the filming of the independent movie in August 2013 and the film premiered Aug. 30 as part of the Lake Max Film Fest. The movie was produced by Bear Fruit Films. Culver’s 21-member String Orchestra
joined 350 high school musicians from seven high school orchestras in three states along with Chinese guest artists from Beijing, Hangzhou, and Nanjing for the seventh annual Great Lakes Confucius Institute Music Festival at Valparaiso University in late September. CULVER ALUMNI MAGAZINE
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CulverSports
— Compiled and written by Jan Garrison
Garrison photo.
Concannon leads CMA tennis to state finals C
MA’s No. 1 singles tennis player Sam Concannon ’16 finished as the runner-up in the state individual tennis tournament on Oct. 25. In the title match, he lost 6-2, 6-0 to No. 1 seed Danny Rayl, a senior and University of Notre Dame-commit from Park Tudor School. Concannon (Indianapolis) was the No. 2 finals’ seed and finished the season 24-1. The CMA team also reached the state finals, finishing in the top eight. The team won the sectional, regional, and semistate titles to advance. It was the team’s first trip to the state finals since 2007.
A focused Sam Concannon finished second in the state singles tennis tournament.
Cross Country teams advance to semistates
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Dunlap (Barrington Hills, Ill.) finished seventh and eighth, respectively. Shane Pursch ’18 (Plymouth, Ind.) was 22nd, followed by Jose Figueroa ’16 (San Juan, Puerto Rico) in 23rd to round out Culver’s top five.
The CGA and CMA cross country teams advanced to the New Prairie Semistate Oct. 25 after finishing second in the regionals. As was the case with the Oct. 6 sectional, Culver finished behind Warsaw. Culver hosted the first two rounds.
Volleyball
Junior Stephanie Ma (Indianapolis) paced CGA with a 10th place finish, covering the five-kilometer course in 20:49. Senior Olivia Martinez (Lowell, Ind.) finished 11th just four seconds behind. Junior Annie Shea (Culver) finished 14th, followed by sophomore Mary Terhune (Novi, Mich.) at 16th, and junior Saga Brismar (Stockholm, Sweden) at 19th.
The volleyball team finished with a 10-16 record against some of the toughest competition in the state. The team also went 1-2 against South Bend area teams, defeating Washington while losing to stateranked Mishawaka Marian and St. Joseph. The Eagles also dropped two matches to John Glenn, the second in the first round of the sectional to end the season.
Landrum Neer ’15 (Russiaville, Ind.) was CMA’s top runner, finishing in 16:57.1 and claiming third overall. Third-classmen Justin Matei (Zionsville, Ind.) and Zach
The team graduates four seniors: Rachel Simon (Warsaw, Ind.), Olivia Sever (Newport Beach, Calif.), Grace Holzer (Fowler, Ind.), and Carlyle Marrs (Culver).
Six Eagles received all-state honors. Concannon was named first team singles and Chris Bilicic ’16 (Locust Valley, N.Y.) was named to the honorable mention singles. The doubles teams of Evan Dillon ’16 (Bedford, Ind.)/Ian Smith ’18 (Bloomington, Ind.) and William Bilicic ’16 (Locust Valley, N.Y.)/Brian Tao ’16 (Canton, Mich.) were also named as honorable mention.
Injuries plague CMA gridders The CMA football season became an uphill climb with several key injuries, starting with the scrimmage, en route to a 4-6 record. With senior linebacker Kyle Bennett (Culver) already on the sidelines, the Eagles lost Zach Moffett (Liberty, Ind.) and Eric Burns (New Carlisle, Ind.) in the scrimmage, followed by tailback Rune Kirby (Ludington, Mich.) two games later. Despite the injuries, the Eagles won their opening three games. But that was followed by a five-game losing streak to state-ranked teams Lafayette Central Catholic, John Glenn, Indianapolis Brebeuf, West Lafayette, and Guerin Catholic. The team bounced back in the sectional playoffs with a 27-26 win over Tippecanoe Valley, but lost 19-7 to Peru.
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CGA golfers reclaim sectional crown Rounding out Culver’s team scoring were sophomore Hannah Brumback (New Albany, Ohio) with a 91, and seniors Makenna Morsches (Kansas City, Mo.) with a 95 and Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, Ind.) with a 109. The team advanced to the Lafayette Regional at the Battle Ground Golf Club on Sept. 27.
Garrison photo.
The CGA golf team captured its second straight sectional title at the Beechwood Golf Course in LaPorte, Ind., on Sept. 19. CGA won by 28 strokes with a team total of 360. Junior Lauren Read (Bremen, Ind.) finished second overall with an 86 on the par-72 course. Senior Mackenzie Toth (Ann Arbor, Mich.) was third with an 88 for 18 holes.
CMA soccer reaches goals When the season started, the CMA soccer team set the following goals: win 12 games, which hasn’t been accomplished in eight years; score in every game; and score a team total of 48 goals. By the end of the season, each goal was accomplished. It took until the final regular season game against Portage, a 1-0 victory, to reach the first goal. The team reached 49 goals, including shoot-outs, during the sectional. The Eagles dropped a heartbreaker to Warsaw in the sectional, losing 2-1 on penalty kicks. Team leaders were Nick Bissonnette (Waterloo, Ontario) with 10 goals and six assists; Adrian Juraidini (Naucalpan, Mexico) seven goals, two shootout goals; and Nicholas Cefalu (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.), six goals, one shoot-out goal. Goalie Michael Wright had 90 saves, allowing 14 goals, with eight shutouts. Oscar Algria had nine saves, allowing two goals, with his biggest saves coming off the bench to seal wins over South Bend Adams and Portage.
CGA soccer wins title Staying dry while waiting to begin play are CGA golfers, left to right, Makenna Morsches, Mackenzie Toth, and Lauren Read.
Sailors compete at Coast Guard regatta The highlight for the sailing team was participating in the Lawrence A. White Trophy, a national invitational regatta hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, on Oct. 18-19. It was the third time Culver has received an invitation. Representing the Academies were the four captains Wyatt Clark (Chaska, Minn.), Elaina Lambright (Mattawan, Mich.), Boyao Yu (Shanghai, China), James Jamieson (Culver), and skipper Muriel Weathers (Galveston, Texas).
Serving as the hosts on Lake Maxinkuckee, Culver’s white team finished second in the Banks Blackwell Invitational and the maroon team took 13th in the field of 23. The white team then finished 12th at the Chicago Autumn Classic. Then the maroon team finished in 14th spot at the Midwest Interscholastic Sailing Association’s Halloween Spectacular. The sailors finished 10th and 19th at the Kickoff Classic and 11th and 12th in the Red Hat Regatta hosted by Detroit Country Day.
CGA won the Northern Indiana Soccer Conference with a 4-0 record and finished the season at 11-6-0. It was the sixth conference title for the Eagles. Eight players earned postseason honors as four were named to the All-NISC first team and another quartet was named to the second team. Receiving first team honors were Riley Taets (Decatur, Ill.), Victoria Styers (Plymouth, Ind.), Bridget McConville (Mishawaka, Ind.), and Anne Marie Wright (South Bend, Ind.). Named to the second team were Anna Tompos (Culver), Erin Lopez Vine (Tucson, Ariz.), Jordan Blackburne (Plymouth, Ind.), and Natasha Wanless (Madison, Wis.). The Eagles defeated Plymouth, 1-0, in the sectional after losing to the Pilgrims, 2-0, in the regular season. CGA’s season ended with a tough 2-1 loss to Warsaw in the sectional championship. CULVER ALUMNI MAGAZINE
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Friday Night Lights Culver cheerleaders rev up the Friday night football crowd at Oliver Field. Photo by Camilo ‘Mo’ Morales
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Reuniting at Culver
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Garrison photo
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er Homecoming 2014 Summer Homecoming 2014 “By the Numbers”
2 1. There you are! Ana Paula Sanchez Mejorada SS’12
(Cumming, Ga.) can’t believe her eyes as she sees Chase Walker W’08, N’11 (Ossian, Ind.) during muster for the 2014 Summer Homecoming Parade. Walker was a Woodcraft counselor this past summer.
2. Enjoying the post-parade gathering during Summer
Homecoming are Barry Barnes W’84, A’87 and his wife, Julie (to his right), along with sister Emily Barnes Cole SS’84.
3. Replacing his ever-present camera with a saxophone,
Samson Chiu W’87, NB’90 is ready to step off in the Homecoming Garrison Parade. Samson coordinated the return of some 50 Naval Bandsmen who marched and played as a unit.
4. A group of the 50-year men at Summer Home-
coming 2014 remember the good ol’ days. From left, Michael Siegerist (St. Louis), Robert Randall (Huntersville, N.C.), Tony Zurbrugg (Culver), Robert Wonsetler (Hagerstown, Md.), and Charles Feicht (Zanesville, Ohio). All are Naval School alumni.
5. It’s eyes right and a smart salute as Summer Camps alumni Pass in Review during the 2014 Homecoming Parade. All photos by Camilo ‘Mo’ Morales except where noted
1944 to 2013 Range of class years
652
Registered alumni (272) and guests (380)
70
Naval Band alumni
37
States represented
20
Class of 1964 alumni
12
Countries represented (Brazil, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, Guatemala, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States)
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Homecoming 2014
Julius W. Hegeler II W’39 provides funding for Argonne addition Back for his 75th Summer Homecoming, Julius W. Hegeler II W’39 was a busy man in July. Besides joining Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly on the reviewing line for the Summer Homecoming Parade, Hegeler was honored at the CSSAA annual meeting for funding a 28-room addition to Argonne Dormitory, which will be known as the Julius W. Hegeler II Wing. He also was the reviewing officer for the Woodcraft Camp Retreat ceremony. At the end of the weekend, Hegeler committed to funding the new Hegeler Kitchen at the Orthwein Dining Hall at Woodcraft. Hegeler is providing $5 million for the Argonne wing and was formally recognized by Jim Henderson in a ceremony at the annual Summer Homecoming Alumni meeting in Eppley Auditorium.
Construction at the south end of Argonne is underway and it will be a three-phase project involving all four floors of the building. The addition will encompass 10,000 square feet and add 56 beds. An elevator included in the addition will serve the combined buildings. The addition will symmetrically balance the west façade of the original building while maintaining a comfortable separation from the Legion Memorial Building. The overall project also includes covered entries facing the Academic Quad (Manuel Green). Hegeler serves as president of the Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation. The foundation has previously provided funding
An architectural rendering of the Julius W. Hegeler II Wing under construction on the south end of Argonne dormitory. The project also includes new covered entries on the west side of the building.
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Garrison photo
Mayfield Summer Endowment Fund will support salaries $400,000 raised toward $500,000 goal to honor Tony Mayfield ’65 To date $400,000 has been raised for the Mayfield Summer Endowed Fund, which will support summer staff salaries. The fund was established in June 2014 with a goal of $500,000. The income generated from the fund is designated for salary support of Summer Schools & Camps’ master instructors who have demonstrated a high level of expertise. The master instructors will be selected by the director of Summer Schools & Camps and recognized as Mayfield Master Instructors.
Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly (right) with Julius W. Hegeler II W'39 on the reviewing line during the Summer Homecoming Parade.
Archives photo.
for the renovation of a Woodcraft cabin, renovation of the Indian Crafts Building, construction of the Woodcraft Camp Boy Scout Headquarters, and purchase of equipment for the Siegfried Fitness Center. His foundation has also created endowments for Summer Schools & Camps, Indian Crafts Building maintenance, and fitness center renovation. The Hegeler family owned the Hegeler Zinc Co. of Danville, Ill. Hegeler was the co-founder of Peterson Filling and Packaging (now Peterson/ Puritan Inc.), the world’s largest contract packager of chemical specialties. After graduating from Millikin University, he joined the Air Force and flew 70 combat missions as an F-86 fighter pilot over North Korea. A first lieutenant, Hegeler was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He is a member of the F-86 Sabre Pilots Association and the Korean War Veterans Association. Hegeler is looking forward to returning to Culver for the dedication of the Hegeler Kitchen, the dedication of the Hegeler Wing to Argonne, and his 80th Homecoming.
Senior Development Officer Cathy Zurbrugg said $10,000 annually has been secured to provide funding while the endowment is being built, so there will be money available for summer 2015. Mayfield joined the Academies’ Alumni Office staff in 1974 and subsequently served as counselor of Company A and as a history instructor from 1977 to 1987. During this time, he began working in the summer as the Woodcraft Camp program director and later as the director of Culver Specialty Camps. In 1987, he was appointed director of the Woodcraft Camp and held that position until 1998 when he was appointed director of Culver Summer Schools & Camps. Mayfield led the summer camp program for 16 years until his retirement in spring 2014. His wife, Sherri Mayfield, also retired in 2014 after 27 years of service in the Academic Skills Center. The Mayfields are parents of Ryan W’89, NB’92, ’94 and Brooke Oak W’92, SS’95, ’97.
Former Summer Camp Director Tony Mayfield (right) with longtime instructor Don Hume in summer 2013.
Donors who make leadership gifts of $50,000 or more may create a named endowment within the fund. For information about making a gift for the Mayfield Summer Endowed Fund, contact Zurbrugg at (574) 842-8312 or at cathy.zurbrugg@culver.org.
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Homecoming 2014 Haberland photo
‘We are in a special place to honor special people’ A Barrington, Ill., businessman, Robert Hudson III N’68 lauded Little, the director of Horsemanship Operations, and Smith, a dedicated Trooper and volunteer riding instructor, for the impact they had on his children and on hundreds of Culver riders over the last 23 years. “We are in a special place to honor special people,” Hudson said. The paddock was a way of thanking “these men for what they Left to right: Sarah Davis, Oralia Hudson, Bob Hudson Jr., David Hudson H’05, Ed Little, Cort Smith II ’49, Bob Hudson III N’68, have done for our and Sarah Hudson. son (David H’05). He is a principled individual, a genuinely good person,” Hudson said. David The generosity of the Robert C. Hudson and his sister Katherine Hudson SS’11 both learned Hudson Jr. family has provided valuable leadership skills at Culver, their father said. Culver’s equestrian program with a new tool – the Leadership & Character Development Arena – and provided the family an opportunity to honor “two great men” – Ed Little and Cortlandt Smith ’49.
The family was present in July 2014 for the dedication of the arena/paddock, located east of the stables where the tennis Cortlandt Smith courts were previously. Family members who attended included Robert Jr. and his wife, Oralia; Robert III and his wife, Sarah; and their son, David, and his girlfriend, Sarah Davis.
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“These men we honor aren’t seeking personal recognition, because this is all about you,” Hudson told the Summer Cavalry members and guests on hand. The signage for the arena/paddock singles out Little and Smith “for what they have done to develop the character and future of young men and women.” Hudson said Little, the director since 1991, has put together the team and is the undisputed leader, respected because of his capability. A member of that team is Smith, who spends part of the year working with student riders. Hudson noted Smith’s efforts in restoring the Rough Riding program, recalling his
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Deck 7 to provide female riders with leadership positions son’s experience with a 55-gallon drum with a saddle on it.
Ed Little
Smith keeps coming back “to make a difference,” Hudson said, adding that we are gathered today “to make a difference.” Little said the 90- by 100-foot arena/paddock will be used for classes and Rough Riding, especially in the summer when there are 13 classes daily. In the early morning, it can be another turnout paddock, he said. “I felt privileged to be honored with my good friend, Cort Smith,” Little said. “The Hudsons’ contribution is a blessing for both horses and Horsemanship Staff. But none of this could have been accomplished without the many [four-legged] personalities standing in the stalls.”
In the past, girls who devoted more time to horsemanship were sometimes not able to be as involved with their deck and its leadership opportunities. With the creation of Deck 7, girls will no longer have to make that choice. While Deck 7 will be fully integrated into the Summer School for Girls School, it will have its own leaders who will also be eligible for battalion and regimental staff positions. If you love summer at Culver and always wanted to devote more time to horsemanship and leadership, Deck 7 is the place for you. For more information or to request Deck 7, please contact us at summer@culver.org.
Riders from the Summer School for Girls in the Culver Lakefest Parade. Archives photo.
“At first, it is just a way to teach a necessary skill – falling down. But as with all great beginnings driven by great leaders, the Rough Riding program becomes more with each passing year. Falling down, the first lesson. What’s the second lesson? Getting up. What’s the third lesson? Getting back on. Lessons for life; we all fall down, have disappointments, setbacks. The equestrian program is full of lessons for life.”
Forty years after the first girls units appeared at Culver, there will be a girls’ summer equestrienne unit in 2015. While horsemanship classes will still be open to girls in other units, Deck 7 will be for those girls who want to focus in this area and ride in every Saturday Garrison Parade. They will also participate in other special events like the Culver Lakefest Parade and the girls’ troop hike.
The paddock and the adoration “meant a lot coming from the Hudson family,” Smith said. “It was very special to me and showed their strong feeling for the school.” The Hudsons’ gift is also an excellent example of leadership, he added.
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TWA K R I A TONIGHT!
Holbrook reprises his one-man show on the Eppley stage
He is Hal Holbrook ’42, the Emmy and Tony Awardwinning actor who returned to Culver Sept. 4 for a performance of his highly-acclaimed one-man show, Mark Twain Tonight! “Very few people are as important to Culver as Hal Holbrook,” Buxton told theatre students and adults who gathered with Holbrook the day preceding the performance. Holbrook returned to Culver Sept. 3-5, performing Mark Twain Tonight to kick off the 2014-15 Huffington Concert Series. He has been back to the campus on several occasions – including his 2004 induction into the Arts & Letters Hall of Fame, but his only prior performance of Mark Twain Tonight! came in 1962.
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Wednesday, theatre students viewed a special showing of Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey, a new 90-minute documentary by Scott Teems. Following the movie, Holbrook talked with students, asked probing questions of them, and answered theirs. Thursday night he performed Mark Twain Tonight! in front of a packed house. After taking his bow and exiting the stage, CMA cadets began singing The Culver Song. Members of CGA quickly joined in and all the students cheered at the conclusion. It was, simply, a classic Culver Moment. —Some information for this article previously appeared on the @Culver blog (News.culver.org)
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Photo by Lew Kopp W'66, '71
“H
e is the Culver man alumni are most proud of,” Head of Schools John Buxton said.
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HOLBROOK
Photo by Lew Kopp W'66, '71
Holbrook finds Academies' students ‘happy ... respectful, alive, and cookin’’
Haberland photo.
“You have a great opportunity here to be inspired. I know because it happened to me. You have so much at your hand.”
Editor’s note: At the request of Culver Alumni Magazine, Hal Holbrook offers his thoughts and reflections on returning to his alma mater in September 2014.
I
’ve been telling a lot of people about the return to Culver. The remarkable impression I got of the school I attended years ago. My friend and assistant, Joyce Cohen, and I walked around the campus so that I could show her everything: the impressive buildings, the playing fields, the astonishing indoor polo field, beyond it the steep hill I used to stagger down at the end of a cross country race, and then the walk along the lake back to the barracks. What was most memorable, however, was the behavior of the students we met. All of them said hello. Cheerfully. Most of them stopped and shook our hands. Now you just don’t get that kind of welcome on any other campus I have ever visited. These students are not only happy to be there; they are respectful and alive and cookin’. I have been on a lot of campuses around the country. I have never been on the campus of any one of them which gave me such a good feeling as the one I received walking around my old school. The show I gave there was also surprising because of the response. No high school level audience has been so perceptive and giving as the one I had that night at Culver. This audience of young people was smart. They were with it,
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catching the social commentary that Mark Twain delivered. His view of the world we live in. This audience understood him and that was a great pleasure for alumnus Holbrook. The dinner at John and Pam Buxton’s home was not just a pleasure, it was surprising. The conversation with Paul and Ellen Gignilliat as well as the (Jim) Dickes and the (Michael) Schrages became open and informative and frank. We talked to one another about our feelings, dealing with this troubled world, and what it might mean for the young people ready to enter it. As far as I’m concerned, this visit was a home run. Joyce Cohen felt exactly the same. I was very proud to show her the school where I had struggled to find my footing in life and where I realized later on, had saved my life. Culver gave me the discipline to keep going, no matter what. Hal Holbrook '42
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Photo by Lew Kopp W'66, '71
Editor’s note: Joyce Cohen, Hal Holbrook’s personal assistant, accompanied the actor when he returned to Culver in September. After hearing about Culver for 25 years, Cohen was making her first visit to the campus. She graciously shares her reflections with Culver Alumni Magazine.
T
he first time I ever heard of Culver was when I came to work for Hal back in 1989. He referred to it as Culver Military Academy, which sounded dreadfully rigid to me. But as the years went by and I heard more about the school and all it had to offer I became curious – you have horses for heaven’s sake! So I jumped at the chance to see for myself. Over the years Hal talked about his return visits and how impressed he was with the school and the students; and although he described the campus, there is still no way he could have prepared me. I expected some version of a high school, albeit a very special one. But the Culver campus would rival most college campuses in its beauty, the curriculum, how well it’s maintained, and most of all, the people – the administration, faculty, and student body. After finally meeting some of the staff with whom I’ve been speaking for so many years and getting the chance to interact with students while walking around the campus, I was filled with a terrific sense of hope.
T RK WAI A TONIGHT!
“Words can be used in various ways – like bullets, like a sunrise.”
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Haberland photo.
Culver visit leaves Holbrook’s assistant ‘filled with a terrific sense of hope’
2015 tour locations Jan. 17 – Fox Theater in Riverside, Calif. Jan. 23 – McCallum Theater in Palm Desert, Calif. Jan. 31 – Arlene Schnitzer Hall in Portland, Ore. Feb. 17 – Bushnell Hall in Hartford, Conn. Feb. 27 – Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston, Texas March 21 – The Buell Theatre in Denver March 27 – Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque
It’s clear that Culver is a school that puts the students’ best interests above all. Without exception, they were all confident, respectful, enthusiastic, self-assured, and all around impressive young men and women. That doesn’t happen by luck or accident. It’s a manifestation of the education that’s being provided for them. What more can I say? You have something very special at Culver.
April 11 – Touhill PAC in St. Louis April 15 – Henderson Fine Arts Center in Henderson, Ky. April 20 – Marcus Center in Milwaukee
Joyce Cohen
April 24 – Fox Cities PAC in Appleton, Wisc.
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HOLBROOK
The return of a legend brings a legion (Brighton, Mich.), and Tom Westbrook (Hinsdale, Ill.). Eisenberg and his wife Tricia Fox served as hosts, volunteering their lake home near Valparaiso, Ind., as barracks for those attending. A minireunion was born.
Photo by Lew Kopp W'66, '71
The ’62 quintet gathered at Eisenberg’s home the afternoon of Sept. 4 before making the trip to campus. After the 90-minute show they were part of a small group that greeted Holbrook backstage. They returned to Eisenberg’s that night, staying up until 1 a.m. to revel in the experience, the memories, and each other’s company. The mini-reunion continued Friday with more of the same, plus a boat tour of Lake Louise, a little fishing, a lot more food and socializing, and plenty of laughter, Davis reported on the class website. Saturday, everyone headed back home.
by Doug Haberland, Editor
I
t had been 52 years since Hal Holbrook performed Mark Twain Tonight! in Eppley Auditorium. Fifty-two years since the Class of 1962 had witnessed that historic performance. For five members of that class, the September 2014 return of Holbrook/Twain to the Eppley stage was not to be missed. “In the course of our past reunions and mini-reunions Holbrook’s performance is invariably cited as one of the highlights,” said John Davis ’62 of Menlo Park, Calif. “Being exactly 20 years after Holbrook’s class [of 1942] has made us feel a special bond with the man and his show. I’m not sure anyone outside our class – including Holbrook – was particularly aware of the bond, but I believe most of my classmates felt it.” The class president and webmaster, Davis spread the word after learning of the performance only a week in advance. “I absolutely positively had to attend,” Davis said, “though the last-minute logistics of coming from California were not trivial. I just could not pass up the opportunity to see him again in the first and only venue where I had seen him.” Others shared the sentiment. By the time the dust settled, Davis was joined by Howard Bridges Jr. (Traverse City, Mich.), Stephen “Buzz” Eisenberg (Chicago), Doug Neumann
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With a 52-year perspective, the Alumni magazine asked the members of the Class of 1962 for their observations and perspectives on Holbrook and Mark Twain Tonight!, circa 1962 and 2014. Howard Bridges was “elated” that he could join the group. “Since Holbrook was at Culver our first-class year, we feel that we have some affinity toward him and that we should see him when we can. Since he was back at Culver, this was an excellent opportunity.”
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About three years ago, Bridges saw Mark Twain Tonight! at The College of DuPage in the Chicago area. While seeing Holbrook’s performance is one thing, hearing him talk of his alma mater is “fantastic!” Bridges’ late father attended the Naval School around 1917; a brother, Bill, graduated in 1955, and daughter Caroline in 2005. “With that history, I do feel a strong, positive connection. And when another person talks so glowingly, the experience is just reinforced.” “I appreciated and understood Twain’s humor and candor in 1962,” John Davis said. “If I hadn’t, I don’t see how I would have considered the performance to be so memorable so many years later. I can’t remember that I knew of Holbrook prior to his 1962 performance, but I certainly have followed him ever since.
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Archives photo.
ion of fans “(At Culver) I learned to line up my socks, but also self-discipline. Maybe the most important thing to learn in our whole life, self-discipline.” “While he certainly was the character of Mark Twain, it seemed that much of the act [in 2014] was Hal Holbrook using the Twain persona to espouse his own personal views … which may not be all that different from what Twain’s were (or might be, if he were alive today),” he said. “To meet and talk with Hal after the show was a true honor and privilege. I was so grateful to see him perform again.” Doug Neumann said the 1962 performance “awoke in me an appreciation for and sensitivity to the wit and wisdom of Mark Twain. Mr. Holbrook brings Twain’s work to the present, with a respect and attention to detail that illuminates Twain’s writing. I continue to this day to appreciate Twain’s work, and still read him occasionally.
Mark Twain Tonight!, 1962
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“I need a shot of Twain’s reality in the same way that it is helpful for me to reread Desiderata. Both have helped me understand and appreciate the importance of being alive.” Classmates from 1962 who made a special pilgrimage to Culver to again enjoy Mark Twain Tonight! are, left to right, Buzz Eisenberg, Tom Westbrook, Douglas Neumann, John Davis, and Howard Bridges.
Returning to Eppley Auditorium, which was dedicated while Neumann was a cadet, “added to the charm and authenticity of the evening” and Holbrook’s performance “awakened an appreciation for performance art. His attention to detail and his realistic portrayal was inspiring and captivating. The fact that Mr. Holbrook has spent a substantial part of his career doing this performance attests to the value of Twain’s work and the excellence and sustainability of Holbrook’s talent. They are both still vital and energetic!” In 1967, Holbrook returned to Culver to be honored as its first Man of the Year. Tom Westbrook, then a 23-year-old Purdue University student, drove up for the ceremony. It resulted in a memorable encounter.
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Photo by Lew Kopp W'66, '71
While on campus, Westbrook headed for his favorite place – topside of the Naval Building. There, he found Holbrook sitting quietly, enjoying the view. Time stood still, Westbrook said, as he and Holbrook talked about the changes in the school and connected on another level: Both had grown up without a father: Westbrook's died young; Holbrook's was usually absent. Westbrook said whenever Holbrook was near Chicago he tried to take someone to Mark Twain Tonight! who had not had the experience. He’s probably seen Holbrook’s one-man show four or five times previously. Only a two-year Culver man, Westbrook said joining his 1962 classmates for the performance and backstage made him feel “like a guy on the JV team who had moved up to the varsity.” CULVER ALUMNI MAGAZINE
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“We all felt like writers of the Declaration of Independence.” By Kristen Counts At the very heart of the Culver student’s experience you will find the student-teacher relationship. Teachers are engaging their students in the classrooms, on the fields, in the dorms and barracks, and in the dining hall among many other locations. Over the past few years, Culver has also been engaging its administrators and faculty chairs in a well-organized and labor-intensive effort to craft an evaluation and promotion system that provides opportunities for each teacher to become his/her personal best. Culver administrators first looked at what other independent schools were doing in the area of teacher evaluation. “We didn’t see independent schools who had anything like what we were looking for,” said Dean of Faculty Kathy Lintner. So, administrators had to start from scratch. During the 20092010 school year, they gathered all the academic department chairs. “We all felt like writers of the Declaration of Independence,” Lintner remembered. “It needed to be very clear.”
Professional feedback is ongoing, with a comprehensive evaluation taking place annually. Annual performance reviews include conversations with and observations from a cohort of colleagues. This is necessary in order to discuss a teacher’s performance in four areas of focus: modeling Culver’s mission, teaching and learning, cultivation of character, and professional growth. The best teachers are those who develop their abilities through constant self-evaluation, reflection, and the willingness to change. (Ken Bain, author of What the Best College Teachers Do).
What they created was a Faculty Rank & Promotion (R&P) System that would serve many purposes, not the least of which aids in recruiting new faculty. R&P was initiated for use in the promotion process for the 2011-2012 school year. “Observations are an important piece of the process,” said Dr. John Yeager, director of Culver’s Center for Character Excellence. Teachers are observed and given feedback by their supervisors, colleagues in their departments, and also teachers from other departments. Assistant Dean of Faculty Josh Pretzer said the system “centers on the idea of being colleagues. We have asked people to teach each other — to observe and be observed. “The teacher is really in the driver’s seat of the process overall. They set goals, write reflections, and take feedback from observations,” he said. Yeager added, “It frees people up to share the best of who they are. Their portfolio is (available for others to read). (It is) totally different than how others have done it in the past.” He shared this quote: Before you tell me how to do it better, before you lay out your big plans for changing, fixing, and improving me, before you teach me how to pick myself up and dust myself off so that I can be shiny and successful – know this: I’ve heard it before. I’ve been graded, rated, and ranked. Coached, screened, and scored. I’ve been picked first, picked last, and not picked at all. And that was just in kindergarten. (from Thanks for the Feedback by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen)
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“ personally appreciate the level of accountability it creates. Knowing that anyone could come into your room at any time keeps you on your toes and requires your utmost attention to every lesson every day. It keeps me at my best.” —
(2012)
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The academic administration and department chairs pictured on the cover who were instrumental in the creation of the Rank & Promotion System are, front to back row, left to right: Cathy Tulungen (International Student Achievement), Chris Carrillo (Science), and Susan Freymiller (Head Librarian); Stephanie Scopelitis (Leadership), Josh Pretzer (Assistant Dean of Faculty), and Lynn Rasch (Interim Dean of CGA); Dan Davidge (Wellness Education), Louise Ericson (Athletic Director), and Kathy Lintner (Principal & Dean of Faculty); J.D. Uebler (Humanities Program Chair), Fred Haase (Language), and Kevin MacNeil (Academic Dean); Kurt Christiansen (Humanities Personnel Chair) and Nick Counts (Math). Absent are Cory Barnes (Academic Advising), Cathy Duke (Fine Arts), and Mike Neller (CMA Commandant). Photo by Camilo 'Mo' Morales.
“It calls for a lot of self-awareness,” Yeager said. “It allows for people to tell the truth on themselves. They need to reflect and stop. It allows them to become aware of any blind spots they might have … They have to be willing to re-consider. We want teachers to be lifelong learners and critical thinkers.” The term growth mindset is utilized throughout the R&P. It was coined by the research of Carol Dweck of Stanford University. Lintner said, “(With a) growth mindset, you see that there are many possibilities in a given circumstance. (With a) fixed mindset, (you) interpret circumstances in a limited way. . . . With a growth mindset, you need to be able to ask for advice.” It can be challenging for experienced teachers to adapt to the new system, Yeager said, referring to a passage from a book he co-authored: We are attentive to the fact that there are many experienced coaches who have employed methods of good instruction over the years and may be resistant to making philosophical
and strategic shifts in the daily business of their classroom. Experienced teachers with fixed mindsets may assume that being a good teacher is something they are – an attribute or quality evidenced by the ease with which the teacher performs in the classroom. The fixed mindset teacher may tend to treat students with the same expectations and may even believe that students have fixed minds, leading to trouble differentiating students’ abilities and intelligences. Teachers and coaches with growth mindsets know that being a good teacher is something a person does — the result of focusing on continual improvement. Upon encountering a challenge, the teacher with a growth mindset will dig in, work harder, seek help, and try to find new approaches to reach students. In addition, teachers with a growth mindset will teach students to do the same. (from Smart Strengths: Building Character, Resilience and Relationships in Youth by John Yeager, Sherri Fisher, and David Shearon).
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“ aculty Rank & Promotion creates a culture of reflection, and I find that the cycle of FRP reinforces the link between reflection and growth during the annual performance review. During the APR cycle, I am put in a position to create professional goals and then, about eight months later, write a narrative reflection on those goals. This formative cycle creates opportunities for me to track my growth as it relates to the high expectations of the Academies’ ranks.”
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(2010)
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“ he promotion brings a further level of responsibility as well as an honor. The process has encouraged me to explore and develop new areas of inquiry, teaching, and mentoring, keeping in mind the mission of the school as a philosophy to help shape my individual goals. … It means encouragement to grow and improve, and help others do so as well. That to me is the epitome of what should happen in a teaching-learning community.” — (2001)
Teachers have been given new guidelines regarding how to grow as teachers at Culver. The department chairs also changed the terms used to describe the teaching career stages. As the teacher’s understanding of teaching deepens, they can progress through the levels of instructor, senior instructor, master instructor, and mentor instructor. “For the first four or five years, the academic piece gets worked out for that teacher — learning the Culver culture and how to really master (the) classroom. After that, we look at a broader commitment outside the school,” Lintner said. Each level that a teacher reaches is tied to a fixed raise in salary. This is a unique part of the rank and promotion system and would not be possible without the generosity of the late Frank Batten '45. Linter said endowed funds raised during the By Example Campaign “allowed us to actually provide funding for the rank and promotion system the way we intended it. Frank Batten matched dollar for dollar for that campaign.” Lintner added that one of Head of Schools John Buxton’s goals when he came in 1999 was that teachers could work here for their entire career, receive pay comparable to other professions, and retire with a six-figure salary. “(Teachers at Culver can know that they) can have a steady career and end up making as much money as an administrator,” Pretzer said. “I hope that young teachers will be encouraged to see that they can grow and stay teachers. (They) can do what they love — teaching — and end up making a six-figure salary, and that is unique to us I think.”
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“ he writing of my narrative proved to be one of the most self-reflective activities I have done in my nineteen years in teaching. The class visits by the department chairs were rewarding because each of them gave positive feedback about the lessons they observed. Each department chair asked insightful questions that caused me to further reflect on my contributions to the Culver Academies. This experience helped me to see myself as others see me and motivated me to further invest in the community.”
—
(2007)
Lintner said the R&P is a blueprint for the teacher’s professional career. “It has changed our hiring, too.”
of chairs designed it, and they are responsible for re-visiting it, (the) tuning work to make it better,” Pretzer said.
Pretzer said, “When we are (in the process of interviewing), we give job candidates a document of what to expect coming in. It allows for the retention of a great teacher.”
“(The R&P) is an incredible amount of work and is continually morphing,” Yeager added.
“The end goal for R&P is not solely on an individual teacher’s career path but also about creating a teaching and learning culture in which collegiality is both a cause and a consequence of individual growth mindsets,” said Academic Dean Kevin MacNeil.
“Students benefit because you have an engaged teacher,” Yeager said. “When class starts every day, (the teacher is) ready to facilitate, grow with, and learn with the students. They are not there to teach from the pulpit.
Administrative faculty also have been sharing Culver’s teacher professional evaluation process with other independent school entities. Pretzer said that he is getting a lot of questions from other independent schools regarding Culver’s process.
“You have to have a variety of activities. Teachers need to be mindful and in the present moment with students and in their own classroom. A teacher is challenged in each classroom to find a strategy that will work. They can reach out to others with questions. Sometimes, they ask the students, ‘How are we going to make this work?’” he said.
As with any new system applied in an educational setting, this one needs to be able to be evaluated and altered as needed. “The group
Clearly, the students benefit from their teachers’ professional growth.
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“ he FRP system articulates clear goals for teaching faculty that include modeling Culver's mission, teaching and learning, cultivation of character, and professional growth targets. These targets help guide my reflection as I adjust my professional path each year through the professional review process.” — 32
(1999-2006, 2013)
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How are we going to make this work for Culver? This is the question that the department chairs must have asked themselves in order to get the new R&P system up and running. It is the question that they must continue to ask themselves as they fine-tune and implement this system over time. It is the question that teachers can reflect upon more and more in the classrooms, on the fields, and in all of their interactions with students, knowing that growth is what comes from asking the question. Editor’s note: Kristen Counts is a frequent contributor to Culver Alumni Magazine. A Culver resident, she is the wife of Math Department Chair Nick Counts, and they are the parents of daughter Ruthie, a Woodcrafter.
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“ t was good for me to reflect on aspects of life and work at Culver. This was also an opportunity to share with the departments chairs, individually and collectively, which allowed me to better understand what I have been doing these years at Culver. This was a positive process for me, and I know it has been for others in continuing our professional growth. This process is a quality step forward for the Academies community.”
—
(1974)
COLLABORATING & SHARING FACULTY RANK & PROMOTION Administrators have been active in collaborating with educational entities outside of Culver in order to share ideas, present aspects of the Faculty Rank and Promotion System, and even provide a training on the system to another independent school. In 2008, Dean of Faculty Kathy Lintner presented at a conference for the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in New York City. •
Academic Dean Kevin MacNeil, Head of Schools John Buxton, and Lintner all presented at The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) 2010 conference in Baltimore. •
• At the past three Folio Collaborative annual conferences, Kurt Christiansen (Humanities personnel chair) and Assistant Dean of Faculty Josh Pretzer presented. The Folio Collaborative is a collaborative for independent schools. • In 2013, Pretzer provided training at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta to help faculty adopt a system like Culver’s.
Culver’s independent school colleagues have had positive comments regarding the FRP system. Tim Fish, the associate headmaster at the McDonogh School in Maryland and founder of the Folio Collaborative, said via email that he is “impressed by the integration of personal reflection. Each year, each teacher is asked to do substantial reflective writing. I also admire how much peers are involved in conversations about rank and promotion. Lastly, the transparency and consistency of the program is admirable. Similar systems in other schools rarely have the staying power that the rank and promotion system at Culver has.” “Culver is one of our most thoughtful and invested Folio schools, a model for other member schools to be sure,” Meredith Monk Ford, executive director of the Folio Collaborative and the McDonogh School’s Folio administrator, shared in an email. “What is so valuable to us is Culver’s willingness to share what they have learned to help other schools support their faculty. They also share their knowledge with the Folio organization, enabling us to provide better software and better training for Folio member schools.” — Kristen Counts
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THE SPIRIT OF ’96 Classmates complete 200-mile Hood to Coast Relay The triumphant Hood to Coast Relay team consisted of a dozen1996 classmates. They are, front row, left to right: Nathan Clendenin, Jessica Bletzinger Martin, Margi Raub Vagell, Suzy Poor Younger, and Anne Lathrop; second row: Anthony Hadaway, Jen Walters, DJ Svihlik, Laura Svihlik, Niceta Bradburn, Alice Dollens, Rich Teising, and Ben Scott.
By Nathan Clendenin '96
It's a brisk morning in late August 2014 at the base of Mount Hood near Portland, Oregon. Twelve of us from the Class of ’96 are gearing up to join the other 1,200 teams from all over the globe for the 200-mile Hood to Coast Relay. There's only one word to describe it: Epic. This all started with Anne Lathrop, who saw the documentary “Hood to Coast” and wanted “to do epic. And to quote the movie, ‘You can't do epic by yourself.’” (Incidentally, if you watch the movie, look for Brooke Mayfield Oak ’97 who makes a brief cameo.) Bored with half-marathons and having accomplished a halfIronman, Anne was ready for her “next crazy, stupid race.” She applied for three years before her entry was accepted. Then she
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needed a team. Anne, who captained the team, put a call out on our class Facebook group and people started signing up. What did we sign up for? Basically we divided into two teams, each with its own vehicle. Each person runs a leg from three to eight miles, one after the other, throughout the night until the 200-mile race from Mount Hood to Seaside Ore., is completed. Was it painful? Yes. Was it long? Yes, 32 hours long. But I speak for everyone on our team in saying that the memories of our Hood to Coast experience are not about sore muscles and fatigue, lack of sleep and of caffeine. It’s about the experiences we shared while crammed into tight quarters. It’s about old friends making new memories.
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The Hood to Coast Team
Dollens, Poor Younger, Bletzinger Martin
Whitney (Kolb) Alvis ’96 lives in Dibble, Okla., with her husband and three children. Whitney has a private law practice focusing on estate planning. Unable to make the race, she served as the team cheerleader with frequent inspirational quotes and encouraging words throughout the race via text messages. Niceta (Trevathan) Bradburn W’91, ’96 practices law in Denver as a Guardian ad Litem, representing the interests of children who have been abused and neglected. She is also a family law practitioner and Child and Family Investigator. She and her husband have two children. Nathan Clendenin ’96 lives in Durham, N.C., with his wife and their two children. His company, StoryDriven Media Group (www.wearestorydriven.com), exists to tell stories of great things through photography and video. Alice Dollens ’96 works for Chase Bank in commercial services and lives in Indianapolis. She has run seven marathons and several halfmarathons. Anthony Hadaway ’96 and his wife Suzan Celeboglu '99 live in Chicago. Anthony is Vice President of Sales for ADARA Media. Jessica (Bletzinger) Martin ’96 is a high school counselor in Danville, Ill. She and her husband are parents of two. Jessica is also a stepmom to three preteen/teenage girls. Anne Lathrop ’96 (Team Captain) lives in West Lafayette, Ind., where she flies helicopters for emergency medical flights. Ben Scott ’96 lives in San Antonio with his wife and their three children. Dennis Svihlik ’96 lives in Franklin, Tenn., with his wife (who drove Van 1), and two children. After brief baseball playing career with the Yankees organization, DJ served 10 years as a scout covering the Gulf Coast States before being named a National Crosschecker in 2012. As such, DJ is responsible for evaluating the 100 top draft-eligible players in the nation for the Yankees. Rich Teising ’96 owns a steel fabrication business in Nashville, Tenn. He and his wife have two children. Margi (Raub) Vagell ’96 lives in Davidson, N.C., and works in pricing and promotions with Lowe's Home Improvement. She and her husband have two children. Jen Walters, a friend of Margi (Raub) Vagell, is an avid runner. She ran one of Whitney Kolb’s legs and one of her own back-to-back in the middle of the night over dusty gravel roads wearing a head lamp.
200 36 14
Miles Relay Legs
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Seattle side trip After the race, several classmates headed north to visit Brian Canlis ’96 in Seattle. Though his award-winning Canlis Restaurant was closed on Sunday, the group enjoyed a meal together and catching up.
Suzy (Poor) Younger ’96 is a Fertility Care Practitioner at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend, Ind., assisting women and couples in monitoring, maintaining, and restoring their gynecologic and procreative health. She and her husband are parents of two through adoption.
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By the Numbers
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Immeasurable Culver Pride
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ClassNews ClassNews Photo provided.
Class news published in this issue was received and processed as of August 31, 2014. Culver Class News for the Academies graduates and Culver Summer Schools & Camps alumni are combined under the graduation decade. Those names in bold italics indicate those who are alumni of CSSC.
1940s In June, Bruce Hopping ’42 of Laguna Beach, Calif., was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Pioneer Contributor. As the founder and chairman of the Kalos Kagathos Foundation, Bruce was cited for his contributions to “the world of aquatics through the creation of art, awards, and hundreds of youth sports exchanges organized and administered” by the organization since its 1953 founding.
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Culver roommates James Moody ’07 (right) and Matthew Dinwiddie ’07 catch a ride across southern Ohio on the rear ramp of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in June. The two are first lieutenants in the Ohio Army National Guard serving on active duty (i.e. full time) with the 1-137th Assault Helicopter Battalion in Columbus, Ohio.
John L. Parker N’47, ’48 and his wife, Nancy Brush, cruised from Buenos Aires around Cape Horn to Valparaiso, Chile. They enjoyed great shore excursions, food, and the crew. The Parkers reside in Rochester, N.Y. James R. Wall ’48 is enjoying “the green side of the grass” in Evanston, Ill. Warren H. Wright ’48 of Oro Valley, Ariz., has his sights set on his 70th reunion in May 2018.
1950s Fredrick I. Merritt Jr. ’51 and Glenna Jean celebrated 60 years of marriage on July 25, 2014. They live in Hudson, Fla. Harry J. McGuire ’52 moved to Cape Canaveral, Fla., in July 2013. Harry swims and jogs each week. He and wife Effy also enjoy the Greek island Andros. With children in California and Germany, Virginia and Robert H. Bon Durant W’51, ’56 have been traveling extensively. Home is Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
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Elaine and John H. Oehlschlaeger III N’54, ’58 of Paducah, Ky., visited in May with Tony Zaleski ’58 and his wife, Diane, in Munster, Ind.
1960s James L. Godshall ’60 and his wife, Nancy, summer in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and spend the winters in Glen Allen, Va.
Robert C. Goodwin W’55, ’60 is working a little less and continues to enjoy the New England autumns. He and Judy live in South Windsor, Conn. In April they visited family in Virginia. Warren A. Kaufman ’60 is working through the Safe Blood Africa project and Rotary International to get five vehicles to Nigeria to support the country’s blood donation program. Warren has made 10 trips to Nigeria. He and his wife, Jamison, live in Monterey, Calif. James N. Pylkas ’60 and his wife, Laird, celebrated their 49th anniversary in Greece and the surrounding islands. Home for the couple is West Falls, N.Y.
James O. Randel N’56, ’60 and wife, Sandra, have moved from Atlanta to Katy, Texas. Jim grew up in Texas and wanted to “get back to my roots.” He is still working. Jack Steele H’57, ’60 and his wife, Carolyn, have had more than their fair share of medical issues since January 2013. Carolyn had thyroid surgery, then a near-fatal heart attack, then a stroke. She completed her cardiac rehab in December. Jack had knee surgery and finally got rid of his cane. The Steeles live in Albany, Ga. Forrest R. Van Schwartz ’60 is looking forward to his 55th reunion in May 2015. Forrest makes frequent trips to China in support of the Ministry of Transport. He’s still looking for a “good ol’ U.S.-style T-bone steak.” William C. Ward ’60 is still a used car dealer in Austin, Texas, plus he owns a custom framing shop and art gallery. He has a large collection of original military aviation art which he trades worldwide.
FROM THE LEGION PRESIDENT Looking back and looking ahead Here is a summary of the work your Legion Board is doing: THE CULVER NETWORK. We are working to position Culver as the first stop for networking of any nature with our recent graduates. An important part of this objective is to provide training for current students in areas such as appropriate introductions, interviewing, and follow-up protocol. MEASURING SUCCESS. In the first quarter of 2015, all alumni with accurate e-mail addresses on record at Culver will receive a survey, which will provide information for our staff and volunteers to better serve you. In addition, this instrument will give us better insights into how we can communicate with you and how those communications are delivered. Ideally, we want those transactions between the alumni and the school to be as fluid as possible so you can see them when you want to and on your terms. ENGAGE AND INVOLVE. With a month's worth of events still to count, we have had nearly 4,000 guests attend Culver events. These are unique individuals, e.g. no double counting, and the events range from happy hours to One Culver events with Pam and John Buxton to reunion weekend. This is up from 3,000 unique guests in 2013. Each year, the alumni office and volunteers around the world provide more opportunities for Culver friends to gather. PARTICIPATION. We must raise our Culver Fund participation numbers. Advancement staff believes that the best place to find a significant incremental increase is in those classes which have graduated within the last 15 years. Every study produced in this area affirms that alumni who form a habit of giving right out of school are most likely to become lifelong donors. We are teaming with staff — see the key words at the start of each paragraph above — to provide the value-added propositions that may establish the loyalty and commitment necessary to create steady, lifelong contributors. We welcomed four new Legion directors to the board in October: Dorothy Held '79, Lara Smith Nicholson '86, Chuck Osborne '88, and Rajiv Chopra '89.
Maj. Gen. Richard J. Sherlock ’76, USA Ret. Fairfax, Virginia Rick is a retired major general with more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Army. He is president and CEO of the Association of Air Medical Services. Rick and his wife, Lyn, are parents of two daughters.
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ClassNews SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NEWS TO www.culver.org/alumni
Nancy and Terry A.T. Whitley ’60 have relocated to Wayland, Mich. They will continue their RV travels during good weather in support of Habitat for Humanity with Honda and motorcycle in tow.
Edward D. Wohlsen W’55, N’56, ’60 is retired and in Chonburi, Thailand.
Photo provided.
William R. Woodward W’53, ’60 and wife, Beverly, winter in Tucson, Ariz., and spend the rest of the year in Portland, Ore.
In June, Judge John G. Baker ’64 of Zionsville, Ind., celebrated his 25th year on the Court of Appeals of Indiana. John is the longest-serving member of the current court and the sixth longest-serving member in the court’s 113-year history. Judge Baker has written almost 4,600 majority opinions. He also teaches spring semester at the Indiana University McKinney School of LawIndianapolis and retired in 2013 after 33 years of teaching at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at I.U.-Bloomington.
book awards. Max is curator and chairman of the Department of Asian Art at the New York City Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he has worked since 1971. Robert H. Grimes ’68 is serving a four-year term as a county commissioner in Bandera County, Texas. Bob retired after 30-plus years in senior hospital administrative positions. George E. “Win” Rhoulhac III ’69 and wife, Allyn, are empty-nesters in Greenville, Miss. Win is still in the financial service business.
1970s
A 50-member fraternal club in Mansfield, Ohio, known as the Hermit Club boasts four CMA graduates, all of whom were present at a June event. From left to right, representing three decades, are Charles Lynch ’68, Dr. Larry Gibson ’58, Ed Cook ’48, and Bill Ingram ’46.
Classmates Thomas Yendes W’52, ’60 and Cathryn Covington ’60 were married Nov. 7, 2013. They used their Culver rings as wedding bands. They are living in Thousand Oaks, Calif., but travel to and from homes in Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, and Bullhead City, Ariz.
Stephen J. Cuthbert H’58, ’62 is a busy fellow! He is building an airplane at his Indianapolis home. Steve also builds and races remote-control sailboats, is a competition shooter of Civil War firearms, and a field music drummer. Chicago attorney Stephen R. Komie W’62 has been re-elected to the Illinois State Bar Association Board of Governors. Stephen is a principal in the law firm of Komie and Associates. He will be serving a sixth three-year term on the Board of Governors, during which he has served as secretary and treasurer.
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William “Scott” Livesay ’64 continues to see patients and perform gynecological surgery in Waco, Texas. Horace H. Heidt ’65 of Sherman Oaks, Calif., has his sights set on his 50th reunion in 2015. In spring 2014, David A. Krauss W’60, ’65 of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, reconnected with roommates G. Scott Walter ’65 (Liberty Lake, Wash.) and John Hume ’65 (New Albany, Ohio) after “a mere 48 years.” The trio took a road trip East for Scott’s mother's 92nd birthday. “We all had a great time together,” David reports, adding they plan to be in Culver for their 50th reunion “to catch up with other classmates.” Maxwell K. Hearn ’67 was honored in April 2014 with election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His recent exhibition catalog, “Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary Chinese Art,” received two
One of the world’s leading experts on human vision, David R. Williams W’66, ’71 has been named a member of the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of his distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. He is the University of Rochester’s William G. Allyn Professor of Medical Optics, dean for research and director of the Center for Visual Science. “Battle Bunny,” co-written by Jon R. Scieszka ’72, is the winner of the 2014 Gryphon Award for Children’s Literature. Given annually by the Center for Children’s Books, the Gryphon is awarded to the author of an outstanding English language work of fiction or non-fiction for which the primary audience is children in kindergarten through fourth grade, and which successfully bridges the gap in difficulty between books for reading aloud to children and books for practiced readers. The book is published by Simon & Schuster. AFASPC – the architectural firm of Anne R. Fahim SS’72, ’74 – has been awarded a term contract with the New York Fire Department. Anne and her husband, Safwat, are celebrating 35 years of marriage.
Timothy C. Swandy H’71, ’74 of Pittsburgh is a helicopter pilot for the Maryland State Police, specializing in water rescues. Kathryn Maxwell ’76 is an artist and professor in the Art Department at Arizona State University in Tempe. She also is
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acting director of Student Affairs in the department.
Brooks B. Goettle W’72, ’77 of Fairfield, Calif., has graduated with his Doctorate of Nursing Anesthesia Practice degree. He enjoys tennis and biking in northern California wine country. William J. Schnarel ’77 of Lipan, Texas, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in December 2013. He is looking for work as a software developer/architect.
Carol Blair Sventy SS’78, ’79 is a councilwoman for the Borough of Kinnelon, N.J. As a library volunteer she serves on two boards, as registrar for Center for LifeLong Learning and vice president of Friends of the Library. Carol also works for the Kinnelon Afterschool Program.
Garrison photo.
In June, Don Kojich ’78 became the Chief Relations Officer for the University of North Dakota Alumni Association and Foundation. He is responsible for alumni relations, donor relations, marketing and communications, special events, and stewardship. Two weeks after he started, the Grand Forks school announced a $5 million gift for petroleum engineering, of which the state matched $2.5 million.
1980s Maryruth Gafill Jinkerson ’80 married Ken Malloy W ’75 ’80 on March 28, 2014, in Napa, Calif. The wedding party included J. Bruce Gafill III ’56, Elizabeth Gafill Dominello ’85, Elizabeth Willkie Tew ’81, and David England ’80.
Samuel W. Gonas N’89, ’91 is an attorney in Miami practicing in real estate. A licensed real estate broker since 2008, Sam says law was “a natural transition.” He lives in Coral Gables, Fla.
Tracey Frampton Williams SS’77, ’80 has transitioned to academia as the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education for the physical therapist assistant program at Germann Community College in Locust Grove, Va. Tracey and husband Hunter live in Alexandria, Va. Russell W. Sheaffer ’81 has been named president of Cummins NPower in Minnesota. Russell most recently was the VP and general manager and has spent his entire professional career with Cummins, joining the firm in 1986. Russell and his wife, Vicky, live in White Bear Lake, Minn. Stacey A. Edwards ’89 of Plymouth, Ind., is general manager and co-owner of The Thyme Restaurant on Pretty Lake.
1990s Megan Pels Carney SS’89, ’90 is the Associate Director of Admissions and serves as head of a freshmen girls dorm at Thacher School in Ojai, Calif. A graduate of Princeton University with a master’s from Harvard University, Megan and her husband, Jason, live on the Thacher campus with their three children.
Troop B members Kyle Jackson ’15 and Tom Toole ’78 connected in August in Indianapolis when both were on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for a Colts preseason football game. Jackson was there with the CMA football team, which was recognized in pregame ceremonies as the first to participate in the Heads Up Tackling program. Toole, of Brownsburg, Ind., is a member of the Gordon Pipers, which performed the national anthem.
last three seasons with the Chicago Steel of the U.S. Hockey League. R.J., his wife, Katie, and their daughters live in Briargate, Colo.
Susan Martha Kempter ’90 is the Director of Account Management for a consulting firm specializing in the health and wellbeing of patients. Susan lives in Voorhees, N.J., with her husband, Joe, and their children (13 and 11). Richard J. Enga ’91 has returned to his alma mater, Colorado College, as an assistant hockey coach. He was a volunteer assistant in 2008-09 before coaching in the North American Hockey League and spending the
Darcie Dodds Schott ’83 (center) was the guest speaker Sept. 28 at the Dean England Day Ceremony. Schott is a feature film producer in California and the mother of Josephine ’15, Hayden ’18 and Mitchell. With her prior to the ceremony are Erin Thomas (left), CGA Honor Council chair, and Senior Prefect Erin Luck. Photo courtesy of A. Paul Paré W’62, ’67.
James R. Spencer ’91 is the newly-created Vice President of New Business Development and Assistant to the Chairman of the Minnesota Wild National Hockey League franchise. Jamie will be developing new business opportunities and oversee ticket sales and fan relations. He re-joins the Wild after three years as Executive Vice President of Sales for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Sarah E. Wolff SS’93, deputy commandant for the Upper Camp, and Jace Thompson, the senior counselor in Naval 1, were married Aug. 8, 2014, atop the Naval Building. Sarah and Jace met at Culver 15 summers ago. Mitchell G. Henderson W’89, ’94 and his wife, Ashley, are the parents of Pippa Rose, born May 7, 2014. The family lives in Princeton, N.J., where Mitch is the head basketball coach at Princeton University, his undergraduate alma mater.
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ClassNews
Photo provided.
SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NEWS TO www.culver.org/alumni
A host of Culver alumni were present May 24, 2014, for the wedding of Meagan Jackson ’07 and Chris Thorp W'02, N'05 in Spring, Texas. The bride and groom met in summer 2008 while working at Woodcraft Camp. The couple resides in Houston, where Meagan is an accountant at PMG Peat Marwick, and Chris is a tax consultant at Deloitte Tax LLP. Culver alumni pictured are, front row (left to right): Stephanie Thorp W’03, Kerry Pelton SS’07, Kelly Norton ’07, the bride and groom, Ana Tosi ’08, Alex Banfich ’08, Teresa Greppi ’07, and Aline Medina ’07; second row: Richard Thorp ’77, father of the groom; Brian Thorp ’81, Silvia Tosi, Guga Tosi ’07, John Rogers, Humanities instructor; Weston Outlaw ’00, Adam Towne N’05, Justin Murphy ’07, and James Moody ’07.
Adam F. Waldman ’96 and his wife, Helaine, are parents of their first child, Asher, born June 16, 2014. The Waldmans live in New York City, where Adams practices anesthesiology.
(Ritt) was an intern/instructor in Modern & Classical Languages from 2007-10 and an Upper Camp Assistant Athletic director in 2009. The birth also makes Academies language instructor Fred Haase a grandfather.
Dr. Kristen P. Bunch SS’98, a board-certified ob/gyn, was awarded a research fellowship in oncology at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
After five years as the Academies’ director of student activities, Megan E. Porter SS’97, ’99 is attending Washington University's Brown School of Social Work graduate program.
Michael A. Hass ’98 and wife Jennifer DeHart-Hass live in Washington, D.C., with their two children. David Haase ’99 and his wife, Samantha, are the parents of a daughter, Reagan, born July 28, 2014, in Knoxville, Tenn. Samantha
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Eric K. Sturman W’96, N’99 married Catherine James at Watkins Glen, N.Y., on June 21, 2014. The newlyweds are living in Columbus, Ohio.
2000s Molly M. Engstrom ’01 is the head girls’ hockey coach at Kimball Union Academy, a coed college prep boarding school in Meriden, N.H. Molly is a 2005 graduate of the University of Wisconsin and earned silver and bronze medals while skating for the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team in 2010 and 2006, respectively. Randall K. Minas Jr. ’01 and Greg Harris were married July 12, 2014, in Chicago and have relocated to Hawaii. Randy is an
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assistant professor in the Information and Technology Department of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Shidler School of Business. The wedding party included Randy’s sisters Dawn Brockey ’98 and Melissa Braswell ’96, as well as Elisha Davis Porterfield ’01. Brittany A. Ellsworth ’03 became Brittany Tretta on May 4, 2014, in a Laughlin, Nev., ceremony. Her sister, Courtney Ellsworth ’06, was her attendant. Rachel L. Dunn ’04 is director of basketball operations at the University of Nevada- Las Vegas. Kyle P. Racina ’04 married Jacilyn Spellman on April 4, 2014. They live in Chicago and Kyle has been a professional firefighter in Round Lake, Ill., for nine years.
Frank T. Henderson NB’08 and Aynes Lopez Espada ’13 performed during the Summer Homecoming One Culver postparade party. Frank is studying commercial music at Bath Spa University in Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom. In May 2014, JiaJie “JJ” Lu ’08 opened a healthy-concept restaurant Salad+ in the 100-story Shanghai World Financial Center. It is the first restaurant of its kind in Shanghai and, thanks to early success, she was scouting for new locations around Shanghai. After graduating from Bryn Mawr, JJ worked as an investment banker in Shanghai. She says many of her leadership and business skills were learned at Culver. Jessica Shannon ’08 and her brother Marcus Shannon ’11 completed their first full Ironman competition on June 29 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Jessica is working on her master’s degree in physiology at the University of Michigan, and earned her undergraduate degree at Michigan State. Marcus will be a senior at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Skidmore College graduate Anthony S. Giacin ’09 was named to the 2014 Capital One All-America Division III At-Large Third Team. Tony was a three-time ECAC East All-Academic selection and graduated with a 3.95 GPA and a double major in business and economics.
FROM THE CSSAA PRESIDENT Summer experience exceeds all expectations Typically, this space is used to update the summer alumni on matters pertaining to CSSAA Board decisions and opportunities for summer alumni to engage in regional and on-campus events. Allow me to offer a different message … a more personal message. With apprehension, I accepted an offer from Summer Schools & Camps Director Don Fox to become head counselor of Deck 6 in the Upper School for the 2014 summer. It had been nearly 30 years since I was on summer staff. And, while having four children in the summer program provides some familiarity with the day-to-day operation of the camp, I sensed a daunting assignment. I applaud Culver's leadership for giving me this opportunity. As CSSAA Board president and a CEF trustee, they take a risk that I may see parts of the onion that are not perfect when we peel back the layers. It is easy for me, and perhaps some of you, to critique parts of the program that are so important to so many of us and our families because we want Culver to be the best it can be today and for future generations. Achieving the mission and doing it “the Culver way" is challenging in today's world.
You know what? I peeled back that onion and what I found is what all alumni want: An incredibly practical leadership laboratory whose systems (“the Culver way") motivate young people to reach beyond what they though was possible individually and with peers from around the world. They internalize all these lessons seamlessly because they are having so much fun achieving. This experience also made me a better volunteer board member because I realized how and where alumni can be most helpful to Culver. It is by providing perspective, serving as trusted advisers on strategic issues, and securing the resources — human, financial, and intellectual — that allow school and camp leaders to better fulfill Culver's mission.
Susan Severns Ellert SS'85 Culver, Indiana
Susan is the 63rd CSSAA president. She and her husband, Francis N'85, are the parents of four children: Betse W'12, SS'15, CGA '17; Pierce W'14 (D&B); Fritz W'16; and Cabot JW'13.
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As you might have guessed, the experience exceeded all my expectations. With energetic and knowledgeable assistant counselors, good pre-camp training, and a wonder group of young women, my apprehensions were short-lived. Eighteen hours a day — from BRC ranks to afternoon athletic competitions to planning the next day with our student leaders — we were together and attacking each activity — individual and team — with zeal. I was reminded why Culver has been so meaningful to me, my husband, Francis, and our families.
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ClassNews
Photo provided
SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NEWS TO www.culver.org/alumni
Corrections & Clarifications
Culver’s latest crop of U.S. Military Academy cadets are, left to right, Logan Joseph ’14, Nick Curtin ’14, Adam Stahthakis ’13, Sterling Willman ’13, Bobby Thomas ’14, and James Callan ’13.
Xiaoquan Weng ’09 graduated in May 2014 from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in quantitative and computational finance.
2010s Caitlin-Jean A. Juricic SS’07, ’10 graduated from Sewanee: University of the South with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She received the Student Initiative Award, Community Builder Award, and Best Upand-Coming Organization Award for her community development campaign. Trevor Weaser ’10 and Jackson Anderson ’11 competed in the World Rowing Under 23 Championships from July 23-27, in Varese, Italy, as members of the 2014 U.S. Under 23 Team. Weaser, who recently graduated from Northeastern University, was a member of the men’s eight that took a bronze medal. One of his crewmates was Spencer Hall N’08. Anderson of Mission Hills, Kan., rowed for the men’s quadruple sculls.
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Waverly Neer ’11 has transferred to the University of Oregon to complete her degree and run cross country and track her final two years for the Ducks. At Columbia University in New York City, Waverly was a three time All-American and Academic All-American while on the Dean’s List four semesters. C. “Jack” Mitzell ’12 has been selected as a student director of the Morehead-Cain Scholarship Fund, the fund-raising entity for the University of North Carolina’s Morehead-Cain Foundation. A junior (Jack) and a senior were selected to the 13-member board. He will serve a two-year term, gaining experience with a non-profit enterprise while representing his fellow Morehead-Cain Scholars on issues about the program and its future. Louis R. Belpedio Jr. ’14 became the 23rd CMA hockey player to be drafted by a National Hockey League team. In June 2014, Louis was selected in the third round by the Minnesota Wild and was the 80th pick overall. He skated for two years with Culver before joining the U.S. National Development Program. He has committed to Miami University.
Apologies to the Class of 1984 for tacking on 10 years to their ages (page 36, Summer 2014). The Class of 1984 celebrated its 30year reunion in May 2014. Also, on page 41, the name of Cymber L. Quinn ’84 was listed incorrectly. Though married, Suzanne Gignilliat SS’74 has retained her maiden name. Her name appeared incorrectly in the Graduate of the Year article about her father, Paul Gignilliat ’49. (Summer 2014) The following class news item is being reprinted to correct several errors: Maryruth Gafill Jinkerson ’80 and Ken Malloy W’75, ’80 were married March 28, 2014, in Napa, Calif. The wedding party included J. Bruce Gafill III ’56, Elizabeth Gafill Dominello ’85, Elizabeth Willkie Tew ’81, and David England ’80. Williard W. Brown Jr. ’67 is the father of a 2-year-old, not the grandfather as stated in the Summer 2014 issue. Rollin K. MacMichael ’67 is the child’s godfather.
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Shore magazine focuses on equestrian program Photographs of the Academies’ equestrian program and Savannah Kranich ’05 were included in an article in the December/January issue of Shore magazine. Culver was among the northern Indiana equestrian facilities mentioned in “Equestrian Ethos,” an article about the enjoyment horses and riding can provide during the winter months; something our students know all about. Kranich is an Admissions counselor and also serves as the Equestriennes adviser and an assistant polo coach. She was pictured with the horse Thomas, a veteran of the Presidential Inaugural Parade, on pages 38-39 with information on the school and the equestrian program. The photographs were taken last winter at the Vaughn Equestrian Center by Shore magazine photographer Tony V. Martin. Published by the Northwest Indiana Times in Munster, Ind., Shore magazine focuses on luxury lifestyles and culture along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Indiana and Michigan. You can read the December/January issue online at visitshoremagazine.com.
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CulverClubs International
Photo provided.
Henderson addresses One Culver 30 turn out for celebrations in Cincy, Indy Indy polo tailgate WHITESTOWN, Ind. – Indiana’s only polo club – not surprisingly founded by a Culver family – was the scene of the Culver Club of Indianapolis Polo Tailgate Picnic on Sept. 6. Thirty people attended the Hickory Hall Polo Club event, which was hosted by Donna and Greg Chandler, parents of Austin Chandler ’10. The Chandlers founded the club over 20 years ago. The $20 per vehicle entrance fee went directly to benefit the Culver polo program.
CEF Chairman Emeritus Jim Henderson W’47, ’52 served as the guest speaker at One Culver celebrations in Cincinnati and Indianapolis in October.
Photo by Meagan Maes, Communications Intern.
Henderson recognized the Culver Club of Cincinnati as a long-time group and strong club. The Oct. 20 event at the Queen City Club drew 80 people with alumni ranging from 1945 to 2013. On Oct. 21, Indianapolis One Culver attracted
Alumni Drake D’Ambra ’09, Nithin Reddy ’09, Takashi Nakachi ’07, and Deanna Dilts ’11 were among the 150 people attending the One Culver Indianapolis celebration on Oct. 21.
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150 people to the Meridian Hills Country Club, including several current campers and boarding students. At both venues, Henderson spoke of Culver’s history and the four “jewels in the crown”: CMA, CGA, Woodcraft, and Upper Camp. Henderson updated guests on the completed construction and ongoing renovation projects on campus as well as upcoming projects and goals. Before and after the program, he and other staff members spent time talking with current summer campers and prospective students and their families. Advancement staff present at both were Advancement Director Mike Perry, Alumni Director Alan Loehr, Senior Development Officer Cathy Zurbrugg, and Maria Benner, Culver Clubs coordinator. Summer Camps Director Don Fox and Summer Admissions Counselor Emily Ryman attended both events. They were joined in Indianapolis by Kelly Norton ’07, Summer Communications Coordinator, as well as a number of faculty and staff.
Horsemanship instructor Frank Stubblefield H’74 and Director of Horsemanship Instruction Mark Waller represented the campus, along with the four-horse Friesian Color Guard. Trooper/JV polo player Tsz “Kevin” Tai ’17 of Chicago sang the national anthem. Photo provided.
The Muse family from Loveland, Ohio – Michael ’88, Lauren ’14, and Carrie – with Summer Camps Director Don Fox ’75 at the One Culver Cincinnati celebration.
At halftime, guests were able to stomp the divots and were treated to a fly-over by a small plane that dropped candy for the participants. “This was such a fun, family-friendly event,” said Meg Dinwiddie Burk ’91, Indy club president. “My kids absolutely loved it.”
Culver Clubs Connect! At the Indianapolis Polo Tailgate on Sept. 6, Meg Dinwiddie Burk ’91 (right) was reunited with Tanya Sabat SS’90 of Brecksville, Ohio. The two are friends from Upper Camp and had not seen each other in more than 20 years.
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Photo provided.
18 people turned out Oct. 10-11 for the Culver Club of Culver Trap & Skeet Shoot at the Academies’ range. The group included alumni, parents, guests, and students.
ATLANTA – Jim Henderson W'47 ’52, chairman emeritus of The Culver Educational Foundation Board of Trustees, was the keynote speaker at the One Culver event hosted by the Culver Club of Georgia.
Culver staff in attendance were Alumni Director Alan Loehr, Culver Club Coordinator Maria Benner, Senior Development Officer Cathy Zurbrugg, and Assistant Admissions Director Savannah Kranich ’05.
Work in Shenzhen progressing SHENZHEN, China – In early September, a luncheon involving the strategic committee of the Culver Club Shenzhen met with International Advancement Director Tony Giraldi ’75. The committee members are helping Giraldi with fund-raising strategies. Giraldi also met with a handful of the 13- and 14-year-olds from leadership families in the region who attended a three-hour informational session. “We've come a long way as a team in thirteen years,” Giraldi said, noting the first two graduates from Shenzhen (and China) were the Yan twins in 2001.
Proudly displaying their Culver C’s at the One Culver Atlanta event are, left to right, Corinne Adams (wife of Jeffrey Adams ’69), Bo Hagler ’81, Stephanie Guarino ’81 and daughter Marisa Guarino ’11, and Jim Henderson W’47, ’52.
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The event was held at the home of Jeff ’69 and Corinne Adams and attracted 85 people. Those attending ranged from a couple of current Woodcrafters in uniform to Jim Paschal ’41. Four Culver alumni from Emory University were also present.
Bill Hunt ’88, president of the Georgia club, welcomed the guests and recognized his event team and callers. Henderson took questions for 30 minutes following his presentation. The attendees socialized for another 90 minutes before departing.
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CulverClubs International
Photo provided.
Cincinnati picnic attracts 30 to Sharon Woods Park SHARONVILLE, Ohio – The Cincinnati Culver Club hosted its second annual picnic at Sharon Woods Park with 30 alumni, parents, current students and campers, and a prospective family on hand. The outing included a catered meal and outdoor activities at the Fern Hollow Shelter. The Aug. 10 outing served as a welcome home for campers and a send-off for Academies students. Senior Development Officer Cathy Zurbrugg represented the campus.
Jud Little ’65 and two of his former Jud Little Scholars, Katie Mikles ’13 (left) and Stephanie Pfeifer ’12, attended the Oklahoma Culver Club event in September.
50 Okies gather ‘up on the roof’ OKLAHOMA CITY –The Oklahoma Culver Club gathered on the rooftop of Packard’s New American Kitchen on Sept. 17, 2014.
The campus was represented by Culver Club Coordinator Maria Benner, Director of Development Mike Hogan, and Assistant Director of Admissions Savannah Kranich ’05.
Photo provided.
Elizabeth Berry SS’99 and Joe Orthwein N’05 welcomed the 50 members and guests. CEF Trustee Jud Little ’65 gave an update on the State of the Academies and recognized the Jud Little Scholars and their parents. Little presented a Culver eagle statue to the first Jud
Little Scholar, Stephanie Pfeifer ’12. He thanked Pfeifer for being an ambassador for this scholarship program and for recruiting young people from Oklahoma for this scholarship.
About a dozen people from the South Florida Culver Club gathered Oct. 19 for a Sunday brunch at the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa outside Miami. Pictured, left to right, are club leaders Sheila Yale ’61, Hector de la Canal ’12 and Tony Morganthau ’64.
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Since 2003, members of the Cincinnati Culver Club have donated nearly $18,000 to provide financial aid for Cincinnati-area students to attend the boarding school and summer programs.
Musical trio entertains in Taiwan TAIWAN – Culver parents Cheng Sen Chang and Hsiu-Li Hung hosted the 12th annual Culver dinner at their home in June. Entertainment was provided by one of Taiwan’s best-known musical trios. Advancement Director Tony Giraldi ’75 was introduced to the Changs three years ago by Lily Lee, the mother of Angela Lee ’00, one of Culver’s first students from Taiwan. Lee continues to be a Culver ambassador and recently recruited two families in Taiwan and Asia who applied for admission this fall. A second event in Taiwan included alumni, current students, and prospective families, Giraldi said.
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Save the date, don't be late! Jan. 18 – Culver Club of South Florida: Gulf Stream Park Outing. Jan. 24 – One Culver at the Fort Worth Stock and Rodeo with the North Texas Culver Club. Feb. 27 – Southwest Florida Culver Club (Naples) Luncheon Club at Pelican Bay. March 8 – Yankees Spring Training Game and Luncheon at Tampa, Fla. March 29 – Culver Club of South Florida Wellington Polo Event. Current and prospective students along with alumni, parents, and friends gathered in Switzerland at the home of Ross and Jennifer Koller.
Culver parents host annual Swiss event GENEVA, Switzerland – In mid-September, the eighth annual Culver Club event was held at the home of Ross H’80, '83 and Jennifer Koller. The Kollers are current parents of a boarding school cadet and past summer parents of Scarlett SS’09, Caroline W’09, SS’12, Ross W’11, ’17. Tony Giraldi was Ross’ Summer Cavalry counselor in 1979 and 1980 and is currently Ross Jr.'s mentor. Giraldi said the event resulted in a new boarding school student for 2015 and seven or eight campers from the new families present. There are currently four boarding school students from Switzerland, he added.
Texans enjoy Skeeters baseball outing SUGAR LAND, Texas – About 35 people turned out Aug. 23 for the Houston Culver Club’s outing to a Suglar Land Skeeters minor league baseball game at Constellation Field. Talbot “Tal” Smith ’50 organized the event in coordination with Vicky Greene ’03. Smith is a consultant to the Sugar Land Skeeters, an Atlantic League franchise. The Skeeters play in a family-
friendly stadium that includes a swimming pool, carousel, and playground in the outfield bleachers area. Culver alumni, parents and friends were able to bring their young children to play and to socialize while enjoying a professional baseball game. Attendees also enjoyed a barbecue buffet at the adjacent Ice House. Development Director Mike Hogan represented the campus.
Spring 2015 - One Culver in Chicago (TBD). April 18 - Culver Clubs of the South & Nashville Gathering. April 26 - New York City Culver Club with Culver Pipes & Drums at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point April 28 - One Culver at Detroit with James Brooks ’66. June 2015 – Culver Club of Indianapolis Hickory Hall Polo Club Tailgate Picnic. June 19 – Culver Clubs of Indiana at South Bend Cubs “Friday Night Fireworks” baseball game. June 28 – Culver Club of Chicago at the Chicago Botanical Garden. Visit culver.org/alumnievents to view events and register, or call (574) 842-7200.
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CulverPassings in Review Photo by Camilo 'Mo' Morales
Death notices published in this issue were received and processed as of August 31, 2014. Information is gleaned from published obituaries, newspaper stories, and information found in the alumni database. Full obituaries are limited to those alumni who have died within three years of this publication.
Walter G. Vonnegut W’39 of Indianapolis died July 1, 2014. Survivors include three daughters, among them Mary McDonald SS’70 and Elizabeth Vonnegut SC’67.
Harold S. Fry N’32 died Feb. 18, 2014, in East Sparta, Ohio. Mr. Fry was a graduate of The Ohio State University and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. He served with the 158th Infantry Regimental Combat Team under the command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Following the war, he established the Harold S. Fry Agency, Inc., which became Insurance Services. Mr. Fry served as president of both until his retirement in 1977. He also served on the Board of Directors of Spartek, Inc., from 1967-79. A merger of the family business with U.S. Ceramic Tile Co. created Spartek, one of the largest wall and floor tile manufacturers in the United States. Mr. Fry is survived by two daughters, nine grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by sons Terry H’55 and Richard W’61. Douglas T. Yates ’33 (Band) of New York City, died Aug. 16, 2014. Mr. Yates was a graduate of Williams College and an Army major during World War II, serving in the Signal Corps. He was employed as the executive vice president and director of Republic Pictures Corp., chairman of Seaboard Associates Inc., a partner at White, Weld and Co., and vice president at Merrill Lynch. Mr. Yates was a trustee and founder of The Episcopal School in New York City, among several other civic involvements. Surviving are three sons, a daughter, 11 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
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Emeritus Trustee James D. Fullerton ’35 (Troop) of Pasadena, Calif., died July 14, 2014. Mr. Fullerton served as a CEF trustee from 1987-94. He was named an Honorary Cum Laude in 1986 and received the Logansport Medal for distinguished service in 2002. Mr. Fullerton spent most of his professional life with Capital Group in Los Angeles. By the time he retired in 1984, he had served 11 years as chairman. Mr. Fullerton was a philanthropist who gave his time and energy to organizations focused on children, education, and healthcare. He received a degree in economics from Stanford University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He was a World War II Army veteran, rising to the rank of major in the 76th Field Artillery Horse Drawn. He earned four battle stars and a Bronze Star. His novel, “When We Had the Horses,” was based on his wartime experiences. Two daughters and two granddaughters survive. Thomas Hodge Jr. W’38 died Dec. 27, 2011, in Henderson, Ky. Mr. Hodge was president of Hodge Tobacco Company in Owensboro, Ky., and Kingsville, Ontario. Following the dissolution of the business in the early 1970s, he spent more than 20 years as a stockbroker at Hilliard Lyons. He was a graduate of the University of Virginia and served during World War II in the Army in both the European and Pacific theatres. Survivors include his wife, Martha; two daughters, two sons, including Keith W’79; and a stepson, John Hodge SC’75.
John H. Bottomley II ’40 (Co. D) of La Jolla, Calif., died June 25, 2014. Mr. Bottomley enlisted in the Navy immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor and served on the destroyer USS Lowry. After the war, he worked in the family’s textile mill in Camden, N.J. He moved to La Jolla in 1953 and worked at Bottomley and Harrah Manufacturing Co. and at the National Steel and Ship Co. Mr. Bottomley was an avid sportsman, playing his last round of golf at age 92. Surviving are two sons, a daughter, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. George A. Ham W’40 of Laguna Niguel, Calif., died April 1, 2014. Mr. Ham became national sales manager with a large pharmaceutical company. He also worked with a group of Los Angeles doctors in developing one of the early HMOs. Later in life he became an accomplished artist. He was a graduate of Arizona State University. Surviving are his wife, Beverly; three children, four stepsons, and three granddaughters. Robert Lockwood N’40 died June 17, 2014, in Santa Fe, N.M. An Army veteran and graduate of the University of New Mexico, Mr. Lockwood opened a lumber yard and later formed Lockwood Construction Company. He later expanded into custom home design and construction, subdivisions, and the commercial field. He was involved with HUD projects for the handicapped in the ’70s and planning and development of Rancho Viejo near Santa Fe in the ’80s. A son, daughter, and grandson survive. Robert B. Taft Sr. W’40 of Upton, Wyo., died Jan. 1, 2012. After a stint in the Army, Mr. Taft left the family business and moved to Wyoming where he developed a campground/ranch complex complete with a ghost town and outdoor movies. He also was a horse, beef, and sheep rancher. He is survived by two sons, two daughters, and 15 grandchildren. Mr. Taft was predeceased by his father, John N’16.
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Altheus O. Wing Jr. W’40 died June 9, 2014, in Hebron, Ohio. A graduate of The Ohio State University with a business degree, he established the A.O. Wing Insurance Agency and was active in business and community affairs. Mr. Wing was drive chairman and past president of Charity Newsies and past president and international president of Sertoma, among others. A biking enthusiast, he participated in TOSRV, the annual bike ride from Columbus to Portsmouth, Ohio. Surviving are three daughters, a son, nine grandchildren, and a great-grandson. William A. Kunkel III N’42 of Fort Wayne, Ind., died Aug. 17, 2014. He was a graduate of Indiana University, where he played varsity baseball, and the I.U. School of Dentistry. Dr. Kunkel was an Army veteran of the Korean War, stationed in Germany. He established The Kunkel Family Endowment Scholarship for I.U. football. He is survived by two sons, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. James B. Horton W’43 of New York City, died June 30, 2014. According to the New York Times, Mr. Horton had a varied and distinguished career as a magazine executive, turning troubled magazines into successful and profitable icons of their decade. A graduate of Columbia College, he earned his MBA from New York University. As vice president of CRM Inc., and general manager
of its magazine publishing division, he turned Psychology Today magazine into a profitable magazine. With other publishers, he also launched Food and Wine magazine and took Working Women from bankruptcy to become one of America’s hottest magazines. Mr. Horton was a Korean War veteran, serving in the Army armored division. Surviving are his wife, Ines; three daughters, and a granddaughter. Edward L. Valentine III ’43 died July 18, 2014, in Houston. Prior to retirement, he was a country club manager and restaurateur. Surviving are his wife, Shirley; three sons, two daughters, 10 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Joseph H. Dannenmaier W’40, ’44 (Troop) of Rockford, Ill., died Aug. 4, 2014. A World War II Navy veteran, Mr. Dannenmaier was an engineer employed by Conoco and DuPont. He was a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology and received a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University. Survivors include a daughter, two sons, a brother, and six grandchildren. Emil R. Fischer Jr. ’44 (Troop) died May 10, 2014, in Green Bay, Wis. A World War II Navy veteran, Mr. Fischer attended Lawrence University before joining the family business, Atlas Warehouse and Cold Storage Company. Mr. Fischer was the owner and president from 1958-91. He was a sportsman and pilot. Among his many
Biology instructor and coach, Loren Carswell
Archives photo
Longtime biology instructor and coach Loren R. Carswell, 82, passed away at his Culver home on June 16, 2014. Mr. Carswell taught in Plymouth, LaPaz, Culver, and Kewanna, spending the last 23 years teaching biology at Culver Academies, retiring in 1992.
He was active as a basketball coach Loren R. Carswell and official for baseball, basketball, and girls’ volleyball, for which he received the Interscholastic Official Association Award for Excellence
in 1998. He was a volunteer for the Red Cross Bloodmobile and Meals on Wheels. Mr. Carswell graduated from Purdue University with a degree in agriculture education, and earned his master’s degree in science education from Middle Tennessee State College. He was a first lieutenant in the Army while stationed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma in 1953. Surviving are his wife, Susanna; three daughters, including Karen Carswell ’74 of Tippecanoe, Ind., and Rhonda Anderson ’76 of Culver; and four grandchildren, among them Tucker Anderson W’03, ’07 and Mitchell Anderson ’13. He was predeceased by a son.
philanthropic interests, he was a patron of the arts. Surviving are his wife, Gail; five daughters, among them Linda Fischer ’75 of Sturgis, Miss.; a son, and a grandson. Thomas R. Lang ’44 (Troop) died May 26, 2014, in Minneapolis. Mr. Lang made his living as a salesman. He enlisted in the Army, serving as a medic at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, then returned to Cornell University. Mr. Lang ran in seven marathons after age 50. He is survived by his wife, Electa; a sister, four daughters, a son, 10 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Edward W. Mueller ’44 (Artillery) died July 7, 2014, in Tyler, Texas. Two daughters and a son survive. Rufus M. McCluer Jr. ’44 (Band) of Tucson, Ariz., died May 11, 2014. He graduated from Southern Methodist University with a business degree. He managed the McCluer Cheese Co. and later was an investment representative. He also started a computer sales and service company and was a bank executive before retiring in 1989. Surviving are his wife, Joanne; five daughters, a son, 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Robert H. Bower N’45 died July 7, 2014, in Cadiz, Ohio. Mr. Bower was a third-generation owner and operator of Bower Merchandise Mart in Scio, which later became Bower Gun Mart. Surviving are two sons, a brother, six grandchildren, seven greatgrandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild. William M. Eads Jr. ’45 (Co. A) died July 18, 2014, in Fort Smith, Ark. A Marine Corps veteran of World War II, Mr. Eads served as president of the Fort Smith School Board and on the boards of Harbor House, Superior Federal Savings, and Sparks Regional Medical Center. He is survived by two sons, a daughter, and three grandchildren. John P. Stewart II ’45 (Co. D) died June 14, 2014, in Frankfort, Ky. Dr. Stewart was the salutatorian of the Class of 1945 and served in the Navy. He was a summa cum laude graduate of Washington & Lee University and the University of Pennsylvania College of Medicine. He became Frankfort’s first radiologist in 1956. He chaired the committee that built the Frankfort Regional Medical Center and sat on a number of other boards and organizations. Dr. Stewart also was involved with local/regional investment and development. He served as director of the Stewart Home & School, CULVER ALUMNI MAGAZINE
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Passings a private, special-education residential facility founded in 1893 by his grandfather. Surviving are his wife, Milly; two sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren.
Keith W. Alexander N’48 died Aug. 1, 2012, in Aurora, Colo. He is survived by his wife, Lotus, nine children, 26 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
his lieutenant’s commission in the Army in 1954. He is survived by his wife, Marion; a son, daughter, brother, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
A former Legion Board vice president, Ralph G. Scheu ’46 (Troop) of Chicago died May 16, 2014. An attorney, Mr. Scheu was the longtime president of the 100 Club of Chicago and was passionate about the organization’s mission to provide for the families of fallen firefighters and police officers, according to the Chicago Tribune. During his 47-year tenure, the 100 Club served 251 families and provided $4.4 million in assistance. Mr. Scheu is survived by three sons, among them Stephen ’72; five grandchildren, and one great-grandson.
Richard G. Staebler Jr. W’44, ’48 (Co. C) died March 1, 2014, in La Grange Highlands, Ill.
Herman E. Monroe Jr. ’49 (Co. D) died July 25, 2014, in Huntsville, Ala. Mr. Monroe received a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. He served two years in the U.S. Army and was discharged as a first lieutenant. He returned to Huntsville, joining the family-owned office products business, where he spent approximately 40 years. Mr. Monroe was a board member of Regions Bank for 20 years. He was a past president of the Huntsville Industrial Development Association and a former board member of several civic and charitable organizations, including the Huntsville Public Library and The Salvation Army. Mr. Monroe is survived by his wife, Jane; a son, and two grandsons.
Thomas B. Yewell ’46 (Artillery) died Aug. 8, 2014, in Bethesda, Md. He graduated from Georgetown University and the Georgetown University Law School. Surviving are his wife, Margaret; five sons, among them George ’73 of West River, Md., Thomas H’77, E. Smith W’79, ’84 of Frederick, Md., and John Leslie W’77, ’87 of Gaithersburg, Md.; and four daughters. Harry J. Bohmer ’47 (Co. D) died Sept. 14, 2013, in Melbourne, Fla. Mr. Bohmer was named CMA’s Best-All-Around Athlete in his first-class year. He is survived by his wife, Betsy; four daughters, three stepchildren, 13 grandchildren, and two greatgrandchildren. James E. Rue NB’47 of Palm Harbor, Fla., died May 21, 2014. Dr. Rue received his dental degree from Indiana University, followed by his Masters in Orthodontics from I.U. After two years as a captain in the Army Dental Corps and a 15-year dental practice in Bloomington, Ind., he established an orthodontics practice in Dunedin, Fla. He also served on the Dunedin Planning and Zoning Board. Retiring in 1993, Dr. Rue obtained a degree in architectural design and spent 10 years drafting and designing homes for local contractors. He played in dance bands and with concert and community bands in Clearwater, Dunedin, and St. Petersburg, Fla. He also marched in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; two sons, including Brian N’72; a daughter, and four grandchildren.
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Martin D. Tahse ’48 (Co. B) of Northridge, Calif., died July 1, 2014. Mr. Tahse was a film producer and a 2008 inductee into the Culver Arts & Letters Hall of Fame. He went to New York City, where he specialized in acquiring and producing national tours of hit Broadway plays and musicals including “Funny Girl,” “The Miracle Worker,” “Two for the Seesaw,” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” He then turned to film, focusing on television movies. He produced 25 After School Specials for ABC, which earned him the title “King of the After School Special.” His shows touched millions of viewers as evidenced by the letters he received from around the world. Mr. Tahse’s productions earned 18 Emmy Awards, first prize in the San Francisco Film Festival, the Peabody Award, three first prizes at the American Film Awards, and first, second, and third prize in the Chicago Film Festival in the same year, which has never been matched. Martin Clark Tippens W’48 died Feb. 26, 2014, in Glendale, Calif. An actor, his stage, television, and film performances included “Not Necessarily the News,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Quantum Leap,” and “Gods and Generals.” Three sons and three siblings, including Albert '49 of Kenilworth, Ill., survive. Frank S. Jennings III N’49 of Independence, Mo., died May 26, 2014. An entrepreneur with many interests, Mr. Jennings also was a real estate developer. He was a licensed pilot, owned his own plane, and designed a gear system for helicopters, obtaining 13 patents. Mr. Jennings was a graduate of the University of Kansas and the Air Force ROTC program. He is survived by his longtime companion, Myrna Dean; her children and grandchildren, and a sister. Mr. Jennings was predeceased by his father, Frank Sr. N’18. Ben A. Johnston ’49 (Co. B) died May 11, 2014, in Covington, La. Mr. Johnston was associated with Mutual Benefit Life and Gulf States Plywood Co. He graduated from Louisiana State University, receiving
Robert B. Oliver II ’50 (Artillery) died Sept. 3, 2014, in Oxford, Mich. After receiving his commission, Mr. Oliver served as a navigation instructor in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He owned an auto parts retail store in Oxford for 22 years. In retirement, he volunteered at the Lighthouse of Oakland County, Village of Oakland Woods, Meadow Creek Village, and PCUSA Katrina Hurricane Relief Mission Trips. Mr. Oliver is survived by his wife, Velma; two daughters, a sister, and grandson. He was the nephew of the late Russ Oliver ’31, a former CMA football coach and alumni director. John W. Bradbury N’51 of Wilmette, Ill., died July 7, 2013. An Army veteran, much of Mr. Bradbury’s career was spent in the railroad supply industry. It concluded with him owning a company that leased railroad tank cars. He graduated from the business school at Michigan State University. Mr. Bradbury is survived by his wife, Mary; three daughters, and five grandchildren. R. Douglas McCullough ’51 (Artillery) died June 30, 2014, in Lexington, Ky. Mr. McCullough served in Germany with the Army as a photographer for Stars and Stripes. He was a graduate of the University of Kentucky. Mr. McCullough owned Jack Parker Batteries prior to a 25-year career as an agent for Exxon. He built homes and horse barns, and sold hardware prior to retiring as a construction inspector for a surety insurance company. Surviving are two sons and four grandchildren.
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Anthony W. Pew ’52 (Co. B) died April 20, 2014, in Boca Raton, Fla. His wife, Matilda, survives. Frank S. Badger III N’53 of Woodland Hills, Calif., died April 16, 2014. Robert J. Greer ’53 (Co. B) of Keller, Texas, died June 12, 2014. Mr. Greer was president of Greer Industries Inc., which he founded in 1978, and president emeritus of National Utilities Co. Inc. Both companies are in the aerospace industry. He was a graduate of Indiana University and a Korean War veteran. Mr. Greer was a philanthropist, providing college and continuing education for many young people and assistance to many employees and friends. He contributed to a number of charities and organizations, many of which assisted veterans and missionaries. Surviving are his wife, Jane; four daughters, a brother, and seven grandchildren. George M. Baker Jr. N’54 died April 4, 2014, in Spring Arbor, Mich. Mr. Baker was retired from Harvard Industries. He graduated from the University of NebraskaOmaha and served in the Air Force. He is survived by his wife, Beverly; a son, and three grandchildren. Richard A. Hilgemeier ’54 (Co. Dr.) of Oviedo, Fla., died Aug. 10, 2014. Dr. Hilgemeier practiced podiatry in Indianapolis for 40 years. He was a graduate of Indiana University and the Illinois College of Podiatry. Three daughters and five grandchildren survive. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward ’28. William S. Frankel III H’55 died June 30, 2014, in Terre Haute, Ind. Dr. Frankel started his retail career with the William S. Frankel Co., in Sandusky, Ohio. He retired as an operations manager from Sears Roebuck & Co. in Terre Haute after 37 years. Mr. Frankel was an Army veteran. He is survived by his wife, Connie; a son, two sisters, two brothers, and a grandson. A former Culver Parents Association board member, Fred A. Anderson III H’56, ’59 (Troop) died April 26, 2014, in Gloster, Miss. Mr. Anderson’s years of public service included attorney for the Amite County
Board of Education, attorney for the Town of Gloster, and 14 years as an alderman. He is survived by his wife, Michelle; children Christine Anderson ’89 and F.A. IV ’92, both of Liberty, Mo.; a brother, and two sisters. Austin P. Wildman W’58, ’62 (Co. C) died May 12, 2014 in Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Wildman spent over 40 years as an attorney and partner with several firms in Columbus, Springfield and London, Ohio. He was a graduate of Kent State (B.S.) and Ohio Northern (J.D.) universities. He was an outdoorsman and acted with the Charleston Opera House Players. Surviving are three children, including Andrew N’88 of Columbus, Ohio; a sister, and five grandchildren. George R. Graham N’64 of Shingletown, Calif., died in May 2014. Surviving are his wife, Jean; two children, two brothers, three grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. William K. Hoffrichter Jr. N’65 died June 19, 2014, in Pontiac, Mich. Mr. Hoffrichter graduated with honors from Florida Institute of Technology, earning a degree in Science Management. He studied marine biology in California before returning to Pontiac to help grow the family business. He presided over Hoffrichter’s West Side Lumber Company for 36 years. He is survived by his wife, Judy; mother, Nathalie Hoffrichter; and a daughter. John C. Van Dyk Jr. ’65 (Artillery) of Dayton, Ohio, died in Jan. 1, 2014. He is survived by his wife, Sheri; a son, and daughter. Jon D. Mackey ’66 (Troop) died June 6, 2014, in Mount Juliet, Tenn. Col. Mackey was retired from the Army after having commanded units with the 101st Airborne and the 3rd Infantry Division. His wife, Dolores; two daughters, and a sister, Jan Hoddle ’76 of Hemiston, Ore., survive. Raymond “Terry” Adams ’67 PG (Co. C.) died April 7, 2014, at Kittery Point, Maine. His career was in corporate communications and investor relations with a number of companies. Mr. Adams was a retired Navy lieutenant commander. He rowed at Dartmouth College and his later rowing successes included the Head of the Charles, being the first American oarsman to win the pair race at the Henley Royal Regatta in England. He also competed on the U.S. Rowing Team at the Pan Am Games and World Championships, securing a spot on
Maj. Runkle influenced boys’ and girls’ military programs A memorial service was held Aug. 3 in Memorial Chapel in remembrance of Maj. George A. Runkle Sr., an ROTC instructor, teacher, and counselor at the Academies for 18 years. Maj. Runkle also taught 14 summers. Archives photo
Arthur L. Bowman III W’48, ’52 (Co. A) died April 14, 2014, in Cincinnati. He is survived by two daughters, a son, and four grandchildren.
Retired from the U.S. Army, Maj. Runkle, 92, died June 26, 2014, in Prescott Valley, Ariz. He was a World War II veteran, serving throughout Europe Maj. George A. Runkle Sr. and the United States. He retired from the military in 1961 after 20 years. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Arizona State University and later returned for a master’s degree. In 1967, Maj. Runkle joined the CMA faculty as a Senior Army Instructor in ROTC. He became the counselor of Battery A in 1977 and also taught economics and history. He was the military coordinator for the Upper Camp in 1991-96 and under his guidance girls were fully integrated into the Upper Camp military program. He worked with the Culver Summer Schools & Camps well into his 80s before retiring to Arizona. Maj. Runkle is survived by four children: George Jr. ’70 of Montross, Va., Benjamin ’72, Peggy Winkle ’78 of Owenton, Ky., and Sandy Runkle ’83 of Franklin, Ind. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren.
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Passings the ’76 U.S. Olympic Team. He is survived by his father, Lyle Adams, and stepmother, Irene Adams, both of Leesburg, Fla., two children, and five granddaughters. 2004 Culver Horsemanship Hall of Fame inductee R. Bruce Duchossois ’68 (Troop) died July 2, 2014, in Wellington, Fla. An accomplished and celebrated horseman, Mr. Duchossois gained national attention when he rode Kim’s Song to victory as the American Horse Shows Association Horse of the Year in 1973. Over the next 40 years he was one of the country’s leading exhibitors in the highly competitive Adult Amateur Hunter division and took home numerous championships and circuit awards. In May 2014, Mr. Duchossois was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. He also owned accomplished eventers, including Connaught, the 2008 Olympic Games Partner and Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event winner. Mr. Duchossois also was a philanthropic supporter and leader in the equine community. Surviving are his life partner, Jack Wetzel; his father, Richard of Barrington, Ill.; a brother, Craig ’62 of Chicago; and two sisters. Edwin J. Bach N’66, ’69 (Troop) of Whiting, Ind., died July 25, 2014. Mr. Bach worked for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for over 25 years. He was employed by several financial firms working in various roles, including as a commodities trader. He graduated from DePaul University, where he was a member of the golf team. As a CMA Trooper, he rode in the 1968 inaugural parade of President Nixon. Surviving are his wife, Beth Anne; two daughters, his parents, and a sister. Douglas K. Fellabaum N’71 of Findlay, Ohio, died June 18, 2014. Mr. Fellabaum was a singer and artist and enjoyed theater and acting. He was a member of the Fort Findlay Playhouse, where he was in numerous plays in support and lead roles. A brother survives. Phillip H. Tucker ’74 (Co. B) of Little Rock, Ark., died May 14, 2014. Mr. Tucker attended Southern Methodist University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. An avid skydiver, his friends nicknamed him “Swoop.” His mother, Ann Tucker, and a brother survive.
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Benjamin B. Wilson Jr. A’77 of Kankakee, Ill., died June 24, 2014. Mr. Wilson graduated from Chicago Aerospace Institute with a degree in aeronautical engineering. His career included work for the Department of Justice as a subcontractor in the Civil Rights Division. He is survived by five children, his mother, a brother, and three sisters. Kevin A. Kibler ’78 (Troop) of Newport News, Va., died May 2, 2014. Survivors include a brother, Gregg ’75 of North Fort Myers, Fla. John D. McDonald ’82 (Co. C) of Salem, Va., died Aug. 25, 2014. An alumnus of Radford University, Mr. McDonald was known by many in the Roanoke Valley from his work at Starbucks, Food Lion, and the Fresh Market. His wife, Mary, and two daughters survive. Ruth A. Frazer ’83 (Linden) of Lexington, Ky., died July 23, 2014. Ms. Frazer was a chemical engineer for Nikon Precision Equipment Worldwide Network. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and her MBA from the University of Texas. Surviving are her parents, Capt. Richard and Dr. Linda Frazer; and a brother. Suzanne C. Michener Bronson W’85, ’89 (Benson) died May 27, 2014, in Hopkinsville, Ky. Mrs. Bronson was an educator with the Fort Campbell School System. She was a graduate of Olivet College and received her master’s degree from Austin Peay University in Kentucky. She is survived by her husband, John; a son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, brother Scott W’78 of Adrian, Mich.; sisters Pamela Day ’84 of Indianapolis and Michelle Herlihy ’93 of Fayetteville, N.C.; a stepfather, stepbrother, and stepsister. She was predeceased by her father, Earl Michener W’48, ’51. Nicholas C. O’Daniel W’03 of Evansville, Ind., died Aug. 19, 2014. Mr. O’Daniel attended the University of Southern Indiana. He worked for D. Patrick and was employed at Kenny Kent Toyota as a sales consultant. He is survived by his father, Sean W’75, A’77; his mother, Maureen O’Daniel; two sisters, a brother, and grandparents, including D. Patrick O’Daniel W’50, N’54.
Deaths in the Family Culver parent, Dr. John Farrall John R. “Doc” Farrall, a Culver parent who patrolled the football field sidelines for more than 30 years backing up the athletic trainers, died Sept. 29, 2014, in Williamsburg, Va. Dr. Farrall was a well-known Springfield, Ohio, orthopedic surgeon, retiring from his own practice after 33 years. He is survived by his wife, Delores; sons John ’85 of Shaker Heights, Ohio; Gregory ’88 of Valparaiso, Ind.; David ’92 of Batesville, Ind; and seven grandchildren. “He told us all that the decision to send us (to the Academies) was one of the proudest moments he had as a father,” Greg Farrall said. Dr. Farrall was a Vietnam War veteran. He was a three-time varsity letter winner at The Ohio State University under Woody Hayes and a graduate of the Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University. He did his orthopedic residency at St. Lukes Medical Center.
Hugh M. Ayer, Ph.D., who taught American history at Culver Military Academy from 1952-58, died July 14, 2014, in Denton, Texas. Mr. Ayer taught at the University of North Texas from 1958-90. He was a professor of History, Chairman of the Division of Social Science, and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He served in the Naval Reserve from 1943-45 and in the Pacific Theater as a radio operator, intercepting Japanese naval communications. He was a graduate of Western Kentucky University and earned a master’s degree and his Ph.D. in American History from Indiana University. Mr. Ayer was a member of the Denton Planning and Zoning Commission from 1962-66 and served two terms on the Denton City Council. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; two children, and two grandchildren.
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If you are considering making a gift to Culver through estate planning, please contact Pamela Christiansen Assistant Director of Planned Giving (574) 842-8181 pamela.christiansen@culver.org
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“I joined the Eppley Club because an investment in Culver students will pay enormous dividends by shaping future leaders who will have worldwide responsibility and influence.” Rick Jeremiah ’65 (Battery B) Lexington, Kentucky
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Garrison photo
Veterans Day 2014
Navy Lt. Joseph Liles ’03 was the featured speaker
Photo by Camilo ‘Mo’ Morales
at the Veterans Day Ceremony. To read about his remarks, visit the @Culver blog at news.culver.org.
1300 Academy Road, Culver IN 46511-1291 (574) 842-7000 • 800-5Culver • www.culver.org
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