Reveille Alumni Newsletter, December 2019

Volume 2, Issue 3 • December 2019

A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT

In October, we welcomed new cadets into the 131st Missouri Military Academy Corps during Fall Family Weekend.

Families gathered in front of Stribling Hall to celebrate the 106 young men who had completed the Fall 2019 Maroon Phase and Crucible, earning them the right to become members of the MMA Brotherhood.

This group of new cadets represents modest growth in our corps. I am very pleased with their achievements so far this year. They and their families have chosen MMA to deliver rigorous education, structure, and discipline. They look to MMA to provide an educational experience that cannot be found elsewhere.

These young men, and the young men who will follow, are the reason we have launched the Academy’s 2019-20 annual campaign, “Every Year, Every Cadet Stronger.” The annual campaign provides essential funding to support accomplishing our strategic goals. This campaign will ensure we sustain and advance our position as the Midwest’s preeminent college prep military boarding school.

Support from our alumni clearly helps change these young men’s lives. Among our top priorities are enhancing and expanding key elements of the MMA experience, to include: • comprehensive academic curriculums, particularly science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) programs, such as Project Lead the Way and robotics.

• cadet life and athletic programs, such as a first-class baseball field, soccer field lighting, rifle range, equestrian program enhancements and upgrading equipment to conduct swimming meets • a new bus and covering recurring travel expenses, particularly for the band and JROTC military competition teams to travel to regional and national competitions • scholarships for deserving cadets to benefit from MMA’s 360° Education.

My experience with military schools goes back to my own days as a cadet. The importance of developing self-discipline, perseverance, resilience and grit; of setting and accomplishing goals and building self-confidence; and of discovering how to work together as a team and how to lead — As military school alumni, we know that this experience is absolutely invaluable!

Our goal for the annual campaign — $750,000 — represents the strength of our alumni base and our commitment to the strategic plan. With your support, we will sustain the Academy’s military traditions and strengthen our position as the region’s top military boarding school. 

Volume 2, Issue 3 • December 2019

IN THIS ISSUE Letters to the Alumni Hear from the Alumni Association officers Dress Right Dress What’s happening in the military department Forward March Read about how the academy continues to thrive Double Time Get the scoop on Colonels sports Fall In Get the latest from the Alumni Association Parade Rest Spotlighting MMA’s growing regional alumni network Dates and Upcoming Events Plan your next visit to your alma mater

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LETTERS TO THE ALUMNI HEAR FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS

A Message from President Jenkins ’85 Homecoming still amazes me. Not the new schedule nor the socials on campus nor the recognition of our alumni nor Colonels football, but how you can see your Brothers after 5 or 35 years and pick up the conversation like it was yesterday. It is unique to any group of people who share a common bond. I want to thank each of my Brothers that I have seen over my past years of service to the MMA Alumni Association — and now as I begin my year as association president — for giving me this truly amazing bond.

I witnessed firsthand the evolution of our alumni association, through the leadership of Jeff Kays ’84, Todd Helm ’80, Jorge Infante ’87, and Richard Cooper ’82. These Brothers are the ones I have served with, and their leadership has been invaluable to the foundation of excellence that I hope to carry on for my presidency!

I am going to continue our unified initiative of Continuous Impact, implemented under Past President Richard Cooper 2018-2019.

Continuous Impact builds upon all previous alumni association initiatives through the years. The alumni association has always tried to impact aspects of the cadet life cycle.

Simply put, how do we impact heads in beds, how do we impact initiatives that affect the current cadets, and how do we impact building a stronger Brotherhood for our alumni? The association’s Continuous Impact initiative has aspects that affect the cadet life cycle of before, during and after.

Continuous Impact Before: Enrollment During: Cadet Life After: Brotherhood We will continue to support the MMA Admissions Department through our Alumni Ambassador program. This is

where we train alumni and former faculty and staff in the value statements of MMA — the academic, military department, cadet life, athletics and extracurriculars that MMA provides. Though many things are still the same as when we were cadets, enough has changed that we want to ensure that our Alumni Ambassadors are speaking with a unified message.

The alumni association also offers free lifetime membership to those alumni who refer prospective cadets who subsequently enroll at MMA. If you refer one cadet, you receive a lifetime membership valued at $350; for two cadets, you get maroon ($500), gold ($750) or 1889 lifetime membership ($1,889). Learn more on page 31.

At Homecoming 2019, the alumni association completed and exceeded our Continuous Impact initiative to impact cadet life by exceeding our $100,000 pledge for the renovations for Memorial Chapel and Albright Assembly Hall. We raised $109,000 in total. We will continue to assist MMA in closing out the $300,000 needed for all renovations through our ’84 Challenge.

We will also finish the base facade and surrounding bricks costs for the Col. Stribling Statue. In addition, we are organized to support the rifle range improvements, baseball diamond, stable renovations, and lighting for Colonels Field.

We encourage all alumni and MMA friends to participate in the 1889 Challenge where you sign up for $18.89 monthly deductions, which go toward needed cadet scholarships.

For impacting our Brotherhood, I want to share my appreciation of Director of Class Agents Jason Falbo-Gwinn ’88. Jason is in his third year in this role, and during his tenure and as co-chair of the membership committee,

the alumni association has implemented this newsletter, monthly class agents call, the Alumni Ambassador program, and significant growth and organization of our regional alumni groups, which now number nine!

I am privileged to serve with all 12 voting members and 7 volunteers of the Alumni Association, and I am proud to announce our slate of officers for the 2019-2020 year.

• • • • •

President-Elect Pedro Portilla ’82 Vice President Rob Farnam ’84 Treasurer Gregg Center ’91 Secretary Chris Schafer ’89 Director of Class Agents Jason FalboGwinn ’88

I would also like to welcome our newest voting member, Steve McDavid ’97, who has distinguished himself as co-chair of the golf committee and member of the alumni awards committee as well as the Reveille newsletter, all while serving full time, and at times during deployment in the U.S. Army.

The Alumni Association serves our fellow Brothers, the Academy, and current cadets.

I invite any alumnus or former cadet to donate their time and talent to the alumni association. You can pay your dues by clicking here. Please contact me for more information at 337-378-9119 or email MMA.Alumni.

Brotherhood@gmail.com. 

LETTERS TO THE ALUMNI REVEILLE!

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Academy Oversight

Understanding the role of the MMA Board of Trustees

By Dean Davison ’78 It is unlikely that many MMA cadets ever heard about the Board of Trustees. Even as a seven-year cadet, I didn’t. But it’s important for MMA alumni know about the role Trustees role play in setting direction and providing oversight for the Academy.

The Board is the governing body for MMA, providing financial oversight, approving strategy, selecting the President, and providing advice and support to ensure its long-term success. It sets policy but does not get involved in the day-to-day operations of our school.

It currently includes 10 members, chaired

by R. Stribling Koster, co-head of the Basic Industries Investment Banking Group at Citigroup Global Markets in Chicago. He is the third generation Stribling to serve MMA. His grandfather was Col. C.R. Stribling, Jr., and his uncle was Col. Charles R. Stribling, III ’44.

“I have a deep understanding of MMA’s past, its value to families and its challenges,” says Koster. “While the military school market remains difficult, the Board, through its strategic planning process, is focused on ensuring that the Academy not only survives during the near term but continues to thrive for the next 126 years and beyond.”

The Board meets in person, typically at the Academy, three or four times each year. The Academy President and key staff discuss key strategic issues including enrollment, academics, cadet life and finances. As a 501(c)3 non-profit educational institution, the Board conducts oversight to ensure that our school is being operated effectively and in the public interest.

Board members have a keen interest in MMA’s success and provide expertise in business, law, psychology, education, marketing and other fields to help MMA’s leadership. Four members are alums: Jeff MacLellan ’66, Tom Troll ’68, Carl Tegtmeier ’62, and Dean Davison ’78.

From left to right, Trustees Dean Davison ’78, Victoria Snider Thompson, and Tom Troll ’68 helped welcome cadets back to school with a BBQ sponsored by the Board of Trustees.

MacLellan ’66, was battalion commander and Legion of Honor recipient as a cadet, and is now a retired bank CEO. He has served as a Trustee for more than 25 years and is the current vice chairman. He advises Academy President BG Rick Geraci and the staff on financial and strategic issues.

“The life skills I shaped and honed at MMA were essential to my career success, especially self-discipline and leadership,” he says. “All of us on the Board feel strongly that there is an enduring need for a school like MMA that provides young men with the structure and environment to succeed.”

One of the Board’s biggest recent initiatives has been the development of the MMA Strategic Plan. Working closely with the Trustees, BG Geraci and more than a dozen MMA staff members drafting and completed the plan. Among the plan objectives: • • • •

Achieve sustainable enrollment with reasonable growth.

Develop cadet life programs that blunt attrition and stimulate re-enrollment.

Create a comprehensive curriculum that aligns with national standards.

Sustain long-term financial stability.

Trustees shaped and revised the strategic plan before approving it. Board committees

on Cadet Life, Academics, Enrollment/ Marketing and Development review progress at meetings with MMA staff.

For example, Board member Victoria Snider Thompson, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and educator. Her son, Ben, graduated from MMA in 2017. She leads the Cadet Life Committee of the Board and provides perspective as both a professional and the mother of an alum. “MMA is a special place that has made a difference for so many cadets,” Dr. Snider says. “It’s my hope that we make a difference for even more in the future.”

Engaging MMA alums with the Academy is key to our school’s future success. BG Geraci and the staff are increasing outreach to alums with 2019 events in Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, and Mexico, expanded Homecoming activities, and exciting plans for the Maroon & Gold Dinner at MMA in March. Several Alumni Association Board members participated in the December Trustees meeting, providing insights on engagement and fundraising.

“MMA alums are crucial to our future success,” said Strib Koster. “They care deeply about their school and we appreciate their leadership in sharing their time, talent and treasure with MMA.” 

LETTERS TO THE ALUMNI REVEILLE!

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Never Forget Your Roots

By Adam Schmitz ’15 I never could have anticipated what life after graduation would bring me: the stress of college, the desolation at the loss of loved ones, the bliss of success against a difficult task, or the ecstasy of exiting a highperformance aircraft in the air above Fort Bragg. What Missouri Military Academy helped me anticipate is that everything is easier with the support of your alumni brotherhood.

I can honestly say, Missouri Military Academy helped me achieve my goals and made me who I am today — putting my life on a trajectory that has given me opportunities I never dreamed were possible. At some point during my 2½ years at MMA, the school became a part of my identity. It’s impossible to pinpoint when it happened or who exactly helped me, whether it was Josh Paley’s ’15, Andrew Field’s ’15 and my designation as “Tavern Travelers” or the continual Major Brian Galarza Sunday evening laundry formations. I may never know.

In the four years since my graduation from MMA, I consider myself fortunate to have kept in touch with some of the best people I believe I have ever known, alumni and faculty alike.

During my assignment to a United States Army Special Operations Unit at Fort Bragg, N.C., Specialist Derek Ryan ’15 welcomed me into his family with home cooked meals.

While on a temporary assignment to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command at Camp Smith,

Hawaii, Tyler Vaughan ’15 gave me the “local’s” tour of Honolulu and Waikiki.

Participating in a United States Army Reserve exercise would not have been the same without a former Delta Company mentor by my side, Captain Michael Jacobs.

Realizing that Warrant Officer Finley Lomas was at Norwich University, my alma mater, and being able to give him the unofficial tour of the one of the most mountainous campuses in the Northeast brought the entire experience full cycle.

The connections and relationships that form in Mexico, Missouri, never really cease but are engrained into who you are as a person, coming to light when you least expect it.

Though communication with your Brothers may be spotty at times, never forget your roots, and most importantly, your Brothers.

For MMA. 

Global Leaping Frogs

By Jorge-Alberto Yarte-Sada ’89 I proudly hold dual citizenship in Mexico and Spain, but my heart is very close to the United States of America as well. I have an intense and natural affinity for the USA after spending a considerable amount of my childhood in the Río Grande Valley of southern Texas. I also had the grand privilege of attending Missouri Military Academy between 1987 and 1989 for my junior and senior years of high school, graduating with The Centennial Class in 1989. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international affairs from the American University of Paris and an eMBA (executive master’s degree in business administration) from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

I reconnected with MMA when my son Gorka-Aitor Yarte-Zertuche attended MMA’s summer camps in 2018 and 2019. His experiences at academic camp, confidence camp, ESL (English as a Second Language) and leadership camp led our family to

consider MMA as the place to pursue his secondary and preparatory studies before college. My son graduated from middle school in 2019 and is currently a freshman in the 2019-2020 academic year. During the last MMA Homecoming, we were both honored with the legacy recognition. My son is now wearing the legacy pin symbolizing our family’s continued history at MMA and enjoying his time at school as we all did.

Through my son, and through my memories of MMA, I cherish the times we all shared at our dear school. MMA is a magical place that helped shape me for my life journey, forming the person I am now. I still remember the Cadet Prayer we all learned and prayed on Sundays at Vespers. It inspired and fortified my civic, moral and religious values and has contributed to many of the decisions I’ve made in my personal and professional life.

At MMA, we cadets learned through the

leading example of our superiors and peers to execute and commit in the precise, right and due time. Camaraderie, team spirit and MMA brotherhood came along, and I was very much surprised to acknowledge that the system worked pretty well, as nobody was left behind. The MMA brotherhood acted as a foster family as we were always pushed, pulled and stressed (in the good sense of the word), but protected and sheltered by one another, one way or another.

This story continues on the next page.

LETTERS TO THE ALUMNI REVEILLE! It was, indeed, a reminder of our origins of our humble human essence: we all rely on family and on strong networking to develop and boost.

Presently speaking as an international business development architect, I rely on strong networking. Without a doubt, MMA was the perfect setting for acquiring genuine and authentic networking and selfconfidence in a very safe, friendly and familiar atmosphere.

I recently joined the MMA Alumni Board of

Directors as a nonvoting member, a position I have accepted with honor and joy. I intend to share my experience and commitment with MMA as much as possible and am now assisting our MMA brother, Chris Schafer ’89, as co-class agent. I am especially grateful to Christian and to Jason Falbo-Gwinn ’88 for their guidance and assistance.

I recently learned that in the English language, a group of frogs is called an army. I see the MMA Alumni Association as a dynamic group of leaping frogs: an army composed of global alumni who jump high with members

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around the globe. They flame brightly to keep the MMA spirit alive and take the lead as MMA ambassadors to share our values worldwide. None of our MMA brothers is left behind!

Again, thank you MMA brothers for the opportunity to share your friendship and be of service.

Please contact me through Linkedin, Facebook, or Xing.

The Ambassador’s Ribbon

By Ricky Uriegas ’91 In the summer of 1986, my mother and I attended an MMA rally in the Monterrey, Mexico, area at the home of my Uncle Roberto and Aunt Maria Paras. My cousins Eugenio and Roberto Paras both attended MMA. Eugenio graduated in 1983 and Roberto graduated in 1987. Eugenio was Delta Company executive officer and Roberto was the supply officer. Both charming guys, they are the type you want to be a friend of, and I say this regardless of my relation to them as cousins.

Eugenio was not around for that rally; he was in college, but Roberto was there, wearing his full-dress uniform with all the medals and all the glory. The uniform, of course, caught my eye. He looked pretty cool. At the time, the MMA faculty members attending this meeting with prospective parents and prospective cadets were Paul Baum and Roger Hill. I recall Roger Hill presenting Roberto with the Ambassador’s Ribbon. I thought it was so cool; the ribbon looked nice. Roberto introduced me to both of them as his cousin and a prospective cadet. I asked Paul Baum, “If I attend MMA, how can I get one of those?” I was referring to the rank — Roberto was a master sergeant and was promoted to second lieutenant at the first promotion of the year. His answer: “Hard work.” Roger Hill then corrected him and said, “Yes, hard work, but also, the right attitude.” They both were referring to the Ambassador’s Ribbon.

As the night wore on, we viewed a video of the Academy, heard a speech and saw some slides (no PowerPoint back then). I started my school year at MMA in September 1987,

and yes, I learned as the days went by that it was hard work and the right attitude! When you are a recruit, your uniform is empty, and believe me, it feels terrible on Sundays. Once you become a private and start getting some bars and medals, it starts to feel better.

Yes, hard work. One day at mess, they announced that any cadets who were willing to help out with the admissions department would be awarded the Ambassador’s Ribbon.

I thought that sounded like an easy ribbon for my uniform. I signed up for it and ended up showing some prospective parents and cadets around campus. I also helped out during the summer at a couple of rallies in the Monterrey, Mexico, area. Yes, I was awarded the ribbon, and I also recall having a special steak dinner with the late Colonel Charles Stribling with some other guests. The first summer I helped out at the rally, I met two prospective cadets who are now Brothers.

Cadet Miledi and Cadet Ruiz Esparza. I can’t take the credit for them coming to MMA, but I can say that that weekend their parents made the decision and now we have Sensei Miledi and Life Coach Ruiz.

The world is changing and the options

for education have grown throughout the country and throughout the world. Parents are now more involved than back then. My mother, God rest her soul, only came to MMA twice — one parents’ weekend and my graduation ceremony. I now see many of the mothers involved; this is, of course, a sign that times, yes, they are changing, but even if MMA continues to stride in providing a well-rounded education, this institution we love and call home will lean on us alumni to help out in the recruiting process. If you are a Rotarian you would understand (I am a member of Rotary International). I have cut off appointments and separated a full day to spend time in Guadalajara with Paul Petit ’85 and international admissions counselor Elven Sang to help out in their recruitment efforts.

Of course we went for dinner and had fun as well, but always with the spirit of bringing in more to our Brotherhood.

Yes, if you are asking, I still have my ribbons on display at my late mother’s home. God bless all, and everyone who is out there cheering and bringing in new kids. Hurray for you! If any prospective parent happens to read this article, I can be easily reached at r@uriegas.mx. 

LETTERS TO THE ALUMNI REVEILLE!

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Traditions, Old and New

By Chris Gentry ’88 and Eric Gentry ’21 This article is part of a series that began in Reveille Feb. 2019.

As an alumnus of MMA, I am very concerned about the traditions of the Academy, more so the traditions changed or lost. I know I am not alone with this concern. I have visited with many fellow Brothers yet have never been able to understand it all. Now, my son Eric is attending the Academy and can serve the alumni on this recon assignment. This article will delve into the traditions I can remember and the traditions of new and try to make sense of them. Many traditions continue as they always have, some have changed, some have gone away, and some are brand new. Eric and I will try to extract these traditions and explain their alterations.

Traditions, part three …

Chris: Battalion staff was BC, S1, S3 and S4; how about now? Each company had a company commander, a first sergeant, a platoon leader and a platoon sergeant for each floor. And by mid-year, there were executive officers.

Eric: On battalion staff, we have an executive officer, command sergeant major and S1 through S5. The company staff is the same as you had.

Chris: Do the officers still wear metal taps on their shoes? We could hear them coming from a long way. They sounded so cool.

Eric: No, they don’t, but they can wear corfam shoes.

Chris: Why not the metal taps?

Eric: I heard it was because they were destroying the new gym floor with them.

Chris: Still have reveille and retreat?

Eric: Of course we do.

Chris: Still have trench coats? Raincoats?

Rubbers for your shoes? What do you have for different uniforms?

Eric: Yes, we have trench coats, but no raincoats, nor do we have rubbers for our shoes. The different uniforms that we have are our PT uniforms, which are the athletic sweats you had, but now they’re navy blue and don’t have hoods. The dress jackets have changed a bit; the white belt is worn one button higher because the pockets are higher and they no longer have brass hooks. The hat brass has changed to a different crest but is much cooler now. It came from the redesign during the 125th celebration. The everyday uniforms are no longer the blue garrison with baby blue shirts. They are white shirts with the same trousers you wore with the dress uniform. Summer uses shirts with short sleeves, while winter uses long sleeves. We also have black flight jackets to put over that when it gets even colder. We also have our ACUs, which are the army combat uniforms that are more of a digital, Afghanistan-war, new-era type of camo and not the World War II uniforms.

Chris: Do you have a formal inspection of your rooms every Saturday morning? How about Saturday morning drill?

Eric: We have Saturday morning inspections, but not every Saturday. We don’t do drill though.

Chris: Tell me about PT. What about the obstacle course? Do you have to do that a lot?

How often?

Eric: We run and do swimming and stuff just in mornings. We do the obstacle course very rarely.

Chris: Can you explain what “stuff” is?

Eric: Like sprints and sit-ups — things that get you in shape.

Chris: Still have a canteen? Where is it?

What’s in there?

Eric: Yes, we do. It’s below the clinic. It has food and drinks.

Chris: What kind of food? Is there a TV or any games down there?

Father and son Chris Gentry ’88 and Eric Gentry ’21 Eric: Like microwavable sandwiches, and there’s an Xbox and satellite TV. Chris: Tell me about computer use. What can and can’t you do? What about video games and such? What do you guys do during your free time? Do you still jack around with each other? Informal wrestling matches and such?

Do you all get along and bond? We seemed to do a lot of that. Of course, we also smoked cigarettes, some legally and some illegally.

What are some of the major bad things the cadets do today?

Eric: We can do anything on our computers, but inappropriate sites are blocked. Social media is also blocked and shuts down after taps. We can have video games. We hang out and play games, and yes, we do all of that messing around. We get along for the most part. Cadets vape; that seems to be the big one that gets them busted.

Chris: Well, Eric. A lot has changed, but really it’s mostly generational things. Buildings have been rebuilt and changed the way a few things happen, but it seems that MMA is still old MMA. I am very proud that you are following my footsteps and the footsteps of many brothers from all over the world. 

LETTERS TO THE ALUMNI REVEILLE!

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Hand on the Light Switch

By Chris Schafer ’89 Some of you may have experienced a career change. It could be early, mid- or late years in your career change, but for whatever reason, I hope the choice to change careers has left you happier, wealthier and wiser. For me, I spent 21 years in the oil and gas industry. I had done more than I had ever thought I would accomplish. I worked offshore as an engineer, built teams, fixed companies, ran companies, traveled around the world and lived in Alaska, but as the years wore on, it just became a paycheck, and I’m not wired like that.

Many of us want our career to be gratifying with a sense of service and accomplishment.

When I wake up and my feet hit the floor, I want to be looking forward to going into work. Work doesn’t have to be a four-letter word.

When I left the oilfield, I took with me my passion for developing people past their own internal thoughts of ability. My wife is still in the oil industry and took a transfer to open an office for her company in Denver. Those who know me know that I have always wanted to teach, so I became a substitute teacher in the Denver STEM Charter School System.

I would like to share with you a story of one of my experiences early in my substituting experience.

I was teaching eighth-grade physics, and the subject was Newton’s third law of motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. I had the honor of teaching multiple days in a row due to a teacher being out on medical leave.

There was this one eighth-grade boy that I had to call in the dean each day because of

behavior problems, disrespect and general class disruption. The dean would take him outside, correct the behavior, and the boy would return to the class, somewhat more manageable.

The second day, after the dean again corrected his behavior, I still couldn’t get him to participate in the computer modeling for the subject matter, but I was just happy that he wasn’t disturbing his classmates anymore. I walked up to him and pointed to his computer and said, “You know why I like science? It’s because if you understand how things work, then you don’t have to pay somebody else to fix them” I then explained that nobody works on my cars, my house, or my motorcycles, because I learned in science classes the basic fundamentals of how things worked.

“You ride motorcycles?” he asked “Yes,” I said. “Between my wife and I, we have several.”

“Do you have any pictures?”

I pulled out my iPhone. “Sure, here are a couple of when I had my wife’s Road King torn apart.”

“You know, my dad and I work on engines together, rebuilding them,” he said.

“You are already doing science,” I told him.

“You are learning how things work with your hands. When I was your age, I was doing the same thing. It’s why I ended up becoming an engineer; I like to learn how things work.”

At that moment, he paused …

I had my hand on the light switch.

Fast forward two weeks. The principal approached me and asked if I would be interested in taking over the class full time to the end of the year, because it was unknown if the teacher would be able to return.

I am now a full-time eighth-grade physics teacher at a Denver STEM Charter School, but it’s not just any charter school. This school is 98% minority, representing the underserved and underprivileged; 56% of the students are on reduced or free breakfast and lunches. The school is 20 miles from where I live. I easily could have chosen a multitude of schools closer to my home with a different demographic of students.

This is not easy teaching. I must peel back the layers of everything these kids are exposed to outside of school to make the connection and break the cycle to help them understand that learning and investing in yourself will pay off a magnitude of dividends in the future.

It’s that feeling when I do make a connection with a student on the subject matter that has me getting up every morning looking forward to going to work: gratifying, sense of service, accomplishment.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. 

LETTERS TO THE ALUMNI REVEILLE!

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MMA’s Lasting Influence

By Lieutenant Colonel Ian Wolfe, USAF, Ret. ’91 I was invited to write a small excerpt of my experience at MMA and how it shaped my life for success. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and hope sharing my post-MMA life story encourages cadets to always “choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.”

from this experience. Another significant takeaway was honing our discipline (as a team) in vying for perfection, as we stood at attention during early fall/late spring hot sweltering Sundays in heavy wool dress uniform. “Don’t lock your knees! Bend them slightly, but don’t move!” as I would remind my platoon just prior to stepping-off for passing in review. This shared experience brought us closer together. It is a life lesson that not all events in your life are meant to be pleasant or comfortable. Whether you are in a corporate or combat environment, MMA conditioned us for this.

Very few of my life experiences in the last 28 years are comparable to the MMA experience!

Few organizations or places provide a testing ground to prepare a young man for the challenges of this world. MMA was and still is the training ground for developing the tools of character applied in a selfless manner toward others in this world. In the past 28 years, I’ve applied those tools relentlessly across the globe …

After graduating from MMA, I earned my degree in engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station and received my commission as a naval officer from the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. I served 14 years as a naval aviator flying jets and rotarywing aircraft. I was hand-selected for an interservice transfer into the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)/1st Special Operations Wing (SOW) due to my aviation prowess. I served seven years as a special operations pilot (air commando) flying at the tip of the spear supporting coalition Special Operations Forces (SOF).

my initial military aviation training.

These were tremendous opportunities for me and I am forever grateful to MMA!

MMA was the perfect environment preparing me for the unexpected crucible of war I experienced during the majority of my life and service to our great country! Here are some examples of the “fields of battle” MMA offered me:

2. Playing Field: As an athlete at MMA, I was taught to work together as a team, to be exceptional, energetic and devoted to our teammates (whether we won or lost).

It was a pride thing for all of us to not let each other down and ensure we came out on top. As an aircraft commander in a combat environment, I was responsible for coordinating my crew in being the most feared and lethal team in delivering death to the enemy from above (aka winning).

1. Academic Battlefield: As a student at MMA, I was mentored, guided and pushed hard by the MMA faculty to strive for perfection in my studies.

MMA’s academic rigor prepared me well for the engineering curriculum at Texas A&M University. During my senior year, through an MMA-sponsored scholarship, I had the opportunity to learn to fly, culminating in my first solo flight.

The combined classroom and flying experiences at MMA set me apart from my fellow naval aviation students during

3. Marching Field: As a platoon leader, I was constantly leading my platoon to perform well at academics, room inspections and during Sunday Review when we would march for competition.

I bet just about every alumnus reading this can call a platoon to attention and march them around the field: “Platoon, Ten-hut!” and “Dress, Right, Dress!” and “Ready, Front!” There is a lot to be learned from marching around the football field or inside the field house.

Teamwork was not the only takeaway

4. Spiritual Battlefield: Most importantly, as a Christian, I believed it was important to remember God put us on this earth to serve others and be kind to our neighbors. Every Sunday at MMA, rain, shine or snow, I would march with the rest of my fellow Lutheran cadets two miles to St. John’s Lutheran Church.

During these cold Sunday mornings, I would reflect on how I could reach my fullest potential as a young Christian man. MMA influenced me in so many ways, but spiritually, MMA stressed service to others above oneself.

MMA’s 360° Education isn’t a new philosophy of the school; it’s an old philosophy with a different name. This approach to education existed when I was there from 1985 to 1991 and it was there 100 years before when MMA was founded in 1889. Developing mind, body and spirit has always been in MMA’s DNA or their “program of study” and is the very reason why the Academy is one of the few all-male military boarding schools left in the United States. As alums and cadets, it is our responsibility to keep the tradition of MMA alive and never forget those who went before us who supported the Academy financially and through volunteerism. We need to continue to do the same in order to keep our alma mater strong and available for our grandsons.

MMA will always be a cornerstone of my life and I am honored to share my experience. 

LETTERS TO THE ALUMNI REVEILLE!

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Reflections from a BC

By Robert Rudman ’56 I had a pretty much idyllic childhood, being a middle child in an affluent business family.

Being in the middle, left me to mostly my own devices, following the path of an ageappropriate intellectual introvert — which path I followed until I was sent to MMA. Also on Saturday, I went to the all-day movies and always saw the movie news clips of the war. Later I (of course) learned that we only saw certain aspects of what was really going on.

My sense of patriotism grew from my dad serving four or five years in the Navy and my favorite uncle serving in the Army in WWII. My dad was gone most of the time, but my uncle came by whenever he was in St. Louis. During the war, my dad sponsored two Japanese women who were ranchers in California and certain to be shipped to a detention center for the war’s duration. They lived with us and helped out my mom, who was great, but light on discipline. After the war, they went back to California, and Dad hired an African American woman, who

was alone and destitute. She lived with us and became the discipline in the absence of my dad when he was on his many business trips. After the war, Dad sponsored three German family members who were in the concentration camps and marked for death.

They lived with us until they could speak English. Only eight members of our family in Europe (Germany, Poland, and Russia) survived the war.

I followed my brother to MMA, thinking it was a cool place to be, rather than be in the boring public school system. From the first day there, I felt as if I was dropped off into an alternate universe. I was sent off with the only advice my dad offered: To succeed, I had to be twice as good as others, always choose the right choice, and morally do the right thing, a tall order to an 11-12 year old. I was with a diversified group of cadets who enjoyed and suffered the daily barrage of harsh consequences of making constant choices overseen mostly by the upperclassmen, with instructors in the background. Gradually, this group of guys became my MMA brothers and members of a team, each bringing their good and bad points to the mix.

Leadership skills were learned by example.

Seeing what worked or didn’t with the upperclassmen. Being self-aware was critical as a baseline to become a leader and mentor to others — learning to be a goal seeker, focusing on accomplishing the daily/weekly small goals, but keep on working towards the wished for goals in the future, plus establishing a strong work ethic, whether it be in academics, sports, military skills, etc.

As a boy, I remember well going to the shooting range of sorts at the local amusement park. I also learned very basic tennis, and I had taken many years of piano lessons. These were the three activities I chose at MMA. Ultimately I became the captain of the tennis and rifle team and became drum major. I continued on with these three activities well after leaving my five years at MMA. I was extremely proud to become battalion commander of the 1956 Corps of Cadets.

I tried very hard to keep my class on the straight and narrow road, not an easy task with a high spirited group of buddies. I considered myself a friend to many of the cadets, in grades both ahead and behind me.

To this day, I’ve remained a friend and mentor to my buddies. Unfortunately my MMA brother list is now getting very short. I miss them and the good choices, as well as the fun and bad choices, made “back in the day” and throughout our lives.

I was away from St. Louis for eight years during my college years and thoroughly enjoyed my independence. After college, reality set in and my work life, marriage and family life began. I always worked in the family’s diverse businesses. I started out with initially a big title, but no authority. I began again at the bottom, learning all over again, using the skills I had previously learned, to succeed in a very competitive world. I retired from active business life when I was just over 49 years old and kept on plugging away as usual with my own investments. Proud and blessed to have a loving wife, we successfully raised a large family, and today we have 13 grandchildren.

In all of them, I still try to install my values to live by. Admittedly this is a different world and mindset we live in, but I still believe in the old virtues that were drummed into my head at an early age and that have served me so well.

Robert N. Rudman Battalion Commander Class of 1956 

LETTERS TO THE ALUMNI REVEILLE!

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How MMA Shaped My Career

By Bill Battle ’86 The MMA way helped during stops at college papers at the University of Missouri, St. Louis Community College-Meramec and Southeast Missouri State. My MMA experience, plus what I learned in college, led to 29-plus years on the sports staff of the Washington Missourian, 23 as the sports editor. And it’s been a whirlwind trip.

Sometimes, the smallest decision can make the biggest impact.

In the fall of 1982, among the hustle and bustle of being brought into the Missouri Military Academy cadet corps, one small question changed my life: What elective would you like to take?

In the midst of making a life change at the ripe old age of 14, I answered, “Journalism.”

And that decision set the tone for life well after I graduated from high school in the spring of 1986 as I continued through college and into the professional world of sports journalism.

As a recruit and freshman, journalism was a bright spot in a rough MMA rookie year.

All of us have been there. It’s not easy being a little freshman. Lt. (later Capt.) Scott Spangler placed trust in me to lead the MMA Eagle sports section. Over the next four years, I learned quite a bit about the journalism profession from Capt. Spangler. He gave me

a chance to work in broadcasting, reporting, column writing, ad sales and editing. As a senior, he pushed to have my work published in the Mexico Ledger.

We know MMA teaches us to do the job right — and to do it properly. It’s this work ethic that allows us to take the knowledge we need in our particular specialties and to apply it in a way that goes above the others.

I’ve covered college and professional games from San Diego to London. I’ve been in the press corps at a Super Bowl and credentialed for a presidential visit. There have been five National Sports Media Association state awards, the NATA Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting Award, distinguished service awards from MSHSAA and MIAAA and, most recently, induction into the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame.

Photography has been a big surprise. Other than experimenting and classes, I didn’t use a camera until I came to the Washington Missourian. My early work was less than impressive. It took a lot of work to bring what I got through my lens to be at an acceptable level. Over the years, photography became a strength. There is a pile of national and state awards on my desk for camera work. At some point, I probably should put them on the wall.

They definitely wouldn’t be there without the determination first learned at MMA.

While others go through the motions, we step up and do things the MMA way.

In our cadet days, that’s what allowed us to win the Gold Star year after year. It’s what has separated many of us from our peers as professionals. While others go through the motions, we step up and do things the MMA way.

There’s a subtle difference between just doing the job and doing the job the way which stands above.

Hopefully, there are many more years ahead of presenting a quality job to the readers. My training, started at MMA, won’t allow me to do any less. 

In October 2019, accomplished journalist, editor and photojournalist William “Bill” Battle ’86 was inducted into the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame. Read more about his accomplishments online by clicking here.

LETTERS TO THE ALUMNI REVEILLE!

Reflecting on MMA

By Clay Grant ’88 After a short nap Sunday afternoon, I decided to drive out to MMA one last time. It was the end of Homecoming weekend, and I wouldn’t have another opportunity to visit before I left Monday morning to drive back to Dallas. I decided to spend time sitting on a bench under the magnificent trees alongside Senior Walk, before taking a walk through campus. Sitting on the bench, reflecting on my time at MMA, I became mesmerized by the sense of peace, comfort, and serenity that overcame me. Gazing over the beautiful campus, I almost felt as if I was a cadet again.

Throughout my tenure at MMA, I found such great comfort in the serenity and beauty of the campus whether looking out on Teardrop Lake, running on the trails behind the campus, attending Vespers, enjoying campus on a Saturday afternoon, or sitting in my room on the corner of the first floor and enjoying the breeze with both windows open.

As I sat there, I recalled the very special and unique bond we all share as alumni of Missouri Military Academy. It is a bond greater than any barrier of time and is not defined by lost time with one another.

Instead, it is defined by enduring respect, admiration, friendship, and truly wonderful memories. It is possible that things might have turned out a bit differently for me. While I was attending MMA, I knew that my family was experiencing difficulties due to the recession in Texas, but I had no idea the devastating impact the recession was having on

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my family. At the time, my parents shielded me from the trials and tribulations that my grandparents and parents endured during my last year at MMA. It is possible that if I had graduated a year later they would have had to pull me out due to our severe financial situation.

Within a year my father would be forced out of his job, we would lose our dream home, and we would move out of our beloved city.

To express simply, I feel so very blessed and fortunate for the little time I had at MMA. The two years I attended the Academy provided me the opportunity to experience the truly unique and special bond that transcends far beyond our tenures at MMA and will live on throughout the rest of our lives. This unique and special bond lives on today, and in many cases, such powerful friendships shaped who we are today.

Each of us has our own story as to how these bonds with our fellow brethren shaped us and the difference these relationships had on our lives while at MMA and will continue to have moving forward into the future. I find through each of my brothers’ examples, as well as their encouragement, unwavering support, guidance, and toughness, that I gained self-confidence that has helped prepare me for life’s trials and tribulations. What makes MMA such a special place is each and every fellow brother that has graced the halls of MMA since its inception in 1889. It is an honor and privilege to be part of something so special.

Furthermore, it is an honor to have the opportunity to carry on MMA’s message and vision for future generations in hopes of making a difference. That, my Brothers, is a “gift.” A gift that provides us the opportunity to share our own experiences of how MMA shaped who we are as men with the cadets who are the future of MMA. Clay Grant Class of 1988  MMA Swim Team, 1988, including Clay Grant ’88.

LETTERS TO THE ALUMNI REVEILLE!

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Wonderments and Tips from Old Boys

By August Tetzlaff ’77

“Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anyone else, these pages must show . . .”

Charles Dickens in the 1849 serial, and later book, The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery—Which He Never Meant to Publish on Any Account.

knowledge. These can also be significant although not as consistently good in terms of supporting productive development of people and their organization’s stated mission. The lessons of MMA can still resonate in places seeming to be very far away.

Many leaders have reflected on that quote by Charles Dickens. The U.S. Military Academy featured it in their yearbook, Howitzer, in 1974.

During summers while at school I had worked as a material handler, press operator, and industrial engineer designing and scheduling plant upgrades and expansions at Package Service Co., a company owned by the family of fellow MMA cadet Jeff Nedblake, Class of 1977. The firm was innovative, expanding, and a great place to practice and hone management of projects and operations.

I looked through that yearbook and other tomes in an austere sitting room in MMA’s infirmary on a wintery afternoon in 1975. A mild flu had been going around. I had some time to reflect.

When at our best we reflect the sterling people we have known, high ideals, and our development and efforts. My time at MMA lifted my best and, in turn, helped others. My work guiding strategic initiatives of organizations has benefited thousands of stakeholders. My work managing the turnarounds of distressed firms has been key to the continuation and creation of hundreds of jobs.

At MMA I gained from advice of sage “old boys,” cadets who had been there. In time I was an “old boy” myself. Other environments can have similar conduits for accumulated

A typical post-college example can illustrate this.

After completing undergraduate degrees I was eager to work full-time for consecutive quarters. Subsequently, the vice president of manufacturing — previously a supervisor who had mentored me on things such as faster press clean-up — advised me that he would not tolerate a college boy in his company.

While he did not have an ownership stake I understood I had a limited time to get employed elsewhere.

Soon after a sales representative for a large firm in injection molding contacted me at the direction of his firm’s founder and president.

That firm had depth in production and sales but was weak in purchasing, logistics,

MMA Track Team, 1977, including August Tetzlaff ’77.

inventory management, and coordination of processes and projects. They were looking for someone with strength in industrial engineering and in negotiating with suppliers such as Exxon, Shell, Dow, and many others.

I took the position with this new company.

As director of materials, I came to see that a company of 500 employees can be much less cohesive than a JROTC corps of cadets.

Further, many in management ranks can lack the leadership and management abilities of MMA cadet officers.

Self-funding projects and diligent work by myself and key others over the course of four years reduced scrap and costs ($6.25 million a year) while upgrading specifications, supply base, capacity (18%), responsiveness, and sales.

The increase in earnings induced the majority owner (58.9% equity stake) to withdraw and install an Andersen-trained vice president of finance over the firm.

Moves directed by the new VP of finance to prepare for a sale were deceptive and destructive. We’d say they showed a “black hat” orientation.

This story continues on the next page.

REVEILLE! The organization disposed of descriptions and charts related to accountabilities and processes. It was known that the VP of finance had the highest authority. In the event that any disloyalty to him or problems were detected, he could assign blame.

During this time I happened to be walking past the engineering offices. That formerly diligent group was now preoccupied with small talk.

I was surprised. The chief plant engineer ushered me over to look at what they had been working on. With a broad smile he revealed designs for a conveyor and a catapult to move a palletized stack of boxes 50 yards.

The team had worked two weeks on these odd exercises. I shook my head.

The chief engineer explained that our firm was now under accounting control. He had seen it at a previous employer. Profitability was guaranteed to go up. Reported profit was now decoupled from anything that employees did or did not do.

He said he had gone to the VP of finance soon after his elevation and asked for a big raise in return for going along. He got the raise.

He advised me that we were now on a bus

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that would crash eventually no matter what anyone did. The trick is to enjoy the ride and get off before the crash. He and his group were scheduling purported work travel to cover their interviews with other firms.

The VP of finance brought in new managers who had no prior exposure to manufacturing.

They did not complain about obscurity in costing nor in accounts payable’s list of employees and vendors.

Later, the VP of finance called me into his office. He prefaced his comments with what he said he had learned at Andersen: there are no morals in public accounting; every accountant who moved to private accounting and got control of HR, IT, and Purchasing made a fortune; new enterprise software systems are weapons to use against rivals for internal power; and that ordinarily he advocates the firing of high performers out of hand to ensure few waves and plenty of personal loyalty.

After a few years the bank suddenly asserted power in pressing for a new VP of finance, a new accounting department, new managers, and a sale at a price akin to that of an orderly liquidation.

He then offered me the prospect of a significant raise if I would stay quiet while under the current ownership and then manage the company under any new ownership as he became its president.

I went to the majority owner with my concerns over the corrupt and corrupting influence of the VP of finance. He told me he could not hear a word of it as millions were on the line due to new estimates of earnings and related company value. I resigned.

“On my Honor”

Back then and since I’ve seen “black hat” audit and consulting firm senior partners, accountants, managers, and even minority investors attack good and productive employees, advisors, and investors. I’ve wrangled with several in working with groups that invest in firms facing external turbulence or internal distress in order to fix them fast.

Just as in boxing, please keep your guard up.

In some places demonstrating talent, integrity, effort and results gets you crucified. In other places you can be celebrated. Should you find yourself in a few rigged matches please don’t quit the game or accept the “black hats” or large sums for doing the wrong things. Be the hero of your own life. 

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DRESS RIGHT DRESS

NEWS FROM THE DESKS OF THE COMMANDANT AND BC

Rite of Passage: The Crucible

By Rick Dehlinger ’93 0500 — Reveille. ACUs on and boots strapped to their feet, cadets rise to what will be a long morning of military activities. First stop is the MMA track where the cadets will perform a PFT (physical fitness test — push-ups, sit-ups and 1-mile run). After the last cadet crosses the finish line, the cadets are whisked to the drop zone where they scarf down a Pop-Tart, fruit and a bottle of water before the next task.

Next up is a 4-mile hike in small groups of about 15. Cadets carry two 5-gallon water jugs full of water, four ammo cans full of sand, and a stretcher. How these items are transported are up to the cadets in the detail. Some cadets figure out quickly that they can use the stretcher to carry the items allowing cadets to rest and rotate while others choose to assign an item to each cadet as they hike. Approximately halfway through the hike, the Commandant Department marks a cadet in each group as injured. “Injured” cadets must be carried via the stretcher to the end of the hike. This scenario forces cadets to rethink their strategy and decide who carries what the rest of the way.

As the cadets near the end of the hike, they start to realize that this is not the end of their morning. Every year the Crucible is a little different to keep cadets on their toes and to keep the old boys from telling the new recruits what to expect. At some point the cadets run through the obstacle course on back campus, rappel down the tower, run around the old cross country course back campus while carrying a heavy rope, and navigate a minefield blindfolded while relying on another cadet (not blindfolded) to safely navigate the detail through the mines by the commands given from afar. One of the back campus tasks is a stop at the paintball course; the cadets must move a heavy ammo box into place while an old boy is stationed in a bunker with an unlimited supply of paintballs, laying down a relentless attack on the cadets. Once the time is up — or the new boys run out of paintballs — the game is over. Onto the next challenge.

After all back campus events are completed, the cadets are moved to the pool to complete the swim test. One of the tasks is to step off the diving board carrying a Springfield and splashdown in the pool, then swim to the other side with the weapon. When the new recruits finish the morning and are about to pack it in, the announcement is made to move to the Field House for the next evolution. You can hear the moans of exhaustion from Stribling Hall. The cadets form up and march one last time to the Field House. Once there the recruits are greeted by the rest of the corps for a cookout, a celebration to mark their induction into the corps. As the cadets sit and talk about the

Above, President BG Geraci (center) with cadets during the Fall 2019 Crucible. day, the old boys (of course) always have a word or two about how the Crucible was harder when they did it, but they share some laughs and enjoy a meal before off to their barracks for a well deserved nap.

On Fall Family Weekend, the new recruits are marched to front campus for a formal ceremony in front of family and friends to receive their “Old Boy” cap brass. This the first time a cadet can wear a hat brass on their garrison cap or Dress Service Cap. Cadets can trade in their maroon shoulder boards for black shoulder boards to signify that they have completed recruit phase. New boys can now leave campus for general leave and full cadet privileges, if they are in good standing. 

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FORWARD MARCH UPDATES FROM THE ACADEMY

Homecoming 2019

By Gregg Center ’91 We meet once again, and again it was a fantastic weekend. In fact, 2019 was the largest attended Alumni Weekend since the 125th Homecoming in 2014. Paid attendance numbered 385 and that is a testament to the strong work of Cassandra Brooks, who works diligently to put on a great show for us year in and year out.

This year, the weekend began on Thursday night, Sept. 12, with a homecoming kickoff party at Pratt’s on the square. The invitations went out to all alumni in town, the board of trustees and members of the faculty and staff of MMA, and we had a nice turnout. Pratt’s is very welcoming and we are grateful for their hospitality.

The Friday golf tournament officially teed off alumni weekend at Arthur Hills Golf Course.

The weather was fantastic for the 27 golfers who came out to swing the sticks. It was a beautiful day for sure. A special thank-you to our food and beverage sponsor for the second year, Greg Holten ’88 of Holten Meats, as well as our course sponsors Erik Wietsma ’89 of Dixie Clamp and Scaffold, Lazaro “Frank” Villafranca ’90 with AM Surgical, Sanders Roth ’04 with SLR and Rex Rodenbaugh ’95 with KC Investor Funding, plus our hole-

in-one sponsor Kyle Stark ’90 with Stark Imprints. Steve McDavid ’97 and Jarrod Magee ’97 sponsored a new contest for bestdressed team and individual. Through our golf tournament, the MMA Alumni Association raised enough money to sponsor our third large pew for the Memorial Chapel and Albright Assembly Hall campaign on behalf of all alumni.

On Friday night, we all met on front campus for an outstanding meal with the MaxFred Band, led by our own Maxwell Fredrickson ’04, who gave us an acoustic rendition of his amazing music. We brought back an oldfashioned pep rally on the steps of Stribling Hall and enjoyed some delicious barbecue

before heading over to the football field.

The football team fought hard, but the Slater Wildcats had the better game that night and the Colonels lost a heartbreaker.

The Saturday schedule was full. The day began with alumni review honoring the Diamond Class of 1994, the Golden Class of 1969, and all classes ending in years 4 and 9. The alumni company marched under the command of Steve McDavid ’97; guidon was Chris Gentry ’88. The sweepstakes alumni drilldown came after review, with Miguel Angel Hernandez Vanegas ’84 taking home the alumni trophy.

The top 10 alumni then competed with the top 10 cadets; the winner was Cadet Ruby Kagaragwa, a fusileer whose prize was a fusileers pizza party paid for by Kurt Bilsel ’81.

Two things stood out from the Drill Down.

First, Jeffrey Epstein didn’t kill himself, and when the alumni lined up and the first order was “right shoulder arms,” the crowd oohed, but when the call for “order arms” came, and the sound of one SLAP rang out over Colonel’s Field, the crowd aahed and cheered.

This story continues on the next page.

FORWARD MARCH REVEILLE!

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At the end of the evening, we all gathered at Senior Pond on Senior Walk where we sang a sad rendition of Now the Day is Over and Old MMA. After the singing, we all left and ended up at Pratt’s where the good times continued and a possible new tradition began of drinking from the Harold “Chris” Schafer Cup.

Another thing that stood out to alumni: when Cadet Kagaragwa won on the call “inspection arms,” the entire corps of cadets went crazy and surrounded him to congratulate him. It was a special moment we all noticed.

We then moved our little party over to the field house where we sat down for lunch, talked for a while and then listened to what everyone travels from all over the world for — the alumni association annual meeting! The lunch was good, but the dessert was a special request that did not disappoint, Chocolate Snow! During the alumni association annual meeting, it was important for the association to honor Greg Morton and his staff by awarding them the Alumni Association Support Award. Their hard work and dedication to the beautification and care of, in many of our opinions, the most beautiful campus in the county often goes unthanked, but we wanted to make sure they know they are appreciated.

Saturday evening saw a new format in that we moved Silver Taps to front campus and it was performed at sunset. Silver Taps, for those who don’t know yet, is a relatively new tradition at the Academy where we honor each alumnus, former faculty and staff, or friends of the Academy who have passed since our last alumni weekend with a moment

of silence and Echo Taps. It is a powerful moment for all who attend.

We then moved over to the Centennial Gymtorium for the alumni awards and donors recognition banquet where we were greeted by the national champion Colonels jazz band.

This was quite a great event in its first year, where we all dressed up looking sharp and had a delicious meal with beef donated by Chris Gentry ’88. This event is the first annual banquet that as the name suggests, recognizes donors and alumni who should be recognized for their contributions of their time, talent and treasure. Yours truly, Gregg Center ’91, emceed the program as Cassandra Brooks presented the awards.

Alumni learned at the banquet that they are now eligible for the Clifton B. Cates ’10 “I Will Hold” Award, as well as the Order of St. George Award, the two highest awards that can be received at MMA. The new Eagle Talon Award went to Chris Gentry ’88 for his dedication of time, talent and treasure to MMA. Dana Dabney ’69 received this year’s Paul Gillette ’70 Award for his selfless service to cadets. Another new award, the Harold “Chris” Schafer Cup for the most valuable board of directors member went to Harold “Chris” Schafer ’89, the award’s first recipient and namesake.

Sunday morning came too soon, and as we all met one last time for the farewell breakfast in the mess hall, we once again had SOS but no toast this time; as it turns out, the cadets got a little creative and began toasting sandwiches in them and creating a fire hazard. Kudos to the cadets for their ingenuity, but they didn’t follow the first rule: don’t get caught! We then formed up to march with the cadets to an early vespers service where we heard our new Board of Directors President Hunter Jenkins ’85 speak of his memories and the influence vespers had on him.

This year, the Class of 1955 Alumni Homecoming Awards for Philanthropy and Attendance during homecoming weekend went to the class of 1988 for philanthropy and the class of 1989 for attendance.

Gentlemen, it was another successful alumni weekend, and if you haven’t been in a while, or feel that because you didn’t graduate you cannot attend, you have an invitation from all of us to come back home. You will not be disappointed. Next year’s dates are September 18–20. We hope to see you all there. 

FORWARD MARCH REVEILLE!

Evensong 2019: In Pictures

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REVEILLE! 18

DOUBLE TIME

GET THE 4-1-1 ON COLONELS SPORTS

Click here to watch the Fall Sports Banquet video!

Click here to read about the Fall Sports season!

REVEILLE! 19

FALL IN

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION UPDATES

1889 Scholarship Fund

By MMA Alumni Association Board of Directors Think for a moment of the things you buy every day that cost about $18.89. It could be lunch at a restaurant, Starbucks for you and a friend or a bottle of wine to share with your spouse. Many of us don’t pay close attention to an amount such as $18.89. But what if you were to bring your lunch to work just one day a month and use that $18.89 saved to sponsor a cadet scholarship?

The 1889 Scholarship Fund can be set up as an automatic monthly $18.89 deduction or a one-time yearly donation of $226.68. Recurring 1889 Scholarship deductions are set for each year, which allows you to authorize your donation renewal each year.

There are many young men out there that are high potential but low performers and need a structured academic environment to succeed.

Your monthly $18.89 donation could be life-changing for a young man.

Click here to join the effort.

Thank you, Alumni Association Board of Directors 

Alum Ambassadors Host Open House

By Gregg Center ’91 MMA Alumni Ambassadors were on hand for admissions open houses in Springdale and Little Rock, Arkansas, October 22–23.

The two events attracted several prospective cadets and their parents as well as parents of current cadets and alumni in the area.

It is a testimonial to the strength of the message of MMA that so many alumni and parents of cadets and alumni would show up to an event to encourage others to attend.

Almost all in attendance had powerfully encouraging words to say after a presentation by the MMA president, Brigadier General Richard Geraci. When the general spoke of the types of education the cadets receive — not only academic, but lessons in leadership and life — we were all ready to sign up again.

The Alumni Ambassadors is a program in development where six alumni have taken hours of training to better communicate to parents and prospective cadets the changes that have taken place at the Academy over the years. When a family requests information from alumni, one of the six ambassadors who lives within the region of the parents helps answer questions and pass along the experience of MMA. 

Alumni Ambassadors who attended one or both events were (pictured above, left to right): Gregg Center ’91 Jason Falbo-Gwinn ’88 Chris Schafer ’89 Other alumni attending one or more of the events included: Hogan Crecelius ’94 Hunter Jenkins ’85 Jeff Jorishe ’76 Larry Wylie ’88

FALL IN REVEILLE!

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Shootout at Lake Lotawana Courtesy of Wentworth Military Academy Alumnus Bill Heltzel ’77

October 5 dawned bright and sunny for the 11 shooters assembled at Lake Lotawana Sportmen’s Club southeast of Kansas City.

Representing alumni of Missouri Military Academy and Wentworth Military Academy, the Saturday gathering marked the second renewal of the Missouri Tri-Military competition. Despite the day’s mild autumn promise, a front approaching from the west kicked up strong breezes to challenge even the most intrepid shooters. Nevertheless, [winners: MMA or Wentworth alums?] prevailed to take home the trophy and stoke the spirit of the annual trap shoot.

years a shoot took place during homecoming.

Alternating years would see each team host in a location of its choosing. The scoring system developed in tune with the athletic philosophy embraced by the academies, which place strong emphasis on effort in the belief that competition for its own sake is the healthiest kind. While emphasizing participation, strong competition obviously leads to the lessons and satisfactions of success. The scoring system allows even the first timer to enjoy shooting for pure recreation while more accomplished shooters engaged in a high level of competition.

The story of this event began in 2007, when a call went out from the Wentworth alumni office. With the closure of Kemper Military School in the spring of 2002, it seemed that competition between Kemper and Missouri’s other military academies would cease forever.

But Kemper Alumni Association President Laura Spice-Williams proposed that alumni from Kemper and Wentworth compete in a trap shoot in Lonoke, Arkansas, the Saturday following Wentworth’s homecoming that October. Five years after closure, the Kemper Yellowjackets would again appear in competition. With nearly a dozen shooters in attendance from as far away as Virginia and South Dakota, the event was declared a success and a plan was undertaken to continue the tournament.

The closure of Wentworth in 2017 did not stop the friendly competition. The tournament took place as usual that October as WMA alumni gathered in Lexington to continue planning for the future of its association. Longtime supporters of the alumni trapshooting team reaffirmed their commitment to the competition, and the Wentworth shooters began preparing for the 2018 shoot.

Wentworth and Kemper worked to keep up this competitive relationship, and in most

Kemper’s closure marked the end of Missouri Tri-Military, or “Tri-Mil” competition. With

Wentworth gone, so went the remaining state military school championships. That is, until Bill Heltzel from Wentworth noticed that he had a mutual Facebook friend with former MMA Alumni Association President Jeff Jorishie MMA ’76. That friend is Brad Henderson, who approached fellow MMA alumni and found there was interest in forming a team. Jason Falbo-Gwinn MMA ’88 stepped forward to coordinate, and thus was born the “Missouri Tri-Military Alumni Shootout.”

The first installment of the shootout took place in conjunction with the October 2018 opening of the Wentworth Military Academy Museum on Main Street in Lexington.

After the Alumni Red Dragons captured the traveling trophy, they placed it immediately on display in the new museum. The entire 2018-2019 corps of cadets from Missouri Military Academy honored the memory of Wentworth by attending the rededication of the Wentworth Doughboy Memorial at its new home on the lawn of the Lafayette County Courthouse. The MMA Corps then moved just down the street to participate in the dedication, cornerstone laying and formal opening of the museum. The MMA cadets were proudly welcomed as the very first visitors to enter the museum. Each cadet was personally greeted and thanked by WMA Trap Team Captain Bill Heltzel ’77 as he passed through the museum doors.

The Lake Lotawana Sportsmen’s Club has This story continues on the next page.

FALL IN REVEILLE! been selected as Wentworth’s “home field” for the years when the Red Dragon Alumni host Missouri Tri-Military Alumni Shootout. Since their return to Boonville several years ago, the Alumni Yellowjackets have favored the trap field at the local River Hills Sporting Clays Gun Club. Unfortunately, they will be looking for new home quarters, as River Hills recently closed due to encroaching development.

There is much anticipation among the teams as MMA prepares to host the tournament for the first time. We have commissioned a fine traveling trophy we know the Alumni Colonels are anxious to see displayed in Mexico, providing they can wrest it from the Alumni Red Dragons. Fresh from a big anniversary celebration, Kemper is expected to return to competition in 2020 and the

Alumni Yellowjackets always come to the line ready to compete.

The spirit of competition, pride in our schools and love of the sport notwithstanding, this tournament is about something of even greater value: friendship. It’s the friendship we share as teammates, and — just as important — the friends we make during competition. It’s a friendship we can almost immediately enjoy due to our common experiences as cadets. It’s the joy of seeing a friend on the other team from year to year.

What’s missing from this equation? YOU! Never shot trap? So what? Nobody is born with this skill, but it’s still possible to participate in our shoot and have a good time no matter what your skill set. The way our

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tournament is scored, every team member has a chance to contribute in some way. Alumni, family, friends and friends of our schools are welcome to shoot. We hope you will come out and enjoy the fellowship and camaraderie that is the Missouri Tri-Military Alumni Shootout.

It seems that we see more of our sister schools close each year. Each closure has a story, but none matters as much as the story of the brothers and sisters left behind. While we of Wentworth and Kemper work to preserve our respective histories and artifacts, we pray for the continued success of MMA. 

New Alumni Awards

By Kurt Bilsel ’81 You may have noticed since Homecoming 2018 that MMA has recognized fellow Brothers as noteworthy alumni.

The alumni association and MMA has received positive feedback as we recognized our Brothers accomplishments with pride. A list of the alumni who have been noticed can be found on the MMA website, or by following the official MMA social media sites.

The MMA Alumni Association, in conjunction with the MMA Development Department, and guidance from President Richard Geraci, has developed new recognition awards for eligible alumni.

The first Alumni Recognition and Donors Award Banquet took place on Saturday night of Homecoming 2019 in the Centennial Gymnatorium. This banquet replaced the Saturday morning donors’ breakfast that took place at previous homecomings. Though only a few of the new awards were presented this year, we clarified the new format, eligibility

criteria and nomination process for the new awards.

Many of our alumni have distinguished themselves in their professional careers and pursuits since graduation and MMA has recently created the Alumni Hall of Fame to recognize their achievements.

then be notified so they can be present at homecoming to receive the award at the banquet.

The new alumni recognition awards include: •

The Eagle Talon Award: Awarded to the alumnus who distinguishes himself through dedication of time, talent and treasure. The 2019 recipient was Chris Gentry ’88, Board of Directors and Parents Committee member.

•

The Harold “Chris” Schafer ’89 Fellowship Cup: Awarded to the Alumni Association Board member of the year.

This inaugural year, this award was presented to Chris Schafer.

•

Legacy Cadet Recognition: Awarded to current cadets who are sons, stepsons, brothers, grandsons, stepgrandsons, cousins or nephews of an MMA alum.

Read more about the cadets who received recognition by clicking here.

The Alumni Hall of Fame categories are: • • • • •

Entrepreneur and Leadership Arts and Sciences Athletics Community and Government Service Distinguished Military Service

Any alumnus or individual can nominate an MMA alum for the Hall of Fame. The nomination deadline is February 1.

Hall of Fame award nominations are due February 1.

The MMA Alumni Association Board of Directors will review the nominations and supporting verification of accomplishments, then forward the nominations to the MMA Executive Committee, which will make the final decision. The recipient will

Alumni are now eligible for the following existing awards: •

Clifton B. Cates “I Will Hold” Award: Awarded to an alumnus or nonalumnus in recognition of exceptional leadership demonstrated through determination, steadfastness and perseverance through times of challenge.

This story continues on the next page.

FALL IN REVEILLE! •

•

Order of St. George: MMA’s secondhighest and most prestigious personal decoration made to those outside the MMA organization and the highest employee award made by MMA. Awarded to recognize those who distinguished themselves through superior acts of selfless service, courage, accomplishment, professional performance, meritorious service, philanthropy, honor or character.

Order of St. George, Knight Commander: MMA’s most prestigious personal decoration. Awarded to

recognize those who distinguish themselves through superior acts of selfless service, courage, accomplishment, professional performance, meritorious service, philanthropy, honor, character, and/or outstanding commitment and service to MMA. Until Homecoming 2019, the only awards individual alumni received were donor recognition and the MMA Alumni Association Paul Gillette Alumnus of the Year Award. The Paul Gillette award goes to a successful alum who is an inspiration, sets an outstanding example for current cadets, who

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has shown success in life, spirit of community, and support of his alma mater.

The MMA Alumni Association Board of Directors is looking forward to seeing your nominations to recognize our alumni, and even more excited to present the awards to them at the donors’ banquet during Homecoming 2020.

Please don’t delay in your nominations by clicking here, because the deadline is quickly approaching: Feb. 1, 2020. 

MMA Dedicates Col. Stribling Statue

By Gregg Center ’91 As you drive through the entrance of Missouri Military Academy, you will see to your right, between Bravo Company and the Academic Building, a new addition to campus. On Sept. 14, the Saturday afternoon of Alumni Weekend, the dedication of the new Col. Stribling statue took place among cadets, alumni, faculty, former faculty and friends and family of Colonel Charles Stribling III ’44.

Its placement stands prominently on front campus, standing guard over the grounds. The words spoken about our president, chairman, teacher, mentor and brother gave weight to how powerful his presence will be missed, not only at MMA, but to the town of Mexico and the state of Missouri. His impact will be felt and missed for generations to come.

the photo, you will notice that the statue and bricks surrounding it stand out prominently without embellishment, and President Geraci would like to keep the aesthetics of the setting the way it is — simple and clean.

The alumni association is dedicated to ensuring that every aspect of the Col. Stribling statue is coordinated and funded by our alumni, and although we will no longer sell reflection benches or engraved bricks, we do want to formally recognize the donors to the statue as base donors, pedestal donors (the black granite below the gray granite base) and brick donors, on a brass plaque that will be placed after the Homecoming 2020.

You can watch the video of the dedication online by going to the MMA website or by clicking here.

Col. Stribling Statue Donation Levels Granite Base: $1,000 Black Granite Pedestal: $500 Bricks: $250

MMA President, BG Richard Geraci has asked the alumni association to consider not selling reflection benches and engraved bricks for the Col. Stribling Memorial Scholarship Fund as was originally planned. If you look at

President Geraci has implemented some new traditions associated with the Col. Stribling statue. The bricks around the statue will be treated the same as Senior Walk. Cadets cannot run by the statue, similar to the

We would like to thank the existing donors to the Col. Stribling statue: Statue Benefactor Phil Baum ’63 Statue Artist Javier Campuzano ’82 Base Donors Chuck Foley ’53

Hunter Jenkins ’85 Lynn Jenkins ’57 Terry Logue ’72 Greg Temple ’71 Ricky Uriegas ’91 Pedestal Donors Cassandra Brooks, MMA Jason Falbo-Gwinn ’88 Chris Gentry ’88 Chris Schafer ’89

Brick Donors Jason Falbo-Gwinn ’88 Chris Gentry ’88 Eric Johnson ’70 Tom Wittman ’75

tradition of not running in front of Stribling Hall; if warranted that a cadet needs some added reflection time, the cadet will stand in full dress uniform at parade rest facing the statue, reflecting upon the principles that Colonel Stribling instilled in generations of cadets.

The first 45 donors will receive a limitededition Colonel Stribling statue dedication pint glass or a long-sleeve statue dedication shirt, sizes XL to 4XL only. You can donate by clicking here. 

FALL IN REVEILLE!

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Join the American Legion Riders!

By Steve Butner ’87 My MMA Brothers know me as Steve Butner, but I also go by my road name, “Lunch Box.” I am currently the Legion Riders in Colorado state chairman. What is the American Legion Riders? A biker gang? Motorcycle club? No, we are American Legion members who enjoy promoting the American Legion and raising money for and helping veterans, their families and communities. And, oh yeah … we ride motorcycles.

Every member of the ALR is a member of the American Legion. To be a member of the American Legion, you must either be a veteran who served on active duty any time after December 7, 1941 (Legionnaire), a son or grandson of a veteran (Sons of the American Legion, or SAL), or the wife, daughter or granddaughter of a veteran (Auxiliary). These three programs make up the American Legion. Any Legion member in good standing who owns a motorcycle, has a motorcycle endorsement on their license, and has motorcycle insurance can become a member of the ALR. Each ALR in Colorado, is a post-level program, meaning they ultimately answer to their post commander.

I joined the ALR and the American Legion in July 2018. I helped start an ALR in Estes Park, Colorado, at Post 119 (the only Legion post in the country that has a former astronaut as a post commander).

I started off as the vice president of that group. We did great things and raised more than $11,000 in less than a year. About four months after joining ALR, I became area coordinator for District 4 (the northern district of Colorado). As area coordinator, I oversaw eight ALR groups.

Duties included advising ALR presidents on running their programs; starting new ALR programs at Legion posts; and opening lines of communications between the ALRs in my district and the rest of the state. During my

short tenure as AC, I started three new ALRs, set up quarterly meetings with all the ALR leaders in my district, encouraged groups to participate in other groups’ events, and started a district wide event to raise money.

In the past, each post had raised money on its own with little participation from other ALRs. When the state chairman called again a year later and asked me to succeed him as chairman, I accepted the challenge and became ALR vice chairman This past September, I stepped up to the state chairman’s post, 15 months after joining ALR. My journey through the ranks of ALR leadership is rooted in my MMA and Marine Corps experience. The dedication, devotion, leadership and loyalty I learned at MMA and as a United States Marine has guided me through the year and continues to assist me as I take on this new ALR role.

My job as state chairman is to oversee the ALRs of Colorado, make reports to the department commander (state commander) and the rest of the American Legion, maintain communication with the six area coordinators and distribute information about what’s going on in all four corners of Colorado. We have set up the yearly Legacy Ride and ROMP (Ride on Military Pride). The ROMP is a yearly gathering of ALR members to celebrate our accomplishments throughout the year.

So, what do we do? We RIDE! We participate in local and state parades and ceremonies, raise money to donate to veteran causes, we intermingle with other Legion Posts and Legion Riders and follow through on my passion: escorting fallen service members.

Escort detail is, by far, the hardest yet most rewarding event an ALR member can do. As a leader of ALR, I take it upon myself to speak with the families of the departed and offer our condolences and our support, telling them, “It was an honor to escort your loved one on their final journey.” I have escorted 12 fallen service members this year alone and those few words are the hardest I’ve ever had to say.

Every time I say them, I get choked up and tears run down my face.

ALR fundraisers for our fellow veterans include chili cook-offs, hot-wing contests, poker runs, scavenger hunts, comedy shows, ride-and-roasts and a statewide Pony Express run. The Pony Express is part of a nationwide ALR event called the Legacy Run. This run gathers money from all Legion posts who donate to the Legacy Run where the money goes to an American Legion college scholarship fund for children of post-9/11 veterans who died on active duty or have a combined VA disability rating of 50% or higher. In 2019, the Legacy Run collected $975,208 nationwide. We are proud of that number and I’m certain we will top the $1 million mark in 2020.

If you meet the requirements to be a member of the American Legion and meet the requirements to be a Legion rider, please contact your local Legion and asked to be a part of this great organization. If your local Legion does not have an ALR program, just ask where the closest one is and join today.

If you live in Colorado, you can contact me at coloradolegionriders@gmail.com, or call 309-472-5139, and I can direct you to the closest ALR (we have 38 of them and we’re still growing). 

FALL IN REVEILLE!

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Tips for Class Agents

By Ronald Baran ’60

A number of years ago, I volunteered to be the class agent for the Class of 1960. If I do say so, there have been excellent results as far as my classmates attending anniversary reunions.

First and foremost, new class agents should join the MMA Alumni Board of Directors.

You will have to attend reunions each year until you work your way up to the office of president. The advantage is that you will get input from those who were cadets before and after your time at the Academy.

One of the things I have done is correspond at least once a year via snail mail. Letters usually go out around the Christmas season.

If it were an anniversary year, I would send two or more letters during those years. I would also include a form that my classmates could fill out informing me if they planned on attending. For general correspondence, I do use email but some of my classmates are not computer savvy.

During the first few anniversary years, don’t expect much. Your classmates may still be in college, in the service, starting new jobs or starting families. It will be a busy time for them and it may be difficult for them to get away. If some of your classmates are from foreign countries, it may be hard for them to get away for various reasons.

Usually you get good results for the 20th reunion and other future anniversary reunions. You want to make things interesting,

challenge other anniversary classes to better your class attendance. The Class of 1960 had a running challenge with the Class of 1955. The Class of 1955 was headed by Bob Samples, former commandant at MMA. In 1985, at my class’s 25th reunion, we beat the class of 1955 for attendance. I don’t recall what the bet was but the following year Samples and his class had reneged on the bet so at the luncheon I presented him with a live turkey.

For our 25th reunion I used a copy machine to copy certain parts of my yearbook. This was prior to having a computer, which now makes things much easier. Back then it was copy, cut and paste. I made a small booklet for each of my classmates who attended our 25th reunion. The night before the formal festivities, we held an informal get-together at a local motel. At this point in our lives, five members of our class had already passed away.

We had a graduating class of 50. For our 25th reunion, 21 members of our class showed up.

Outside of those who had passed away and those from foreign countries we’d lost track of, we had a turnout of more than 50%.

For the formal reunion photo taken on Saturday at the Academy, a few of the guys must have slept in because of the Friday night party that lasted into the wee hours. There were 18 who posed for the class photo. The Academy provided the hats. During my letter writing, I requested donations and our class purchased seat cushions that could be used at sporting events.

In appreciation of my efforts, my classmates purchased a brick in my name on Senior Walk.

The reunions are for honoring those of us who graduated the Academy, but there are other people who also should be recognized. Keep up contact with members of your class who for one reason or another did not graduate.

Perhaps they did not return for their senior year. Include them in your mailings. Another very important group that you should not forget is the wives or girlfriends of your classmates. They have to put up with the rehashing of various stories of our misspent youth. The ladies are a very important factor in successful reunions. In what became an enjoyable tradition during the Saturday evening dinner-dance, I would have my photo taken with these great ladies. When we had our informal get-together parties on Friday night, we also invited former faculty and their wives to join us. I received many thank-you cards or letters from these lovely ladies.

Some of the booklets I put together for my classmates included information about most-popular movies, TV shows, sport championship teams and top music hits in 1960. Sure, it was a lot of work, but it was fun to do. I also found photos of the popular makes of cars from 1960 and included those photos in the booklets.

This story continues on the next page.

FALL IN REVEILLE! We have always had very good attendance at our anniversary reunions. For our 50th, I went through issues of The Eagle, which came out once a month in 1960. I retyped and copied pictures of anything that pertained to members of the class of 1960 and included them in a Power Point presentation. I also included music from the era as well as the various bugle calls we were accustomed to hearing during our time at the Academy. I added some then-and-now photos to show how we all had aged .I gave one to each member of the class who attended the 50th.

For our 50th reunion, 20 former class members attended the all or part of the festivities. One of the members of our class, Jim Bueneman and his wife, Donna, hosted a class picnic at their farm in Wright City on the Sunday after our 45th and 50th reunions.

For our 50th, Charlie and Winnie Stribling attended the picnic and had a wonderful time.

Due to illness I was unable to attend our 55th reunion but I am looking forward to our 60th in 2020.

From time to time, I request donations so the class can purchase a brick to be placed on Senior Walk for class members who have passed away. There are exceptions to this. If over the past number of years I never received the courtesy of any kind of a response I feel that they have no interest and will not receive a brick.

In May of 2018, we lost Guy Sesler who was our battalion commander for the class of 1960. Guy was a decorated Vietnam War veteran. To give you an idea of how close our class was, four members of our class — John Green, Joe Martin, Fred Nelson and Hal Reise — attended his funeral service in Joplin. I would have attended but was in the hospital recovering from pneumonia.

In September 1968, Kevin Metheny of Oklahoma City (OKC) became freshman Cadet Metheny. In December 1970, Staff Sergeant Metheny went home for Christmas furlough and returned 30 years later.

Kevin was instrumental in launching MTV and received a “Man on the Moon” MTV Award for his efforts. For photos and more on his accomplishments, check him out on Wikipedia.

He was a very bright student and excelled in his classes, especially English. He worked at the local radio station and was the announcer for most on-campus events. The reason he left MMA was simple. At the time, he told his father he didn’t want to return. So his father withdrew him, and Kevin enrolled in public school in OKC. Simple. He later told me he hadn’t been in his new school for more than a day when he realized he’d made a mistake. But returning to MMA? Not so simple.

Kevin spoke and wrote in his very own language. I call it “Kevin-ese.” I can read it and understand it, but I can’t speak it. He would never say in 10 words what he could say in 50. And the bigger the better. When we lost a close mutual friend in 2012, all he could say was “F**K.” Not his usual eloquence, but it said what we all were thinking.

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Time has taken its toll on our class and several class members have passed away. A number of us now have health issues but I still try to get down to Missouri at least once a year to get together with my classmates. In the past, we would always visit Charlie and Winnie Stribling. Now that Charlie has passed away, we invite Winnie to join us for lunch. She was unable to join us this past May as she was attending her granddaughter’s graduation.

We did have lunch with the new Academy president, Brigadier General Rick Geraci, and Cassandra Brooks, who is in charge of alumni affairs.

Remember, we are a band of brothers. 

Non-Grads Always Welcome

By Buster Hall ’72

He graduated from his OKC high school and started a long successful career in radio. He developed quite a following as a Top 40 DJ in several markets before he made the move to the other side of the glass as a producer, program director and finally a general manager for Clear Channel. Along the way, he met rock stars and presidents. He was the guy on the button for Howard Stern at WABC and earned the nickname Pig Virus (later Pig Vomit) from Stern. He was portrayed by Paul Giamatti in the movie Private Parts.

Sometime around 2007, he connected with a couple of his old MMA buddies about returning for Homecoming. We assured him he would be welcomed back with open arms.

He made reservations but was nervous about returning, even going so far as to call me as we drove to Mexico that Friday evening — Kevin from the St. Louis airport, me from Kansas.

He was looking for courage.

His apprehension was immediately relieved.

He had a great weekend and became a regular at Homecoming for the next several years. He asked for and received permission to visit the Quartermaster and purchase a senior ring.

A couple of weeks before Homecoming 2014, Kevin called to tell me he could not attend that year. He had been transferred from Kevin Metheny ’72 Detroit to San Francisco.

Nothing new there. He was transferred about every 18 to 24 months. But this move was the week prior to Homecoming. He just couldn’t come. I told him he’d be missed, but we would talk the next week to review the weekend. That call never took place.

The week after Homecoming, on October 3, 2014, as he was talking on the phone to his boss, he suffered a fatal heart attack. When I sent condolences to his father, I told him of Kevin’s response in 2012 when we had lost a mutual friend. I told him that the response was not very polite, but it was how we all felt.

I also told him of Kevin’s joy of getting his senior ring, albeit 30+ years late. He told me that Kevin was wearing it when he died.

Whenever any old boy asks if he can come back even though he didn’t graduate, tell them about Kevin Metheny ’72. Make him feel welcome. Besides, Kev would love the attention! 

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PARADE REST

SPOTLIGHTING MMA’S GROWING REGIONAL ALUMNI NETWORK

Reunion in Chihuahua

By Tomás Miledi ’91 I am very proud to announce and invite you to the seventh MMA alumni reunion in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico, March 5–8, 2020. Brothers from all of Mexico, the United States, Peru and other countries will attend. René Aoki ’91 Charlie Company will host.

The MMA brothers who visit in the state of Chihuahua will penetrate the most extensive territory of the entire Mexican republic, which could fit in its 244,938 square kilometers three countries the size of Spain.

Chihuahua is an important agribusiness, livestock and mining center.

Many of the MMA brothers will arrive Thursday, March 5.

They’ll check in at the hotel and we’ll meet at a restaurant-bar to greet, meet more brothers and relive old stories at MMA. On Friday, March 6, more brothers will arrive. Different activities are scheduled during the day and in the evening, the president of MMA, Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, will make a presentation to all of us. Next, we will go to a restaurant for the opening dinner.

On Saturday, March 7, we will visit one of the most important vineyards in Mexico; it is only an hour away by bus. We will enjoy the closing meal and the appointment for the next 2021 MMA alumni reunion.

On Sunday, March 8, we all return home.  MMA President Geraci, center, meets with alumni in Mexico.

New Alumni Contact Email!

MMA.Alumni.Brotherhood@gmail.com

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Upcoming Regional Alumni Events MMA alumni gatherings in your area!

KCMO Alumni, December 21 Contact JFalbo@hyalogic.com.

Save the date for Sturgis!

65265 Riders - Sturgis 2020 Alumni Gathering, August 7-16, 2020 Pease join our Facebook page if you are interested in joining our Ride and Rally Gathering. Friends and family welcome.

Connect with a group below to stay informed on the latest alumni events.

Regional Alumni Contacts

Alumni gathered in Denver on Dec. 14 for a gathering.

Get in touch with your local alumni!

Please click a link below to access the Alumni Association and regional alumni Facebook groups.

MMA Alumni Association Gateway Alumni Doug Priestley ’87 dpriestley123@gmail.com Mid-Missouri Tony Giuliani ’88 Springfield, Missouri Mike Misemer ’89 michaelmisemer@yahoo.com

Dallas/Ft. Worth Clay Grant ’88 Clay.Grant@UTSouthwestern.edu Razorback Alumni Hunter Jenkins ’84, jenkinsh151@gmail.com 3rd Coast Alumni Steve McDavid ’97 Email: mmaalumni97@gmail.com

Kansas City Jason Falbo-Gwinn ’88 JFalbo@hyalogic.com Lone Star Colonels August Tetzlaff ’77 august.tetzlaff@gmail.com If you are interested in forming alumni groups for Minnesota, Nebraska or Iowa, please contact Tom Eilers ’70 (eilers.tom@gmail.com) or Eric Johnson ’70 (ericrj50@yahoo.com).

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EVENTS AT MMA SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING AT MMA

Homecoming 2020 BAAAAATTALION!!

FALL IN! RECEIVE THE REPORT! REPORT!!!

Golden Honor Year 1970: ALL PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR! Diamond Honor Year 1995: ALL PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR! Honor Class Years Ending in 0 & 5: ALL PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR! Homecoming 2020 is your honor year and we officially request your presence back in the 65265 September 18–20 to celebrate with your fellow alumni brothers. Now is the time to make your plans if you are the class of 1970, 1995, and classes ending in 0 and 5.

Homecoming dates are set for September 18–20. Plan your lodging early as this fills up fast. Last year, there were 385 alumni, parents and friends here, surpassing the 125th Homecoming attendance of 2014!

1970 Golden Class Agents: Tom Eilers Eilers.Tom@gmail.com Brian Gershon briangershon819@gmail.com Paul Gillette pegleg51@sbcglobal.net Eric Johnson ericrj50@yahoo.com Kent Yoest kejayo@centurylink.net 1995 Diamond Class Agent: Dana Reynard dkreynard@hotmail.com Find your class agents on the MMA website Find lodging as well on the MMA website Brothers, we also have several great bed-and-breakfast establishments in town. The Gillette House is owned by Paul Gillette ’70 and his wife, Lawanah. 

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Save the Date: Maroon & Gold 2020

By Chris Gentry ’88 Brothers, I am excited to share that there are several exciting changes planned for MMA’s Maroon & Gold event this year.

First of all, M&G ’20 is coming home to our MMA Centennial Gymtorium. As you probably already know, this event is our alma mater’s primary fundraising event and has been growing in attendance and support from alumni each year.

We hope to see a significant increase in alumni support this year, and we need your help to do that!

Second, we hope that you’ll join the growing group of alumni who attend this event, but if you simply can’t be with us in person, you can still participate and show your support because MMA is bringing back electronic bidding! This allows anyone to bid on silent auction items or contribute to these efforts from anywhere via the Internet.

Third, while this event has traditionally been held on a separate weekend, it will now be held during Spring Family Weekend in an effort to encourage more family participation.

This means that, if you attend M&G, you’ll be able to attend several of the old Mothers’ Weekend traditions, including the flower pinning ceremony.

To make this a successful event we need your help! Please consider attending, donating auction items, sponsoring the event either individually or through your business, or you can be a real hero and do all three! More information will be shared about sponsorship levels and event registrations soon, but in the meantime, MMA is already accepting auction items. We need vacation homes, event tickets, jewelry, art, gift baskets and collectibles that you are willing to part with or willing to purchase & donate. If you have something to donate, you can send it directly to Cassandra Brooks at MMA, 204 N. Grand St., Mexico MO 65265, or you can contact her via email at Cassandra.Brooks@MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org.

Finally, and most importantly, be sure to SAVE THE DATE of MARCH 28, 2020 on your calendar right now and make plans to come back to your alma mater and show her your support. I look forward to seeing you there! 

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Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays From Missouri Military Academy and the Alumni Association Board of Directors Get your own Stribling Hall holiday ornament, or share it with a loved one as a gift, to show off your MMA pride this holiday season! You can pick it up at the cadet store on campus or order online by clicking here.

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Alumni Association Dues Many don’t realize that your annual Alumni Association dues are not part of your Homecoming registration. If you go to Homecoming, we historically have collected Alumni Association yearly dues at that time. Dues not only help the association assist with homecoming activities, but also to align with a major Academy initiative that goes towards enriching the lives of the cadets. For the past two years, it has been the Memorial Chapel and Assembly Hall Campaign.

The Alumni Association also sponsors the Senior Banquet and provides a gift to each senior, as well as a silent auction item for the Maroon and Gold banquet.

The Alumni Association extends two free years of Alumni Association yearly dues to the graduating seniors.

The Alumni Association can make these donations on behalf of our alumni only through the collection of yearly dues and those that join as Lifetime Members.

Even if you don’t plan on attending Homecoming, your yearly Alumni Association dues go a long way to enrich the value that MMA brings to the cadets, who are our future alumni Brothers.

Alumni Association Dues To that end, the Alumni Association is implementing a new yearly dues structure, with Homecoming acting as the year’s end. If an alumnus pays his dues between Oct. 1 and March 31, dues will be $50. If paid between April 1 and Sep. 30, dues will be $60.

Finally, if an alumnus pays his yearly dues as part of on-site homecoming registration, those dues will be $75. As a special thank-you, alumni who make a tax-deductible donation of $250 or greater to any MMA initiative will have their Association dues waived for that year. Lifetime Members are exempt from yearly Alumni Association dues.

Membership Benefits

Each alumnus who pays his dues will receive the following: • A copy of the Alumni Association e-newsetter Reveille • A thank-you note from the Alumni Association president • A Christmas card and a yearly gift of appreciation MMA Alumni Association’s Tiered Lifetime Membership Program

original lifetime membership and only need to make up the difference to the level you wish to achieve.

The Tiered Lifetime Membership Program has been growing since its inception, and tiered membership is now 160 members strong.

New Cadet Referral Rewards

All alumni and former cadets can participate, and MMA’s development office will gladly work with you on a payment program. The cost per level of the Tiered Lifetime Membership Program is as follows: Lifetime Member - $350 Maroon Lifetime Member - $500 Gold Lifetime Member - $750 1889 Lifetime Member - $1889 The Tiered Lifetime Membership Program includes the following benefits: • Identification of tiered status on Homecoming name tag • New members recognized at Convocation and in the Homecoming edition of the Eagle • Tiered Lifetime Members’ names will hang in a prominent place on campus Existing Lifetime Members If you are an existing Lifetime Member and wish to enter the Tiered Lifetime Membership program, you will be credited the amount you paid for your

The Alumni Association is committed to MMA’s prosperous future. Any alumnus who puts a prospective cadet/ family in contact with the admissions office will automatically become a Lifetime Member at no cost (as long as the contact enrolls as a cadet.)

Alumni who refer multiple families move up the Tiered Lifetime Member levels: Two cadets: Maroon Lifetime Member Three cadets: Gold Lifetime Member Four+ cadets: 1889 Lifetime Member The Alumni Association encourages all alumni and former cadets to help achieve the Academy’s goals for increasing cadet enrollment or partnering for initiatives directed for the betterment of cadet life. Your yearly Alumni Association dues, or participation in the Tiered Lifetime Membership Program, will help achieve our common goals.

If you have questions about this program, contact any of the Alumni Association board members listed on page 32 in this newsletter.  Pay Alumni Association dues online.

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Alumni Association Contacts Missouri Military Academy Alumni Association Board Hunter Jenkins ’85, President 337.378.9119 jenkinsh151@gmail.com

Garrett Stockum ’87 309.275.1997 garrett@stockum.com

Larry Wylie ’88 6186705660 Larrywylie@gmail.com

Pedro Portilla ’82, President-Elect +011.521.8182.545.700 portilla_pedro@hotmail.com

Chris Gentry ’88 308.458.8165 gentrycj@gmail.com

Clay Grant ’88 214.616.7233 sclaygrant@gmail.com

Rob Farnam ’84, President-Elect 314.337.2994 robfarnam592@yahoo.com

Tod Thompson ’88 417.438.5522 todroe@sbcglobal.net

Mike Misemer ’89 941.328.2511 michaelmisemer@yahoo.com

Gregg Center ’91, Treasurer 312.636.5153 Gcenter13@gmail.com

Jose Bours ’94 +52.644.159.4425 jfbours@gmail.com

Chris Schafer ’89, Secretary 346.804.7735 Chris.Schafer71@gmail.com

Steve McDavid ’97 910.797.9277 mmaalumni97@gmail.com

Ricardo Uriegas ’91 US phone: +1 956 278 6022 Mex : + 52 1 81 2575 9429 rickuriegas@gmail.com

Jason Falbo-Gwinn ’88, Director of Class Agents 913.904.2567 JFalbo@hyalogic.com

BOD Committee Members – Non-Voting

Richard Cooper ’82, Ex-Officio 281.635.3264 spankyc358@gmail.com Kurt Bilsel ’81 314.238.4050 kabilsel@gmail.com

Paul Petit ’87, Past President (2013-14) (011-52)55.2741-4115 tnh2824@yahoo.com Greg Holten ’88 618.541.8026 gregholten@yahoo.com

Jarrod Magee ’97 618.530.2981 jmageepainting@gmail.com Heinz Leigh ’99 573.999.0700 heinzleigh@gmail.com John Davis ’92 618.339.9125 jdavis151@gmail.com Jorge Yarte-Sada ’89 +35.196.249.8294 +52.1.811.255.5107 jorgeyartesada@gmail.com

Reveille is an electronically published alumni newsletter, created in collaboration between the Missouri Military Academy Alumni Association and the MMA Marketing Department.

Editors Chris Schafer ’89 Jason Falbo-Gwinn ’88 Jennifer O’Donley, MMA Marketing Director Design Connor Pearson, MMA Marketing Coordinator

Contact MMA’s alumni association at: mma.alumni.brotherhood@gmail.com

If you have questions, comments, or concerns about Reveille, please contact: Chris Schafer ’89 at Chris.Schafer71@gmail.com or Jason Falbo-Gwinn ’88 at JFalbo@hyalogic.com or marketing@missourimilitaryacademy.org.