Alumni Review 2008 Issue 4 by VMI Alumni Agencies

VMI

ALUMNI REVIEW 2008-Issue 4

Contents

VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE Alumni Review 2008-Issue 4

IN THIS ISSUE . . .

This issue includes Class Notes covering the time period of May 16 to Aug. 15, 2008. Other than Class Notes, most stories and news in this issue were received in the May through August ’08 time frame.

FEATURES 10

Class of 2008 Graduation

Fain ’80: On Leadership

Eads ’93: Financial Advice

Dernovsek ’06: In Africa

LaCerda ’07: Wins Award

Bomb Dedications

OEF/OIF: An Update

Association/Chapter News

Class Notes

162 Most Senior Alumni 167 Taps 179 Alumni News

President’s Letter

186 The Institute 190 VMI Athletics

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Periodicals postage paid at Lynchburg, VA. PURPOSE OF THE VMI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION To organize the alumni, the better to keep alive the memories of Institute life and—by their united efforts—to aid in the promotion of the welfare of the Institute, and the successful prosecution of its educational purposes.

540/464-7221 540/464-7287 540/464-7328

WEB SITE ADDRESSES Alumni Agencies: www.vmialumni.org VMI: www.vmi.edu

177 Association Directory

203 The Keydet Club

ATTENTION POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to: VMI Alumni Review, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450

VMI ALUMNI AGENCIES TELEPHONE NUMBERS The VMI Alumni Association: The VMI Foundation: The VMI Keydet Club:

DEPARTMENTS

192 The Foundation

PUBLISHING OFFICE The VMI Alumni Association, Inc., Alumni Review Office VMI Moody Hall, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450; 540/464-7224 review@vmiaa.org

The VMI Alumni Review (USPS 954-740) is published four times yearly in fall, winter, spring and summer by The VMI Alumni Association, Inc., P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450. It is sent to alumni and friends of the Institute without subscription.

162 Births, Marriages, Degrees

PUBLISHER The President of The VMI Alumni Association, Inc.

PRINTER Progress Printing Co., Inc. Lynchburg, Virginia

NEWS AND UPDATES

Volume 84, No. 3

182

ON OUR COVER Front Cover: Returning from the March Off on Aug. 23, 2008, 440 matriculants were led into Barracks to begin nine days of intensive training by the Cadre. Inside Front Cover: A new cadet signing the Matriculation Book. Inside Back Cover: More Matriculation photos. All cover photos by Kevin Remington.

A Message from the President Since the Alumni Review is a review of the previous quarter – in this case, May through August 2008 – this issue focuses on some of the key events that took place in that time frame, such as New Market Day, graduation and commissioning for the class of 2008. New Market Day is a chance for all of us to reflect on those who have paid the ultimate price for their beliefs and to protect the freedoms we all hold dear. We are reminded of those often memorized words, “… and ready in every time of deepest peril;” the phrase seems even more poignant today as many of our alumni serve their country, their communities and the world. In this issue, you will see those ideals expressed in news and updates we have received from literally around the globe. For example, there is an article about Andrew Dernovsek ’06, who is a member of the Peace Corps based in Lesotho, Africa, where Lykins ’73 he is helping people suffering from HIV/AIDS and educating communities in prevention of the disease. We also share the sad news of the death of Spec. William L. McMillan III, class of 2008, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. This sobering reminder of the sacrifice of war also brings to mind the more than 1,240 alumni who have served in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. We appreciate their contributions and are mindful of the difficulties they must endure while serving with distinction. As this issue arrives at your homes and businesses, the fall season in Lexington is in full swing. Fall is a time when alumni return to attend football games, reunions and an assortment of activities. We’re fortunate that so many return to see friends from their time in Barracks. With so much activity on Post, I’m sure we will hear many comments about the renaissance made possible through Vision 2039, including visible changes to Barracks, the football/baseball stadium and a new Leadership and Ethics Center. Although photos of some of these changes have been published in the Review, the Institute Report and on the VMI Web site, pictures cannot fully portray the dramatic improvements made so far. If you’ve made plans to return to VMI, you will join many fellow alums doing the same. If you haven’t been back recently, consider making a special trip to return to your alma mater and take note of what is happening today. Alumni are the leading factors influencing VMI. They assist in telling their story to prospective students, they share their heritage and achievement in the workplace, they invest in the community, and all of these things support VMI. We’re fortunate to have a legacy of passionate support for the Institute from our alumni – this support is a primary contributor to achieving excellence at VMI. Take a moment as you read these pages to catch up with old friends, see some of the events that have taken place, and gather new facts about VMI and our experience. Also, take a moment to see the recognition given to Jim Spellman ’85 who served as president prior to my term. His leadership oriented the Alumni Association on service. His contributions will be long remembered. Finally, to our alumni in uniform, wherever you may be serving: You have earned our great respect, and you are a credit and an honor to your school. We salute you. Good luck, and God bless. In the bonds, Richmond P. Lykins ’73, President The VMI Alumni Association, Inc.

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At Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Ba’Qubah, Iraq, are, from left, Capt. Jason Cole ’00, Capt. Mike Nelson ’99, Capt. Justin Cole ’00, Capt. Nick Shallcross ’03 and Capt. Al Bangura ’00, all U.S. Army.

Operation

Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom An Update The following alumni names have been received since the publication of the 2008-Issue 3 Alumni Review. This update does not include alumni names received after Aug. 1, 2008. Also, once the name of an alumnus has been listed in the Review, it will not appear again, even if the alumnus is re-deployed at a later date. Not all of the alumni listed are currently serving in OEF/OIF, but they all have served at one time. Names and photographs are e-mailed to us almost every week. Because we have to have a cut-off date for each issue, your name and picture may have arrived past that date and therefore are not published in this issue; they will be published in the next issue. Please send additions, corrections and photographs to the Alumni Review staff at: VMI Alumni Review, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450 (e-mail: review@vmiaa.org). For a complete list of the names that we have received, go to http://www. vmialumni.org and click on the link titled “Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.”

Class of 1981

Class of 2001

Bowman, Gary M. Col., USA

Gunter, Joseph W. Lt j.g., USN

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Class of 2003 Davis, Mark T. CW2, USA Faff, Jonathan B. Sgt., USMC

Class of 2005 Conley, Mark J.T. 1st Lt., USAF Ferrara, Thomas W. 1st Lt., USAF Lloyd, Matthew S. 1st Lt., USA

Class of 2006 Schriefer, 1st Lt. Kyle W., USA

Class of 2008 Harvey, Bradley N. Lance Cpl., USMC Jones, Robert E. Lance Cpl., USMC

Class of 2009 Lund, Michael W. Lance Cpl., USMC

Photo at right: Col. Gary M. Bowman ’81, USA, left, and Lt. Col. Jerry E. Brooks ’85, USA, at the Al Faw Palace outside Baghdad, Iraq. Bowman is the command historian for Third Army Central Command (ARCENT), and Brooks is the command historian for Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I). Bowman was in Baghdad on a fact-finding mission for the Army’s Center of Military History when this photo was taken. This is Brooks’ second tour in Iraq as the MNC-I command historian. His first tour took place in 2005-06.

Photo at right: In Iraq, Maj. Trey Rhodes ’90, USA, displayed the VMI flag on his door in the 3rd Sustainment Command office.

Photo above: Lt. Col. Vern Reichling ’87, USA, standing at the summit of the K-G Pass in Afghanistan (elevation 12,000 feet), which connects the Khowst and Paktya Provinces of that country. “They are beginning to do road construction on this route, but it will take many years to complete,” he wrote.

Photo at left: Maj. Pat O’Leary ’90, VARNG, shown above at the Khyber Pass and Pakistan border, was based in Afghanistan with the Army Corps of Engineers when he submitted this photo. O’Leary – the Jalalabad Area Engineer with the Afghanistan Engineer District – was nearing the end of his year -long deployment in July 2008 and preparing to return to his civilian job in the U.S. – assistant attorney general in Virginia.

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The photo right, top, submitted by Col. Jonathan Ives ’80, far right, was taken on New Market Day 2008 in Afghanistan. In an e-mail inviting VMI alumni stationed in the area, Ives wrote: “… join Col. Barry Mines and [me] for the New Market Day recognition for VMI. This will be at 0745 on Thursday 15 May at Camp Cunningham …. [when we will] take the opportunity to read the final roll call of [the cadets who] fell on that day and to reaffirm our commitment to the defense of the nation. The agenda for all who join us to pay respects will be: 0743 – Shake a leg; 0745 – Informal formation – fall-in; Introductions; Opening prayer; Short address by Col. Ives and Col. Mines; Last Roll Call of Keydets; Play ‘Taps’; Moment of silence; Benediction; and Conclude 0800 and adjourn to Dragon DFAC for breakfast and stories.” From left are Mines, Johnson, Troxell, Field, an unidentified alumnus and Ives. Editor’s Note: We were unable to include more information about the people in this photo, because we could not reach Col. Ives at the time of this issue’s printing. Photo at right: Stationed in Habbaniyah, Iraq, and part of Task Force Mayhem, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, are, from left, Sgt. Jonathan Faff ’03, Lance Cpl. Bradley Harvey ’08, Lance Cpl. Michael Lund ’10, Lt. Col. Frank Charlonis ’88 (battalion commander), Lance Cpl. Daniel Jones ’08 and Sgt. David Roberts ’06. As Charlonis wrote, the Keydets pictured with him are members of Platoon Company B, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion. “These Marines are doing a superb job,” he said.

Photo at left: In July 2008, Col. Adam Dickerson ’86, USAF, right, assumed the duties of Col. Steve Amato ’83, USAF, left, who, until that time, had been the director of Host Nation Coordination Cell, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. As the director, Amato was responsible for the administrative requirements of approximately 10,000 U.S. Forces in Qatar, coordinating with the General Headquarters Qatar, which is the Qatari Armed Forces Headquarters. In August 2008, Amato began his new role as commander of VMI’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 880.

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Photo at right, top: From left are Maj. Vince Porter ’94, Maj. Sean Lanier ’94 and Maj. Derrick Johnson ’92. Porter, who submitted this photo, wrote, “While catching up over dinner at the Multi National CorpsIraq dining facility, Sean Lanier and I ran into Derrick Johnson. We were just talking about VMI men we’ve seen so far, and it was at that moment that we spotted Derrick eating dinner with some of his Air Force brethren. We talked for a bit and went outside to take [this] picture.” Photo at right, center: From left are Maj. Vince Porter ’94, Lt. Col. Mike Masley ’89, Lt. Col. Eric Carpenter ’90 and Lt. Col. John Parrott ’88. About this photo, Porter wrote: “I was serving on the division staff for 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) in Baghdad. Our staff was in the process of transitioning with our replacement unit – 10th Mountain Division staff. [The group at right], all with the 3ID, gathered on New Market Day for a photo in front of the division’s mascot, Rocky, located inside the headquarters building on Camp Victory. We found out that Masley was on the division staff for 10th Mountain Division, so we grabbed him for the photo as well.”

Photo at left: From left, Paul Kucik ’90, USA; Chris Dixon ’90, USMC; Andy Mergens ’90, USA; and John Flemming ’70, civilian, U.S. Department of Defense, in Baghdad, Iraq.

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Ahntuan Nguyen ’92 at Logistics Support Area (LSA) Anaconda, also known as Joint Base Balad and Camp Anaconda, is one of the largest American military bases in Iraq. The Army’s 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and the Air Force’s 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing is headquartered there. Balad, which is the central logistical hub for forces in Iraq and the busiest air base in the world operated by the U.S. Department of Defense, is currently the second busiest airport in the world.

Alumni Association Chapter Formed in Jalalabad, Afghanistan

Class of ’93 Brother Rats, Majors Rich Goodman, left, and Steve Thrasher, right, at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.

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Andy Kestner ’87, left, and Bill Jennings ’82, right, were proud to announce the newly formed VMI Alumni Association chapter in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. “Wayne Fuller ’86, who was not present for the photo, was elected chapter president while absent,” the two founding members wrote.

William L. McMillan III ’08 Former Cadet was Ninth Alumnus to be Killed in Iraq Spec. William Lloyd McMillan III ’08 of Lexington, Kentucky, died on July 8, 2008, at the age of 22. An Army medic based at Abu Ghraib, Iraq, he was traveling with his outfit when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, injuring five and fatally wounding McMillan. McMillan, who was seven months into his first tour in Iraq, had been awarded the Bronze Star Medal in April. He was promoted posthumously to the rank of corporal and was awarded the Purple Heart. McMillan attended Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia, before matriculating at VMI. During his senior year at Hargrave, he was captain of the wrestling, lacrosse and football teams and was awarded the school’s Athlete of the Year Award. He attended VMI for one year, during which he was a member of the lacrosse team, before joining the Army. At the time of his death he had been stationed for a year at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, with the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. His unit deployed to Iraq from Schofield Barracks in December 2007. He is survived by his wife of 18 months, Elizabeth McMillan, who is a student at the University of Kentucky; his parents, Capt. William L. McMillan Jr., USMA ’67, and Marge McMillan; a sister, Lauren Buchanan; and a brother, Brad. McMillan was buried on July 19, 2008, at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Jessamine County, Kentucky.

Spec. William Lloyd McMillan III ’08 with his wife, Elizabeth.

Jon Anderson ’03: A New

Generation of American Soldier An article featuring Capt. Jon C. Anderson Jr. ’03 and titled “Commentary: American Soldier Remains Nation’s Ultimate Weapon” by Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, recently appeared on the eMilitary Web site (part of the Military Family Network). In the article, Vanek stated that the Global War on Terrorism is producing a new generation of the American soldier. As Vanek explained, “These soldiers are the first in two generations to know nothing but continuous conflict. Anderson ’03 They face alternating tours of combat operations against vicious, elusive foes, and hectic periods of refit and training to prepare for the next deployment.” Yet, he says that this current generation is proving its ability to adapt and succeed. The following is an excerpt from the article: “Capt. Jon Anderson is among the vanguard of this new generation of American soldier. He began his training in the Army’s Reserve Officer Training Corps. Upon commissioning in the spring of 2003, Anderson completed a series of infantry training courses, culminating with the rigorous U.S. Army Ranger School. “Now entering his fifth year of active service, Anderson finds himself on a second combat deployment of over a year. On this tour, he commands 100 young men of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry and has responsibility for security across 300 square miles of towns, farms, open desert and mountains. “It is in this obscure place that Anderson has epitomized the best attributes of his peers. His psyche impressed by the loss of his own first commander, Capt. Joel Cahill, in an [improvised explosive device] attack in 2005, one could understand if Anderson focused his efforts completely on lethal destruction of the insurgency in his area of responsibility. Instead, he has balanced his efforts between combating insurgents and restoring hope to the civilian population. Recently, he devoted his personal efforts to help the mayor of Riyahd [Iraq] – the largest town in his area of operations – to get a prosthesis for a leg lost years ago to an improvised explosive device. This humanitarian act was [in] clear contrast with those of the insurgents who had attempted to assassinate the mayor. It is this ever-changing blend of charity toward the innocent, and toughness in the face of the enemies that hide among them, that Anderson has mastered.” Vanek concludes by saying that the attributes displayed by soldiers like Anderson, along with a determination to never accept defeat on the battlefield, are qualities that allow the United States to sustain its own cherished values and extend its benefits to others. (Lt. Col. Vanek commands the 1st Battalion, 87th Regiment of the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division.) Editor’s Note: Jon Anderson is the grandson of Robert H. Warren III ’45 and great-great-grandson of the late Robert H. Warren Jr. ’16. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Run for the Fallen by Capt. Jim Bean ’04, USA Approximately 1,000 runners lined up on an early Sunday morning in August, just a stone’s throw away from Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, to participate in the four-mile “Run for the Fallen.” As runners checked in, including military service members and civilians, they received a Run for the Fallen tag. On the tag was written, “I run in memory of …,” followed by a space where runners could write the name of the deceased person to whom this run was dedicated. After checking in, runners gathered at the Camp Victory stage, across which a banner hung with the names of every service member killed in support of OIF/ OEF to date. Runners could select a name on the banner, if they did not have a deceased person in mind.

My wife, Capt. Scarlett Bean ’05, USA, and I were among the runners, and we had already selected the persons for whom we would run. On my Run for the Fallen tag, I wrote the name of 1st Lt. Josh Hurley ’01, USA, who was a member of my dyke’s class and who had lived next door to my dyke when I was a Rat. Josh was killed in action in Iraq on Nov. 1, 2003. Scarlett’s choice was easy for her to make but much harder emotionally. On her tag, she carefully wrote the name 1st Sgt. Luke Mercardante, USMC, a former ROTC instructor at VMI who was killed in action in Afghanistan on April 15, 2008. When Scarlett commissioned as an Army second lieutenant in 2005, Gunny Sgt. Mercardante delivered her first salute. Shortly after 0700, the run was over, and Scarlett and I had completed what we set out to do that morning – we had shown our respect for two VMI men who Captains Jim and Scarlett Bean displaying paid the ultimate price and “died their Run for the Fallen tags. on the field of honor.”

Photo above, left: In May 2005, then-2nd Lt. Scarlett Bean received her first salute at her commissioning ceremony from 1st Sgt. Luke Mercardante, USMC, Naval ROTC instructor at VMI and class of 2007 Honorary Brother Rat. Photo above, right: 1st Lt. Josh Hurley with his wife, Teresa. (Photo: The Leaf-Chronicle, Clarksville, Tennessee.)

Editor’s Note: When Capt. Bean submitted the above story, we asked about the fact that both he and his wife are stationed in Iraq at the same time. Their situation is described further in the exchange below: AR Editor: How long have you both been in Iraq, and when do you anticipate coming home? Bean: Scarlett has been here for 13 months now and will be headed home at the end of September/beginning of October. I am only on my fourth month here this go-round (I did a year tour for OIF III in 2005-06) and expect to go home next July. AR Editor: It’s somewhat unusual that both you and your wife are there at the same time. Tell me some more about that. Bean: There are a few husband and wife combos that are deployed 2008-Issue 4

together across the services. However, most of those are in the same unit. Scarlett and I just got really lucky. The rest of my battalion is in a different part of Iraq, and a few of the staff officers got sent to Baghdad as part of another mission. This stroke of luck has allowed me to see her for a few months, which is definitely nice, since we won’t get to spend more than two weeks at a time together until at least February 2010. That date is because she will already be PCSed to somewhere new by the time I get home, and I will still have to attend the Captain’s Career Course. Sadly, this isn’t a new thing for us. Three weeks after we were married, I was deployed to Iraq the first time. Then, we got to spend a year at home together, and she was deployed in July 2007. Luckily, I was able to catch up with her here in Baghdad this past May. 9

Secretary of

Defense Gates Gives Commencment Address to Class of 2008

Photo below: Secretary Gates addressing the class of 2008. All commencement photos by Kevin Remingon,VMI.

ecretary of Defense Robert M. Gates was the choice of speakers for the graduating class at VMI’s commencement on May 16, 2008, in Cameron Hall. The day before, 52 percent of the 246 members of the class commissioned into the U.S. military. Gates congratulated the graduates on making it from the Ratline to the finish line at an institution more demanding than most colleges and universities. He added that he’s impressed by the increasing number of men and women from VMI who commission into the military – it’s a tribute to the values the Institute instills in its students, he said. “It is precisely during these trying times that America needs its best and brightest young people, from all walks of life, to step forward and commit to public service,” said Gates. “While the obligations of citizenship in any democracy are considerable, they are even more profound and more demanding, as citizens of a nation with America’s global challenges and responsibilities, and America’s values and aspirations.” Since 2001, 75 cadets have been mobilized during their cadetship, 41 of them in Iraq or Afghanistan. Ten are currently on active duty, called by their National Guard or Reserve units to duty in Iraq. More than 1,200 VMI graduates have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, and eight did not come home, said Gates. He encouraged the graduating class to follow in the footsteps of alumni like Gen. George C. Marshall, [VMI class of 1901] who came out of retirement when called to continue serving his country, and Army Col. Jonathan Ives, a mobilized reservist from the class of 1980. As commander of Task Force Cincinnatus in northern Afghanistan, Ives, like the Afghan

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Above: VMI Superintendent Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, right, with Secretary of Defense Gates prior to the start of the commencement ceremony.

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national security forces he works with, takes up arms when he must and puts them down when he can. “The citizen-soldier is no myth,” said Gates. “He is real, and I have seen him in my travels around the world.” Gates called upon the graduates to heed the trumpet’s call no matter what career path they take. “If in the 21st century, America is to be a force for good in the world; if America is to continue to be a beacon for all who are oppressed; if America is to exercise global leadership consistent with our better angels, then the most able and idealistic of your generation must step forward and accept the burden and the duty of public service,” he said. “I promise you that you will also find joy and satisfaction and fulfillment.” For members of a graduating class who will pursue careers of leadership in the military and civilian sectors, a visit from a major national leader was an inspirational way to end their cadetship. Prior to being named secretary of defense, Gates was president of Texas A&M University, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser at the White House for President George H.W. Bush. Also addressing the graduates was Cadet Jesse Burnette of Marion, North Carolina, the class of 2008 valedictorian; Cadet Jason Webb of Bowie, Maryland, class president; and Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’63, superintendent of VMI. (See the following pages for Secretary Gates’ and Cadet Burnette’s remarks.) Special awards presented during the ceremony included the First Jackson-Hope Medal for highest attainment in scholarship to Cadet Kevin Sullivan of Nokesville, the Second Jackson-Hope Medal for second highest attainment in scholarship to Michael Vinacco of Poquoson, and the Society of Cincinnati Medal for efficiency of service and excellence of character to Cadet Will Flathers III of Rixeyville. Editor’s Note: The above article was provided by VMI Communications and Marketing.

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Valedictorian Gains Strength from VMI’s Challenges Had it not been for three members of VMI’s Army ROTC department, Cadet Jesse Burnette, pictured at right, would not have graduated from the Institute. Yet, not only did he continue his studies, but he ended his cadetship as the class of 2008 valedictorian. Following a rough spring on Post his third class year, Burnette took an air assault class at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. Richard Winters and other members of the well-known World War II 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division were at Fort Campbell that summer, as well. The excitement of meeting his “Band of Brothers” heroes coupled with the challenges he faced at VMI had Burnette strongly considering enlisting in the Army following the course. “We had been in contact by phone with Jesse during his class at Fort Campbell, and we knew he was considering leaving VMI,” said Capt. Todd Pegg, then one of Burnette’s ROTC instructors. “Capt. [Terri] Dorn, Kristy Funkhouser and I took a leave of absence and surprised Jesse at his graduation. We were actually on the road when he called to tell us how excited he was to meet some of the members of the Band of Brothers, and it was a trip I’m glad we made.” Burnette is glad they visited him, too, as he is proud to have weathered the challenges the Institute hands to its cadets. He

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said the experiences, both good and bad, have well prepared him for a career in the Army. “VMI is one of the most comprehensive educations in the country, and it is baptism by the fire of adversity,” Burnette told his classmates at commencement on May 16. “I am grateful to Col. [Harold] Worrell and the ROTC Department for the training, coaching, teaching and mentoring they gave me and for the academic department. My professors instilled in me a desire to learn that will not fade.” In addition to attaining academic stars throughout his cadetship, Burnette was a member of the rifle team for two years and was an executive officer in Company E. The newly commissioned second lieutenant will train at Fort Lewis in Washington before landing at his initial duty station, the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, where his lifelong dream of serving as a paratrooper in the military will come true. “Serving is a family tradition,” said Burnette, a native of Marion, North Carolina “My dad was in Vietnam, and both of my grandfathers served in World War II, and to the best of my knowledge, I will be the first officer. I think there is really something special about an 18-year-old kid who raises his right hand and says he is ready to serve and die if he has to.”

One of the benefits of completing his degree in military history at VMI was traveling to the sites where his military heroes fought. In 2007, Burnette accompanied Col. Malcolm Muir and fellow cadets to Guam and Iwo Jima, and this spring, he went with Muir and other cadets to World War I and World War II sites in France, Luxembourg and Belgium. (Editor’s Note: See article about this trip in the 2008-Issue 3 Alumni Review.) “A cadet with a sharp interest in earlier generations who served their country in uniform, Jesse Burnette has made a wide-ranging study of American military history from the Revolution to the global war on terrorism,” said Muir. “To examine the ground where Americans defeated ruthless and skillful enemies, he spent spring breaks visiting battlefields from the Meuse-Argonne and the Bulge in Europe to Guam and Iwo Jima in the Pacific.” Now that he has completed his time at the Institute, it is Burnette’s turn to serve his country and make his own history. “It will be a privilege to lead people who have been on as many as four combat tours,” said Burnette. “If I show them I’m willing to learn from them, I think they’ll work with me. I think my 88-year-old grandmother said it best: ‘It’s been a hard four years, but it’s only going to get tougher.’” Editor’s Note: The preceding article and photos were provided by VMI Communications and Marketing.

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More than 120 Commissioned in VMI ROTC Ceremony Sixty-one cadets were commissioned into the U.S. Army, 26 into the Marine Corps, 11 into the Navy and 27 into the Air Force on May 15 during VMI ROTC’s Class of 2008 Commissioning Ceremonies at Cameron Hall and Memorial Garden. After the pinning ceremony in Memorial Garden, Air Force 2nd Lt. Thomas Cunningham reflected on the past four years, saying he never saw himself coming to VMI. Growing up in a non-military family in Groveport, Ohio, Cunningham watched from his backyard as Blue Angels out of Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base swooped out of the sky. He knew then that he would someday attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. A wrestling scholarship, however, drew Cunningham to VMI, and he’s never looked back. “The greatest thing about this place is everyone’s so close,” he said. “I’m going to miss my friends. … This place has done a lot for me. I just hope I can give back.” Cunningham’s first station will be in Georgia, but he expects to attend flight school in Colorado and learn to fly those jets in Texas, all within the next two years. New Army 2nd Lt. Peter Brookes Jr. also sought to do something “a little different.” At least five members of his family, including his father – retired Cmdr. Peter Brookes – were in the Navy. The younger Peter Brookes, however, opted for the field artillery and will head to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for training. “I’m ready,” he said. “It’s been a long four years.” Cadet 2nd Battalion commander and now Ensign Allan Fortier also reflected on the time it took to graduate from VMI. “I saw my dyke commission three years ago. … I never thought this day would come,” he said, adding, “It’s

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Class of 2008 Commissioning Ceremonies

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pretty amazing.” Fortier said members of his family were in the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard, so it seemed natural for him to commission. “I want to serve my country,” he said, “and fly jets, too.” Fortier will be heading to Pensacola, Florida, for flight school. All were [directed] to serve earlier that morning during the formal Commissioning Ceremony in Cameron Hall by Army Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Joseph F. Weber, Navy Rear Adm. Charles E. Smith ’79 and Air Force Lt. Gen. Daniel J. Darnell ’75, who each addressed the commissioning cadets and then administered the Commissioning Oath. Editor’s Note: The preceding article and photos were provided by VMI Communications and Marketing. All photos by Kevin Remington.

Class of 2008 Commissioning Ceremonies

One of the commissioning officers, Lt. Gen. Daniel J. Darnell ’75, above left, is deputy chief of staff for Air, Space and Information Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, in Washington, D.C.

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From the editor: In the following article, Director of Foundation Relations Scott Belliveau ’83 interviews alumnus Hugh M. Fain III ’80 on the subject of leadership. Through this and future interviews, Belliveau intends to illustrate the enduring efficacy of a VMI education, to provide insights on leadership to alumni and cadets, and to support the Institute’s ongoing effort to strengthen leadership and ethics education at VMI.

Hugh Fain ’80

Introducing Hugh Fain

On Leadership

Fain ’80

Hugh Fain is the managing director of the law firm of Spotts Fain PC in Richmond, Virginia, which employs 33 lawyers practicing in many areas, including corporate, commercial, intellectual property and creditors’ rights law, as well as general civil litigation. He also is the chairman of the board of the firm-owned and -operated Spotts Fain Consulting, LC, which offers lobbying, government relations and mediation services. Fain concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and business litigation and counseling. He has been named by his peers in Best Lawyers in America, Virginia Business magazine’s “Legal Elite” listing and in Virginia Lawyer’s “Super Lawyer” listing. Fain earned a bachelor’s degree in economics, with distinction, from VMI. While in the Corps, he served as vice president of his class and as a prosecutor on the Honor Court. In 1983, he received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. He also served as an officer in the U.S. Army Individual Ready Reserve from 1980-91. Currently a member of the VMI Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Fain also is a past president of The VMI Alumni Association and the VMI Club of Richmond. He is on the Board of Governors of the Virginia Bar Association, and he is a past president of the Bar Association of the City of Richmond.

The Interview

Why did you attend VMI?

Fain: I grew up in a VMI family in Richmond. My father was a member of the class of 1949C. So, I grew up immersed in VMI, going to football games and parades, and wanting to go to VMI. Furthermore, my father died at a young age, 42 years old. I was 11 years old, almost twelve, at the time, and I observed members of the greater VMI family just putting their arms around my family. That experience also influenced me a great deal. Also, I asked myself, “Why do you go to college?” To me, the answer was to get a degree that is going to take you some place and to me, a VMI degree would do that. I came by that

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answer after looking around and seeing so many successful people, so many leaders in business, politics and the professions, who were VMI alumni. So, taking all those factors together made VMI an obvious choice for me.

You held some leadership positions in the Corps. What were those?

Fain: I was the vice president of the class of 1980 and prosecutor of the Honor Court. Let me say this, however: everybody at VMI is a leader, be it through the Office of the Guard Association, the honor system, the regimental system, the class system or the dyke system. At VMI, everyone has multiple opportunities to develop their leadership skills. That is one of things I tell young people who are thinking about VMI; VMI is an excellent college, but it also is a leadership institute.

What leadership lessons did you learn at VMI?

Fain: There are times when the world is spinning out of control, and people who are able to focus and stay calm under pressure are usually successful. And by design, VMI helps cadets develop that skill – grace under pressure. Of course, VMI demands honor and integrity. Doing what you say you are going to do is what VMI is all about. Honor and integrity are essential to sustained success in business and the professions, in every walk of life. If people don’t have that, they won’t be successful. VMI also teaches you humility, again by design. We all go into that Ratline and almost immediately realize that we don’t know as much as we thought we did. We quickly come to understand that we all are made of the same stuff and that we are all in the same soup. Nobody plays favorites. You learn from the guy next to you, and you realize that a lot of people have talents you don’t have. Learning to be humble is a good lesson to pick up early in your life. VMI teaches you that, and it is something that helps you later in life.

How have the lessons served you in your profession?

Fain: Well, you don’t wake up and think, “Today, I’m going to work on this aspect of what I learned at VMI about leadership.” It’s just there; it’s ingrained. You don’t think about it consciously. You just live your life and then, suddenly, you are living what you learned at VMI without thinking about it. I went straight to law school after graduation. I remember vividly in my first year in law school [at the University of Virginia] going back to my apartment after registering and getting my class schedule. I diligently took my calendar and plotted out my course schedule. Looking at it, I was amazed at all the time that I had. Life outside of VMI, I discovered, was very different. You have to account for your own time. Thankfully, the organizational skills that you learn at VMI

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came in very handy for me. Later, after law school, when I went to work at a law firm, I felt like I was entering a new Ratline. So, I reminded myself to keep a low profile and to learn my craft from experienced attorneys.

Looking back at your experience, what are the traits necessary for effective leadership?

Fain: Number one, honor and integrity. If you do not do what you say you will do, and if you don’t have a high degree of reliability in your work and your dealings with other people, you won’t get anywhere as a leader. Number two, a willingness to lead by example. No one is going to follow a leader who doesn’t do the things that he or she is asking others to do. Organizational skills and being meticulous in the way you lead your life on a daily basis are important as well. No one will follow a leader who is scattered all over the place and doesn’t seem to have his own stuff in one bag. A good leader also needs to have a positive, cheerful, cando attitude. Few people want to be led by someone who is relentlessly negative. Finally, if you want to be a leader in any profession, you have to start by learning your craft. If you master it, then you can become a leader. It won’t work the other way around.

What leadership challenges are particular to the law?

Fain: That’s why I am intrigued by the subject of this interview. I think every calling in life has different leadership requirements. Sure, there are some traits common to all good leaders in all professions. But there are differences. There are different traits that make a successful leader in my profession. Being a leader in a law firm, being a managing partner or head of a practice group, is not the pinnacle of the legal profession. The pinnacle is being the best trial lawyer, the best transactional lawyer, the best tax geek – the person who knows a certain area of law better than anyone else. In a large corporation or military setting, the required leadership traits include giving firm, strong direction from the top down. The leaders set the tone and expect people to follow their plan of action. In the law, successful leadership depends on leading by consensus. An effective leader in a law firm is the person who is capable of herding cats. It’s much more about understanding the various constituencies and the things that are important to your colleagues, all of whom are different. It’s about trying to get consensus among the various partners of the firm or your colleagues in order to move the firm in one direction. Another thing that differentiates leadership in the law from that in the military or a larger business is that you cannot adhere to the notion that “familiarity breeds contempt.” In large organizations, like the military, people are taught that leaders need to set themselves apart from their subordinates, their followers. In a professional setting, it is just the opposite.

You need to understand that you are all colleagues and that your goal really is to get to know these folks very well and to understand their concerns and needs in order to help them take their practices where they need to go.

What is the importance of mentors in the development of leaders in your profession?

Fain: It is hugely important for a young person to have the privilege of having a mentor. So, if you are leading an organization, you should create an atmosphere in which mentorship is present and practiced at all levels. We try to practice that at this firm. I was lucky to have a number of excellent mentors. If you are a young aspiring lawyer, you need to start from a humble perspective, accepting that you really don’t know anything and you want to be taught. If you don’t, you will fail by acting as if you know it all and rejecting guidance and mentorship. You may be smart and hard-working, but you still need to be taught. In that situation, you need a mentor to show you all things related to the profession, not just reading the cases and understanding the law, but how you handle yourself, how you comport yourself in the courtroom, and how you treat your colleagues at the Bar and in the firm.

Who are some of the mentors who had a positive influence on your development as a lawyer?

Fain: Well, first, most everything I have learned about how to treat other people I learned from my mom. The last thing I ever want to do is to disappoint her in the way I deal with other people. Another important person in my life has been Bob Patterson [class of 1949C]. He has had an influence on a lot of people, and I am lucky to be one of them. He was one of the people there for my family when my father passed away. But I also was fortunate to be a part of his law firm and to observe his leadership skills first-hand. Another important professional mentor for me has been Anne Marie Whittemore. She taught me a lot of the finer points of being a lawyer; how to compose a brief, how to conduct myself in a courtroom and how to deal with my colleagues at the Bar.

Are there other people in your profession or in history who you admire as leaders?

Fain: In my profession, two who come to mind are Tom Slater [class of 1966], a prominent lawyer at Hunton and Williams, and one of his law partners, Joe Spivey [class of 1957], both of whom have been president of the Board of Visitors at VMI and are preeminent in the legal profession. In history, George C. Marshall [class of 1901] is someone who inspires me, because as Army chief of staff, he led by consensus, not only within the Army, with people like Eisenhower, Bradley and Patton, but also with leaders of other services, like Adm. Ernest King and the allies. While herding those cats, he demonstrated grace and diplomacy.

What general advice would you give to young people who want to be leaders?

Fain: We touched on it earlier, but the first thing is “learn before you leap.” Come into your profession understanding that you have a lot to learn. If young people have any kind of ambition, they’ll want to rise up the ladder and become a leader. But often, they seek advancement before they have really learned their profession. Certainly, you want to demonstrate self-confidence, because no one will want to hire you if you’re afraid of your own shadow. But you have to start with a little humility, and be willing to learn your business from top to bottom. Leadership is something you will be asked to do in your profession. So, there is no need to for you to come “out of the box,” announcing that you want to be a leader. If you learn your business and become the best at what you do, your organization will spot your talent and ask you to accept a leadership role and its attendant challenges.

What do you tell a young lawyer who has done something that didn’t work out?

Fain: I applaud people who take chances and have the confidence to set high goals. If you hit a bump in the road, learn from your mistake – I hope I have learned from mine – dust off your pants, and move on.

Is getting people to recognize their limitations a trait of a good leader?

Fain: There is a very tough balancing act between counseling a young person to slow down and learn their craft and not discouraging that same person from taking chances and pushing on to the next level. The last thing you want is for a person to come into your business and get comfortable not moving up and not improving. A good leader and mentor can strike that balance.

You get the last word.

Fain: I’ll just come back to VMI and how its method of educating inculcates the traits of strong leadership in cadets – or can, if cadets take full advantage of the VMI experience. At VMI, we are all thrown into the Barracks. There is no choosing to live in a dorm on that side of campus or one on this side of campus and thus, knowing only a small subset of your fellow students. At VMI, everyone lives and breathes the same lifestyle; you and your Brother Rats are all in it together. It starts with that humility; it takes you down to that base level at which you recognize, “I don’t know anything more than the guy next to me.” Then, in a very calculated way, through the class system, VMI gives you more and more leadership opportunities as the years go on, allowing you to learn the small details of leadership. The Honor Code inculcates honor and integrity, that habit of doing what you say you are going to do. Finally, as I said at the beginning of the interview, you learn the importance of grace under pressure. You learn those elements of leadership at VMI in a way that few schools can match. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

about to make is in the best long-term interest of your financial goals. Remember that some people with fancy cars or houses may be living on the ‘financial edge’ in exchange for a certain public image. The wise person resists that urge and, instead, keeps his money in his pocket.” One of the best ways for young people to keep their money is to invest it, said Eads. That new car, high-definition TV or top-of-the-line cell phone might seem like a necessity, but in reality, they are wants. Investing wisely instead will offer opportunities for those luxuries in the future. Eads’ favorite example of a luxury item that’s often overvalued is the automobile. Contrary to the popular belief of many college graduates, cars are not investments; they are purchases that are guaranteed to depreciate and drain resources through maintenance and repairs. Like most VMI alumni, Matt Eads ’93 is thankful While he admits to having an affinity for cars, for the four, challenging years he experienced at the Eads advises potential young buyers to think Institute. His cadetship enhanced his pride in America, modestly when car shopping. “Focus on cars he forged friendships that will last a lifetime, and he that meet your needs, are safe and affordable,” Eads ’93 learned that hard work equals reward, integrity and he advised, “and try to resist buying a car solely education. Following graduation, the French major for the image it conveys.” went on to obtain an M.B.A. in finance from Georgia Tech and earned “As younger people begin to earn income, I urge them not to overthe prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst designation, which is the look the power of long-term appreciation from investing in stocks,” gold standard in the investment industry. said Eads. “If your employer has a 401(k) program, matching the Today, the Atlanta native and resident is in the business of helping employer’s contribution provides you an effective 100 percent return. high-net worth investors manage their portfolios, but in July, he If no 401(k) is provided, start your own IRA or ROTH IRA.” found himself giving advice to recent college graduates and their Additionally, Eads said every young person should understand the parents on the Fox network’s Good Day Atlanta. A portfolio manager value of savings and the power of compounding. and securities analyst with Eads & Heald Investment Counsel, Eads “If a 22-year-old saves $100 at the start of each month – the cost of enjoyed the opportunity to share his insights with an age group that a couple dining out twice a month at a mid-price restaurant – and he needs sound financial advice now more than ever. earns 7 percent per year for 43 years, he would have about $329,000,” The VMI Alumni Association staff found Eads’ caveats on Good Day said Eads. “If he postpones a savings plan until age 32, the resulting Atlanta worthy of sharing with recent VMI graduates, as well as alumni nest egg is less than half or about $155,000. The numbers speak for whose college-age children are facing independence in a daunting themselves.” economic environment. Eads began saving at an early age thanks to his parents’ encourage“I believe young people become immune to the same old advice they ment and financial wisdom. In fact, his father, R. Stewart Eads, is always hear. So, I recommend a slightly more unique approach,” said president of his company and has mentored Eads both personally and Eads. “I think recent college graduates and those transitioning into professionally. Eads and his wife, Rebecca, are committed to doing the the work force should pause and ask themselves what they want their same with their children Nathan, Caroline and Anna. financial lives to look like in 30 to 40 years. They need to be realistic, “We want our children to understand the value of money and to be and in creating a wish list, carefully balance life’s necessities with smart about spending,” said Eads. “I often take them shopping with luxuries – life’s luxuries are not ‘rights.’” me so they can see how I make choices, and my wife and I involve With a plan in mind, Eads said the next step is to determine a rea- them in discussions about big purchases so they can understand how sonable course of action for achieving that end-goal. Two essential we make decisions.” elements of that plan should be affordable housing and health insurIn fact, Eads’ “big car” example is one lesson he’s practiced at ance. Continuing education follows right behind. home. “As you enter the work force, remember that this is your money,” “My family loves riding in convertibles, and we recently considered said Eads. “Fight yourself to keep it in your pocket, and reduce the buying one,” he said. “As much as we’d enjoy it, we’ve decided to put number of times you put your money in someone else’s pocket. Also, off buying that convertible for now considering the current state of seriously consider graduate school or professional certifications the economy. Holding off on such purchases is a good way to ride beyond undergraduate school, because your education raises your out the storm, and the best thing we can do for our children is to earning potential, and an education never can be taken away from you. lead by example.” As undergraduate degrees become more commonplace, the value of Eads hopes his suggestions will benefit the VMI community, as well. graduate or continuing education goes up.” “I think this is powerful advice for young folks entering a seriously Eads said another piece of advice that often is hard for young people challenged economy,” said Eads. “While I don’t think people should to swallow is to live below your means and to avoid debt with the pull out of the stock market, the current volatility serves as a reminder exception of housing and education. to keep a watchful eye on your finances. It’s critical for young people “I think it’s important for people to try to live below their means and everyone, for that matter, to understand the impact and consemost of the time,” he said. “Always ask yourself if a purchase you’re quence of today’s economy.”

Matt Eads ’93 Offers Financial Advice to Recent Grads

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Dernovsek ’06

Works to Mitigate Scourge of HIV/AIDS in African Country

ndrew Dernovsek ’06 gets around these days mostly on foot and on his stallion, Leluma. In the mountainous terrain of the African enclave Lesotho, villages can be 30 unpaved kilometers apart, and many are perched on the tops of mountains. But every so often, he goes worldwide with his Internet journal. For Dernovsek, logging on means riding in – 40 minutes on horseback from the middle of nowhere, that is. That WiFi hotspot in the wilderness – at a Partners in Health clinic – allowed him to answer questions for this article, and, if he climbs the right mountain, he can even use his cell phone to talk to his family in Pueblo, Colorado. It’s a good thing he learned at VMI to face the unexpected with a cool head and a firm hand, because as HIV/AIDS adviser to the Lesotho Catholic Bishops Conference, Dernovsek has found life to be a study in contrasts. Among these are the demographics of the region. With an entire generation wiped out by disease, the population is made up of the old and the young. “I often work with old women and old men; I often teach their grandchildren, but rarely do I run into people my own age,” said Dernovsek. “The demographic simply isn’t there.” Tasked with helping people suffering from HIV/AIDS and educating communities in prevention of the disease in a place where the rate of infection may be as high as 31 percent and life expectancy as low as age 37, Dernovsek has found that there is much to do.

Photo at right: An ariel view of the area in Africa where Peace Corps volunteer Andrew Dernovsek ’06 is based. Photo below right: Dernovsek often travels between villages in Lesotho, Africa, on the back of his horse, Leluma. Photos courtesy Dernovsek.

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His primary project is to travel to villages to speak to groups advising prevention of HIV/AIDS through abstinence from sexual activity until marriage and faithfulness afterward. He also visits those sick with and dying of HIV/AIDS in the villages. “The area has been gutted of its work force, and every weekend I am reminded of the presence of death in the form of funerals,” said Dernovsek. “They are inescapable, as is the sorrow of this country, and they have become a way of life.” Though Dernovsek often speaks directly to villagers, he also works to organize and educate groups of local people so they can reach out still further with vital information. But the kind of behavioral change that will make a difference in Lesotho is hard to teach. “Infidelity is something that is ingrained in the culture here,” said Dernovsek. He said he could not understand why it is acceptable for married people to have partners in addition to their spouses. “Infidelity happens regularly and without moral reserve.” When he is not visiting villages, Dernovsek teaches English, and sometimes math and science as well, at a village school. He also takes up other projects for which he must himself raise funds while in country.

His pig-breeding project, for instance, is well under way. He has completed fund-raising, using a blog to reach the outside world, and has pigs on site. He will use them to teach the villagers how to raise and breed healthy animals. Dernovsek hopes to extend the project to teach the villagers how to preserve meat to achieve a more uniformly healthy diet than they currently have. Dernovsek is trying to fund and launch two other projects this summer. The Ketane Water Project will bring clean water to what Dernovsek calls “the most remote drought-stricken areas of Lesotho.” The Nohana Computer School will bring sustainable and widespread development, he said. Information on both is posted periodically in his blog. While Dernovsek’s goals for the people of Lesotho are ambitious, his personal achievements there are no less so. Although there are a few situations in which he may use English and be understood, almost all of his communication with the local people, from lectures on healthy living to directions for growing a diversified vegetable garden, must be carried out in the Sesotho language. He surprised himself recently when asked to give an impromptu talk to a large community gathering: “Without skipping a beat, I was able to put together a whole speech on

Photo at left: Dernovsek with villagers after completing the construction of a “keyhole” garden, which allows them to grow a variety of vegetables while conserving water. Photo below: Dernovsek, third from left, speaking to a group about HIV/AIDS. Though he often speaks directly to villagers, he also works to organize and educate groups of local people so they can reach out still further with vital information.

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the go. As I was speaking, I noticed that I could adapt what I was saying based on the reactions of the people.” An international studies major at VMI, Dernovsek has learned practical skills in the Peace Corps. “I have learned to ride a horse, to farm dozens of varieties of vegetables, plumbing, electrical wiring, construction and many other things,” he said. “Basically, if I want to get something here, I have to do it myself. I wired my own solar panel [given to him for his computer school by the Bishops Conference] and rigged it to charge my laptop.” Dernovsek says he developed “nerves of steel” at VMI. “On a daily basis, I run into situations that would test most nerves and tempers and push them to the limit. What do you do when you’ve been driving in a taxi with 20 people that only seats 14 for the last six hours, your tire blows and you arrive at home in the middle of the night to find your dog missing and garden dying? “The stress I face here is nothing compared to the stress that I not only learned to live with, but also to work productively with at VMI. VMI gave me the ability to balance all aspects of my life, including my tasks. “People often ask me how I am able to keep so many projects going and focus on so many different things at once. The answer is simple: I prioritize and balance the different parts of my life and of my projects to meet the needs of the situation. I am confident that nowhere is this better ingrained into a person than in an environment like that of VMI.” Dernovsek must carry these stresses with a special grace, as the people of Ketane have given him a special name in Sesotho. It draws on an older name for the area, Nohana. Thabo Nohana, his Sesotho name, means Joy of Nohana. “The people told me that I brought joy to Photo at top: Dernovsek with a village chief, second from right, and two them with my presence, and they knew I villagers. Photo above: Dernovsek with his dog. would continue to bring joy in the future,” he explained. When his service with the Peace Corps is finished in August He also brings with him a taste of what it means to be an 2009, Dernovsek hopes to work with the U.S. Department of American answering a president’s call for service. “I serve as an ambassador for the American people,” he said. State. Updates and more information about Dernovsek’s projects and “VMI makes citizen soldiers. … If there were a draft or a national experiences in Lesotho may be viewed at http://dernovseklesotho. call for soldiers tomorrow, would I heed it? Unflinchingly. “Until then, I am still serving my country. … I am the only blogspot.com/. Editor’s Note: The preceding article was written by Sherri American that the vast majority of people in my area will ever Tombarge, VMI Communications and Marketing. meet. I serve to show them what an American really is.” 24

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LaCerda ’07

Wins Raytheon/Hughes Award

He expects to use some of his language skills during his upcoming deployment – skills he learned as a VMI cadet traveling in Morocco on an Olmsted Scholarship for foreign study. While in Morocco, LaCerda studied the intricacies of Arab and Islamic cultures and learned to speak Arabic – one of four languages he speaks fluently. The Rhodes scholarship finalist chose to become an infantry officer, seeing it as the greatest way to make an impact on today’s Army. “I chose to become an infantry officer because that’s where I could have the best effect on young soldiers, and it offers me the ability to work more closely with soldiers,” he said. His current focus is clear. “I plan to go on this deployment, conduct a successful mission and take care of my soldiers,” LaCerda said. And he plans to use the skills learned at VMI and through ROTC to carry out the mission. “Attending VMI gave me the ability to prepare myself for my current position,” he said. “It was like a gigantic lab where I

In the year since graduating from VMI, Jason P. LaCerda ’07 has been busy preparing for the next phase of his life as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army – leading troops during a deployment in support of the Global War on Terror. The education and opportunities he was given at VMI, including participating in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), helped prepare him for where he is today. In 2007, LaCerda was named the number one Army ROTC cadet in the nation. Approximately one year later, he returned to Lexington, Virginia, to receive the Raytheon/Hughes Award. Established in 1964 by the Hughes Aircraft Corporation, the award recognizes the nation’s top Army ROTC graduate each year. “My experience in the ROTC program has equipped me to take on real world endeavors as a resourceful citizen and soldier,” LaCerda said. “The challenges were constant, and I learned to react and make decisions while Jason LaCerda ’07, left, received the Raytheon/Hughes Award. gauging the long-term effects of my actions.” The son of immigrants, LaCerda believes serving in the mili- could learn by trial and error and where I learned to maintain tary is an opportunity for him to give back to the country that grace under pressure. I know I’ll be able to use this in my training and in helping to train my soldiers for our mission has become so important to his family. “Service in the U.S. Army is not only one of the finest profes- in Iraq.” sions a young American can pursue, but it is also my opporEditor’s Note: The above article was written by Karla L. tunity to give back to the country my parents struggled and Gonzalez, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Army Cadet Command. sacrificed to enter 30 years ago,” he said. As a platoon leader with D Company, 1st Battalion, 505th Para- The U.S. Army Cadet Command is the parent organization of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training (ROTC) program. Headchute Infantry Regiment, he is answering the call to duty. While he always knew he wanted to have a military career, it quartered at Fort Monroe, Virginia, Cadet Command is the was VMI that helped him decide what he wanted to do following largest single source of commissioned officers for America’s graduation. “I got a better feel of what it would be like to be in Army. Maj. Gen. Robert E. Wagner ’57 is largely responsible the military, and it probably gave me the best scope of what I for its creation and served as the initial commanding general wanted to do.” of the organization. 2008-Issue 4

B omb Dedications

or many years, I have noted with interest the individual to whom each Bomb is dedicated. These dedications indicate people who the cadets chose to thank for their influence on particular classes and on the history of the Institute. Listed below are Bomb dedications from the years 1950-61. Dedications from previous years appeared in the last several issues of the Alumni Review. Below, I have listed the person’s name in capital letters, along with the words used by cadets in each dedication, and then, in parentheses and in italics, my words that describe the individual’s role at VMI. This list of about 20-25 dedications will continue in future volumes of the Alumni Review until we reach the present. Thomas W. Davis ’64 Professor of History Emeritus Historian, The VMI Alumni Association

1950: To COLONEL OLIVER B. BUCHER Seldom does the work of a man to whom a yearbook is dedicated so closely parallel the contacts and experiences of the group making the dedication. When the class of 1950B matriculated in September 1946, Colonel Oliver B. Bucher returned to the Virginia Military Institute. With us, he saw the Institute undergo the post-war era, and he worked hard at returning the VMI to its former status. Also with us, he saw new developments and changes occur. During this time, he did everything in his power toward improvements wherever possible to make the VMI a better VMI. His sincerity and willingness to aid cadets in their personal problems, activities and cadet life leave in the hearts of the members of the class of 1950B the memory of a man who has done much to strengthen the standing of the Institute. It will be difficult to visualize a VMI without Colonel Bucher. Therefore, with a feeling of great pleasure, the staff of the 1950 Bomb, representing the class of 1950B, dedicates this, their yearbook, to Colonel Oliver B. Bucher, professor of military science and tactics and commandant of cadets. (Col. Bucher was a member of the class of 1917 who graduated with a bachelor of science degree prior to entering the Army. He served as VMI’s commandant of cadets and as professor of military science from 1946-51.) 1951: To COLONEL PAUL WELLES For his humanness, his sincerity, his interest in and understanding of VMI customs and traditions, this, the Bomb of the class of 1951, is dedicated to Colonel Paul Welles, professor of French at the Institute for many years. His death will forever be a loss for those to whom he had revealed himself a true scholar and gentleman, but the remembrance of him and his attainments will continue to stimulate scholarly achievement in others. (Col. Welles taught French at VMI from 1930 until he retired in 1950; he died in the same year, as this dedication indicates.) 26

1952: To COLONEL ROBERT A. MARR Many unique personalities have traversed the VMI path of honor and effort since Colonel Preston first announced that the purpose of the VMI was to train citizen soldiers. Probably one of the most striking personalities belongs to Colonel Robert A. Marr, educator and citizen. Colonel Marr has been the outstanding advocate of building a reputation on the twin values of honesty and industry. The colonel has worked endlessly to improve the reputation of his department by keeping abreast of the rapid changes in the engineering world and by continually striving to make new contacts with the employers in industry and government. During these labors, he has continued to bear what he considered to be his personal responsibilities as a citizen. He is at present a town councilor, and he has served in the past on many civic committees. Many of us fail to recognize the beauties of life, because we fail to understand its simple fundamentals. Thus, mankind honors those who are capable of perceiving the fundamental truths and who are capable of directing their lives in accordance with these perceptions. The class of 1952 honors Colonel R.A. Marr – a man who has perceived the fundamental truth that honesty and devotion to duty are necessities of life, and who has directed his life in accordance with his perceptions of this fundamental truth. (This is the second Bomb dedicated to Col. “Buzz” Marr, class of 1918; the first occurred in 1942. He taught civil engineering at the Institute from 1920-56 and was department head from 1941-55. He retired in 1956.) 1953: To WILLIAM H. MILTON Jr. In appreciation of his commendable work at VMI, his keen understanding of the Corps and his interest taken in all phases of life here at the Institute, the 1953 VMI Bomb is respectfully dedicated. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

The VMI Corps in general and the first class in particular are familiar with General Milton from the standpoint of the speaker’s rostrum, and his remarks have always searched the conscience of the men present, bringing out the best in them. The duties of such a man as the superintendent of VMI are rigorous, and General Milton has proven himself to be the man for the job. An easy, casual but highly efficient atmosphere surrounds him both on the job at his office and in his dealings with the cadets all about the Post. During the stay of only one year so far, the general has shown an interest and a devotion to his work that has made him admired by all. Any man in the Corps will give evidence of his sincerity and frankness in meeting the many problems placed before him as superintendent. The position is a large one to fill properly, but VMI may proudly claim that she has a man large enough to fill it. (Gen. Milton was a member of the class of 1920 who graduated with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. He had a distinguished 32-year career with General Electric before becoming VMI’s eighth superintendent in 1952. He retired in 1960.) 1954: To COLONEL BRAXTON DAVIS MAYO For his long years of service, for effort, patience and skill matched by few, we render thanks to Colonel B. Davis Mayo. In the memory of all who have known him, he stands as an unforgettable character. The number of men to whom he has taught that “there are two ways to do anything,” and on whose heads he has pounded while inquiring, “Don’t you see?”, is countless. His service to the Institute cannot be measured in any manner. It lies in his value as a professor and his infinite color and vigor as a man. His receipt of the first check under the VMI Foundation’s new retirement plan is a milestone of progress, but it marks the loss to VMI of a man esteemed by all who have known him. Sincerely we tender our gratitude, and proudly we dedicate this book to Colonel B. Davis Mayo. (Col. B.D. Mayo graduated from VMI in 1909 with a bachelor of science degree. He began teaching mathematics at the Institute in 1910, served as department head for 29 years and retired in 1954.) 1955: COLONEL WILLIAM COUPER AND COLONEL RAYMOND DIXON The class of 1955 is honored to be able to dedicate the 1955 Bomb to two outstanding members of the Institute. It is not often that an opportunity is presented for a class to honor two such worthy men, and we of the class of 1955 are gratified to dedicate the 1955 Bomb to Colonel William Couper and Colonel Raymond Dixon. Every member of the Corps or, for that matter, anyone who has come into contact with Colonel Dixon is impressed with 2008-Issue 4

his kindliness and sincere interest in them, their studies and their problems. As head of the English Department, he has guided the Liberal Arts into a leading position at VMI. His affection for the Corps and his deep interest in improving VMI have made Colonel Dixon a name that is a fitting memorial to his 36 years of service. To fill the gap left by his retirement will be the job of time, but his work will always be a foundation on which we can feel secure. (Raymond Dixon began teaching English at VMI in 1919 and served as department head from 1921-55, the year of his retirement.) In his 40 years of association with VMI, Colonel Couper has rendered valuable services that have increased the prestige of the Institute. In spite of his excellence as business administrator, it is as historiographer that Colonel Couper is famous. His complete records on cadets and his One Hundred Years at VMI are monuments to his work and love for the Institute and the Corps. VMI is very fortunate to have such a man, and his retirement marks a deep loss to the Institute. (William Couper graduated from VMI in 1904, began a career in the construction industry and served in World War I prior to returning to VMI in 1924. He was VMI’s first business executive (1924-54) and served as the Institute’s historiographer for many years, while collecting a vast array of history documents now preserved in the VMI Archives. He published books on Claudius Crozet, the Shenandoah Valley and the Battle of New Market, plus his celebrated four-volume work, One Hundred Years at VMI, which was written to commemorate VMI’s centennial birthday in 1939. He was also an active member of the VMI Athletic Council and served as president of The Southern Conference.) 1956: COLONEL JOHN E. TOWNES Jr. For his long and faithful career as a teacher at VMI and for his active interest in cadet activities and in the affairs of the Corps, we dedicate this, the 1956 Bomb, to Colonel John E. Townes. In 1926, Colonel Townes was appointed superintendent’s representative for the Honor Court, the first time this position had been established, and continued in that capacity for 17 years. Also, during this time he became adviser for the Cadet, a position which he held for 12 years and from which he was relieved only upon agreeing to become adviser to the Bomb. Since then, he has unflaggingly devoted himself to aiding and improving this publication. His devotion to his work can never be over-praised, nor can his iron discipline in the classroom be forgotten. Colonel Townes looms in VMI’s history as a teacher who commands respect and admiration. We have all gained from being thus associated. (John Townes, class of 1907, graduated from VMI with a bachelor of science degree and served in Europe during World War I. He taught history at VMI from 1921-56, and he died on New Market Day in 1970.) 27

1957: COLONEL ROBERT A. MARR Jr. We of the class of 1957, with deep pride, dedicate this, the 73rd volume of the VMI Bomb, to Colonel Robert Athelstan Marr Jr., professor of civil engineering. Colonel Marr has been closely associated with VMI since earliest childhood when he lived on the Post with his father, who was also a professor of civil engineering. His favorite pastime at this stage of life was climbing in and out of Barracks windows. He entered Barracks as a cadet in 1915 and was graduated in the class of 1918. It was during his cadetship that he acquired the nickname “Buzz,” by which he has been affectionately known ever since. In the fall of 1919, Buzz Marr returned to his beloved VMI as a member of the civil engineering teaching staff, where he has been for over 36 years. In August of 1941, he became the head of the Civil Engineering Department. Although his name is familiar in engineering circles the nation over, he is best known for his work and love for all VMI men everywhere. He pushed himself to the limit to help one and all, and has never been forgotten by anyone who ever met him. His constantly cheerful outlook has always been a source of much encouragement to his staff members and all cadets. He never asked for nor has he received the adulation and high accolades which are due him. The knowledge that he was doing a good job has always been enough for this plain, frail little man whose highest aspirations are to be with and work for young men. VMI has been his life and breath. With his tragic illness in the spring of 1955, VMI lost, for a time, one of her most deeply devoted servants. The men of VMI and the engineering world in general wholeheartedly join in the sincere prayer that Colonel Marr will be returned to good health and to VMI, for no one can take his place. It has been truly said, “When the good Lord made Buzz Marr, He threw away the mold.” (This is the third Bomb dedicated to Col. Robert A. “Buzz” Marr, class of 1918; the two others were in 1942 and 1952. He began teaching civil engineering at VMI in 1919 and remained associated with that department until his retirement in 1956. He served as department head for 15 years from 1941-56.) 1958: To ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN YEARS OF GRADUATES The class of 1958 proudly dedicates the Bomb this year to 116 years of graduates. It is to every Brother Rat class from 1839 to the present that the class of 1958 humbly pays tribute. Were it not for the staunch support of a united Alumni, the Virginia Military Institute would have fallen by the wayside many years ago. What has been responsible for this strong union of alumni who have striven to promote VMI’s aim of producing “citizen soldiers”? It is a lasting brotherhood resulting from a common admiration for the ideals of the Institute which is born in them during their cadetship and upon graduation initiates them into one of the strongest fraternities in the land – the Brother Rat Classes of VMI. 28

For over 100 years, VMI has turned out leaders in both the military and civilian fields. These men realize that the only way for VMI to continue to mold this high caliber of graduate who has made the Institute what it is today is for them to maintain an active interest in keeping “the Red, White and Yellow forever floating on high.” The class of 1958 salutes you, the Alumni, and presents this, the 74th volume of the Bomb, in your honor. 1959: To VMI ATHLETIC COACHES AND TO COACH JOHN McKENNA The 75th edition of the VMI Bomb is dedicated to the VMI coaching staff in all sports and in particular to Coach John McKenna, VMI’s head football coach. It is highly praiseworthy that VMI coaches have been able to field the excellent teams that have won consistently in past competition. With but a small scholarship program in athletics and a student body of less than 1,000 cadets to draw from, the records of all VMI athletic teams have been outstanding. Coach McKenna’s background includes All-American mention as a center on Villanova’s unscored-upon 1937 football team (he graduated with a B.A. in philosophy in 1938), Naval air service, a stint at Malvern Prep in Philadelphia, and a tour as assistant coach at Villanova and Loyola of Los Angeles. He served as line coach for VMI in 1952 and was the unanimous choice for the head coaching position in 1953. He has done very well with VMI athletics, coming at a time when subsidized football has reached a very low ebb with scandals in a number of schools. McKenna succeeded in raising the standards of football and the prestige of collegiate athletics in the state. In his first season as head coach, VMI won the Big Six championship. In the 1957 season, the team went undefeated to win the Southern Conference as well as the Big Six crown and Coach McKenna was named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year. This year’s “Big Red” extended the winning streak to 18 games. A gentleman and a leader of young men, Coach McKenna has won the friendship of all those with whom he has come in contact, and the respect of his players with his thoroughness and strict discipline, and the admiration of the fans and sports writers throughout Virginia. McKenna follows a simple – if not easy – rule of trying to instill in the players’ minds the feeling that each game is an entity in itself and that what has gone on before or may be coming in the next weeks has nothing to do with the game at hand. Coach McKenna deals in two commodities – fundamentals and facts. On the football field at practice, it is the former. At the banquet table, it is the latter. McKenna’s attributes as a speaker and as a VMI ambassador make him an excellent advertisement for VMI and athletics in general. His modesty, sincerity and flow of words at the speaker’s rostrum would do credit to a college president. Newspaper columnists have called Coach McKenna “an articulate and entertaining speaker… [and] a spirited competitor, a deep thinker who doesn’t speak unless he has something to say….” VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

The Corps is extremely proud to have been associated with this extra-ordinary gentleman and coach. This dedication of this 75th edition of the Bomb is but a small measure of the esteem with which he and all the coaching staff are held by the Corps, the Institute and the Alumni. (Legendary Head Football Coach John McKenna ranks first in total football wins at VMI [62], a record compiled during his head coaching years, 1953-1965. VMI had six consecutive winning seasons, 1957-1962, and a combined record of 42 wins and 13 losses, plus four Southern Conference championships during those six years. His 1957 team had a record of 9-0-1, and the 1959 team was 8-1-1. After his VMI coaching years, he went to the Athletic Department at Georgia Tech University. He died in 2007 and is buried in Lexington’s Stonewall Jackson Cemetery. He is a member of VMI’s Sports Hall of Fame, and Clarkson-McKenna Hall located behind Foster Stadium bears his name.) 1960: To MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM H. MILTON Jr. With graduation of the class of 1960, Major General William H. Milton Jr. will round out eight years of service as superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute. These years under General Milton’s leadership have been significant ones in VMI’s history – years that have produced progress and refinements in every area of the Institute’s operation. But while his energies have been dedicated toward the realization of an ever-greater and stronger VMI, General Milton has kept a sensitive finger on the pulse of the Corps. Behind the formidable stars, cadets have found a man sincerely interested and willing to aid in their personal problems, a man of wise counsel and competent advice. He has been a superintendent of oftentimes astounding knowledge of hundreds of cadets as individuals, genuinely interested in all their activities and proud of their achievements. It is, then, to General Milton, as a token of the esteem which we hold for him as an officer and friend, that we, the staff, respectfully dedicate this 1960 volume of the VMI Bomb. (This is the second Bomb dedicated to General Milton; see the 1953 Bomb dedication.) 1961: To COLONEL KENNETH S. PURDIE and COLONEL SAMUEL M. MILLNER In this year of Centennial Celebration, the class of 1961 wishes to express its gratitude, as well as that of the Corps, for the combined century of service provided the Institute by two of its more outstanding faculty members, Colonel Kenneth S. Purdie and Colonel Samuel M. Millner. It is to these two noteworthy gentlemen that the 1961 Bomb is dedicated. Colonel Purdie entered the Virginia Military Institute in 1909 and graduated in the class of 1912 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. In 1912-13, he was an instructor at Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri. Colonel Purdie was at VMI as instructor in mathematics and Post adjutant from 1913 to 1915. 2008-Issue 4

He was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1916. While an officer in the Army, he was professor of military science and tactics and commandant of cadets at VMI from January to October 1919. Colonel Purdie resigned his commission in the U.S. Army in 1926 and returned to VMI as assistant professor of mathematics. He was on leave of absence on active duty with the U.S. Army in World War II, 1941-45, attaining the grade of colonel. He rejoined the faculty of VMI in 1945 as professor of mathematics. In June 1958, Colonel Purdie was presented a resolution of appreciation from the VMI Athletic Council recognizing his 45 years of service to VMI athletics. Colonel Purdie played football as a cadet, served for 23 years as a member of the old committee on athletics, and from 1951 to 1957 was chairman of both the faculty committee on athletics and the VMI Athletic Council. (Col. Purdie, class of 1912, taught mathematics at VMI for 32 years, prior to his retirement in 1961. He also had fouryear leaves of absence during both World War I and World War II.) Colonel Millner became a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute in September 1907, and four years later, he was a distinguished graduate in the class of 1911, receiving a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. As a cadet, he was a private and a corporal in B Company, an F Company sergeant and, in his first class year, was a lieutenant in D Company. He was a member of the staffs of The Cadet and The Bomb, a member of his class Ring Committee and of the gym team. After graduation in 1911, he returned to VMI and served as an instructor in French from 1911 to 1914. In 1914, he left VMI for graduate study at the University of Wisconsin, where he studied for two years. He received an M.A. in French in 1916. Returning to VMI, he spent the year 1916-17 as assistant professor of French, leaving the Institute in 1917 to enter the military service in World War I. In September 1919, he returned once more to VMI and has been a member of the faculty since that time. In 1930, he was named a full professor of French and head of that department. He did further graduate study at the University of Wisconsin during the summer sessions of 1933, 1934 and 1935. In September 1956, he was promoted from head of the Department of French and German to head of the Department of Modern Languages. This year, Colonel Millner retires after a half-century of his life spent at the Institute. (Col. Millner, class of 1911, taught French at VMI for nearly 50 years prior to his retirement in 1961.) Correction: Regarding the 1940 Bomb Dedication cited in the previous issue (2008-Issue 3 Review), Col. Davis would like to submit the following correction. Lt. Col. John M. Fray, to whom the 1940 Bomb was dedicated, was a member of the class of 1908, not 1901. His older brother, William Fray, was a member of that earlier class and a Brother Rat of George C. Marshall ’01. Col. Davis is thankful to Bill Eliason ’46 for bringing the mistake to his attention. 29

ASSOCIATION NEWS ASSOCIATION NEWS Spellman ’85: Immediate Past President of The VMI Alumni Association

A native of Eastchester, New York, Spellman holds a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI with a minor in psychology. He held the rank of lieutenant in the Corps of Cadets. Spellman’s career has been spent in law enforcement. Following graduation from VMI, he was appointed to New York’s Organized Crime Task Force. In 1987, he was appointed to the City of Mount Vernon Police Department and served in its Patrol Division, Emergency Service Unit, Narcotics Unit and Detective Division. He was decorated 18 times by the department and other agencies. At the same time, he volunteered his time with the local fire department and was named a Fireman of the Year for a life-saving rescue of a woman from an apartment building fire that killed another tenant. In 1996, he was appointed a senior investigator with the New York State Attorney General’s Office. He has twice received the Attorney General’s Superior Service Award and has been a visiting instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. He now holds the title of senior investigator in the New York State Attorney General’s Office, New York City region, with involvement in large scale white collar fraud crimes, drug diversion and the instruction of it nationally. In the days following 9/11 and the attacks on New York, he was one of hundreds of on and off duty police officers and firefighters involved in the rescue efforts at the World Trade Center.

Spellman with Carissa Schofield, who was also honored for her service to the Association and the Institute.

In December 2005, when Robert B. Newman Jr. ’73, who had been serving as president of The VMI Alumni Association since July 2004, was appointed by then-Governor-elect Tim Kaine to serve as adjutant general of Virginia, he was automatically named a member of the VMI Board of Visitors. Because no one can serve as a voting member on two Institute boards, Newman was unable to serve out his full two-year term as president of the Alumni Association. Thus it was that when Newman stepped down as president in February 2006 he was succeeded by First Vice President James F. Spellman ’85. When Spellman’s term expired in July 2008, he became one of only a handful of alumni who have served as president for longer than two years and the first to have done so since Lawrence Peyton, class of 1893, who served in that position from 1927-32. (For trivia buffs, the longest serving president in VMI’s history was Wyatt Moseley Elliott, class of 1842, who served for 24 years from 1842-66.) At a recent meeting of The VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors, recognition was given to the outgoing president. Adam Volant ’88, executive vice president of The VMI Alumni Association, says of Spellman that “his service was marked by an enthusiastic devotion to duty and a deep involvement in all aspects of his job. He was a familiar and active presence at many VMI and Alumni Association events, both large and small.” Spellman endeared himself to the employees of the Alumni Association by bringing freshly made bagels to them from New York on each of his many trips south. Spellman has been an active member of the Alumni Association for many years. He was a chapter representative and president of the WestFair Chapter and a regional director of the Northeast Region. He participated routinely in both the dyke and class system workshops at VMI and was involved in New Cadet Recruiting. He was elected second vice president of the Alumni Association in 2002 and first vice president in 2004.

Photo at top: Presenting one of two gifts from the Association Board of Directors to outgoing President Jim Spellman, right, was incoming Association President Rich Lykins ’73, left. Photo above: Spellman, left, received a second gift from the board, presented by First Vice President Randy Blanks ’67, right.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

Admissions Office and Alumni Welcome Class of 2012 Set Sights on Class of 2013 and Beyond Col. Vern Beitzel, director of Admissions and a member of the VMI class of 1972, spends a majority of his time in the months leading up to Matriculation Day using his years of experience in VMI Admissions to select the targeted number of incoming cadets designated for each class. That number for the class of 2012 was 440. Beitzel and his team in the Admissions Office spent the entire school year and summer 2008 receiving, reviewing and deciding on how many of the 1,721 applicants for admission to VMI would be accepted. On Aug. 23, 2008, the class of 2012 was matriculated into VMI. The following are the tentative statistics for the class of 2012, gathered during the days leading up to Matriculation Day. Out of 1,721 applications received by the Admissions Office, there were 906 appointments offered to applicants (53% of total applicants). Out of the 906 appointments, 440 prospective cadets accepted their appointment and were expected to matriculate on Aug. 23rd. Of these 440 tentative members of the incoming class, 56% of them are from the state of Virginia (VMI’s goal was 54%); they represent 34 states across the country; they include members of 10 different nations; and legacies make up 16% of the class. Soon after the third Barracks is completed, the number of matriculating cadets will increase slightly. This will mean that more applicants will be appointed, but the student profile and standards should remain the same. There are many steps being taken this fall to help recruit even more well-qualified, prospective cadets, and toward that end, the New Cadet Recruiting (NCR) team of The VMI Alumni Association is providing assistance to the Admissions Office. The first major step being taken by the NCR Department and the Admissions Office is the coordination of 30 national NCR Promotional Dinners for prospective cadets and their families. These events are organized and hosted by the Alumni Association with help from the VMI Communications and Marketing Department, which assists with invitations and promotional pieces. VMI alumni, current cadets, members of the Parents’ Council, ROTC faculty and members of the VMI staff are key to ensuring the success of these events by sharing experiences of their own with the prospective cadets and their guests. At the promotional dinners, prospective cadets receive valuable information about VMI through presentations and question and answer sessions, and by speaking with alumni and members of the Institute before and after dinner.

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The second step toward increased recruiting focuses on opportunities made possible through national and local college fairs in area high schools across the country. The Admissions Office has worked with New Cadet Recruiting to publish a list of college fairs nationwide. Alumni can sign up to participate in these fairs via the VMI Web site (www.vmi.edu). At the site’s home page, go to the column on the left and click on the heading “Alumni and Friends.” After this page appears on the screen, click on the tab titled “Contact an Alumnus,” which will allow you to select a state on a map and see the events and alumni in that area. If you are interested in any of the events shown or others not on the list about which you are aware, contact Robert Crumpler ’07 (rcrumpler@vmiaa.org), Alumni Association, or Lt. Col. Neil Whitmore ’90 (whitmorend@vmi.edu), Admissions Office. National exposure for VMI at college fairs will improve chances that top-ranking prospects across the country will seek admittance to the Institute. Also, contact Crumpler or Whitmore to receive the latest updated materials and handouts used by the Admissions Office in recent months. Alumni interviews comprise the third approach used by the NCR/ Admissions team to recruit more potential cadets. These informative interviews provide prospects with a chance to hear more about VMI, while also providing the Admissions Office with insight about the recruit, other than what appears on the application. The goal is for an alumnus to meet as many prospects in his or her area as possible, thereby increasing the opportunities to convey, first hand, the benefits and prestige of a VMI education. Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62 strongly encourages all alumni and members of the VMI community to assist in the recruiting effort, and find the type of young adults suited to become VMI cadets. The contributions made by alumni recruiters cannot be overstated in terms of their unique ability to help VMI recruit and develop well-rounded, mature citizen soldiers. In the coming years, the NCR Department of The VMI Alumni Association is helping the Admissions Office to reach the goal of 2,000 applications per year, so that they may continue to appoint more high-ranking students from an even larger selection of applicants. Regarding the class of 2012 and future recruiting, Col. Beitzel said: “We have had another outstanding year in admissions, generating an excellent number of applications and enrolling the desired number of Rats with the targeted percentage of entering cadets from outof-state. Certainly, the support we continue to receive from alumni, through individual support and the efforts coordinated through the Alumni New Cadet Recruiting program, play a very important role in the success of our marketing and recruiting efforts. Without alumni support, I know our efforts would not have resulted in the success we have experienced in recent years and the quality of the cadets matriculating. Our staff is working hard to recruit the class of 2013 and beyond, and we look forward to working with those alumni who support us in our admissions efforts.” If you are interested in becoming an alumni recruiter, please call Robert Crumpler at 1-800/444-1839 (Ext. 201) or e-mail rcrumpler@ vmiaa.org. The VMI Alumni Association’s New Cadet Recruiting Department and the Admissions Office would like to thank all of its alumni recruiters for their hard work in adding another prestigious class to the VMI ranks, and we look forward to teaming up for more recruiting success in the future.

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Atlanta Chapter Welcomes Superintendent

Alumni from the Atlanta Chapter met at the Capital Club of Atlanta for an evening reception with Gen. J.H. Binford Peay ’62 (photo above, center.) The superintendent presented information and updates about the Institute and Vision 2039. More than 100 alumni and their guests attended. Paul Holland ’90, chapter president, introduced the superintendent and welcomed guests. The chapter was sponsored at the club by Robert Nagel, father of David Nagel ’01.

More than 100 alumni and their guests attended

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Pacific Northwest Chapter Meets at McDowell ’68 Home Members of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Alumni Association held a recent meeting at the Washington state home of Robert McDowell ’68. Adam Volant ’88, executive vice president of The VMI Alumni Association, Inc., and guest speaker, presented current alumni news and an update from the Institute. Randy Farmer ’68, chapter president, welcomed alumni and over 30 guests, including senior alumni and younger graduates. One attendee drove from Idaho to join the group, and several others made the hour-long or greater trip to the event location. Photos 1 and 2: Attendees. Photo 3: Volant presented a VMI print to the McDowells. Photo 4: Matt Schwarzmann ’90, right, with Bob McDowell, left, at the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington. McDowell provided insights to Schwarzmann, as Matt develops his role as information officer for the Alumni Association. Photo 5: Randy Farmer ’68, president of the Pacific Northwest Chapter. Photo 6: Volant, right, with Nicole and Matt Myers ’01. Myers, who had returned to the U.S. from Afghanistan only one day before the chapter event, and his wife, Nicole, were honored at the meeting because of the unusual set of circumstances that brought them there. While serving in Afghanistan with the Army weeks before, Myers heard of the chapter event by way of an e-mail from the Alumni Association. He had hoped to return in time but was unsure of his actual return date to the states. With only intermittent access to the Internet while in the combat zone, Myers used the vmialumni.org Web site to register for the event and get directions to the McDowell’s home. When he and his wife arrived, the chapter offered them both a heartfelt welcome home.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS Rockbridge Chapter Celebrates July 4th at VMI The Alumni Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rockbridge Chapter gathered at Moody Hall on July 4, 2008, to celebrate Independence Day. Each year, the city of Lexington sponsors a hot air balloon rally that takes place on VMIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parade ground, along with other activities for the kids and food booths. With access to the best view of the festivities in town, alumni and their families use Moody Hall as headquarters, where they meet for chapter fellowship and to enjoy a barbecue meal.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ASSOCIATION NEWS

New Chapter Formed in Oklahoma City The inaugural meeting of the Oklahoma Chapter was held on July 7, 2008, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. At the meeting, founding members of the new chapter elected Hamel Reinmiller ’98 to serve as president and Will Davis ’06 to serve as first vice president. Adam Volant ’88, executive vice president of The VMI Alumni Association, Inc., was present to confer a charter from

the association officially recognizing the group and to present current alumni news and an update from the Institute. Attendees traveled great distances to be at the meeting, some traveling more than two hours to join the group. The chapter will comprise the entire state of Oklahoma and will be headquartered in Oklahoma City.

Photo above: Attending the chapter meeting with his two daughters was Bob Allen ’45, who was the senior member present. Photo at right: Members elected Hamel Reinmiller ’98, left, to serve as president and Will Davis ’06, right, to serve as first vice president. The two are holding the Alumni Association charter certificate which was presented by Executive VP Adam Volant ’88.

Alumni Review Survey Update Since the publication of our last issue, we have received more than 2,700 Alumni Review Survey responses. Thank you for your input! The survey is offering an important opportunity to understand what our readers prefer, as well as how the Alumni Association can better serve our audience. Data from the survey is now being entered and will be evaluated in the coming weeks. In the next issue of the Review, we will share the survey results and begin to make the changes suggested.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS Family Day at King’s Dominion Brings Alumni Together On Aug. 2, 2008, alumni and families participated in the VMI Alumni and Family Day at King’s Dominion amusement park near Richmond, Virginia. More than 100 people traveled on that warm summer day from various surrounding cities to enjoy the park and see some friends. The day was a success, and planning for another Family Day is already underway! If possible, the Alumni Association intends to select a day earlier in the summer for next year’s event. More information will be shared in future issues of the Alumni Review and on the Alumni Association Web site, vmialumni.org. Photo 1: Tom Henning ’89 and son George. Photo 2: Easley Moore ’65 with his wife, Alice. Photo 3: Jennifer Palmer, NetCommunity Planner for the Alumni Association, was on hand to assist alumni and guests. Photo 4: Sean Cantrell ’88 with his 3 wife and daughter. Photo 5: Randy Blanks ’67, first vice president of The VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors, with his wife, Anne, and son, Joe Blanks ’94. Photo 6: Bill Talley ’03 and his daughter.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Farewell to Bryan ’69 Photo above: A retirement party for outgoing Virginia Historical Society (VHS) president and CEO Charles Bryan ’69, Ph.D., was held at the VHS on June 26, 2008. Attending the event were, from left, Bruce Gottwald ’54, William Berry ’54, Floyd Gottwald ’43, Larry Wetsel ’61, Bryan ’69, Graham Gerding (Bryan’s 2-year-old grandson), Bill Gibbings ’61, Sal Vitale ’61, Howard Cobb ’62, Frank Louthan ’41 and Hugh White ’54. Photo at right: From left, Howard Cobb ’62, Bryan and newly appointed president of the VMI Board of Visitors, Tom Slater ’66. Photos provided by Sal Vitale.

Plans for an Alumni Trip to Vietnam Now Underway In partnership with MilSpec Tours, the Alumni Association is pleased to announce a trip to Vietnam in early summer 2009. Although the itinerary and program details are not finalized at the time of this printing, further details will soon be published on the Alumni Association Web site, www. vmialumni.org. MilSpec Tours operates unique group tours and meeting programs worldwide and specializes in military, historical, educational and cultural tours, as well as meetings and reunion operations. Aware of MilSpec’s proven experience and excellent track record in serving other organizations, the Alumni Association is pleased to work with MilSpec’s senior staff. VMI alumni share the important mission of service to our country, and more than 900 living alumni were involved in the Vietnam War. The concept of the tour will be to travel for approximately 10 days, covering important battlegrounds and historical sites within the country. The program will highlight the history and culture of Vietnam with special emphasis on wartime sites. With years of experience in conducting tours, MilSpec has earned strong credibility with military audiences and offers a unique insight into Vietnam. For further information, please go to www.vmialumni.org, or call 800/444-1839.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

An Old Yell at Fort Hood, Texas

From left, 2nd Lt. John Terminato ’07, Capt. Frank Slavin ’01, Lt. Col. Chris Whittaker ’90 and Maj. Christopher Wills ’95, all U.S. Army, gathered outside the 1st Cavalry Division Museum at Fort Hood, Texas, on New Market Day 2008 and gave an “Old Yell for the WHOLE _____ TEAM,” according to Whittaker, who submitted the photo on July 28th. In the area but not pictured were Kevin Considine ’01, Will Alley ’01 and Scott Buhman ’06.

New Cadet Recruiting

VMI

Spirit in Richmond

Your Alumni Association created the New Cadet Recruiting program to help prospective cadets, their parents, high school counselors and teachers to more fully understand the value of a VMI education and our citizen-soldier philosophy. To get involved, call 800/444-1839.

From left, Andy Kestner ’87, Adam Werner ’01 and Mike Melton ’84, who are partners in a Richmond, Virginia, commercial and residential development company called Entropy. Note that they are standing on the corner of a street named Jackson Arch Drive. According to Werner, other streets in the subdivision are named Washington Arch Drive and Marshall Arch Drive. As Werner wrote, “We are trying to keep the Spirit of VMI alive.”

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ASSOCIATION NEWS Change of Command Ceremony Brings Alumni Together At the Virginia Army National Guard 429th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) Change of Command ceremony, were, from left, Lt. Col. Eugene “Guy” Gormley ’88, Capt. Robert Matson ’93, Stephen Fitton ’90, Maj. Kent Doane ’89, Lt. Col. Mike Swanson ’90 and Lt. Col. Todd Hubbard ’91. The ceremony was held at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach, Virginia. According to Steve Fitton who submitted this photo, at the time this picture was taken, Gormley had completed his assignment as commander of the 429th BSB and was moving on to a war college assignment. Swanson was coming in as the new battalion commander, and Matson was taking over as D Company commander of the 429th BSB.

New Feature Available on Alumni Association Web Site (vmialumni.org) At a time when social networking is popular on the internet, the VMI Alumni Association has created its own unique brand of networking capability called VMI InCircle. Akin to business connections made by LinkedIn or friend networks created in FaceBook, VMI InCircle allows users to create their own profile and connect friends. The site is password protected and allows users to make connections based on class year, location and interest, or by professional association. Using VMI InCircle allows alumni to find people and to create their own profile for others to see, including a photo album and resume. The site can be an excellent reference for a job search or as a way to see where people you know are located on a map. Because the site uses the common reference point of listing friends, and then friends of a friend, alumni can see how they are connected to others by class year or other common criteria. Visit vmialumni.org and create your own network of alumni connected at VMI InCircle.

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The VMI Alumni Association’s Online Community . . .

VMI Ranks Alumni can now join the formation of Brother Rats, classmates and friends to share information or get connected. The VMI Ranks Web site functions as the central point for information about chapter events, reunions, sporting events and opportunities to meet other alumni. Join the ranks, “fall in” and enjoy the many benefits of this Web site as a resource and tool. VMI Ranks includes: • Free e-mail forwarding address • Online event registration • Online alumni directory • Class and chapter pages • Alumni news • The ability to manage your own profile • VMI Job Board How to Register: It’s fast and easy! Go to http://www.vmialumni.org and click on the link “Click Here to Register or Login.”

CLASSNOTES NOTES CLASS

’35

Jim Sherman

It’s August ’08 and time does fly, doesn’t it? And 3 months having passed since I last ran you to the ground, it was to be expected that some of you would not be in shape to participate in the Olympics. In fact, daughter Linda told me that Al Snapp, upon return from a 2-week hiatus in St. Augustine, developed an infection and high fever, spending 6 days in hospital and now recovering in a rehab facility. Most regrettably, he could not attend a big family reunion in Roanoke, and had been looking forward to visiting VMI at that time, but 4 family members did, including 5-month-old Gavyn, for whom a provisional application to attend the Institute was submitted. Bob Evans was “a little shaky,” just back from 2 days in hospital with pneumonia and needing to get his strength back – hardly surprising in view of the brevity of hospital confinement. He does attend a once a week balance class in the swimming pool where his doctor thinks he may have picked up the bug in the course of his subsequent shower. Wisely, he is now using a cane for safety reasons. When I called, St. John Arnold’s first words were, I’m in a minimum security prison at Atlantic Shores, and I don’t like it! To explain, his balky knee has become worse, and he found it necessary to rent an apartment where help was available, presently required while son Tom, who normally lives with him, is recovering from invasive surgery. Saint, who currently is using a cane and a walker, is taking therapy lessons and hopes to give up both aids. It takes awhile to uncover these things, but at VMI, Saint did his share of “running the block,” on one occasion having his brother, then a student at W&L, sleep in his bunk. The sub making bed check awakened him and asked his name. When he responded, “Arnold, sir,” the sub questioned his identity, whereupon his brother sat up in bed and responded, “Don’t tell me I’m not an Arnold!” – fast thinking and accepted by the sub. Furthermore, no lie was told! Guess that’s where Saint gets his smarts.

George and Clelia Freeman are “just fine,” if you will overlook their handicaps. Both are now legally blind, and Clelia recently learned she has macular degeneration. She has a “light table” which magnifies 26 times, enabling her to read a newspaper. George continues to attend his exercise classes. He turned in his “scooter” as it takes up too much room, so he’s now getting about with the use of a walker or a cane. But all his physical problems have not affected the think tank, and he remains active in real estate investment. Under the watchful eye and care of wife Didda, Leonard Todd is holding his own in the continuing battle with neuropathy, and he is still bonded to his walker. They have moved their bedroom down to the 1st floor to avoid the stairway and are blessed with good eyesight and hearing. In reminiscing as we all do on occasion, Leonard recalled that upon our entry in WWII, he received nearly identical letters from the Army and the Navy, one instructing him to report to the Army as a 2nd Lt. and the other instructing him to report to the Navy as an Ensign, these letters being received the same week. Holding his breath, sort of, he reported to his first choice, the Navy, at Columbia, SC, subsequently serving on destroyers in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. Checking on my old roommate, Mark Bane, who had suffered a stroke, I talked with daughter Betty and learned he is now in a nursing home, cannot walk without assistance and has suffered memory loss. He has good days and bad but generally is animated, happy and well cared for. Most regrettably, he is now in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. It’s always hard for me to separate him from the sharp, fun loving guy who lost his corporal stripes when seen throwing a firecracker into the courtyard. (Editor’s Note: After these notes were submitted, we learned of Mark Bane’s death. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. Mr. Bane’s obituary will appear in the next issue of the Alumni Review.) I learned in late June that our BR Jack Flanagan in Memphis, TN, had died last Feb.18th, leaving his wife, Marie, and 3 children. I regret that at this point I have no recollection of Jack who was with us for 2 years.

Family members quite recently sent me an obituary appearing in the June 20th edition of the Washington Post, summarizing the life of Virginia Louise “Lucy” Kirks, widow of our BR Roland Kirks who died in 1977. After their marriage, they moved to Washington, DC, and subsequently “Lucy” became a founding member of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary in 1948, becoming its president in 1960. She raised money for the Amer. Cancer Society, United Way, Amer. Heart Assn. and Amer. Lung Assn., and was enthusiastically engaged in so many worthwhile endeavors – a very special woman. And I learned last May in a letter from her daughter that Nancy Tyler passed away Dec. 26, ’07, following severe injuries suffered in a fall sustained in October. Nancy’s first husband was our BR Emmett C. (Dutch) Rankin, and her second husband our BR Robert E. (Buck) Tyler. And turning to those of us more fortunate, I caught up with Barbara Meem and found her sewing a blanket for a baby shower. Her daughter, Deb, and a niece from England had recently visited and then left for Utah. Instead of writing to describe her experience during her visit to the states, this talented niece paints in her travel book, what she sees along the way, a unique record others can appreciate. Barbara remarked it was quite hot in Santa Fe at the time, but dipping into the 50s at night – can’t say that for Southern Pines where we are happy when it dips into the low 70s at night. Ed Arnold says he’s lazier than ever these days, limiting his mall walking to 5 days/wk and finds that his legs tire and feel heavy after ¾ of a mile. Earlier that day, he had to sit down and re-coop and thinks this change is attributable to his heart medication which has reduced his energy; otherwise, Ed says he is a-okay. And he’s very pleased with the current pastor of his church who during his 18-month service has increased the membership ten fold, i.e., from 40 to 400 – obviously, his is a talented ministry. Bob Little in Sun City, AZ, is feeling “pretty good” and continues working with his physical trainer once or twice weekly, following a certain routine which exercises every part of the body. His daughter and one son were visiting him the day I called.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Bob asked about our next reunion which will be in 2010 and our 75th – yes, we do like to think positive! Right in tune with the rest of us, our Senator Harry Byrd says he is “alright, just a little slow in doing things.” The balance of our discussion as expected concerned first, the widening military engagement of Russia and Georgia. Harry sees Russia returning to its old ways, “taking the direction of a group of tyrants.” Consequently, he finds it difficult to be optimistic. As for our presidential candidates, he has admiration and respect for Senator John McCain’s endurance during his 5-plus years incarceration in a North Vietnam prison, following which he returned to active service in the Navy, becoming a squadron commander. Harry served with him in the U.S. Senate and worked with him on the Armed Services Committee, finding him honorable and dedicated in support of his country. As for Barack Obama, Harry points out that he served in the Illinois Senate for 8 years, but with only 3-plus years on the national scene. However, in the final analysis he considers that this election will really be a referendum on Obama, i.e., people will go to the polls determined to vote for or against him, and he feels that the odds are in his favor. JoAnn O’Hara, never one to sit on her hands, had recently enjoyed a trip to Irbington, VA, on the Rappahannock for a long weekend with friends, and is now planning to visit Abington, VA, to attend the Barter Theatre and see a George Chavatel art show. And of course, she continues to do her photography and interviews for the Westminster Canterbury in-house publications. Presently, she is enthusiastically helping to organize a cocktail and dinner party for 30-plus VMI alumni and widows planned for Oct. 29th. And yes, there’s time for exercising on MW&F with the Balance & Preventive Care Class, one hour of stretching and bending – I would like to record an unedited sound bite, throughout! Dora Williams at nearby Cedarfield is “fine,” attends exercise classes and loves the beauty of the grounds at this time of the year. And in keeping with tradition, she and her 3 children and 4 cousins will be leaving on Aug. 10th for a reunion week

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get together at Nags Head. And beautifully timed while she is away, new carpeting will be installed in her apartment. Recently, Dora left the toaster oven on, burned the toast and the smoke alarm brought the Fire Dept., recalling memories of earlier days when Judge, who loved to cook breakfast, was wont to burn the bacon now and again with the same consequences – must have been a “ho-hum” experience for the Fire Dept. Dora is blessed with the help of a lovely lady when needed. She drives the car, passes judgment on clothing purchases and takes care of necessary alterations. I met her several years ago and was very impressed. I found “B” Holt quite animated when we talked, preparing to leave for a family reunion at Wild Dune, Isle of Palms, SC, where she has reserved a large beach house to accommodate her 3 children and all the grandchildren. “B,” her daughter and younger sister, Evelyn, recently enjoyed a 9-day visit in London in the course of which they made day trips to Canterbury, Windsor, Bath, Stonehenge and of course, places of interest in London. Knowing the attendant shock of currency exchange in the UK, “B” very wisely ordered her pounds sterling through Bank of America before leaving and blissfully, didn’t give a thought to cost while there – it comes down to mind over matter! Sparkie Carper confirmed she is in the pink and just had her 2 teenage granddaughters with her for a week. Their father, Sparkie’s son, came down from Berryville, VA, to collect them and remained for the weekend. The previous week, her daughter and son-in-law from Boston were house guests. And she doesn’t neglect her exercise, participating in water aerobics and other exercise programs, while fitting in Red Cross volunteer work and of course, bridge with her lady friends. Ikey Knight, feeling fine but with blood pressure a little high, was slated for a visit to her doctor on Aug. 7th. Her apartment is scheduled to be re-carpeted soon, and all 3 daughters will be coming to pack – reckons she has far too many things and will be “gifting” quite a few. Ikey thinks her high blood pressure is

attributable to the stress of apartment renovation and will come down after the work is completed – she definitely has a point. She visited daughter Hope and her husband, Mack, in Virginia recently and told me about a game named “WII” her son had given her which you connect to your TV through your VCR; it includes tennis, golf, baseball and bowling, but Ikey found she spent too much time playing at the expense of her chair and pool aerobics and that’s self defeating. It’s always reassuring when I reach Blanche Brown, cheerful and happily settled in her Farmington, NM, retirement home. She has a cane but gets about with a 4-wheel walker for stability and safety. But peace of mind is provided by her daughter, Roe, whose office is in Farmington as well. Blanche is rightfully proud of Roe who has risen in management with the U.S. operations of BHP Billiton, an Australian mining conglomerate. Gerda Stewart, who remains in “pretty good health,” never lets any grass grow under her feet. Last February, she returned to Kempten, Germany, where she grew up, and thoroughly enjoyed seeing old friends of those early years. She now lives in Chester Springs, PA, with daughter-inlaw, Centa, and they will be going down to Florida soon to find a place for winter visits. I’m happy to add that we had 100% participation in our 2008 fiscal year giving and am especially proud of our Sister Rats’ contributions – sincere thanks, ladies! Bless you all, Jim

’36

Oscar H. Adams

Editor’s Note: Brother Rat and Class Agent Oscar Adams passed away in July of this year. He will be missed by all who knew him. Please keep his family in your prayers. Mr. Adams’ obituary appears in the Taps section of this issue. As of this writing, a class agent replacement has not been identified.

CLASS NOTES

’37

S. Strother Smith Jr.

Editor’s Note: Class Agent Strother Smith passed away in July 2008. His obituary appears in the Taps section of this issue. Please keep his family in your prayers. Mr. Smith will be missed by all who knew him. At this time, a class agent replacement has not been identified.

’38

William Todd

I am going to start this edition of Class Notes with an abject apology to the class of 1938 for the forthcoming abbreviated version of same. Since my five-week hospitalization and nursing home sojourn, my daily life has been radically altered. As some of you know, the life of a diabetic is considerably different from that of a “normal” person. Multiple daily blood sugar testing, insulin injections, careful meal planning and schedules take up a good portion of a day’s activities. I’m not complaining – just noting that it doesn’t leave a lot of time to tend to classmate doings and activities. So much for my problems! One of my major tasks for the past three months has been to find out just where our Brother Rat Paul Wainright is now living. In late March, Paul sent me a letter to inform me that he was moving from the Seattle, WA, area to the Spokane, WA, area to be near his youngest son. There were just two problems. He didn’t include any information about where in the Spokane area he would be living, and on the return address section of the envelope, he just wrote P. Wainwright – no address! For four months, I tried every trick I knew of to contact Paul to no avail. You know: Internet, telephone of old phone numbers, try to find son’s name and address, etc. Finally, my brain started working overtime, and I queried Hope Hennessey, Alumni Review editor, to see if they had a valid mailing address for Paul’s copy. Lo and behold! Hope and

Brenda Stoner sent me a full mailing address with telephone number that they had received from Paul back in February. I then called the phone number and talked with Paul for about five or ten minutes. Mission accomplished! I received two most welcome e-mails recently: one from Betsy McNichols, Bob Steidtmann’s daughter, and one from Kathryn Earnest, Bert’s daughter. Kathryn said that she was going to be in northern Virginia each Friday in September to conduct a plant clinic at the Kingstowne Farmers Market which is just down the road from where I live. It seems that Kathryn is a Fairfax County Master Gardener and apparently conducts these clinics on a regular basis. She suggested that she bring Bert along on one of the Fridays so that we could get together and relive old times. Believe me that I am really enthusiastic about her idea. The last time I had any long conversation with Bert was at either our 60th or 65th Reunion when we both left the rest of the class at the superintendent’s reception and repaired to his library and quiet. I guess we must have chatted for at least an hour or so until our spouses tracked us down. Betsy’s e-mail was generally an update on Bob’s condition which, by her terms, he is “doing alright” but with memory problems and living in the past. I know the problem well – I’m part of it! She also brought up the fact that the class of 1931 dedicated their Bomb to Bob’s father, the professor of geology and mineralogy during our cadetship. She said that she was only about a year old when he died, so didn’t really know much about him. I did! Those two subjects were two of my favorites, and I really enjoyed Col. Steidtmann’s way of teaching them. I’m going to brag a little here – I took 2nd stand in mineralogy, with A.R. Maguire beating me out by around 100th of a point grade, and he was a four-year star cadet, while I was just a “hope to graduate” 1st classman. Guess what? I finally made a semi-contact with another lost Brother Rat: Oscar Roberson, our North Carolina champion “clogger.” I called his wife in Robersonville and talked to her about Oscar who is still in a nursing home in Marion, VA. She said that he is still doing fairly well, considering his age and understands his condition. She told

me that the reason he is so far from Robersonville, NC, is that her son is a physical therapist at the nursing home in Marion and sees that Oscar is looked after properly. Incidentally, he is our oldest Brother Rat, with Matt Beebe a close second. I talked briefly with Bill Boyer and find that he has been doing a lot of walking of late to keep in shape. Unfortunately, he said that he sprained the arch on one of his feet and has had to lay off the exercise regimen until it heals. Sorry, Bill. Remember you are no longer a “spring chicken.” The 90s are not meant for athletic prowess – just survival, which brings up another contact that just occurred. I received a long newsy letter from Harrison Hubard last week. He and wife Mary are still kicking, and Harrison says that he now is using a four-wheel walker to help get around. I know those items well, since I use one, too, primarily for safety purposes, since my one real dread is tripping over my own feet, falling and breaking something that requires being bedridden for two or three months in a nursing home. Two of my regular contacts, Jim Foust and Monty Lyon, haven’t checked in lately, although I did hear from both of them earlier this summer. Monty called me from his summer place in the Pennsylvania mountains, and Jim e-mailed me his latest news from his summer home in Denver. C’mon, guys – it’s almost autumn and football season; it’s time for the latest news of your doings. Get with it! There are a few other BRs that I sure would like to hear from, but I don’t think they know how to type or dial a telephone. Lee Fosque, Bob Goldsmith, Bob Mathews, Bob Clark and Mayo Smith, please make me happy, and let me know what you are doing to stay alive and well. Ray and Sally Long do keep me reasonably happy by their occasional e-mails or phone calls – keep them coming, folks. These notes are turning up longer than I anticipated, but I really do need some regular news from all of you BRs and SRs. I don’t know how many of you realize this, but information about your Brother Rats is not just for me – you each want to know what your Brother Rats are doing with their lives. Yours in the Spirit! Bill

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CLASS NOTES

’39

Frank Parker III ’64

Another issue of the Review, and I don’t have a lot of news. Ira “Saxey” Saxe reports that he is still working out at a gym for 2 hours, three times a week. He’s hoping to get off the cane and back to the golf course. Other than that, he’s living the bachelor’s life, alone in a big house. Bill “Buddy” Brand reports that his wife, Tickie, is coming to VA after she had her post-op visit with her doctor and received a clean bill of health. Her next two major projects are to complete the renovation of their guest room and start the planning for his 90th birthday next January 10. Both of these should keep her fairly busy. Bill called John Pasco on August 11th to wish him a happy birthday. He wasn’t able to talk to him but did talk with someone at his home and requested that the message be relayed to him. John is at a retirement facility, and it is difficult to get him on the phone. To my great pleasure, Bert Brayshaw has responded to my request to prepare the following short bio of his life since leaving VMI. He’s had an amazing life, and I hope I have not left out anything of great importance. Before entering the US Army Air Corps in 1940, Bert worked in a steel fabrication plant and for the US Corps of Engineers doing survey work. He volunteered for the Army and was sent to Primary Flight School but due to quotas, ended up in navigator training run by Pan American Airways, because the Air Corps had no one to teach navigation. After training, he was sent to Turner AFB, GA, to help establish the first Air Corps navigator training school. After recovering from a serious back injury, he was eventually sent to the Pacific Theater in 1945 as a B-29 navigator. He spent his time flying mail, cargo, personnel and prisoners between the islands in the Marianas (Tinian, Saipan and Guam). After discharge, he was in private business until Korea broke out. He was mobilized two weeks after his first wife died from cancer. He became the CO of a Heavy Maintenance and Construction

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Squadron at Eglin, AFB, FL, where he met Mary, his wife of over 56 years now. Next, he became the Civil Engineering Officer for the 48th Bomb Wing and assigned to Chaumart, France, where he led the construction of an air base from scratch. Between 1953 and 1960, he worked for private companies including being the Resident Engineer at Inserlik AFB, Turkey. After another stint with private industry, he eventually ended up as a civil servant for the Army working in Taiwan constructing CCK AFB, then to Clark AFB in 1968 where he was the Acting Chief of Construction, building bases in Thailand, Clark AFB and Okinawa. His final assignment was as the Associate Base Civil Engineer for Moody AFB, GA. He retired in 1976 as a Lt. Colonel. Apparently being a little bored, he then enlisted in the Peace Corps and along with his wife, Mary, went to Jamaica for two years where he worked with mountain farmers, as well as the construction of the by-pass road around Montego Bay. Since 1999, when he finally really retired, they have been living and traveling all over in their motor home. In their lives, Bert has been to at least 70 countries. Their semi-permanent home is now Magnolia Beach, not far from Port Lavaca, Texas, and their son is in Seadrift, Texas. Bert’s closing note is, “Like everyone, I have had my good and bad times, but all together a wonderful life and a great companion through it all.” I encourage you all to do as Bert’s done. You are part of an amazing generation who participated in world-altering events. Your family will appreciate it, and I’ll do my best to get it into the Review, so all your BRs can enjoy and help celebrate your lives. It’s my sad duty to report the death of Russell H. “Russ” Ferrey on July 10, 2008, at his home in Atlanta, GA. His obituary can be found in the Taps section of this Review. Marcy and I had a great trip with my Brother Rats and their wives to France recently. Details can be found in the Class of ’64 Notes in this Review. All I can add is that the sight of all those cliffs facing our troops when they landed must have been overwhelming. The Normandy beaches are both a sobering and an exhilarating sight. In October, we are off to visit western Tur-

key including Istanbul, Troy, Ephesus and other sights of the early Christian Church. Keep in touch.

’40

Robert Smith

It is often asked “How many of our Brother Rats are still with us.” So, for this article, an attempt was made to check on all of them. There is news here of about 26, and there are four more that could not be talked to for various reasons. Walt Edens’ move to Albuquerque was difficult, but he and Dottie are settling in and are well pleased with their apartment. The 6,000-foot altitude on Sandia Mountain overlooking the city does not bother him too much. As a lover of memorabilia, he has a lot of pictures and trophies to arrange, and their son, Sandy, and family are helping to get it done. Their phone is 505-271-0263. He misses Virginia, and it would be great for you to give him a call to demonstrate that New Mexico is a place where class of ’40 Brother Rats can still be close. He is beginning planning for our next reunion in ’10. Charley Beach is still working most every day. Recently he said that he had driven himself on a 150-mile round trip that day to attend a weekly advisory board meeting at one of the branch banks. There are four such branches, and so he goes to four such meetings a week. That alone makes for a remarkably busy schedule, I thought, but then he told me that he is president of the Chamber of Commerce, president of the Kiwanis Club and rector’s warden at his St. James Episcopal Church. Whew! An article about Ben Hardaway appeared in the January-February 2008 issue of a new magazine, Garden & Gun, which began publication last year in Charleston, SC. It is titled, “In Full Pursuit-Foxhunting with Ben Hardaway and His Legendary Crossbred Hounds.” You can see it in full online. Ben is quoted: “Getting old ain’t for sissies … If I’d have known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself … It’s all about the dogs.”

CLASS NOTES A note Ben wrote to Charlie Beach also contained a gem of picturesque expression that I think you will enjoy. Ben said he was “circling the drain but still holding on in fair shape.” Then he went on to say that he would let Charlie know “if I go down the drain”! When I phoned Ben, he called it a “good article.” He says he is pretty crippled but is still able to shoot from a stool. His son-in-law, Mason Lampton from Kentucky, has taken over the hunt and has kept it going in grand style. Ben is too old to ride, but he goes out in his electric 4 x 4 wagon. It was a lift to talk to him and sense his good spirits and zest. This article and our talk made me think about our simpler days at the Institute; of Jo-Jo the Dog Man who provided us with the captured foxes which were kept for a while at the stables to give their scent to the burlap for our drag hunts; of the small pack of hounds that were loaned to us; and of the hunts themselves with mad dashes thru White’s Farm woods on our horses that were so herd-bound that they panicked if they sensed they were not keeping up. What a far cry from the great foxhunts in the English style that Ben is still enjoying now a days. Frazier Baldwin had been fertilizing his trees on his two-acre plot when I called him, and he spoke of his pleasure in working out-of-doors. His seven-year-old Welsh corgi, Patrick, takes him for a walk twice a day, so with such activities and working out at the DuPont Country Club, he stays as fit as he can. Ginny is well, and they enjoy a good social life. His eldest son, Bill, who helps with some of the heavy outside chores, lives nearby in the Wilmington area and was there for lunch when we spoke. Bill has taken charge of their families’ genealogy, which has been traced back to the 1400s. A daughter lives in Winston Salem and another son is in Detroit and runs GM’s racing team. Dan Flowers was enjoying his 50th wedding anniversary on August 1, the day I called. Dan said that the celebration later that day would be at the same place and on the same day of the week as their wedding day. In a note, he had reminded me that he was presented with the “Lone Survivor Award” at our 15th Class Reunion in 1955 and that his and Jeanie’s marriage came three years thereafter. His recent trip

to Wales and Ireland was with a church group, and the itinerary was designed to look at some Celtic religious sites. They saw the Book of Kells at Trinity College in Dublin, for example. Dan works about four hours a day. They have three children and eleven grandchildren. One of his grandsons is following in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps by going to M.I.T. Dan and Jeannie are going to their place in Sea Island later in the year. Bob Barnes told me about the Men’s Club that they are organizing at his Horizon House, Continuing Care Retirement Community in Seattle. The idea is for the men-who-can to provide help for other men-who-need-help, instead of just leaving it to women to help them! When we discussed it, the idea seemed to generate more and more questions. What if the helpless men would rather have female help? What do the helpless ones do when some burly guy shows up when they were expecting a nice female to be assigned to them? Knowing Bob’s penchant for humor, I am almost sure he was intending to amuse when he told about this Men’s Club thing. It was noted that he said nothing about these Men’s Club men helping helpless women. Are we all of the age where the ladies are no longer objects of our attention and intentions? Perish the thought! Somewhat obliquely, I found out that Bob is getting occasional attention from a lady who is devoted to work in a hospital. That sounds like a providential turn of events, but Bob said his health is fine, and their relationship is only social! Matt Lyle in Charleston, SC, told me recently that when he moved there, he had a three-room suite built for him as an addition to his daughter’s home and that this has worked out fine. Their place is in a development called Shadow Moss Plantation. Although he uses a walker, he travels, and he journeyed to Virginia for a wedding in June. He has three children and three grandchildren, scattered between Virginia, Maryland, Australia and New Zealand. Bud Irwin chatted easily and enjoyably using his speakerphone. He still drives, and he and Ruth live independently in a complex with multiple condominiums. They play a lot of bridge with the other residents, but he gave up golf in the spring.

He still drives locally around Worthington, OH. Bud keeps reasonably fit by routinely doing floor exercises and stretching. E.I Brown was very upbeat and cheery when we talked. He has assisted living help but keeps active with computer games, bridge, bingo and similar activities. His Carolina Meadows retirement complex, where George Atkison had also lived, is in Chapel Hill, and his daughter lives nearby in Raleigh. Jack Camp was at his North Carolina beach home. He stays fit by working with a trainer and taking balance classes. One of their pleasures is that Nelson, Rachel’s son, is a fisherman and keeps them supplied with fresh seafood. Jack is writing a book with a collaborator in Chapel Hill, which I have been told is a memoir, so we shall look forward to its publication. One great and considerate thing that Jack has been doing is to call some of our widowed Sister Rats, which they greatly appreciate. Kudos! When we chatted in August, Doug Cook and I enjoyed our little joke in which he chides me about the lovely coolness of his Ithaca temperatures in summer as compared with mine at Hilton Head – sometimes I gently retort with something about his ice-box winter climate. He has a routine of riding his stationary bike for 20-30 minutes a day and is in good health except for some eye difficulties. He is thinking about a trip to a Delaware beach in the fall. Doug sent a very interesting tabulation that appeared in the NY Times of Sunday, April 20, this year, discussing the endowments of the nation’s colleges and universities. It was on the basis of the endowment assets-per-student, according to the fiscal 2007 figures of the National Association of Colleges and University Business Officers. This listed VMI as first in the nation for public institutions with $312,133 per student and with 1,265 students. Virginia was second with $200,019 per student. Among the private institutions, Princeton was first with over $2,200,000 per student. John Augustine is looking forward to a trip to Wichita, KS, in the fall for a reunion of his 22nd Bomber Group, Army Air Corps, even though he thinks the attendance may be sparse. They flew Martin B-26 Marauders. He works on his eyesight with shots every six weeks, but June must

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CLASS NOTES do all the driving now. His son, William, is with the city of St. Petersburg, went to Florida State and was a Marine. Their grandson is a star, high school quarterback with interest in VMI, if he does not get an appointment to the Naval Academy. Should we tell him that what the West Point Cadets say is not true, which is that “only a mother can love a Middie?” I caught up with Matt Friedlander at his Highlands, NC, resort home where he spends his summers. He and Jackie enjoy a very active social life there, and they were about to go to their club for lunch. They play a lot of bridge, but he gave up on playing tennis this year. I had not talked to him before, and it was great to re-establish contact after so many years. When I called, Eppy Powell immediately brought up our loss of Bob Deaderick who, along with Pappy Hatfield, had been his roommate. He and Bob used to meet halfway between Annapolis and Rich-

mond for lunch occasionally, and they did so only last May. We talked about our memories of these fine men, and we both felt better for having done so. Eppy uses a walker now, and he and Doris go to their retirement villages’ dining room for dinner. A son and two daughters live nearby and come for a visit nearly every week. John Cowart has lost his driving privileges and is upset about it, but some of his children are close by, and they look in on him frequently. The family place is a few miles away, and he is accustomed to going there after church. In July, John sent me a Christmas news-note from his son, John Cowart ’67, who is the founding executive director of the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation in McLean, VA. Lichtenstein was an artist famous for his contribution to the pop art movement. John’s son was previously deputy director/chief curator of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, head of Department of 20th Century Art at the National

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Gallery of Art, and held prior museum curatorial posts in St. Louis and Hartford. He was awarded a Ph.D. in the history of art from The Johns Hopkins University. The Christmas note tells that our John’s granddaughter, Adele, was married in mid 2007, already has a son and lives near McLean, VA. It also says that grandson Geoff landed the news editor job at a local London newspaper, and his wife, Rebekah, is doing doctoral studies at the London School of Economics. So, Geoff Cowart joins Charley Beach’s grandson and my three grandchildren in London – quite a contingent of class of ’40 progeny now in that great city. In June, John Cowart made a nice gift to our class scholarship fund in remembrance of Deaderick, Hatfield and Thompson, which Buddy Bryan ’71 graciously acknowledged in a letter from the Foundation. It was most thoughtful of John to do this, and as a result, the principal fund value is now over $405,000. I also wrote to him saying, “I want to note and recognize your generous memorial gift to our class scholarship fund and the most appropriate designations in memory of Deaderick, Hatfield and Thompson. Our ties to the Institute and our Brother Rats can be said now to extend ‘thru the ages,’ and you and your work for the scholarship fund provides concrete proof of that fact.” Our BR Judge William E. Hall Jr., who was with us for two years and who went on to get his BS and LLB from Louisiana State University, died in DeRidder, LA, where he had long resided, on July 4. Will served as captain of Battery “C” 748th Field Artillery Battalion, 9th Army. He was stationed at Burton-on-the-Trent, England, before going into Germany. He was discharged as a captain in the Field Artillery in 1946. He had sent me a note soon after I became class agent and supported the Institute generously down thru the years. His illustrious career, his significant community services and the high regard in which he was held as a result of his outstanding life and career, demonstrates that he had the fine character to which all VMI men aspire. Betty-Jane and I traveled to England in June to attend the wedding of our grandson, Captain John Robert Pemberton Bailey of Her Majesty’s Army. The wedding was in

CLASS NOTES one of the village churches in Wiltshire where our daughter and her husband, Maj. Gen. Bailey, live. The reception was in Bath with the receiving line down in the ancient Roman Baths and with the dinner and dancing upstairs in the Pump Room. Some of his Black Watch Regiment fellow officers wore their kilts and colorfully provided a sword arch for the new couple as they exited the church. For those guests who don’t regularly wear them, like me, Moss Brothers provided the swallow-tail morning suits for the bridal party with striped trousers, waistcoat, top hat and gloves. What a swell I was – I felt like Eliza Doolittle’s father – but they managed to “get me to the church on time.” Evelyn Turner filled me in on their activities when I called in August. The important news is that Andy’s lymphoma is in remission, and they are thinking about rescheduling for March the trip to Turkey that was put off last spring. Their daughter, Courtney Turner, is with the State Department and is in the economic office of the embassy in Ankara. She is a graduate of James Madison, and as with all her siblings, went on to do post-graduate studies at the Darden School of Business of the University of Virginia. They have two other daughters plus three sons, which probably accounts for the fact that Evelyn describes the upstairs of their home as a dormitory. They expect all of their children to come home for a family party in September. Evelyn said that she had just said goodbye to 11 houseguests from Boston. These were old friends, and one of them is the arranger of the Tall Ships Tour with which Evelyn was involved at the time of the recent Yorktown festival. A call to Dick Moncure was taken by his caregiver who had been with him for more than 20 years. She told me that his only child, Mary Watson, lives in Atlanta, comes to see him at Lookout Mountain, GA, once a month and telephones once or twice a day. Also she said that he is always cheered by anything having to do with VMI that is brought to his attention. Caught up with Bob Rain for a first conversation in many years at his summer place in Colorado Springs. He usually stays in CO during the summer until September or October. After being with us for

our Rat year, he went on to get a law degree from University of Texas and then to practice and live in Dallas. His address is: 8523 Thackery St., Apt. 1202, Dallas, TX, 75225, and his phone there is 469/5477614. He sounded well and told me that he only gave up golf this past year. He also mentioned that he has supported the Institute down thru the years. It was a great conversation, and he was very cordial in spite of the many years that have passed. Especially if you were at all close to him, I’m sure he would like to hear from you. It is always enjoyable to talk to Chuck (EE) Wilson as I did in early August. He reported that he and his wife, Dorothy, have many houseguests during the summer, as one would expect at their home on the lake. They have three children: a daughter in Pineville, LA, a son in Washington state and a son in Georgetown, TX, about an hour’s drive away. He sees the latter frequently, and it is good to know that he has family support that close by. Dave Smith’s daughter, Cass, in her update on Dave, said that he is in a skilled nursing place and uses a chair. He is still keeping active, and the latest thing is that he is taking a class on writing an autobiography. Cass was very interested in my call and in keeping the connection to VMI going for him. Briefs: Talked to Gene Phillippi in mid August and found him to be doing fine; Art Wadsworth gave a good account of himself, except for a lack of excitement in his routine – his wife, Ruth, continues in her malaise; the witty Nick Dominick continued to stay in Ponte Vedra instead of going back to Newburgh, NY, for this past summer; Sol Rawls said that he spends much time in civic activities directed to building back the economy of Franklin that suffered greatly when Union Camp moved its 2,000-person headquarters out. Jim Cheek gave me a run-down on his family and situation. He lives independently at The Blakeford at Green Hills – Nashville’s premiere senior living community. His wife died about five years ago, but he has a son, Jim Jr., who is a successful lawyer and who also lives in Nashville. One grandchild and two greatgrandchildren also live in Nashville, while two other grandchildren, a boy and a girl, live in Denver.

’41

Walter Richards

News is sparse – my fault. Frank Kirby on the way to grandson’s wedding fell getting out of his chair and was banged up, but he attended all the festivities. Got home and went to a scheduled appointment and discovered he had a broken leg. “Bunny” Baldwin had a fall and came here to Richmond for some observation. He said he was going to look for an assisted living facility here, nearer family. Winnie is not too well. Nash Strudwick is good but is limited in activity by his walker. Pat said he had to stop golf for the summer. It was too hot on the Eastern Shore, but she has a lot of activities at home. A correction to Bob Spear and Betty’s address: They live in Huntindon Valley, PA – not Huntington Valley. Had a call from Doug Green in Hawaii. His son, 1st Lt. Douglas B. Green III ’66, was killed in Vietnam in 1968 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Clean out some old boxes in your basement or whatever; you don’t know what you may find – maybe something like Jimmy Wheat’s letter or one I just received from Jefferson L. Kaster ’90, a lieutenant colonel in the USMC. He found a letter he had written in September 1988, thanking the class of ’41 for the award of the ’41 Memorial Scholarship Fund for the year 1988-89 and letters from Durland Clark, former ’41 class agent, and Stan Navas, ’41 president, expressing appreciation for his outstanding letter of thanks. In his letter to me, he said that we might like a report on our investment. The letter is inserted below. KEEP THE SPIRIT. Dear Mr. Richards: I was cleaning out some boxes in my basement recently, and I came across the enclosures, a set of correspondence between me and your Brother Rats Stan Navas and Durland Clark. When I was a cadet, I was a recipient of the Class of ’41 Memorial Scholarship

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CLASS NOTES Fund. I wrote your then-class agent, Mr. Clark, thanking the class of ’41 for your generosity. He replied, as did Mr. Navas. Twenty years have now elapsed since that correspondence, and I think the Class of ’41 is due a report on your investment. I am now a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, but I have been mobilized for the war since 2003. I am currently serving as the deputy staff judge advocate of the Criminal Investigation Task Force at Fort Belvoir, VA. We are conducting the criminal investigations for the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, preparing the evidence for trial at the Military Commissions. It is exciting, meaningful work. After VMI, I served a number of years on active duty, got a master’s at Clemson, got a law degree, got married and had three great kids – Virginia, Ben and Caroline. I’m currently working on my second master’s and enjoying being a Marine lawyer. In the closing lines of Mr. Clark’s letter, he expressed his hope that I would be true to VMI’s values and pursue a productive and honorable career. I trust I have lived up to the expectations of VMI and the Class of ’41. I was moved when I read your class entry in the 2008-1 VMI Alumni Review. It dawned on me that the names you listed are the memorial part of the Memorial Scholarship Fund. I am honored that I have the opportunity to live as a beneficiary of their sacrifice. One can never say “thank you” enough. Thank you for your sacrifice for our country, and thank you for your investment in me. I will always be tied by the bonds of gratitude and honor to the Class of ’41. Semper Fidelis, Jefferson Lee Kaster ’90

’42

Richard C. Horne III

In preparing my thoughts for my notes, I got to thinking (certify) about the word “centenary” and its connection with us. Of course, we are a long way from being centenarians (about 12 years for most of us), but it does promote meditation. We are already close to nine years after the century of our birth, schooling, wars, plus

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these later years. 2009 lurks, but not long after you read these words of wisdom. As you know, the word “wisdom” makes many of the class of 1942 nervous, especially those not adorned with academic stars, but over the years it has gained a little more meaning. I can hear in my mind, such as it is, the reaction of most of you (what the hell is he talking about?). Come on, get smart; you know it’s my way of obscuring the fact that I know very little more about ’42 than I wrote last time. I did get hold of John and Becky Wray in Richmond, who assured me that all the Brothers in the Holy City are just as fine as they were. John wrote to me that he has hopes for the baseball team next year and that the scholarship fund has a good prospect from Portsmouth next year. You all remember John as our premier baseballer when we watched VMI’s great teams. These notes will be short, for reasons stated earlier, but more significant information is on the way! Jed is closely examining the status of Richmond in the spring of ’09. He is in the “where at” phase of reunion-like occasions. His experience in these affairs is matched by no single graduate of the Institute or even no married one! Get that sharp little bit of humor? Anyway, this brief set of notes is just the beginning. Stay alert. You’ll be informed almost succinctly!

’43

Jeffrey G. Smith

He-r-r-r-e we go again. Time for Class Notes. Our 65th has come and gone and so have the rather generous amounts of news it generated. Fortunately, more has come along, mostly pleasant, the best being that since our previous Class Notes of 15 May 2008, none of our class members has died. However, I learned only recently from Jim Dischinger that his wife of 58 years, Nella, died four years ago. Our belated, heartfelt condolences to you, Jim. Jim’s 14 July letter, thanking me for the 65th Reunion Booklet and DVD, was very welcome and appreciated. Jim also pointed

out that his apartment number listed in the Reunion Booklet has a missing digit. The full correct address is 1900 Lauderdale Drive (Apt B-107), Richmond, VA 23228. As promised in my last Class Notes, I mailed every Brother Rat who missed our reunion a copy of the Reunion Booklet and the DVD. And I sent every one of our class widows a copy of the booklet – and many of them a DVD as well. (My DVD supplies ran short at mailing time.) Accordingly, if any of our widowed Sister Rats did not receive the DVD and want one, please let me know. I will have some additional copies made and mail them. A final related point: Some readers might want additional copies of the Reunion Booklet to pass along to family members as keepsakes. If so, please let me know. I have some extra copies for just such a contingency. Now for some of what’s transpired since the 15th of May, as of the 15th of August 2008. To kick off, I can report with some authority that Gordon Smith as of 8 August is alive, well and full of energy. My last conversation with him previous to 8 August was on the eve of our 65th when he had to cancel all plans to attend. He’d had a sudden onset of cramps, fever and nausea. And he did not sound at all well. Gordon believes he’d been a victim of food poisoning from left over tartar sauce stored overly long in his refrigerator. He claims to be officially retired but admits to at least monthly visits to his old office, and he devotes much of his time to grateful neighbors using the knowledge he gained with his VMI degree in EE. Sort of a super educated part time electrician. Gordon also built a new garage for his home. By himself. I doubt any of our Brothers can top that! Vince Thomas reports that all goes well with Betty and himself, with the current standard caveat of the class of 1943, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. They continue to reside in their remarkable retirement home on the Norfolk waterfront, in company with Frank and Indie Bain Bilisoly and Charlie and Judy Willcox. Vince is, as I stated, doing well, especially since the recent insertion of a stent designed to prevent future problems that might have resulted from an abdominal aneurysm he has. Thank goodness for the near miracles that modern medicine is able to accomplish.

CLASS NOTES Vince reports that Frank Bilisoly continues to reside in the nursing wing of the retirement home, his balance not yet recovered sufficiently to move back to the Bilisoly’s apartment. However, Vince said that he sees Frank frequently with Indie Bain in the Dining Room. We wish them our best and devoutly hope that Frank can soon be released from the nursing wing. And I am happy to report that, also according to Vince, the Willcoxes are both in good spirits and condition – again with the standard caveat. I received a very nice e-mail from Chuck Beckham a few days ago. He thanked me for the 65th info I’d sent. Helen and he hold the VMI flag high in Houston and “both are in pretty good health and hope to make the 70th Reunion.” In reply to his question about Jane’s and my plans for the 70th, I e-mailed back that we would attend. Chuck is one of the very few in our class who “do” e-mail. I wish more of you would. It would make life a lot easier for your sometimes weary and frustrated Class Agent. Nelson Holden surprised me, very pleasantly, on 22 July with a phone call from Las Cruces, NM, where he has lived for many years. He and Jo had just completed a three- to four-month move from their relatively roomy condo to a retirement center. The agonies of downsizing! They are glad it’s over, and it’s turned out well – with “good food” in their new abode. They don’t travel much anymore and enjoy the company of their two married daughters (and families) both of whom live in Las Cruces. Nelson has had three stents in the past 18 months, but keeps up his exercising and is doing quite well. When Nelson left active duty as an Army captain in 1948, he entered the Civil Service. His last assignment was at the White Sands Missile Range (near Las Cruces), from which he retired in 1974. We reminisced about Las Cruces, which I first visited in the mid-30s as a boy when my father was stationed at Fort Bliss (El Paso), TX. I don’t believe it even had one stoplight, or a stop sign for that matter, on the main street. I wrote, “visited.” Actually, we mainly drove through Las Cruces. Didn’t take long. Today’s population is almost 100,000, which was what El Paso’s was in the mid 30s. It’s in a wonderful (to me) part of

our country. The great Southwest. My de facto deputy Class Agent, Bill Johann, continues in great spirits, energy and good health – except for his (stable) macular degeneration. I treasure his periodic phone calls. They are a valuable source of class info. Bill reports that Sonny Litton has made good strides in recovering from his heart attack of several months ago. Good to hear. Sonny cancelled attendance at our reunion at the last minute, because he didn’t feel well enough. Bill also reports, as of 13 August, that Box Board continues to be confined to the nursing wing of the retirement home (Hockessin, DE) in which he and Barbara have an apartment. Box, as you’ll recall, suffers from a severe lack of balance. He’d love to hear from any and all of his Brother Rats. Barbara (telephone: 302-235-2832) could tell you best about a direct number to reach Box – and the best time to call him. Gerry Asch, speaking from his New York digs, told Bill (Johann) that all’s well. The Aschs left Coral Gables and Florida’s humid heat to head for Long Island last May. Bill also reports that Keith Phillips had recovered from a patch of stomach “flu” which caused him to miss going to Atlanta with Lucy for a short visit. Keith is now back in full battery. Many have admiring memories of Walt Edens ’40, the First Captain during our Rat year at VMI. I came to know and admire Walt even more when we were both career Army officers. Except for a quirk in the “system,” he should and would have worn stars. The Army’s loss was Richmond’s gain when he retired from active duty. Bill Johann (who kept close ties with Walt) reports that Walt and his wife, Dottie, recently moved to Albuquerque, NM, to be near their son, Sandy (W.A. Edens Jr. ’72). It’s a long way from Richmond, VA, but as mentioned above, in a terrific part of our nation – the great Southwest. Dick Catlett wrote that he gave copies of our 65th Reunion booklet to several class widows and one to Maggie Belle Wiltshire Moore, recent widow of the younger brother of Charlie Moore ’41 First Captain. Maggie Belle’s late husband was a USNA graduate and her father, Colonel George Wiltshire, class of 1915,

attended VMI. He was the senior cavalry officer at VMI during our first year or two at VMI. My father and then Lt. Colonel Wiltshire had served together. Dick related that Maggie Belle’s father had once been stationed at Ft. Huachuca, AZ, where a year ago our son had been the deputy commanding general. Small world. When we were Rats, the Wiltshires invited Leo Tynan and me to Sunday afternoon dinner, a welcome respite. The Alumni Association notified me that Jean McClure, Bill’s widow, had asked to be removed from their mailings. Worried, I e-mailed Bill and Jean’s son, Bill III ’66. He replied not to worry. Jean is in “reasonably good health” – but that the mailings would simply be a reminder of her loss. Completely understood. And the word on “good health” is good news to all. Dr. Bob McConnell e-mailed his thanks for the reunion packet and to give a thumbnail update from his Temple, TX, home. I quote: “A few points of history – we premeds graduated on Saturday, March 20th, 1943, and entered medical school on Monday, March 22nd. We were all in the Army or Navy specialized training programs. I’d resigned my commission at 9 o’clock that Saturday and became a PFC 15 minutes later. I had a CDD (disability discharge) in 1945. I volunteered in 1951 near the end of my residency training, even going to Washington to the Army recruiting office to see them eyeball-toeyeball, but because I had a CDD, they refused. So much for my Army career. I practiced radiology for 45 years, retiring in 1992 at the age of 70. I haven’t been back to the Institute since graduation but have read the alumni magazine when I get it. My best to you, Bob.” Fielding “Doc” Greaves remains, gratifyingly, an almost daily contributor to my e-mail. We share a reasonably conservative outlook on national and international affairs, and he adds immeasurably to my mental database by providing me info from an impressive number of sources. But of course, Fielding also provides info of activities and family, as well. For example, on 10 July this year, he wrote: “Wish it had been possible for me to make the (reunion), but I eschew all distant travel in these economically parlous times

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CLASS NOTES of stratospheric gas prices and increased cost and inconvenience of air travel. For several years, Jean and I have limited our excursions to about 150 miles north or south, to the quaint little quasi 18th century village of Mendocino to the north or to Pacific Grove (and adjacent Monterey) to the south. All 2007 and 2008, to date, we haven’t even made those trips … As you probably know, all California is burning, although no threatened danger in our vicinity … Yesterday (a) gray pall of smoke cut our distant visibility by about half, and last night the setting half moon, near the horizon, was blood red.” And this just in (12 Aug) via e-mail from Harry Jones: “Lella and I were sorry we could not be in Lexington for the 65th Reunion. … Lella had a fall in April and is recovering nicely. … I sit next to Jim Anderson at the weekly meeting of the Thomasville (GA) Rotary Club. Lella and I have been blessed by 5 weeks in Montreat, NC, where Lella and I have a (vacation) home. Our children drove us to Montreat, and we spent five weeks this June and July. Fortunately, we had one child with us each of the five weeks. On 4 July, we had a family picnic with more than 100 family members there.” I just spoke to Jim Demmler’s sister in Loudon, TN. She told me with sympathy and great regret that Jim is in an assisted living facility. He has a fairly advanced stage of Alzheimer’s disease. At our age and stage, most of us have encountered, in one way or another, the tragedy caused by that dread affliction. Jim, as you might recall, is a widower and has no children. Despite the decline in the real estate markets, Bill Gottwald is in the midst of house building. Helga and he had the Gottwalds’ “old” house demolished. A new one is being erected on the lot, but it necessitates at least an every other week conference, on site, with the builders. Bill made no prediction on the finish date. He did tell me, which I’d not known, that Waddy Bugg has mental cognitive problems. Waddy, as I wrote, in my last notes, lost his wife not long ago. One of my old comrades from Company C of our Corps of Cadets delighted me with an e-mail noting my (reluctant) appointment as Class Agent. He, Bob

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Smothers ’44, retired as a colonel after a full and interesting career in the Air Force. He pointed out that he and his wife (Hazel) loyally rose at the crack of dawn to witness (close up) the VMI Cadet Band in the Rose Bowl Parade last 1 January. Of interest to my C Company Brother Rats, their (Bob and Hazel) photos are on p.12 of the 2008 Issue 2 of the Alumni Review. Dick Knight ’70, one of the stalwarts in the struggle to preserve VMI’s mandatory commissioning (which had begun right after World War I), weighed in on my search for our Brother Rat, John Bader. John’s last known address was Belleview, WA, but very recent word from the Alumni Association is that he wants no more VMI mailings. Meanwhile, Dick had given his search far more than a college try, to no avail. My cup runneth over with the very gracious notes and calls I received from several of our class widows. Maxine Mahone called Jane to explain her sudden canceling of reservations she’d made to attend the reunion. At a routine visit to her doctor, a severely blocked carotid artery was discovered which needed prompt correction. An operation quickly followed to remove the blockage, but it took a while (as expected) to fully recover. Both Jane and I have had similar operations (medical term: endarterectomy). No walk in the park, but not all that bad either. Chalk up another gift from modern medicine. Maxine, we expect to see you at the 70th, if not sooner at a mini reunion. Jane Aleshire called a few evenings ago to thank me for her reunion info. When Denver retired, he and Jane bought a home in “The Villages,” a large and attractive community with loads of recreational and nearby medical facilities not far from Orlando, FL. The Aleshire house is quite close to one which Col. Walt Chalkley ’72 and his wife, Deb, own. When VMI duties permit, the Chalkleys head for FL and a bit of R&R. Walt is VMI’s chief of staff. A few assignments before, he was a dynamic Army professor of military science (PMS) at VMI. Their son, Army Capt. Walter S. Chalkley ’02, has had at least two Iraq tours. Jane and the Chalkleys share mutual admiration and a very warm association. Audrey Moyer has written twice since Ches’ death. She is blessed with loyal

friends (one of whom is Col. Keith Gibson ’77, VMI’s Museum director). The Moyers’ granddaughter is married to Keith. Audrey is bravely coping with Ches’ loss and the future need to downsize. The Moyer’s Staunton home is filled with the products of Ches’ woodworking skills: furniture and several clocks. Audrey reminded me that the Moyers were at VMI immediately after Ches left active duty following WWII. He was an instructor in the Civil Engineering Dept. for $250 per month. Audrey worked for Colonel Buzz Marr at $0.56 per hour! But as Audrey put it, it was a “fun year.” Barbara Young has relocated (but not far) from the house where she and Si had lived for many years in Bethesda, MD. She is comfortably settled in Leisure World in Silver Spring, MD, with her daughter and her older son (plus grandchildren and great-grandchildren) nearby. She and Si are among our oldest and closest friends. Before Si and I entered VMI, we were fellow members of Company G of the High School Cadets of Western High School. At the time, Western was the most elite high school in the District of Columbia. It was, and remains, close by Georgetown University. Its classic exterior (Roman columns and sweeping front lawn) now looks a bit shabby. Long ago, its principal purpose was refocused, and its name changed to the “Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts.” I also heard from Evelyn Andrew, widow of Bill (Snapper), another of my oldest and dearest friends at VMI. Evelyn continues to reside (now in assisted living) in the Exeter, New Hampshire, Retirement Residence that she and Bill chose several years before his death from stomach cancer last year. Bill elected to donate his body for medical research. “After all,” Bill told his wife and children shortly before he died, “someone in the family has to go to Harvard.” Class words from a truly class man. Frances Bartenstein, Bob’s widow, wrote to thank me for the booklet and DVD. Frances lives nearby the Hodgkins in Warrenton, and came down with them for the Reunion luncheon at Betty Haskins and the Parade. Virginia Wyatt, Joe’s widow, wrote a much appreciated note from Lynchburg.

CLASS NOTES Joe and I went to the last Horse Cavalry Course at Fort Riley’s Cavalry School. It was quite an experience – truly unique, sort of a last hurrah for a dying breed. However, we were superbly trained, not only regarding horses but for infantry and mechanized warfare as well. The horses provided a bonus of élan, polish and confidence. Joe was a fine officer and leader before he lost his leg to enemy fire. And once out of the hospital, he never lost a step. Emma Gray Emory, Bill’s widow, said in her note to me that both she and son Bill enjoyed the booklet. “It brings back memories of many happy times.” Such words make all effort so very worthwhile. Emma Gray included a generous gift to the VMI Foundation. On 9 July, I received an e-mail of thanks from Norma Romm, Bill’s widow. It deserves quoting most of it. “My grandson, Robert Romm, will be a Rat this year. He will be here on Saturday, and I know he will enjoy seeing his grandfather’s classmates, as well as the scenes of VMI. His father was the class of 1973 and was killed ten years ago, so the sentiment is twofold. … The other day, I was putting groceries in the trunk of my car, and a young man came over and offered to put them in for me. He said he saw my VMI sticker and was an alumnus. I can’t remember his name or class year, but I was proud of his courtesy. I hope to go to Lexington for Robert’s first parade. I no longer drive long distances, so I must go when his mom offers me a ride.” And we all hope that Norma gets that ride! All Class Agents received some data on the FY 2008 Annual Giving from Col. Pat Webb (colonel USA-Retired), VMI’s Director of Annual and Reunion Giving. Pat is a loyal Texas A&M graduate who is also devoted to VMI. In millions, the Foundation received $2.78; the Keydet Scholarship Fund $2.053; and the Athletic Operations Fund $1.353. All goals were exceeded. Sadly, only 4,569 donated, making an anemic 35.69% participation rate. Our class donated $277,047, ranking fourth (behind, in order, 1940, 1942, 1947) among other classes of the 40s. Our participation rate was 70%, a very slight improvement, but four other classes from the 40s were better: 100% from 1940, 90%

from 1944, 80% from 1948B and 71% from 1947. Certainly, we can increase the number of donors – and should. Hope Hennessey, new editor of the Alumni Review (The Alumni Review, VMI Alumni Assn, PO Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450; Tel: 800-444-1839; e-mail: hopeh@vmiaa.org) asks that each of you consider nominating (to Hope) any alumnus who has contributed to their community, our nation or the world in a “unique and noteworthy way.” She plans a series of articles in the Review about such persons. Hope states the contributions could be through jobs, charities, volunteer work, arts, medicine, business, military service or church or synagogue. A final note to our Class Widows: The VMI Foundation is scheduling a series of teas for you good ladies, starting with one at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, and depending upon the success of that initial one, in other locations. Invitations will be mailed for these “celebration teas” (as they will be called). The future plans and current activities of VMI will be briefed. The aim is to provide a social occasion where memories connected with VMI can be shared. Indeed commendable! Hasta la vista.

’44

Robert P. Jones Jr.

It’s August, it’s hot in Virginia and once again I have to try and make sense of my scribble written over the last three months and decipher a few notes and letters I received. As the years go by, some of my recollections are not always correct. First, the bad news: Nancy Phillips called me in early July to tell me that Nance Crowder Coleman had died on July 1. I had known she had some health concerns but didn’t think they were serious. After talking to her in mid June, I had not expected that news. A note from Marguerite Ellett enclosing a copy of Nancy’s obituary stated that she and Taz, who also live in Westminster-Canterbury in Richmond, were surprised to learn of Nancy’s death. She

was a great lady, and we’ll all miss her. Marguerite wrote that the Elletts had enjoyed their annual week at Pawley’s Island and had long weekends scheduled at Graves Mountain Lodge in August and in October at Fort Lewis Lodge, wherever they are. One has to escape from these retirement communities every once in awhile to stay sane. Then, we have the good news: On May 17th at the Baltimore Country Club, Harry Ratrie was married to Nancy Pryor, an old friend. I can’t be sure if I comprehended all Harry said, as his call woke me from my afternoon nap, and my hearing aids were in my dresser drawer to keep our cat from thinking she had some new toys. I asked Harry if Nancy was the same lady he was always chatting with on his cell phone while at our mini reunion in Wilmington, NC, last year. He said yes and went on to add that there were over 100 family members from their families in attendance, and a great-grandson served as the ring bearer. We welcome Nancy to our corps of Sister Rats and look forward to meeting her at our 65th Reunion next April 20th and 21st. Ike Eickelberg reports that she is a very attractive lady. He has always been a good judge of those sorts of things. Harry, we extend our congratulations and are happy for you both! After getting my mail version of the May class notes, Scottie Haley wrote to tell me that the KA House at W&L was not closed but on critical probation. I got that corrected for the Alumni Review printing. That should keep me out of the dog house with the KAs. She attended the VMI commencement services with Jim Doss, Ezra Trice and Lucy Sommers. They all enjoyed the dynamic message delivered by Robert Gates, the Secretary of Defense. You can read that message in your copy of this Alumni Review. Ezra and Lucy were in town to meet Bob and Ruth Sherrard, who were coming down from Lancaster, PA, for a little socializing and commencement attendance. I don’t think there was any golf on the menu. Ezra and Lucy were also going to Charlottesville for the graduation exercises of one of her grandchildren from the University of Virginia. A mixed up computer generated letter

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CLASS NOTES from Hotdog Helmen mentioned that he liked my last class notes, especially the fact that he wasn’t mentioned. This will cure that! He was back at home to catch up on paperwork including the preparation and filing of tax returns. He and Miriam had met Jim Doss, Scottie Haley, Ezra Trice, Lucy Sommers and the Sherrards at the Casino in the Homestead for lunch. They were discussing books, and most of them were talking loudly to overcome the deafness affliction that exists in that group. This interested a young fellow at the next table who came over to join in the conversation. Hotdog said that he and Miriam were both healthy and thankful to be alive. His computer typing was a little confusing, and he handwrote on the letter, “This d@#& PC has a mind of its own.” Mine does also! Dick Meade called to chat. He is fully mobile without his cane and thankful that his therapy helped him to get rid of that symbol of senility. He and Fran have signed up for The VMI Alumni Association Windjammer Cruise in March 2009. Dick also told me that while he was an active new cadet recruiter in Arizona a few years back, he met a young lady of the class of 2004 at a meeting in Washington. She impressed him with her attitude and intelligence, and they have kept in touch. She is now a lieutenant junior grade in the Navy and a navigator on a Navy ship. He also mentioned getting a telephone call in those days from a student in Anchorage, Alaska, interested in attending VMI. Dick turned him over to the Admissions Office in Lexington. He has retired from being active in that activity and turned it over to some very capable alumni in Arizona that he recruited for the job. Faye and I went to a 1940 high school reunion luncheon at Harbor View in Norfolk arranged by Jim Doss’s ring figure date, Sunny Williams, who was also a good friend of mine in those high school days. Jim was tending bar in her apartment at the pre-lunch consuming of various libations. It was a fun affair, and no fishing lines were noticeable. An assisted living facility, Sunrise at Fair Oaks, is the new home for Bob and Jeanie Nay. Their address is: 3750 Joseph Siewick Drive, Suite 242; Fairfax, VA

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22033. He reports being only five miles from their daughter, Sally, and 20 miles from their son, Bill Nay ’77. They are very happy there, the food is great and the other occupants are very friendly. He also reports, as nearly all do, that downsizing is tough, and you never get rid of enough before the move. My birthday card to Dick Sorensen in June reminded him that it was time to get his Annual Giving donation in the mail, and he did. He wrote to thank me for the card and said they spend just about as much keeping their 1830 house livable as they do with charitable donations. Patricia Wen wrote to thank me for the Annual Giving envelope to simplify how to direct her gift and hoped the Class of ’44 would get credit for it. Patricia, you can be assured that I have taken care of that. Her daughter, Lillian, had been stateside and returned with her two sons. One had just finished high school and been accepted at Indiana University. Her son, Stanley Wen ’77, has a son due back in Taiwan as she wrote. Patricia was very happy to be looking forward to plenty of company during the summer. I know for sure that Harold Lockwood reads my notes. He wrote to thank me for keeping him updated on BR activities and helping put 60+-year-old memories of faces and names together. He also commented that based on his experience, the cadet I mentioned in my May class notes, Jeromie Houston ’08, will never regret coming back to VMI to get his degree. The last weekly meeting of the two alumni chapter membership in Brownwood, TX, found the “Padre” of ’68 with a little heart problem. Harold was a little concerned. He had no recent update on his roommate, Dick Sorensen, but when he reads this, he’ll have a little news, plus be up to date on his Rat year roommate, Boy Nay. Needing to return a call to Mary Easterly, Bob Sherrard called to get her phone number and chat a bit. He and Ruth are fine, but he says she is playing more golf than he does. I didn’t ask why. Bob told me they will have two granddaughters enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point this year. One is already there, and one starts this fall. He

wishes they were at VMI, but the tuition is much more attractive where they’re going. I hope you all noticed that the Alumni Review Issue 2 for 2008 had two photos of Bob and Hazel Smothers at the Rose Bowl Parade. Bob has also sent me a copy of his latest book, My GGG Grandfathers of the American Revolution. He wrote it almost entirely for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It is a great genealogical record and historical treatise on the six men involved. I think this is about the sixth book that he and Hazel have done. I’m really amazed that they can find the time. Bob also told me that he and Hazel have already gotten their airline tickets for coming to our April ’09 reunion. They fly into Richmond the day before and will rent a car to get to Lexington. I reminded him that his speed on I-81 in 2004 cost him a few bucks. He remembered well, and I could hear a familiar female voice in the background adding to my warning. All of you need to highlight April 20th and 21st on your 2009 calendars. Our faithful reunion chairman and facilitator, Tom Peyton, is already at work on the planning for that function. For one final note, I want to thank all of you, Brother and Sister Rats, for your financial support of VMI Annual Giving. For Fiscal 2008, the Class of 1944 had a 90% participation rate from BRs. A little short of my goal but absolutely outstanding considering the participation rate for all alumni classes was 35.65%, just short of the VMI Foundation’s goal of 37%. That’s all for now. Take care of yourselves wherever you are. God bless all of you, and God bless America.

’45

John D. Williams

I was very distressed to learn from The VMI Alumni Association that Captain Bernard (Bernie) J. Bandish died peacefully on July 18th following a brief illness. Bernie moved to San Diego, California, in 1970 and retired from his naval career in 1974.

CLASS NOTES The Taps section of this issue of the Alumni Review includes the obituaries of our two great Brothers, Paul Louis and Bill Russell, both of whom died just after closing of my last notes. Anne Addington reports in from Virginia Beach that she recently had an infection in her pacemaker area and it necessitated removing it and placing it on the other side. She later had a staph infection in the hospital. She is recovering rapidly now, but her golf game has been terribly disturbed. Through all this, she is in great spirits and is walking two miles per day. Sandra and Dick Matheis called from Naples, Florida, early in the summer, and they were preparing to leave for St. Tropez, France, for several weeks. Maybe they are scouting for a place to hold our next mini reunion. Bob Allen is really good about staying in touch and was fussing about the August heat in Ardmore, Oklahoma. In June, Bob took his two daughters, Kathy and Dianne, to New York City and attended a Yankee’s baseball game which was won by the Yankees. They had an enjoyable voyage on the Yankee Clipper, a cruise boat that delivered them directly to Yankee Stadium. That evening, Verne Chaney and his wife, Harriet, entertained them royally with dinner at The River Club, which Bob says was very, very nice. The next day while the daughters were shopping, Bob visited the Natural History Museum. Bob is planning an October trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for a combined reunion of the 138th and 1255th Engineering Combat Battalions in which he served in World War II. Ray Yow is a good correspondent including several e-mails per day, but mostly jokes and political comments. His latest news advises that he and Cathy are bumbling along. He has all of his original equipment – no artificial joints or the like. Over the summer, he was busy getting his pontoon boat ready for the season in order to scare up a few fish or crabs and also to burn some expensive gasoline. As a result of my last notes about the death of Bob Gleason, I received

a nice e-mail from Syd Bradford, and he recalled meeting Bob at Fort Meade, Maryland, in 1944 where he had been sent after graduating from OCS. Fort Meade was a replacement depot, and Bob’s unit was on its way overseas. After a pleasant chat, they parted. Bob was the only Brother Rat that Syd ever met during his three years of service. Speaking of Fort Meade gives me a vivid recollection of being discharged there after 18 months overseas. I drove one-quarter mile out the front gate and was arrested for speeding – 27 mph in a 25 mph zone. That was before the days of radar. I almost lost my cool to that cop! Hugh Dischinger has been planning a visit to his daughter in Minnesota but has been delayed because he fell off his back deck steps while carrying some furniture. He is battered and bruised but nothing is broken. His son, Charlie, is still with NASA at Huntsville, Alabama, and sends us by e-mail some most fantastic photos from outer space. In reviewing the Annual Giving records of our class sent to me by the Institute, I find that our Great Class of l945 is lagging in both percentage of participants and total dollar donations as compared to other classes in the decade of the 40s. Please do your part, even though you may consider it insignificant. Please note on the heading of these notes that I have changed my address as of Aug. 15th. The reason for this move is that on Sept. 13th, I am taking a big step and getting married to a lovely lady named Mary Ballou Ballentine, who is a native of Lynchburg, Virginia, graduate of Sweet Briar College and long-time resident of Richmond. We each have four children and eight grandchildren, so we will have to hold our family reunions at some arena. Here’s to your good health, and God bless our Great Class of ’45 and VMI. Addendum: After submitting the above notes and before this issue went to press, I received the sad news that Mack Pusey passed away following an extended illness on Aug. 29th at his health care unit in Easton, Maryland. His obituary will appear in the next Alumni Review, 2009-Issue 1.

’46

William A. Eliason

About a year ago, I attended a VMI lawn party in Portsmouth for about a dozen “Rising Rats,” young men and women on their way to enter VMI. I happened to meet a gentleman, non-VMI but a U.S. Army Ranger vet, who served valorously in ’Nam. He was at the party, because he had either a stepson or a nephew (not sure which) in the Class of 2010 with whom he is writing a book about the VMI Ratline as an incubator of leadership. It is due out in about a year. The opinion that I gave him was that inasmuch as the first step in leadership is learning to follow, the Ratline is indeed valuable. Why do I relate this incident? Well, one thing I learned in the Ratline was that the fear of punishment is worse than the fact! How many of us thought that we would die in “Company Room,” and yet we all survived it. Well, it still works for me! I threatened all of you last time that you’d have to keep reading my reminiscent drivel if you didn’t send news. Well, you sent news, thank you very much, and here it is. First of all, I got an incoming from June Brown, Harry’s widow, that her name is June and not Jean. I knew that, and I have sent her an apology for the first mistake I ever made. What a great, lovely “Sister Rat” she is. And very generous, too! She never fails to make an annual contribution in “Fly-boy’s” name. Thank you, June, and a public apology Heard from Ford Barney Ford soon after he got my fiscal year-end threat. He has joined the ranks of wife caregivers after Norma underwent aortic valve replacement and by-pass surgery. As a newlyinducted member of my Society of Chief Cooks and Bottlewashers, Ford claims he’s gotten to where he can stomach his own cooking. The rest of you guys might want to look up the word “husband” in the dictionary. You’ll find that one of its meanings is “to take care of,” so it’s in the job description. Do it! Zack Dameron checked in by phone (doesn’t do internet) and reports all is well.

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CLASS NOTES Ann is doing much better, even though her memory still gives problems. Not enough to keep her from still winning at bridge, one of her passions, along with Zack, of course! They have a daughter who is a wiz-bang at Morgan Stanley, one of the few financial companies not in deep chocolate yogurt these days. She has returned after several years in Paris with the firm and is now at HQ in the Big Apple. As much as I try to avoid sad news in these notes, I have to take note of the loss of two great friends and Brother Rats this past June. Hart Sweeney died on June 23rd, and Zan Stuart left us on the 28th. Hart, of course, came back after WW2 to graduate and a career with Eastman Kodak. Zan became a Wahoo and returned to southwest Virginia to manage the third century of the family cattle farms. See “Taps” in this issue for Hart’s obituary. Zan’s will appear in the next issue’s Taps section. I have written to Lynda Stuart and Patricia Sweeney extending the class condolences. Zan and I first met our Rat year in a dilapidated Plymouth cab on a First Class sponsored ride to Hollins where his sister was a student. Sitting next to each other in the back seat crowded with two other BRs, we introduced ourselves as “Stuart, W.A.” and “Eliason, W.A.” As our initials were the same, I asked him what his “W.A.” stood for, and he said “William Alexander” which of course was the same as mine. When we got to Hollins, Zan introduced me to his mom, who was visiting his sister. We told her of the name coincidence, and she responded, “My goodness, both of your names came from the same source!” Turns out that Zan was the great-grandson of William A. Stuart, brother to the famous Jeb Stuart, the CSA cavalry commander. Our families were close, as my grandfather has served as chief surgeon on Jeb’s staff from Manassas through Gettysburg. His father, my greatgrandfather, was Captain William A. Eliason, a USA engineer who went in after Robert E. Lee to finish the construction of Fort Monroe. Zan’s mom said that both families admired him, and that’s how the name got into their family. It was then that I knew that this is, indeed, a small world. Forgive me for that flashback, but it left

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me with a feeling of kinship with Zan that I never lost. Back to Class Notes. Before going on with the personality parade, let me thank and compliment all of you for your generosity in FY08’s Class Giving Campaign. We had a participation level of 62%, the highest since our 50th Reunion and among the highest of all classes. Nonetheless, I will not rest until we get to 100%. But please, let’s not accomplish that through attrition! Judge Warren Stephens sent me a nice note from just down the road in Newport News. He reports that he and Mary Montague (only in the South do ladies have double names!) are in good health. They have been living in the same house for 45 years! That must be healthy; I guess the rest of us have been moving around too much! Seems that Mary Montague was Hollins, Class of 1948, and they both attended her 60th reunion in the spring. Do you suppose that Warren was one of those six Rats stuffed into that Plymouth cab? Warren, although retired, still occasionally sits as circuit court trial judge. So, don’t speed through NN, or he’ll send you to Company Room. Warren also reports eight grandchildren, all Virginians ranging from age 19 (UVa) to 6 (rising first-grader). Paul Marks checked in from his farm which he turned over to his youngsters several years ago. They’ve had a lot of flooding near them but no damage to their lands or property. Paul says he doesn’t get around as spryly as he once did (who does?) but still manages to get in some duck hunting where the ducks do all the work. Paul was an honored guest of the Alumni Association on a trip to Lexington for a conference of large donors of scholarships. Representing The Camp Foundation of Franklin, VA, Paul has been instrumental in directing a large number of full scholarships, like more than a dozen a year, to VMI. He was very enthusiastic about what Gen. Peay ’62 has and is doing to and for the Institute. Talk about VMI spirit and loyalty, Paul was a Cadet for seven months! He claims (dubiously) that his dad and mom (who was a Camp) put him on a bus, told him to get off at McCrum’s and take a cab to VMI and that was the first he ever heard of the place. Like yours truly, Paul had stumbled a little

on the matrimonial path before he got a great wife. Like most everything he has done, he got a real winner. Joan’s a doll! Smart, too. I no sooner recaptured “Fritz” Crytzer from his illicit affair with ’49C while we were neighbors here in Williamsburg than he ups and heads for Goldsboro, North Carolina, to be closer to his daughter and family. His address will be corrected in the next issue of our class directory later this fall. Can’t really blame Fritz. We are here because our son, Bird Colonel Bill, USAF, is dean of the Warfighting School at the Joint Command War College in Norfolk. He ABD on his doctorate at ODU and was chosen to head a joint (USA, USAF, USMC) fact-finding mission to Kabul, Afghanistan, and is probably still there as you read this. He has 28 years in and will retire in 2010 if he doesn’t get a star. He already has a Bronze one for his tour as Air Battle manager for the Kosovo unpleasantness – over 29,000 sorties without a fatality. (Papa exercises his braggin’ rights!) One of my old roommates, Pat “Potruck” Echols, sent me a card from McLean where all the movers and shakers live. Seems that Beth, his bride of just a few years, had a nasty fall and has been laid up for quite a while but has recovered sufficiently to resume her duties as Pat’s chauffer. Pat has a large extended family, but my postpaid postcard wasn’t big enough to give me any details. Talk about a tightwad! Pat, they still sell notepaper and stamps. R.J. Williams dropped me a card commending me for a great job as class agent and then went on to say he left in 1943 for the Air Force and then on to the University of Buffalo and that he has “no interest” in VMI. No interest?!? How come he likes his class agent’s work??? Hope you are reading this, R.J. You apparently don’t know that VMI is in your blood if you just once put on Keydet Gray. It’s like chicken pox; if you get it you never lose it and wind up with annoying shingles, disguised as class agent letters. They irritate but you can’t get rid of them. Another one of my neighbors, Teddy Holt (Virginia Beach), wrote to tell me that he attended a Norfolk VMI party that Carol and I missed. Ted reported that the

CLASS NOTES senior alumnus was Vince Thomas ’43, former mayor of Norfolk, and that Nancy and Web Chandler were also hoisting a few. Ted’s been busy with reunions. He had one with his Marine buddies from Korea in West Palm Beach and also his 60th at Annapolis where he was a classmate of Jim Sizer ’47. Ted also mentioned that he had a recent call from Ed May ’51. Ted says he was “one of my most outstanding platoon leaders in Korea.” Takes one to know one, Ted! Bill Rance wrote in from Columbus that he had attended a symposium in Sarasota regarding WWII. Looked up “symposium” in the dictionary and found out that it is 1) a friendly philosophical discussion (no Nazi’s allowed) and 2) a drinking party. Now I know why Bill was there. Bill and Rosemary checked in at Lexington in April. We just missed them by a week. They were quite taken by the Parade of the Cadets and the Pipes & Drums, as were a couple from Calgary who sat next to them. Bill is a former class agent (1977-78) and a true loyalist! The move of Mort and Babs Mumma from Williamsburg to Richmond was reported in the last issue. I don’t know what difference it makes where their home is; seems like they are never there! In May, they took a mere 3-week boat ride to and through Russia. Ran the river from Moscow up to St. Petersburg (not Fla.) and out through Riga, Lithuania. Mort was not impressed with the Russian status. The economy is top heavy with the majority in or near poverty with a falling birthrate. Right now (August), they are in San Diego for “family birthdays.” Then, just to keep from paying the light bill, they are off to Germany in December for annual Christmas shopping and a little cruise down (or perhaps, up) the Rhine. Tough life! Elmon Gray sent me a card proudly proclaiming the expected arrival (in July) of his and Pam’s first great-grandchild. Although I can’t be sure, but I don’t think any other BR has notified me of such progeny, so Pamela Gray Minkler might have been ’46’s first, as well. Only problem is that the day after I received Elmon’s card, Mort Mumma reported that their first was already here. Well, not here, but in West (wild & wonderful) Virginia. Any other challengers?

People ask us if we have any great grandchildren, and I always answer, “No, they’re all about average.” Judge Nottingham is a charter member of our Society of Chief Cooks and Bottle Washers and reports that June is still having difficulties with speech and balance. They were heading to the Mayo Clinic for help. Judge has always been a strong promoter for a mini-reunion at the William & Mary game here every other year. This year, unnecessary travel is out, and it must be so for a lot of us, because I’ve only had one “yes” and that was Elmon, and he’s virtually “local.” I’ll still have the bar open. John Naill reminded me that he has kept me in touch with his “quiet” existence and his remaining regret at missing our 60th Reunion. You and Sally better show up for the 65th, or you will really be in trouble. John wrote that he thought that he was only one of two remaining farmers in our class. I’m not sure, but I assume that the other one was Zan Stuart. Sadly, John’s card was dated June 25th, and Zan died three days later. Ed and Lou Powers were leaving town so fast that all they could send me was the Christmas letter from last year. I suppose the sheriff must have been after them. Nonetheless, I can bring you up to that date. They busy themselves visiting family. They seemed to have strategically placed their progeny: Hawaii, London, Paris, Georgia, Texas and Greensboro (?). The Powers also judge camellia shows around the country and chase the little white ball (Ed) and duplicate bridge (Lou). I had one of the best phone calls ever from Mil (widow of “Red”) Hayes. She’s lining up in Midlothian after selling the place she and “William,” as she has always called him, had up in Waterford where they were neighbors of the late Arthur Godfrey. Her memory is 100%. She told me of an incident when their dog got loose and molested Godfrey’s peacocks and presented Mil with three or four beautiful tail-feathers. When she called him to apologize, he said he tried to shoot the dog but missed him. She also reminded me of a few capers during our cadet days which I may admit to later. Pete Whittemore wrote me a nice letter from Virginia Beach where he and Jane

live on the beach. He has had one serious health problem after another, but his spirit is still 100%. He’s had two knees and a hip replaced, prostate cancer, spinal stenosis and associated miseries. I know he’d like to hear from all of us, so pick up the phone and give him a call at (757) 428-7996. Phyllis and Bas Lockett are enjoying good living and good health at the Westminster-Canterbury operation in Charlottesville, and Jim Mullins wrote to tell me that he had no news but frequently recalls his Rat roommate, Andre Fallwell, a “third class” Brother Rat who was killed in the Battle of the Bulge. I purposely left that observation of Jim’s to the last, because I wanted to leave you with an observation. The pleasure of serving as your Class Agent for the last four years has brought me many joys. While I have always been extremely proud to have attended VMI, this tour brings me closer to the Institute and our class than I have ever been before. We are indeed a unique class from a unique school. Despite all of its fame, laurels and honors; despite the unbelievable services that our alumni have delivered to this commonwealth and to the nation as a whole; and despite the hundreds of millions being invested in brick and mortar, the Institute has some very serious problems – problems that I believe only through the alumni can be solved. Some are obvious. With taxation being an anathema to every politician, commonwealth and federal funds for VMI (as well as other schools) are shrinking, not growing like our alma mater is. Before long, we will be at the target cadet compliment of 1,500 – twice the capacity of when we were cadets. The alumni are, next to the Cadet Corps, the most important element in VMI’s existence. Without either one, we are nothing. The percentage participation in Annual Giving in the 30s range is disgraceful and unacceptable. Yes, VMI has the highest per student endowment of any public college or university in the land. That is largely due to huge bequests from a relatively few alumni. We also have one of the lowest student-faculty ratios, and a good teacher is also a realist. He or she will go where the money is. So, we must stay competitive as we have always been. So, I ask you, my Brother Rats – who have

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CLASS NOTES earned and hold the respect of all VMI alumni – do what you can to help, and pass the word to every VMI man you know. I want to leave you on a light note. I saw a bumper sticker the other day showing an old man lifting the lid off a bronze coffin. The slogan said, “Cremation: think outside the box!” When you are as old as we have managed to get, we have learned to laugh at ourselves, the greatest tonic there is! See you next time.

’47

Bill Hallett

The doleful notes of “Taps” have sounded for Richard Read Davison. Dick died June 2, 2008, following a long wearying battle with cancer. He matriculated from Marlin, TX, enlisted in the Army following our Rat year, saw combat with the 80th Division during the Battle of the Bulge, was hospitalized in England for nearly two months and was eventually stationed in Nuremberg during the 1945 War Crimes Trials. He is survived by his wife, Joy, their daughters, Mary Joy and Julie, and son Dick Jr. He received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Texas A&M and taught there for 45 years until retiring in 2003. Dick and Joy loved to travel and made many trips around the world including one European trip during which he showed Joy the many locations at which he had been a target. Dick Jr. sent me a copy of the 100-page account his father had written of his WW II experiences. I plan to have that story, “A Band of Strangers,” bound for our next reunion and then present it to VMI’s archives. While in basic training at Fort McClellan, he saw Bill Fitzpatrick and John Giesen, both of ’46; seeing the two of them reminded Dick of his many hours in company room. While guarding prisoners at the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, he ran into Henry Scott who was also “pushing prisoners” there. Dick’s mother saved all the letters he had written home and he used them to augment his WW II history. I regret to report that Helen Hathaway died last October. Her daughter-in-law

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wrote telling that Helen’s health had been in gradual decline over the past several years. Bill died in March 1994. Helen had been a long-time supporter of VMI. On the occasion of our country’s 232nd birthday, the Sizers were in Boston to watch the fireworks and hear the Boston Pops. They were enjoying a senior’s trip through New England and Canada. The postcard Mary Anne sent pictured an historic inn where she said Woobucket would spend his retirement days. Jim said there was much walking and eating and that being back at home was much better. Great idea from Howard Simpson. After reading my New Market Day letter, he decided to contribute the amount of his “economic stimulus” payment to VMI. Howard was able to convert that nontaxable income into a tax-deductible item. Way to go, Howard! He and Nancy are very proud of their granddaughter who was captain of the UVa golf team and has just graduated as an Academic All American. With his two computers and two printers, he maintains business records for the four Simpson boys, two of whom are construction contractors while the other two operate a vending machine business. Nancy swims every day to stay in condition for our next reunion. Just before Finals, VMI’s baseball team beat Virginia Tech 8-7. It was the first time the Keydets beat the Hokies in a home game since 1969. Bro’ Rats have interesting ways to keep minds active and bodies somewhat the same. For Red Hanbury it’s tending his collection of 18 Bonsai trees. Now he is creating a Japanese Zen garden; a sand and statuary venue for relaxation and contemplation. Red invites all Bro’ Rats traveling in the Orange, VA, area to come by, enjoy his handiwork and melt an ice cube or two. He asked about Buck Cavedo; I was happy to report that Buck’s cardiologist says that all is well, and Buck is released for all duty. A thoughtful man once said: “No man dies until he is no longer remembered.” On Memorial Day, I remembered again the eight of our Bro’ Rats whose lives were taken in combat in three of our nation’s wars. I’m sure many of you also remembered them.

Sometime ago, Mac Davis called to ask if I had YouTube. My first thought was that such a thing might be a new treatment for an enlarged prostate. Back in March, he made a speech to the DAR concerning the U.S. Constitution. Had I been electronically connected, he wanted to send the YouTube video of his presentation. He sent a copy of that speech and it was a good one! Mac states most emphatically that liberal judges should not change the original meanings of the Constitution in order to promote their own liberal agendas. Needless to say, he is irked that courts have taken unto themselves the power to change the meaning of the Constitution by inventing “penumbras” which they say mean whatever the court wants them to mean. Mac’s cover letter said: “I assume you will agree that my speech establishes irrefutably that I am right. If not, let me know so that I can talk to Marty about getting appropriate therapy for you.” I’m sure that the VMI professors of 1943-44 would be much impressed by the mental progress our Nashville Bro’ Rat has made. A short note along with the check from Howard Simpson who said: “Now days, it’s not that you are going to the doctor every week; it’s remembering which one.” The headline in the Virginia State Golfing Association bulletin read: “Kristen Simpson Wins the 31st Virginia Women’s Stroke Play.” Howard and Nancy are very proud of their granddaughter who will go on to graduate school at UVa’s Curry School of Education. According to Mary Anne, in June James B. Sizer III (a.k.a. Woobucket) celebrated his 60th reunion at the Naval Academy. Jim said: “The fellows were all upright, still dancing and having a good time.” Later when we talked, he said the temperature in Annapolis at reunion time was in the 95º range – a bit like the comfort level during our parades at VMI in the summer of 1943. He is still at work designing vehicles for the Army; says most are rubber-tired for better mobility with few track vehicles being developed. Somewhat ironic that a VMI man who was graduated from USNA is designing armored vehicles for the Army. The Naval Academy still teaches sailing; wonder what size spinnaker a carrier or a sub carries …

CLASS NOTES From the 121-year old Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island to the grand sunny beaches at Hilton Head Island, Bettie Jacobsen has been on the road again. The movie “Somewhere in Time” was shot at the Grand Hotel. Between trips, Bettie stays busy helping with and arranging parties for granddaughter Melissa Paige (Missy) Jacobsen who will be married September 6th. Missy was graduated in May from Mary Baldwin College. An early June call from Tex Brown telling that he and Mickey had moved to Georgetown, TX. He said that for some reason they cancelled a planned trip to Switzerland; didn’t know why but figured that aging may have had something to do with it and that seemed a long way to go to buy another watch. Tex is still in the pine tree business over in Louisiana. Perhaps his VMI laundry bag was too tattered to make an overseas trip. Of the 246 members of the Class of 2008 to be graduated on May 16th, 129 (52%) were commissioned in the armed forces. For Virginia residents, the cost this year will be $17,000 and for out-of-state cadets the cost will be $33,898. Might be worth moving to the Commonwealth. At VWIL, the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin, 14 of the 19 women graduated from that program were commissioned; eight in the Army, five in the Air Force and one in the Marine Corps. There’s always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example, I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don’t hurt. Did you ever notice that when you put the two words “the” and “IRS” together it spells “theirs?” A penny saved is a government oversight! The ACLU, referred to by many as America’s Criminal Liberation Union, is threatening to sue the U.S. Naval Academy unless it abolishes its daily lunchtime prayer saying that some midshipmen have complained that they felt coerced to participate. The Maryland legal director of that sleazy organization said it was “long past time” for the Academy to discontinue that tradition and cited the 2003 case in which an appellate court ruled that VMI’s mealtime prayers violated the First Amendment. Let us pray! Delighted to have Ruth Stanley tell me

that chemo and radiation had done the job and that her doctor has given her a good report. She has gotten settled in her other Florida home in Winter Park where she spends half a year, and the other half of the year is spent at Hobe Sound. Ruth said being in Florida fulltime makes it easier for her to be with and enjoy her children and seven grandchildren. She also told me that the Stanley home in Stanleytown, VA, is for sale and that I should tell the Bro’ Rats, in case any of them were interested, that home has an elevator and king-size ice-maker. For those who may remember, the furnishings of the VMI room there have been moved to Florida. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. And the winner is the Peruvian Prince who called mid-afternoon June 9th to ask if I still remembered where we were 65 years ago on that date. I did and I trust that many of you also remembered. Even the valley temperature was evoking memories of the mid 90s in Lexington. Wonder if the five-demerit penalty still applies for passing out at Parade? Jorge said that he and Delia were fine although it was getting a bit chilly in Lima for ocean swimming. Currently there are 21 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. There are three VMI alumni in the Lima area and since class privileges still apply, Sarmiento is president of the Lima chapter. Heinie Henzel called later that same day (the date on which most of us matriculated in 1943) to reminisce a bit and tell me that he had made his last move. Said probably by this time next year he will have all of his belongings squared away in his new quarters at Kendal at Lexington, that town’s only continuing care retirement community. When we talked, he was celebrating another “I’m-still-well-week” sitting on his porch smoking a cigar and enjoying a glass of brandy. Way to go! Sometimes I get the urge to run around the house naked. But then I just drink an ounce or two of Windex. It keeps me from streaking. There’s always one more imbecile than you counted on. There will be a major and critical national election before you receive the next

notes. The choices made will have a major impact on our country, your future and the futures of your children and grandchildren. Select carefully! Sarah Newsom and her family had a long and enjoyable vacation at their favorite Carolina beach. Sarah said there is much that is relaxing in wading. Betty Lane and Gus Robbins partook of surf and sun on the Outer Banks for 10 days with their extended family. In following up on my earlier request for reports of chance meetings with Bro’ Rats during WW II and Korea, Gus wrote that in January 1945 while he was in boot training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, he saw John Monroe who was waiting there for the next electronics training class to begin. Joe Reynolds also took electronics training at Great Lakes. In November 1945, Gus was on duty at a naval supply depot on Samar in the Philippines and met Max Lamont standing in a line for ice cream. Max had been in a PT boat squadron. Bro’ Rats, whom did you see and where? In mid June, Helen Gillespie attended the reunion of the 315th Bomb Wing of the 20th Air Force. That was Sam’s WW II outfit. That Washington, DC, reunion was to be the last official reunion of that outfit; time is taking its toll. Helen had carried Sam’s B4 bag for former flyers to see; the insignia painted thereon were still bright and clean. She was very impressed by the Air & Space Museum and at times, somewhat overwhelmed with northern Virginia’s expanding highway system. The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends. The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement. I’ve reached the age where happy hour is a nap. In late May a discouraging call from John Steel advising that he is now confined to his bed and has been told that he is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. John sent best regards to his Bro’ Rats and hopes he will be able to attend our next get together. He’d prefer more salads and sandwiches to the heavy meals being served at his health care center; no Borgus there to yell for. Lou Hundley told me that, unfortunately,

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CLASS NOTES winter had been a series of falls for Kat; she did spring back to good health without help. So that it would be easier to locate his car, Lou creased the right front fender of his new Camry. You’ll recognize him if you are traveling I-81 in the valley. Wrist surgery for Gus Robbins to alleviate damage from a fall during one of last year’s tennis matches. Therapy is being applied and Gus said his surgeon was correct in saying the surgery probably would make room for more arthritis. Thus endeth the gim report. Former VMI Superintendent John Knapp ’54 was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in the Virginia Militia (unorganized). Knapp is also a major general in the U.S. Army Reserve (organized). The Virginia Militia is becoming as thick with generals as Kentucky is with colonels. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity. Col. Keith Gibson ’77, executive director of museum programs at VMI, gave a very interesting lecture about Moses Ezekiel 1866 in June at the Virginia Historical Society. Ezekiel was the first Jewish cadet at VMI, fought at the Battle of New Market and became one of the most well-known sculptors of the 19th century. Two of his great works are at VMI: the statue of Stonewall Jackson and the statue of Virginia Mourning her Dead. Buck Cavedo and Bill Hallett were among the very large audience which included many other alumni. Buck’s health is fine and in mid June he and some of his family began a three-week cruise of the Chesapeake Bay on board the Surprise. A bit of history. When we matriculated in 1943, the comprehensive fee for a Virginia cadet was $1,120, for an out-of-state cadet $1,460 was required and for a “state cadet” the bargain rate was $740. That last category no longer exists; then a two-year commitment to teach in a Virginia public school or work for the highway department was required. I was a “state cadet” and the two-year commitment was waived for those of us who served in the military. Those fees are quite different than the ones now in effect. Congratulations and thanks! I knew that ’47 would improve its participation record. Of the 13 classes in the decade of the ’40s,

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our class placed fourth for the fiscal year ending 6/30/08. Forty-five Bro’ Rats (71% of the 63 now on our roster) and eight of our 29 widow ladies contributed $293,482, which amount included a $250,000 gift from the Cabell Foundation. Only two of the ’40s classes contributed larger amounts. A special thank you to the 17 Bro’ Rats who each contributed $1,000 or more. I hope and trust that our participation rate will improve even more during the current fiscal year. When every survivor contributes, ’47 will move into first place. Dear readers, please become writers! These class notes depend on you. Make my day by sending me a letter. Stay well, age gracefully and keep smiling. Note the following address changes: Col. W. Cavett Brown, 307 Sand Saba Dr., Georgetown, TX 78633 and phone 512/864-7975. Lt. Col. Hans W. Henzel, 160 Kendal Dr. #1012, Lexington, VA 24450 and phone 540/463-4278.

’48A

Dale E. Wykoff

It was with the greatest distress that we heard of the death of our Brother Rat John Timberlake who passed away on the 4th of June, 2008. John was both an ordained minister and a pharmacist. He had hospice assistance at home during the last months.

I spoke with him at the end of May and although he sounded somewhat weak, he recalled with pleasure our days together at VMI. At the time of this writing, Janet tells me that his funeral will be in Fredericksburg. We had not seen Commander Don Florence, USN (Ret), for several years, so it was especially enjoyable when he was able to make the 60th Reunion. His daughter, Debi Pianka, acted as his driver, and it was her first visit to Lexington. She was particularly impressed by the parade, and we hope to see both of them again before long. Don said that he enjoys playing poker with friends several times a week and is kind enough to let the others win occasionally! Always a delight to talk with J.Y. O’Neal who reported some disturbing information about his eyesight. We hope that the matter can be cleared up. J.Y. has been a major supporter of the 1948A Scholarship Fund, for which we are all most appreciative. Paul Stagg said that for 64 years he had been hearing that a “winning football season is just around the corner.” A few years of winnings did, indeed, happen but that was a mighty long time ago. In any case, he and Sarah plan to buy season tickets again, where he’ll join John Trumbo and Dale Wykoff in their usual stadium seats for this football season. Billy Bond was out when I called. Guess what he was doing? Fishing in New Mexico! Betty said they were both doing well, and she said to send greetings to all. Skip Davis continues to recover from his

Class of 1948A: At the class’s 60th Reunion lunch in the VMI Mess Hall were, from left, Barbara Trumbo, J.Y. O’Neal, Debra Florence Pianka and Don Florence.

CLASS NOTES auto accident and sounded in good spirits. We really missed him and Fleet at the 60th Reunion, but he promises to make the next one. Ed Kritzer says his health continues to improve, and it’s always a pleasure to chat with him and Peggy. He has been busy restoring and replacing his computer system following a lightning strike. We always appreciate the fact that while Ed graduated from West Point, his loyalty to VMI and his Brother Rats brought him back to live in Lexington. Mike Calhoun remains our politicallyoriented Brother Rat, and in a recent conversation, he said that he is still striving to get morals back in politics. He has attended every local council meeting for six years and frequently draws on his knowledge as a former county commissioner there in Florida. Bill Whitmore has had several personal medical problems about which he stays well informed. However, even being the excellent physician he is doesn’t exclude him from feeling the effects of these problems, especially as the years pass. We all wish Bill and Lamar the very best and hope that he’ll soon be able to stay away from all doctors! Gilly Williamson said he was sorry to have missed the reunion, but that, like many of us, he is limiting road travel. He said to send his greetings to all the Brother Rats. John Trumbo and Barbara recently attended the wedding of their grandson. Just seems like a short bit ago that we all met at VMI, and here we are attending the weddings of grandchildren. Time does slip away. And finally, Dale Wykoff and Alice are pleased that the 60th Reunion went reasonably well. Of the 50 of us who met and matriculated in February 1944, 13 are living and seven attended the reunion.

’48B

Louis Castellano

Editor’s Note: Sadly, Mr. Ofeus Lee Slayton, a great BR and class agent, passed away. His obituary appears in the Taps section of this issue. Please keep Laura-Lee and the Slayton family in your prayers. Mr. Louis Castellano Jr. is the new class agent for the class of 1948B.

’49A

James Harrington

Five more brothers will join us “on the bricks” this fall, in time for our reunion next April. Thanks to the generosity of Tom Brooks, Allen Penniman and Ed West, our ranks “on the bricks” will by joined by Junior Dissek, Wes Franklin, Bob Simpson, Tommy Glass and George Stock. My thanks to Tom, Ed and Allen for this, and my thanks to the Alumni Association for helping out. We should hold a formation on the bricks in their honor next spring. Speaking of next spring (Reunion April 20-21), Bill May is already thinking about thinking about plans. I’m sure he’ll write to you soon. In the meantime, he sent me the following update: “Been a bit limited in traveling lately. Cost of energy and economy downturns, plus Dolores has come up with some heart problems. She and her doctor are diligently working on getting her heart back in synch. The future is bright, so far. We did get in an enjoyable boat trip on the intracoastal waterway in May. Learned a lot about the low country of GA, SC, NC and FL. Am busy now keeping up and catching up with world affairs as they pertain to the Mid-Eastern countries. Will be teaching again this fall.” I only regret that Bill and Dolores didn’t stop off as they passed by Bald Head Island. The same holds for the rest of you! Joe Fil has written, not once but twice! His first note came by e-mail, somewhat edited: “Sue and I attended the dedication ceremony of the memorial to the 1st Cav. Div fallen heroes during the surge in Iraq. Joe jr. flew in from Korea to speak at the ceremony, so we spent a day with him and his family. I still am using the same old, slow dial up service, but our semi-rural area is getting other, faster services, which I think will also be more trouble free. I enjoyed a great Father’s Day with my son in Pacifica. The grandchildren cooked up a super brunch. They did a wonderful job, and I ate way more than I should have. Sue has organized an 80th birthday party for me at my son’s home in San Mateo. I

read your mention of Mrs. Patricia Warner Bolander. I remember her fondly, as she took a picture of my mother and me at our graduation in June of 1948. I don’t have many pictures of Mom, so this was really appreciated, and I keep it on my desk. I was able to see Pat a few times in Richmond afterwards. She probably won’t remember me, but please say hello for me if you see or hear from her.” Joe’s second letter came by mail, writ by hand! He enclosed a copy of their local Portola Valley newspaper, The Almanac, which featured an excellent article about Joe’s son Joe Jr., now commanding Eighth Army in Korea. I enjoyed the article and share Joe’s pride in his son. You will too – you can pull up the full article at www.thealmanaconline.com and look up the May 28 issue. It’s worth the effort. If you can’t handle the computering, ask your grandchildren to do it for you. Joe celebrated his 80th birthday, participated in extinguishing the fires in California, and briefly visited with Kathy Stamey while shopping in nearby Menlo Park. Allen Penniman’s quarterly letters are always interesting and full of activities. Although he addresses them to me, he intends to convey his thoughts and good wishes to all the Brother Rats. Here’s his latest: “Certainly the most important thing that has happened to me since I wrote last is that Joanie and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary on the 16th day of April. I would be the first to tell you that we have enjoyed thirty-two years of a very good marriage, and I am very thankful for her and for the contributions she has made to my life. Thank you, Joanie. The month of May was spent attending three of my grandchildren’s high school graduations. When I made the first trip, probably twelve or thirteen years ago, I never realized – it never crossed my mind – that I would have twenty-one grandchildren to celebrate. Anyway, we flew to Albuquerque and attended Gordon Coutret’s graduation there, and then we returned to Baton Rouge. Here we saw Margaret Kate McDuff be graduated by The Episcopal School, and then we took off to Canton, Georgia, where my son’s oldest child was graduated from Woodstock High School. Each was an impressive evening, and it is a way for

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Joanie and me to show our interest and support to these young members of our family. If anyone ever needs a baccalaureate address, please call me, because I have heard many, many of them. I should add that each child has been accepted and enrolled in very good colleges, and for this I am proud. Joanie and I slipped off to Montana the middle of June and had a wonderful two-week trip. The climate was perfect, whereas Baton Rouge’s climate is imperfect. We had a grand time. We visited Red Lodge and then drove on to Cody, Wyoming, which is a very interesting small town. There is a museum which is worth the trip, and we spent two days looking at western treasures. These ranged from beautiful Remington statues all the way down to a pair of matched, engraved gold pistols donated by Dick Cheney. If his hunting partner had been shot with one of these, he would never have lived to tell the tale. The West is a beautiful place, and the people are outstanding. Joanie also enjoyed her trip to Denver where she visited with a daughter and three of her grandchildren. One of them is married, and the other two are in schools in the Denver area. This will complete our travels for this publication. Both of us continue to enjoy good health with only the minimum amount of aches and pains. Everything seems to be working pretty well, for which she and I are very, very thankful. In closing, I send

my very best wishes for health and happiness for my classmates.” Here at the Harrington’s we, as with Allen, enjoy good health with a minimum of aches and pains. We have completed our annual “Camp Chaos,” which involves visitations from our multiple children and grandchildren throughout the summer. Now we can relax for a while, Ann can cook for just two and we can contemplate the possibility of visiting with some friends from time to time. Our number 2 grandson has been sharing with me his USMA cadet experiences, including summer training, which has been an interesting comparison with my 60-year-old memories. Margaret Anne Noftsinger is the designated hitter in that family (Bill stays out on the golf course). As with most of us, they are enjoying adventures vicariously through their grandchildren. Here’s the latest: “We are busy keeping up with our W&L grad who is today leaving Brazil and making a stop in Peru before heading to Japan for about 6-8 weeks. We really don’t need to go any place, because she is covering the world for us. We are learning about all of these countries from her blogs. If she writes a book with her paintings and info about the people and the places she goes, I’ll let you know! Have a great rest of the speedy summer. Maybe I’ll have more news later. Oh, we do have a new greatgrandson, but probably not a future Keydet. His parents both went to NC State.”

Class of 1949A: Joe and Susan Fil celebrated Joe’s 80th birthday and their son’s promotion to lieutenant general. Photo by Dave Boyce/The Almanac.

2008-Issue 4

Stan Millimet is one of our most loyal and dependable correspondents, even when he has little to say: “As usual, I’m trying to come up with something that’s at least of minimal interest. But unfortunately, I can’t. It’s been a quiet summer, and I can’t complain about that. Sunny and I stay tuned to the political scene. It’s been disappointing at best. Now we’re into the Olympics – it’s a pleasure to watch well trained dedicated countrymen and women strive for excellence, and their pride in their country when they achieve success and receive their medals as our anthem plays. And we always stay abreast of our fighting men and women who should serve as an example to the rest of the country. Next come the political conventions – they’re a farce. Talk about putting lipstick on a pig. We keep tabs on kids and grandkids. They’re all doing well. So, there isn’t much we can ask for. Yes, we do think of our Brother Rats and their families often, and we wish them the very best. And that’s about the best that I can do.” And here is a nice short note from Herb Johnston: “We are having some great weather in Columbus, but we do need rain. We are getting ready for our trip to the Outer Banks, and we hope the weather will be as good there. Our daughter and granddaughter from Berkeley and our son from Boca Raton will be with us for about 2 weeks, and we are really looking forward to being together. It will be time for football season when we return. We have had season tickets for O.S.U. for 51 years and haven’t missed many games! I still have an office at Battelle and go in occasionally. Jeanne and I are busy with church, concerts, plays, ballet and of course, family and friends.” I caught Larry and Margaret Butler as they were leaving for a five-day Bermuda cruise. “Bon voyage!” The Butlers have recently celebrated the retirement of their oldest son who served 30 years with the Navy. Their youngest son, also Navy, is under orders to Djibouti for a 6-month tour. Despite three surgeries this year, Larry is holding up OK. Margaret plans to entertain him by taking him and two of his old girlfriends to Massanutten for a week in September. We can only hope he survives! Let’s hope all of us survive ’til we meet again next April!

CLASS NOTES

’49B

Dan Smaw

George Dooley wrote in May to say he would be presenting the Alonzo J. Walter Award to the outstanding Air Force ROTC cadet at VMI during finals week. He and Jane were getting along okay, just slowing down as we all are due to the aging process. George had talked to Jack Evans and found that Pat was still taking radiation treatments for her cancer. It appears they are going well. In May I saw on the Weather Channel that a tornado had hit Stafford, VA, so I called George Wolfe to see how he was. He did not know anything about it and said they were fine. He and Jean were looking forward to a visit from their son and three grandkids from Florida in June. Danny Myers sent a copy of a letter he received from Jim Morgan ’45 commenting on Danny’s book “Food Water Energy and Human Survival.” Danny was Jim’s dyke. Jim told Danny in exchange for an autographed copy of his book, he would reciprocate with an autographed copy of “Keydet Grey and Garry Owen: The Horse at VMI” which he wrote with Jim Morrison ’45 and Buck Henson ’51. In May, I received a welcome surprise in the form of a letter from Charlie Hurt. He said he enjoyed reading about the Brother Rats in the Alumni Review and that he played tennis with Mack VanHook every week or so. His construction company has been doing some of the work on the Leadership and Ethics Building at VMI. His youngest son is an Army colonel who was to go to Iraq in June on his second tour. Hope to hear from you again, Charlie, and better yet, come to our 60th in April. Lon Walter called in May to say he had talked with Dan and June Payne who were both doing well. He was going to Florida to a meeting of an Air Force society that I can pronounce, but not spell. Vaughn Maxwell wrote in May to say he and Issie had Nux Enochs visit for a weekend in April. The Shelley kids,

Marty and Virginia, came from Charlotte for dinner on Friday as well as their son, Tex ’84, and his wife, Marianne, who live in Augusta. They had lots of wine, food and conversation. He said Nux was a great guest and if you need someone to entertain the ladies, Nux is the one to do it. Vaughn and Issie are doing well – she is a Life Master at bridge and he plays some golf, occasionally shooting his age. Joe Spitler e-mailed in late May to say all was okay with them, even with the aches and pains of aging. They were planning on most of June in Colorado, New Mexico and Northern Arizona. Shirley and the four girls would go to the wool market in Estes Park and Joe with Rob and Robert would hang out and do some easy hiking. Shirley et al are into fibers big time – knitting, crocheting, weaving and spinning. After a little visiting, a couple of days at the Grand Canyon and a visit to the Lowell Telescope at Flagstaff, they will head back to Tucson. Joe plans to stay in shape this summer, but serious walking and fitness stuff seem more difficult all the time – I can relate to that. He still works at Kitt Peak National Observatory once a week. Helen Casey e-mailed in late May to say they were mostly settled in their retirement home of Fox Run in Novi, MI. They like the place very much – well maintained, good food and only two miles from her sister. Mark is now in a wheelchair. Their eldest son, Allan, helped them move and drove them from Missouri to Michigan. Louise and I plan to see them when we are in Michigan at Christmas time. Clint Hurd wrote in June that Selden Stephens was not doing too well but would love to get cards or letters from all the BRs. We all wish you and Betty Lu well, Selden. Harv Bradley called to say he and Barbara had visited around in Virginia and North Carolina in late June. It has been so long since he and I have met for lunch at Chequers that we have probably forgotten the way – one of these days. In late June, Joe Hurley called and we had a lengthy conversation. I think it is the first time we had talked since he was at the first of our yearly reunions that took place in Atlanta in 1986. Joe has not been

in great health for a number of years, but he sounded good. We talked about time in Korea during the war, his time at the University of Arkansas and BRs he would bring up to find out the latest on them. He also wanted to get Jack Johnson’s address. That is about all my notes said. Country Lauerman wrote in July – the letter was written left-handed since he has had carpal tunnel procedures. As he mentioned, the handwriting would not pass a penmanship class. He and Liz had been to the Outer Banks of NC and found the best barbeque on the Outer Banks. It is owned by two VMI 2000 grads. When we were at the Outer Banks in early July for our family reunion, we had passed the place which flies a VMI flag. He and Liz had a great visit with Tommy and Pam Bowers in Morehead City, NC, last November – this is a late report, but better late than never. He and Liz will be at the 60th. Charlie Upshaw called in mid-July and as usual we had a great conversation. He said his grandson, Andrew ’06, had completed six months in Iraq and was due two weeks R and R. He took it in Sydney, Australia – beats the five day R and R’s we got from Korea and Vietnam. Andrew is in an MI unit north of Baghdad and has done quite a bit of work analyzing gun camera and drone films to identify enemy rocket sites. He has been cited for his work in this area. Charlie wanted the addresses and phone numbers of all the ’49B medics so he can encourage their attendance at our 60th in April. Leo Soucek wrote that he and Evelyn are both 80 and still looking on the bright side of things, in spite of the usual aging ailments. Leo said one of his grandkids asked “who would want to be 80?” to which he replied “probably the person who is 79.” Greg Nelson wrote in July that he had lunch in Charlottesville with Mack VanHook and Beanie Branch in early July. Beanie is still bothered by shortness of breath but plans to make the 60th. Mack is in great shape and appears ageless. Greg and Kitty spent two weeks in Anguilla in April and May to celebrate their 25th anniversary. After that they

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES attended a niece’s wedding in NC, then 10 days in Nantucket getting their place ready for summer tenants. Due to a bad back, they cancelled on the family reunion on the Outer Banks. A chiropractor had him pain free in about two weeks and put him on an exercise regimen. He is playing tennis again. Greg has lined up Beanie, Benny Harmon, Virginia Cooke and the Watlings to help with the reunion. For any of you who haven’t written the dates, they are 19-21 April 2009. Just plan to be there. Hotz Lardon wrote that his son, Dr. Michael Lardon, had his book “Finding Your Zone” released and it has received good reviews. His son is a sports psychiatrist and the book has been as high as number seven on the list of sport psychiatrist books. Tom Cooke sent a copy of the invitation that was used for his 80th. The party was held in their family cabin built in 1915 in Goshen Pass. About 50 guests came at noon and all had a great time. Tom is now officially “out to pasture” in accordance with the picture on the front of the party invitation. Louise and I along with our daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter, a niece with her husband and three daughters had our usual week on the Outer Banks the first week in July. It was lots of fun and everyone enjoyed it. Earthmole Lewis has called three times this quarter and we have discussed lots of things. Earthmole has six great-grandkids and is doing very well health wise. In May he started drilling an oil well – first in a long time. It is producing a little and Earthmole hopes for more soon. He and Earlene are going to Las Vegas in October to celebrate his 80th. For the fiscal year ending in June, our class had 51 BR and 1 SR contributors for 62% participation. The dollar amounts exceeded the Annual Giving Goals for contributions but fell short of reaching the 37% participation goal – it was 35.69. Thanks to all who contributed. I hope our participation for the current year goes up. If the class of ’40 can be 100% and the class of ’44 90%, I think we can do better than 62%? God Bless America, VMI and ’49B.

2008-Issue 4

’49C

Stewart Snoddy Jr.

Things have been fairly hot here in Lexington of late. In addition, we have been suffering from a lack of rain. It seems as all the storms either go through to the south of us or to the north, but hardly ever into our fair city. We aren’t blowing away in a dust storm, as yet, but that may start happening about Labor Day if we don’t receive some precipitation by then. Brother P. Stockton Fleming and his son, Stewart, won the Member/Member Golf Tournament at the Lexington Golf and CC. Pretty good for a couple of aging golfers, especially for the “old man.” This is a nice accomplishment to add to their trophy shelves. Jean got some good news from the orthopedic surgeon the other day; her hip is OK and doesn’t need to be replaced. However, her problem stems from the spine where surgery is not recommended. This will require some pain medication and a bullet or two to bite on. Some sad news was received from Georgia Hening who informed me her daughter had to have a mastectomy. That was bad enough, but upon further examination the doctors determined the cancer had spread to the liver. The prognosis is not exceptionally good. Georgia has been house sitting her two grandsons, ages 10 and 11-1/2 the past several years. Now she will have her service time extended. Georgia may not be readily available by phone, but give her a try or please send her a card. Talked with Bob Fretz who is doing some consulting work this summer. This means he lives in the city during the week and goes to the lake over the weekend. He sounded in good spirits. The back apparently has not gotten worse. He said Jan was doing fine. They are looking forward to a trip in the fall to VA and NC. This will include a stop in Lexington, so we’ll have a chance to reminisce about the “Old Corps.” Wedding bells will soon be ringing for Jud and Azalea Ellis! No, no, not for them, but for their granddaughter Kristin who graduated from West Point and is the proud wearer of parachute, helicopter and

aircraft wings. She recently returned from Iraq where she flew intelligence gathering missions and earned a promotion to captain. Her husband-to-be is also a Pointer and a pilot. They will be married in Austin on October 12. Time marches on! I have been in contact with Caroline Robertson to alert her to an effort by the Foundation to more actively canvas VMI widows. The initial push will be in the Richmond area this fall. Of course, our Sister Rats have given quite generously so that philanthropy pressures are not overly necessary. Caroline told me that she had visited her favorite cousin in Mifflintown, PA, last month to renew their long standing relationship. Their future meetings will occur again in the summer months, because two past attempts in the winter were scrubbed because of bad weather. Heinie Henzel continues to roll along here at Kendal. He still has most of his boxes to unpack, but when his order for bookshelves arrives in November, he should be able to get the whole unpackaging problem solved. For those of you with fond memories of Junior Dissek, I would heartily recommend that you read the Class Notes for ’49A which appear in Issue #3 of the Alumni Review (p68). Included is a poem dedicated to Junior which was written by his grandson, Timmy. It is heartwarming! I have received the VMI alumni financial report for the fiscal year ended July 31. Of the 22 remaining members of our class (Bill Haughton has transferred back to ’47), 17 contributed $179,797 for an average of $13,830. Four of our Sister Rats contributed another $6,400. Thank you all for your helping hands to the Institute.

’50A

William Moore

Editor’s Note: These notes were submited by the previous class agent, Mr. Mandt. Bill and Ann Moore had just returned from a trip to Nova Scotia, which took them to Brier Island in the southwest corner of Nova Scotia. They were accompanied by

CLASS NOTES their granddaughter, Penelope, who did very well on the trip. Bill said Penelope’s “big thing” at home was raising tomatoes, and she sold a thousand pounds of them to neighbors near their home. Penelope’s dad and older sister Hayley had to pick the tomatoes while she was away. Bill is excited that the son of his daughter, Laura (Will Aylor), wants to go to VMI and has attended summer basketball camps at the Institute. I mentioned to Bill that a friend in our church advised me that Sparky Woods is the new head football coach at VMI. Bill was aware of this and thought Sparky would be very good for VMI’s football program. Jennings and Harriett Bunch say they have no trips planned immediately, but they may be going back to China on a mission trip soon. Jennings said that on a recent trip to Camp Meade in Baltimore, MD, they attended the dedication of the “Double Equestrian Statue” which depicts Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson on horseback. Jennings reminisced that back in 1947, he went to visit Bill Collier, and they made a trip to Coney Island where they went into a recording booth and sang and recorded the “VMI Spirit” as a keepsake. Bill and Carol Clark seem to be doing very well. Bill said that the results of Carol’s blood test were very good, and he added that she has not needed any further chemo therapy treatments. Bill says he is doing well except for the normal aches and pains, which many of us have, due to the aging process. Although Bill’s ocean front home at Pass Christian was destroyed by a hurricane, he still has a lot in that area and may rebuild in the future. Bill has had some heart problems and had triple bypass surgery (as has his class agent), attrial fibrillation and a pacemaker but says he is feeling very well in general. Bill says one of his grandsons is quite a bicyclist and ranks in the top quarter of his cycling group. Syd and Beverly Stealey tell me that Syd’s current airplane restoration effort involves a Cessna 150 which he obtained in pieces and which he expects to have in flying condition by the end of the summer. Beverly, of course, gives him moral support in his flying endeavors. Both Syd and Beverly seem to be doing well, health wise. Syd has two daughters in Fairbanks,

and one was a navigator on Air Force tankers but now is a dispatcher of airborne tankers. Her job is to match up the tankers with aircraft to be refueled. Charlotte Logsdon reports that Harold is still residing in the same nursing home, where he has been for about three years, and is doing well. Charlotte says his sister from Nashville, TN, and his niece from Kentucky plan to visit Harold over the Labor Day weekend, and he and Charlotte are both looking forward to their visit. Rick and Jackie Martin report that they returned in April 2008 from a tour through the Southwest in their Airstream trailer. Rick says they spent Christmas in Albuquerque, NM, with some of their children and stayed at military bases along the way. On their return, they detoured through Fort Leavenworth, KS, to see a nephew who attended West Point and is now in Command and General Staff College there. Rick’s daughters gave him a surprise birthday party in Spokane, WA, which he said was a wonderful gathering. Rick was doubly surprised when his nephew from Fort Leavenworth came to the party. Rick said everyone was hiding when he came in, adding to the fun.

’50B

Ralph Warren

The following great news came via e-mail from Dee Dee Shepherd: “I’m delighted to inform you that my doctor informed me this past week that his treatments have resulted in my being cured of my case of colon cancer. It has been a long year of treatments, but I am so pleased to be back among the active Brothers. Since I received so much encouragement from the Brothers at the last mini-reunion, I sure wish that you would notify ‘all hands’ of my happy recovery. I am looking forward to rejoining the class events in the months ahead.” We all owe Dee Dee a big thank you. He has been our class “treasurer” for years, even through his recent illness. Both Kathryn Wise of the Alumni Association and Tom Kelly forwarded a copy of an article about BR Tom Kirk, some of

which is printed below (with permission from the publisher, the Rocky Mountain News: “At last month’s Colorado GOP convention, 380 delegate-wannabes each had exactly 15 seconds to make a pitch for enough votes to win a seat at the national convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul. For one man, that fraction of a minute was plenty. ‘My name is Tom Kirk,’ he told conventioneers at the Broomfield Event Center in May. ‘I’m a retired Air Force colonel, and I was shot down over Hanoi during the Vietnam War. I spent 5 and 1/2 years as a POW. John McCain was one of my cellmates.’ Enough said. With his McCain connection, Kirk easily landed one of Colorado’s 22 elected delegate spots to September’s Republican National Convention, where he plans to cast an enthusiastic vote for the man he lived with for four months at the Hoa Lo Prison the infamous ‘Hanoi Hilton.’ ‘I feel very strongly about John,’ said Kirk, 79, a Vail resident for 16 years. ‘It’s such a shame that more Americans can’t get to know him better.’ Very few people know Sen. John McCain the way retired Air Force Col. Thomas Kirk Jr. does. A native of Portsmouth, VA, Kirk graduated from VMI in 1950, earned his wings from the U.S. Air Force a year later and flew 50 missions during the Korean War. He had completed 166 combat missions in Vietnam and was a squadron commander leading a raid when his F-105 fighter was shot down on Oct. 28, 1967 – two days after McCain’s plane was shot down. Kirk hit the ground unconscious and was captured immediately. From that time until his release on March 14, 1973, he was routinely tortured, beaten and kept in mind-numbing isolation, fed a single bowl of soup a day and forced to use a 5-gallon paint can for a toilet. ‘There was nothing to do, nothing to read, nothing to write. You had to just sit there in absolute boredom, loneliness, frustration and fear,’ Kirk said. ‘You had to live one day at a time, because you had no idea how long you were going to be there.’ During his imprisonment, Kirk lost half of his 185 pounds but managed to keep mind and body together with mental and physical exercise. He would walk in his cell – three and a half steps across, three and a half steps back – until he had

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES covered four miles each day, followed by sit-ups, pushups and knee bends. A musician, Kirk kept sharp by using a stick as a faux flute to practice up to five hours a day. Always fascinated by numbers, he figured mortgage amortization tables in his head and created a complete business plan for a cattle ranch he hoped to start when he got home. And although they never saw each other, Kirk and other POWs managed to communicate by using a code tapped out on the wall. On Christmas night 1970, the North Vietnamese moved Kirk into a 45-man cell at the prison American POWs dubbed the Hanoi Hilton, where he met McCain. They spent the next four months becoming close friends, talking politics and sharing memories of their college days, and Kirk remembers how McCain’s quick wit often lifted the spirits of his fellow POWs. ‘He’s extremely intelligent and tells the greatest stories in the world,’ Kirk said. ‘He could almost be a standup comic. He’s very funny, the life of the party. He has a wonderful personality.’ Even more important, Kirk said, ‘He’s a man of absolute integrity and honor.’ Despite devastating injuries, McCain rejected the possibility of early release offered by the North Vietnamese because of his father’s status as an admiral. ‘He said, “I will not go unless we all go,” Kirk said. ‘I will always admire him for that.’ After their release, Kirk and McCain lost touch, seeing each other at POW reunions held every two years. Kirk continued to serve in the Air Force but never bought the cattle ranch he had so meticulously planned in prison. He and wife Ann have two sons, Thomas and Robert, and now live in Vail, where Kirk works as a financial consultant. Kirk spent 15 years as a ski instructor, still plays saxophone with the Tony Gulizia Trio and is working on his memoirs, but for his family’s eyes only. Unlike McCain, who describes his time as a POW in Faith of My Fathers, Kirk has no intention of writing a book. ‘Every book about prisoners of war seems to make us into heroes,’ Kirk said. ‘I don’t think we were heroes. We had the misfortune to be shot down, and the good fortune to survive. We were doing what we believed in,’ he said. ‘And we were blessed to come home.’” Jack Barnes sent this interesting info:

2008-Issue 4

“Hi Ralph ... Sorry to learn about Bill’s (Blackwell) death. Bill was one of the best and always represented VMI’s tradition as a top performer in everything he did. I don’t know what type of cancer he had, but I’m a prostate survivor 7 years out from surgery at Walter Reed and doing well. Odds are he may have had prostate cancer. I will retire this year and have supported the Air Force Strategic Planning Office in the Pentagon for the past 11 years as a senior project manager with SAIC. Time moves on as we all know. This was confirmed for me at the final reunion of the WWII 10th Mountain Division veterans in 2006 in Denver. Numbers tell the story – the division has a strength of 16,000, and only 1,500 were still living in March 2006. I feel very lucky. I continued to work beyond normal retirement age as my wife is an oncology pharmacist and ran the oncology pharmacy at Bethesda Naval Hospital for 20 years. Since she retired two years ago, I’ve decide to do so, too. Working also helped educate 7 kids and 8 grandkids.” Henry Bennett’s widow, Barbara, sent this update on Henry’s life after VMI which I greatly appreciated: “It was good to read Bill Kelly’s memories of Henry in the class notes. To bring you up to date, after the Air Force, Henry took his law degree from the University of Texas, was admitted to the bar, served as senior trust officer for Signet Bank for 30 years and took early retirement. Then, he served for 15 years as Chapter 7 trustee for the Western District Bankruptcy Court, finally retiring just before his 76th birthday. Henry was active in the church, civic organizations and service to the community. He was an avid golfer, a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. We traveled extensively for many years, primarily in Europe and the Caribbean. Henry was so proud of his two daughters – Todd, assistant controller for Alliance One International, and Rangeley, co-owner and operator with her husband of THT Properties. We were on a golfing trip in Scotland when Henry had a heart attack. We stayed there for six weeks and Henry made a good recovery after by-pass surgery at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh. We returned to Danville and Henry returned to golf, cruising with the

family and enjoying a good life. Henry passed away March 14, 2008, after a brief bout with cancer. We were married almost 49 years. Henry was a happy successful man, and we miss him greatly.” Here are excerpts from e-mails Peyton Robertson forwarded from Carole Sue Coupland on July 21: “Some know already, however, several of you may not ... The love of my life is in the Inova Fairfax Hospital – Immediate Care Unit – the diagnosis is ‘PE’ – pulmonary embolism, a large blood clot with several smaller ones near it – in both lungs. The large, very serious blood clot is located at the bifurcation point between the lungs and is affecting both lungs. Our children: Michael lives here (Fairfax), Michelle drove in from Winchester and Richard, who was coming in on business, changed his travel and arrived early; he will be here the bulk of this week. Even Lance (in Hawaii) and Layne (Atlanta/Canton, GA) are informed and checking with us regularly – saying prayers too ... AND ready to fly in to help out, too, if we need them. All of our kids have been absolutely SUPER helping Dick and insisting that I get enough rest. Unfortunately, Dick worries about me – I told him not to, but you know how that goes, too. He appreciates the kids’ total support to both of us. Dick had ‘not been feeling’ well for the past week or so. His appetite has not been good and at best, dull. We discussed with the doctors that it was thought that he was worried about his prostrate problem and his upcoming (now delayed, they say, for at least a year) hip replacement. However, the major culprit is thought to be his long period (1-1/2 years pretty much) of inactivity, which causes clots in the legs and they travel to the heart and lungs, with devastating results. For you and your family/loved ones’ sake, we ask that you go to your Internet browser, look up and become familiar with ‘PE’ – pulmonary embolism. More awareness of this is needed ... I just wish we had known this, and we could have avoided most of this somehow. I will do my best to keep you informed as to his progress. I’ll be heading to IMU in a short time. Many of you have offered assistance. We will ask if we find we need your help ... thanks! And thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, e-

CLASS NOTES mails and phone messages about Dick and his health. I’ll make this short as I must get to bed. I’m due back at the hospital at 8 AM to relieve Michelle who is on tonight’s all night duty with Dick. The update is that Dick was moved from Immediate Care to a regular room on the 10th Floor of Inova Fairfax. He did not get much sleep, because so many hospital staffers, nurses and doctors kept coming into the room. It’s tough to try to get sleep and rest in a hospital, as many of you already know. The clot is dissipating nicely, as far as I can tell. He did eat better today, however, his coughing and coughing kept up to where his stomach muscles were hurting from so much of it. They began Elbutoral (breathing) treatments on him to help treat the cough. They kept him on the extra shots in his stomach (forgot what they were but I think they were still to treat the pleurisy). His oxygen is getting better, and he is only on the nasal cavula. He had some occupational therapy, but due to his lack of sleep and low energy, they did not make him get out of bed to walk – that comes tomorrow. Whoopee.” I talked to Carole Sue, and Dick was out of the hospital and in the Burke Rehabilitation Center. I got this e-mail from Carl Galliher: “Ralph – We have just talked to Paul Palmer. I called him the other night about Dick’s problem which he had not heard about. Today he was in the vicinity of the rehab facility and went to visit Dick. Paul said that Dick looked good, griping about the food and anxious to get home; good news. Paul has just gotten a computer and suggested that he needed to get on your mailing list. His e-mail address is ramsdenpp@verizon.net.” I have taken the liberty of editing this e-mail from Braxton Green since he has lost all ability to capitalize and punctuate, since he no longer has Dodo Dillard to watch over him: “We’ve just returned from a 3-day visit with Ed and Jean Oast at their delightful cottage at Virginia Beach. The highlight of our trip was a supper party attended by Jim and Nancy Flippen and Jack and Ann Nurney. I’m glad to report all to be in fine fettle, especially Flip who had his ankle replaced (ugh!). They actually removed his foot and then replaced it. All present urged me to contact

you to set up a mini in Lex this fall. Judith and I would like to get our golf group back again; the Oasts are game. Played golf with him and his grandson who knocks the ball a country mile and a half; not always the same zip code, however. Showed Ed the merits of hybrid clubs. The Harwoods are returning to VA for a month and will visit us. We’re going to host a party for them with Lex crowd in attendance.” Only Tommy Harwood could have thought of this: “Mary Virginia and I’ll be heading to Canada to meet Sally and head to the Laurentians for golf. We’ll not be back ’til July 8. The coral snakes died, and the slobbering unfed mastiff is gone, but in their place we have a real surprise: several unfed itinerant alligators. So, if you e-mail us, we won’t/can’t answer. If you visit, you’ll make the alligators happy. Tommy and his ever loving wife, Mary Virginia.” Many thanks to all those who keep me informed via letters, e-mails and phone calls. Without you, there would be very little to report. See you next Review.

’51

John Ross

These notes cover the period May 11 to Aug. 11, 2008. I called Henry Pitot to wish him a belated happy birthday. He had just had successful cataract surgery and Julie, mole surgery. Otherwise, all seemed well, and we visited for a while in mid May. I talked with Claud Eley in St. Louis and wished him well on his birthday. He sounded great but states old age is catching up with him. We reminisced about Kirby Bernich, and he was appreciative of the call. I tried to reach Jim Connolly for birthday wishes and wound up talking to Mary Ellen. She reported all is well, but they were somewhat tired after a visit to the Marine Corps Museum the day before with their daughter, who is visiting from California. Incidentally, if you are in the Washington, DC, area, do not miss this new museum, which is really outstanding. I had an e-mail from Jim Close reporting he had returned from Naples, FL, to Alex-

andria, VA. However, he then noted he was spending some time in the Northern Neck of VA, where he had a nice telephone visit with Frans Kasteel. When I tried to wish him a happy birthday, I was forced to leave him a voice mail. I did reach Gene Held in Shavano Park, TX, on his birthday, and we had a long chat. I had not visited with Gene since graduation. Gene is retired, after 31 years as a periodontist, and then proceeded to drive a school bus for special education students for 18 years, which he found very rewarding. Gene lost his wife seven years ago but is fortunate to have three of his four children living in the vicinity. He now has a number of health problems which makes it difficult to travel. Gene said the first thing he does on receipt of the Alumni Review is to check the class notes and wondered about his roommates, Clyde Green, Lang Sheffield and Lewis Beazlie. I noted an e-mail from Bland Wilson on the class network, identifying himself on one of the pictures Jigger Baxley posted on the net. First time I remember hearing from or about Bland since I talked with him at the mini reunion George Cohen hosted at Hilton Head in 2004. Incidentally, the class e-mail network, which Pete Philp does such a great job operating, is a great source of info. Please keep Pete informed of your address and any changes. Early in June, I called Don Baldwin, who left VMI after our Rat year, to wish him a happy birthday. Don, who lives in Alexandria, VA, and still operates his own business, reports that Jody is doing well. Later in the month, I had lunch with Don and his roommate, Rav Marshall, who also lives in Alexandria. I had a very enjoyable telephone visit with Brom Nichol on his birthday, who has retired from his business in Pensacola, FL. Brom lost his wife three years ago and is fighting a serious squamous cell cancer. Nevertheless, he sounds great, walks three miles a day and has, as his companion, a frisky parrot named Jack. He inquired about his roommates, Bounce Carstens, Jim Enochs and Lang Sheffield. I received an e-mail the next day, noting how much he enjoyed our telephone chat and ingraining the place and date of our next reunion. I responded that we are still working on that.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES I tried to reach Jack Friend on his birthday and left a voice mail “best wishes.” When I tried again the next day, I reached Venetia, and she agreed to pass on my message. In the course of our conversation, she also inquired about our next reunion. So, it may be that we will see Jack again, if we can get a mini organized. I called Sam Scott on his birthday, but Jessie answered, as Sam was out shopping. She reports they are both doing well and agreed to pass on my birthday wishes to Sam. I had a call from Steve Hiner ’76 requesting contact information for Jim Strickland. After assuring myself the inquiry was bona fide, I provided the information and called Jim. He reported that he had fallen in his garage – no breaks but very sore. As a result of Gene Held’s inquiry concerning his roommates, I tried to contact Lew Beazlie, Lang Sheffield and Clyde Green. I left voice mail messages for the first two but could not contact Clyde. Lew Beazlie returned my call the next day. Lew was with us for one year, after serving in the Navy. Then, after leaving VMI, he was recalled. Upon release from service, he embarked on a career in ship design. He has now been retired for 18 years and resides in Yorktown, VA. I gave Lew the contact information for Gene Held, and he intends to contact him. While out walking toward the end of May, I met Paul Palmer ’50B, a retired Army colonel. Paul, who went to prep school with our Bob Raeburn, was visiting his daughter, one of our neighbors. On May 28, 2008, I received word that Arthur Johns passed away on May 8th. Art left us after two years and received a BS and law degree from Northwestern. He served in Navy JAG for over 20 years, retiring as a commander. Then, after private practice in California, he settled in Hendersonville, TN. I sent a note of condolence to Mrs. Johns and the family and made a contribution for the class to VMI in Art’s memory. Jigger Baxley reports by e-mail that he talked with Ann Penner and that both Ann and her family and the Baxleys had remembered Marty on Memorial Day – “What a great guy.” Jigger appropriately concluded, in view of Marty’s military service, “Semper Fi.”

2008-Issue 4

Pat Webb, director, Alumni and Reunion Giving, has assured class agents that all contact information (names, addresses, etc.) is used only for VMI purposes. I reached Bill Hairston on his birthday. He was with us for three months and then left for the Naval Academy, which he also left after deciding a military career was not for him. Bill then pursued a business career and retired as president of HickoryFry Furniture Co., in Hickory, NC. I had a telephone call from Paul Robinson informing me that he had returned to Wisconsin for the summer. He reports that Jean is doing very well but that he has very sharp shoulder pain. In a subsequent call, Jean informed me that a catheterization of the shoulder was negative. I called Lain Peck on his birthday and left a message. After a three-year tour in the Army infantry, Lain went into construction and retired as chief engineer of Atlas Construction Co. He matriculated from and still lives in Meriden, CT. I failed to reach Pete Philp on his birthday, so I left him a voice mail “best wishes.” Pete responded the next day with thanks and reported on the great birthday celebration he had. I also failed to reach George Cohen and had to leave a birthday greetings message. George subsequently made contact from Hilton Head, where he is cleaning out his house, which is up for sale. He reports that Marty and he are doing fine. I had a nice conversation with Hank Quisenberry. He asked about Sam Scott and had not heard of the death of Tom Hedge. He recounted a visit he had a few years ago with Earl Patten and Jimmie Gonzales. Hank also inquired about A.J. Marchand ’52. Jim Smith reports he is doing fine in his recovery from his prostate procedure. I failed to reach Bill Nelson on his birthday and left him a message and also sent him email wishes. Bill responded with thanks and reported that he and Ellen were camping. I caught up with Gerry Eggleston, who was packing for a trip to up-state New York. He asked me to call Beano and Ann Graf in Florida, which I did. Ann answered and reported she is recovering nicely in her rehab from a hip fracture. Beano came home from his tennis match

while we were talking. Ann states Beano plays six days a week. When I was talking with Beano, I asked him what his health formula was. He instantly replied, “I walk every day to the liquor store.” In one of the many telephone calls Marie and I exchange with Duane and Pat Holloway, Duane inquired about his Rat year roommate, Medford Canby. I called Medford, who has lived in the District of Columbia for 50 years. After leaving VMI, he attended the Merchant Marine Academy and George Washington University. He then spent some time in the Navy. Starting in 1965, Medford worked in various government organizations relating to various aspects of topography. He retired in 1992. At his request, I provided him with the contact information for Duane and Pete Philp, another one of Medford’s first year roommates. I also informed him that Bob Moss and Guy Agnor, two more of the roommates, had died. I received a very nice e-mail from Dick Cole, one of nine remaining EE Brother Rats. He reported from Minneapolis that, after a hard winter and spring, they were having a great early summer. He sent a picture of Mona and himself in front of the Interlachen C.C., posed with the trophy for the U.S. Women’s Open. Dick is fully retired and notes that “living up in Minnesota somewhat isolates him from class activities.” Perhaps it would be possible to set up a mini reunion in the Midwest. At the beginning of July, I had an unexpected phone call from one of my Marine Corps radio men in Korea. I had not seen or heard from him since I was evacuated in mid-1952. He tracked me down through Google. While reminiscing, he reminded me that he grew up in Petersburg, VA, and went to school with the sister of a VMI graduate – Vic Parks. I told him Vic was a Brother Rat, and he asked to be remembered. He also mentioned that Vic’s father was a World War I pilot. I immediately passed on the message to Skip, who confirmed that his dad, Victor Parks ’15, had been a member of the Lafayette Escadrille. The 1995 Register of Former Cadets states that he “received the Croix de Guerre while serving with the French Escadrille … As CO and pilot of the American 166th Aero Bombing Squadron was officially

CLASS NOTES credited with two German Fokkers in aerial combat.” In my last class notes, in 2008-Issue 3 of the VMI Alumni Review, I reported on my telephone call to our Brother Rat Don Gross on his 80th birthday on May 8th. I, therefore, was really shocked to receive an e-mail from Sid Hannah notifying me on July 10th that Don had died the day before. I sent a note of condolence to Mrs. Gross and the family and made a contribution to the VMI Foundation in Don’s memory on behalf of the class. Don’s extensive and most impressive obituary appeared in The Roanoke Times on July 11 and was posted on the class network. As a result of Hank Quisenberry’s inquiry, I tracked down A.J. Marchand in Luling, LA. He sounded great and explained that he opted to be covered by the 1952 Class Notes in view of his graduation with that class. We had a great conversation concerning VMI football, during which he reminded me that our Brother Rats George Crowson, Jimmie Gonzales, Earl Patton and Mike Foster, all from Louisiana, roomed together and left after our first semester. I have previously reported on the first three and now have learned that Mike Foster served as governor of Louisiana. A.J. specifically inquired about Win Baber and Ken (Hoagy) Crisp. As a result of A.J.’s inquiry, I first called Ken and passed on the contact information. Ken served in the Army for two years and then worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, from which he retired as a division chief. Ken matriculated from and retired to Huntington, WV. Despite openheart surgery a couple of years ago, he had just finished working in his yard when I caught up with him. I also reached Win Baber in Omaha, NE, where he retired from the Air Force after 23 years, during which time he acquired two post-graduate degrees from Johns Hopkins. In a real coincidence, Win, who had a heart attack a number of years ago, had just finished cutting his lawn when I called. Win intended to immediately e-mail A.J. More sad news. When I called to wish our Brother Rat Bob Montgomery happy birthday, I learned he had died on June 25 of cancer. Bobby, as he was known,

matriculated from Salem, VA. He left VMI after the first semester of our third class year, served as a staff sergeant in the Air Force during the Korean conflict and then graduated from Roanoke College. Bob retired as an area coordinator for the Virginia Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and settled in Longs, SC. He is survived by a daughter and son and numerous grandchildren. I reached Dick Cole on his birthday, and we had a long chat. He reports that he had regular contact with Bill Sacra ’50B and George Cowherd, who was a roommate. Dick is a regular golfer – at least 27 holes a week. Willard Hays and I had a nice visit when I called with birthday wishes. Willard reports the Third Barracks is progressing and that the Leadership building is expected to open in early 2009. He says Peg is busy with all her organizations, while he does a lot of reading. I caught up with Lang Sheffield on his birthday. He reports that he is doing well considering his age. Kathy has been persuaded to return to teaching, which she really enjoys. Toward the end of July, I received word from the Institute that another Brother Rat passed on. William B. Bowles, who was with us for two months, died on July 12, 2008. An extensive obituary appeared in The Roanoke Times and was transmitted on the class network. Billy, as he was known, also attended Roanoke College. He matriculated from Salem, VA, and operated a decorating business in Roanoke for many years. On the last day of July, I had a most enjoyable lunch with Jim Close in Alexandria, VA. Jim looks great and is in good health. Alice had retired and is busy planning her daughter’s wedding, which will be held at the Close’s cottage in the Northern Neck. I also tried to reach our Brother Rats Bland Wilson and Dick Lawrence on July 31 to wish them happy birthday. However, the telephone numbers provided by the Institute did not work. I hope someone can help. I finally connected by e-mail with Bland, who then provided a telephone number. When I called him, we had an enjoyable visit. Bland was celebrating his

birthday with some friends and has survived several serious health problems. Bob Nolley checked in with good news. Bob’s progress in his fight against cancer was reviewed at Johns Hopkins in June and again in July. In each visit, the tumor continued to decrease in size. Bob and I had a long visit in which we discussed the VMI survey concerning the Alumni Review and Annual Giving. He hopes to join his Brother Rats at the Institute Society Dinner, which is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 10, 2008. In connection with Annual Giving, it is important to remember that this amount accounts for about one-third of the Institute operating budget. Data that I received from VMI shows our class had a good participation rate of 67% (68 donors out of 102). However, our total amount contributed ($147,542) was rather poor when compared with our cohort classes. It is also significant that nearly 50% ($70,579) of this total was made by two Brother Rats. I would hope that, for this year, the 34 non-contributing Brother Rats would step up, so we could reach 100% and that each of us consider increasing our amount. I would be remiss if I did not recognize and thank the seven Sister Rats who made contributions. Marie tried to reach Nancy Bell on her birthday and left a message wishing her well. Nancy called a couple of days later, and Marie and I were able to wish her a belated happy birthday. Bob Nolley’s call reminded me to check on our other Brother Rats with medical problems, as my editorial deadline is fast approaching. Our “gim list report” is fairly good. Paul Robinson’s shoulder problem has basically cleared up according to Jean, but he is scheduled for hernia repair on Aug. 19. Brom Nichol is doing well in Pensacola, FL, as is his companion, Jack, the parrot. Brom still walks every day. Hank Quisenberry is likewise doing well in his rehab from hip replacement surgery but is concerned about his other hip. Jim Smith is also doing very well in his recovery from the prostate procedure for cancer. I had a fairly long talk with Robin Jordan. She reports Johnny is about the

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES same. He uses a walker to get around and becomes confused at times. Robin visits Johnny twice a day and had him home for lunch in early August with the help of one of her sons. As I mentioned in the past, Jack Evans visits Johnny regularly and is great in keeping me informed. Ed May and the Grays have visited Johnny in the past. Jim Strickland reports he is about the same and has been placed on a new medication for Parkinson’s. He really appreciates any VMI contact and mentioned a phone call from Ed May. Johnny Gray reports the good news that he is feeling much better and that most of his tests have basically been negative. He still has a fairly serious hematological problem that can be controlled and is looking forward to the VMI football season. Dick Cole expressed some concern to me about his roommate, George Cowherd. When I called, Gloria reported that George had collapsed with pneumonia and has been hospitalized for three weeks. She asked me to inform Dick, as she is busy visiting the hospital twice a day. I immediately called Dick and reported on George’s health problem. As some of you may know, Jim Marshall had rotator cuff surgery on July 3. Jim called the very next day and in his own words reported “it was no fun.” I have been unable to get an update from Jim but will keep trying until my editorial deadline. As you may remember, I reported that I could not reach some of our Brother Rats when I called on their birthdays. Joe Stump replied by e-mail that he and Anna were in Venice, FL, from January-March. I thanked Joe and wished him a belated happy birthday. I still need help with working numbers for Pete Ames and Bob Martin. I received a nice e-mail from our BR Jimmy Gonzales, who is in Kenner, LA. He reports that he and Earl Patton are thinking of visiting VMI to see all the new additions. He also intends to look up Doc Laville on his next trip to Lafayette, LA. Country Lauerman ’49B sent me notice that the widow of our BR Jack died of cancer on June 13, 2008. I notified VMI of this death and wrote him a note. I hope you all noted the very nice article on our BR Ned Schowalter in the 2008-Issue 3 VMI Alumni Review. Hope Hen-

2008-Issue 4

nessey, the editor, certainly came through in a big way on the request to recognize Ned. I called Bonney, Ned’s widow, and she is very pleased. I get most of the news for these notes by making phone calls, but I would appreciate hearing from you, as I can not phone everyone. I hope you had a great summer and are enjoying the fall season. Jack

’52

Nutz Navas

This report is written during the “dog days” of August. We have a Cairn terrier, and he is not been a happy camper lately. While this is an abbreviated report, your prayers are asked for several of our Brother Rats and wives who are seriously ill. I am sure there are others as well, but these are the ones I have been informed about their conditions. Several weeks ago, Charlie Shoaf was on a ladder at his home in Vero Beach, Florida, when the ladder collapsed due to material failure. He suffered at least two skull fractures as well as serious injury to his face. The following report from Mary is dated 15 August: “Progress report on Charles: Right now, we are making little of it. He has had a recurrence of C. diff and will be somewhat debilitated for the next week to ten days. But his balance is improving; he recognizes words and phrases and pictures in some of his magazines; he knew Susan and Sarah when they last visited; and he prefers baseball to the Olympics. He began a conversation yesterday for the first time, and I was so startled that I cannot tell you what he said. Our goal of a week of stable health just recedes on the event horizon.” Mary goes on to say that he will have a neurologist examine him in the last week of August and get a current evaluation. The children remind Mary, and she obeys, as to sleeping, exercising and eating. Bobby Long spent a few weeks in the hospital with acute leukemia. After several treatments of chemotherapy, the

leukemia is now in remission. Bob is home now and feeling better. Diane Ames has been under treatment for lymphoma. Recently, she has been receiving radiation in her throat which to date has been successful. Walter is the nurse and doing an outstanding job! We talked with Diane recently and she was chipper as always and is looking forward to being home for good. She has been going into the hospital for treatment about four days a week. We hope to see them both soon this fall in Lexington at one of the football games. Speaking of football, we are looking forward to seeing many Brother Rats in the Hospitality House in Williamsburg for the VMI and William and Mary game in September. Bob Lambert made arrangements with the Keydet Club for our class to have its own hospitality suite. Moon Haley checked in from Fairview, TX, to say he is doing fine after having both hips replaced. Virginia is doing well and has her hands full with taking care of Chuck. He spent four months in a wheel chair and four weeks in a nursing home. Moon said he had 52 staples from his hip to his knee. He made me note that the staples were 52. Got it! Jack Frankeberger called from Seminole, FL to say that he and Barbara Buskirk visited Biloxi, MI, earlier this year to do a little gambling. Jack hit the 25 dollar slot machine jackpot for several thousand dollars! They went back again later in the summer, and their luck was not quite as good, but they are both still ahead of the game. Jim Stallings writes from Pawleys Island, SC, that Forbes rates VMI as the 108th college in the USA. Also, VMI is rated as the 9th public college in the nation. Jim says that’s pretty good for a college of about 1,250 Keydets at a cost of about $18,500. He concludes with: “Now, if we only had a football team.” Keep the faith, Jim; we will have a good team this year! For the past year, Ash Harman has sent news about his experiences in China. Ash, as you already know, met a lady on the Internet, and they both fell in love. Ash went to Wuhan, China, and

CLASS NOTES they were married in a civil ceremony in July 2007. They have concentrated their efforts in attempting to gain Lily Harman a visa so they can come to the USA and settle down in North Carolina, where Ash moved after his wife’s untimely death several years ago. His latest missive was supposed to be his last, but more complications have intervened that have to be resolved before they can depart. The bottom line is that they have been unnecessarily stalled by the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou. The bad news is they will not be able to travel to America until they get the proper forms and instructions completed. The Consulate “lost” the original papers, and Ash sought help from his NC congressman many months ago. He put pressure on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service in Washington, because they had lost the approved application for 4 months. Once the application was “found,” the congressman asked for speedy service from there on. That apparently made someone in the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou mad. “So we are being taught a lesson,” Ash said. We continue to hold both of them in our prayers that this nightmare will soon be over, and they can return HOME! Just received an e-mail message from Henry Nanninga in Savannah that Bob Tripp’s wife, Anne, passed away at Hospice Savannah after a long illness. She and Bob moved to The Landings in Savannah after Bob retired from practicing dentistry in the Detroit area many years. Anne received her MA and PhD from the University of Michigan and taught American history for over 30 years at Oakland University in Rochester, MI, where she retired as a full professor. Anne received her BA at Wheaton College in Massachusetts where she was later a trustee for 18 years. I called Bob and expressed our sorrow for his loss. He wrote a note and said it was tough going. Our hearts and prayers go out to Bob and the family. A good friend and fellow pilot who served with me in the Pentagon several years ago sent me the following quote: “Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you … Jesus Christ

and the American Soldier. One died for your soul and liberty; the other for your natural freedom.” Keep Fit and Trim.

’53

William C. Noell Jr.

It is sad to report that our Brother Rat Richard Stilwell died a month after our 55th Reunion in North Carolina. I received a very nice e-mail from Dick’s wife, Clarie, that they were able to go see their daughter in December for Christmas, and that she obtained handicap tickets for them for the Rose Bowl, and that they sat so close to the parade, they cold almost touch the Keydets. Clarie said that Dick developed some type of neurological disease which started last July. It was fast moving and devastating, with NO cure. Clarie said it was an awful six months. They had reservations to come to the 55th but had to cancel them, as well as for her 50th HS reunion. Clarie sent me several pictures via e-mail, one of them at the Rose Bowl Parade, which I am submitting to the Alumni Review along with Dick’s obit that she sent me. They had tickets to the handi-

cap “area” for the parade but not for a “reserved” spot, so they were there at 5:00 a.m. to get a spot, and at that time, even in Pasadena Jan. 1st, it is cold ... thus the cold weather gear in picture. If you recall, Dick was known to many BRs as “Vinegar Joe,” and was from Winchester and Luray. The other news has been kind of quiet from most of you since the 55th. However, you will recall that Chief Gornto had told us he could not attended the reunion, due to his wife, Louise, having heart problems. It is sad to say that Louise passed away in June at the Fort Walton Beach Hospital with congestive heart failure, which really started about Thanksgiving. Here is her final day, as related by the Chief: “The last morning, the kids and grandkids were with her in the hospital room, and she talked with them as though nothing was wrong, She gave them big smiles and even laughed. She told the boys to take the kids out to where they could have fun. They left to go water skiing and such, just as she wanted. Shortly after they left, she said she wanted to sit up in a straight back chair. A male nurse and I put her in the chair, and I held her up. She talked a little and then her head tilted forward. I though she was asleep but quickly discovered that she was gone. She did not suffer at all. She knew it was coming but never complained.” When

Class of 1953: The late Dick Stilwell and his wife, Carrie, at the 2008 Rose Bowl Parade.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES you have to leave this switched to metrocast. world, this was certainly a An e-mail from Betty pleasant way to leave, and Woodward noted that in this case, I thought it they are off once again on would be nice to pass on to a cruise. This time to Noryou “The Chief’s” feeling way, Iceland, Greenland on this subject. I sent Chief and the Shetland Islands a note afterwards on behalf and finally to Amsterdam. of the class. Although a I received an e-mail memorial service was held from Bob Cheatham in Class of 1953: Class Agent Bill Noell’s VMI Tennessee license at Ft. Walton Beach, the June stating that his wife, plate still hangs with college paraphernalia in Howard’s Pub, Ocracoke Island, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. interment will be later at Bebe, was found to have the Air Force Academy, lymphoma. ... However, where they were married tests then showed it is 51 years ago. non-Hodgkin, stage 1, type 1, which is trip ... on to Lexington and will visit his An e-mail from Wyatt Shorter talked very slow growing, non-aggressive lymroommate once again, John and Doris about the quick release and recovery that phoma. Right now, they are waiting to see Gilbert. They will be leaving after Labor he has had from his recent operation – the if and when treatment is going to be necesDay. We will also leave TN then, so Judy removal of part of one lung module, which and I hope to be able to get together with sary at this time stage. required breaking a rib to get to “the site.” A response e-mail from Joe Morison’s the four of them for dinner one night. It is He was released on the third day and has daughter, Sherri Hanks, said Joe is feeling also the first VMI football weekend. already been to his second workout at the good these days. He started new chemo An e-mail from Fred Hauser said they hospital in physical therapy, after only at the end of May and at the time was not spent 31 days in Germany visiting fam21 days. Says he gets tired much quicker feeling bad side affects. ily, friends and traveling. They left from than normal, but that is the extent of his I received a very nice card from Gene Dulles on May 15th and did not return complaint, and now can sleep without Jackson, telling how much he enjoyed the until June 15th. They were in Lexington a pain pill. Says the only tell tale is the Glee Club CD. Said he taught a year at on the 4th of July for the big celebration fatigue sets in quicker than normal. “Who VMI after graduation, and the only time he on the Parade Ground, with Tom Wright needs pain pills? Just turn on the TV, and has been back to Virginia is for the 35th. ’54 and his wife, Elinor. Said they spoke in three or so minutes, you are in the land His youngest son and family live outside with John Gilbert briefly but saw no other of Winken, Blinken and Nod.” of Lynchburg in Forest. BRs. We happened to have been in TN on I talked with Jack Trigg via e-mail last An e-mail from Tom Colvin talked about the lake for the 4th, so missed seeing them. week, and he reports that Peachy is much making Glee Club recordings for at least An e-mail from Anne Goddard better, having recovered from “unprotected advised that she was finally back into two years, and he does not remember from influenza,” although they both had flu whom he inherited the recording job. He e-mail business after having a great deal shots which were not protective from what of trouble with Verizon, but has now talked about the equipment used, Col. Dilwent around down there. Except for his brief trip to New Orleans mentioned in the last notes, they have not traveled since that episode. Dan and Barbara Stickley are now residing in Sunnyside, a Pres. retirement center in Harrisonburg. Dan says that the biggest thing wrong with the place is there are too many old folks around – they even sleep quietly. However, a couple of them do have noisy motor scooters. He says they are fairly well settled, with most boxes unpacked, but then there are times when they cannot find where they put stuff. Heck, I can say that even now, and I have not moved in nearly 20 years. Class of 1953: Class Agent Bill Noell created a 55th Reunion VMI Glee An e-mail from Russ Horne said that Club CD containing 1952-53 Glee Club music directed by Col. Herbert their health and recuperation is such that Nash Dillard ’34. they are going to make their last vacation

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CLASS NOTES lard and the technology at the time. However, says he suffers badly from memory loss, which drives Barbara crazy. He does remember making a number of recordings of the Glee Club in JM Hall (lousy acoustics), the WRVA studio in Richmond and other places such as the Waldorf-Astoria in New York on field trips. Thus, he said receiving the CD had special meaning to him, as he no longer has any of those recordings, since they were lost in a fire in the late 1970s. An e-mail from Wes Gray reported that the surgery to remove the prostate was a big success and that he is now playing better golf than ever. Says taking off 30 pounds did not hurt either. Jack Trigg noted they were getting excited about football and that maybe this year Alabama can beat both Tennessee and Auburn ... after 7 straight losses. In regard to the Glee Club CD favor, only one BR was very, very observant in regard to spelling of Col. Dillard’s name on the inside cover of the CD ... did you Glee Club members miss it? Well, there was a typo of “Hubert” in lieu of “Herbert,” which even I missed in proofing it. However, Glee Club member Luke Witt picked it up and called my attention to it. If I get any orders for this CD in the future, I will see that it is corrected. ($10.00 each, includes mailing, etc.) Judy and I have spent most of the summer down on Norris Lake, Tennessee, and with grandchildren and family with us for about 30 days total. However, having a one-year-old in the house does change things ... especially your wake-up time ... which suddenly comes very early. Then, we kept him for 5 days at the Woodduck house while his parents and family went to Texas. He was great, but at 77, it gets kind of tiring physically, especially when we do not change our midnight or after bedtime. Over the Easter school holiday week, we went back to the Outer Banks, thanks to our 10-year-old grandson who was persistent on the Internet and found the family a great house right on the ocean that was reasonable and available at our favorite location, Avon, a few miles above the Hatteras Light House. So, we made our usual one-day trip down to Ocracoke Island and stopped off at

Howard’s Pub to see if my 2001 TN VMI ’53 license plate was still tacked to the beam as you walk under it going into the dinning area. It’s still there, as are many, many other license plates from everywhere. VMI Trivia – Glee Club: The VMI Glee Club originated in the 1930s from a group of cadets who gathered to sing on the stoops. In this group of cadets was Herbert Nash Dillard, who in 1934 was a first classman and organized the group as “The VMI Glee Club.” At the time the recordings were made, from which the CD was made for our 55th, Lt. Col. Herbert Dillard was the director. VMI does not have a curriculum in music, as we all know, so the Glee Club is due entirely from the desire of the members for enjoyment of good music and for a break from strict Barracks routine. During WWII, the Glee Club was not officially organized but resumed in 1946. After some slack in membership over some past years, the Glee Club has resurged since the late 1980s under the direction of Col. John Brodie, who is also the VMI Band director.

’54

Bill Schubmehl

I hope that the summer and fall, so far, have been good for you and your family. I have made an effort to talk to some BRs who we don’t hear from very often, and it has been interesting to talk with friends around the country and get their slant on VMI and other important matters. It was good to hear from John Stevenson. John retired from his consulting firm thirteen years ago and now lives near Cleveland, Ohio. That was his official retirement, but he informed me that he is doing some consulting with the Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board in Washington D.C. John has five daughters and fifteen grandchildren who live in various parts of the country. Now get this! Each year, he assembles the daughters and their husbands and the fifteen grandchildren for an annual vacation in Sandbridge,

Virginia. This made a big impression on me, because I have just returned from one week with four grandchildren and their parents, and it seemed somewhat hectic to me. I am sure that John had a much bigger house. At least I hope so! I had a chance to speak with Karl Klinar recently. Karl, as you may already know, lives in Columbia, South Carolina, where he retired at Fort Jackson after a career as an Army dentist. Karl said that South Carolina is getting better all the time, because there are more Yankees retiring in the area. He has five children and seven grandchildren, and most of them live within driving distance of Columbia. Karl and his wife, Helen, celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a trip to the West Coast, but that was an exception because his old football knees don’t allow for much traveling anymore. The mention of football brought up what I would like to call a discussion of VMI football, but the term discussion implies that both parties have an opportunity to present views. That was not the case. I do not know Sparky Woods, the new VMI football coach, but he better watch out, because I gave Karl his telephone number, and he may get a call reminding him of the importance of “blockin’ and tacklin.’” It was great to talk with you, Karl. I caught Joe Siler just as he was returning from the golf course. Joe and Norma live in Shepardstown, West Virginia, and Joe has been there since he retired from the Marine Corps. He plays golf three times a week which serves to give each of his hips some exercise. One hip has been replaced twice, and you have to admire the former line backer for that effort. At least the quality of the metal gets better. The Silers did some traveling with John Fischer and Ed Chandler and wives to South America a few years ago and had a great time, but Joe indicated that he doesn’t enjoy the hassle of traveling any more and is staying close to home. He indicated that he and the Fischers and Chandlers will get together this fall, play some golf and maybe attend a VMI football game. Staying with the USMC theme, I called Jack Gary who lives in Tampa, FL, where he retired in 1985 as Brig General. Jack stays active and plays tennis three times

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES a week. In addition to working out, he teaches an adult class in geopolitics at one of the local colleges. He has 85 students, and he enjoys it very much. Jack had a varied career in the Marine Corps, went to a great many interesting overseas stations and should know what he is talking about in geopolitics. Tom Kane tells me that he tries to visit VMI once a year on his travels north and south. Tom lives in Bedford, Massachusetts, which is where he retired after a career with Raytheon. He plays some golf, but after talking with him, I concluded that his real interest is in his second career with Market America. If I understand it correctly, this is a company that sells direct and over the Internet. The company has many products too numerous to mention, but one did catch my attention and that was a category of “anti-aging” products. I may have mentioned this in previous notes, but that was years ago, and we need them more now. If you need more information or samples, google Market America or call Tom. Let me know how it tastes! Tom has four children and six grandchildren, and they all live in the general vicinity of Bedford. As I was typing these notes, my phone rang and a voice out of my past said, “This is Ed Rojas.” It was great to hear from him and to get brought up to date on his life. Ed and his wife, Pat, live in San Francisco after living in Mexico for thirteen years. Ed spent his career with the United States Foreign Service and traveled the world. They now travel, but only for fun. Ed has one daughter and three grandchildren. As you may remember, Ed and John Santos were a dynamic duo at VMI and went out of their way to keep the military restrictions from interfering with their love of a good time. Ed was from Costa Rica, and John was from Ecuador. John passed away several years ago, but prior to John’s death, they shared many good times and visited with their respective families often. The Rojas’ still keep in touch with John’s widow. If any Brother Rats are passing through San Francisco and want to visit with an entertaining host, Ed says to please give him a call. Bill Almy is living in Queeenstown, MD, and staying active. He had some cardiac problems a few years ago but is feeing fine

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now. He is an elder in his church and plays a lot of bridge. One of his favorite bridge opponents is Bud Bare. Bill and Susan and Bud and Jacque get together regularly to play and socialize. Bob Gee sent a note to let me know that he is still very busy in California with his energy business, plus keeping up a very active travel schedule. He and his brother attended the 100th anniversary of the town of Kenbridge, Virginia, and then, just to relax after that excitement, they jumped in an airplane and flew to London, Paris, Normandy and St. Petersburg, Russia. Bob and family had visited these places before, and it is always a treat to visit world capitals again. Bob observed that the citizens of Kenbridge seemed to be happier than the citizens of St. Petersburg. Tommy Williamson sent me a sketch and some information about Byrd LaPrade. The sketch shows Byrd with his pipe, his dog and a big grin. Byrd lives in Londonderry, Vermont, and as far as I know, he is still surveying, but has given up modeling for Orvis. George Ramer has been plagued by some health problems but is still very active with his beautiful Culpeper, Virginia, farm. He is having an operation in the fall, and that should get him straightened out and allow him to give equal time to his golf – and his garden. In the last issue of the Alumni Review, it was great to see a picture of Jock Wheeler receiving a prestigious medical award on one page and John Knapp receiving his third star on the opposite page. What a great class! George and Casey Ford live in an over55 community in Columbia, Maryland, and have been there for seven years; he recommends it to anyone. He indicated that it’s wonderful and exciting to have such a diversity of people and find out that they have so much in common. He also indicated that widowers are in big demand. George sees Tom Wallace on occasion. This reminded me that Tom told me he was recently given an assignment of doing a nude model as part of his sculpting hobby. I mean doing a figure of a nude model. Anyway, when he was finished, he realized that he had spent most of the time looking at her hands. Times and values change.

Perry Archer e-mailed me that he had received an award for working with seniors in the local retirement community. He has also been writing songs with a local band leader in Houston. He is completing a CD which has a bunch of oldies from our era. Perry, I congratulate you on your musical endeavors in addition to your legal work, and I hope that I got this reasonably correct. I would have called you, but I’m trying to get these notes to the printer and then catch a plane to attend a 75th birthday party for the wives of Bruce Gottwald (Nancy) and Bill Berry (Betsy). Perry also told me that Roy Alexander is very active in his legal immigration work. He said Roy is very prominent in the field. Roy is so prominent that he never has to wait for a table when attending a Mexican restaurant. All must wait until Roy is seated. Finally, Bill Turner informs me that he has completed writing his autobiography and has sent it to the publisher. The title is, My Life in the Rearview Mirror. Bill will be available to sign copies at our spring reunion, and he promises price discounts to all members of the VMI class of 1954. That’s it! Stay well and let me hear from you – and you, too!

’55

C. Cary Jones

It is amazing to think that the class of 2012 is in the Ratline! By the time they graduate, most of Gen. Peay’s ’62 facilities vision will be a reality, and it will be increasingly hard to convince them that we used to carry our water in buckets up the hill from the river and had no electricity. Oh, well. I hope all of you saw Greg Cavallaro’s ’84 e-mail pointing out that Forbes Magazine rated VMI #9 on the Best Public Colleges ratings. When you get this, VMI will have played a few football games, and here’s hoping we’ll see you at a few games, starting in Williamsburg. BR and raconteur Larry Price checked in with a rare sighting of Howard Archer and his wife, Louise, at a casino, of course.

CLASS NOTES Howard has had some health issues and was involved in a serious car accident, but it’s good to hear he is out and about. George and Dorie Scherer returned from another cruise and then entertained Tony Russo in Hampton. Tony’s new book, The Silence of Prayer, is now out and sounds intriguing. Check it out on Amazon.com. I had a very welcome and rare e-mail from Charlie Luck. He says True has made an amazing recovery, with the help of oncologists and prayers from all of us. Their daughter, Terrell, is also doing

well. Amen. Charlie’s grandson, Richard, checked in for early football practice at the Insty and may be red-shirted this year while Crozet Hall fattens him up. Speaking of my old roomies, there have been several Nolley sightings recently, notably from Bob Bowden and Ron Bryan. Bill and Staige reportedly looking great as usual. Another Richmond stalwart, Bill Cridlin, seems to be recovering nicely from a cardiac event, which can often get one’s attention. Faithful correspondent Ben Angle

Class of 1955: Above: In Alexandria, Virginia, for their annual dinner were, from left, Tom and Jeanne Barrett, Joe and Joanie Cestaro, and Bob and Gail Ragan. Pictured below were the same group in 1954 with Lloyd Glenn and his date at Mike’s Zoo and Bar after a hop. About these photos, Class Agent Casey Jones wrote, “The significant thing is these BRs roomed together for three years and 50-plus years later, are still married to their dates. It disproves the old saying that what happens at Mike’s stays at Mike’s.” Editor’s Note: Lloyd Glenn passed away in December 1992.

talked to Ron Coleman and says Ron sounded stronger, so we are encouraged and thankful. Ben continues to relay lots of news from far and wide, and it is really appreciated. As I write this, Ron Bryan is gathering the usual suspects for the annual golf and lying tournament at Sandbridge. I had to regret the invitation this time but expect the mob will include Bowden, Davidson, Tait, Valentine, Segar, Hill, Hogshire and other itinerants as available. Details in a future issue. Bill and Boots Wainwright recently hosted a colorful group including Marty Fisher along with Fred Farthing ’56 and several generations of past or future Keydets, running from 1955 to 2025. If that bunch descends on the Insty, we’ll hear from them! Speaking of good pictures, Bob Ragan sent me pictures of Tom and Jeanne Barrett, Joe and Joanie Cestaro, and Bob and Gail Ragan. One picture shows them at a recent dinner in Alexandria, and the other shows them all when we were cadets, taken at Mike’s Zoo and Bar. Also in the picture is BR Lloyd Glenn. The significant thing is these BRs roomed together for 3 years and are still married to their dates. It disproves the old saying that what happens at Mike’s stays at Mike’s. BR Moose Tyler continues to get good publicity for his stellar work as director of the Old Coast Guard Station Museum at Virginia Beach. It’s a combination of his VMI education, his decisive character and his dry vodka martinis which he serves to the press on Fridays. This issue will unfortunately contain obituaries of several of our BRs. Read them in the Taps section. They include Steve Dod of Lexington; Iggy Reynolds of Hampton, VA; Tom Dicks of Broadlands, IL; Irv McClelland of McLean, VA; Ray Lloyd Radford, Virginia; and Jack Sidney of Manhattan Beach, California. We are also sad to report the passing of Bonnie Slough, wife of Dwight Slough. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of all of these dear friends. I hope you all responded to the recent

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES questionnaire concerning the Alumni Review. The magazine continues to improve and your input is vital. Also, if you have e-mail but don’t get my e-mails to the class, please call or e-mail me with your current info. Stay in touch. It’s an honor to be your Class Agent ... Casey

’56

Richard M. Smith

We are pleased to begin this report with the news that our BR Bill Tolley is back in his hometown of Glouchester recovering from very serious illness while at Duke University Hospital. Jere Real sent me an article from the Lynchburg News with his picture on the cover of the Entertainment Weekly section showing his 1982 collection of photos, mainly depicting the Mississippi Gold Gloves boxing tournament. One of his water color paintings was selected and purchased for the new Cancer Center collection in Lynchburg. Another photo

exhibit is set for Aug. 25-Oct. 12 at the Doura Gallery at Lynchburg College. Jere joined Bill Snyder, Reg Morrison and Mary Beth Burns on June 10, 2008, at Jackson Memorial Hall to fulfill the wish by Ed Burns that his ashes be sprinkled in Memorial Gardens and on the Parade Ground at VMI. Ken McDonald called to let me know he had visited Bill Tolley and was very encouraged to see that he is progressing finally. He also informed me of the death of Jim Reynolds ’55 who graduated with our class. Ken does a lot of traveling and

Photos 1 and 2: At a reception in Cocke Hall given by VMI Superintendent Gen. J.H. Binford Peay ’62 were, Photo 1, Amos Dickinson, Alan Jackson and Bill Tolley. Photo 2: Alan Jackson, Nan Pizitz, Jim Dillard and Bill Lamb. Photo 3: From left, Reg Morrison, Mary Beth Burns and Bill Snyder at the Institute in early June 2008. Photo 4: Pete Jennette at the Carthage Ruins near Tunis, Tunisia.

Class of 1956

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CLASS NOTES has a son living in St. Petersburg, Russia. His nursery business continues to require a lot of his time but is doing well. A nice note was received from Susie McKinnon Griffin, widow of Frank “Ace” McKinnon, saying how much she enjoyed receiving the Alumni Review and keeping up with his BRs. I had a chat with my “old” roommate Amos Dickinson who called regarding my meeting a high school friend of his from Eastern Shore. He and his brother, Andy Dickinson ’52, had been on a boating trip with their wives and friends up the shore, stopping over at famous places like Chincoteague Island. He and Lane are going on another outing with her brother and family to Cody, Wyoming, on a chartered Learjet, which sounds like fun. I had a call from Fred Farthing informing me he had visited with Bill Tolley and talked with Else since and that Bill was making continued strides at improvement. He doesn’t remember much of his ordeal at Duke, which is a blessing. Although he has lost some weight and is weak, he is starting to get around on his own. He may be going home soon according to Else. Fred and Mary Jo have been to two grandchildren graduations out of state. Fred is now getting back into his golf after having knee replacement. He has also taken on another term as president of the Lyons Club with Mary Jo as the secretary. Jim Dillard called to let me know he and Frances were in VA at her home in Tappahannock. He visited Bill Tolley who was still in the convalescent home at the time but had plans to go home later that week. He also had lunch with J.P. Moore who was up to visit Bill. Jim and Betty Mann were in the area for a funeral of a relative and the Dillards got to visit with them, as well. They hope to be back for our fall mini reunion. I called Bob Brickner for an update on his activities and health. He is keeping active as always in the Chicago busy style of life. He plans to enter the Senior Chicago Olympics, participating in three events of running. He still has a problem with his teeth and will undergo implants again next month. He said he talked with

Betty and Jim Mann who were planning a visit to Chicago, and he plans to show them around. I called the Tolleys and talked with both Else and Bill. Although he is still getting his voice back from the input of the tracheotomy, he sounded like his old self again, especially when I asked him if he recalled the name of the sulky horse we placed a bet on in 1955 at Ocean Downs, Maryland, and he told me it was “Wee Willie Winkle” without hesitation. He thanked me for helping him get the more than 100 cards he received over the course of his illness. The following notes come from my reliable “lieutenant,” Spider Allison: Aug. 1, 2008: “Dave Blair writes that he is trying to fly his sport aircraft several times a week to stay proficient. He is pleased that Anne now has enough confidence in his ability to fly with him. He promises a cross-country to Melbourne in the near future. Anne will have knee surgery at the end of July. Anne, VMI ’56 wishes you a speedy recovery. Bob and Jackie Morris are back in their home in The Villages (Florida) after a year of pastoral duties in Virginia. The Villages are a relatively new, very active and fun place to live between Ocala and Orlando. They invite any Brother Rat to stop by if in the area. They plan a cruise in November with the Military Officer Association. Russ and Margarete Wiltshire are back from their four-day train trip thru the Copper Canyon in heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Northern Mexico. They say the scenery was spectacular. The Copper Canyon is four times larger and 1,600 feet deeper than our Grand Canyon. The area is thinly populated by tribes of Taranumaras Indians, who are cave dwellers and live by an honor code that rivals VMI’s, according to Russ .The Wiltshire’s next trip will be to Germany in the fall. Tony Nicoletti had hip replacement surgery in mid July. Tony did fine and is now home and enrolled in Maureen’s rehab program. A note from Pete Jennette informed me he and Sue had just returned from a cruise on Holland-American to the eastern Med. They started at Rome, then Pisa, Monaco, Barcelona, Tunis, Malta,

Palermo and finally Naples. They spent a day on Pompeii and then enjoyed the ruins at Carthage. A bus ride back to the ship in Naples proved to be very costly, as Pete got his pocket picked. The airline return trip to Dulles was a bummer, taking 21 hours, which was hard on a ‘bony a_s,’ Pete says. Just got a long newsletter from Scottie Boland telling me about a recent visit he and Ardis had with Gretchen Hardee, ‘Doc’s’ wife. She has been doing a lot of traveling since Doc passed on a while back. She enjoys a good life in Vero Beach, FL, and sees a lot of her grandchildren. Scottie has made reservations at Natural Bridge for our fall reunion and looks forward to drinking a bit of bourbon with his BRs and seeing the bright foliage in the Valley. He had talked with Jim Stephens and said he was having some physical problems and wasn’t sure if he would make it to the reunion. Scottie also keeps up with Ex BR John Kirchmier ’57 who winters in FL near him and brings down some of our good Virginia ‘Country Ham.’ Lightning hit his boat recently and did quite a bit of damage to it.” This wraps up this addition of ’56 Class Notes, and I hope it finds you in “Good Spirits.” Yours in the Spirit, Dick

’57

Clayton M. Thomas III

August in Florida means bugs, heat, humidity and afternoon thunderstorms. However, Dawn continues to work at Publix in the cool air conditioning, and I stay inside during the mid-day sun. Because we live seven miles from the ocean, we have sea breezes and our daytime highs rarely exceed 92 degrees. The nights cool only into the mid 70s, and we will not see a cool evening until November. Still, we continue to enjoy our Florida life style. Yesterday, we received the Annual Giving totals for Fiscal Year 2008 as of June 30. The class of 1957 can boast a total of 102 donors, with 98 Brother Rats and four widows contributing to Annual Giving.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Patrick F. Webb, director of Alumni and Reunion Giving, declared that we alumni had a very productive year and exceeded our goals for the Foundation Fund, the Keydet Scholarship Fund and the Athletic Operations Fund. We did not achieve our participation goal of 37%. The alumni rate was 35.69%, which equates to 4,569 donors. However, all 11 classes in our decade exceeded 37%, with the lowest being 57% and the highest 74%. We came in seventh with 61%. This is only the third year in the last 12 that we failed to achieve 100 donors. We falter and stagger backwards every year after a reunion, missing in 1998, 2003 and 2008. Still, nine years out of 12 isn’t bad. At the Class Agents Conference in April, the agents discussed the practicality of having a Bereavement Committee. I contacted Russ Davis, and he recognized the need for such a committee and even agreed to participate. Russ, our class president, will write notes of sympathy to widows or to Brother Rats whose wives have passed away. I, as class agent, will do likewise. Tom Vaughan in Williamsburg will handle the finances for flowers and other expenses. Don Jamison in Lexington will send the flowers, and Pete Lincoln, as senior member of our class, adds wisdom and back-up and serves as our Lexington contact. George Sydnor, as chairman of our 55th Reunion Committee, is, of course, included. We added members of the class from certain locations who will contact others in their area. Dick Collier, Wade Douthat, Bill Huffcut, Howard Lawrence, Wally McKeel, Paul Muldowney, Jay Musser and Buz Snyder have been invited to join us. Bill Moore has agreed to serve as our Bereavement Committee Chairman. Our first meeting will be in the Moody Hall boardroom on Nov. 10. 2008. With the deaths of Marv Reinstein on Feb. 17th, Tim Maier on April 7th and Tom Hays on May 7th, we believe this Bereavement Committee will greatly benefit our class. Dick Collier from Richmond thanked us for the opportunity to continue serving our class as a member of the Bereavement Committee. Dick considers it a privilege to assist with this committee. He was sorry that Sarah and he were unable to attend the last Institute Society Dinner. It was the first

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they had missed. Dick had bi-lateral knee replacement last fall and had just gotten out of the hospital. Now he is fit and ready for another 73 years with two new knees. Sarah and he continue to work in the family business of building custom homes. When they finish the final section of the Village of Amberleigh, they will retire and spend more time in Lexington. Of their 21 grandkids, four are in college: one at Longwood, one at Kings College, one at Northwestern University, and Chris Duty ’10, a second classman, at VMI. Chris is a pitcher on the baseball team and one of two Keydets recognized by the Big South Conference and the Virginia All-State Baseball Team (second team in both awards). In June, Sarah and Dick held their annual family vacation on the Outer Banks. There were 33 family members and two visitors living under one roof for a week. In the past three months, Russ Davis wrote four letters, mostly with suggestions for our new Bereavement Committee. In May, he wrote that Don Jamison had been in the hospital with a heart valve problem but is doing well and is resting at home. Betsy and Russ hope we will come visit them in Radford on our trip to VMI in November. Katie and Ken Dickinson in Merritt Island, Florida, spent five days in July fishing for salmon on Lake Michigan. Katie has had multiple surgeries, and recovery has been slow. She doesn’t know when she will ever wear a shoe on her left foot again. Since she was still wearing a boot, Ken pushed her in a wheelchair during the trip to Milwaukee. By now, they are on their way to South Dakota, and when they return in January, they hope to bring home another Norwegian Forest Cat to replace “Puff” who they miss terribly. Betty Jo Hays asks, “Please express to the VMI Class of 1957 our gratitude for the lovely chancel flowers the class sent to the First Presbyterian Church of Hope for the church service on May 18. Tom loved the church, and the flowers were a beautiful addition to the worship service. Thank you so very much. Friends truly are a great comfort at a time like this, and we appreciate all of you so much. We will always remember your kindness.” Ron Kaye in Escondido, California, dictated two letters, and Ruth Smith puts

his thoughts on paper. Ron had his family in Wyoming come to visit in April and his grandkids, a boy and a girl, are growing like weeds. His son, David, who lives nearby, keeps busy with his law practice, aided greatly by the poor California drivers, which make for lucrative and constant court sessions. Ron thanks me for keeping him informed about VMI happenings which are dear to his heart. Ron and Ruth even have fun going to the dentist, because they treat themselves with a delicious Italian or Mexican lunch. “By the way, the dental office serves the best coffee available.” In the second letter, Ruth writes that Ron continues to enjoy his suite, but looks forward to Mondays when the van from Aegis carries Ron on his mobile scooter for a shopping spree, where he enjoys independence by selecting greeting cards and fine wines, but his taste in greeting cards is exquisite. On the greeting card that Ruth sent is a print of Claude Monet of the “Arrival of the Normandy Train, Gare Saint-Lazare, 1877.” Buzzy Snyder in Richmond, Virginia, is delighted to help on the Bereavement Committee. He reminded that Jay Musser has an extensive e-mail file for our class to send a quick response when a BR departs our ranks, but this must be kept current. Every BR should forward to Jay if an address is changed. Buzzy also suggests that a draft procedure for how the committee will function should be presented for comments at the November gathering. Garland Sullivan in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, thought we would get a kick out of a letter from Bill Dick in Vienna, Virginia. Bill commented on the great photo of Garland and gorgeous Sally in the Alumni Review. Bill thought we had a pretty good group of history majors: “You, Bob Fiske, Tony DiCesare, who was always on the edge of ‘Academic Suicide’ (according to Col. Townes). Then, Cliff Heathcote, Chuck McLennan, Dixie, the Civil War guru, and a host of others who enjoyed afternoon naps while their chemically- or engineering-inclined roommates slaved away.” Eleanor and Bill Dick spend several months a year in Arizona where her sister lives and where he enjoys hiking. Since they normally drive, Bill plans to visit the Sullivans in Hattiesburg. He will drive

CLASS NOTES south on I-95, pick up I-10 and head west. In early August, we received a letter from Terrie Conrad, vice president for Constituent and Planned Giving for the VMI Foundation with happy news. The Foundation is embarking on a program to honor the widows of Brother Rats with a series of teas, starting in Richmond and expanding to other cities in Virginia and nationally. These teas will be celebrations of VMI and the timeliness of its value even in an uncertain age. The Foundation intends to make them feel cherished as a widow of a VMI man. I think this is a wonderful idea. We heard from Larry Wise again. He sent another picture from Room 361 when we were third classmen in 1954, dyked out for Monday evening inspection in overcoats. At least I’m dyked out. Larry had already changed into his bathrobe. Just as I am finishing my class notes, I receive the 2008-Issue 3 VMI Alumni Review which contains my May notes. In the 18 years as class agent, I have never received the May notes while I have yet to mail the notes due for August 15. Usually the May notes do not arrive until around Christmas or later. What a great surprise! The last item of business is a confession of incompetence by your class agent. On page 86 of the 2008-Issue 1 VMI Alumni Review is a photo of 13 members of the Class of 1957 at the Institute Society Dinner on Nov. 9, 2007. I named only 12. I omitted Phil Peters who is in the front row between John Whittle and Buz Snyder. Bill Moore who mailed me the photo is not at fault. Florine Moore who took the picture is not at fault. The excellent staff of the Alumni Review is blameless. It is my blunder alone. “Mea Culpa.”

Wes Roberts

’58 Our 50th Reunion having passed, leaving us with wonderful memories and renewed friendships, it’s time to get back to the

present and work toward our next gathering of this “Band of Brothers.” I hasten to say that the reunion committee is not looking forward to another extravaganza as we enjoyed this past April. As you all can imagine, a great deal of thought, work, energy and time went into putting our 50th Reunion together. Our combined thanks and gratitude go toward these members of our class. I had a warm and welcome conversation with Hunter and Betty Jean Clarke, who shared that they had a wonderful visit with John and Susie Peters in May. The Peters had rented a house in Santa Fe, NM, where they were found to be exceptional hosts and tour guides. Hunter shared some memories of our serving at Ft. Bragg, NC, I being in the 82nd AB DIV and Hunter in the 101st AB DIV. I think Hunter was there to learn how “real” paratroopers conducted themselves. Our itinerant travelers, Gene and Peggy Martin, stated they had just returned from Colorado, where they visited their daughter and her family. They are soon to depart for NC to visit their son, Mike, and his family, Mike having just returned from Iraq, where he completed his fourth deployment. If you recall, our BR Walter Leach is on a whirlwind motorcycle tour, attempting to complete the visits of all the 48 contiguous states which he and Elizabeth had set out to accomplish. On this leg, he hopes to visit Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa. He estimated this trip to last 2-2 1/2 weeks. If he succeeds, that will be 38 states he has ridden in. Walt’s itinerary runs something like this: he drove across North Dakota straight west at 75 mph. It was beautiful but a grind, and he noted,” There is not a gas station at every corner out there.” He said he had been 2,002 miles and had crossed the Mackinaw Bridge the day before and found it to be a great sight for “an old bridge builder.” His goal the following day was to ride Bear Tooth Pass into Yellowstone Park. He saw the famous Mt. Rushmore carvings and the remarkable Crazy Horse Monument (a work in progress which was begun in 1948). His faithful steed, “Big Red,” hauled him all

the way to the top of Mt. Evans (14,245 feet), during which he experienced a “scary, narrow and CROOKED road.” Walt left us by saying he found his tires were worn out, and he spent two days getting new tires “overnighted,” installed and having the oil changed. He will next be on the way to Lincoln, NE, and St .Louis, MO, thereafter. The trip was made up of long stretches of boring roads as well as beauty and challenges. He and “Big Red” covered 5,600 miles in 2 1/2 weeks, and to quote Walt, “My butt is tired, but it was worth it!” (Note: What a gutsy guy, taking on this challenge by himself, noting, however, that he felt Liz was seated behind him all the way.) Hull and Judy Negley penned a note stating they had been in their cottage in Canada since May and would be there until after Labor Day. Hull stated that he knows he is blessed but noted he is proud to be a member of the class of ’58, the “greatest class ever.” He and Judy talked to the grandparents of a “Rat” and said he told them that when the “58’s check” was presented at parade, there were audible “wows” in the parade ranks. The class of ’68 was sitting beside them, and Judy said their mouths dropped open. Hull mentioned that he is safeguarding the class flag and pole until it is next needed. Hull said he had a phone call from Ron Swirk, who stated that he is doing fine but mentioned that he had suffered a slight stroke. Ron said he had experienced no after effects. We need to carry him in our thoughts and prayers. (Note: I have been in contact with Ron numerous times since the reunion. He seems to be in good health and high spirits. Ron has sons nearby, and Ron cooks for them once a week.) Duke Johnston reported that he and Annette celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to the wedding site (Newcastle, DE). They went by train to New York City (honeymoon location) where BR Paganelli organized an outstanding dinner for them at his club in NYC. Our hardworking BR Bill Gee reported as follows: “My brother (Bob Gee ’54) and I returned to Virginia in late May to attend the 100th anniversary of our hometown, Kenbridge, VA. There were 3

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES days of events, including a dinner-dance, weekend with Jim and Peggy Poteet at enced arthroscopic surgery on his knee in cook-off competition, performance by the their new home in Hunt, TX. They found July, stating that, “If it is good for Tiger, it Wallace Family Singers (which included BR Jim to be an incredible cook, and they is good for me!” Following his recovery, 2 of Bob’s HS classmates), and a historic enjoyed visiting the Poteet’s home, which he and Karen plan a hiking trip to Glacier homes tour which included the homes overlooks their private lake and a view of National Park in August. He intends to we lived in from 1944 until I graduated the hills. He reported that Poteet’s Jack resume his jogging and work on the golf from VMI in 1958. We saw many cousins, Russell terrier had been heavily sprayed by course. neighbors and my 6th grade teacher the local skunk. In Paul’s opinion, skunk Another Old Timer, Gene Grayson, (now 94). It was a great weekend. By spray really isn’t so bad once you spend checked in from southwest Virginia now, everyone who attended (Radford), stating that he, Bob the reunion or responded to and Diana Jordan, and Bob the questionnaire should have Buckland attended a Radford received a CD containing the High School mini-reunion. Reunion Book, photos book and Absent, however, was BR more than 450 photos from the Walter Leach, who called in reunion. You should also have from Colorado where he was received a copy of the “Mardi on his motorcycle trip. Gene Gras” DVD that I made from spoke of an article in the last Hull Negley’s VCR tape. If any AR, featuring Dick Dean ’64, BR or surviving spouse has not another Radford alumnus. He received either of these items, is BR Howard Dean’s “little send me an e-mail (bgee1@ brother” and retired as chief bellsouth.net) or a note (6961 of Surgery and CEO of Wake N. Grand Dr., Boca Raton, Forest Bowman Gray Hospital. FL 33433), and I will send it Gene said the trout in his area to you. Many thanks to Jules of “The Valley” are getting out Berman, Ernie Edgar and Earl of hand and challenged me to Bennett for sending the class help put a dent in the populaphotos that they had saved from tion … I accept! earlier reunions. We were able Ted and Becky Henry to find all photos except the 5th, checked in from Anderson, SC, and they are all included in the announcing they are “on the Class of 1958: At the Oregon/Washington chapter of the photos book that is on the CD. go” again and in September U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) alumni association were, In rounding up these photos, I will be taking a river cruise up seated, from left, Shirley Walter, USNA Parents Club had some interesting exchanges the Rhine River from Antwerp President Sharon Rhoads and Olga Kulakova. Standing were Tony Lash, left, and Tim Myers, the USNA chapter with Earl Bennett and Gene to Basil, with a side trip up president. Lash was asked to speak to the group, and Martin about their high school the Mosel to Trier, Germany. as he wrote, “My topic was taken from [an article in a football days and some of the Good news for the Henry famprevious issue of] the Alumni Review: ‘VMI’s Legacy in clothing and hairstyles many ily is the move of their oldest the Sea Services.’” According to Lash, there was also a of us wore in the 70s. The 15th daughter, Millie, and family Citadel alumnus present at this event. and 20th Reunion pictures had from Alabama to western North some pretty snappy outfits.” Carolina., only 2 hours away Bob Beale noted that he and his wife, some time with it. (Not everyone agreed from Mom and Dad. Diane, had a delightful time at our 50th with that!) It would appear that Cynthia Tom and Ru Nance returned from a two Reunion. Bob was with us for one year has had a profound effect on Paul, civilizweek trip to Hawaii, celebrating their anand thereafter transferred to West Point. ing him, including visiting her brother’s niversary in May. Their next outing was a He stated that “from my perspective, VMI “wolf dog, Keemah,” hiking in the Palo week in Orlando, where they met friends is as impressive as ever.” His tour of his Duro Canyon to see some rock formations and the Nance children. Not to stop there, Rat year room (450) brought back many and finally attending the wedding of one they will next head for Lake George, NY, fond memories. He notes that while he of Cynthia’s nieces. (Note: This does not attempting to get away from Florida heat was there for only a year, the bond lasts a sound like my roommate, Blotch!) for a few days. lifetime. Jerry Paull reported that he and Karen Another anniversary couple, Bill and Paul Johnson writes from Houston, were on a 10-day tour of Ireland in early Mary Jo Thomas, are going on a 50th anniTX, that he and Cynthia, accompanied by June, visiting Dublin, Waterford, Killarney versary cruise in August and will be joined Jack and Lynn Boze, spent an incredible and other cities. He noted he had experiby Bob and Diana Jordan. Bon voyage!

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CLASS NOTES AR has reiterated that, generally speakOur international traveler, Sandy Yon, said he heard from Art and Joan Carneving, they must have high resolution digital reported that she had just returned from ale, mentioning that they are going to visit photos or photos printed on high quality Outer Mongolia. She said it is a beautiful Indian River Country Club some time this photo paper for submission. and diverse country, with a varied history, fall. A few rounds of golf, maybe? due to its historical “Kahans.” Dave Martin said that he and She attended many cultural Annie Mae celebrated their 51st events, interrupted by riots anniversary in the Bahamas this in the streets her first night past March. Dave had another there. She saw the steppes, rotator cuff surgery in May and the mountains and the Gobi continues receiving therapy. The Desert and slept many nights Martins look forward to a visit in the Gers (tents). Her trip from their daughter who lives in finally took her to BeigMontecito, CA, along with their ing. Her next trip will be to 2 grandchildren. visit Germany in December, Howard and Joann Savage enjoying the Christmas celebrated their 50th wedding holidays on a Rhine River anniversary this past July with cruise. Of particular interest, several old and close friends at Class of 1958: Vacationing at Fincher’s famous Catfish Sandy went to high school in the Mimslyn Inn in Luray, VA. Restaurant in Alpine, Alabama, were, from left, Bob Nuremburg and Heidelberg Rather than celebrating this anand Cathie Spurrier with Elizabeth and Ernie Edgar. in the early 1950s. niversary in Paris, Howard and Joe Parker reports he Joann decided to celebrate with returned from the Institute in a “significant” jewelry purchase. Speaking of reunions, the Jim Beamer mid-July, where he interacted with 4 rising Congratulations, guys! family held their own reunion in Fancy Gap, cadets and a 2008 VMI grad. These cadets Against her wishes, I want to thank my VA. This gathering brought together 4 VMI are Swope biology researchers involved wife, Annemarie (“Scribe Pro Tem”), for alumni: Jim’s uncle, Carter Beamer ’41, with research projects with faculty menher able assistance in compiling, organizhis cousins – Don Jones ’67 and Wilson tors. Joe said this is the second year he ing and typing these notes. Without her Beamer ’74 – as well our BR, Jim , himself. has talked to them; his current topic was help, I’d be in a heap of trouble. All these “Keydets,” with great VMI pride, Prion diseases (“mad cow” and the like). Keep the Spirit and God’s Blessings … followed Jim’s inspiring father, Clayton Joe expressed his being impressed with Wes Beamer ’29, to the Institute. GO, VMI! the Jackson-Hope Foundation, allowing In keeping with our brotherhood, Jim tremendous advances in the academics at Phillip Shepard Cowan advised me that he had driven the Institute. from Hill City, SD, to Coeur D’Alene, ID, A brief note from Bill Gee reports the to check on our BR Dick Culver. Dick has following re: Jim Poteet: been nursing his wife, Gloria, for over a “Some guy bought our house (in year, following Gloria’s accident in which Florida) HOORAY! We moved out to our she sustained multiple fractures of her place in Hunt, TX, P.O. Box 107, Hunt, Chuck and Margo Cotton are enjoying their leg(s) and ankle(s). Dick had previously TX, 78024. The new telephone number is new home in Frankfort, KY. Although they assured Jim that he would be at the re830-238-4807. hated to leave the lovely old antique house they union but failed to show. Jim found Gloria BR Bill Holt noted that he and Landa lived in for 30 years, it was getting harder for still “riding the Gim,” with BR Culver and their two daughters spent a week in Chuck to maintain and much more difficult for helping her as best he could. That’s what Rome in May. They saw things they could him to climb those stairs for his daily nap. Chuck and Margo brought part of their brood to our BR Brotherhood is all about. Thanks only dream about and now better underOrlando, FL, to enjoy the wonders of Disney. for the report, Jim! stand why Rome is called the “eternal They had a ball at “Shades of Green,” a Bob and Cathie Spurrier reported their city.” (Bill attached 2 photos from the trip wonderful facility on Disney property having attended the Army Ball on the 14th taken during lunch breaks at one of the exclusively for active and retired military many outdoor cafes. However, they are not of June. Also in attendance were Anne and personnel. John and Betty Ann Tompson won’t Al Allison ’56 and Betsy and Paul Bark printable.) be making it to the reunion because they have ’56. Paul graduated with us in ’58. Being BR Tony Lash submitted photos of his another important event to celebrate: their 50th inveterate golfers, the Spurriers met with recently completed mountain retreat, with wedding anniversary. They will gather their Ernie and Elizabeth Edgar in Alpine, AL, an invitation for any of his BRs to visit family in White Sulfur Springs, WV, and enjoy and enjoy the beautiful views. Sadly, these in early August. The guys played golf for the Allegheny Mountains at the Greenbrier 2 days while the girls did their thing. Bob photographs were not re-printable. The Hotel and reminisce about the last half century

’59

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES of marriage. Billy Kornegay presided over the Memorial Day ceremony at Powhatan. Over 100 of Powhatan’s finest gathered on the courthouse lawn to witness a program sponsored by American Legion Post 201 commanded by none other than Billy Kornegay. It was a beautiful and moving ceremony honoring our troops past and present. Lloyd and Betty Thacker are pretty sure they are getting younger each year, maybe not physically but their 7 grandkids keep them young at heart. They recently traveled south looking for a place to retire. While visiting Aiken, SC, they dined with Fred and Lee Cavanaugh; Fred is still the mayor of Aiken. No news on where they will retire. John and Pat Van Kesteren are pulling out all stops so they can attend the reunion. Pat has had some medical problems the past few years but modern medicine has been good to her and she’s been doing pretty well lately. They are planning to get together with our illusive Brother Rat, Lou Gapenski, sometime during the summer. Lou and Jane have a place on Daufuskie Island, around Hilton Head, SC, and have invited John and Pat to join them for a few weeks to enjoy the beauty of the Low Country. Next year John and Pat will be celebrating a momentous occasion when they gather their kids and grandkids together to hoist a glass to 50 years of marital bliss. I recently ran into a Brother Rat that I haven’t seen in over 50 years: John Pitkethly. John left VMI after 2 years but finished his education at University of Maryland, NY University and finally FL Tech where he received both a bachelor’s and master’s in mathematics. John worked for RCA but has been with ENSCO, a company here in Melbourne, FL, for the past 25 years where he is involved in math modeling. John and his family sneak a peek at VMI whenever they are in the Lexington area. With a lot of talking, I hope I’ll be able to convince him to return for our reunion. Another voice from the past is Don Hann who completed our Rat year but then went on to bigger and better things. Don and I went to Riverside Military Academy in GA during my junior year. I didn’t go back for my senior year, but Art Brandriff did and was close friends with Don who played football against Art at Pennsgrove, NJ, and Art’s wife is a distant cousin. Don was a “Coasty” (USCG) and did well retiring as a rear admiral. John and Camille Trout are still in GA. John is about to take on a new insurance job and Camille has just started a new teaching job. No plans for retirement; maybe at 80. Pat Breth is living in Williamsburg, VA, close to her daughter and her family. Since her daughter’s husband is in the Navy, their inevitable reassignment will

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produce a problem, but she’ll face that situation when the time comes. Meanwhile, she enjoys their company. Pat is undecided on whether she will attend the reunion. She misses Frank terribly, and returning would bring back a flood of memories which she is not sure she is prepared to cope with. She has not closed the door completely, so we might see her there. Ina Ingram was nice enough to send a picture of the courthouse named for Jim. Ina has promised to come to the reunion. Jack and Jan Barnett have been kind enough to chaperone her and ensure she stays out of trouble. They have kept a watchful eye over her since Jim’s passing and have meant so much to her through the years. Ron Marley has been on the gim for the past few months having undergone radiation

Class of 1959: The renovated courts and jail building in Danville, Virginia, named for Jim Ingram in 2007.

treatment for a faulty prostrate. Prospects are good that he will be back in sync shortly. Unfortunately, Ron and Mary Alice are getting used to this chemo and radiation stuff, since Mary Alice went through a bout with cancer last year, but she successfully recovered, and Ron is positive he will do the same. Juggling doctor appointments and daily radiation treatments drains the energy from Ron, but Mary Alice hits him with the cattle prod every now and then and gets him out line dancing every chance she gets. Our prayers have been with Ron as they were with Mary Alice, and they seem to be working. Jim and Sarah True are still running their beloved Failte Inn in PA and recently got a visit from Jerry and Darlene Borst. What a grand time they had getting reacquainted. Bud

and Denyse Kramer have been on an emotional roller coaster that seems to never end. They found their son, Blaine’s, 34-year-old wife had terminal cancer, so they packed up and moved to Canada for six months to help out while he took care of his wife. They are praying for a miracle. Compounding this, they have two children that are going through divorce. They continue to RV when they can, recently camping out at Mayport Naval Station, FL, and enjoyed watching the ships go in and out of the harbor. Both still work at the Sanford Christian Sharing Center where they get great satisfaction helping the needy. Bill and Jen Lee plan to go back to Portugal for three weeks before the end of the year. They fly to Madrid; take the overnight train to Lisbon, then rent a car. Last trips to Norway/St. Petersburg (’06) and Prague/Potsdam (’07), they went by train. Now that gas is $15/gallon, they go by car – Go Figure – but what can you expect from an old EE? Pete McWane says he has a surprise for the class at the reunion. Skip and Linda White are enjoying their 14 grandkids. One granddaughter has moved to NYC where she will open on Broadway in “Tale of Two Cities.” She just completed 2 years on the soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful.” “Big” Jim Wood and Martha are doing fine. Things are improving for Martha who is still recovering from a major horse riding accident she had last year. Bruce Mackenzie had to get out of the Xmas ornament business; the paints he was using were on the hazardous materials list. He’s now into fused glass art and enjoys it tremendously. Mike and Julie Vargosko spent a week on St. Barths where they celebrated the birthday of oldest son Michael. Young son John and his wife joined them as did a contingent from Poland. Michael is employed by a company in Europe and has a home in Warsaw. They have visited him every summer for the past few years, and Mike can attest to the fact that the beer gets better in Europe the farther east you go. Ann, the beer aficionado in our family, says “AMEN to that.” One recent visit was especially meaningful; they found the church where Julie’s father was baptized and the town where her mother was raised. They also visited Auschwitz. Mike thought he had seen the ultimate man’s inhumanity to man at Dachau and Bergen-Belsen, but Auschwitz is “as it was.” Mike is retired and in the process of dissolving his corporation. Other than Julie and the kids, his passion is golf, albeit he’s still lousy but improving. Jim and Bet Vermillion stay busy visiting with Brother Rats. Harlee Pate, Cec Young and Jim get together about once a month and talk about the “bad, young days.” Jim and Harlee visited Leon and Marge

CLASS NOTES Elsarelli and found everyone doing well. Leon’s entertainment for the evening was a viewing of “Mardi Gras.” Jim recently dined with Vern and Brenda Barrett Keefer. Vern is doing great and continues to work on his dream house at Northern Neck, VA. Bill and Connie Nebraska signed on for the VMI ’59 South America trip in February, as have Mel and Jean Anderson, Niels and Maggie Andersen, Pete McWane, and Ann and I. We had hoped for a better turnout, but we’ll have a great time anyway. Prior to the SA trip, Bill and Connie will enjoy a European River Cruise. Between their travels, they visit their two boys and their families several times a year. Donnie and Jo Anne (Anstett) Dreelin’s daughter, Erin Anne, married Michael Wagner in the Sir Christopher Wren Chapel in Williamsburg, VA. Ann and I were out West and could not make it back in

time for the wedding, but the reports we got from the family all agree it was a spectacular event, and Donnie would have been so proud of his lovely daughter, Erin. Bud and Sue Mease sometimes feel like they are running a boarding house out in Sandy, Utah. Not a month goes by without a classmate, friend, relative or one of the kids dropping in for a visit. Gets busier in the winter when the snow is great and skiing in the Wasatch is at its best. Both love it and keep inviting people to come and enjoy bountiful Utah. Sue’s going through a bout with breast cancer. She’s taking radiation treatments, and the prognosis is good. She’ll be fit as a fiddle when Ann and I join them for a trip to Italy in October. Last year, Don Messner suffered from what he thought was the gout. He had it treated and appeared to have it under control. Recently, he suffered a relapse and found it was not the

gout but a broken foot. After discussions with the doctor, they decided to operate and screw it together so he and Carole could make a planned trip to Scotland. Don’s hobbling around in a cast with relatively little pain but is all ready for their trip to Scotland. Don still hasn’t figured out how he broke his foot, but senility will do that to you. Kudos to Jimmy Johnson for taking the initiative to design and purchase a favor for our reunion. It’s something that we will all cherish for years to come. I won’t spill the beans; you’ll have to come to the reunion to get one. When not coming up with great ideas for the reunion, Jimmy takes Linda to Aspen, CO, to visit their son and his family. Bob and Lois Hobson are doing pretty good. Bob’s health is excellent, but Lois had a knee replacement nine months ago, and she is still in a lot of pain. Needs to have the other one done,

m, an Iraq

Class of 1959 Photos from top left clockwise: Dick and Linda Phillippi spent the day at the Pounding Mill (Virginia) Fair and Horse Show with Jim Sam and Lucy Gillespie. In the photo are Jim Sam and Dick’s granddaughters. Bud Mease and his grandson hiking in the Wasatch Mountains outside Salt Lake City, Utah. Ann and Shep Shepard at Bryce Amphitheater overlooking the hoodoos and eroding fins in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. (Note: Hoodoos are tall thin spires of rock that protrude from the bottom of arid basins and badlands.)

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Mike Scott, England’s hero of the Falkland War. In appreciation for his actions in the war, the Queen promoted him directly from LTC to BG. MG Scott was a student of Phil’s at the AFSC in Norfolk way back when. Lee and Marilyn Southard moved into their new home, built on the old site, in Corolla, NC, this summer. Lee has been working hard on a new drug for heart failure and this year has made some real progress. A real need exists for this drug, since statistically 85% of our class will die of heart failure. Kids and grandkids visited them early in the summer, so they coasted for the rest of the season. They have a new VMI Keydet scheduled for the class of 2026, our 67th reunion. They have put their home in Sanibel up for sale and will move across Estero Bay to a Shell Point condominium. It’s getting too expensive on Sanibel, and Lee is not too good at “honey do’s”. Lee checked in on Dave Goode and says he’s getting on with life. Dave misses Class of 1959: Post Commander Billy KorneBJ terribly, of course, but appears to gay introduced 1st Lt. Jim Graham, an Iraq war veteran, at the Memorial Day ceremony have the right attitude and his kids in Powhatan, Virginia. look in on him regularly. He is back at work and recently attended a but she said something about a cold day reunion of the old Benedictine gang. somewhere before that would happen. Bob’s in Lee says they talked about how they would touch with Lou Gapenski who has been have loved to have beaten John Marshall at teaching part time at the University of Florida least once during their high school years. Kenny where he has been since retiring after a 20-year and Peggy Smith are downsizing from their career in the Marines. Coincidently, he has Lois lakefront home in Palmyra, VA, to a new home Hobson’s nephew in one of his MBA classes. just down the street. Peggy’s playing a lot of Jim Edmunds is in Walnut Creek, CA, where golf and Kenny’s doing great; seems to have he keeps busy by working part time for a civil stabilized the Parkinson’s. Ivan and Oksana engineering firm. Jim worked for Bechtel and Galysh have lived in Fairfax Station, VA, since Detroit Edison, before returning to CA where he Ivan retired from the Army. After the Army, he worked for CalTrans until retirement. Jim and spent several years working for the Army Mary Lew went to the Ice Capades with Bob Materiel Command until he retired for good in and Lois Hobson in D.C. on the night they got 2000. I’ve kept track of Ivan through his married, 50 years ago. Lonnie Martin, aka brother, Roman, who worked with my brother Mole, is still in San Antonio. He’s had his share for many years in Huntsville, AL. Ivan and of “getting old” problems including bypass Oksana plan to break away from their 3 sons surgery, aneurysm, etc., but says he is doing OK and 5 granddaughters long enough to attend the now. Wife Patti had a knee replaced and must reunion. Spence Tucker continues with his also have the other one done. She did well on writing and editing. His 5-volume Encyclopedia the first, so she is optimistic. Phil and Betty of the Cold War received the Society of Military Sellers have a busy schedule beginning with a History award for best reference work in 2007. trip to Phoenix and the Grand Canyon followed His Encyclopedia of the Arab-Israeli Wars has by a drive to VA to meet the Whitescarver’s just been published and an Encyclopedia of for the VMI/W&M football game and a visit North American Colonial Warfare will be out with their daughter. Then, they’ll travel to AL soon. Although several other encyclopedias and for a 1/9 Cav Sqdn, 1st Cav Div reunion. The a book will be published next year, his biggest big trip comes in November; they visit Prague, project is a 6-volume chronology of world Budapest, Paris and end up in London to attend military history from ancient times to the the wedding of the daughter of their friend, MG present. Spence saw Willis Wichlei when he

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stopped by Lexington on his way to New York. They met at Marshall Library where they reminisced about the good old days. Willis was most impressed with the changes on Post and said he would try to make it to the reunion. Robert and Priscilla Martin are enjoying their 11th grandchild who came to them by way of daughter Carolyn and her husband, Chris. Robert still works 2 days a week at St Peter’s Church in Plant City, FL, as an assisting priest and is a full card carrying member of the Department of Veterans Affairs and officially registered on the “agent orange” list. Robert urges anyone else exposed in Vietnam in the late 60s to register. Buzz Nowlin, still living in Hot Springs, VA, has agreed to come out of retirement to be interim superintendent for public schools in Highland County. Buzz has also been re-elected for a third term as Bath County supervisor, so he’s a little busy these days. Bob and Anne Baillio just spent a week in Gulf Shores with his 7 grandchildren. Now that they are home, the silence is deafening. Bob still works 4-5 days a week looking for oil and gas and managing his interests if he finds some. Bob and Anne travel as often as they can and will continue to do so until something breaks. Jack and Joy Angolia continue to be deeply involved in the construction of their new home. Time and finances have not allowed for any significant travels, but this will change when they move. Jack’s collection will be set up in a new museum area with vastly improved lighting and a great sound system. They expect to return to their travels, taking in the Christmas markets in Austria and Germany, then some free travel in Bavaria. A prolific writer, Jack will have his 37th book released before the end of the year. Bob Haines and girlfriend Monique Harnetty joined Mel and Jean Anderson for a trip to Tuamotus, Marquesas and Society Islands aboard the good ship M/S Paul Gauguin. They spent several days touring the islands of Tahiti before visiting the other islands. This was not the first trip this year for Bob and Monique; they just returned from Russia where they enjoyed a riverboat cruise on the Volga River from Moscow to St. Petersburg. They had a couple more trips planned but had to cancel because Bob is flying again, and he had to get checked out in some new aircraft. Mike and Karen Irvine spent two weeks at the Lake Louise area in Canada and had a ball. Larry Wood and Bill Traylor spent an hour on the phone telling stories about their exploits in the VMI chemistry department. Rusty Loth continues to do yeoman service handling class finances and making sure flowers are sent whenever necessary. He often has lunch with Ned Addison, Mort Eggleston and Marve Myers where they resolve big

CLASS NOTES problems like nuclear proliferation and a national energy policy, while Andrea, Bunny, Audrey and Patty stay home and decide what they will do that evening and where they will go on vacation. Audrey and Mort plan to go to Crested Butte, CO, with a group of friends including Virginia Powell (Maupin). Mort reports that Virginia is doing well. Marvin and Patty spent a weekend at the “rivah” with Lloyd and Bette Thacker and Truman and Jackie Baxter. Truman and Lloyd challenged Jackie and Marvin to several rounds of golf. Lloyd and Truman lost big bucks; you just gotta know how to pick your partners. Meanwhile, Bette and Patty enjoyed the A/C while shopping. Noland and Mary Pipes live a mundane life, so says Mary, but I don’t think so. Their daughter, Marianna, got married in March, and Noland stays busy with Anglican Mission in the Americas as assistant at the Faith Anglican and in the larger church network helping younger clergy with their needs. I don’t call that mundane. Dick and Linda Phillippi spent a great day at the Pounding Mill Fair and Horse Show with Jim Sam and Lucy Gillespie. Dick’s granddaughters took the Blue Ribbon in the costume class for the 2nd year in a row. Their theme was “NASCAR on Horseback.” Kurt Berggren just turned 70 and thinks he might be the last in our class to do so. At age 69, Kurt was the oldest player ever in the Ann Arbor city basketball league. He could only play 3 or 4 minutes per half because of all the kids in their 20s or 30s who flew up and down the court with ease. Just to prove he could do it, Kurt ran for 2 hours on his birthday, albeit very slowly. He stopped by VMI, saw the new basketball arena for the first time and was so impressed he ran a few laps in his crocs. Dick Bingham’s retirement years have brought him new experience in faith, hope and charity. In spite of a pacemaker implant, he has completely

Class of 1959: Kurt Berggren calling to invite friends to his 70th birthday party.

restored his 1929 brick home, including landscaping. This fall, he will have his third pacemaker put in, leading Dick to suggest that his doctor put a zipper in his chest. Ann and I just returned from a month-long trip with our daughter and her family visiting the National Parks out West. We began with the Grand Canyon and ended up in Flagstaff. On our way back to Las Vegas, we stopped off at Hoover Dam for the 50 cent tour – well worth the time. We will join Bud and Sue Mease and his USMA classmates for a grand tour of Italy in October, followed by the VMI ’59 trip to SA in February. Keep those cards and letters coming in. I can’t write these notes without your input. Remember our reunion – 24-26 April 2009 – and please support Bobby Ross and his committee by contributing what you can. It’s important that we get as much participation as possible. So, regardless of the size, make that contribution, so we can get as close to 100 percent participation as possible. Yours in the Spirit.

’60

L. Edward Tolley

Brother Rats: ’60/50th … THE CAMPAIGN is on! Please mark your calendars, memory banks, notes, the back of your hand, put it on the refrigerator door, stick it on the phone, use postits galore … Wednesday, April 21, 2010, thru Sunday April 25, 2010! On those days, the greatest class in the history of great classes will celebrate 50 years of release from the Ratline, 5th stoop, company room, Rat calc, chemistry, physics, wrestling and swimming PE, straining over radiators, midnight runs, resurrections, inspections, DIs, the presidential parade, white’s farm, survival hikes, Corps trips, VPI football games, penalty tour road, confinement, guard duty, mandatory church, SMI, ROTC summer camp, ring figure, weekends and GRADUATION! Let’s make this the reunion of a lifetime. Contact your roomies; make sure they join us, too! Had a good chat with Roy McLeod just after completing my May notes. He was doing fine even though he had a bout with prostate cancer which he referred to as “low-rate,” if there is such. Roy and Sewell live in Richmond and have been active in the Manakin Episcopal Church along with several other VMI guys. He is also still active with Bill Giles at Rotary. Roy chatted with Rusty Loth ’59 and Bill Kornegay ’59 while attending the funeral of Mike Maupin ’59. Roy spent his working years at Life of Virginia along with Bill Hallett ’47

(now that had to be exciting and rewarding – if you don’t know Bill Hallett, he is the Class Agent for his class and at the last Class Agents Conference, an old friend, who couldn’t recall Bill’s name, met him on the steps of Moody Hall and exclaimed, “My God!”; Bill offered his handshake and quietly replied, “No, Bill Hallett”). Roy spoke of his Rat roomies, Jack East, Bill Simpson and John Olsen as well as “A” Company Lt. Fravel ’57 and of course, his dyke, “Silent Sam” Barker ’57. After several unique and funny stories about his faculty advisor, Col. Carroll, Roy related how Jack Tice ’39 had assisted him throughout his cadetship and later in the purchase of his first car! Jack Tice was instrumental in keeping many cadets in VMI and did so much for the Alumni Association. One of Roy’s most rewarding associations was as a cadre member with Col. Glover Johns ’31, commandant of cadets. Alice had a surprise 70th birthday party for Frank Bruce recently. Afterwards, I called him to see had he survived it. He had. Then we identified and solved most of the current situations that tend to take joy out of living. I thought I was conservative, but that Brute is hard, still. We didn’t get into the sprained ankle he suffered during a sprint across the parade ground after running the block during a winter’s snow fall. Frank Bruce, Darrell Markland, Don Duncan and I roomed together for three years. You could always know that Frank was having a good day when he started to sing his version of “Fascination.” George Salaita is now teaching history at Mountain Empire CC in Morristown, Tennessee. He called searching for information regarding activities at VMI at the time of the death of General George C. Marshall (1901) of which I had no recollection. George has resigned from the telecom business and does a lot of reading about historical periods. I caught Chris Fleet as he and Linda returned from a vacation with their son and his family at Ocean City Beach. He marveled at the energy and enthusiasm of their grandson in the water and anywhere else for that matter. Super Dan Marston is back in good health and spirits, although not swinging the clubs. Dan suffered a heart attack and prostate cancer in the past two years or so. He had a good story about how BR Tom Spicuzza helped Dan’s dad after his dad had suffered a stroke. Evidently, Tom was instrumental in changing a bleak situation to one that gave Mr. Marston some extra time cherished by the family. Pat Hughes is still at approving companies for ISO 9000 certification, and Kay is in the top 5% of Mary Kay. Their roof was being replaced as we spoke; that was noisy, but the guys installing the new A/C were reasonable. Pat is

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES having troubles with the traps he has employed to catch turtles and snakes that are eating the fish in his pond. And recently a couple of dumb crooks cut an entry hole in the chain link fence where a truck was the item to be stolen. The crooks busted the window, couldn’t get it started and got caught. Even if they could have made the truck start, they had not considered the double chained/locked gates, so they were still stymied. Sounds like those ole Cajun boys didn’t do too well in grade school. Back in April, Tom Daniel sent me a note that Room 150 had a reunion, less one BR, i.e. Howard Moss, down at Herb and Terry Vaughan’s place at the Villages, Orlando, Fla. He included a photo of himself, Jim O’Dell and Herb Vaughan. Why not Howard? Well, he was recovering from back surgery made necessary by some manual labor in the back yard, so the story goes. Then again, if he neglected to say “Yes, ma’am” to Susan, then we understand. By the way, Tom Daniel has a new gig that will keep his mind ticking. He teaches anatomy and physiology at NE Tech Community College in Blountville, Tennessee. Barb, get ready to grade papers. Sam Horner sent a couple photos of he and Joe Morabit that turned out great. That pair looks as awesome as they did sweeping right for more yards. Sam has a place in Dawsonville, Ga, where he does gentleman farming. Sam says that the last time he talked to Mike Ondos, Mike was still fighting his diabetes affliction which necessitated the removal of one leg. Jeep Goodwillie says he ran into Herb at the golf course. Vaughan looked good and expected to have a really good round. Jeep dropped his efforts at the Palmer Golf Academy, since it was cutting into his play time. Poor Linda; she is still hitting the clock while Jeep struggles with his wedge and putter, or Mahjong, or bowling, or … Doc Mallory was at work on Saturday afternoon when I called. He is reorganizing or revamping a manufacturing plant in Carolina that had been scheduled for closure with the impact of no jobs for some 300 people. Doc is a good example of the typical determination of most VMI alumni who, faced with difficult situations, refuse to let things simply go down without a sincere effort to do good and better conditions for one or many who are affected. It was amazing that in our conversations, both Doc and Chris Fleet stated virtually the same words concerning what they considered the value of their VMI experiences and education. Both considered that it would not be possible to measure nor repay the Institute for the lessons of life gained while there. As you know, Doc has been on

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various boards and committees at the Institute over the years. I just sent Sal Vitale ’61 a listing of Class of ’60 football team members of the ’59 squad. It is planned to have a 50th year reunion of that team during one of the home games this season. Bill Haeberlein ’61 and Lou Shuba ’61 are putting together a program for the Keydet Club. It is good to see several BRs using The Ranks to get information. Go ahead and give it a try. Go to www.vmialumni.org and start clicking. I’m sure it will be a relatively short time before the VMI Alumni Review and most paper goes the way of the buggy whip. My problem is remembering how to navigate through the screens, tool bars, drop downs, etc. The grandchildren laugh at me on the computer. They play with it like I used to ride a bike. But I was tougher than they are. Brats! Bill King used it to give me his latest phone number after several tries to do it on line. He is contacting Bo Callaham there in Houston to inform him of the unique abilities of the web site. Many thanks for all who made gifts during the immediate past fiscal year. For the first time during my efforts as class agent, we had over 100 donors, 100 being my goal. The total number of Brother Rats donating was 105 with 4 additional non-BRs. We have 174 active Class of ’60 alumni; thus we had 60% participation. For your information, the VMI Alumni Association Annual Giving Goal was exceeded. However, the participation goal of 37% was short at 35.7%. As I have stated several times before, the amount given is important, but the main goal is to get participation up as high as possible. It gets to be a habit or routine budgeting item the more you participate. Interestingly, there are about a dozen donors who did not graduate, having spent at least one year at the Institute. I sincerely appreciate your generosity, as does the VMI Alumni Association. On my home front, Nance is no better as she fights her memory loss, but she still enjoys good physical health. And my brother, Bill Tolley ’56, is back at home and doing remarkably well. I was not at all optimistic about his condition while he was at Duke Medical. He has done well in rehab and now does most of the things he did before his surgery. As for me, I’m still as contrary as ever. I’m building a patio for Mike Burton ’66 who is my next door neighbor. I’ve got no pains, see the boys often and plan to participate in the national catfish tournament at Santee-Cooper in South Carolina in September with a bunch of friends. Rah Va Mil

’61

Sal Vitale Jr.

It has been relatively busy since my last report to you. Our first trip as a class was a real success. The night before we left, Tom Rutledge hosted a spectacular cocktail party at his beautiful home on the Charleston waterfront. There are wonderful views of Fort Sumter and the Battery from several vantage points. Tom had the catering done by the finest caterer in Charleston, and the food was outstanding. The next day we went to the ship, and we had our first challenge. John Purner had left Florida with an outdated passport instead of his current passport, and the ship would not allow him to go on board. The ship had all his current passport information, but without the document in hand, you do not go. Buzz Bossart, who drove John to Charleston, came to the rescue and kept things calm. A telephone call to John’s son in Florida provided a solution, and John’s passport was couriered to him, along with an airline ticket to Bermuda. When we arrived in Saint George, John came aboard. It didn’t take us long to recognize the fine job Tom Phlegar and the travel agent did for us, especially the cocktail party. The NCL ship, food and service were acceptable. At sea, we ate together for supper, and for the other meals most of us did our own thing. We did spend a lot of time telling stories, and the camaraderie was the best ever. Rod Hudgins brother and sister-in law, Bill and Betty Hartley, were also with us and after a few minutes with us, they were “taken in.” A few of us participated in the “First Annual Class of ’61 Bermuda Golf Tournament,” and we had a ball. At approximately 9 a.m. on June 12, the day we were to departed Bermuda at 11:30 a.m., we had another surprise. Dude Copenhaver and Kathy Kinder were married at Gates Fort, which is at the entrance channel to St. George. Dick and Dianne Stone were the witnesses. We left Bermuda on time and with everybody this time. That evening, the newlyweds hosted a dinner party for all of us. Buzz Bossart played a lot of Texas Holdem on the Bermuda trip, and one night, as I hear it, Buzz and Ray Hanlein cleaned up. Buzz continues to play Texas Holdem on the Internet. Tom Phlegar brought his banjo on board and when not jamming on deck, he rehearsed for the ship’s talent show. The entire class was present for the performance, and we cheered him on. As I said, it was a great trip. As of the writing of these notes, 17 couples have signed up to participate in the August

CLASS NOTES

Shuba’s 1961 Annual Pig Roast Photo above: At the Shuba Annual Pig Roast on July 26, 2008, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, were, from left, front row, Wanda Scott, Jerri Wetsel, Bill Haeberlein, Sue and Sal Vitale, Pris Shuba, and Sandra and Bill Fout. Back row: Ken Scott ’60, Larry Wetsel, Jim McFall ’59, Bill Tornabene ’64, Lou Shuba and Harry Shepherd ’58. Photo at right: The host of the pig roast, Lou Shuba.

2009 Alaska Class Trip. John and Linda Moore recently took the trip that had an itinerary like ours, first, on land, Fairbanks, Denali and Mt. McKinley, and then, aboard ship, through the “inland passage” to Vancouver. John said it is a must-see and suggests spending a few extra days visit to include a visit to Victoria and The Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island. I am sure our Class Trip will be outstanding, and Tom Phlegar, our cruise director, will see to it. So, send in your reservations now. Installment payments will start sometime in January 2009. The Virginia Historical Society had an “I am a Charlie fan” night for Charles Bryan ’69. The Gibbings and Vitales attended the function, as well as several distinguished VMI alumni. The pictures are in the Alumni Front section of this Review. It was a fun evening. Susan and Bob Winslow and Sue and Irv Wells rented a house on the Virginia Creeper Trail and the South Fork of the Holston River just outside Damascus, Virginia. They attended the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon. Bill Braithwaite and two of his sons, Jonathan and George Michael, joined for one full day, and the guys rode bicycles 17 miles from White Top Mountain to Damascus and spent some time at Dot’s exclusive beer joint there. Irv is still traveling and provided a picture of him in Petra, Jordan. Can you tell which one is Irv? Lee and Betsey Badgett were at Point Harbor, NC, for the Fourth. Carol and John Rowe ’66, Lee’s brother’s classmate and CFO of the

Class of 1961 Photos: (see next page) Photo 1: At the St. George Golf Course in Bermuda on June 19, 2008, duffers and golfers held the first annual 1961 Bermuda “Best Ball” Golf Tournament. From left were Ray Hanlein, Rod Hudgins, Buzz Bossart, Diane Stone, Sally Hanlein, Sue Vitale, Kathy Copenhaver, Dude Copenhaver and Dick Stone. Sal Vitale is not pictured but was part of the tournament. Photo 2: Aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Majesty on June 10, 2008, were, from left, row 1: Mary Schall, John Purner, Roy Schall, and Don and Ibis Kern. Row 2: Kathy and Warren Copenhaver, Diane Stone, Sally and Ray Hanlein, and Sal and Sue Vitale. Row 3: Tom and Barbara Phlegar, Dick Stone, Betty and Bill Hartley, Doris and Rod Hudgins, and Buzz Bossart. Photo 3: According to Class Agent Sal Vitale, the ship’s talent show would not have been complete without Tom Phlegar playing the banjo, singing and clogging. “It was a great performance, and the audience loved it.” Photo 4: Tom Rutledge hosted a pre-cruise cocktail party at his home in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 6, 2008. Present were, seated, Roy Schall, and from left, standing, Ray Hanlein, Tom Rutledge, Don Kern, John Purner, John Miller, Rod Hudgins, Tom Phlegar, Battle Haslam, Buzz Bossart and Sal Vitale. Photo 5: The wedding couple, Warren and Kathy Copenhaver, on their way back to the ship in Bermuda. Photos 6 & 7: Aboard the Norwegian Majesty on June 8, 2008, at the ship’s cocktail party for the class of ’61 were, photo 6, from left, Dick Stone, Rod Hudgins, Warren Copenhaver, Roy Schall, Ray Hanlein, Sal Vitale, Buzz Bossart, Don Kern, Bill Hartley and Tom Phlegar. John Purner was not available for the picture. Photo 7: From left, front row: Sally Hanlein, Mary Schall, Diane Stone and Sue Vitale. Back row: Betty Hartley, Barbara Phlegar, Doris Hudgins, Ibis Kern and Kathy Copenhaver.

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CLASS NOTES 1

Class of 1961 Cruise

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CLASS NOTES Institute when Lee was a senior official there, attended the Carolina pork BBQ along with Alison and Jeannie Drescher, Fred and Caroline Ayers, and Donnie and Kim Wise. Soon after, the Badgetts left for Cancun, Mexico, as they have done for the last 20 years for two weeks of reuniting with children and grandchildren and reading. I hear that Jane and Sterling William-

fit and happy. A few weeks later, the Taylors stopped at our home to replenish my “grits” supply. Ashby has me hooked on “Falls Mills” white corn grits from Tennessee. Once you try them, you will never go back to another brand. Sue and I attended the annual Lou and Pris Shuba pig roast in Gettysburg. Lou is a master at the pig cooking, and seeing friends and en-

Photo at left: Bill Braithwaite was attired for biking on his way to visit with the Wells and Winslows in Damascus.

Sue and Irv Wells, above, center, vacationed near Damascus, Virginia, with Bob Winslow, left, and his wife, Susan, in early August 2008.

son ’58 purchased a place right in the midst of the Point Harbor ’61 mafia. John (J.C.) Tharrington is still doing consulting work for a national banking association in DC. I had hoped he would visit the Tidewater banks but plans changed. Sue and I visited with Ashby and Sandra Taylor on one of our trips back from Annapolis. The houses are coming along, and both folks look

joying great food make it worth the long drive. Bill Haeberlein and Lou Shuba are planning a 50th reunion for the 1959 football team sometime in September 2009. If Lou cooks a pig, I am going to try to weasel an invitation. Call these BRs for details. Marty Caples is feeling fine and is back on the road. Marty enjoys an afternoon 50-mile dirt ride from his back yard to the fire tower lookout

on the 6,694-foot summit of Danskin Mountain. There are over 30,000 miles of dirt roads and trails to explore, and he says he has a lot of catching up to do. Bill and Sigrid Hala and Second Mate RenoWotan von Amalaberge, aka Wotan, circumnavigated 450 miles of Georgian Bay and a short trip into the North Channel. Weather was so-so: one nice day followed by two iffy and a major Tstorm one night while anchored out. Bill loves to race and with his daughter-in-law, Ashley, won the open class sailing race in the 102nd Oliphant Regatta, sailing a 34-year-old O’Day Day Sailer. The trophy is about a meter tall and rivals the America’s Cup. Bill’s son, Wendell, came in second in the Laser class. Hala thoroughly enjoy racing and would love to get a big boat together with Gibbings, Williamson and other sailing BRs and do the Mac Race. Floyd and Mary Jane Roberts enjoyed the visit of their grandson, Christopher, from Florida and granddaughter, Kristin, who lives in Vermont. All enjoyed family camping and “more fun trips.” Floyd and M-J stay busy with Kristin’s swimming, and for home meets, M-J runs the concession stand and Floyd is a timer. The remainder of the year, M-J and Floyd teach 2nd grade CCD, and Floyd is also a lector, funeral server and chairman of the cemetery committee. Lou Grazulis is alive. However, we don’t know what is happening in his life. Carl and Becky Hirsch just celebrated Becky’s retirement. Carl said, “Now I’m trying to adjust. I married for love, not for lunch!” (I wonder who makes the lunch?) The Hirschs enjoyed taking their 2 grandsons (9 & 11) who were visiting from Austin, Texas, to the Gettysburg battlefield and Valley Forge to show them there’s more to American history than just the Texas Alamo. I am sure that many of you saw the fencing on the Olympics, and this exposure will give fencing a big shot in the arm. Carl’s grandson, Travis, is involved with the Youth Fencing Club at Texas State University and is coached by Will Cisler, the son of Douglas Cisler ’70. Ray and Sally Hanlein spent a week at Hilton Head with their daughter, Amy, and the grandkids and had a great time. Larry and Joann Respess came east to spend time with their grandchildren in northern Virginia and then came to Virginia Beach and visited with Bill and Joyce Gibbings. Sue and I enjoyed several dinners with the two couples, and Larry and I enjoyed a few early morning walks. Battle Haslam has been very busy moving from his “big” house to his son, Mark’s (deceased), house 100 yards away. Battle is also looking forward to taking care of his 13-year-old

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES

Class of 1961: On July 4, 2008, in Point Harbor, North Carolina, for a pig picking were, from left, Fred Ayers, Alison Drescher, Lee Badgett, Donnie Wise and John Rowe ’66. grandson on school nights and tutoring in algebra and trigonometry (smile). Susan and Bryan Haslam ’90 are moving into Battle’s home. Speaking of grandson’s, Bill and Shon Maurer finally have a grandchild, Karl Maximilian Maurer, the son of Julie and Adam Maurer ’95. Enjoy! Sue and I had our grandkids here for a month, and now that they are older (ages 9-16), they talk more and monopolize all the TVs and constantly chat on the computer with friends. My virus software is working overtime, but we love it. Ed and Phyllis Hollowell enjoyed their spring Intra Coastal Waterways cruise and signed up for yet another in the Chesapeake Bay area next spring. Ed had a very enjoyable 16 days

at the Coast Guard Academy on the AIM Staff and was recently nominated for division commander for the next two years in Division 8, 5th Southern Region USCG. He also completed the Auxiliary Leadership and Management Course training at the Yorktown Training Center and has already started teaching the USCG fall round of Boating and Safety Classes. If this isn’t enough, Ed will be off in November to The Leadership Academy to prepare him for his new position. What time he has left, he is very much involved as Class Agent ’57 at Fishburne. I wonder when he will have time to retire? It sounds like Rich McMurry is finally taking it easy. Rich is currently living in Dalton, GA, where he continues to write and give lectures on the Civil War and awaits the arrival of two additional grandchildren. Our lost and found list of ’61 people is growing. I have returned mail from John Moorcones, David Yerger, Robert Tyson and Joe Mahoney’s widow. Should you know where they are, please let me know. There is an old saying: “After forty, it is nothing but patch, patch and Class of 1961: Bill Hala and his second mate, patch.” Now that some of Wotan, on their 450-mile Georgian Bay trip near the patches are leaking, we the Great Lakes in July 2008. hope that we can replace

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or repair. First, let me say that I am sorry for the confusion I may have created in the last Review concerning Badgett’s health. Lee’s hip is fine, and sometimes he even forgets it’s there. Lee continues to build his strength at the Stonewall Jackson Hospital’s physical therapy facility, where he is a member of the “Fitness for Life Club,” along with Dick Trandel ’59. Sleepy Hollowell’s staph infection seems to be in control, and he will have a new knee sometime in mid September. He is in good spirits, and the good Lord willing, Sleepy will attend the ’61 Football Reunion in October. A few days after the Bermuda trip, Ray Hanlein had three more stints placed .He feels so good that he has resumed playing tennis. Five days after the Bermuda trip, Buzz Bossart tore the retina in his eye and had emergency surgery. The doctor is pleased with Buzz’s progress. Irv Wells is recovering from deep vein thrombosis (a clot in the deep vein of one leg) and is on Coumadin and shots of heparin. He is doing ok. Floyd Roberts is still dealing with cancer, and his current treatment has pretty much done all it can do. A scheduled bone scan will determine whether a change in treatment is in order. Kenton “Rabbit” Patrick had a fistula installed in his left arm as insurance for future dialysis. Sue Patrick said it is akin to carrying an umbrella, sort of. The fistula has to be in several months to even be ready for use. I talked to Ken, and he is very up. Carl Hirsch spent a couple of days with a high fever and headaches. Meningitis was suspected, but it turned out to be a viral ear infection. Carl said, “The x-rays and CT scan of my brain revealed nothing there.” Bill Keech is gaining his stamina back every day, and best news is all cancer indicators are negative. Bill now has a scalp that is red and full of scar tissue but feels great. As I understand it, Don Wise is not in tiptop shape. We were saddened to learn of the death of Garland Payne’s wife, Margaret. She had been ill for some time. I have received several e-mails, letters and telephone calls about my madras jacket. For you who are not up to date in the fashion industry, that jacket is back. I promise to closet the jacket when our class participation in Annual Giving reaches at least 61%. At the close of the 2008 FY, we had 58% participation. Within the decades of the ’60s and ’70s, 1960 received the gold metal with 60% participation, and we got the silver. A special thanks to all 125 BRs who did participate. The book containing the VMI 1961 stories many of you sent in is at the printers, and by the time you read this, you should have received your copy. We all need to thank Jim Bickford who took this project on and Bill Braithwaite who assisted in editing. It has

CLASS NOTES been long in coming, but it was well worth the wait. I enjoy the e-mails and pictures you send. Please do not send pictures from cell phones if you want them in the Review. The image is not good for printing. Also send pictures at the highest pixel size your camera will allow, and do not reduce the size for e-mailing. I have a 20MB limit, and that is an enormous size. So, keep the news coming, call a Brother Rat who may be having challenges and if you can, join us for the Alaska trip on August 20, 2009. God bless our sons and daughters who are serving in the Armed Services, our Country, Brother Rats and spouses, and VMI. Please let me know what is going on in your life!

’62

Jerry Burnett

I begin with two sad notes of deceased Brother Rats since our last correspondence. Brother Rat Edward Hayes died at St. Peters Hospital in Albany in New York on July 22, 2008, after a long illness. His obituary will appear in the 2009-Issue 1 Review. I have written Jenny a note expressing the class’ sorrow in his passing and have made a donation to the VMI Foundation in his memory from our class. I also received a note that BR Chet Pauska of Round Rock, Texas, passed away on July 5, 2007. I have written his wife, Sandy, and his son, Keith, expressing our sorrow in his loss, and I also made a donation to the VMI Foundation in his memory. On May 21st and 22nd, thirty-one of your BRs met at VMI to discuss the 50th Reunion Fund Campaign. We had a luncheon, and afterwards Binnie Peay gave a two-hour presentation on the status of VMI and future plans. We toured the Post, Leadership and Ethics Building, and Athletic facilities, and it was a very informative afternoon. The next morning, we met in Preston Library for a brainstorming session led by George Collins, who is leading the 50th Reunion Fund Campaign. You will be receiving further information as we approach our 50th Class Reunion. I am happy to report that 48% of our BRs contributed during fiscal year 2008 to the Foundation Fund, Keydet Club Scholarship Fund or the Athletic Operations Fund for the Classes of 1960-79. The Class of 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1966 had a higher percentage of participation. Hopefully, next year we can outdo the 2nd, 3rd, and Rat classes while we were cadets.

Class of 1962

On May 21 and 22, 2008, members of the class of 1962 met to discuss their 50th Reunion Fund. Photo at top: Out to dinner at the Lexington Golf & Country Club were, from left, George Collins, Pam and Binnie Peay, Belle Smith, Walt Perrin, Ware Smith and Carolyn Worrell. Photo center: Sheila and Bruce Seiling, Joyce and John Allen, Paul Rhodes, Joe Irby ’85, and Jerry and Joy Burnett. Above: Touring the new construction were Gen. Binnie Peay, center; the son of Hughes Burton, right of Peay; and other BRs.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES I received a nice note from BR Richard future. He said that he was going to do some health, family and continued activities. Carlisle who reiterated, “Among the manifold scouting around the U.S. for a city during his On June 21st, Bill Mizell had a tumble benefits of being one of Col. Dillard’s boys June trip to Alabama for his high school class off the second step of his front porch trying (many trips such as the one that Robert Evans reunion. He is considering the Lexington area to avoid stepping on his companion, Bebe reported in the previous Alumni Review), we and plans to visit VMI at the end of June. Ed, (his dog), fell on his driveway and broke saw John Neville do Hamlet in DC, we heard it is nice to hear from you again, and we look the distal radius of the right wrist in four Maria Callas in DC and we heard Renata forward to your fellowship. places. He had surgery and a titanium plate Tebaldi in La Forza del Destino and screws with an elbow cast. at the Met in New York City.” He Needless to say, Bill and I will said, “My cadetship was truncated not be able to participate in our in the spring of 1960 by the little 14th Princess Anne Country Club business of running up a tally of Member Guest this year. Joy and Demerits in Excess that has to be I speak with Bill often. Bill said some sort of an Institute record – that Monty Williams had his gall at least from 1839 to 1960. Even bladder taken out the same day though I took a double-major BA, he was in the hospital, and after an MA and a PhD elsewhere, I Monty recuperates from his gall have never forgotten the wonderbladder surgery, he plans to get his ful education I got at VMI, both left carotid artery cleaned out. in the classroom and outside it. It was nice hearing from EdClass of 1962: Edmund and Margie Strickler and Don How blessed we all are to have mund Strickler and Don Beckner. and Linda Beckner having dinner in Houston, Texas, had the likes of such dedicated They got together recently in on July 12, 2008. faculty in our lives and to have the Houston and hopefully there are experience of life at the Institute. enough pixels in the photo for the The example of such professors as Alumni Review to use. Col. Dillard and Col. Byers has served me as As I mentioned in an earlier edition, BR I had a nice note from Don Arey. Don is an exemplar across forty-plus years of teach- interested in any BR who wants to join him George Collins will be the host and skipper ing. Anecdotes from my two years at VMI have for another Mt. Washington summit hike for the inaugural VMI Alumni Association served to illustrate more than one sermon since in the future. As you know, Don was a Bo Caribbean Cruise March 14-21, 2009. Hopemy ordination to the priesthood in 1983.” BR Diddley fan. Bo Diddley died in early June, fully, some of you can join George and other Carlisle took a BA in English and Spanish and and Don went to his funeral in Gainesville, VMI alumni on this cruise. a MA and PhD degrees in Spanish from the Florida. Don had been going to Bo Diddley I had a nice conversation with Sparky University of Arizona, minoring in English. concerts regularly since he has been in Woods, our new VMI head coach. He is a He taught at Northern Arizona University, did Florida. He said it was a very emotional very enthusiastic, seasoned coach, having a Fulbright lectureship in Paraguay and also and heartwarming funeral service. Don also been the head coach at Appalachian State taught at the University of North Texas. While said that his daughter, Andreae, finished her University and the University of South Caroat the University of North Texas, he was called pediatric residency in July at University of lina. I look forward to seeing many of you into the ministry. When he became chairman of Florida and will get married to a Jacksonville during the 2008 VMI football season. The Modern Languages at Southwest Texas State guy and join a pediatric practice in Jacksonfirst game is in Lexington against St. Francis, University in 1978, he received further calling ville. His son, Weeb, will move from Dallas PA, on Sept. 6, 2008. Go, Big Red! and later was ordained to the diaconate in 1982 to Tampa in July and join an ophthalmology Keep the letters, cards and me updated on and to the priesthood in 1983. He did a second group, and his wife will open her own office events in your life. Fulbright in Paraguay in 1984. In 1987, he in pediatric endocrinology in Tampa as well. In the Spirit … Jerry Burnett became dean of the Anglican School of Theol- His son, Donnie, will be flying all over the ogy on the campus of the University of Dallas, country and to a few foreign countries doing Michael J. Curley a fine Roman Catholic School. Since then, he basketball camps for the NBA. Don is still has served parishes in the area and was named teaching at the University of South Florida a canon of St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Dallas, in Medical School and is very busy as a defense 2003. He is presently the rector of St. Barnabas’ expert witness in medical malpractice cases. Episcopal Church of Garland, Texas. He and his He regrets that he is unable to perform his wife are raising two grandchildren whom they services in Virginia because of Virginia law News is sparse around here at the moment. are adopting, and he reports “there is never a and now is an expert witness in seven states. Perhaps it’s the summer doldrums … most likely, though, it’s preparation for our 45th Redull moment!” Please write Brother Carlisle at In regards to Don’s physical stamina, he union. With that in mind, let me say with your St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church, 1200 N. Shiloh accomplished his birthday triathlon on June indulgence that I’ve decided to take this issue 1, 2008. He swam .68 miles, ran 6.8 miles, Road, Garland, Texas 75042. off and devote my efforts to the reunion. You and rode his bike 68 miles. He said that it I received a note from Ed Vinieratos askcan be sure that there will be plenty of news in was very hot, but he had no problems. As you ing, “How our class is doing?” He stated, my next installment of our Class Notes. know, Don suffered life threatening injuries “I don’t receive any news, I guess because Happy 45th! Hope to see you there! on his bike when he was practicing cardioI am in Russia. I’ve been there for ten years That’s all from The Holy City for now. vascular surgery in Winter Haven, Florida, now teaching English, and I like it.” He Thanks for writing, pray for our troops in years ago. Congratulations, Don, on your states retirement looms in the not too distant

’63

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CLASS NOTES harm’s way, our departed and those on the GIM. God bless! Curleyrat

’64

John R. Cavedo

Our mini reunion to Normandy and Paris was a tremendous success. We started with 23 of us meeting at Dulles airport for a very inexpensive flight which had been arranged by Dick Atkinson. Joining that flight were Sherrel and me, Hank and Elizabeth Cronin, Tom and Helen Davis, Barbi and Duke deHass (Dick Atkinson’s daughter and son -in-law), Lee Fleshood, Bill and Marion Garber, Bill and Millie McVey, Tony and Barb Munera, Bill Rodier and Karen Walborn, Harvey and Dolores Sargent, Walt and Karen Sykes, and Bill and Betsy Taylor. Upon arrival in Paris, we met up with Dick and Susan Atkinson (they had been in Europe on business before joining us), Dan and Sandy DeForrest, Frank and Marcie Parker (they had elected to travel to Paris a few days earlier), and Roxie and Eunice Webb. Thirty-one of us in all. Actually, the night prior to departure, the Cronins, Sargents and Cavedos had met at Hank’s house for beer, wine and pizza. At that get-together, I heard the story of how Harvey met Dolores in Germany in 1972. Later, there will be details about how this long-haired, bearded hippie on a motorcycle managed to snare this young, upcoming lawyer. By the way, Harvey isn’t the lawyer in the story. The trip itself was absolutely wonderful. We started with a day of sightseeing in Paris. The next morning, we got on the bus for our Normandy tour. Beginning in Rouen and Caen, we saw many interesting sights, including the place where Joan D’Arc was burned, the famous Tapestry at Bayeux, a museum to honor those lost during WW II, most of the landing beaches, Pont du hoc (site of the Rangers climbing the cliffs) and St Mere Eglise (where, in the movie, “The Longest Day,” Red Buttons was hung up in a parachute during the 101st Airborne night parachute jump). We spent several hours in contemplation at the U.S. Cemetary. Those twoplus days were eventful and enlightening. From there it was a stop at Mont St Michel (the cathedral city on an island). Actually, it’s an island only at high tide. The tidal range of nearly 40 feet changes the entire look of the place that quickly. The last two days were spent combing the Loire Valley being amazed by over 200 French castles, all built during their glory days of the 15th through 19th centuries. We heard several

France Mini Reunion Class of 1964 Photos (see next page)

Photo 1: Sandy DeForrest, Millie McVey, Susan and Dick Atkinson, and Sherrel Cavedo.

Class of 1963: Class Agent Mike Curley, hard at work planning the class’s 45th Reunion. times about the peasants “volunteering their time” to build these structures. I’m not sure we bought that bit of “history.” Then back to Paris for a final afternoon and evening of sightseeing, eating and drinking. While there, Ed and Janice Seager and Mary Jo Jordan met the group. Then, some of us went to dinner, while others took a river cruise. The Seagers and Mary Jo were winding up a 12-day trip with more extensive wandering through the Normandy area. However, by far, the best thing about the mini reunion was simply getting to renew friendships, meet wifes, and get caught up on our comings and goings over the last 44 years. The wives added zest to the traveling which can’t be duplicated with a mere 2-3 days in Lexington for an official reunion. Frank Parker wrote that his brother-in-law decided to drive them into the ditch and a pine tree on 5 July during a thunderstorm. Frank ended up with a busted knee cap and very sore ribs. Surgery put the knee back together, but he’s still mending. Ed Seager wrote that, upon returning from France, he had eye surgery to deal with glaucoma. It was successful, and his vision is now getting back to normal. They also finally got to do their boat cleanup, which had been postponed by the France trip and surgery. That has now finished, and they have been able to do some sailing. They have taken a trip to NY and Canada to visit friends and attend a family reunion. He closed by saying that they will attend the Institute Society Dinner in Lexington on November 11. Jan Rudinoff wrote that after 31 years as a parish priest on Kauai and 2 years in Nelson British Columbia as the “Incumbent” at St. Sav-

Photo 2: Harvey Sargent, Roxie and Eunice Webb, Helen and Tom Davis, and Tony and Barb Munera. In the background are Betsy and Bill Taylor and Bill Rodier. Photo 3: Bill and Betsy Taylor in St Mere Eglise. Photo 4: Ed and Janice Seager. Photo 5: Bill McVey. Photo 6: Walt and Karen Sykes and Lee Fleshood at Mont Saint Michel. Photo 7: Visiting the American cemetery at Normandy, were Harvey Sargent, Bill McVey, Lee Fleshood, Tom Davis, Duke deHass (Atkinson’s son-in-law), Helen Davis, Dick Atkinson, John Cavedo, Barbi deHass (Atkinson’s daughter), Susan Atkinson, Bill and Betsy Taylor, Bill Rodier, Karen Walborn, Delores Sargent, Bill Garber, Walt Sykes, Marion Garber, Barb Munera, Karen Sykes, Millie McVey, Marci and Frank Parker, Sandy and Dan DeForrest, Tony Munera, Sherrel Cavedo, Elizabeth Cronin, Eunice Webb, Hank Cronin and Roxie Webb. Photo 8: Harvey Sargent.

iour’s Anglican Church, Paula and he returned to Kauai. The Bishop asked him to serve two small missions on the North Shore of Kauai. A great ministry – preaching and celebrating communion. No administrative responsibilities. Jan

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Class of 1964 France Mini Reunion

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CLASS NOTES continues to serve the Kauai Police Department as chaplain and serves on the newly formed Kauai County Fire Commission. In his spare time, he trains responders in Critical Incident Stress Management, plays golf, and enjoys his grandchildren (2 on the island) and traveling with Paula whenever she says, “let’s go.” Jan also has been instrumental in various agencies helping veterns from Vietnam. There are many vets who are homeless on the islands. Tom Hill e-mailed that he’s on the “left coast” in Newport Beach for over 20 years. “I had a career in engineering with Chevron (originally Standard Oil of Kentucky) and worked around the country before coming to California. The past 20 years I have consulted to the downstream sector of the petroleum industry – this means plants, terminals and refineries – and my specialization is environmental regulatory compliance. More specifically, oil spill prevention planning. I will probably work several more years. My roommates were Dick Atkison (biology) who is back in Wilmington, DL, and Jim Shumaker (CE) who is in Pittsburgh. My brother, John Hill ’70, lives in Fountain Valley, CA. He and my dad were my VMI contacts, other than phone/e-mail with my roommates. My dad passed away; he was Class of ’27. John and I were both wrestlers at VMI and both cocaptains of the wrestling team.” Al Fiorini reminded me that he has two corporations with a total of 200 employees. He is in the process of completing an ESOP where the employees and the bank will own the corporation. When this is all settled, he intends to retire. With his skill on the golf course, I expect his handicap will come down farther (it’s already sinfully low). Tom Sebrell indicated that he is enjoying retirement too much to get too involved. He swore when he retired that he would have fun and not be in charge of anything again. He enjoyed guiding kayak trips for a while until he burned out. Now, he and Penny ride their bikes for pleasure and exercise. Tom rides his Harley several days a week and shoots in competitions in IDPA. John Thornton contacted me to say he had been out of town on vacation in Crested Butte Colorado. He, Buzz Birzenieks, Doug Walker and Chuck Sawyer attended the first Keydet Club Auction in Richmond, which was a great time and a huge success. “I invited Doug down to my place on the Rappahannock Rivah where we met Walt Sykes. Walt has a place about a mile downstream from John.” They all went out on Walt’s boat for about 5 minutes until they saw lightning and a storm coming. So, they hightailed back to shore. John expects to see Bill Taylor this fall for duck and pheasant hunting.

Shortly after receiving the e-mail from John, Doug Walker called. We spoke for over 30 minutes. In addition to telling me about the Keydet Club Auction in Richmond, he brought me up to date on several things. It also turns out that Doug donated a print which brought $400 at auction. Doug frames prints as a hobby. He’s quite good. I have a print he gave me a year ago. Doug had just returned from Smith Mountain Lake for the annual reunion of the orginal roommates of Ben Gardner. With Ben’s absence, it was a nostalgic but warm time together. In addition to Doug, Charlie Cole, his wife and two young twin boys were there, as were Andy and Callie Tucker and Bob O’Hara. One evening, they all went across the

Class of 1964: Cliff Crittsinger, skydiving in 2008.

lake to Don and Frances Giles’ place. Naturally, the center location of their trip was with Marty Gardner at the family cabin on the lake. The morning after Doug’s call, Andy Tucker sent an e-mail indicating that he blew the horn when they passed the I-95 exit to Hilton Head. He also described their weekend with the roommates. Andy keeps telling me he will stop to see us on one of his trips. However, they’re always in a hurry as they drive up I-95. Andy said they have some photos of the event, but they were not ready in time for these class notes. In a phone call a couple of weeks ago, he mentioned they had driven out to Idaho for a vacation. He says his back continues to improve, but he’s concluded that his horse riding days are a thing of the past. Andy continues to

be a wonderful counselor and person for me to bounce ideas off. He helped me with the recent series of e-mails I sent to everyone. In addition, as you know, he took responsibility for the birthday cards to all BRs. Thanks, Andy. Dan DeForrest wrote, “My hard drive crashed, and we lost nearly everything! I can send the HD off to a data recovery house and for the princely sum of $1,000-$2,000, we can recover most of what is lost. I do have a back up file on an external hard drive, but the files are in PC format, and I am converting to the Mac world. Nothing is easy! Sandy and I just got back from a month at hard labor in Indianapolis helping son Dan with a kitchen renovation. We got back to find a leaky roof, leaking hot water heater and a leaking toilet … we have a lot of things started and nothing finished! At least the water problems are under control.” George Rapport, in addition to describing his volunteer efforts, indicated they were finishing building their new house in Madison, Connecticut. Apparently, his son also attends school there. In addition, Madison has been the home of his wife, Jane’s, family for over 100 years. George noted that his e-mail address has changed to georgerapport@msn.com. Ted Gammon and his wife, Sherrill, took a seaplane to the Dry Tortugas and spent a nice day snorkeling, touring the fort and taking pictures of some unique sea birds. He is still working and enjoying it more, because he is able to be more involved in the technical and not on the business side. He hopes to come up with a few more new products, maybe even a patent or two. “Last week, I went to West Virginia and helped to test a product in a coal preparation facility. That was very interesting and eye opening, and I do not envy the people who work there. It was about an hour and a half from Lexington, so I took a detour to VMI – the new Barracks is coming along and I think should look great when completed. Sherrill and I are heading for the Grand Canyon in early Sept. (believe it or not, have never been there), a conference in Denver and the Coastal Carolina game at VMI on 11 Oct.” Tony Putamanonda is a first-time grandparent with a granddaughter born in Australia in April. He and Dusadee spent the whole month of May in Sydney. The rest of their time is divided between their home in the northern city of Chiengmai, practicing the teachings of Buddha and some travel. He reports his golf game has been so bad that he’s contemplating giving it up all together. Either that or get serious about practicing. At one time, his handicap was 11. Dusadee will head down to Sydney again in September for a month and a half. Sounds like an opportunity to bring that handicap back down.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES

Class of 1964: Don and Margaret Carson at his 2008 birthday in Florida. Jim Crawford retired from civil service in Feb 2004 but stayed retired for only two months. He got an offer from URS Corporation which he couldn’t refuse. He promised them he would work for three years, and it has now been over four. He hired a young Hokie female to take his place and now feels obligated to work until she gets her professional engineering license, which will be in Jan ’10. In the meantime, he works when he wants to. Otherwise, he plays golf and works around the house. He has an 8-year-old grandchild who golfs with him and is pretty good. Bill Crone wrote that retirement came suddenly. When he departed, he developed and maintains a list of over 100 friends who continue professional relationships and gather for lunch and golf twice per year. Since he did not like golf or tennis, and other sports seemed to be out of the question except for watching, he decided to pursue his carpentry interests. He also vowed to hit the YMCA every morning

to stay in shape. To this day, when not outside working, he is there at oh-dark-thirty. Bill went on to say, “I had built several decks for friends and relatives when growing up, so I started a deck building business, Psycho Deck Builders. The only employees are myself and my partner, a Hokie. We decided from the get-go that we didn’t want to work for anyone and didn’t want the hassle of an employee. Together, we design and build about 7-8 decks a year of high quality at very reasonable cost. We do not build anything above eight feet off the ground. At our age, it is too hard and not exactly safe. Now, Dyan and I spend a lot of time with our eleven grandchildren, who are dispersed to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Richmond, St. Louis and Vicenza, Italy. We’re driving to St. Louis for a Missouri grandkids’ “fix” in October, accompanied by Ron and Ginny Williams, and plan to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary next June in Italy with the Italian connection. Oh, and did I mention surf fishing on the OBX is my favorite hobby/pastime? I landed a 50-pound red drum last October, and my kids surprised me with a mount for Christmas. Sitting on that beach for hours on end can be most rewarding, especially at our age and when your beach mate is your best friend and Brother Rat, Ron Williams. Catching something (big or small) is always an adrenaline rush, but persistence and patience are the keys. That’s why they call it fishing, not catching, which BR’s Hank Cronin and Harvey Sargent could never quite comprehend! One lasting VMI memory that occurred to me while writing this note: To this day, I can recall BR Dick Butt “driving” the Rats through our first class room each evening after SRC to view the drive-in movie, which

Class of 1964: Bill and Dyan Crone with Ron and Ginny Williams at the “Back to VMI” Picnic in Norfolk, summer 2008.

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was an 11x14 photo of Dyan sitting on my desk. He got the biggest kick out of that, and hardly a day goes by that I don’t recall fond memories of all our classmates, especially those we have lost. And I remember them every Veteran’s Day, which I quietly celebrate on the beach with a fishing pole and a prayer of thanksgiving.” Bill Grubb wrote that he is working. He feels fortunate that, for his last career act, he will have been able to do something that he truly wanted to do. He plans to teach full time as long as he is able to walk and talk (not necessarily at the same time). Dick Atkinson e-mailed that after the minireunion in France, he and Bill Taylor got back together again after a number of years. They weren’t really apart, just didn’t follow each other’s lives closely. He, Bill, Betsy and Susan, met in Ashland after they got back from France and ate at a restaurant to reminisce. Dick reported they drank California wine. They didn’t want the France thing to go too far. In early August, Dick and Susan added three more grandchildren to their family. His niece died in December, leaving three small children. The father tried keeping them, but it was proving too much. Dick’s oldest daughter and her husband, who live in Montana, had agreed to take them. Now they have obtained legal custody. The family flew to Montana to pick up the kids. Dick finished by saying, “… this will be 7 kids for Carrie and Dave and 17 grandchildren for Susan and me, once the baby arrives in October. Life just got a bit more complicated for all of us.” Bill Taylor wrote: “Anyone traveling near Bedford, VA, should visit the National D Day Memorial. The boys from this town of 3,000 were part of the first wave hitting Omaha. Thirty-two of them died during the attack. The losses were staggering, and the memorial is beautiful. Since returning from France, we had our annual family trip to the Outer Banks with our daughter, her husband and our two granddaughters in Duck NC. Lots of crabbing, wave watching, four wheeling and hammock time. Betsy and I also had the privledge of attending the ceremony comemorating the 50th anniversary of the consolidation of the city of Newport News and Warwick County here in Virginia. Much more importantly, the occasion served as the backdrop for the dedication of the magnificant new O.J. Brittingham Family Center in Newport News. Brother Rat Jim Brittingham’s dad served with honor and distinction as the first mayor of the newly consolidated city. Jim and his wife, Joyce, along with most of the Brittingham clan, were in attendance. Jim, as family spokesman, delivered a heartfelt keynote address. We departed the dedication feeling deeply touched and honored to have been a part of the celebration.”

CLASS NOTES Bill and Mille McVey just returned from two weeks on a NC beach. They had both daughters and spouses and all four grandchildren. A highlight of the week was actually watching a loggerhead turtle nest hatch and 112 little guys making a beeline for the ocean. The second week was in Charleston and then Wilmington with their younger daughter, hubby and three little ones. They will go to Reno in Sept. for the Tailhook convention and squadron reunion. Then will run a disabled sail weekend, followed by the Annual Women’s Regatta, then back to Wilmington, NC, for a couple weeks to play with the little ones and keep house while their younger daughter will be taking care of her brand new 4th (and final) child. Don Carson wrote, “It is a pleasure to read about our BRs and their families and what they are doing. It is sad to read about the deaths of our friends. That is part of the circle of life, which we all must complete. I am attaching a photo of Margaret and me taken at her birthday party on July 27. Our son, Don Jr., and Patsy, his significant other, spent the day with us. We had dinner on our boat, and then we came back home for some cake and opening gifts. It was a fun day.” Finally, my thanks to all who e-mailed, called and helped me develop these notes. Please don’t make me wait until the middle of November to contact me again. Send your info now. In the Spirit … John

’65

Mickey Finn

Jim Hogler e-mailed: “I just received the latest copy of the Review and enjoyed reading about how things are going, especially for you and Bill Ryan. The cruise to Nassau sounds great. Is that on your boat or Bill’s? [Jim – The boat belongs to Carnival Cruise Lines.] Also glad to hear you are an iPhone user. I recently acquired a new one to replace my original one. Really like the new one with the 3G. Nothing exciting here to report. Still enjoying retirement – lots of gym time and hobby time. Still do a little consulting but have been keeping it to just a few things that interest me. Wish I had more to report but did want to send an e-mail and let you know that I continue to appreciate your work as our class agent.” Thank you, Jim. Then from “Bogie” Holland ’68 the following interesting tidbit: “I was reading your class notes, and I was wondering if you can tell me how to get in touch with Dees Stallings. Dees and I dug graves together during the summer when I was in high school in Suffolk. I guess he had finished his Rat or 3rd class year. He

and John Cockey ’63 were responsible for my going to VMI. Thank you.” Well, I passed on the contact information and received a call from Dees. Actually, we talk often, but this time deserved an explanation about grave digging. Time and space forbids further comment on this fascinating subject.

wife, Janet. Since I dyked in that room, I looked him up and gave him a call. Turns out that Dave and I share a common interest in coin collecting, and he frequently comes to coin shows at the Baltimore Convention Center. It happened that there was a show in a couple of weeks, so Connie and I invited him up for SRC. We hadn’t corre-

Class of 1965: Floyd Taylor had two gatherings at his home “where hospitality awaits all Brother Rats,” he said. In the photo above were, from left, F Company Privates John Rasmussen, Phil Lien ’66, Dave Stacy ’79 and Taylor. Photo below: Imre Lipping, Gene Marshall and Taylor.

Mox Brueckmann (who, as some of our BRs do, uses his wife’s e-mail address) was kind enough to repeat my lost data which is reprinted herein in its entirety: “Saw by your notes in the AR that the first e-mail I sent got lost during your transition. So, here it is again. I read in an earlier AR that Dave Pierce ’62 had recently lost his

sponded or seen each other since his graduation, so we had a lot of ground to cover. Apparently, Dave has quite an extensive collection of early American coins, and he sure knows a lot about them. He is also a recognized authority on Civil War Artillery and can tell you all you want to know about any piece of cannonry on the VMI

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Post. I also got the current e-mail Floyd is retired from Merrill address for my dyke, Seymour Lynch, has three daughters who Samuels ’62, and dropped him a have produced four grandsons, line. I last saw Seymour in a bar in ages 1 to 16. Floyd has spent a Saigon in ’67 – safe to say we’ve night or two at Alumni Hall and both changed considerably since recommends it to all as a great then. It was nice to make contact treat (to which I would agree!). after all these years. On another He invites all BRs who can to note, Connie and I went down to visit him and his Ring Figure VMI last November just for the date, Eva. Floyd, you and Eva h--l of it and took Moon Porare living large, and it is well terfield with us. Connie wanted earned and deserved! Watch to see the inside of Lee Chapel out – Janie and I might come by again, so we did the tour. I noticed sooner rather than later! Floyd that cadets no longer salute Lee’s and Eva hosted their now infatomb as they pass by. I checked in mous annual gathering of F Co. the guard room with the OG, and Privates. In attendance this year he didn’t know anything about it; at Sullivan’s Island were Floyd, Class of 1965: VMI friends and relatives at the wedding apparently that unique custom was John Rasmussen, Phil Lien ’66 of John McEwan and Mary Roberts on July 21, 2008, in a casualty of political correctness and Dave Stacy ’79. Only Floyd Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. Pictured were, from left, John and somewhere down the line. Lots of and Raz had a drink in their hand Mary McEwan, Pete Trible ’65 (groom’s father), Jim Joustra ’76 and Bill Traylor ’59. new construction going on down and proves the true dedication there, though. I saw Herb Mayton (to the scores of F Co. Privates, in Charlottesville, VA, last summer more especially those of the and spoke to him recently. He’s doing OK. I also office has pledged their support. Can you Class of ’65) of these fine boys! talk to Moon Porterfield on a fairly regular basis. mention this in the next issue of the Alumni That is about it for now. Please let us know That’s about it from Hampstead, MD. Hope you Review? I believe this is to be an ice hockey how you are, and remember our time together. and family are doing well. We are enjoying retire- game scheduled for this December for the ’65! ’65! ’65! ment immensely.” Thank you, Constance. benefit of a charity.” I receive lots of e-mail from Jennifer Egan Al Carr Bob Deaderick lost his father and sent out Albert Conner that is enjoyable but not of a personal nature. an e-mail announcement: “Sad to report that Recently, I was copied on some political opinwe lost Dad yesterday to a heart attack. He ion stuff that chained through Joe Straub, Lou was almost 91. Very befitting that it happened Siegel, Karl Zeller, JohnnyMac Marshall and on Memorial Day – he was a true American Dan Hogan. Let me just say that one should Hero.” (Class agent’s note: and a beloved remember that hindsight is 20/20, and history, The best news I can begin this report with is member of the VMI Class of ’40) Word of if not rewritten, will tell the truth. That having that, unlike my last two class notes, there is no services, etc. (in Richmond), to come later. been said, I passed Atilla on the right a long bad news! That said, I’ll jump right to some I would appreciate if you would pass this time ago. good news. Once more, you came through information on to those you find appropriBob Whaley was kind enough to also help in a great way for our alma mater. Of the 20 ate.” Thanks, Bob; our prayers are with you fill in the now-infamous lost data trail with classes in our group (1960-79), the great Class and your family. this: “Hi, Mickey, I’m not sure how far ahead of 1966 had the largest number of donors Lately, I have been receiving e-mails from the input for the Alumni Review has to be in. (141) – amounting to 55 percent of our solicitHank Wittel. Lots of them. No information But I thought since I had sent a note with some able alumni! Thus our giving rate is a full 20 from his talented pen – just passing on e-mail pictures to you last year (maybe during the percentage points above the VMIAA average!! traffic that he has received. To all who provide e-mail loss period), and there was no mention NO class in our group had more donors, and that type of input top me, first you need to of Jeff and Debbie Wilkins’ visit, that maybe it only three classes had higher percentages of get up much earlier, because I receive no less had been lost. Just checking; did you receive an participation!!! Way to go ’66! than 5 per day from my older cousin, Jerry e-mail from me with a couple photos?” That I First, we have some old business. We still cur“Mickey” Finn. Second, I would appreciate it did, Bob. Love the boat name “Keydet,” home rently have some AWOL BRs from e-mail lists. if every once and awhile you would find time ported in Big Pine Key! I mentioned this in the last notes but still haven’t to write something of a personal nature about Phil Taylor sent me a file I could not open, heard from them: namely, Butch Herbaugh, yourself, family and other BRs! Now, for the but here is the information I have of the hapGlenn Baumgartner, Herb Green, Nick Mager, rest of you who send nothing … well, at least I pening. Phil, sorry I did not try the file earlier have not lost it! Bob Poland (who we also share with ’67) and to let you know I could not view it. Anyway, Lastly, Floyd Taylor was so kind as to actually Nick Nicodemus. “B.R., phone home!” (The Phil wrote: “We are planning an event for the put pen to paper. He writes from Coastal South previously reported MIA, Nick Hoskot, has been Raleigh, NC, area in December 2008. The Georgia. This past March, Imre and Kadri Lip- cybernetically found, thanks to Clark Reifsnider game is on! Citadel and VMI alumni in the ping visited them from Tallinn, Estonia, some – see below. Thanks Clark!) Add to these newly area are on board with the idea. Both teams 40 miles from the Russian border. Imre is well “missing” Bill McClure, Joe Birindelli and Jay are excited about playing each other in this and retired from the Department of State. Joining Adams, for whom my e-mails have recently charity event. The American Legion national in the visit was Gene Marshall from Savannah. come back undelivered. That said, I now have

’66

2008-Issue 4

CLASS NOTES quite a few e-mail addresses in my adjoin our class prayer chain. Any dress books of which I can’t recognize illnesses, other burdens, joys the specific owner. So, I apologize and concerns? Worries about in advance if I’ve missed something. your family or friends? Share Frankly, there’s a bit of chaos theory in them with your Brother Rats my e-mail world. The acid test for you of ’66, and you’ll find a caring is if you haven’t received any e-mails network of prayer warriors. Just from me, then I don’t presently have a e-mail your prayer request, and valid address. If in doubt, just contact let me know if you’d like to join me at the e-address above. the prayer chain. Thanks to the BRs who responded to Returning to the mail bag – I my August 1st e-mail – I asked for news just had a Vietnam flashback while reporting on the end of FY2008 to 1967 when our Air Force Annual Giving results. If you didn’t get forward-air-controllers (FACs; that message, it’s because I don’t have their call-sign was changed your current e-mail address. from RED BARON to HERB to First among the BRs (in a lot of ways) reduce intramural dog-fighting) Class of 1966: George Newton’s daughter, Vanessa is information from John Jumper. He used to pick up our mail at our Newton Benson, received her below-the-zone promotion reports: “I have found that retirement higher HQs and drop a brickto lieutenant colonel, U.S. Army. is just as busy as active duty — only weighted “mail bag” to us as you are away from the blood sport they flew over our otherwise of Washington. I am enjoying board inaccessible fire-base in their positions with Goodrich, Jacobs Engineering and radiation. After a week at home, I returned for OV-1s/L-19s. One time, the FAC dropped the SAIC, plus doing some work overseas. Ellen and radioactive seeds to be implanted in the old bag through the thatched roof hut while my I will enter the ranks of grandparents in December prostate. I have thus far escaped many of the ARVN pals and I were eating lunch! No one as our oldest daughter, Cathy, is expecting a son. potential side effects. The seeds have a half-life was killed, but a few never lingered over a Meantime, our youngest, Melissa, graduated of 19 days, and the peak of the unpleasantries meal there again. Speaking of Air Force guys, from UVa, was commissioned into the Air Force should be reached at about 3 weeks. Then they George Newton wrote to me as a follow-up of and was proposed to, all on the same weekend tend to stay around for at least 3 months, the a phone conversation we had recently. George in May. That puts all three daughters in uniform time at which I return to Sarasota for 3 weeks of had spotted “his” VMI 1966 license plate while with Cathy and Janet in the Air Force Reserve and follow-up radiation. As far as I can determine, walking through a Melbourne, FL-vicinity Melissa on active duty.” I wonder why they’d pick the prognosis is still pretty good, and I’m doing airport parking lot. No, it wasn’t a hijacking. the USAF? Seriously, congratulations on grandfa- my best to focus on the positive these days. I It turned out that the other car belonged to BR therhood, John. The grandkids are a true blessing, am trying to use meditation to help quiet the Jim Szymanski. George called me for contact especially when they reach the age of semi-reason negative thoughts that appear seemingly out of information on Jim and finally was able to link and slow down to a trot. Incidentally, when Jane nowhere at times.” He adds that he had been in up telephonically. Jim, we find out, continues and I attended this year’s scholarship luncheon at touch with Bill Gore and Wayne Gray recently, to live in New York, but “has a hideaway in VMI, we sat with John. He’s now with the VMI and they were planning to go to the “HippiefMelbourne,” near where George lives. George Foundation Board of Trustees and was toting a est” at Wolf Trap Amphitheater near DC in adds, “We laughed again about the probability monster briefcase of VMI stuff. In his spare time, July, but the mission was scrubbed. They’re of us being at the same place and time at a little he works with the Marshall Foundation and the hoping to go hang out with the latter day flower out of the way airport with two cars with the Air Force Association. You may have also seen children next year. Maybe we could link you same license number ... VMI 1966 ... With this him on C-SPAN when “his retired-ness” was serv- guys up with the “Code Pink” war protesters as luck we will win the lottery for sure!” George ing on the commission looking at care for wounded an interim fix. Plenty of former hipsters there. also reports that “we are playing farmer at our service members. Maybe some of us should explain On 9 August, I received another update from farm in Ripley, WV ... almost as nice as the the concept of “retired” to John some time. BRs X.: “Am doing OK after the radiation seeding a Lexington area ... we are about 40 miles from Jay Adams and Bill Gregory also come to mind couple of weeks ago. I return to FL for 3 weeks Charleston and very close to the mighty Ohio for their participation in a lot of worthwhile comof follow-up treatment in October. After that, I River. I am already sore from using muscles munity and wider-focused organizations. Also at hope that no further treatments will be necesthat I have long forgotten.” In response to a that same scholarship luncheon table was Virginia sary, at least for a very long while.” We all hope follow-up e-mail, George added, “Weekend Young (Reyn was playing golf), who continues to so, too, Brother Rat. farmers got the tractor stuck today! This is serve on the Foundation Board of Trustees. Another really fun ...” I know I should avoid writing about politics guy at our table was one of the surprising numbers or religion, but … On the political side, check Peter Charrington sent a newsy update as of non-alumni whose families have created scholar- out some reference information on the “Peace well. He writes: “This past June, room 423, Ray ships in memory of their VMI loved ones. Cullen, Pete Farley, Paul Maini and I, took Democrats” or “Copperheads” during the Civil Next, we heard from X. Parsons, who has War. Before you write me, Bernie Halloran, our annual sailing trip on the Chesapeake for I’ll quickly point out that the “War Democrats” been “traveling for his health,” so to speak, and a couple of days. We ‘bare-boated’ a 46-foot comprised most of the Union Army and did is now, like yours truly, living between scans. X mono hull out of Annapolis for three fun-filled most of the bleeding and dying for the salvation writes: “Regarding my own situation, I am back days of sailing, relaxation and ‘a few’ libations. of our country. Continuing on to religion, I want While we did rehash a few of the happenings from my fourth trip to FL since May. There to invite you to e-mail me if you would like to was a 6-week stay June-July for direct beam which occurred during our time at the Institute,

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES most of the time was spent catching up on one another and focusing on Ray’s recovery from surgery, which by the way is going well. The sailing was great, including the two hours or so we spent trying to avoid lightening strikes and running aground during the two-hour afternoon thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon. We all made it in safely and plans for next year are in the works, part of which involves the Alumni Cruise out of Barbados in March with our spouses.” Peter also notes that he and Anna May are anticipating the arrival of a third grandchild. He goes on that “Pam, our youngest, is expecting in September, and so far everything is going as planned. Son Todd (Class of 2000) and wife Jackie joined us for a week’s vacation in St. John, USVI, this summer … a good time was had by all. Amy, our oldest, and two children – Madeline, 6, and Aiden, 4 – live about a mile from us (we feel very fortunate that all three children settled within 15 minutes of us here in Wayne, PA – outside Philadelphia). We purchased a condo on St. John in Cruz Bay and look forward to spending more time down there than we do now, sharing visits with Pete Farley at his place in Virgin Gorda in the BVI, when we ease out of the fulltime workplace. Brother Rats always welcome.” Also heard from Charlie Ramsburg who sent “a big Class of ’66 and ‘F’ Company ‘Hello’ from Greensboro, NC!” Charlie writes: “Gail and I are doing fine. We have a son getting married in central Virginia in early September, and I am organizing a high school reunion in Berryville for … former athletes and cheerleaders in early October ... Busy summer.” Charlie also reports that Frank and Cary Louthan stopped by their house in Greensboro for a visit. They were driving from Charlottesville, where Frank had attended a Darden School of Business class reunion. An add-on e-mail provided some additional details. The reunion he’s coordinating involves 10 years of at least 250 Clarke County High School athletes and cheerleaders for the first weekend in October. Their son is getting married on September 5th at a vineyard in Afton, Virginia (just across the Blue Ridge Mountains from Waynesboro and very near Wintergreen). For Cold Warriors, his son’s new wife’s story is very unique, and Charlie is wondering if any classmates were “officially” involved in this event in 1985. Her father was Maj. Nicholson, who was shot and killed by a Russian sentry while on official duty in East Germany as a member of the U.S. Mission in Potsdam/Berlin. Some people refer to him as the “last casualty of the Cold War.” If you know anything of this, please contact Charlie. I can give you the e-mail address. Here is some additional info on the reunion of 10 years of Clarke County High School athletes and cheerleaders

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to be held October 3-5 in Berryville. Charlie adds: “Clarke County, Virginia, was a county with a small population in the late ’50s and into the ’60s during my HS years. It had one county high school (still does, but at a different physical location) and during the period of September 1957 through June 1967 had two male sports coaches and one female sports coach whose teams had great athletic success (a 38game unbeaten streak in football which broke the then-existing record of 36 unbeaten games by Narrows High School – where Dan Phlegar helped attain that achievement). Fortunately, all three of these coaches are still alive, have been located and will be in attendance the first weekend of October (health permitting).” He suggests a look at the Maphis Reid Levi Reunion Web site (www.mrlr.org/index.html) which has helped build interest with pictures from the 10 yearbooks from the period and he says, “If you have chance, check out the Featured Person link at the bottom of the Home Page ... see if anything looks familiar about me.” Mike Burton wrote a brief e-mail to tell me that his computer is almost all back now after a complete crash. Mike also noted that Jim Hannah had killed a 40-inch, fat Timber Rattlesnake at his James River hideaway several weeks ago. Mike adds: “Too bad he left it out for the varmints after bashing it with a board and then shooting it a few times. It would have made a great conversation piece as a stuffed trophy in the coiled position. Ah, well; as we want Sister Rats to come to the cabin for class get togethers, maybe it is best that the varmints got it.” We also heard from Parky Parkman. He reports: “Mary Fran and I are still enjoying our retirement in Raleigh. As you may recall, our kids and their spouses (and our grandson!!!) are here, and that provides us with lots of good times. Our 15-month-old grandson had his first ever sleepover with us a few weeks ago, and did we all have a blast! What a treat to have him close by! In June, Mary Fran and I went to a wedding over in Wilmington. The groom, Steve Ward ’02, was a neighbor of ours when we lived in the Boston area. His wife is from Wilmington and thus the site for the wedding. Steve is a captain in the 82nd Airborne Division at Bragg and recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan. Many of the members of his wedding party were from ’02 – what an impressive group of young men. If this is indicative of the caliber of graduate that VMI is producing, we can all be proud!” You’re right, Parky; they are a great group, and I’m sure that the same could be said of their peer groups as well. We know Matt Thompson (also Class of 2002). After four tours in Southwest Asia with 101st and Rangers and a tour at VMI – and despite a bad motorcycle accident – he’s now at

Harvard Business School where he’s learning the “citizen” part of “citizen-soldier.” Thanks to ever-kind Providence, these kinds of young men and women keep showing up at VMI, year after year (just as they did in 1962). I also received a nice e-mail from Bill Gregory, who recently returned from an Alaskan adventure. In response to the news on our annual giving, Bill wrote: “As always, it’s great to hear from you, and you always send us such inspiring news. I’m glad to see the support from the class continue … as we’re a rather special class in my opinion. The money is well managed and certainly serves a fantastic cause.” He then related the story of his Alaska trip: “I have just returned from a wonderful 12 days in Alaska with fantastic cool temps which were a reprieve from the oppressive hot humid days here this summer in Richmond. The landscapes were the most gorgeous I’ve ever witnessed and being in Hubbard Bay and seeing the Glacier in all its splendor is a bit humbling to say the least. As always, it’s nice to get home and back to the comfortable routine.” Class VP Clark Reifsnider wrote a newsy and much appreciated piece with news on several BRs: “I was in Seattle at the beginning of May for a conference, and when the conference ended, I had the opportunity to have lunch and then spend the afternoon with [Class Historian] Randy Urmston. Randy, as we know, is one of the most gracious people alive, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to link up with him. And he gives a fantastic walking tour of Seattle! I warned him that I plan to return to Seattle with Marion to take advantage of his hospitality. Woody and Lori Sadler visited with us during Memorial Day Weekend. We spent one day in the wonderful city of Charleston, SC, and then we spent the remainder of the time just catching up. It was a fun visit. I had a nice call from Nick Hoskot on 4 July. He, Lair, and the dogs, cats, horses ... may not be as firmly entrenched in CA as I had thought. But I’ll let Nick bring you up to date on their plans. Paul and Joanne Robblee recently stopped by Greenville, SC, on their way back to Atlanta from visiting their granddaughter in Raleigh. We had a very pleasant lunch and visit, but it was much too short! And as some of our BRs know, the biggest news in our house is that our son, Clark, and his wife, Odette, became the parents of Alexander Clark Reifsnider (Alex) on 8 Feb. (Class of 2030 or thereabouts? Yikes!). Our daughter, Kate, and her husband, Sam, became the parents of Zoe Katherine Small on 19 July. All are healthy and life is good! In case I haven’t said it recently, I am so proud to be a member of this wonderful class!” Eloquently said, Brother Rat, I couldn’t think of a better way to end. I hope all of you receive

CLASS NOTES this edition in good health and in full enjoyment of the many wonders and gifts of life. Also, I hope that you have noticed that these notes, submitted in August, are arriving in your hands in a much more timely fashion. For that we owe a debt of gratitude to the hardworking Alumni Review staff and VMIAA. “God bless our class and VMI.”

’67

Jan Abernathy

Hi, all! Wow, summer has flown by, and there is much to share. I first want to thank Sam for his inclusions scattered among these notes. It is impossible to give credit each time, as so many of you send your information to both of us. In any case, keep your personal stories and contacts coming in. The new AR format and timely printings are a great leap forward for all alumni when it comes to sharing news. Some of what follows may have been in your e-mail this summer but as about a third of you aren’t in the ’67 system, this is for all. Peter and Mary Lou Van Note have been on the path again … this time in Europe. (Forgot to ask if they were on motorcycles!) Peter wanted to return to visit the sites of his youth. They have created a site with photos and commentary at vannotejourneys.com to cover Home (general information), Frankfurt and Arrival, Stuttgart, Munich and Dachau, Bavaria, Pete’s youth, Sardinia and a guest book page for comments. He also says they are off to China sometime this year! In the vein of continuing the sharing of our past and youthful influences, here is a narrative from Phil Gioia: A NOMAD’S LIFE: “Like Pete Van Note, Pete Wells and others in our class, I was an Army brat. And being one of those military nomads means you can never really go ‘home’ again. If you try, it’s like revisiting an old stage set – the scenery is still there and in many places shopworn, but the players you remembered so well have moved on; the new cast are complete strangers. In my father’s assignments and until I went off to VMI in 1963, we lived, in sequence, in Japan, at West Point, in Italy, in Australia, in Alabama and Virginia. I remember Yokohama as a very little boy in 1949-50, when it was still largely bombed flat and burned out from the raids of 1945. In the early 1950s, we were at West Point. General George S. Patton’s son, George S. Patton III, was a major like my dad and our next door neighbor. George and my father were great friends, and we went up to the Patton’s farm several times at ‘Green Meadows,’ on the coast

Class of 1967: Jake de Steigure, sitting on the hood of the middle vehicle, during his fifth annual southeast Oregon desert trip with other Land Rover owners in August 2008. north of Boston. Back then in the early 50s, that little white bull terrier, ‘Willy,’ that General Patton had owned during the war, was still alive at Green Meadows. The Pattons had a lot of war trophies captured by Third Army scattered around the farm. There were anti-tank guns, a German armored scout car, a massive model of a German battleship in the dining room, and lots of Nazi eagles and statues. There was a big bronze bust of Hitler that sat on a corner of the back patio. Willy would wander over and lift a leg on it, several times a day. My father and George thought that was just great. Years later, I saw the same bust of Hitler, donated by the Pattons to the Museum at West Point, all cleaned up and the big bright streak of dog urine no longer visible. I remember Tuscany in 1957, when they were still pulling land mines out of farmers’ fields, the exchange rate was 600 Lira to the dollar and we swam in the Tyrrhenian Sea all summer. We used to bicycle up to Pisa under the umbrella pines that arched over the Via Aurelia, the Italian West Coast Highway 1. Built under Marcus Aurelius, the same pines had shaded the Legions on their marches north, and the Goths on their way back south, to sack Rome. My brother and I would fly paper airplanes off the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In those days people could drive right up to the base of the Tower, park their cars in its shadow and go right to the top with no supervision. There was a wounded Italian veteran at the base of the Tower who had the ‘official’ concession to sell tourists insurance for a hundred Lira, in case the tower fell on their cars. The Italians had no Veterans Administration; it was their way of letting the wounded vets get a little income stream. We felt right at home in Tuscany, because our family comes from what was once ancient Etruria, in the marches between the coast and Florence. In the early 1960s, because of my father’s assignment cycle plus an unaccompanied tour in Korea and the Cuban Missile Crisis, I went to five high schools in four years. My father had been in OSS in World War II; before the Invasion of France he was one of the

men who operated Area ‘H’ north of London, near Peterborough. Area ‘H’ supplied, by air drops, all the requirements for weapons, knives, explosives, maps, radios, chocolate, gold, medicine and everything else required by the American OSS Operational Groups and Jedburgh Teams, the British SOE and SAS, the Dutch Resistance, and the French and Belgian Maquis. A special U.S./British air squadron based next door flew black B-24s and a collection of light aircraft to the Continent and back on nights with the right moonlight, to run the air supply drops, parachute in agents or pick them up for return to England. After France was liberated and cleared of Germans, my father transferred to OSS Italy and joined an Operational Group operating north of Bologna to the Brenner Pass. After the war, while he returned to the Regular Army, many of his OSS comrades went into the CIA. During his Army career, I met the most amazing collection of people he had served with or known or who were passing through and had been referred to him via ‘the network.’ He and his colleagues were my compasses while I was growing up – my heroes. In my very brief Army career, I tried to be at least half the soldiers they had been. Phil Gioia and ‘Ratman.’” Many among us have been visiting Brother Rats and doing a significant amount of traveling this summer. Joan and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with J.I. and Brenda Orrison, Dan and Arlene Wells, Mike and Marci Bagnulo, and Don and Cheryl McMenamin at Joan’s family place in the mountains of NE Georgia. Tom Coughenour cancelled at the last minute due to a family emergency. We did have fun. A couple of weeks later, Doug and Carol Ann Mills and Bob and Peggy Flynn joined us for a weekend on the lake, also. The Mills had been on a family visit trip through NC and Maryland. Doug and Bob went to high school together. Joan and I are off to Salt Lake for a health convention and some camping in Nevada and Idaho. Ron Lowry has invited us to take a ride on the wild side of white water rafting in the middle of our trip. If you have seen the ad for the alumni cruise,

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES I hope you can make your plans to be on the ship. ’67 will be represented (so far) by Randy and Ann Blanks, Dave and Alison Bristow, Marie Wertz and the Abernathys. As of this writing in August, I am told there are a number of rooms available still. Randy Heneberger has asked that I bring him coins from the stops we will make in the Caribbean, as he is an avid collector and does not have any swag from the islands where we will be. If you have odd change from your lifetime of international travels collecting dust in your dresser, contact Randy. Chuck Shorter says he and Ruth would have liked to be with the VMI folks, but they already have a cruise set for next April to Hawaii. Tom Rhodes has attended an aerobatic flying “camp” in Kansas. It helps sharpen your skills before the actual season of competition begins. Tom often sees F.O. Moore at the gym during swimming workouts. Oh, and don’t forget, it was Tom who sent us all the e-mail giving the number to call to have your name added to the no-call list. Anyone out there who will admit to still getting solicit calls from a resort/timeshare? More from Texas and Randy Mueller. Randy married his junior high sweetheart last summer. He had been divorced ten years. Between them, he and wife Mickey have seven children (grown) and six grandchildren. Randy’s mom died last year, and he is having a time with settling her estate. She was a great VMI fan. Jim Wilson says he is “winding up another but it is my last Grand Camel Tour. Having been doing this part-time work since mid-2004, my ‘chronology’ – and its supporting structure – says it’s time to go back into my Practicing Slug (Annuitant Grade) mode of operation. So, ‘no mas.’ Will be returning to partaking of the Mickey D Dollar Menu. Taking the summer to try to recover from minor nitnoy issues and get back to some sort of gym routine. Guess this return to my ‘normal life’ means I may be able to wear my penguin-style suit this fall.” Polly Fromm wrote from Tucson asking about the blue VMI pillows attendees received in their reunion pack last year. I thought I passed this along before but will repeat it here. Doug Taylor supplied those as a gift to the class. His company has for years woven the material for much of the upholstery and drapery needs of VMI. He had some unused cloth and had his seamstresses make pillows for us. Peggy wanted to purchase additional material. I put here in touch with Doug’s office. Speaking of the Taylor family, Doug and Jane had dinner with Pete and Karen Wells recently. They dined at the Blue Pig in Cape May, NJ. On the healthy recovering front, Ski Waskiewicz is back at work. His renal cell carcinoma was successfully removed, but they are still watching his prostate as his PSA was 3.76 in

2008-Issue 4

July down from 4.32 in January. He works at LOGTEC and hopes to get to DC to see his Redskins play this fall. Bev Walker is on the mend also. She sends her appreciation to all for their letters and contact. Brenda Niedermayer, Jean Hedgepeth and others sent Bev their personal stories. Jean underwent a modified radial surgery along with chemo in June and was preparing for a radiation regimen. Brenda is a 17-year survivor and could not say enough about her long term support network of survivors. Several wives, I can only recall Linda Rountree just now, wrote to thank me for passing along the news about their friends among BR wives. A follow-up message from Cliff says the lab reports the cancer was all removed. I know that between cancers, prostate difficulties, joint replacements and such it seems that most of the notes lately have been about our maladies or even less pleasant news. Sorry. News is what it is. If you think our class year is full of such information, just read ’57 or ’47 notes. I trust we can all concentrate on the positive news and keep ourselves in as good health as possible. Wayne Marshall sent a photo of his retirement past-time. In the photo, he is holding a 20-1/2-inch small mouth bass. He wrote: “Still spending a couple of days a week poking my head in and out of the shop, but retirement is more or less sticking. Dot is still working a couple of days a week, too, but she has been spending a lot more time in the yard and garden. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a pig roast out in the back yard on Sunday and had quite a get together.” Ron Niedermayer: “Brenda and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in April. We went on a southern Caribbean cruise for a week, flying to San Juan PR, and from there to St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Granada, Bonaire and Aruba. It was a great week, though the seas were very rough returning to San Juan from Aruba. There were five-foot waves in the swimming pools on board which were soaking the nearby passengers. Eventually, the pools had to be drained. The only noteworthy event this year was that my son, Brian, graduated from MCV with a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. MCV hired him to work in their ER. We are very proud of him. His fiancée graduated the same month with a degree in Emergency Care Nursing. Brenda is retired, working one day a week to earn some extra $$, and I am looking at retirement in three or four years. I love my job but tire of the mile round trip to the State Capitol and back daily. We are getting some relief in travel, as we have been authorized by our commissioner to telecommute twice a week which starts July 1st. My office is somewhat of the guinea pig for the department. We really enjoyed the 40th reunion and seeing the BRs again.

I am very puzzled as to why more do not attend. Both of my roommates my 1st class year have never attended a reunion – Ted Coe and Bob Green (the other Bob Green). Anyway, I am very glad that we are able to attend to see those who meant so much to me years ago. Ron” Jake de Steiguer: “Tell Wayne hello and glad he’s obviously doing so well. Where does BR Lowry live in ID-y-Ho? I am doing my fifth annual SE Oregon desert trip with all the other old Land Rover owners this August 9-16. The Owyhee Canyon is really SE Oregon – Read extreme lower right corner, near both Nevada and Idaho. Attached photo of last year’s trip. Bonnie and I celebrated our 22nd this year – late starters, I guess, with a couple of false starts. Jake” Bruce and Hollace Weiner celebrated their 40th by cycling through the wine country of Burgundy, France. “Considering that I could barely walk at our 40th reunion, I’m very appreciative to have regained the capacity to do so. I am grateful for the wonders of modern medicine, the skill of my surgeons and my recuperative ability. Regards and congratulations to you and Joan. Bruce” Neil Schlussel is on the road again also. “I have been busy so far this summer. In May and early June, I played tourist in Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Bosnia. These places are a hidden gem and a must for all to see. People were great and the sights were too good to describe. Our pictures do not do them justice. In July, I spent a week with my grandkids (now 9 and 8) at Nags Head (oh, yes, I did have my daughter and son-in-law there also). In November, I am off to Sicily for two more weeks of playing tourist. Might have a few short trips to other places on the east coast. My son (Damian) is now a major in the USAF and squadron commander of the Security Forces at Cannon AFB NM. He and his wife are expecting their first child in October

Class of 1967: On Aug. 2, 2008, Wharton Ramsey married the former Ellen Lewis in Wilmington, North Carolina.

CLASS NOTES (so that means more travel for me). Hope all are enjoying their summer as I am.” Carter Melton wrote to say Wayne should stop sending in photos of his “minnows” but offered no rebuttal photo of anything he might have caught. He reports that retirement is great in Virginia. Carter retired after some 35 or so years as CEO/president of the Rockingham, Virginia, Hospital (can’t find the article in the pile of stuff on my desk). George Elmore sent me a multi-page story with photos from a Virginia publication. My apologies for any small errors, but I know we all congratulate Carter on his career. No one seems to have asked Connie what she thought of having farmer Carter hanging around the barn all day. Chuck Krebs is not retired but has slowed down his sea duty for some grandchild sitting. He still sails his own boat but the 30-foot Catalina is for sale. Terry Moore and Beth are retired. Terry says the work to make the new home in Alabama is like a full time job. They are replacing or adding bathrooms, closets, pantry and a total kitchen re-do. Beth is a gourmet cook, and Terry says she gets to have all the gadgets she wants, as they do not plan another move. Jim Joyner: “Wayne looks great! That fish is big, even if it is close to the camera. Hope you enjoy your vacation out West. Congratulations on your 40th! I bet Bagnulo told you he and Marcie were married on the same day that Barbara and I were – 30 September ’67. We met up in Atlanta on 1 October enroute to Infantry Basic Officer Course for our honeymoons. We stayed in the Camellia Apartments just off post with the movie crew and actors at Ft. Benning filming the Green Berets.” Jan’s note: Yes, Mike regaled the group with many stories. I had no idea how many among us got married before we did. The Flynns tied the knot the day after graduation, as did others. Barbara and Jim’s son, Jamie, has left the Army and lives in Lexington. He is with Target as the head executive management trainer for the logistics center (37 acres under roof) here in the valley, serving a four-state area. Jamie tells Jim it is hard to keep all of the civilians working for him in step. There is always more than can easily be edited into the notes. Jamie Tate is busy with his clients, what with the stock market gyrations. He is stepping down as the head of his local civil war re-enactment group and considering turning one of his manuscripts into a book. Fred Smith’s son, David, finished his first year at CNU and is a defensive player on the lacrosse team. Bob Morin’s Irish pub band is working on a CD.

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The Van Notes are off to Alaska in an RV with their Harleys. And the last message from Sam is that Jimmy Rogers has been appointed to another four years on the VMI Board of Visitors by the Governor of Virginia. Enough for now. Be safe … Jan

Tom Hickey

’68

Ron Gallagher

It is early June, and my post-reunion letdown is finally over, so I started working the phones again. First seven calls, only answering machines. Then I found Jim Fleming (Cincinnati, OH) at home. He said he’s planning to work at least another four years, as his youngest, Stephen, is a middle school student. He said that his oldest daughter, Adrienne, is in law school at NYU and his second daughter, Heather, just got her degree from Christopher Newport University. Heather starts as a special education teacher in Newport News in the fall of 2008. We both commiserated on the state of the stock market – especially our “under water” options. On a positive note, son Stephen is attending a Brett Farve football camp this summer. Also found Bill Welsh (Ashburn, VA) at home the same evening. Bill’s son, Jeff, is a senior at Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School in Arlington. Bill’s pushing VMI, but he’s not sure Jeff is listening. Bill’s daughter, Laurie, will be a senior at VA Tech in the fall studying nutrition but is planning on continuing her education by studying nursing after graduation. On a recreation note, Bill says he went fishing with George Walton (Richmond, VA), Craig Romaine ’67 and Steve Fogleman ’71. Bill is also planning a hike on the Appalachian Trail with his brother-in-law. Bill is planning to hike for two days, the brother-in-law for 21. E-mails have been received from several BRs. Right after the last set of notes were submitted, Jim Henry (Vienna, VA) sent in the following: “Rick Siegel (Bethesda, MD), Richard Wallach (Middleburg, VA), Chandler Williams (Midlothian, VA) and I formed a ‘Good to Me’ foursome in the 16th annual ‘Friends of Tommy Norment (Williamsburg, VA)’ golf tournament and clam bake at Fords Colony Country Club on May 15th. It was good to see Tommy and his many supporters in what was a fun day. Our foursome was recognized publicly by Tommy. He brought us to the stage in gratitude for our

being there. Later, he had to bring us up again in recognition of our golf performance. We received nice bottles of wine in recognition of our last place finish in the tournament! Chandler and Robbie Williams hosted an overnight in their beautiful home in Midlothian so that the four of us could give golf another try on the following day. We took on the Virginia State Golf Association’s Independence Golf Course. The course and Mother Nature (lots of rain) could not deter us from having a great time together. We may just make this an annual event.” In mid-August, Jim hosted me, Chandler Williams and Walt Jeffress (Fairfax, VA) for a totally excellent day of golf at his home golf club, Westwood Country Club in Vienna, VA. Later in May, Terry Bowers (Martinez, GA) wrote, “New Market Day was observed in Augusta, GA, in 2008 with a clean-up day at Cottage Cemetery on 17 May followed by a Memorial Observance. The names of the ten cadets who died were called and the response, ‘Died on the field of honor,’ was given. Ray Lawson ’81 read a short biography of Cadet William Carmichael (1867), who is buried in Cottage Cemetery. Jim Masella ’89 read the biography of Cadet John Carmichael (1870), William’s brother and a member of the New Market Corps left on guard duty at the Institute. (He is buried in Lexington.) I read the biography of Cadet John Bransford (1867), who is buried in Summerville Cemetery, Augusta.” In early June, Creigh Kelley (Englewood, CO) sent the following e-mail: “Visited with Hal and Sandy Switzer (Cambridge, MD) for two nights this past Sunday and Monday over in Cambridge, MD. What wonderful hosts they were! They also invited Donna and Clay Thompson (Salisbury, MD) over each evening as well! The Switzers treated us to a night out at the Yacht Club (his boat is on the market, if anyone’s interested!) and the Thompson’s treated to drinks. The next evening, we reconvened at the Switzer hacienda for steaks. (Clay provided a troubling bottle of wine labeled ‘Economy Red Wine’ ... Hal can drill down on the precise name, but it lived up to its moniker!) It was a truly relaxed and fun time with hours of fascinating conversation. (Clay and Hal regaled us with amazing stories throughout!) I have to say that we have dynamite BRs, and I’m as guilty as anyone in not reaching out during travels to hook up and rediscover our common bonds in spite of time and distance.” John Crim’s (New Market, VA) report on the May 15th Women’s Memorial Society Service program in New Market highlighted the dedication of a new marker in St. Matthew’s Cemetery acknowledging the original burial location of six of the VMI cadets (Cabell (1865), Crockett (1867), Jones (1867), McDowell (1867),

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Stanard (1867) and Jefferson (1867) following the Battle of New Market. Dignitaries in attendance included former Secretary of the Army, John O. Marsh, Col. Keith Gibson ’77 of the VMI Museum and Mrs. Barbara Blakey, president of the Women’s Memorial Society and a staff member at the VMI Museum. (Editor’s Note: See article in the Institute Section about this event.) In another e-mail (and probably the highlight of the summer for me), Bogie Holland (Norfolk, VA) sent out the following: “The Class of 1968 golf team, sans John Kemper (Richmond, VA), won the Keydet Club open this weekend. The team was made up of Kevin Henry (Winston Salem, NC), Dixon McElwee (Boca Raton, FL), Tom Hickey and Mike Thacker (Roanoke, VA). Kevin made the winning putt to seal the victory for the Class of 1968.” One who I missed in my first set of calls, Tom Coffey (Wytheville, VA) responded to my voice mail with an e-mail that contained, “As is probably true of many of us at our current ages, most of the interesting news from this end involves children. Our daughter, Kelly, a high school science teacher in Texas, presented us with our first grandchild (a boy) and the first great-grandchild on either side of the family, in November. Our son, Ethan, was made a division director at the Naval Nuclear Power School in Charleston. In

his spare time, he is finishing up a mechanical engineering master’s degree from Ga. Tech and managed to run the Marine Corps Marathon last fall in 2 hrs. 40 min., which put him in 44th place out of 12,000 or so male runners. And in the process bested my time in the same race some 28 years ago by three minutes. I was not sorry to lose the record! I continue to keep mentally active by putting Chinese and Japanese material into more-or-less readable English and get paid to do so! Is this a great country or what!?” In June, my “all things VMI” Google search returned a link to the Richmond Times-Dispatch online web page containing a lengthy story about John Kemper and his company, KLMK Group, which provides construction-management consulting services to the health-care industry. With luck, the story will still be available at the following web site when this is published in the Alumni Review: http://www. inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articlesRTD-2008-06-23-0039.html Talked with Clay Thompson in the middle of July. Clay is enjoying being a kept man. He retired several years ago but keeps Donna working. He and Donna were departing in September for a Mediterranean cruise with 100 members of their Eastern Shore cruising club and celebrating Donna’s 60th birthday. They’re visiting Spain, France, Italy, Malta and Tunisia

on this trip. I told him I’ve been looking at Alaskan cruises, and he had such fun on an earlier Alaskan cruise that he’s ready to go back anytime. They had a nice visit from Patty and Bill Flavin (Carlisle Barracks, PA), playing some real bad golf and generally kicking back and relaxing. Bill Carter (Raleigh, NC) was at home when we talked. Bill retired a few years ago and settled in Raleigh, but he also has homes in Pinehurst and at the beach south of Wilmington, NC. He also goes back to Laurel, MS, where he is on the board of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art. His daughter, Kate, just finished an internship at the White House and is enrolling in the Ole Miss Law School in August 2008. His son, George, (and his wife, Juli,) provided Bill and Susan with a grandson in December 2006. Their other son, Scott, is in DC where he is the director of Communications for the American Grocers Association. Bill said that he was recently in Lexington when Kate interviewed at the W&L Law School. He was impressed with all of the new facilities when he got a guided tour from Donny Ross ’74. Skip Harding (Tampa, FL) wasn’t home when I called, but his wife, Ruennhwa, was. She said that they had been planning to attend our 40th Reunion but had to back out when Skip got a job offer. Skip is now in India flying with Space Jet.

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2008-Issue 4

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CLASS NOTES Val Sledd (Poquoson, VA) reports that little has changed in his life. He continues working for Vanasse Hangen Brustlin but now out of their Williamsburg office. He says the Friday evening beach traffic makes the commute difficult some summer weekends. Connie, his wife, is a member of the City of Poquoson School Board. Their daughter, Valerie, recently received a master’s of education degree in administration and leadership from George Washington and continues teaching at the Hampton Roads Academy. Their son, Rick, is working for Booz Allen Hamilton in northern Virginia. Val and Connie recently visited Vicki and Bill Cobb (Pompano Beach, FL) at their home in FL. They were able to connect via telephone with Bill Bouck (Cazenovia, NY) but struck out when they tried to call Rick Brothers (Steamboat Springs, CO). “This is Jack,” the voice on the phone said. I knew immediately it was Jack Bagby (Norge, VA), but he didn’t know who was on the other end of the phone. When I told him it was his “favorite Class Agent,” he said he couldn’t figure out who called him from area code 410. Jack says he’s partially retired. He spends time managing his investments and playing in 3 bands. I told him I know a great sound engineer if any of his bands ever wanted to record a CD – and that goes for the rest of you, too, as my son could use the work. Got a short note from Les Martin (Hanover, PA). He says he wasn’t sure any of us want to be reminded we’re having birthdays, but he figures we’re not looking forward to missing any anytime soon. Les and Patricia are “still in Hanover, PA, still working, waking up and enjoying all of that.” Ken Pennington (Amelia Island, FL) supplied a new update when he wrote, “Sorry I missed your call. I was on the road between Athens, GA, and Amelia. I drove to Athens to see my daughter (Brynn) who is finishing her UGA internship required for graduation. Her degree will be in health services. Amber is a senior at Valdosta State University and will graduate next year with a similar degree. She is planning on attending graduate school in the same field. Not much new to report. Our home here on Amelia will be complete at the end of the month. We will accept reservations for any BR for fall arrival. I am still working from my home for Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group in Field Operations. Barbara is working part time at The Spa of Amelia Island and is enjoying meeting all the big spenders. I’m sorry I missed the reunion, but I enjoyed the calls and e-mails from classmates. Hopefully, I can see ‘all survivors’ at our 50th.” In his own inimitable style, Ron Stultz (Fairfax, VA) provided the following: “Yep, 62 on Friday and get my first Social Security check in September! Update: (1) House renovation # 2 completed

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in late February. 3-stop elevator installed as insurance policy for old knees and a great room to accommodate expanding family with grandchildren, etc. (2) Just back from 2-week RV trip of the West with son. Joined in Reno by 2 of 3 daughters for 4-day music festival in Quincy, CA. Most excellent time there with all sorts of strange CA people. (3) Some of my artwork (doodles) now being used as CD cover art. (4) Again sporting full beard and long hair (blonde) after early spring trip to San Diego (must learn to stay away from CA influences.) (5) Good health being enjoyed by all here, which is the greatest blessing – well … next to charming, intelligent granddaughter.” Saw a note on the VMI web page that Ira Gallagher ’09 had earned a spot on Team USA to compete in the International Triathlon Union Long Course World Championships in August 2008, so I dropped his father, Ron Gallagher, a note. Ron responded, “Thank you for your comment. Needless to say, the past 3 years have been challenging. Ira is in Washington State at Fort Louis and leaves there about the end of the month and goes directly to Fort Bragg for 3 or 4 more weeks. This past year was very stressful for Olivia and I. We had serious doubts about the year. Especially after a stupid cadet decision (a #3) that cost him his rank and removed him from the interview process for a senior rank position. It broke my heart! I think he will be the drum major of the pipe band this fall. My son wears a “skirt” at VMI.” Got a short note from John Andrews (Yorktown, VA) who wrote, “All is going well here. I am still working too hard and looking forward to retiring before our next reunion.” Kit Tyler (Midlothian, VA) wrote, “Thanks for the birthday greetings. Jeanne and I were on a two-week vacation to Europe ... celebrated my birthday in Rome. Will send you an update on the Tyler’s in a separate e-mail.” Kit, I’m still waiting for that update. Unlike my June experience of not finding anyone at home, I found Larry Stetson (Tacoma, WA) on the first try. Larry and Lynn have been foster parents to three kids who have recently been placed for adoption, so their fingers are crossed that the adoptions will work out. Feeling like empty nesters, Lynn took charge of her aunt’s dog, and now Larry’s planning to get a Golden Retriever in few months. Larry and Lynn, though, aren’t letting go of the foster parent job, so they’re renewing their license with the aim of being “respite” foster parents who take the kids for weekends once in a while to give the full time foster parents a break. Larry and I compared notes on the jobs that Terry Bowers had given us to find some New Market Cadet graves. Larry wasn’t personally able to get to the gravesite of William H. Thomas (1867) in Seattle but was able to get a VMI alumnus in the area to take the pictures that

Terry wanted. I was able to find the final resting places of two of the three Terry gave me to find, but I can’t find the third in spite of tramping around several graveyards near Harpers Ferry. Larry’s Norfolk High School friend, George Sebren (Niceville, FL), (Johnny Johnston also went to Norfolk High) was at home when I called. George retired from Delta a few years ago (after having previously retired from the USAF), but Delta’s bankruptcy forced him back into the working world. George is a subject matter expert test engineer for air mission and aircraft mission planning software. Right now, he’s working on the Air Force’s “newest” fighter, the A-10C. When he told me that, I said I thought the A-10 had been retired. He said that the forces in Iraq and Afghanistan love the close air support it provides, so the Air Force is rewinging the planes and installing all new electronics including those for smart bombs and other precision “metal on target” weapons. Somehow, though, George doesn’t get the same “rush” out of being a test engineer that he got out of being an F-15 pilot. He and Kay are off to Africa in August to visit Botswana. They’re looking forward to two weeks of hunting animals with cameras. Mike Thacker was also at home when I called. Mike says that the prize our team won at the Keydet Club outing hadn’t altered his life style – although he planned to enjoy the windbreaker in the fall. We talked VMI football for a while, his daughter Alexis’ 13-day trip to Europe, and Mike and Vicki’s trip to Oregon a few years ago where they visited Mount St. Helens. At the end of July, my “all things VMI” Google search came up with the following headline: “John G. Balch (Colorado Springs, CO) Joins Hill International as Vice President.” The story continued, “John G. Balch has joined Hill as a vice president with the company’s Construction Claims Group. In this role, Balch will be in charge of Hill’s new Colorado Springs, Colorado, office.” John declined to comment.

’69

Walter Judd

Greetings, BRs and friends of the smartest class in Barracks history. [Now that greeting should draw some comment!] It is summer in Eastern Virginia, and we are enjoying some beautifully warm weather. Many of us are preparing for Dr. Skinny Baker’s golf tournament on Friday, 15 Aug, in Suffolk, VA, while others are only interested in watching the Olympics in China. It has been twenty years since my small family and I toured Beijing and several other cities

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES in China. Apparently, the smog has not left the capitol, but many new fantastic buildings have been added. Jay Hoenig, on the other hand, has lived in China for many years and sent this report in June. “I was handed a copy of the 2008 Alumni Review, the first in about 8 years, and thought I’d drop you a note. Having worked and lived in Shanghai for the past 13 years, I read with envy the class gatherings you all are having in VA. The 20th Reunion was the last time I was at VMI, and as we all know, the older we get, the more value it seems to exhibit. From time to time, I run into a VMI alum over here on business, but it’s rare. At Bechtel, I did sponsor several summer interns for two years back in the late 90s. My activities in China focus on foreign direct investment by U.S. multinationals corporations (MNC), and since leaving Bechtel I have been running a risk management consulting firm which specializes in identifying entry strategy risk for U.S. and western European companies involved in M&A and IPOs in China. Much of our work involves counseling on fraud, corruption, money laundering, intellectual property and copyright theft, etc. The lifestyle in China is unique to say the least and definitely different from the U.S. As chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, we are constantly coaching congressional, administration and/or visiting corporate executives that this is ‘not Kansas,’ and due diligence is key. Our chamber, by the way, is the largest chamber outside the U.S. with over 5,000 members and growing at 10% a year, much like the economy here. The Olympics will keep us very busy and risk management issues seem to be taking on a more important role with Tibet and Xinjiang adding some political drama to the Torch run and the Olympics in general. It’s amazing watching the U.S. from the outside in, rather than be schooled by the U.S. media. Please give my best to our BRs, and should any of them be coming here on business or pleasure, have them drop me a note, and I’ll show them around the city and even play a round of golf with caddies (which are young ladies from the provinces)! Jay J. Hoenig, President, Hill & Associate (PRC) Ltd, 6A, Huamin Empire Plaza, No. 728 Yan An Road (W) (close to Jiangsu Road), Shanghai, 200050, China; e-mail: Jay. hoenig@hill-assoc.com. On a much more local note, in late June Doug Marks and Lou Sidney traveled together up to NJ for a visit with their former roommate, Larry Lenz, carrying a collection of notes from BRs. Doug had requested BRs send an encouraging note to Larry, and over 20 guys did just that. Doug carried the book with those responses to Larry who warmly received them. In several talks with Larry, who is battling pancreatic cancer, I have had the privilege to help him

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welcome a new grandbaby into the family, fuss at book editors for being way too picky and editing a wonderful new view at America’s history. Larry wrote a book on the way the U.S. managed the “luck” it found at different times to move from a backwards collection of independent regions and cultures to a much respected leader of the “free world.” I dearly hope Larry’s book is published, so others can share the interesting, unique observations. Skinny Baker’s golf outing on 15 Aug drew a crowd of eight BRs including a couple from the Richmond area. Tommy Thompson and Pat Branch joined Bob Waldo, Gary Mackey, Skinny, Tom Catlett, Glenn White and me on a terrific afternoon of golf at the fine Cedar Point Golf Course in Suffolk. We gathered for lunch and then headed out for the fun. Glenn’s team of Branch, Waldo and Catlett eked out a close victory for the afternoon’s fun. We did have to cut the fun a little short when the sirens went off during our play of the 17th hole announcing lightning in the area. We all headed into the bar area to resume the kidding and laughing. When we left, TB and Pat were on the way to Gene Beale’s house to harass him for awhile. At the 6 June VMI Keydet Club Leadership Outing, Jimmy and Beth Long; Art and Becky Bushey; TB Thompson; John Sebrell; Gary Mackey; Dave Bush; Tom Morris; and I all participated. The two-couple team won second in their bracket, while the others had fun but did not score well enough to win anything. Everybody won later, however, at the Keydet Club seafood buffet laid out later on the Moody Hall porches. Tom Ruffin moved to Ft. Walton Beach, FL, this summer -- temporarily. Here is his newsy update: “I retired again 06/30 - this time from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office as a lieutenant and chief bailiff of the Courts. Prior to that, I retired from the Ft. Walton Beach Police Department at the rank of captain. This is the end of my almost 40 years as a law enforcement officer. Bonnie and I are building a retirement house on 5.53 acres of mountain top in Monteagle, Tennessee (never could get away from the mountains after VMI and had enough of Florida’s heat, hurricanes, insurance rates and tourists). We will move within the year. Right now, I am traveling back and forth between FWB to Monteagle, as I am finishing the interior. Please mention me in the next alumni report, as many think I disappeared off the face of the earth. I still have dreams (nightmares (sic)) of the Institute. I have carried the experience with me ever since. I will let you know the new address when we finally get there.” On 16 June, Don Mercer wrote, “Noreen and I returned last week from another five days in the Keys. She soaked up the sun while I fished for two days. I tried something new, “flats fish-

ing” in the Everglades, which turned out to be a successful trip with eight caught – three different species – and released. It was fishing over grass that was no more than 4-6 feet deep while casting with light tackle. Got to see a five-foot shark pass by the 19-foot boat about four feet off the side at one point. Swimming is – obviously – not suggested. After a day following Noreen shopping, I went out deep sea fishing primarily for blunt nose dolphin – not for bottle nose dolphins that are also called porpoises. I had the time of my life and caught more fish than ever before in any one day, over 40. On several occasions, I had one on a line, and each of the two mates also had fish on a line which they would hand to me as soon as I got each one in the boat. It’s the only day that my hand cramped after fishing. I released most and kept a few to clean and ship home. What’s for dinner? Mahi-mahi!” If you are going to fish, go to a place where you stay entertained. Rusty McGuire ’96 sent this message: “We are asking you to show your pride by filling out an application for an Iraqi Freedom Veteran license plate. We will never forget those who gave their today so that we can have our tomorrow. We are also extending this plate to immediate family members of those killed in action. Please join us, and together we can carry on the memory of those brave souls.” I have the e-mail address if you are interested. Dick Knight ’70 also sent me the following message: “I was saddened to read that Geddes MacLaren had died. I remember Geddes very well. He was an ‘original,’ to say the least. He was all ‘Yankee’ and part leprechaun (although a tall leprechaun). He was not your typical Keydet. But what I remember most was that he always had a kind word for the Rats. And that he always had a way of working Maine into the conversation. I had never been to Maine, let alone met anyone from Maine (until Geddes), but right after my graduation and before going on active duty, I drove to Moosehead Lake, Maine, and confirmed everything Geddes had been saying all those years. I have been returning to Maine every year, ever since“. Back to the current days. Doug Marks told me, “Things are well with Janet and me. My daughter and two grands spent a few days with us this past week. My newest grand ... Brooks Douglas Avant, recently received his provisional appointment to VMI! I was at our annual Town Picnic on Sunday afternoon and struck up a conversation with Congressman Joe Wilson (Dist 2 in SC). As you know, Joe is married to Mike McCrory’s widow, Roxanne. Joe adopted Mike’s son, Alan. Alan lives nearby, and I believe he’s a lawyer. I know he recently served a stint in Iraq as a reservist. I want to get in touch with Alan and just get to know him a bit.”

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CLASS NOTES Several BRs including Paul Curs did contact Alan earlier, soon after we made the connection between Roxanne and Mike a few years ago. Paul Mascot wrote in June, “I am at home recuperating from prostate cancer surgery, so I thought I would write. Thank God for the PSA test and early detection. I urge everyone to get an annual PSA test and monitor the results. It probably saved my life. The good news is that the cancer was confined to the prostate, so my prognosis is excellent. The bad news is that having a catheter installed for 10 days was not nearly as much fun as I thought it would be. Although my hypothesis is as yet unsupported by objective data, I believe that science will ultimately discover that four years of exposure to the meatloaf served at the VMI Mess Hall is ultimately responsible for the various maladies which have afflicted so many members of the Class of 1969. [No argument there!] Becky and I are in the process of selling our house and moving to the Piney Woods of East Texas near the city of Tyler. We have 28 acres on top of a hill with a view of the hills and forests which reminds me of parts of Virginia. I plan to become a Gentleman Rancher which means that I will have the four cattle which are necessary for us to get the property tax exemption that comes with agricultural use. Due to Becky’s sensibilities, I am sure that the cattle will become large, bovine pets whose primary function will be to stand around in the pasture in case someone from the Tax District shows up. I have heard from Mel Adams. He lives on a farm in Vermont and works for the state government. Mel has recently become a grandfather and is tickled to death about it. I think that he is planning to make it to the 40th next year. I certainly am going to be there.” From Ken Fleming came this never-too-late message: “Just finished reading your spring notes and thought it time to start taking a more active interest in VMI ... and more specifically, the class of ’69. I have lived here in Wichita since getting out of the Army in 1973. I retired last winter from Cargill after over 31 years in the HR field and am now leading a life of quiet reflection working in volunteer areas and just savoring life. I was married, raised two boys to adulthood and got divorced after 33 years of marriage in 2005. I will be resuming the married life in late October and do plan on making my first reunion next April. I remain an ardent fan of the Institute and the Washington Redskins, but news about such is less than easy to come by in the Great Plains. By the by, I did read with some degree of amusement your comments about tornadoes, not due to the destruction and loss of life they may cause, but due to a very high degree of familiarity with such acts of nature due to my location these many years. I might add that hail can get bigger than I ever

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imagined out here, too.” [I am sure it does!] Let us turn for a moment to the reunion next April. Ron Wall, colonel, U.S. Air Force, weatherman extraordinaire, and his lovely wife, Betsy, have agreed to lead our reunion committee for our 40th. Helping Ron will be a host of BRs from VA who will do various tasks to make the event noteworthy. Our first meeting is scheduled for 6 September before the first football game in Lexington. Since Jim Chapman will not be on the East Coast for this reunion, I will assist him as acting treasurer for the event. It is my hope that most of you will find your way to the VMI Alumni Association web site and register and pay for the reunion on line. It is so easy and makes the act much more efficient and fast. [Weas reports we have at present a little over $9,000 in our class treasury and, unless voted differently, that money will go toward starting a class scholarship and paying for small memorial gifts for BRs when they pass on. We do not intend to use that money for reunion events.] If you have ideas on what to do or what to offer as mementoes, please advise me, and I will pass on to Ron your recommendations. We are very fortunate to have many leaders ready to step up when the call comes, and I am positive Ron and Betsy will create for us a magnificent weekend of good fun and great entertainment. He has already guaranteed us great weather for the event! As usual, Mav Long will arrange a golf outing for us, and Glenn White will assist the tennis players in the group. Tommy Thompson will lead the party room provisions and will no doubt employ Gene Beale in obtaining healthy snacks. Drs. Dave Prugh and Chuck Becker will assist Ron as special consultants. John Sebrell and David Bush will offer assistance as needed. In June, TC Jones wrote from Macon, GA, “I will be coming up for the scholarship football weekend with Elizabeth. Also will be up for Bellies [Golf Tournament in October]. E and I went to Atlanta to hear Gen. Peay ’62. He gave an exciting portrayal of the Institute. Mike Maguigan and Bruce Noel were there. We had a great reunion. Bruce is to retire soon with Bank of America, and Mike is doing great owning his own business. They said Al Pond was fine, but he did not come.” In July, I wrote to Tom Reynolds in Omaha about all the sports events going on. “Saw some [college] world series action. Was then in AZ during the swim trials (visiting son in F-16 jet training at Luke and youngest daughter delivering latest grandson). All are well. I will be going back to AZ at the end of Sept. to see son graduating from his training. Swim trials were well received by both the competitors and fans. Omaha is looking to host them again in 2012.” Dr. Dave Gibbons ’68 sent me a request for

help in funding a wrestling locker room tag for Jack Kennedy. I sent out the word and almost immediately, Dr. Geoff Taylor and Bob Biddle agreed to help fund the memorial. I think we now have BRs’ names on locker room tags in all sports in which we were able to participate. Our finest athletes are now inspiration for the present crop of Keydet athletes. Fiscal year ’08 is now in the record books, and we matched the requested numbers. 37% of you (106 BRs) sent a gift or donation to the Institute in one form or another. As a group, we gave almost $220,000. Thank you for your generosity. Talk to your good buds, and help us raise those numbers in the next year. For your info, the Good-to-Me’s had 47% (129 BRs and one widow) participation in annual giving during their 40th Reunion year. It would make me feel very good if we could surpass those numbers. Just to ensure all are clear about our class treasury, let me say again that we have a small amount in an interest-bearing account that currently is valued at slightly more than $9,000. When we hear of the passing of a BR, we send a gift to the Institute in memory of that BR. There is a suggestion that we use some of that money as seed money for a class scholarship for the VMI athletic or academic programs. Other classes have done that and note, at the annual scholarship banquets, that one or more cadets are receiving help from their specific class funds. We have several named scholarships for BRs in various sports already in play, but we do not have a class scholarship for which any BR or friend of the class can contribute. Please talk to Bunny, Weas or me if you have questions or suggestions on how and when to start such a gift. Only eight months to go until our 40th Reunion. Keep your e-mail and snail mail addresses up to date, as the announcements will be going out soon after the first of the year. And plan to support VMI and the class by attending the next gathering. In the Spirit … Walt

’70

Bill O’Connor

Hi to all from hot humid Richmond. Hope everyone has enjoyed the summer and the cool of the fall. As I write these notes, the Keydet football team has reported for practice and the matriculants of the future Class of 2012 are getting ready to start their VMI adventures. This is my favorite time of the year. News was pretty sparse this quarter, as vacations and summer activities were the orders of the day, but as always, any news is welcomed. Once again, I am sad to start these notes off with

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES reporting the passing of Allen Anderson, devoted wife of Phil Anderson. Allen passed away on June 27 after battling Scleroderma for a number of years and was laid to rest in Jasper, GA, where she and Phil retired. I sent an e-mail out to the class shortly after her death and received numerous requests for Phil’s contact info. Phil’s address is 10250 Big Canoe, Big Canoe, GA, 30143-5120, e-mail: anderspabc@aol.com. Phil, please know you and Allen have been in our prayers. Got a nice note from Dave Trenholm with an update on some BRs. Seems like Dave and Priscilla Price are thinking about retiring and moving from Naples, FL, to the north Georgia mountains. Dave, if you do, just be careful if you hear banjo music – it doesn’t mean the same in Georgia as it does in Florida!! Dave recently heard from BRs Bob Grossman and Dave Lawrence from the left coast. Brother Dave is still working in the aircraft industry and both of his boys are attending college in CA. Dave apparently has a brother in Rescue, VA, who owns a seafood restaurant named “Captain Chuck-A-Mucks,” and Dave gives it a thumbs up and recommends it to all. Dave also reports that Bobby Grossman is staying busy trying to keep up with his 10-year-old son who apparently is a heck of an athlete. Dave and Jo continue to live in the Tidewater area but spend as much time as they can in Charlotte visiting their three granddaughters. As Poppa Dave says, it doesn’t get any better than this. Dave also sent me a full length article that was in the Gloucester Gazette on Dick Cheatham. As previously reported, Dick was very active in the Jamestown celebration. Turns out his interest in colonial VA history comes from his lineage; Dick is a descendant of John Rolfe. Thanks, Dave, for the info; please keep it coming. Speaking of grandchildren, we have a crop of new grandparents. Cameron and Mary Seay reported that they became grandparents on March 5th with the birth of granddaughter Meg Shomo. Russ Marshall wrote that his daughter and son-in-law presented Elaine and him with their first grandchild, a granddaughter named Justice Elina Rivera born January 24th. Dave Curry also reported the birth of his first grandchild, Alexis Sophia, born February 7th. And lastly, Paula and I are pleased to announce the birth of our first grandchild, Charles William Land, Class of 2029, born on August 4th. Congrats to all, and as Dave Trenholm said, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” Dave Curry sent a nice note with an update on what he has been doing. His note follows: “Dear Brother Rats: I just thought I’d check in with my news since it’s only been about 8 years. I appear to be one of the more intermittent correspondents. Firstly, tragically, my wife, Julie, died on 1 February 2003. Although she had been sick for a long time and her passing was not unexpected, it was still a tremendous blow. You’re

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never prepared for something like that, no matter what. We’d been together for almost 20 years, and it’s left a very large void. On a happier note, my son, Mike, graduated from University of Colorado in 2001 with a degree in aerospace engineering. After a stint with Boeing in Seattle and Maryland, he is now working for a flight data analysis and flight simulator software company and is back in Boulder. He is in the military side of the business and works closely with different units, including a couple of cruises on the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan. More importantly, he and his wife, Della, have just presented me with my first grandchild –Alexis Sophia – on 7 February of this year. Hard to believe I’m actually a grandfather, but it’s going to be fun now that she’s 5 months old and does something other than eat, sleep and poop. As for me, there have been several other big changes. I’m still working in the oil business and still living in Katy, Texas (a suburb of Houston). However, I moved from research to exploration in 2004, and then in March 2006, I retired from ExxonMobil after 17 and a quarter years. Subsequently, after a comfortable retirement of 4 days, I went to work for Devon Energy Corporation here in Houston as the Senior Geological Advisor for Petroleum Systems Analysis in Devon’s International Exploration Division. Devon is the largest U.S. independent oil and gas company (i.e., exploration and production only). Petroleum Systems Analysis is essentially trying to predict where, when, how much and what kind of oil and gas will be generated in an area, and involves combining a lot of different kinds of data as well as a lot of computer modelling. Kind of like geological video games. I do some myself and also supervise the work of consultants and other Devon people, both in doing the work and in integrating the results into the regional exploration models. As I result, I think I’m becoming more of geologist than a chemist (sorry, Doc Settle). Another beneficial result of these moves is that I get to travel a lot more, mostly to Brazil and Germany, but occasionally to China and the UK. Lately I, too, have been contemplating the ‘R’ word (retirement), like a lot of our BRs. However, I’m still enjoying what I do, so I haven’t really made any move in that direction. Also, like a couple other of our BRs, I too, bought a Porsche Boxster a couple of years ago (a ‘no kids in college’ car). However, driven by who knows what urges, I traded it in recently on Porsche CaymanS, so I probably need to keep working long enough to pay that one off. I talk and e-mail with John McClemore but don’t see too many VMI people down here (an occasional sticker on a car window). Although, I was last in Lexington in 2004, from the looks of the Institute Web site, I may not recognize the place now. Still a surprise to

see LeJeune Hall gone, particularly since it was stll being worked on when we started. Hopefully, I can make the reunion in 2010. Cheers ... Dave” Thanks for the update, Dave, and please stay in touch. In early June, the Keydet Club hosted its annual Leadership Outing, and the usual criminals from ’70 attended: Ralph Costen, Tom Cooke, Herb Braun, Bill Gearhart, Warren Grasty, Roy Heddleston, Steve Craddock and yours truly. As always, it was good to see everybody and get an update on the Institute’s athletic programs. We did, however, have a casualty at the event. Drill’em and fill’em Tom Cooke tripped on a sidewalk and fell and tore up his shoulder. He had to have it operated on and will have approx 3-4 months of rehab. He is on the mend and hopefully will be back in form in October or November. His goal is to make the annual GOMBAC trip in January. Tom and Jill recently attended the marriage of son Brad ’98 and bride Shana in CO. Other son Todd ’98 and wife Sally also attended. I think Brad’s caught the Rocky Mountain high and is planning on remaining in CO. Good luck to the Cookes. Tricky Dick Knight sent in an update on BR Mike Manis. The reminiscing is consistent with typical VMI story telling and New York Times accuracy. The letter follows: “I spoke with Mike Manis today, and I am very happy to report that the news is good on all fronts. Mike has had MS for 16 years, and he is coping very well. He did complain about the weather, however, as it was 92 degrees in Newland, NC, today (June 9), when the high is normally 74 and the low 52 at this time of year. Mike and Therese live in the mountains. “Mike’s mom and dad are still living in Indianapolis. Mike’s dad, Ray, coached Indiana high school basketball for 40 years, and Mike’s son, Raymond “Bo” Manis, is coaching high school basketball in North Carolina. Mike said that the movie ‘Hoosiers’ was filmed on location and that he played high school basketball in all of the gyms that were used in filming the tournament. “Mike and I reminisced about the 1968 basketball team, which beat nationally-ranked Davidson and drove Lefty Dreisell out of the Southern Conference and into the ACC. You may remember that Dreisell at one time refused to play in ‘The Pit.’ Mike talked about the starters on that great team, Steve Powers ’68, Johnny Kemper ’68, Denny Clark ’69, Peyton Brown ’69, Johnny Mitchell ’69, Ralph Wright ’69 and Mike. That’s seven men, but they all started, and Mike started every game. Mike remembered that Powers led the nation in rebounding that season and that Kemper, Mitchell and Brown (which sounds like Tinker to Evans to Chance) would have led the nation in scoring had there been a 3-point line. Mike reminded me that Ralph Wright was from Indiana. We talked about how Powers, Clark and

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CLASS NOTES

“Put the Boys In…

and may God forgive me for the order.”

General John C. Breckinridge New Market, May 15, 1864

“Put the Boys In” by Don Troiani On a drizzly May 15th in 1864, a small Confederate force risked being overwhelmed by a larger Federal unit commanded by Franz Sigel near New Market, Virginia, in the Shenandoah. Suffering the combined effects of Union muskets and artillery canister rounds, the center of the Confederate line evaporated. Confederate Gen. John C. Breckinridge quickly realized his options: repair the gap in the line or fall back. With the young cadets from VMI as his only reserve, he hesitated, but then commanded, “Put the boys in,” he stated, “and may God forgive me for the order.” The young cadets advanced, cheering loudly, with many losing their shoes in the muddy field. The cadets engaged the Federals of Von Klieser’s Battery who attempted to defend their position. Moments later, Cadet Oliver Evans jumped up on a captured cannon, madly waving the VMI flag as the cadets cheered wildly, having helped rout the Union force. Afterward, Gen. Breckinridge rode up to the young men stating, “Well done, Virginians. Well done, men.” Don Troiani, one the finest military artists of this century, has created a beautiful and arguably the most historically accurate portrayal of the VMI cadets at the Battle of New Market in his latest work, “Put the Boys In.” The original oil is an 80”x 50” masterpiece which hangs in Moody Hall. Print Size: 19 x 29 inches. Including white border, the size is 23-1/2 x 32 inches.

The Cross of Honor

Order Your Copy of Troiani’s “Put the Boys In” Today! To Order: Call the VMI Alumni Association at 800/444-1839 or send check to Lisla Danas, VMI Alumni Association, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450. Make checks payable to: VMI Alumni Association UNFRAMED PRINT: $250 + $15 Shipping & Handling = $265.00 (VA & CT residents add $15.90) = $280.90 FRAMED PRINT: $545 + $75 Shipping & Handling = $620.00 (VA & CT residents add $37.20) = $657.20 106

“CROSS of HONOR” VMI SPECIAL EDITIONS: There are only 400 “VMI Special Edition” prints of the total 950 produced. These prints, uniquely, have the “Cross of Honor” (shown above). In 1904, The VMI Alumni Association presented to each member of the New Market Corps or his descendant a bronze “Cross of Honor.” Description: Suspended from a bar bearing the words “For Valor,” is a cross which appears around the seal of the state of Virginia, “VMI Cadet Battalion, New Market, May 15, 1864.” On the reverse is engraved the name of the battle veteran. Please Note: Print numbers may vary from 1 to 950. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Wright looked like linebackers on a Southeastern Conference football team, not basketball players. So did Mike. Mike said he keeps up with VMI sports, and he is excited about the “run and gun” offense that VMI uses on the hardwood. “Mike asked about a number of Bro’ Rats, and we went down the “F” Company roster. We talked about our Rat “roomies,” Jim Gillespie and Reed Heddleston, and the usual cast of characters, such as Bill “Excess” O’Connor, Alan “South Philly” Moccia, “Ratso” Wieler and all those other gross “F” Company Rats that lived between Rooms 410 and 432, which means just about everybody. “Mike regrets that current circumstances prevent him from attending a game or a reunion, but he often thinks of his Brother Rats and those VMI days so long ago.” Thanks, Dick, for a very interesting update and for getting in touch with Mike. Mike, you take care – it was great getting an update. You were one of the best!! Diehl Jones reported in with some good news. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year and opted to go out of the country for a relatively new procedure which is not invasive but has not yet been approved by the FDA. The treatment was successful and his PSA is now undetectable!!! Diehl strongly encourages that, whether we want to admit it or not, we are getting older and certain things need to be tested periodically – the prostate being one. If you have not had the test in the last year, make it a point to schedule one ASAP. The old saying “an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Please heed!!! Diehl continues appraising but is starting to think about retirement. He made a very astute observation about our pending 40th reunion – those used to be the old guys. Take care, Diehl, and thanks for writing. An interesting note, Diehl wrote regarding Allen Anderson passing and said that she taught his daughter in the first grade. Don McQueen from Marietta, GA, called about Allen’s passing with some information regarding her funeral. Don and his wife got together with Phil and Allen from time to time, as they only lived 45 minutes or so from one another. Don continues working in the chemical business but enjoys spending his time with his grandchildren in the northern VA area. Not much to report on the Richmond crowd – its been summer hibernation. Ralph Costen has successfully nursed Marsha back to health, as her severely broken ankle has almost healed. Ralph is now back on the golf course. Herb Braun has his short time calendar out and is counting down the days to retirement. Neil Steverson continues to put the bad guys in jail while enjoying his grandson. Gary Weishaar continues to pop the buttons off his shirt with the academic successes of son Nick at VMI.

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That’s all, folks. Thanks for your notes, and I look forward to seeing many of you in Lexington as the Keydets work hard at having a winning season on the gridiron. Please do me a favor when you read these notes – please e-mail me your e-mail address so that I can update my directory. Take care. God Bless, and GO BIG RED.

’71

James Kelly

These notes will cover the period of 15 May 2008 through 15 August 2008. I hope everyone had a great summer. Fall is in the air and once again, we are on our way to another season of Keydet football. Kathryn and I look forward to seeing many of you in Lexington as the season progresses. I am sure that many of you noticed the fact that the class notes from 15 May arrived in your latest edition of the Alumni Review before this set of notes was being produced. Thanks to the staff at the Review for their fine work and commitment. I recently received an update on the ending of the 2008 Fiscal Year for VMI Annual Giving. This year’s goals for the Foundation Fund, Keydet Club and the Athletic Operation funds were all exceeded. This represented giving by a total of 4,569 donors. The Class of 1971 had a total of one hundred and seven (107) donors, giving us a forty-one (41) percent rate of participation (VMI has set a goal of 37%). Thanks to each of you who contributed this year. My hope is that ’71 will show an even better participation rate in FY 09. For a summertime deadline, I received quite a few bits of information. I appreciate hearing from each of you, and it is helpful when you are able to share news about other Bother Rats. Special recognition goes out for Lanny Gault who is always a faithful reporter. The Georgia Press Association recently presented John Willis with its Brumby Trophy for “serious” columns in newspapers in his classification. John has been the editor of the Calhoun Times since 2003. Even though John is proud of the award, he considers his humorous columns to be his best. John has talked with McKee Dunlap, Hawk Rogers, Bookie Barksdale, Dickie Randolph and Dave Kennedy. McKee is in Lexington but is working in Woodstock during the week. Bookie has retired from teaching, and Hawk is nearing retirement with the USPS. Buddy Bryan made a trip to San Diego to see Heather, Colin (’96) and his granddaughters, as well as attend the 2008 U.S. Open at

Torrey Pines. Buddy, son Paul (’05) and Carol were joined one day at the tourney by John and JoAnn Ashman. John and JoAnn live in Pasadena with their two daughters, the oldest of which is headed to UCLA this fall. Carol and JoAnn also discovered that they were both born in Oil City, PA. It is a small world indeed. Virginia Tech’s Myers-Lawson School of Construction presented a program last April entitled “A Journey of Leadership.” Barry O’Donnell attended (which is not a surprise), but the presenter was none other than LTG Carl Strock ’70 who related stories and lessons from his VMI and Army experiences. Bear says Carl was outstanding and that his message was the essence of VMI … that is, “nothing is more important in leadership than honor.” Barry also shared that a recent graduate of Tech included one Matthew Fontaine Curtis-Maury from Greensboro, NC. D. Walton is planning a conference to be held at Tech in November and has conversed with Bear on several occasions about arranging things at Tech. It is apparently never too late to tack on a few college degrees. Erwin Hanke recently got a master’s from Marshall University and has been in touch with Craig Biegel who is working on a PhD. Erwin and his wife, Brenda, live outside of Roanoke in the greater Cloverdale area. Erwin, Craig, Adams, Bryan and Strickler all had lunch together in Lexington. Lanny Gault has been busy of late with several “business” trips including such stops as San Diego, Austin and Old Harbor Alaska (pop. 215). He also attended the Keydet Club Leadership Conference in Lexington along with Mouse Littleton. Over the weekend, they saw Bob Lockridge, Jim Gearhart, Tim Golden, Mike Strickler and Gerry Acuff. Lanny says the feast provided makes it well worth upping the ante for the Keydet Club. Golden was in the process of planning a vacation with Dickie Randolph in an undisclosed location … no need to upset Homeland Security. Randolph (the King of Concrete) recently went boating at VA Beach with Gault and a Hokie friend. Ted Wachtmeister has returned from New Delhi India where he received injections of stem cells over a six-week period. He also learned yoga practices and other techniques to improve his recovery from inclusion body myositis. Ted and his traveling companions also took in the sights of India and greatly enjoyed the cuisine. Good luck to Ted! Geoff Schelhorn and Charlie Lindsay joined Gault for an evening in NOVA in July. Charlie is reported to be spending less time at the Scoop Grill and more time on the rivers and lakes fishing. The VMI 4th of July event features hot air

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CLASS NOTES balloons, fireworks, live bands and good food. Bryan, Gault, Adams, Littleton and Metzger were on hand for the festivities. Mouse and Big John also got in a little shooting practice. Metzger really wants the coveted coon skin cap. Ten BRs recently attended the ’71 luncheon at their usual haunt, the Penny Lane Pub in Richmond. Along for the event were Mal Kerley, Jim Westbrook, Fred Banister, John Heisler, Rich Clary, Sam Kirby, Tom Martenstein, Glenn Cox, Bert Tuxford and Lanny Gault. Mal had a daughter to get married, and the new couple will be living in the Netherlands. Sam’s business is doing well, thanks to lots of military work. He is also expecting a grandchild in January. Tom and Connie have a son in Seattle in the software business, and they have been out there to visit often. John reported that his contracting work is going well, doing “smaller” commercial work. It was also noted that Rooster had slimmed down and is back in football shape. Fred was recently in Amsterdam and shared some travel stories. Lanny and Ned Mikula are going to UVa vs USC and later to Nebraska to see the Hokies and Huskers. They will be at VMI on a regular basis, as well. I heard from Bill Willis who lives in Clarksville, VA, and is in the medical group management business. He and Dyan have two children, five grandchildren with number six due in 2009. Bill is trying to locate Dave Lawrence but so far has been unsuccessful. Anyone out there heard from Dave lately? Speed and Edie Patterson are relocating to Richmond from Charlottesville in September. Their daughter will be a junior at Sweet Brier, and their son will be entering Boston University. From Raleigh, NC, Al Davis reported that he is getting ready for his son’s wedding which is set for November in sunny Costa Rica. He had talked with George Dancigers in Nashville and Lew Rea who was heading for a trip to Germany. The Mike Baxter Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Sept. 22, 2008, at Shenandoah Valley Golf course in Front Royal. The proceeds will go to Impact the Valley, a church group which helps support less fortunate people in the area. Hopefully, a good number of ’71 golfers will be represented. Kathryn and I got to keep the grandchildren, Lauren ’26 and Ryan ’27, for a week back in July. We enjoyed having them and showing them all of the highlights here in Pulaski. Ryan even got a foul ball at the Pulaski Mariners baseball game. Calfee Park is one of the oldest baseball venues in the United States and was even featured in Sports Illustrated. Throw in a hot dog or two, and life is good. We also visited with my brother, Mike Kelly ’73, and his wife, Pat, for a poolside weekend and neighborhood barbeque. I hope everyone has a great fall and a wonderful holiday season. Let me hear from you.

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That’s it for now. Kathryn, Chuck, Veronica, the children and I wish you all the best. Go Big Red! … Jim

’72

Larry Houseworth

’72 Family – These notes cover New Market Day through mid-August. The notoriously hell-ish DC August has been blessedly fall-like so far. News is light this time of year, but by the time you read these notes, we will be well on our way to the Holidays and – praise all that is holy – past this interminable election season. The Wall Street Journal’s 20 May issue contained a powerful article titled, “Why Harvard Harasses the Military.” The writer, William McGurn, decried the hypocrisy in Harvard’s embrace of cultural diversity while subtly politicizing their banishment of ROTC. He did so in the context of his Commencement Address to the graduates of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. McGurn writes: “… after all the degrees had been handed out, two young men in dress blue were called back on stage. Before their families, their classmates and their teachers, these men raised their right hands and swore to ‘support and defend’ our Constitution … what a striking moment this was. Here were two young men who had stepped forward to wear the uniform in a time of war – and who had their service publicly acknowledged by their peers and institution … how far removed this is from the kind of orthodoxy that reigns at Harvard. There, ROTC has not been allowed on campus (students can do the coursework at another school) since it was booted off during the Vietnam War … (and because of Harvard’s opposition to DoD’s ‘don’t ask-don’t tell’) What (does) this mean? Well, for the Harvard seniors who will be receiving the gold bars of a second lieutenant, it would mean a political note injected into what should be a day of pride and celebration. It would mean that they will be called to account for a political policy that they do not set. And it would mean that in their first moments as new officers, they will be told by the leader of their university that they serve an institution that isn’t, well, quite worthy of Harvard … When the lieutenants at Benedictine were sent off from their campus, it was with the prayers and respect of their college community. Our young officers at Harvard deserve no less. And if (Harvard) President Faust wants an example of the kind of diversity that makes this possible, she need look no farther than Atchison, Kansas.” The two young men – 2LT Jeff

Fetters and Cadet Battalion Commander 2LT Michael (“Mac”) Mundie. Dad, Bill Mundie, says “… when my son and his Army ROTC buddy were introduced to their fellow graduating class, the whole place (graduates, faculty, visitors, etc) rose and gave them a long, warm, cheering standing ovation. The event blew me away, but I figured I was being emotional because it was my son. Apparently, it affected McGurn, too.” It certainly did … and countless others as well, BR. The VMI Family bonds are strong. I received a beautiful note from Susan Pitts, wife of Dave Pitts (’88). Susan’s cousin is married to Henry Bruno’s son, Tony. She wrote expressing the family’s gratitude for all the notes, and particularly Mike Sadler’s, received on Henry’s passing and provided the photo of Grandpa Henry, Tony and grandson Matthew. Hope Hennessey forwarded me an e-mail from Dr. Patrick Konopnicki who is the director of Career and Technical Education of Virginia Beach City Public Schools. He wrote asking for help in finding the author of “… the attached article. Some years ago, I started a scholarship in honor of my dear friend, LT. Lee Arthur Galloway (’69). I came across this article by a 1972 VMI graduate. I would like to talk with him since he brings so many fond reflections of Lee.” I passed the note to author Rob Murray. “Renaissance Man” Phil Clayton waxed poetic when he and I discoursed an early retirement. “… as I type this to you, I am sitting at my desk looking southward almost 40 miles down the valley toward Roanoke; temp’s about 55, with crisp, clear skies. The waterfall’s providing a relaxing backdrop accompanied by a crackling fire whose sweet, oak smell permeates the room. ... I could get real used to this full time!!!! You are right about early retirement; I am playing the whole deal day by day. I’m in a great frame of mind as, though I love to fly a machine like the 777, I also love to sit here on the side of House Mountain. So I really don’t care which way the wind blows on this one. I am mentally ready to say goodbye to a flying career of almost 38 years. I am enjoying every flight as if it is my last. Ava and I plan to spend a lot of time traveling the world and even more time here on the farm after the flying game’s over…” His next transmission was a quick note from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Screenplay material, BR. Mary Martin’s (Joe) delightful note forwarding Reunion pictures reminded me that the Joseph E. Martin and Joseph E. Martin Jr. Track and Field Scholarship will be awarded at the Fall Scholarship Awards Dinner. Songwriter and producer Ronnie Lau sent me demos of his latest work – excellent stuff! “Captain” Jack Miller (yes, you belong in the Review…) sent a quick note – “…The First Team All State Florida 5A High School baseball

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES team was named 6/22/08 – Jack Miller is the catcher! NO! Not the 50-something Jack Miller! The young, good looking one! Haha!...” Thanks for clarifying that, sir. Dick Vogel sent a Southern Miss Golden Eagle “Thanks” for his birthday card and greetings to the Class. He announced that they are expecting their second grandchild, Mary Grace, from daughter Tara – we are nothing if we’re not prolific, people. Got quick notes from Steve Hively and Rick Wilson – Rick’s with a Seattle-based Corps of Engineers e-mail address. And from long-lost ER Dr. Geoff Bull comes this gem: “… Larry: If you are sending out e-mail messages, I am not getting them. Sorry about Bo’s passing. I am sure that the frequency will pick up as we age. My son is in Korea with the Army and has applied for Special Forces. Wish he didn’t, but someone has got to do the dirty work. I have tried to contact and cajole Courtney Wheeler into coming or even calling or writing to no avail. It’s my understanding that he is no longer a senior attorney for Marriott but now is a shyster for the U.S. Postal Service. No wonder my mail is late.” … And my notes are late. So, that’s a wrap. Your humble scribe – Rah Virginia Mil … Larry

’73

Mike Kelly

Hello, Brother Rats! It is mid August, hot and dry, but not anything like last summer. However, as you read these notes, it will be cooler and Christmas will be around the corner. We’ll have had our reunion, and those who came to the reunion may well be caught up on the latest news. And I expect the Review’s Issue 1 in 2009 will have lots of pictures and news of the reunion. Pat and I have had a busy summer. Spent some time in Arizona in June visiting a lot of the natural parks in conjunction with a meeting I had in Tucson. While it was hot (the old dry heat – right!), we had a great time and saw lots of beautiful places. In July, we went to Pulaski, VA, for our annual family get-together – clam boil, baseball, hotdogs and hamburgers, homemade ice cream, and of course, fireworks I am headed to Lexington in the next few days to wrap up some details on the reunion. Pat and I are going to Las Vegas in September to keep the grandkids for a few days and are due to fly back Wednesday night, September 17. Then we’ll repack and head to Lexington for

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the weekend, provided Southwest doesn’t let us down. Hope we don’t have to call Rich Lykins for a FedEx overnight! At this point, it looks like we will have a pretty good turnout for the reunion, though less than half of the class is coming. Maybe we’ll get some more this week. I did hear from a number of you who, for various reasons, are unable to make it. Dave Northcraft said he has several business issues to deal with, so he and Susan will have to miss it. I know he hates that, since he has worked so hard at cadet recruiting in the Kansas City area and currently has three Rats at the Institute he wanted to visit. Chapter 61 has really been busy, and the fall recruiting begins in midSeptember when he’s already signed up at three schools. Thanks for all your efforts out there, Dave. We’ll miss you and Susan at the reunion. Ralph Littreal is working on some heavy (and exciting) proposals for Lockheed Martin for THAAD missiles the Army needs, and his wife, Becky, is just getting started on a new school year. So, they will not be able to make it. It’s a long way from California! Many of you may have seen Mac Kirkpatrick’s note saying he would be on the opposite end of the country from Ralph and is unable to come. Mac is a big motorcycle enthusiast and has a trip planned from Maine into Nova Scotia with several of his biker friends. He plans to start the trip hunting bears in Maine. Then he will head north on his motorcycle. Mac said he has ridden a bike in every state – except Alaska and Rhode Island – as well as in Canada, Mexico and some overseas countries. In case you’re wondering, Mac is into vintage BMWs and owns 16 of them. When he’s not biking, Mac has a company that sells Braille paper all over the world. He and his wife, Julia, live in Glenmoore, PA, but like spending a lot of time in Maine. They have two children – Julia, age 12, and Clark, age 15, who keep them busy. Julia is a gymnast and plays the flute, and Clark does cross country and music and is active in the Boy Scouts. We’ll miss all you guys, as well. Michael Burke sent a note to say he couldn’t compete with Mac’s adventures, but he is having fun teaching at St. Louis Community College. (He mentioned something about Herbert Dillard and teaching Shakespeare.) Michael is working on new cadet recruiting in the area and like Dave, he has a couple of Rats in Lexington this year. He was in Richmond in July to attend a wedding and stopped by Lexington to spend the night. He even ate a late supper at the Lee Hi truck stop. Mike plans to come to the reunion, but his wife, Mary, has a dental meeting and will be unable to attend. As I have stated in the past, it is always great to hear from a BR who you had lost contact

with, and subsequently I was very pleased when Charles Havasy called me recently. I don’t think I had heard from Charlie for a long time. He still lives in the Fredericksburg, VA, area and worked for Life of Virginia for many years as a principal financial advisor. Sometime back, they were bought out by GE, and Charlie decided to seek a change and went to work marketing Hondas at a local dealership, where life was good and the pressures not so big. And then this year, he decided to pursue a long-time dream of his by entering law enforcement. He was accepted by the Stafford County Sherriff’s Department as a “rookie” and is currently in training. Charlie expects to graduate in October and proudly boasted that he was leading his class in PT. Charles said he and Susan were getting ready to celebrate their thirty-third wedding anniversary. They have two children. Erika lives in the Fredericksburg area, and his son, Nathan, is a youth minister for Young Life and lives in Newport News. Charlie said he occasionally hears from Tom Moncure, who is the chief counsel for George Mason University. Charlie has a brother, Fred, who lives here in the Raleigh area. You may have read in the third issue of the Review about M.B. Adelson’s planned trip to China. He and Mary had a really great time, but he was quick to say that it gives you a better appreciation of the USA – everything from the air and water, to our Bill of Rights. As M.B. said, there is “nothing like a visit to a totalitarian country to help you not take such things for granted.” The communist government was ever present. He is still amazed at flying non-stop from Atlanta to Shanghai, a flight lasting almost 20 hours. They were glad to get back home and spent their July holiday working in the hot, humid Florida weather. They also took a recent trip to Memphis to help M.B.’s parents with a few things but were not able to coordinate a visit with Rich Lykins while there. However, they did enjoy some of the famous Memphis dry-rub BBQ ribs. I had a nice note from John Digiovanni who said he was starting a new career in September as a math teacher at St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, MD. Two of his sons graduated from this high school, and he decided to teach there, as well as work in campus ministry, plus serve as the cross country team coach. His oldest son, John Jr., started medical school at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, and Michael lives in California where he works as a grip for the film industry. John said Michael’s group just started working on the filming of “Angels and Demons.” His youngest son, Patrick, has one more semester at the University of Maryland and will graduate with a degree in biology. Patrick is actually

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CLASS NOTES traveling with the biology department to Australia this month. (I was a bio major and never got to go anywhere like that!) John’s wife, Patti, works at the UM Health Center, and they are looking forward to the reunion. Gary Shope hopes to attend the reunion, but he really has a busy schedule right now commuting between Hershey, PA, and Minneapolis. Gary is the CEO for Medafor, Inc. His son was involved in a serious boating accident recently, and that has caused his schedule to be altered significantly. Fortunately, Gary’s son is doing really well right now, but he won’t be able to start college this fall as he had hoped. Gary really looks forward to seeing everyone in September, so he’ll try his best to be there, especially since he promised Milt Salter that he’d come. Milt had sent me a note about Gary’s son, hoping that he would be alright and that they could still get together in September. Don and Beth Reisch are still in Nashville. Don recently picked up the responsibility for engineering for all of the Dupont plants in Tennessee, so he is hopping from one end of the state to the other (and that’s a big hop!). They will be at the reunion and plan to link up with Bill Boland so they can be there in time for the golf outing. Bill has his own law practice in Richmond and is doing well. Jim and Sharon Chalkley still live in Haymarket, VA, where Jim serves as VP of business development for LMR, Inc. He travels a lot but actually works out of his home, so that lightens the load a little. They frequently see Yerry and Tate Kenneally. Yerry works for CSC, and Tate teaches at Battlefield High School in Haymarket. Jim and Bill Stephens recently went to Williamsburg and tried to qualify for

the VSGA state championship two-man best ball tournament. They came up a little short but had a lot of fun. As I mentioned in my last notes, Bill works really hard as president of the Keydet Club. I hear from him fairly frequently on a number of issues, and he will be at the reunion. However, he will have to miss some of our activities because of Keydet Club functions. Bill and Rich have been working on some options for a scholarship fund that we’ll present at the reunion. Rich sent a note to say that his new role as president of the Alumni Association was really taking a lot of time but that he was enjoying it. Ed Hall and Dave Woody are both helping out with the reunion. Ed is heading the sport shooting event, and Dave is working on the golf outing. Stuart Seaton communicates regularly with me as well and serves as our class “treasurer.” I’m sure many of you get messages from our Virginia state legislator Scott Lingamfelter. Scott had some exciting news to share this month. His son, John, graduated from VMI this past May, and his other son, Paul, went to Christopher Newport University last year. However, Paul decided that he liked what he saw at VMI and what it did for his brother, so he is now a Rat at VMI. Scott was recently chosen as co-chairman of the Platform Committee on National Security, Homeland Security, and immigration at the national Republican convention and will leave for Minneapolis on August 25. He was recently named president of the Commonwealth Homeland Security Foundation in Virginia which is responsible for overseeing security research and development grants to Virginia universities.

Class of 1973: Every year on the July 4th holiday, the Kelly family gets together for a celebration, hotdogs, ball game, fireworks, etc. In the photo above are Steve Kelly ’77, right, with the class of ’77 Louisiana tag, and Mike Kelly, with the Ford F-150, class of ’73 North Carolina tag.

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George Tisdale sent a note saying that he would be at the reunion but has been really tied up with requests from his daughter. I know how that is! Steve Lane dropped me a note indicating he would be at the reunion on Saturday but not Friday. Also had a short note from Tom Napier about the reunion; he was trying to purchase football tickets online but was not having a lot of success. Bill van Deusen told me a few months ago that his two youngest grandkids were still hooked on VMI, and in spite of being two and four years old, they have mastered turning on the “parade” (as in Rose Bowl) to listen to the band. He even has them eating to the music and said their choice of breakfast entertainment is “Scotland the Brave” and “Shenandoah.” They keep their arms swinging with the beat of the drums and never miss a beat or a bite. Sounds like he’s breaking them in early. Better watch out, kids; he’ll have you pounding the stairs before you know it. Bill said they also have a big appetite, and he felt like they were starting to get their bodies in shape for the Keydet front line. Bill forwarded an e-mail with pictures he had received from Bob Poynor. Bob apparently found his old VMI album which had been missing for about 10 years when it was boxed up from his last PCS. The pictures were quite interesting and ranged from Ring Figure dates to a picture of the OD. He said he also has some taken in the “zoo,” but I haven’t seen those yet. You should have read the latest on Ray Burton in the August Review, as I mentioned he had moved to Chattanooga. Ray sent me another note this month to say that his father, COL John Ray Burton, DDS, had passed away July 30. His father was buried at the family plot in Riverview Cemetery in Richmond, and the ceremony included full military honors. Sorry for your loss, Ray, and we hope you and your family are doing well. Doug Payne sent me a note to say he had just returned from his annual African safari in Mozambique and was lamenting about getting old. He and his wife, Libbie, will fly into Newport News and then head to Lexington for the reunion. Doug got home just in time to hunker down for Hurricane Dolly but said that he had very little damage from the storm. Doug Huthwaite, who lives in Fayetteville, NC, said that he and Patti would not be able to come because of their current work schedule but wished us all the best. P.X. English said he had made his reservations for the reunion and was looking forward to seeing everyone there. Things continue to go well for him and his wife. They live in Severna Park, which is between Baltimore and Annapolis and is very close to BWI. So, if you are in that area or get stranded at the airport, he said

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES they have experience as a traveler’s aid station. Give them a call if you need it! I actually got stranded there in the mid-1980s when a 15-inch snowstorm closed the airport down! Fortunately, I had a room at the airport hotel. I am also pleased to say that I received a note from another “lost BR” this summer. Rob Bowman sent me a note at the end of July. He and his wife, Carolyn, live just outside of Blackstone, VA, and he’s worked for the Virginia DOT for 34 years as a maintenance engineer assigned to the Richmond area. Rob said he sees a lot of VMI engineers on the job and feels very confident with their work. Rob said he communicates with Dennis Martin on a regular basis at work and registered for the reunion after Dennis sent him a note. I continue to hear from a number of you on a regular basis, and I really appreciate the news. I invite all of you to visit www.vmialumni.org and sign up for the VMI Ranks. On this site, you can keep your address, phone number and e-mail address all up to date. We have a “class page,” but at this point, we have not used it much. I hope to really begin to utilize it in the near future, so that we can post notes, blog, chat, post pictures and a host of other things that are pertinent to our class. So, please go ahead and join the Ranks, and get all of your data correct, and stay tuned for further information on the use of this Web site. I just took my youngest son back to Appalachian State in Boone, NC, this week; while it was 85 degrees here in Raleigh, it was 65 in Boone. Nice! But that does signal the end of the summer. And as you read these notes, our reunion will have come and gone, and we’ll be getting ready for Christmas. I want to wish each and every one of you a joyous and safe holiday and a Happy New Year. And as a reminder, in case you haven’t already done so, get that yearend check in to the Institute. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year.

’74

Snookie Parker

These are the August ’08 Class Notes. Greetings, Brother Rats. High adventure as I begin to compose these notes. Marla, Olivia and I are vacationing on Marco Island, Florida (a nice slice of paradise) at the moment. We have had seven days of absolutely gorgeous weather but will be departing just hours ahead of hurricane Fay’s arrival. (I understand the entire island was evacuated just after we departed). I’m sure Bob

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and Lisa Braren, residents of the island, made it to safer ground. Proud Dad moment for Ted Zajac. Son David, or should I say Line Captain Zajac, had a great year at Culver Military Academy where he won the wrestling championship for the second year in a row. He is wrestling a weight class up (he is 85 pounds and his opponent is 100 pounds). I understand David broke the collar bone of the one opponent. Hey, as Ted says, don’t go out on the mat if you are not ready for 85 pounds of pain. Hope David continues the championship streak. Thanks for the note, Ted!!! Just received a short note from Graham Undercoffer. Turns out Red was state-side in early August and managed to meet his roomie, Alan Vicory, for lunch in Cincinnati. Red reports that Al and Cathy (his wife) were well and that Alan is keeping the Ohio River as pollution free as possible. Red was headed back to Northern Iraq mid-August. I’m curious, Red – While in Cincinnati, do you prefer a three-way or a five-way? Only those familiar with the tradition in Cincinnati know what I’m talking about. As Red tends to say, no rest for the wicked! Watch your six, BR. Bob Johnson was in DC on R&R from his tour in Afghanistan with plans to hook up with the DC BRs. With limited amount of time available after a long separation, Pam (wife) put the kaboom on that. Bob is back in Afghanistan while Pam is settled into a nice apartment on Capitol Hill – working at the Library of Congress, I think. Her next door neighbor is the majority leader in the house, so security in DC for Pam is pretty good with him next door. We missed Bob in DC however concluded – good call on the kaboom caper – a wise survival technique. Be safe, Bob – We look forward to hooking up with you to hear about your exploits when you return. Bob “The Ambassador” Trost rode in this year’s Rolling Thunder. Bob said their local event Ride of the Patriots guest speaker was CSM of the Army … who was riding the Army Chopper made by OCC of “American Chopper” fame. Bob was his left flank guard for the ride to the Pentagon. Bob said it took 3-1/2 hours before their line moved out of the Pentagon parking lot for the Rolling Thunder ride to the Wall. What a memorable way to spend Memorial Day weekend! By the way, The Ambassador is headed to Sturgis again this year … recording his experience in a journal accessed via the internet. If you want to keep up with all the action, just check out http://sturgis. cleekblog.com where you can read the blog or find the links to the phtot gallery and real-time trip tracker. What is to become of these high-tech bikers??? I may take you up on

the offer to ride in next year’s Rolling Thunder. Speaking of high-tech, Charley Banning ran into Debra Irby (Sup’s daughter) via MySpace. She teaches 2nd grade in Charles Town, WVA, and lives in Winchester. Got a short note from Henry Moncure. He retired from Philip Morris on July 31. Henry and wife Peggy are currently living in their summer home in Gloucester, Virginia, on the Ware River. Peggy has 4 more years before she can retire and plans to commute to her Band Director job at Manchester Middle School this fall. Their son, Marc, is more than half way through Marine Corps Boot Camp at Paris Island. Henry says Marc is finally reflecting the values he has tried to instill in him based on his VMI experience. Oh, by the way, Henry has just purchased a Grady White Gulfstream 23 and is looking forward to fishing trips on the bay. Me, too! I’ll bring the beer and be your first mate!!! Thanks for the note, Henry. Bruce Pence realized via class notes that Bert Graham was working in Salem, so called the local number and discovered it was recently changed to 540/283-2006 (for anyone else who may be interested). Bruce and Bert made contact and noted that they now have six of the Class of ’74 in this area that they know of: Bruce Pence, Bert Graham, Mike Morrissett, Randy Gleason, Randy Fraser and Roland Lazenby. Bert and Bruce mentioned it would be nice to start a breakfast club with everyone here in the area and planned to see what they could do about that. Bruce reports that his youngest son, Andrew, 24, left for the Air Force (TX) in June. Andrew will be training to be a Crew Chief for the F15 fighter jet, having responsibility for the communications and weaponry avionics. His oldest son, Stephen, 27, recently changed jobs and is now the assistant terminal manager for USA Trucking in Roanoke - they are like a giant Jiffy Lube for 18-wheelers. Bruce and Peggy celebrated their 30th anniversary in March with a Caribbean cruise. Bruce works for the commonwealth of Virginia (22 years now) and as a result of Virginia outsourcing technology, is now work-managed by Northrop Grumman. By the way, Bruce’s nephew, Phillip Cole ’04, is now in Iraq. Bruce, put me on the invite list for “The Noke” Breakfast Club, and thanks for the update!!! Wilson Johnson and family were gathering in Deltaville, VA, for the 4th of July weekend. Wilson, still in Moncks Corner, SC, retired from the power company but works for a geotechnical engineering company in Charleston. Wife Anne is teaching at Northwood Academy in Charleston. Son Matthew graduated from Liberty University last year and is in the job search mode. Daughter Catherine will be a junior at South Carolina next year. The usual stop

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CLASS NOTES for the Johnson’s coming/going to Richmond from SC is the world famous (that’s a stretch – famous but not quite sure of the reach – perhaps well known in certain circles would be a better descriptor) Parker’s BBQ in Wilson. I did get to meet Wilson and his daughter, Catherine, at Parker’s BBQ on their way up to this weekend gathering. What a great place to meet for those running north or south on I-95 near Raleigh. I enjoyed the Wilson rendezvous in Wilson. Give me a shout the next time you’re traveling – and I’ll treat!!! By the way, Pat Flynn and I (American Management Professionals LLC) have received our first dollar for work performed by our company. We are no longer just employees and/or public servants but now are full fledged businessmen – although we still look like government – 2 in upper level management and 1 employee actually working. Watch out Wall Street – delusions of grandeur here. Received a long note from Paul Vandoren. Paul says it has been a dramatic two years with many ups and downs. He notes that “our lives have entered a serious period. You only have to notice all our BR’s life events and Rich Forbes’ well written words to be sure of it.” Paul reports that work (20+ years with SAIC) has been going well in Suffolk, VA, since joining the SAIC/ General Dynamics contract to JFCOM J9 Feb 2002. Paul has 2 plus years as part of the Joint Urban Operation Office (JUOO). The JUOO is about to become the JFCOM Irregular Warfare Center. There were several BRs on one campus: Mike Ernzen, John McLaren, Gary Trinkle, George Van Laethem, Bill Pennypacker and Paul. I understand they try to have lunch together every three weeks or so. Attendance varies, but they typically manage to have five attend lunch. Paul says MG John McLaren has left J7, and Trinkle and Van Laethem have retreated to their respective company offices or jobs across the James River. The Vandoren Ups and Downs in the last two years: 2 happy marriages; 1 not so happy; mother’s and sister’s losing bouts with cancer; and Paul’s dog, Chewy, is on the mend. Chewy got into a fight at the Dogwood Dog Day Care. Someone there slipped up and violated their dog corralling SOP and let an aggressive Australian Bulldingo Mastiff in the same pen as Chewy. Whereas all the other dogs submit, Chewy would not, but he didn’t have the weight to prevail. The trials and tribulations of life. We should all reflect on and appreciate the bountiful blessings that have been bestowed upon us and value the time we have with those who mean so much to us. Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is the Future, Today is a Gift: that is why it is called “the Present” – we should treat it as such !!! FYI - VMI was listed as #9 in American’s

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best public colleges by Forbes Magazine. Thought you would be interested in seeing this. America’s Best Public Colleges - These 25 public schools rank highest in terms of student experience by Forbes.com Staff http://www. forbes.com/2008/08/13/best-public-collegesoped-college08-cx_mn_de_0813public_slide_9. html?partner=email BR Rick Hess recently sent me a note offering a unique and moving perspective on the richness of our class bond. It is difficult to capture the emotion … but I think from the following quote taken from the note, the heartfelt message is clear. “… I spent our last three years in school at Campbell College, now Campbell University. While there, I played baseball, wrestled and was a dormitory counselor. While there, I was under the impression that I had made many friends. Well, we are now 35 years down the road and the only person who has ever contacted me from Campbell is our Brother Rat Kent Wheeless who also attended VMI and Campbell. I have never received an invitation to a reunion for our class there; I am not even sure that they have reunions. Even though I spent three years at Campbell, my war stories are always about our Rat year. For in that year, I found many friends and brothers who were and still are in my life. I can travel anywhere, and there is always a Brother Rat willing to meet and share lunch and their life. This just doesn’t exist in any other place. I have lived a full and interesting life, being blessed with many friends and adventures. When I compare that with what I see in the Class of 1974 and what you all have shared, I envy you, not in a sinful way of envy but in a way that spotlights the gift that you share with each other. You have a treasure chest full of memories and fraternal bonds. You all can embrace the entire package of your lives together at the Institute and beyond. We who only have part of the package are curious and somewhat envious of your experiences. It is not that our lives are less full or rich but that we feel the void of what you would have added to our lives by our decision not to return. To be listed with you is an honor, to be part of you is a blessing and to share time with you is a gift. …” In the bonds, Brother Rat!!! Block your calendars: Reunion Dates: 4&5 September 2009. Looking for volunteers to help plan/execute. Wife suggestions/input desired/preferred. Don’t be shy. See you there! That is all the news for now. CLASS AGENT PLEA! Please forward any news regarding births, deaths, illnesses, marriages and other significant events concerning your family and/ or careers. Brother Rats are interested and do care. I know e-mail addresses have a half-life of about six months. Keep us current. Send your updated e-mail address to me snook-

ieparker1974@earthlink.net, Charley Banning cbanning@cox.net or Kevin Nettrour (our Webmaster) nettrour@accessus.net. Check out the Web site. Send me a note. Yada, Yada, Yada and Yaba Daba Dooooo! Warm Regards … Snookie

’75

Robert Mills

Greetings, My Brothers: I can barely convey to you what a pleasure it is to be writing these notes in August when the previous edition, written in May, has already been published! This is a tribute to the hard work of the Alumni Review staff, particularly Hope Hennessey, Traci Mierzwa and Brenda Stoner, for which all of us are grateful. Apparently the timeliness and relevance of our esteemed publication was an inspiration to Steve “The Whale” Chapin, one of our class basketball legends. Steve is the Senior Vice President and the Director of Marketing for the Transportation Division of Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, a subsidiary of AECON that does large transportation projects all over the place. Steve gets to take a pheasant hunting trip to Kansas every fall with twins, Bobby and Billy Hunter, and he and Sherry have two children, both of whom are graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. Steve’s son, Zack, is working in New Orleans for Consolidated Grain & Barge and their daughter, Camille (Cami), was with the CIA for a while and is now married and living in Philadelphia and the mother of Steve’s granddaughter with another on the way. It almost seems as though VMI may be singularly responsible for keeping the burgeoning pheasant population under control with Chapin, the Hunters, Dearman, Bongiovanni, Hoon, Edward Mills’07 and so many others regularly engaged in this endeavor. If any of you are ever attacked by a crazed, overfed pheasant, you’ll know exactly who to blame. Andy Dearman and Mike Hunter have performed a similar service for the Canadians of Ontario where they were joined by Mike’s sons, Budge Hunter ’10 and John David in assuring that our neighbors to the north are not overrun with Walleye, Pike and other native species. I’d be interested to know what the Canadian record is for backpacking alcoholic beverages to remote campsites in bulk. Mike Horan has put his biology degree to good use by cornering the mortgage market in Chesapeake, Virginia, with Hometown Mortgage Corporation. His daughter, Sarah, recently graduated from Randolph Macon, and Mike is

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CLASS NOTES active in the Methodist Church and also working on the manuscript for a book he plans to publish. More on that to follow. Oliver Way reports that elder son, Lawton ’04 is in his second year of law school at the Marshall Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary and is clerking during the summer for a Richmond firm. His younger son, Barrett, will be the starting place kicker for Ohio University, and Bonnie continues to have fun playing tennis, golf, bridge and doing her nonprofit work which includes keeping Ollie grounded and accounted for during football games. Jim and Susan Hobbs attended the strategic planning session for the VMI Foundation Board of Trustees in Charleston, South Carolina, in June which focused on raising some of the money necessary for the many renovation and construction projects that are currently underway at the Institute. Their daughter, Morgan, finished her freshman year at SMU in Dallas and is enjoying life as a sorority girl. Their son, Cabell, is growing his political consulting business, and Jim and Susan have been chilling out at their farm in the Shenandoah Valley about an hour from Lexington. If anything is being raised on this farm other than glasses, Jim failed to report it. Our illustrious Reverend Paul Blair and his wife, Mary, are living in Scotland where Paul is working on his Ph.d. Paul says that he spends his morning running on the same beach where “Chariots of Fire” was filmed - the sound track and gold medal visions dancing merrily through his head. Mike Mulligan and Jimmy Seitz got together for dinner in Arlington back in July, and Jim was able to bring everyone up to date on a few of the more cogent observations he has collected during three tours in Iraq. Although I am not privy to any of these assessments, I have serious doubts whether any of them could be printed here. Charlie Hoon reported in from California that he had been in touch with Mike Garten who had only recently completed teaching a class in San Diego. Charlie and Mike and Mike’s brother, Jim Garten ’74, were planning to get together in September. I suppose someone should alert the authorities. Our retired career diplomat, Bob Holby, has also moved to California, specifically, Vacaville, between Sacramento and San Francisco. Bob is working with the Department of Defense on a safety program known as VPP. Bob was elated about the fact that his principal interpreter while stationed in Iraq recently obtained a special visa to study and work near Washington, D. C. while pursuing his Ph.d. and working at the State Department. It is an open secret that the number of Iraqis whose assistance had made them less than popular in their native land and who have been successful in obtaining this type of relocation and assistance is rather minuscule. Bob was also happy that his daughter, who works for My

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Space, was alarmed but unharmed by the earthquake back in July which she experienced while rocking and rolling around on the ninth floor of the My Space building. His middle child, Tom, is in Daegu, South Korea, where his wife has a two year assignment as an Army psychologist. Bob’s three-year-old grandson is busy exploring the Korean peninsula with his father and having a big ole time in the Land of the Morning Calm. Our president, Guy Conte, is very excited about the upcoming VMI Alumni Windstar Cruise in March of 2009. Guy thinks that this will be a great opportunity for a maritime mini-reunion onboard a splendid vessel. Guy’s son, Chris Conte ’11, will be playing football for the Keydets this fall, and Guy is looking forward to the games. He had just returned from a weekend playing golf with class professional, Jerry DeWaters, and says that Jerry is probably the only golfer on record who can hit a 350-yard drive while talking non-stop. Guy also got together with Bernie Cobb in Atlanta and reports that Bernie’s daughter got married this past spring. Paul Bernard and Stewart Fleming and I were guests of Larry Hendry down in Tampa aboard one of the fabulous yachts that Larry builds and sells to various celebrities, most recently former Vice President Al Gore. Stu, Nardo and I were blown away by the size and opulence of these vessels which Larry sells through a dealership known as Fantasy South. All of us had a fantastical time cruising around on the Tampa intercoastal from Bradenton to Sarasota and back and acting like big shots at all the marinas. It really was something to see Larry maneuver this vessel that looks like a small cruise ship into a slip the size of a parking space. Of course, all this requires a crew that is nimble and alert, and we were the only four people onboard. I would love to detail more of this long weekend for you, but the number of Mojitos and malt beverages consumed has diminished my recollection, and I would prefer not to relate information that was less than scrupulously accurate. Suffice it to say that when a boat has marble countertops and a dumbwaiter, you are cruising in some high cotton. Tim Parker was in attendance at the most recent Legacy Day at the Institute along with his teenagers. His daughter nevertheless has elected to attend Elon University, and his son, a rising high school junior, has not yet made an election. Tim retired from the USAF and has worked since in both the private and public sectors. Tim is halfway through his doctorate in business administration with an emphasis on organizational leadership, and his wife of thirty years, Esther, just completed her Master of Divinity degree and was ordained this summer. Tim had run into Alec Earl ’78 at a Pentagon retirement ceremony earlier in July. Bill Kern

spent three weeks in Russia during July visiting Moscow, Oryol and St. Petersburg. Two weeks of that time he was camping with 62 Russian kids in the Birch Forrests outside of town. Oryol means eagle in English and is located near Kursk of the famous World War II tank battle. Bill enjoyed all of the Russian language, food and culture a lot more than sleeping on the ground in a tent. He said that the shop girls in Moscow got a real hoot out of his less than perfect Russian that he intones with a pronounced Bosnian accent. He is looking forward to returning next summer and brushing up on his language skills. I know the shop girls will be suitably impressed. Bob Deslongchamps pierced the veil of silence to reveal that he is working for the Army at the Pentagon as a GS-15 assigned to the Army G-4 Readiness Division. He has seen a number of our Brother Rats passing through the Pentagon in the last 24 years and anticipates being there a while longer. He says that Bill Thorpe is a Brigadier General in the Army Reserve and has been activated to fill a general officer position in the G-4 as the Director for Strategy and Integration. He seems to be enjoying it a lot. Others of our classmates enjoying the fruits of martial devotion, albeit in less opulent accommodations, include Rodney Lowe who has been busy working in Africa with various UN Security forces training for duty in the Sudan. He sent along a picture in which he was demonstrating the proper loading of a Burknabie Elan armored car, a South African copy of a French Aml-90. Rod has been thoroughly engaged in instructing a platoon in the finer points of tanks gunnery in an effort to give these UN units a little more fire power and has been joined on occasion by Rusty Rahm. Rod loves the travel and adventure and has logged more than 1.7 million miles with Delta alone. Chuck Wohlrab reported in from Kabul, Afghanistan, to say that he had visited family in Chicago, Lexington and Kansas in a brief return to the states and that he anticipates his son, Phillip, currently on active duty at Ft. Sam Houston, may join him in Afghanistan or otherwise deploy to Iraq after graduation in November as an Army medic. Charlie and Lynn Kaune relocated from Heidelberg, Germany, to Weil der Stadt where he works as a planner for US AFRICOM in Stuttgart. Kevin Wright works one floor below him, and Charlie says that he and Lynn have plenty of room for visiting BRs who are always welcome to stay with them and ein bier zischen. Danny and Vickie Darnell will have just moved to Bolling Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. in what Danny declares to be their 24th and final relocation. Danny has left the Congressional Liaison and has served as Chief

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CLASS NOTES of Operations for the Air Force for about a year. Danny and Vickie have two granddaughters living in Charlottesville and their two sons, Dan and Trey, are active duty Air Force officers with active duty wives! Dan Jr. and his wife, Cynthia, are deployed to Qatar and Baghdad, and they are hoping to be home for the holidays. General Bill Terpeluk just ran into Sky Captain, Dean Armstrong at the Indianapolis Airport where Bill was catching a plane and Dean was getting ready to fly one up to Alaska. You all may remember that Dean is flying mostly 757s to Europe and still leading battlefield tours, his most recent to France in September. Dean spends some of his time searching military cemeteries abroad for the final resting place of VMI men who have given the last full measure. Bill Terpeluk was planning to attend the dedication of a monument to the “Lost Battalion” of World War I and looking forward to the deactivation of his Army Reserve Unit, the 77th Regional Readiness Command, and to having a little bit of extra time on his hands. Rick Law, another one of our basketball heroes, says that it was a hot dry summer in Colorado, but all the better for drinking cold beer. You may recall that Rick is a top level management dude with Coors and that Coors has just merged with Miller to become Miller Coors. Rick asked me to pass along to all of you that if you can’t find Coors, drink a Miller instead. Coincidently, Rick laments that neither the hot weather nor the merger have improved his golf game. Rick, all problems have solutions. If you can just schedule yourself into New York City for a couple of weeks, Jerry DeWaters will be happy to take care of any problem with your swing. Ben and Anne Vanderberry have just moved into a new home on the water close to Old Dominion University. He ran into Harry McKnight who was in town for his mother’s 90th birthday, along with his daughters, Kate and Megan, and stopped by to visit with the Vanderberrys before heading back to Roanoke. I have promised Ben that as soon as we get a little break in the schedule, I will round up some of the local Brothers to come out and trash the new place. This will not be an easy assignment, because the last time any of us attempted it, we did not make it home until almost daylight and were unable to remember anything that happened after about midnight! Dr. Jim Schmitt retired from the Army two years ago and has returned to work at his same job in Ft. Carson as a government civilian teaching his specialty of prosthodontics in the dental residency program. His clinical practice is devoted to rehabilitating soldiers who suffer maxillofacial wounds in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jim loves being able to help but is dismayed by the amount of carnage that he sees and attempts

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to correct. Jim’s oldest son, Christopher, is a Captain stationed at Ft. Hood and has just recently returned from a year in Afghanistan. His youngest son, Eric, is teaching English in Taiwan, and his wife, Karen, has been blessed with a quiescent phase to her multiple sclerosis. Just like Rich Mines and other of our classmates, Jim has taken up marathon running as his principal mode of recreation. He recently competed in the Leadville Trial Marathon in Colorado which is noted to be one of the toughest in the country. The race course runs over four-wheel drive roads and mountain trails and reaches a maximum altitude of more than 13,000 feet. For you English and history majors, that is more than two and a half miles above sea level. Due to the particularly daunting challenges of this course, less than 300 runners usually enter. And this past year Jim was strolling around the starting line and found one of his fellow lunatics in a VMI shirt. This turned out to be H. Francis Bush, who is a professor of economics at VMI. Jim is considering repeating the Leadville Marathon this year and invites all of you athletes who enjoy cavorting 26 miles for fun to join him in the upper atmosphere. Bo “Bonecrusher” Temple has been asked by the Army Vice Chiefs of Staff to remain for another year managing the Worldwide Military Construction Program. Apparently, candidates for this position that possess Bo’s particular attributes seem to be somewhat rare. Bo and Nancy’s son, Peter, will start graduate school at VCU in August, and Bo and Nancy have been enjoying a great summer at Belvoir. Big Al Morgan was fortunate enough to sight of one of our noteworthy football officials, Doug Harvey, doing some “road work” near Richmond while preparing for the season. Al honked but Doug was too engrossed in his workout to notice. Al’s wife, Sandy, has only recently returned from Morocco where she was able to indulge not only her curiosity, but all of her usual proclivities and zest for life, without managing to be deported or prematurely repatriated. Rick and Suzanne Hening report that their son is back at Elizabeth State University preparing for the football season. The Henings had a great trip to Atlanta for Suzanne’s family reunion and managed to sneak in a Braves/ Phillies game. They even managed to sit in the new “all you can eat” section of the stadium where fans get a wrist band that entitles them to indulge to their heart’s content. Suzanne and Rick also attended the American Music Jubilee in Selma, North Carolina. Still, the highlight of the summer was helping Sam, their son with Downs Syndrome, to realize his lifelong ambition to ride a two-wheel bike. Rick has been losing weight, jogging along to keep up with the new cyclist in the family. Now Sam is taking

horseback riding lessons to meet another goal of his and is doing well. Another lifelong ambition has been realized by our Brother Rat Bob Janes who completed gender reassignment surgery in April and has changed his name to Heather Marie. Heather and Deb just recently celebrated their 29th anniversary and their oldest son, Matt, is in his last year in a Master of History Program at SUNY, Brockport. Their youngest, Ben, is an anthropology major at Ithaca College with a minor in music. Heather has applied to Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and is continuing the study of the violin at Eastman School in Rochester. I am deadly serious when I call upon all of you to give Heather your support and reflect upon the irony that it is never too late for the class to go co-ed. Harry McKnight checked in to announce that his daughter, Kate, graduated from Virginia Tech in May and that his daughter, Megan, is planning a wedding for the fall. He invites everybody to drop by and visit with him in Roanoke or Salem or to come by the Mack and Bob’s Restaurant for lunch or dinner on him. Andy Andisheh gave us a shout out from Calgary to say that he had visited with Larry La Monte in June and had a great time jet skiing and boating Texas style. Kimo and Melanie Wong have just become grandparents to a new baby girl, Lexy, and say that Melanie had burned her AARP card in a gesture of protest and denial. Kimo got to visit with Andre Gibson ’78, and the two of them had a big old time. Andre lives in California where he occasionally runs into Charlie Hoon when Charlie is not busy exterminating colorful feathered avian creatures. Frank Hillson has started school at Morgan State University in Baltimore pursuing his Ph.d. in American Literature. Frank’s wife, Christina, has taken the Delaware Bar Exam, and their oldest son will graduate from West Point in May of 2009, having completed a full semester at the University of Munich, Germany – a welcome respite from the USMA, as we all can imagine. Their daughter is in her third year of medical school in Dallas. Dr. Jim McCriskin’s son is completing his Army Flight Surgeon Training and will be off to Afghanistan in December with an FOB Helicopter Group as their flight surgeon. Jim was recently diagnosed with diabetes and has been working on his weight loss diet and exercise and reminds everyone to keep up with their regular annual physicals and to be alert for all the little issues that might crop up in this, our advanced age. The Salvo Lape family has been busy in northern Virginia camping around the state parks and doing a lot of fishing and a little catching. Salvo is busy running the training budget for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in Homeland Security, and his daughter, Karen, and her husband, J. J., are teaching 5th grade and high school, respectively,

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES while Dave Jr. heads back to Radford enrichment, self development and for his senior year. mentoring summer program for Dr. Randy Frank has obtained yet at-risk, minority youth) and a Unianother medical license, this time in versity of Virginia Darden School the State of Washington. He continof Business (were Tom received ues with his full time inpatient/outpahis MBA) scholarship program for tient child and adolescent psychiatric veterans. practice in Eugene, Oregon, and And now, the ’76 BR Minute: both of his children are in college. Jim Brown completed his mounHe and Terry found time to travel tain climbing adventure on April to Israel and the West Bank where 30th – check out the photo. Chip they spent a day in Ramallah. Randy Deyerle is currently a project lead was very impressed by his stay in for a new bridge being built in the the Middle East and recommends Glasgow, VA, area. Tom Hawthat anyone traveling to Israel stay thorne’s two sons are going off to on the Kibbutzim rather than a hotel college this fall, so he is joining the for a more authentic and reasonably semi-empty nesters club. Charlie priced experience. He had been in Keen re-married in June. Gary touch with David Schuyler, Artie Knight’s granddaughter was born Nunn and Mike Fleenor, and said on 4 June, and he was automaticalthat Uncle Dave is recovering from ly inducted into the Junior Grandpa a wasp attack which occurred while Club. Jim Mallon’s Richmond walking his dog in the hills above BRC Club set a new Olympic BR Roanoke. Mike Fleenor continues his attendance record - Mack Curle, Ben Curle ’08, Bill Danzeisen, battle against cancer after completMaury Gatewood, Bob Gleason, ing a stem cell transplant at Duke Lee Godsey, Tom Hawthorne, University. Randy says that Mike’s Charlie Keen and Tom Moody optimism is infectious and that Mike met with him for breakfast on 1 is feeling better every day and is even Class of 1976: Jim Brown in front of Mount Everest, August. Jim passed along a conconsidering a return to work in the on top of the Kala Patthar Peak, Nepal, elevation 18,200 versation with Greg Lucado. Greg next month or two. I know that all of feet above sea level. retired 4 years ago after selling his you join me in supporting Mike and share of a construction company. extending our collective wishes for Now he is teaching classes at three his prompt and complete recovery. Philadelphia area colleges, leads a 25-member On that note, I wish all of you a healthy and we have majestically matured when he checked band in contemporary worship at his local Baptist happy autumn, and I hope to see many of you BR pictures posted at the class web site. church, plays golf and goes to the beach. JR Mott in Lexington before the year is out. Until then, Despite a bad knee, reading glasses, and some and Mark Sculley hosted a barbecue for 8 cadets stay young and stay in touch! gray hair, Bill Neal is still flying 747-400 cargo at JR’s home in Lexington the week of VMI’s planes with Atlas Air and loving it. Bill said graduation. The ’76 class flag (Bennington) was most of the flying is international and his airline William Bhatta prominently displayed at JR’s home for everyone company remains busy/is growing. (I always get to see. Mark and Bernadette, JC and Terri Colenotes from Bill when he is sitting in far away, exotic places. This update was written in Shanghai man were also at JR’s for a cookout on the 4th of July. Carmen Villani retired from American Airat 5:00 am on a Thursday morning.) When he is lines in June and started a new job as a Systems not flying, home is Germantown, TN. His three Engineer at MITRE Corporation. Brother Rats: boys are out of the house, on their own and doing Have a safe and happy holiday season next Thanks to everyone who supported the 12th Anwell. Bill re-married about 20 months ago after month! nual Hunter’s Hope Memorial Golf Tournament several years of single parent responsibilities and & Auction (and class mini-reunion) in September. bachelorhood. He hopes to introduce his wife, I will cover the event in the next set of class notes. Debbie, to VMI sometime this fall at a parade and Bland Massie But by now, fall, football and soccer are winding football game. down; basketball and wrestling seasons are startTom Watjen wrote to say he is living in Chating; and winter is just around the corner. tanooga, TN (with occasional excursions to his Mike Outten checked in. He retired from the place in Bald Head Island, NC). One of his daughAir Force about 3 years ago and went back to ters graduated from college this past summer, and Rah, Super ’77, Rah, Rah, Rah, school to get a master’s degree in accounting. another is a rising senior at St. Margaret’s school These notes were turned in 15 August ’08 and Hopefully, by the time you read this, Mike will in Tappahannock, VA. Tom has worked for Unum cover the summer actives which prove to be a have passed the CPA exam. Mike and his wife, - an employee benefits provider - since 1994 but slower and quieter time at the “I.” Moe knows that Susie, are almost empty-nesters. Their youngest has been the company’s CEO since 2003. He the summer is also a busy time for BRs having fun son, David, is attending Appalachian State this actively supports two great programs: VMI’s in the sun which interrupts the information highfall. Mike told me he was absolutely amazed how College Orientation Workshop (an educational

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CLASS NOTES way of Super ’77. Moe also knows that alcohol consumption may be a factor! But the notes must go on and on and on. Terry “Wolfman” Wolfe sent word to bring Moe up to date. His engineering consulting business is in its 7th year, and he has just bought his own building. He employs 11 (legal?) people, one of which is his oldest son, Daniel, who was married in April ’08. They are located in HUMBLE, Texas. (Who does Terry think he is fooling by living there?) They provide design and detailing services to the metal building and roofing industry. He also has a “CERTIFIED” test lab for the states of Florida and Texas which Daniel runs. The lab tests metal roofing and wall products for wind uplift, water and air infiltration and MISSLE IMPACT testing (cool). For those of you about to nod off, Moe will give you the Cliff Notes version. The 3 important words are capitalized, two of which apply to our life at VMI. His wife, Debbra, graduated as the most mature in her nursing class of 2003. Her classmates called her “Mom.” Terry loves for her to put on her uniform and play nurse — “isn’t that special.” Wolfman, you are one sick pup in need of medical care. Travis is their youngest and attends Texas State University. Terry and Debbra like to water and snow ski. He said, now that most of ’77ers have empty nests, maybe we could see more of each other. Who’s up for a road trip to Humble, Texas? In June, the Keydet Club Leadership Outing brought several BRs to Lexington. Anne and Tommy Underhill played golf together, as did Will Bynum and Moe. Coach Duggar Baucom and Will talked more about basketball than golf. Will’s famous “nothing but net” corner shot was more accurate than his putting. But the hole in the hoop is much larger. Chris Nash and Eric Hutchings were at the dinner at Moody Hall that evening. Eric seems to smile more now that he’s not the Corps “Daddy.” Chris still brings plenty of “bull” to Lexington. It was great seeing all these BRs. July 4th brought Billy Holzgrefe to Lexington for the celebration. Billy was there to enjoy the festivies at VMI and spend some time with his family, Barbara and Donnie Ross ’74. Moe helped Donnie with the hot air balloon team, “Christel Delight.” Billy was part of the vehicle chase team. Moe got some great aerial pictures of VMI, including the construction of 3rd Barracks. (Editor’s Note: See photos in the Institute section.) Dinner at the Ross’ house offered plenty to eat and drink. Fun was had by all. Moe talked to Boog Powell by phone. He was in good spirits while enjoying his spirits. Life is good for him in Lancaster, PA. Maybe he can make a game this fall if the buggy horse is healthy. Billy Hupp and Moe also talked by phone. The VMI coaches had a VMI golf outing in Richmond this summer. Just “white hats” at this event. Moe was in Detroit, MI, recently and attended

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a VMI chapter picnic. He had hoped to see Steve Stout there. Maybe next time. Let Moe hear from one or both of you Stout brothers. Steve Billingsley e-mailed that he and Kerry “Moon” Mullin went fishing on the Potomac River by White’s Ferry in August. After three hours with no bites and staring at each other, they decided to pack it in, so they “rowed the boat ashore.” They saw Col. Tom Davis ’64 from the VMI history department at the ferry ramp. They talked to him for 10-15 minutes. Probably the longest attention span Col. Davis had ever seen from Steve or Kerry. Norman Stevens sent information about his activities over the last few years at the Kankakee County Museum, of which he is currently executive director. The Kankakee County Museum Complex contains: eight museum galleries, three historic structures and a major new outdoor exhibit area. In addition, they have just completed a $250,000 building extension giving the museum state-of-the art secured climate-controlled artifact, archival and photographic storage facilities, as well as exhibit preparation spaces and offices. Since his arrival there in May 2002, he has mounted twenty major exhibits and published five books (four of which are: “Images of America: Kankakee 1853 to 1910; “Images of America: Kankakee 1911 to 1953; “Images of Rail: Kankakee Railroads, 1853 to 1956;” and “Postcard Images: Kankakee 1900 to 1913.” He also edited “The Sesquicentennial History of Kankakee County.”) He is the author of “Antietam, the Civil War’s Bloodiest Day,” Osprey, 1994. Norm is working on a biography of Raleigh Edward Colston (VMI class of 1846), who taught at the Institute during the antebellum period, was a Confederate general officer (commanding one of Jackson’s three divisions at Chancellorsville) and was subsequently a colonel in the Egyptian Army of the Khedieve of Egypt. There are to be eight chapters, five of which are written. The book is under contract to the University of Missouri Press. Should anyone out there have any unpublished material concerning Colston (beyond that in the VMI archives), he would be most appreciative. He is also working on another book dealing with the 76th and 113th Illinois Volunteer Regiments (Kankakee County formations) in the Civil War, based on our archival material (which is extensive). The working title is, “In Rows of Burnished Steel.” He presented a paper last spring at the United States Naval Academy’s annual Naval History Symposium, “Will No One Act with Discretion? Combined Operations in Rhode Island, as an Element of the 1778 Campaign,” which apparently impressed folks there, as he was asked this fall to lecture on the subject for the United States Naval War College. Who said you couldn’t get a job with a history degree? Sounds like Norm is putting his to good use. Way to go, Norman!

Steve Kelly got his e-mail in just under the wire. Moe decided to check his messages one more time before sending in the notes. Steve had an enjoyable visit with Mark “ROTC” Bryant in Pulaski over the 4th of July. Steve is still working for the Navy as a contract counselor at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and has a part time private practice doing marriage and family counseling. Steve and his wife, Cindy, reside in Slidell, just outside of New Orleans. Steve is working on his Ph.D at Liberty and hopes to finish it up in the spring. Although crawfish and Cajun food are great, Steve would like to get back to Virginia at some point! “ROTC” is doing well and still works for Army Intelligence in Charlottesville. Mark can’t say much about his job, but we all should be glad he is there! The bricks in our class section in front of Barracks should include those for our fallen BRs by the time you read these notes in November. Moe encourages each of you to “get your own brick” before our next reunion. A typo was made in the last set of class notes concerning the length of tenure for Col. Steven Riethmiller ’63. He taught 40 years at VMI making him last issue’s “Man among Giants” choice. This issue’s “Man among Giants” is Greg Cavallaro ’84, the Executive Vice President of the Keydet Club. He took over the Keydet Club after Jeff “Pup’’ Morgan’s ’80 untimely death. Greg has led the Keydet Club to greater heights every year with the help of his small but great staff. The Keydet Club has continued to provide athletic scholarships, tutoring of athletes and monies to the athletic department for its operating expenses. Keep up the great work, Greg. “High Fives’’ goes to VMI for being listed as #9 in American’s best public colleges by Forbes Magazine. Thought you would be interested in hearing this. Well, with so little info and so little contact with BRs this summer, there isn’t much more to say. Moe knew this fall would be different. We all had a great football season (this is the optimistic “crystal ball” statement). Have a great Thanksgiving and Christmas. Moe hopes to get as many Christmas cards and letters from his BRs as he did last year. In the Spirit of VMI, Never Say Die … Moe

’78

Tom Brown

Greetings to the great class of ’78. Hopefully, you are aware of the change that occurred this past spring, when Glenn Dallinger retired from the esteemed post of class agent. It is now my privilege to be your representative. It is very challenging to

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES find the words to express my gratitude to Glenn for his fourteen years as our class agent. His shoes are going to be a challenge to fill. As this is my first set of notes, I will endeavor to keep it in the style you are accustomed to. The first bit of news comes from Leland Horn. Leland received his doctorate in management from Colorado Technical University in June. Congratulations, Dr. Horn. He also says that he is back to normal physically, whatever normal means. Many of you were kind enough to check in with your e-mail info including: Kevin Callanan, Bob Jenvey, Rick Wolffe, J. Brad Kitts, Alec Earle, Jim Simons, Bob Checca, Tom Sliwoski, Tom Tucker, John Thomasson, Tony Pileggi, Jim Cure, Bill Way, Stephen Downey, Bill (Shady) Grove, Jeff Yates, Nelson Curtis, Paul Campbell, Ned Riester, George Relyea, Mike Witter, Mark Hunter, Joe Bright, Bob Vidrick, Wads Bugg, Bob Kirby, Ken Lafferty, John Tucker, Tim Berkhimer, Bob Rockefeller, Vagel Keller, Dave Colonna, Bruce Morris, Charlie Alphin, Tim Pishdad, Bruce Kay, Andre Gibson, Ralph Williams, Mark Seely, Spike Stubbs, Steve Oddi, Bob Simpson, Jerry Harris, Jim Doyle, Mike McCarthy, Garry Brumback, Chris Stone, Don Jones, Bob Longwell, Bob Magnan, Will Tilley, Rob Parker, Russ Johnson, Phil Fore, Anthony Moore, Brion Smith, Bob Brown, Jim Conrad, Jerry Placzek, Buck Bartosik, Mike Freeman, Pat Wilson, J.K. Whitmer and Les Shimanek. All right, gentlemen, now that I know you have working e-mails, let’s send along some updates for the next time. John Gregg checked in from Thompson Station, Tennessee. John is working from home in the awards biz. He says that things are a little slow, but he still puts in 60-80-hour weeks. John, you need to talk to your boss about overtime. Robby Burke attended the wedding of Jack Wright’s daughter in June. Steve Craig is teaching Medical History and Military Medicine at USUHS in Bethesda and hopes to retire in Jan ’09. Rob Traver had some interesting information about the Barracks renovations, when they started connecting the newer Barracks to new Barracks; their senior room became a hallway. As they stripped off the old towel rack, they found some artwork from 1978! He and roommates Bill Lowe, Bob Vidrick and Rob’s autographs were still underneath. Jay Hutt is still a traveling man. He is more often than not on the road with his job. Jay and Jim Cure got together recently. Jimmy and partners have sold their internal medicine practice to the local hospital. He is very relieved to be out of the administrative side of being a physician. Paul Mitchell has been in the swim of things, literally. Paul has been doing some distance swimming in preparation for a big race against Steve

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Oddi. Paul has been hanging out with Steve on occasion at a local sports pub, and I guess they were motivated by the then-upcoming Beijing Olympics. The race is going to be more exciting than anything Michael Phelps has done this Olympics. Make sure your health insurance is up to date, Paul, and let us know the results. Bill Gregg had not been back to a VMI reunion since our 10th. He says he had a great time at the 30th. Tom Shaw made him go. Bill got to see Gary Snyder, Joe Morelli, Jerry Placzek and Basel Smith, and lots of others. He hopes to make it back for our 35th! He wants everyone to get in touch with Ken Lafferty and Jim Reynolds and tell them to come to the next one. Bill actually got a letter from Jim and says Jim’s family is well and Jim has kids in college. Jim is living in Hillard, Ohio. Matt Schell is out in Palmdale, California, and says the weather has been a scorcher. Matt is itching to return to Lexington this fall for a football game, either the Coastal Carolina game or the Liberty game. Matt says it was great to be back for the 30th reunion and hated to go back to California. He states that the “I” certainly has changed since the last time he visited the place in 1981. When he returns this fall, Matt plans on spending a week in Lexington, either prior or subsequent to one of the football games and perhaps can swing by and visit some BRS in the Lynchburg or Roanoke area. Hope to see you Matt-the Class of 1978 apartment suite is always available for all BRs here in Lynchburg. I got an invitation to Bob Simpson’s retirement shindig but was unable to attend. It must have been an auspicious occasion considering his accomplishments with the Virginia National Guard. Way to go, Colonel Bob!! Craig Badalaty is still at Con Edison in New York (26 yrs and counting). He is up to two grandchildren as of February, and they keep him very busy. Terry Dorn sent along some interesting happenings in his world working on Capitol Hill. Terry spends a good bit of his time testifying before Congress as part of his job at GAO. He wrote: “Met with Senator Warner on gas conservation last week, before he went in to the hospital. He had two aides and walked with a cane but still got along pretty well, and his mind is sharp. On the way out, I mentioned that the last time I saw him up close was at the VMI parade in 1977, when I was a young VMI cadet. He smacked me on the butt with his cane and said ‘Good for you’ in a proud sort of way. Then he said, ‘Was that the time Liz was with me?’ and I said, yes, it was. He said, “Then I’ve got to tell you a story. When Liz and I got there, we stayed in Robert E. Lee’s house at W&L, which was for VIPs. An elderly woman who ran the house met us and said, ‘Miss Taylor, this is your room over here on the left ...

and young man, this room over here on the right will be yours ... and I’ll be sitting here all night in this rocking chair in the hall to keep an eye on things!’ He said that the next day he had to give a speech somewhere in town about public policy while Liz went to an art show in Lexington. When she returned, she asked him how many came to hear his speech and he said ‘Oh, about 40 or 50.’ Liz replied that she had 500 come to see her at the art show. He laughed and said that is how the whole weekend went. Then he said that we probably didn’t know that before the parade, Liz found out who the tailor was who made VMI uniforms, and she had them make her a skirt and a long scarf that she wore to the parade. Senator Warner said, ‘I was watching you boys and I could see that when you passed in review nobody was looking at me – you were all looking at Liz!,” to which I told him I had to confess that it was true.” Terry also is having a fun summer with getting ready for his sons’ two weddings this fall. Stu Gitchell sends word that he and Glenn Dallinger got together while Stu and family were in Orlando. Stu also meet up with Bill Way at the Richmond VMI picnic. Speaking of picnics, I ran into Danny Thornton at the Lynchburg chapter’s BBQ. Danny is doing well and looking great. More news on Glenn Dallinger: I was in Orlando and Glenn and I had a passing of the torch, as it were. Glenn is still in the mortgage business indirectly. He is looking forward to a leisurely life free of deadlines and long drives to meetings in Lexington. Bob Fricke retired from the FBI in March and works as a contractor at Peterson AFB. Bob also reminded how times have change in the thirty years since graduation. Yes, Bob, e-mail is a good thing. Cliff Seibel is now working as the Chief of the Environmental Division for the U.S. Army at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, just outside of Fairbanks. Cliff still lives at the North Pole, about 15 miles outside of Fairbanks. He just moved into a bigger house (just in time for the heating oil prices to spike!!), so if anyone is up his direction, please check in. Cliff’s life revolves around fishing, camping, hunting, riding four-wheelers and trying to keep up with home chores. Scott Singletary is still in Greenville, South Carolina working, for United Van Lines. Scott hooked up with Pat and Laura Wilson for the Citadel football game at VMI in October ’07 and had a great visit from what little he can remember. Pat also brought his son, and the last thing Scott remembers was he and Pat showing him how they used to launch sticks of butter to the ceiling of Crozet Hall using napkins to launch them. Unfortunately, they were doing this while dining at Maple Hall. Wes Shull is Director in BAE Systems. Wes runs the national customer support center (read

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CLASS NOTES Help Desk). Wes works out of a facility near Dulles International Airport. He has been here in northern VA for almost 18 years now (on this rotation). He and wife Patti (Mary Baldwin alum) celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary a while back. Wes has two kids in college and one in HS. Joe Cafarella passed along an update on his goings on. Joe retired from the AF after 23 years in June 2001 and then went to work for Ball Aerospace at Wright-Patterson AFB at the National Air & Space Intelligence Center (NASIC). Joe has been at NASIC ever since, doing intel and some program management work. His current job is with the GMTI Team exploiting JSTARS and other MASINT/GEOINT data for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Joe says our BR Gary Snyder was his Division Chief as an O-6 before he retired earlier this year. Gary is now a contractor working between Washington, DC, and Ohio. Joe says hasn’t seen Gary since he retired. Greg Gearhart spent the day after the thirtieth reunion with Dave Lucado in Richmond at Timmons learning to build a worldwide engineering empire. Greg says he “stole” some ideas from Dave to use back down in Mississippi. Greg also went kayaking in Tennessee with his sons. Greg said it was almost more adventure than he wanted. Jimmy Leech retired from the Army in July. Jimmy’s current plans are to join a private practice in El Paso and to keep up with his and his wife’s six children. Sounds like a very busy retirement. That’s all for this time! Greatly appreciate the wonderful response to my request for input for my maiden voyage into class agent-hood. My wife Pat (my ring figure date), and I extend a welcome to any BR and family who will be in the Lexington area to stay with us here in Lynchburg in a furnished apartment on the property. It was formerly the Class Agent Suite, but with Glenn’s retirement it has been rechristened the Class of ’78 Suite!

’79

Michael Ogden

Hope this finds everyone well. Work continues on our upcoming 30th reunion (April 24-26, 2009). The committee has decided on the Natural Bridge Hotel – the same place that we held our 25th. The committee was keen on keeping the main location local to VMI, and with the grand success that Natural Bridge provided last time, it was an easy decision to try and go with them again. We are still working out rough costs. We hope to have a fairly reliable price estimate, by day/event/weekend, for you soon. Plan on a formal dinner Friday evening with a guest speaker. (Rumor has it the Commandant will be invited to talk.) Standard parade and Barracks Old Yell

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Saturday morning, followed by lunch at the Commandant’s newly refurbished quarters (pays to have BRs in high places). Then, there will be tours of the new “third” Barracks and the new Leadership and Ethics Center, as well as other Post buildings that have undergone recent upgrades. Other activities are in the works for Saturday afternoon as well. Saturday night will be an informal dinner with a DJ. More details are contained in the quarterly update letter and questionnaire that I have been sending out. Should you not be getting this information, please contact me soonest, so I can get a corrected e-mail or home address. It is not necessary to respond more than once, unless you have changes. Now on to the good stuff … Tom Trumps writes that during our alumni weekend in April is the Alumni Rugby Match, and it’s becoming a big draw in getting alums back. He thinks there were over 40 for the game this past year. Our class alone could put a team on the field (for a few minutes, at least), he reports. He continues, “Our first class year was an incredible year for us, going 18-4-1, and is highlighted in Tom Davis’ ’64 book, “The Corps Roots the Loudest.” It would be after the lunch, so people can just gather and hang out around his house (the Commandant’s House!), if you have nothing better to do. Grunt Smith writes that with all his travels to the Navy’s waterfronts between Sasabo, Japan, and Mayport, Florida, he is finding many young VMI LTs serving throughout the operational Navy with great success. Grunt is still Vice Commander of SPAWAR and enjoying the challenges. Grunt did get to enjoy commissioning the VMI Class of 2008 Navy Ensigns in May. He says that was a very renewing and enriching event for him personally. Jim LaRose says that it is a sure sign that we are getting old when our class notes have more information about our children than us! Nevertheless, he does report that his son, Mark, graduated from Auburn in May and got a job with a geotechnical engineering firm in Dallas. Old, old, old. He and wife Kathie expect to finish their new home in Spanish Fort, AL, in September. John Colonna recently traded e-mails with Thitnant Thanyasiri! The following is part of Thitinant’s e-mail: “Dear Jeff : Congratulations for your promotion to BG. We have 3 Thai ’79 BRs: Lieutenant General Surapong Suwana-Adth (Director General of Joint Intelligence), Major General Wisith Jeangprajak (Director General of Strategic Research Institute) and myself, Major General Thitinant Thanyasiri (Dep Director General of Defense Science and Technology Office). I talked with Wisith on the phone yesterday, and he knew about your group (19 members). Wisith is a program director for the Thai Capstone course conducted twice a year. He should be the most appropriate guy to set up program for your group.

I could not talk with Surapong yesterday, and he may be out of the country. He is a busy man indeed! (Trying to find intelligence or doing some protocol such as playing golf and fine dining, I guess!)” John’s reply: “Thitinant: I’m going to forward your e-mail to Mike Ogden so he can let everyone know about the tremendous accomplishments of our Thai BRs in the next Class Notes section of the Alumni Review. That would be great if you guys are able to get together in Bangkok. What a star-studded meeting. By my count (a little skill I picked up 3rd Class year in Genetics lab, counting fruit flies with red eyes and bent wings), there will be four Class of ’79 men, 8 stars and at least two PhDs! Have someone take a picture, if you can. Please pass along my congratulations and regards to Surapong and Wisith.” So, how about that?! Bob Sievert checked in and says he is still working for the state and running their eProcurement program called eVA. Seems like it never stops growing! He writes the biggest changes for him and Angela are with their boys. The oldest, Matthew, is at Ohio State right now pursuing his PhD in Physics. Matthew hasn’t settled on a discipline in the field yet but is really enjoying all the research. The youngest, Andrew, is heading off for his first year of college in New Hampshire at Daniel Webster College, where he’ll major in a programming curriculum specializing in Gaming, Simulation and Robotics. Angela is still deep in the wildlife rescue effort. Until recently, she had been hand-feeding almost 15 baby gray squirrels! WOW. That’s it for now, BRs. I cannot make this stuff up (well, I could, but …), so drop me a line every now and again, so I have filler for the class notes. Stay well.

’80

John Gibney Jr.

Hello, Brother Rats, These notes cover the period May 16 through August 15, 2008. Mea Culpa Aaron Bush. I “found” the Bush family Christmas card in July, unopened, while cleaning out a desk. The card contained a Bush family update that began by noting that the family celebrated their second Christmas in Pennsylvania following Aaron’s retirement from the Army. Aaron teaches 8th grade algebra in Hershey. He also coaches cross country and girls basketball. Nancy runs the household including transporting everyone to practices, music lessons and places of employment. She also volunteers at their church

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES nursery. Wes (24) shares an apartment with a good friend from northern Virginia. Zach (21) is a senior at Radford University scheduled to graduate in December 2008 with a degree in graphic design. Kinsey (18) is considering cosmetology school while training her horse, Luna, for show. Jeremiah (15) completed 9th grade during which he played soccer and the violin. Lucas (10) has adjusted well to public school. His soccer team went undefeated last year. The period began with a message from Jonathan Ives from Afghanistan noting the New Market Day celebration held at Camp Cunningham. He forwarded pictures, one of which appears in the OEF/OIF section of this Alumni Review. Jonathan, a colonel in the USAR, has since rotated back to the U.S. Wade Stinnette sent a message saying that the family had a wonderful trip to Italy in the spring. Tom Gelles sent a message saying that his son, Nick, started at VMI in August. Nick joined John Alerding’s son, Johnny, in the Rat class. Congratulations to John Hughes on his promotion to colonel in the USAR. Walt Wood sent a message upon returning to Peru from his trip to the U.S. Walt wrote that Cuban cigars are readily available in the better smoke shops in Lima. Cohiba, Walt; Cohiba! Thanks to Steve and Cathy Andrews, Chris and Jen Dombalis, Matthew and Tanya Keys, and Gary Levenson for celebrating the second anniversary of my 49th birthday! Steve and Cathy Andrews celebrated a milestone as well when their daughter, Virginia, received her driver’s license. Gary Levenson visited New York City in May following the end of the VMI school year. We ran around the Central Park Reservoir and enjoyed a steak dinner at Peter Luger’s during his visit. Thanks to Dave Hageman, Steve Andrews, Tom Gelles and Tom Wilson for the messages with humorous attachments. And as always, thanks to Andy Ludlum for maintaining our class page. Andy asked for contact in-

2008-Issue 4

Class of 1980

Class of 1980: Russ Early married his Ring Figure date, Teawna, on Nov. 3, 2007, in Roanoke, Virginia. They now live in Pensacola, Florida.

formation for Craig Jones. Andy is a pilot for Southwest Airlines, and he wanted to catch up with Craig during a scheduled layover. Bob Hillard sent a message asking for Pat Griffin’s contact information. Congrats to Bob and Bev on the marriage of their daughter. Photos may be posted by Andy, as they did not meet the Alumni Review requirements. Pat Griffin responded that everything in New England is fine. Michael is now 13 and John is 9. Pat took John to VMI in March where they attended Legacy Day and where they met Gary Fellows and his daughter, Nicole. I spoke with Chal Glenn in May on his 50th birthday. Chal was recovering at home from a broken leg (plates and screws) suffered while acting half his age. Chal reported that Robin was fine, and he provided an update on their three children. Jennifer is a nurse in Charlotte. McKenzie finished her freshman year at Clemson with a 3.8 GPA. Josh finished his sophomore year in high school where he was voted MVP of his basketball team. Get well soon, Chal. Chal also reported that Rick Gilbert’s son graduated from college and is working for JP Morgan Chase in Dallas. May ended with an “overdue info” e-mail message from Ed Baker. Ed is an OB/GYN surgeon in North Carolina. Ed has been occupied with a second medical office, a third midwife and a new electronic medical records system. Also, Ed and Dianna’s son, Charlie, is now enrolled at Fork Union Military Academy. Ed noted that John Shuman has been a tremendous help to Charlie. Ed also wrote that John coaches FUMA’s graduate football team. Finally, Ed hears from Dennis Loba, and they take fishing trips together. Ed hopes to visit VMI in the fall. Phil Munisteri sent an e-mail in June noting that the VMI football team will play at Stony Brook in November. Stony Brook is five minutes from Phil’s house in Long Island. Phil plans to host our BRs, either pre-game or post-game.

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CLASS NOTES Larry Avery sent an e-mail in connection with his 50th birthday. Larry is an Air Force colonel currently serving in Iraq. In June, Larry was on 15 days of R&R celebrating his birthday and Father’s Day in Florida. Larry also wrote that he planned to see his two sisters. One of his sisters, Darleen, is married to Mark Sobota. Russ Early sent a message from Pensacola that included his wedding announcement. Russ is retired from the Navy but still flies for them as a civilian. Last November, Russ married his high school sweetheart and Ring Figure date, the former Teawna Moore. Teawna is an RN originally from Vinton, VA. She works in the ICU at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Martin Bernet sent an e-mail containing an update. He lives in Chantilly, VA, with his wife, Lyndia, and their three children, Lucas, Courtney and Sarah. Martin works for Northrup Grumman as the lead systems engineer for Global Combat Support Systems. Lucas will graduate this year from George Mason. Courtney is a sophomore at James Madison. Sarah is in middle school. Martin closed by saying that he plans to attend a football game in the fall. I spoke several times with Tuck Masker. His youngest son, also Tuck, attended a one-day football camp at VMI in July. Tuck the elder plans to visit his stepson, Kevin, in October during Parent’s Weekend. I also spoke several times with Elliott Wolffe. Elliott has fully relocated back to New Orleans from Seattle. He hopes to visit both the NYC area and VMI in the fall. In August, Rear Admiral Andy Brown assumed command of the Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers in San Diego, CA. Birthday cards addressed to John Blasser, Forrest Marion and Tim Novack were returned as undeliverable. An Alumni Association mailing addressed to John Stallings was also returned. As the reporting period came to an end, the e-mail began flying regarding the 2008 Pup Cup. This is the annual golf outing held to benefit the Jeff Morgan Memorial Scholarship Fund. The Pup Cup is being held in Williamsburg in September in connection with the William and Mary football game. Possible attendees include Hugh Fain, Allen Ramer, John Blankenship, Dusty Boyd, John Caplice, Tolar Nolley, Frank Bell and last year’s winners, Robby Jones, Ed Bower and Steve Chace (note the spelling, Robby). I then spoke with Craig “Wiennie” Wilson who was vacationing at the beach. He reached out to Chal Glenn and Mark McLean. Both Bert Schneider and Tom Gelles sent

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messages with video clips. Andy Ludlum will try to post these. At the submission deadline, Allen Ramer sent a message. Allen is the VP of Operations for Vulcan Materials Northern Concrete Division. He spent a week in Costa Rica with his three sons (18, 17 and 15) where they fished, rode ATVs, jet skied and went scuba diving. Tolar Nolley also sent a message saying that he’s back in Virginia rebuilding the Bay House that was destroyed by Hurricanes Isabel and Ernesto. He’ll return to South Africa after the Pup Cup. Also, I spoke with Tim Hodges, and we’re planning to play golf during my visit in October. The fall is shaping up to be a busy season, and I look forward to hearing from as many of our BRs as possible. I’m planning to travel to Lexington in October, coincident with Parent’s Weekend, to play golf and visit with our BRs who intend to be in town for the football game. This includes Tuck Masker, John Alerding and Tom Gelles, who will be visiting their children. It also includes the group Rob Quarles puts together each year to play golf on Friday and attend the game on Saturday. The group includes Mike Luning, Larry Hupertz, Don Bradshaw, Marty Fedenko and Jay McConnell. Gary Levenson said that he’d try to host a post-game get-together. Larry Hupertz – thanks for returning my call. I promise to call you back!

’81

Gerald Manley

Dear Brother Rats, It is a difficult thing to start a Class Update for the Review with sorrowful news. Words simply fail me on such things all too often. It is with tremendous sadness that I, once again, share the news that Brother Rat Bob Silverman passed away. Bob had suffered from a number of medical ailments for some time. He was, however, a very private man and did not want to share his personal difficulties too openly. We lost Bob to cardiac arrest this past June. I believe Dan Pere captured it best when he wrote: “Bob was a good friend and Brother Rat whose great humor, dignity and courage helped him overcome personal and professional challenges. His upbeat, cheerful approach to life and earnest willingness to help others reflected his solid character and the true spirit of VMI.” Bob was a good soul with a genuine heart. He meant more to his BRs than I believe he ever knew. BR Bob Silverman is missed dearly.

I will also take the time to give respectful honors to two other loving members of our extended VMI ’81 family that also passed away this reporting period: CAPT Wallace H. Lloyd Jr., CAPT Trip Lloyd’s father, passed away this June. CAPT Lloyd had distinguished civilian and military careers. He joined John Deere & Co. in 1947 as an assistant credit manager in Moline, Ill., and rose through the ranks to sales manager of John Deere Harvester Works. In 1957, he transferred to Washington as the company’s export representative and manager of the corporate offices. He was an executive assistant to the chairman of John Deere & Co. who managed the Washington office where he handled the company’s diplomatic and legislative affairs until retiring in 1984. His naval service spanned from 1947 to 1982 when he retired from the Navy Reserve with the rank of Captain. Notable assignments that he held included Flag Aide to the Commander of Naval Forces, Europe, in London from 1950 to 1952. There he met his future wife, who was the secretary to the U.S. ambassador, John Foster Dulles. They married in 1953 and settled in Falls Church. CAPT Lloyd’s accomplishments are all too numerous to capture here. I can only say that I am proud that Wallace H. Lloyd III, our very own Trip, is our Brother Rat. We extend our prayers and deepest sympathies to you, Trip, your brother, Peter, and the rest of your family. LT COL Jim Walton, USA, Ray Moschler’s brother-in-law, died June 21 outside of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Jim was killed by a roadside bomb and small arms fire while serving as a member of an Army Transition Team whose mission was to train Afghan soldiers. Jim’s favorite hobby was skydiving, and he and his team were world record holders in 2003. Jim met the love of his life, Sarah Moschler, in 2003 and they were married on June 26, 2004, in Richmond, VA. During his more than 19 years of military service, Jim served in Germany, Honduras, Haiti, Korea, Costa Rica, Washington, DC, Iraq and Afghanistan. Ray shared with us the following, and I thought it was solidly deserving of print: “He is my brother-inlaw, a fine man, soldier and husband, dedicated to service. He was West Point Class of 1989. His brother was West Point Class of 1987 and along with my brother, USAFA Class of 1980, we would have some funny conversations about being nutjobs from military schools ... there was always a little rivalry, but as most of you have probably encountered, whenever you talk with people that attended schools like VMI, or the Citadel, or the service academies you always shared a little tiny bond and held them in higher regard than those that roughed it at UVa or ODU or some such. I believe if Jim had attended VMI instead of WP, he probably would have been Regimental Commander (though he could have just as likely been

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CLASS NOTES RDC president). Unfortunately, he dream of mine since I got hooked was killed in action in Afghanistan. I on this crazy game of golf 15 will miss him.” For Ray, our prayers years ago. Standing on the first and deepest sympathies are also with tee, at the home of golf, and hearyou, your sister, Sarah, and your entire ing your name announced sends family. God bless you all. chills down your spine. The good Now, it is time to change tracks a bit news is I kept my drive in the without losing any honor, respect or fairway! Some folks get to Scotadmiration for those mentioned above. land and do not enjoy links golf; While there is pain in life, there are also I found it to be fascinating and so many joys. brought a whole new approach to It is with great honor and joy that the game. I was lucky to have my Class of 1981: Gary Morgan, left, and his brother, I share news from COL Bob Cody. brother, Drew, with me on the trip; Drew, celebrated Gary’s 50th birthday at St. Andrews On Sunday, June 29th, Bob took he appreciated the opportunity golf course, Scotland. Class Agent Jerry Manley said, command of the 169th Leadership almost as much as I did. We fol“Happy Belated Birthday, BR!” Regiment - the ARNG’s organization lowed the Old Course (circa 1470) responsible for Officer Candidate with a round on the New Course School and Warrant Officer Candidate (1895). On Wednesday, we travSchool for the Northeast (NY, NJ, CT, MA, eled 45 miles northeast to Carnoustie. The RI, VT, NH and ME). The Regiment also conweather was summer like (75 and sunny). ducts Military Police Military Occupational Carnoustie lived up to its moniker ‘carSkill Training for the entire ARNG. Bob was nasty.’ On Thursday, we traveled 20 miles very excited about taking this command, as east and played the most visually amazing his career has come full circle. Bob shared golf course I’ve ever seen, Kingsbarns. that few BRs, other than my roommates, Kingsbarns has all 18 holes with views knew that he enlisted in the Guard after of the North Sea. It’s rated in the top 30 graduation, spent two years as a PFC and then courses in the world by Golf Digest; I went to OCS. (Now we all know, Bob, and can see why. Our final day, we left St. I, for one, could not be more proud of you, Andrews en route to Glen Eagles and the BR! That is one heck of an accomplishment, course the Ryder Cup will be played on sir!) The job is full time and comes with in 2014. Not only did I gain an appreciacommand of the installation where Bob is tion for Scottish golf, I found some of currently overseeing over $50 million worth the Scotch to my liking. The experience of new construction - a Readiness Center for was everything and more I had hoped for. our Military Police Battalion and classroom Walking some of the most storied links / billeting facility for the Regiment. The in golf, putting from 130 feet, having 150 Change of Command was held in Niantic, CT. yards to the front edge of the green and Class of 1981: The late Bob Silverman, The music for the ceremony was a CD that 223 to the hole – all the things you see on above, and below with George Chung and COL Brodie sent Bob of the VMI Regimental TV. The group Drew and I went with was his sons, 12- year-old Michael and 11-yearBand playing the Star Spangled Banner and great. Pioneer Golf out of Austin, Texas, old Robert, at one of Long Island’s state Army Song. As the official party departed, was the company I used. They were great parks in July 2007. About Bob, Jerry Manly they played the VMI “Spirit.” Congratulaand very reasonable. The Old Course said he was “a kind and gentle soul and a tions, Bob! ranked first only because of its history. beloved BR.” There was also big news from COL Mike Kingsbarns was my favorite ... if there is Shupp, United States Marine Corps. After a prettier course in the world, I want to 27 faithful years of service, Sherrye and play it. All 18 holes have a view of the Mike have decided to retire and start their North Sea. The day we played it was 65 next adventure. Mike has had a tremendous and sunny. Drew found more than his career with incredible experiences. Two share of bunkers, especially at Carnoustie. things are certain: the Marine Corps is all ” Gary has been working as the Senior Inthe better for Mike’s service, and Mike will vestigator for the Marine Corps Inspector continue down the path of greatness in his General since last October and enjoying civilian career. As I write this, Mike continthe relationship. Both Gary and Bruce ues to work for the Chairman of the Joint Kitchen have been appointed as GovChiefs of Staff as he goes through the job ernors to the Keydet Club Board. They hunting drills this summer. His retirement is set Gary Morgan wrote of his great summer. are currently on the membership Committee. for 30 September, and I hope to have pictures Gary’s shared such a great story that I am forGary further shared that he, Rick McCue, Reg of the event in the next edition of the Review. warding his words of the trip in their entirety: Ridgely, Trip Lloyd and Clarkson Meredith Mike and Sherrye plan to stay in the Annapolis “St .Andrews and it’s my 50th b-day present. I got together for a lunch outing this summer, and area post-retirement. Big Semper Fi to you, got to mark a major item off my ‘Bucket List.’ they are going to try to get the northern VA folks Mike and Sherrye! My trip to St. Andrews, Scotland, has been a together once a month to keep in touch.

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CLASS NOTES Other positive news is that, as of the last reports I had received from both Jeff White and Jim Frishkorn, they both continue to make progress toward better health. Jeff, we all continue to pray for you and Sherry, that you have fully defeated the lymphoma. I truly appreciated the inspirational words you shared with regard to how cancer affects so many and how important prayers are and how knowing Christ will bring peace in all we face. For Jim, we are so thankful that you are recovering well from the bypass. You, too, are a blessed man – blessed that you had such immediate attention when you needed it most, blessed by having such a successful surgery, and blessed, even more so, for having Mei-Ling to love and care for you. For Jeff and Jim, continue to get well, BRs! Our prayers are with you both and with Sherry and Mei-Ling, as well. Other sound bites from BRs: I received a brief note from Ken “Catman” Morris, from whom writings are always well received! Great hearing from you, Ken. Miss the days of the “e-mail wars” where your responses always had the rest of us on distro in tears! Glenn Zaramba has been staying in touch. Another great soul, as Glen continues to check my brother’s Caring Bridge site, leaving words of encouragement with regularity. Heard from Ann Wolven, Greg’s beautiful bride. I shared some great news on Greg in the last Review, but Ann topped those inputs, sharing news of Greg’s pinky surgery – Greg had a pin inserted into his left pinky. The finger had a chip broken off and the finger broken when a tae kwon do student missed the board during testing. Ouch, Greg!!!

Class of 1981: Col. Bob Cody, USANG, left, took command of the 169th Leadership Regiment on June 29, 2008, in Niantic, Connecticut. In the photo, Cody is receiving the regimental colors from Brig. Gen. Steven Scorzato, assistant adjutant general. Bruce Gitchell also touched base. Bruce is no longer traveling to and from Central America but is now working on a new academic building at ODU. Bruce has offered that if anyone in Norfolk wants to grab a few brews, he would be more than willing to get a few rounds. Joe Provenzano touched base. He is the Deputy Director, Base Facilities, at Quantico.

Class of 1981: In Hawaii in early July were, from left, Ken Pierro, Jerry Manley and John Cawthorne.

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Joe is living in Manassas, about 3 miles from my sister and brother-in-law, Joe Morelli ’78. Marc Barthello spent 12 days and 4,700 miles on his motorcycle riding out to and around Colorado. He made the entire trip without a single incident, until he made his way back to Lexington. Seems he was leaving Moody Hall early one morning to make the final trek home to Hampton. Approaching the stop sign in front of Moody Hall, a sedan comes zipping around the corner and swerves to miss, clipping Marc and his bike. That same evening, Fletcher Thompson happened to call Marc and through the conversation, they put two and two together - the culprit in the car was young Cadet Thompson ’10, Fletcher’s son. Cadet Thompson contends that Marc was in the middle of the road, but Marc argues that young Fletch is too much like his father and doesn’t think he was awake enough to tell, since it was so early and the sun was in his eyes. I had the pleasure of seeing John and Lisa Cawthorne and Ken and Diana Pierro in July when I was traveling through Hawaii. Had a great dinner and even better company! John and Ken are both stationed on Oahu … and I hope to see them again in October when I travel out for a conference with CINCPACFLT. By then, hope to see Jim and Mei-Ling Frishkorn on island, as well! I will close with a few admin notes: Inputs for the Review were a bit light this time around. I did not get too many inputs and will

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CLASS NOTES offer that it is partly my fault. With so many things going on at one time in my life the past few months, I did not reach out as much as I have in the past. I will beat the bushes more proactively in the coming months. At the same time, please take the initiative to shoot me a note as soon as you finish reading this Review! Just send a few words to let me know where you are and what you are doing. It just takes a few minutes, and I want to share the news about each of you! As always, please pass on any contact info you may have on any “long lost BRs.” As a follow-on to the above, the editor of the Alumni Review would like to include more articles in the Review about alumni who are contributing to their communities, our country or the world in a unique and noteworthy way. These could be contributions through your jobs, charities or volunteer work. Your contributions could be via the arts (for example, music, visual arts, writing), medicine, business, military service, church, synagogue or any other ways that are making a difference. The impact you are making doesn’t have to be large or impressive … just noteworthy. Please think about what you do and what other BRs are doing in their lives. I would be proud to spread the word for any one of you. If anyone comes to mind, please let me know, and I will work from there. Lastly, send pictures of 50th birthday celebrations! We are all having them! Would be great to swamp the next edition with ’81 Birthday Shots! That’s enough from me for now, BRs. Please take good care and focus on your health! Don’t be a stranger – to me or to each other! It is always good to hear from you and your wives! In the bonds of VMI …’81, ’81, ’81!!!

’82

want it to be. Fortunately, no one saw my ungraceful face plant into the dirt. I triaged myself and crawled into the house as the storm clouds angrily gathered in the west. As I was cleaning up to head out to the Emergency Room, the skies opened up, and all of my hard work went flowing downhill into my neighbor’s yard, leaving me with a fine and deep red clay patina over my patio and yard. Crying from pain and defeat, I suddenly had to man up, as I was scaring my daughter. When I finally got to the hospital, I knew I was in for a long wait, as ambulance after ambulance began bringing in the victims of car accidents that occurred during this storm. So, I laid back on a gurney and read gossip magazines until I was treated. Thus began my journey into managed care. Long story short, I shredded my knee and eventually ended up having arthroscopic surgery to repair ligaments that resembled egg drop soup. It has been a long, slow, tedious and painful trek back to walking normally. The only artifact from the surgery is a loud and annoying click any time I walk, so I will not look forward to being invited to go turkey hunting with Andy Douthat any time soon. I was finally able to plant my vegetable garden in mid-July, and the tomatoes and basil are beginning to grow sweet and juicy. Unfortunately, in my curmudgeonly funk, I neglected my correspondence from a few BRs, and I apologize for my delayed responses. The clay still spreads itself with the occasional rain, but like Al Qaeda in Iraq, I have it on the run.

Charles Kause

When Shakespeare wrote, “Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this son of York; And all the clouds that low’r’d upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried …”, he darn sure was not thinking about my spring and summer. So many clouds were “low’r’d” over the House of Kause in the merry months of May through August, that its denizens are still cutting through the fog to capture what remains of a glorious summer in the sceptred center of all Light and Progress, Northern Virginia. First, I finally caved in to Mrs. Kause’s relentless entreaties to “do something” about the encroaching erosion problem in our back yard. Her original budget called for procuring hardscape materials to build small retaining

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walls. Of course, when the size and scope of this project finally struck home after purchasing aggregates and cement, the little do-it-yourself weekend project took on the size and scale of the Hoover Dam. Fortunately, funds were moved from college funds (sorry, kiddies!) to finance a professional to come in and do the skilled labor, which took a week. The contractor did a grand job, except for the massive piles of wonderful Virginia red clay spoil spread generously throughout the yard. Remembering Jeb Snider waxing rhapsodic about the glories of fluid dynamics and soils, when he ceaselessly tried to prove the superiority of his masculine Civil Engineering studies over my effete English curriculum, I rapidly assessed I was in for some serious trouble as the spring monsoons were about to hit. So, sacrificing the planting of my vegetable garden, I hurriedly planted grass seed and other vegetative materials to alleviate and channel the impending flood waters. At the same time, I was rapidly moving clay to even out the terrain. Descending a 40-degree slope with my third massive load of clay, I began to lose control of my wheelbarrow. Gripping the handles tighter and leaning back to control the rate of descent, I heard an all too familiar snap crackle pop emanating from my right knee. When the pain hit, I immediately let go of the wheelbarrow and tumbled down into the clay, which had flown out of the wheelbarrow and was now chaotically spread where I did not

Class of 1982: Cory Attra and family high atop Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, on July 30, 2008.

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CLASS NOTES Speaking of back to normal, Dan Clymore has been given a clean bill of health after his episode, which I chronicled in my last epistle. Dan cannot stop singing the praises of how Ozzie Belcher assisted him and his family through this ordeal. He was also grateful for all the cards and calls of encouragement from the BRs, including Del Ertzner and Willy Funkhouser. Dan said he nearly fell out of bed when Floyd Allen called to wish him a speedy recovery. Floyd’s call really cheered him up, and Dan was pleased to learn Floyd is doing well, too. Dan can also state that doctors still make house calls (of sorts), as BR and neuropsychologist Dr. John Lewis called and checked in on him, and they talked at length. John gave Dan the entire run-down of his situation and even talked to Dan’s wife, Cindy, for quite a while to give her a lot of information. Dan now knows more about his brain than he ever wanted to know. Though he still keeps promising to buy me some beer, I will settle for a pic from Dan’s family vacation in Gay Paris! In other travel news, Dave Kohler completed a pre-Olympics tour of China before the Chengdu earthquake. Dave’s girlfriend, Ms. Sande Snead, accompanied him on this trip,

as well as his brother and brother’s girlfriend. I do not know if they fostered any goodwill and understanding with the locals, because Dave reported they all behaved like a bunch of teenagers. The itinerary included Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. Highlights of the tour included seeing the Chinese people; bargaining with the vendors; the Forbidden City; rickshaw riding through the Houtongs; mingling with the people in the park near the Temple of Heaven; the Great Wall; Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi’an; an acrobat show; the canals and gardens of Suzhou; the streets of Shanghai; and cocktails on the 87th floor of the brand new Hyatt Tower overlooking nighttime Shanghai. Our very own Bill Jennings has now established the Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Chapter of the VMI Alumni Association. (See picture in the OEF/OIF section of this issue.) Bill is working on a project to build a new base to train the Afghanistan National Army. He is involved in the power plant, the electrical distribution and other aspects of the electrical system on the base. At this writing, Bill is in country working with the construction team on the power plant to make sure that it gets started on the right foot. It is not easy mission, as the labor is local

Class of 1982: Members of the “Provisional” Dubai, United Arab Emiriates, chapter of the Alumni Association were, from left, Dale Davis, John Moore ’93, Aaron Thatcher ’05, Wayne Fuller ’86 and Bill Jennings. Fuller and Jennings are also founding members of the Jalabad, Afgahnistan Chapter. (See another photo of Jennings in the OEF/OIF section.)

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and the equipment on hand is “negligible.” Still, Bill better be careful, as the Alumni Association will come calling to set up events and lean on him to establish a revenue stream. Bill stated he would have more details for me when he returns stateside but requested I buy the beer, as there isn’t any in eastern Afghanistan. While passing through Dubai on his way to Jalalabad, Bill linked up with Dale Davis. Dale is currently the Africa and the Middle East Managing Director for The Global Strategies Group, one of the world’s leading providers of defense, development and corporate risk management services for clients operating in high stakes situations. When not assessing risk and growing business, Dale likes to work out at the gym and track and is sometimes able to go surfing (in the Persian Gulf?) when the tides cooperate. Dale shares that Jeff Roseme jets into Dubai a couple of times a year and they try to catch up when Jeff is in town. Dale has put out the welcome mat for any and all BRs who need a place to stay when their travels take them to the Emirates. Mrs. Kause would like to encourage Dale to hire your Class Agent, in order to put him in risky situations far away from home. Along the lines of doing risky things, George Mayforth writes about his efforts as a triathlete. George and Jack Wainwright stay in contact with one another, mainly through text messaging, to inform one another of their progress in training for triathlons. Of course, Jack is in dreary Boston, Massachusetts, while George trains in sunny Atlantic Beach, Florida. It pains Jack to hear of George’s 80-degree ocean swims in July, as Jack continues to wear a wetsuit in the waters close to the Cape Cod! Jack maintains a fairly active race schedule and enjoys texting George during his AM commute or on a given Saturday or Sunday. Jack likes to text George at 5 AM in the morning. But George can occasionally “one-up” Jack. On Monday, July 7, 2008 at 6 PM, George got on the Ironman Austria website and registered for the July 2009 triathlon, which was sold out in 92 minutes to 1,100 entrants from around the globe. George is one of those 1,100 masochists. His challenge will not be the physical preparation for the race but rather developing a presentation to his wife on how he and three of his friends are going to Austria without their families. Perhaps Mrs. Mayforth would like to encourage Dale Davis to hire George, in order to put him in risky situations far away from home. Also from the Stirring The Pot Department comes word that my Rat Roomie Chris Simmons is continuing his quest to root out Cuban spies in South Florida. Chris has been an occasional op-ed columnist for the Miami Herald, where he writes about the continued danger

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CLASS NOTES posed from Cuban agents and their sympathizers in South Florida’s Cuban American community, as well as around the world. You may recall Chris is a former counterintelligence officer in the Defense Intelligence Agency and remains a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves. At the end of July, Chris went on a local Miami television station, América TeVe Channel 41’s show A Mano Limpia, where he named four people he believes are working or have worked for Cuban intelligence. According to the Miami Herald, Chris’ allegations have roiled a small circle of intellectuals and journalists who monitor Cuba and who regard three of the people he named as respected academics. But Chris is sticking to his guns, and the local blog scene is chatting up this issue with fury. When not fingering spies in Miami, Chris is writing and promoting his upcoming book and movie based on a true story of Cuban espionage. The book, The Spy’s Wife: Beyond Betrayal, was written in collaboration with Ana Margarita Martinez and is set to be published in 2010. Filming could begin in South Florida as early as 2009. I received a brief note from Michael Albert that the Albert family has moved to Lebanon, Tennessee, from Atlanta, Georgia. Curious as to why a sophisticated suburbanite would abandon the charms of the ATL for a sedate life with the gentle rustics, I called Mike for an explanation. Turns out Mike’s wife, Heather, was made an offer they could not refuse to establish a new competitor to H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt tax preparation services. Also, their daughter, Samantha, accepted a great offer to attend the University of the South in nearby Suwanee. Samantha accompanied Mike to our 25th Reunion, and Mike mentioned with pride that she inherited his academic studliness. He also mentioned Sweet Briar College is attempting to charge him for a year’s worth of tuition and board since he spent his entire 1st Class year there romancing Heather. Lebanon is actually an exurb of Nashville, but Mike feels like a pioneer in his brand new home in a brand new development with few neighbors. He also threatened to reveal some compromising photos of your gentle correspondent taken at the Albert wedding twenty-five years ago that I had conveniently forgotten about. Cory Attra has no compromising photos of me but did forward a great photo of his family atop Mount Washington in New Hampshire, taken during the family’s annual pilgrimage to Jackson, New Hampshire. Cory’s company was absorbed by one of his own clients, so now he finds himself a wage slave. He now runs Wheeler Developments’ properties and new developments in Fairfield County, Connecticut. From time to time, he hears from good old

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“Uncle Stosh” (’79), his Uncle Dyke and fellow Connecticutian. Cory wants to resurrect his VMI Oktoberfest in Connecticut for motivation to finish work on his backyard, and he welcomes any BR passing through. Turning from North to South, I have heard from Neal Rogers, who writes from eastern Goochland County, Virginia. Neal is the Manager of Asset Management at the Virginia Housing Development Authority. His wife, Nancy, is an attorney and they are raising three teenagers. Morgan is a rising high school junior, and Collin is a rising eighth grader. Neal enclosed a picture of his oldest son, Sean, atop Mount Baldy at Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico. Sean ripped off his dad’s VMI flag before departing for the West, in order to taunt one of his camp counselors, who happened to be a Citadel alum. When I first saw the photo, I was stunned to discover Sean is the spitting image of his old man. Sean earned his Eagle Scout rank and is interested in attending VMI. I charge all of you Richmond Mafiosi BRs to ensure that boy gets in the Ratline! Finally, I always hear from Will Council, who still laughs at me for accepting this venerable position after drinking all the date rape, druglaced booze he was shoving down my throat at our 25th Reunion. Now that Will has all this free time on his hands, he is finding new and creative activities to fill the empty hours. Will volunteered to be the President of the PTA at his son Hayden’s middle school. His daughter, Dana, is a high school freshman who just

signed up for JROTC. Dana was previously a certified couch potato, so Will is now her PT coach and runs with his daughter in the morning. If that is not enough activity, Will has taken up soccer again. He tried to play at VMI but failed to make the cut. Now, he has joined an Over-30 co-ed league and finds he is surprised by these just barely 30-year-old hot shots. One word of advice, Will. If all of a sudden you hear a loud snap crackle pop just as you are setting up a goal shot, just smile, relax and look as graceful as possible when your face is planted into the pitch! And have some reading material ready in your equipment bag, so you can wile away the hours in the Emergency Room. Still no word on the whereabouts of Holt Evans. I hope he is fine and represents some New Hotness at the next New York Fashion Week. Bill Caulfield has a new job in Germany and has already been in touch with George Seiferth. How about a photo of you boys wearing funny green hats and swilling beer at Oktoberfest! Keep sending cards, e-mails, video blogs and pictures from your lives. I had a premonition about Dale Davis but was unsuccessful in tracking him down. Two days later, he writes me. Make my life easier and your story more accurate by contacting me. If not, I will find you. I Googled Chris Simmons after reading an article in the Miami Herald and learned a bunch of stuff that you now know from reading the above passage. I am starting to get the hang of this Class Agent thing. One thing is for sure: I have

Class of 1982: Neal Rogers’ son, Sean, atop Mount Baldy at Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico. According to Chuck Kause, Sean is “taunting his Citadel-educated camp counselor.”

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CLASS NOTES started to receive lots more snail mail and e-mail from Lexington. Several of these missives were related to our recently completed 25th Reunion Fund Campaign, which was ably led by our Vice Prez, Bob Louthan. Bob and the rest of the Reunion Committee did a superb job in organizing and executing the campaign, wherein we contributed and are committed to raising over 4.7 million dollars to ensure a bright future for VMI. The Institute is, in many ways, a far better place to learn and grow to be contributing citizens than it was when we ruled the stoops. I look forward to seeing many of you in Lexington for a football game or two in the fall, as well as at the upcoming Institute Society Dinner in November. Just keep Will Council from pouring my drinks and whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

’83

Jim Outland

By the time you read this, I’m hoping attendees at our 25th Reunion will be holding fond memories of our time together in Lexington. Right now as I write these notes, however, it is July, and the logistics and coordination phase of the reunion are well underway. I would like to thank several of you who assisted with making our reunion a success, but before doing that I want to extend my personal thanks to all of you who “got on the train” and supported the Class of 83’s 25th Reunion Fund Drive. For those of you who have made a 25th Reunion gift to VMI, I salute you. You have helped make 83 a “gratifying spectacle” as far as giving to this very worthwhile Institute is concerned. For those of you who may have been unable to attend or who were unaware of the Class of 1983’s 25th Reunion Fund effort, please know that there is still time to be a part of our legacy, because the campaign will continue to run until December 31, 2008. If you would still like to give, simply contact me, and I’ll provide you the details. During the lengthy reunion planning and execution period, I enjoyed catching up with a number of you either directly or via e-mail. I also appreciated being able to work directly with BRs and others in the VMI family to make both the reunion and the 25th Reunion Fund drive a success. So, here goes with some “thank-yous.” Carole Green of the VMI Alumni Association provided a variety of assistance and counsel in

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her role as VP of Alumni Activities. Her flexibility and responsiveness are greatly appreciated in many areas of our reunion weekend, to include hotel and dinner arrangements, cash flow management and transportation, to name a few. Pat Webb of the VMI Foundation was also immensely helpful with coordinating, launching and executing on the 25th Reunion Fund campaign. He and Marilyn Dudley are a pleasure to work with. Several of our classmates also deserve thanks. BR Owen Peery acted as our pointman in coordinating and executing the Friday afternoon golf event at the Lexington Country Club. Owen’s efforts involved all aspects of promotion, logistics, participant registration and LGCC reservations. Owen also coordinated ’83’s golfing activities in synchronization with other VMI reunion classes who were also playing the course on Friday. As great as Owen’s accomplishments are in support of our golf event, my non-golfers cap is tipped to Yvonne Peery who provided us with the lead into the possibility of having The Skip Castro Band play for us Saturday evening. Another BR, Doug Wainwright, acted as our point-person in all aspects of the Friday skeet shoot at VMI’s McKethan Park. This also included promotion, logistics, participant registration, setup and safety, as well as coordinating with The VMI Skeet Club, VMI Cadet Affairs and Joe Irby ’85 of the VMI Foundation. Joe was particularly helpful with scheduling our shooting time at the McKethan range for which we are greatly appreciative. Hugh Daughtry, Banker Ivan Marcotte and

Big Oil’s own Paul McCusker assisted with the overall financial planning and collections aspect of the reunion. Hugh was especially helpful in reviewing our cost projections and helping us stay on track with expenses. After I “opened up the kimono” to show him where we stood financially, Hugh jumped right in and offered some solid Econ-Major guidance. BR Cal Murray also provided invaluable assistance in helping us spend the money, an area in which he excels. In conjunction with Jeanne, he also provided guidance on the right takehome gifts to purchase for the reunion. These included the distinctive ’83 chair, ’83 hat and memorable ’83 stadium cups. Cal also helped with stocking the hospitality suite, which is another area where he is distinctly qualified. Jay Williams provided some “lessons learned” feedback from his perspective of having coordinated our 20th Reunion, and BR Wade Branner gave Cal and me some good input concerning the football game and stadium seating. As for the goals and direction of our 25th Reunion Fund, the members of our Reunion Fund Executive Committee also deserve thanks. They include: Bill Cornett, Ben Cottrell, Teddy Gottwald, Tracey Jones, Charlie Luck and Paul McCusker. Our 25th Reunion Fund Committee actually did the leg work required to track down (shake down?) so many of you. These guys included BRs: Mark Airaghi, Scott Belliveau, Mark Benvenuto, Trent Boggs, Wade Branner, Dave Clarke, Mark Coan, J.J. Costello, Marty Curry, Hugh Daughtry, John Dodge, Owen Dunlap, Steve Goddard, Skip Goodwillie,

Class of 1983: Mark Benvenuto floating in the Dead Sea while on break from the International Conference on Coordination Chemistry held in Jerusalem. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on the face of the earth and Benvenuto said, “I have now taken the VMI flag as low as a person possibly can without getting in a mine shaft or going to the bottom of some ocean.”

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CLASS NOTES Bruce Hazelgrove, Mark Heslep, Richard Hewitt, Scott Horan, Franklin Hudgins, Mike Laughon, Joe Leonard, John Manning, Ivan Marcotte, Bob Mednikov, Stephan Melitz, Calvin Murray, Brad Norwood, Owen Peery, Chris Peta, Jim Rice, Max Rogers, Chip Shirley, Jim Sinnott, Clayton Wagner, Matt Waring, Gene Warren, Dave Warriner and Jay Williams. Thank you all. Some of the BRs mentioned above went to great lengths to locate some of our classmates. I’m especially aware of fine detective work done by Mark Benvenuto, Mark Coan, Trent Boggs, John Manning and Peter Hahn (who is actually a real detective by profession). When Mark Benvenuto was not busy trying to find “lost BRs,” he was also able to fit in attendance at the International Conference on Coordination Chemistry in Jerusalem. There must have been some good chemistry there, because I received a “well-coordinated” picture of our BR floating on his back in the Dead Sea with a VMI banner across his belly, which leaves me with unanswered questions about what chemists actually do at their conferences. An exciting aspect of coordinating the reunion has been the chance to reconnect with a number of folks and expand our electronic links via the VMI83 web site at http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/VMI83. If you are still not subscribed to this site and the associated e-mail distribution, then please contact me and I will give you the details. The site includes a “Photos” link to upload and share any pictures you may have taken during the reunion. I have set up a specific “25th Reunion Pictures” photo album at the photos link for us to use for this purpose. To upload reunion pictures, you need to have a free Yahoo ID and password which you can easily acquire by clicking on the “Join this Group” button at http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/VMI83 and then clicking on the “sign up” link. Once you log in, click on the “Photos” link from the left navigation bar. At the Photo Albums page, you will then see an “Add Photos” link at the right hand corner which will allow you to upload pictures from your PC. During the course of reconnecting for the reunion, I saw a nice note from John Newland who now lives in Minneapolis: “Yes, I am in the cold frigid northland we call Minnesota! All I can tell you is that VMI could have never existed here, because I can’t even imagine standing guard in -40 F, but the summers are nice, as are the spring and fall. The Twin Cities is a truly wonderful place if you can stand the winters!” Silly me, I thought the guard duty I pulled one winter evening in Sally Port was cold, even though I was wearing that funny furry hat and those “special” winter gloves. Another positive aspect about tracking you

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all down is the knowledge of how it has forced a couple of our BRs into the 21st century. This is certainly true for my roommate, BR Keith Hannabass, who now has his first computer and an e-mail address! I’ve been meaning to tie a note on a west-bound pigeon to communicate with Keith, but he just went ahead and made the quantum leap on his own. Thanks to wife Tina, I was actually able to call Keith, because he now even has a cell phone. I guess wonders just never cease in the digital age. Linking up with Hannabass also helped me get a bead on BR (and fellow Ghetto-corner resident) Dan Martin. Dan checked in via e-mail to let us all know that summer in Columbia, SC, is “hot,” and he was making plans to join us in Lexington with his wife, Lauren. I also had a great phone call with Dan, and we had fun marveling at how Hannabass actually used e-mail (once or twice). Also making the electronic airwaves was BR Steve Goddard who was interviewed by commentator Erin Burnett of NBC’s CNBC business program. As portfolio manager of the AFBA Five-Star Balanced Fund which has a good long-term performance record, Steve was asked to comment on the news of the day concerning the run on bank stocks, bank analysts’ opinions and short selling manipulation. Steve’s lively back and forth with Ms. Burnett about not having “naked shorts” was no doubt intriguing to the program’s faithful viewers and definitely cause for good humor among some of our BRs. I also had a nice call with Keith Sawyer who now lives in New Bern, NC. We were able to speak between the sales calls he was making on behalf of Sysco Corporation – the food company. Keith was headed into the base at Cherry Point, NC, so I figured the Marines were in line for some good chow, courtesy of our BR. Some other guys I’ve recently been able to find (or find once again) include: Will Creekmur in Phoenix, Mark Henderson in Houston, managing The Runners Link (see http://www. runnerslink.com), Clayton Wagner living down the road from me in Midlothian, and Jim Rice now in Hawaii as an engineer with the Army, having just relocated from VA. One of our more difficult BRs to “track” was track-team member Jud Springer. It took another “tracker,” BR Jack Ditt who lives in Shreveport, LA, to help crack the case on Jud. It seems BR Springer is now in Spartanburg, SC. And speaking of track, it was great news to see BR David Neville’s son, David Jr., as a member of the USA Men’s Olympic Track and Field team. Young David qualified for Beijing by finishing third in the 400m at the 2008 U.S. Trials. A practicing minister when he is not training as a world-class runner, David is

a graduate of Indiana University and had an especially uplifting bio on the NBC Olympics web site where he is quoted as saying, “My faith is the #1 thing in my life. When I run, I feel like I’m worshiping God with my body.” What a fine perspective on a God-given and hard-earned talent. (Editor’s Note: An article about the Nevilles also appears in the Alumni News section of this issue.) My hope is we will have also heard during our reunion from other “Sons of ’83” who are members of the Corps. By my reckoning, we now have the following either in the Corps or matriculating this year. Rats: Richard Luck, Cameron Murray, James Goodwillie. 3rd Classmen: Bruce Hazelgrove, John Manning. 1st Classmen: Carter Murray, Nicholas Cooper, Thomas Gottwald. With our reunion behind us, I hope we will continue to rally as a class. Please reach out to any BRs you may keep in contact with who were not able to attend the reunion. If you are looking for someone or you have new contact information for a BR, then please let me know. There are still a number of our classmates who may not be updated with all of the latest information, and I would appreciate having their current contact information and bringing them up to speed. That’s it for now. Please upload reunion pictures to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VMI83. I enjoyed seeing you all at the reunion, even though as I write these notes, the reunion has not occurred yet, which is kind of strange, but nowhere near as strange as some of the pictures from our Ring Figure dance and subsequent party at the Hotel Roanoke, although some of you may not remember much of it.

’84

Hank Selman

Hope this installment of the ’84 notes finds you guys doing well. I recently had a nice chat with Darryl Robinson. Darryl recently retired from the Air Force and after a short stint in suburban Atlanta, he has relocated to northern Virginia with his family. He is currently teaching JROTC and coaching football at Stonewall Jackson High in Manassas, VA. He made some bold predictions about his team’s upcoming season. Remember, Darryl, if you really want a challenge, head on down I-81 and volunteer to help coach our Keydets. We have about twenty BRs now living in NOVA, and the Potomac alumni chapter is thriving. Speaking of alumni groups, the South Carolina

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CLASS NOTES low country is now on the Alumni chapter map. A recent gathering of VMI grads led by Jerome Brinkley, Mike Efremov and Rocko Sinisi was held deep behind enemy lines is Charleston, SC. Jerome reports they had 19 area alumni in attendance and that the initial meeting of the Coastal Carolina Alumni chapter was a great success. Congrats also go out to Jerome for recently completing his MBA at the Citadel. Jerome proudly stated that he achieved this accomplishment without being boned one time by Col. Sinisi. Chris Bruch checked in with some news regarding Jeff Levenson’s quest for fitness perfection. Congrats are in order for Lev. Seems he was named female fitness athlete of the month at their club in Richmond recently. Apparently, Jeff’s never say die attitude paid off, and in the proudest tradition of Shannon Faulkner, he has gained more than just acceptance from the fitness ladies of The Westwood Club – he gained their respect. Way to go, Lev! The honorable Bill Janis spoke in August to an awestruck crowd of younger alumni at the Richmond Country Club at the quarterly VMI Richmond area network meeting. Bill’s discussion dealt with how politics, law and public policy affect the business climate in the Commonwealth of Virginia. More importantly, I recently saw Bill after church, and he presented me with a new “crown” to be worn by all future ’84 class agents. This handsome headgear is truly a sight to behold. Perhaps this enticing bit of info will be the final push that one of you will need to volunteer to replace yours truly when my glorious term expires. Now for an installment of “Where the Heck Are They.” I heard from Steve Barsamian a year or so ago that he bumped into our very own John Mays in Chicago. After a little internet investigatory work, I came across a very cool fact. Seems ol’ John Fenner Mays has been doing quite a bit of acting in the Windy City and has actually landed a key role in the upcoming 1930s era gangster flick called “Public Enemies” staring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. John plays the part of Ernest Blunk. Apparently, director Michael Mann was impressed with Mays’ ability to strain and run in place with a hay over his head. I can’t wait for the July 2009 release. We spent a long weekend in Bay Head, NJ, recently with Jeff and Elizabeth Perkins and had a blast. It really is funny how we can slip right back into the same adolescent behavior that was the norm some 25 years ago. I must confess that even though the mind is willing, it is getting tougher for the body to follow. Our children voted Jeff “The Strike- Out King” in wiffle ball. Frank Kollmansperger reports that he is

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heading out fishing with Alex Thompson, Hall Hamner, Mike Locher, Jamie Shoemaker and Mark “ Here comes the Chum” Morgan. This fishing trip has had a hard time getting off the dock in recent years, but all seem confident of success this time. Gentlemen, I wish all Godspeed and good fishing. Finally, Forbes magazine has named VMI the #9 best public college in the USA. This is an amazing achievement for us. I think we were just behind UC-Berkley and ahead of UCLA. We should all be very proud of our little school in the Shenandoah Valley. In other words, if you have not participated in annual giving for a while, please do so. Alumni participation is an important factor when they determine these rankings. Please drop me a line and fill me in on what is going on, if has been a while since we have linked up.

’85

John Eckenrode

BRs: Sorry I missed the stick for the last Class Notes submission. With the aggressive new schedule to get the Alumni Review out to you quicker, there is no room for slacking on the part of yours truly … Please note my address has changed – Mary and I moved to Burke, VA, in a beautifully wooded, 3/4-acre lot with a separate 2-car garage for what has become known as the “Man Cave” … we’ve gotten most of the boxes unpacked. Still missing, however, are my VMI birthday cards and my most recent address list. SO … with a little luck, by the time you read this, our August-born BRs like Hugh Hill will have received their belated birthday greetings. Tom Rahe checked in recently from the Pentagon where he is the Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. If you find yourself amazed at this fact, you are not alone. Tom has admitted to me that even he chuckles at the logic of it all! Tom mentioned that wearing his current hat, he been known to bump into the likes of Chuck “Rockhead” Rogerson and Dave Janac ’82 on a more-or-less frequent basis. Another one of our “Army Strong” BRs, Mike Ceroli is in Qatar working on his tan with a Psyop Brigade. Doug Hill was also in the “sand box” recently serving with the VA National Guard in Kuwait. Doug’s made the best of being separated from daughters Heather, 14, Carrie, 7, and Sarah, 3, and allows as how his wife, Sheryl, had the rough duty – working, plus taking care of 3 girls, pets, house, etc. Doug was ready to return to some semblance

of “normalcy” here in the land of the “Big PX.” Moe Gissendanner was recently promoted to “Civilian” after retiring from the Army and is adjusting to life without green. Colonel Rob Gardner, USMC, has returned from Korea and is stationed at Camp Pendleton. By the time you read this, he will be deployed in Iraq as part of a multi-national advisory group. MaryAnn and Alek enjoyed Korea but are glad to be back in the US. By the way, both Rob and Alek returned from Korea with black belts in Karate, so watch out!! Entrepreneur Steve Barcik is still in Austin Texas, where he runs a Conformity and Product Safety Engineering firm working in semiconductor, solar and medical equipment. Steve’s wife, Brandy Rainey, is an award winning film maker! Steve and Brandy host Mike Adkins and Mike Johnson periodically for get-togethers and would like to offer a warm Texas welcome to any BRs that wander through Austin. Any and all comers are welcome to please drop a line and stop by to visit. Please contact Steve at Steve.Barcik@htds2.com Mike Adkins is in Tampa, Florida, and owns a Food Processing Equipment Business, Food Pro Systems. Sources in Texas indicate that annual “trouble” occurs when Mike rolls into Austin for his annual visit to Steve’s place … Mike Johnson has, to date, been unable to quell the boisterousness during these visits. When Mike’s not tearing it up with Steve and the “other” Mike, he’s with the Wind Power division within GE, doing “real” engineering! Mike Robless escaped the embrace of his latest hula girl to drop me a line and see how things are going “on the mainland.” Mike is still roughing it on the island of Kaua’i and has sprouted some roots. Mike liked Hawaii so much that he left United Airlines, after working for them for the past 10+ years, to become a beach bum in Kaua’i. Actually, he only does that on the weekends. During the week, Mike is the Public Health Educator for Hawaii’s Department of Health in the Bioterrorism Preparedness branch. That’s right, Mike is going to become a permanent Hawaii resident ... Next, he’ll get a ‘board and be a “Surfer Dude.” Mike is also offering a warm Kaua’i welcome for any BRs who want to join him on the beach, to surf and fish!! The VMI Class of 1985 has been heard from “Loud and Clear” at VDOT, with BRs Quintin Elliot and Jimmy Utterback being promoted to senior positions. Quintin was named as VDOT’s Fredericksburg District Administrator after serving most recently as the Culpepper District acting supervisor during his 23-year tenure with the agency. As Fredericksburg District administrator, Elliott will direct approximately 550 employees and be responsible

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES for more than 11,500 miles of state-maintained roads in the 14-county region. Jimmy Utterback was named VDOT’s Culpeper District Administrator, after being promoted from project management officer in VDOT’s Scheduling and Contracts Division. Jimmy will direct approximately 515 employees and be responsible for approximately 10,250 miles of state-maintained roads in the nine-county region. The district spans north central Virginia, from Fauquier County to Albemarle County, including the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jimmy joined VDOT in 1999 as an engineer, working in its Management Services, Location and Design, and Innovative Project Delivery divisions. Prior to that, he was a program manager for ITT Defense and Electronics in Roanoke between 1995 and 1999. He served almost 10 years in the U.S. Air Force and is now a Lt. Col. in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Congratulations to Jim and Quintin on their appointments and continued success as leaders at VDOT! Globetrotters Jake Spivey and Andy Valenzuela were recently in Thailand and Canada, respectively. Speaking of “Jake the Snake” Spivey, he spearheaded the most successful and well attended “Charlie Company Golf Safari” to date. I know what you’re thinking … No, Jake hasn’t shrunk; he’s still WAY too tall to get on Charlie company rides … The “Event” is open to all BRs – and is not limited to vertically challenged golf enthusiasts. This year, we had BRs (some over 6 feet tall!) golfing, napping, fishing, napping, shooting skeet, napping, consuming a beverage or two (to stay hydrated in the summer heat) … a good time was had by all. Your faithful scribe could only attend Saturday afternoon, but to the best of my recollection, attendees included Brad Gerstbrein, Mike Johnson, Owen McIntyre, Jeff Lane, Steve Hagan, Chuck McCarthy, WG Rowlett, Hugh Hill, Mike Milligan, Kerry Kirk, Tom Greenspon, Chuck Rogerson, Rusty Orrison, JJ Wranek, Rich Williams, Dave Stinntte, Meade King, John Jordan … and the other BRs I can’t currently recall. Special thanks are due Joe and Cindy Irby for letting the “gang” descend upon the Irby abode for an afternoon of barbeque, skeet, cold beverages and for some, a nap … I ran into Art Massaro (in a “virtual” sense) while perusing the GAL at Booz Allen. Art’s been with the firm for about 3 years and is working in Annapolis Junction. The “Briefest Message to Class Agent” award for the year goes to Matt Nolen. His award winning message reads: “Class web site is toast.” Ladies and Gentlemen, that was not abridged, translated or censored in any way. While not vying for such prestigious awards, Matt is a Sr. Safety engineer for Aerojet out in Cameron

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Park near Sacramento. He moved out to CA from WA to work at Aerojet and be a little closer to family. Since we graduated, Matt received a Master’s Degree in Industrial Hygiene. At work, his plant builds parts/components for the F-22, TOW2B, FLM (non-fragmenting kinetic kill weapon) and a bunch of other neat stuff, to include Atlas rocket parts. Ever the handyman, Matt is finishing the build on his house! All of the finish work, floors, tile, painting, cabinets, decks, doors, etc. Before anyone thinks that he’s a boring home-body, he did make it to Ireland for a few weeks of bicycling and Guinness! As a ardent fan of the Guinness and one who has also been to Ireland, I can tell you that Matt has both good taste and good sense to want to taste that wonderful amber brew so close to the brewery … but bring a rain coat. On a much more serious note, BR Hunter Elliott’s daughter, Rachel, came home on 19 August, in answer to many prayers. She had a rough ride with Leukemia and a ruptured appendix. She’s home and on the mend. More up to date info on her recovery is available at her Caring Bridge webpage: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rachelelliott Gents, that wraps up this edition. Please stay healthy and safe, and I look forward to seeing each and every one of you as quickly as possible. … Eck

’86

Clint Hubbard

All I can say is the lawns of the men of 1986 must look awesome, because I have barely heard a peep out of anyone this quarter. This will be short and sweet, as the news is decidedly light this edition. I haven’t even heard any smack from Jeff Smiley. First things first: on the charge of wearing a “VT” hat, Scott Diehl answers, “Correct but wish to quibble” and issues an apology to one and all for any offense taken by any for his appearance wearing the dreaded “VT” hat. I would love to sentence ol’ B.F. to a single workout for his first offense, but his apology came once again through the lovely and charming Sister Rat (Debbie) Diehl, so we simply cannot let it ride. Not on my watch, anyway….. Do you remember the days when an unexpected BR sighting might typically occur at a bar while trifling with the fairer sex, trying your best to convince her that time with you would be time well spent? Fast forward to 2008, and I am in a Home Depot when I look up and spy none other than Steve Pancham. BR Pancham has returned to the city of his youth and was

spending Sunday afternoon in a hardware store with a laundry list of needs for some domestic “fix-up” projects. Steve was just getting settled into town, so I expect to see more of him at the grocery store, the dry-cleaners and maybe a bar every once in a while. In early May, the Potomac River chapter of the VMI Alumni Association hosted their annual golf tournament, and I’m pleased to report that by virtue of recording a certified birdie on the number one handicap hole, the 1986 team led by Dave Grimm won the tournament. Well done, Dave! Dave and Janelle are on the way to the empty nest, in that daughter Sarah commenced her college career this August at VCU in Richmond. On 30 May 08, Lieutenant Colonel James P. Inman, USA, became Colonel James P. Inman, USA. This momentous event was witnessed in person by Dave Grimm, Troy Heskett and your dedicated Class Agent. It was a lovely affair, and our boy (Inman) was in top form as he introduced his fine family and recounted how his wounding in Iraq and a USAF snafu landed him in Vanderbilt University Hospital where he met the charming young lady who has become Mrs. Inman (Lori). Think of it, you get blown up by an IED and wind up married. Well done on the handsome family and pinning on the birds, James P. Thanks, too, for the hospitality at your house after the ceremony; by the way, it was BR Heskett who drank most of the beer. Tom deVenoge checked in via e-mail with “great trepidation,” his concern being that he will be spammed to death now that his e-mail address has been made public. Undoubtedly, we are all amazed that deVenoge knew a word like “trepidation” and moreover used it correctly in a sentence. Thomas P. has retired from the USAF and is living large in California working as a civilian for the very same Air Force. He says he is enjoying the lifestyle of Birkenstocks and bell-bottoms. Hopefully, he’ll enjoy all the offers from the “male enhancement” web sites that he is now signed up for! BR deVenoge sent his congrats to Jamie Inman for Jamie’s promotion to colonel. Tom says he is still holding out hope that BR Inman will someday answer his true calling and realize the object of his aspirations: to become part of the 40-something Chippendales Dancer gig and their “all-thong” review. If Jamie actually goes that route, then perhaps BR deVenoge can help him out and pass along some of those web ads. After all, most dancers rely heavily on “tips,” at least that is what Jeff Morgan has always said. In early June, the class of 1986 was well represented in the annual VMI Club of Richmond golf outing by Brett Hayes, who hosted Head Coach Sparky Woods, as well as by the fearsome foursome of Mike Colletti, Clint Hubbard,

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CLASS NOTES Ben Walker and Roy Woolwine. I’m not sure how Brett did, but the ’86 foursome came in 4th place overall. Let me go on record as saying that BR Woolwine is “money in the bank” on the green with a putter in his hands. It was a great outing. In the course of the afternoon, Benny-Benny Walker was lamenting the fact that he had lost his class ring to theft a year or so ago. I didn’t have the heart to inform him that we had taken a secret vote as a class and repossessed it. Shhhhh – don’t tell him. If running into Steve Pancham in a Home Depot wasn’t enough of a confirmation of our status smack dab in the middle of middle age, then a trip to the eye doctor to see Bob Rainer did the trick. While he examined my eyes, Bob and I discussed our children’s accomplishments and then ruminated about the merits of reading glasses. The only saving grace was that I didn’t park in a handicap spot! In addition to a busy and thriving optometry practice, BR Rainer is actively involved in his daughter’s swimming career. Among his three daughters, Bob reports that Rebecca has the competitive streak from her old man and is doing quite well. Rebecca’s accomplishments included being invited to a swim meet in Nebraska that was affiliated with Olympic trials. Her proud dad acknowledged that she wasn’t Olympic caliber just yet but was pleased to be invited to the event. Through an e-mail blast, Todd McCullough informs us that Rob Mason has returned from his deployment to Iraq and rejoined the civilian world in the suburbs of northern Virginia. The beltway at rush hour might resemble a war zone at times. Speaking of deployments, Wayne Fuller has been over to Afghanistan for 8 weeks, back home for 2 and back again for another month to six weeks. He and BR Bob Scaglione have picked up several large projects for the Department of Defense over there, and BR Fuller reports that while things may be calming down in Iraq they are getting wild and wooly in Afghanistan. A private security detail follows him everywhere, probably not altogether unlike how the security guards used to follow him around the Hollins campus back in the day. One of Wayne’s first items of procurement over there was a used AK-47 which he carries everywhere. I’m not sure if he’ll be able to bring it back home, but it would be a sight to see in a duck blind. Hopefully, by the time this appears in print, the trips overseas will have wound down for a while. Just under the wire for submission, I got an email from Karen Yap who sends her regards to the class. She recently made a trip to VMI and donated some of Gary’s VMI memorabilia to the museum as part of an exhibit they’re doing on cadet life. As he already is in our hearts,

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BR Yap will be immortalized on Post. Well, you can see I wasn’t lying when I said the news was sparse. (I even considered cheating or stealing to get some news – just kidding, Fitz.) In retrospect, there is an awful lot about Hubbard, RC in these notes so that should spur some of you to send in some news so as to avoid having to read all about me next go around. Take care, BRs and remember those in service to our country.

’87

Ernie Edgar

Brother Rats, as I write this for submission to the Alumni Review, this week (as Renny Renshaw reminded me) marks the 25th anniversary of our matriculation in August 1983. A Quarter of a Century. It hurts just thinking about it. On a more positive note, Macon Snowden has organized an informal get-together for those of us in northern Virginia, so pictures will likely be forthcoming in the next Alumni Review. If any of you outside the Beltway can get together, as well, please send pictures and whatever war stories you choose to relate! Kevin Barker writes that he is still in the Air Force and enjoying it. He is stationed in Colorado Springs at Peterson AFB working spacelift sustainment issues. He expects to be there for another year or two. He says, “I am still big into the RV lifestyle and go out into the mountains just about every weekend. I have added ATV riding to the mix. I am looking forward to doing it full time when I retire (whenever that will be). Fuel prices are starting to hurt though!” When the e-mails started to get around about our impending 25th anniversary, he noted that he “was just getting ready to head out to the mountains in the RV and do some ATV riding and beer drinking. Maybe I should just go home and take a nap. Did not realize we were that old.” On the other end of the spectrum, Ronnie Robinson checked in with this piece of news. “Maggie and I were blessed with the birth of our 4th child and first daughter on 13 May 2008. She is Elizabeth Mae Robinson. Mother and baby are in perfect health. Her three brothers – Ronnie III, 10, Michael, 8, and Jackson, 3 – don’t realize the trouble they’re in.” Everyone is doing well, though I can say from personal experience that his boys have no idea what just hit them! In between, there is Keith Washington, who is still running with the Big Dogs … literally. Mike Maxwell reports that “our BR Keith Washington is now an NFL referee. So, as you

watch your favorite team, look for him in the end zone signaling a touchdown or field goal. Sorry, I don’t know the games he will be officiating, but keep an eye out.” From Dean Kratzenberg and Adrian Garcia, I learned that both Dave Smith and Stu Wharton pinned on Navy Captain on August 1. Adrian just arrived in Newport for the residence phase of the Naval War College, having just missed Paul Duray, Chip Bierman and James Bright who graduated in May. Is anyone else up there? Since he’s in the same neighborhood now, he says he’ll be getting with Jim Greene frequently. As those e-mails were buzzing around, Lapthe Flora chimed in with congratulations to “the other Dave Smith, who this week was promoted to VP Program Management at ITT Night Vision. For those of you who have used night vision goggles like the PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-6 or ANVIS-9, Dave has the overall program responsibility of those systems.” According to Craig Covert, who had lunch with Lapthe in Roanoke a few weeks back, Lapthe is still doing great things at ITT, where he supervises projects involving next generation NVGs. He was accompanied to lunch by his incredibly cute daughter, who instantly bonded with my wife. Lapthe is still active with the VA National Guard and has no plans to retire anytime soon. He told me he’s pushing for 30 years since he’s still having fun. He’s currently serving on a joint staff at Ft. Bragg during drills. Dean also got hold of the latest Air Force promotion list, and both Neal Robinson and John Poast made the list to Colonel. Congratulations to you both! Bob Merkel is still in Baghdad where his 192nd EOD Battalion continues the counterIED fight. Bob reports that the heat and humidity have intensified, which takes a heavy physical toll on his troops, but their morale remains high, and they are working hard and continue to have success in their difficult mission with support from the local residents. Vernie Reichling and his 70th Engineer Battalion are home from Afghanistan and back at Fort Riley. Welcome Home! Vernie is due to change command and report to the Office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington, DC, in October. A picture of Vernie is in the OEF/OIF section of this Alumni Review. Turning back to the Navy, Gray Wooten is still in and assigned to Navy’s board of Inspection and Survey in Norfolk. He explained that “it’s a bit like the Army’s IG, except our group focuses on material condition of ships. I am also the Navy’s New Ship Aviation trials officer, so I go on all the new ship trials and see that the shipyards build what they are supposed to aviation-wise. I travel a lot, but it’s a

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES as a Special Agent for the U.S. Postal Service Craig is looking forward to the 3rd Annual worthwhile job.” Gray is hoping for a final set Office of Inspector General and now lives in Ride to the “I” on September 6. He says if you of orders to teach at the Armed Forces Staff Midlothian. After more than a dozen moves in look on page 38 of the previous Alumni Review College in Norfolk next year and then perhaps the last 21 years, he declares, this is it! Since (2008-Issue 3), you’ll see a photo of his bike’s retire after that. He had gall bladder surgery in arriving in the Richmond area, he’s spoken via custom chrome air cleaner, “complete with a December and is slowly getting better, so he telephone with Tripp Bowles and Eric Davis, VMI monogram and the numbers ‘87’ that a says that is good news. Gray has kept in touch both of whom live locally. Tripp, in between his thankful veteran crafted for me during my first with Gerry Tertychny and his roommates, John reserve duty, is a local attorney, while Eric com- OIF deployment in 2004. I’m also pictured Ficarro and Bill Berneski. muted during the week from Mechanicsville to standing with a bunch of fellow bikers in Jeff Temple is still with the Navy as a Norfolk Naval Station. Eric has just departed another photo on the same page. My wife also civilian. “I am working for the Naval Surface for a tour in Iraq. Craig has also kept in touch rides, and we’ll be looking for some other Class Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA, as the Underwith Bobby Eaton, who is retiring from the of ’87 representation this year.” sea Warfare Control Systems Technical Project Army. Bobby, his wife, Tyler, and daughter, Paul Munson also wrote in from lovely Dare Manager. I’ve been working here for about 5 Josephine, have moved back to Roanoke from County in the North Carolina Outer Banks. years but have been supporting the same Navy Hawaii. Bobby is still officially in the Army He’s had a great summer chasing kids through program office since I got out of the Navy in until October but is hoping to being solidly em“summer camps, family reunion, you name 1991. I do make it up to Washington, DC, quite ployed before then. According to Craig, Tyler it.” He saw Cliff Bunn and his family “who frequently, usually on Monday mornings for says their daughter will be a future Wahoo and vacationed here last week. Cliff’s dad has a staff meetings. I have run into Keith Washnot a Keydet, if she has anything to do with it! house here, and they come here each year. Cliff ington a couple times up there and of course Craig and Andrea built a vacation home and Janet have three daughters. Cliff is running Dean Kratzenberg and occasionally Macon outside of Lexington several years ago, where a business installing geothermal heating and Snowden. I see Bill Davis every now and then they try to spend a weekend or two every cooling systems throughout Virginia and also down in Williamsburg whenever I am traveling month. Andrea’s brother is a VMI ’94 graduate in North Carolina. He has actually done some through. I caught up with Mike Maxwell my and her dad is a retired Navy Captain who fell schools in Rockbridge County.” Paul also heard last trip to VMI and still keep in touch with from Tim Walrod not too long ago. Like Bobby Todd Burdette and Matt Sutton via telephone.” in love with the “I.” “Together, we own about 180 acres of mountain property on the slopes of Eaton, Tim is retiring from the Army in Hawaii Craig Covert wrote in with a good bit of North Mountain, just behind House Mountain as of October 31. Paul thought that retiring on news. “Despite leaving active duty for the and only 12 miles from the Institute, near Lake Halloween “sounds like Tim.” He is not sure if reserves back in ’92, I’ve never been able to Robertson. Macon Snowden has been one of he will stay in Hawaii. give up on the Corps and have been spending a Kind of off the beaten track, I was at a busilot of time on orders lately. Most recently, I ran our weekend house guests, as has Chris West ness breakfast in Washington, DC, several into BRs Paul Duray, Chip Bierman and Jim ’91. We love being “part-time” Lexington weeks ago when I ran into Dan Hooker ’86, “Lopperhead” Bright at the Naval War College residents and have discovered a lot of great who left after third class year and went to in May. Jim, Chip and Paul were enrolled in the things about Rockbridge County that I never Cornell. Those of us who were Alpha Company resident War College course itself, while I was experienced as a cadet. My car’s ‘auto-pilot’ no Rats will remember Dan as one of our Rat trainthere for a Reserve Officer National Security longer steers me to the ‘I’ whenever we get to ing instructors. Dan was on a USMC scholarCourse. It was good to see them, and it should town, as most of my trips into town now take ship, which he took with him to Cornell. He be noted that Chip hasn’t aged a day since me to Lowes or Kroger’s. I still try to get by did some active duty time and some Reserve graduation! We were all a bit busy with our own school whenever we have guests, just to show time and is now retired from the Marines. He studies and never found the time to snap off a them the Institute.” also served a couple of terms in the photo, unfortunately. I’ve also run New York State Assembly. He now into Dave Furness a couple times works for a defense contractor on – once at a deli aboard Quantico Long Island and comes down to DC and again during last year’s Maperiodically. Further proof, I guess, rine Corps Birthday celebration in that we may be small, but we’re Washington, DC.” In civilian life, everywhere! Craig recently left NCIS “after Having started this observance spending a wonderful decade with of Cadre Week + 25 years, Renny them.” He and his wife, Andrea Renshaw also reports the first sign (who’s still with NCIS), had some of the Apocalypse: “Just got a mesgreat tours as NCIS Special Agents sage from Andy Kestner. He is in – Kings Bay, GA; Washington, Afghanistan standing in for Wayne DC; Honolulu; Virginia Beach; Class of 1987: Brother Rats Mike McDaniel, Tracy Fuller ’86, as he is on vacation. and numerous TDYs, “to include a Porter, Scott Jewell and Ralph “Rock” Hudson enjoyed (They are designing/overseeing contour in Iraq as a civilian protection a day of sports and feasting at the Jewell’s home in struction military posts.) Can only team member for the Coalition Burlington, North Carolina, on Aug. 23, 2008, to imagine what the Jammer would Provisional Authority (CPA). It’s celebrate 25 years since surviving Hell Week. “Family think about that.” certainly an interesting perspective and friends enjoyed hearing tales of adventures that Just to bring this 25th Anniversary to experience different deploycould only be experienced by cadets at VMI and were theme to an end, I guess that means ments, both as a civilian and as a fascinated while looking through the ’84 and ’87 VMI we are old enough to sponsor new Marine Officer.” Bombs,” said Hudson, who submitted this photo. cadets at the Institute. To that end, As of last year, Craig took a job

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CLASS NOTES Paul Munson reports that a Rat in the incoming mass will be awarded the first issuance of our Class of 1987 Memorial Scholarship. I echo Paul in thanking everyone for making this a reality. I hope to get some info and a picture of our Rat, and I’ll be sure to pump him/her up with the lore of our Class. As I wind this up for another edition of the Alumni Review, please keep in touch with all the details of the things you are doing and the places you are going. I look forward to passing all that on to our classmates! … Ernie

’88

Drew MCKone

By the time you are reading this, it will be autumn so, Happy Fall! It seems like yesterday that I was writing the last update for our notes. Three months don’t seem to last as long as they used to! The summer has gone pretty quick with no major events. I spoke with Lt. Col. Mark Arboneaux who is still on active duty with the Marine Corps working in Chicago with the TACC Battle Staff. Mark is the Operations Officer and will end his current tour of duty in September. He’ll be entering the Indianapolis job market. So, keep him in mind if you have any interesting prospects! Mark indicated that Jim Tuemler will be retiring after twenty years on active duty and reserves with the Marines. Mark also indicated that Chris Goff moved to Hawaii in July to take command of 3rd Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment. Semper Fi and good luck to Chris, Mark and Jim! I spoke with Frank de Venoge earlier this summer. Frank was busy with the start of his new career with Pfizer. Frank will be representing one of their more famous “blue pills”… let the jokes begin! Frank also indicated that the time had come to end the Mark Wilson Memorial Race. Frank and many others have worked tirelessly to keep the event going in Mark’s name. Most importantly, the race served as an annual reminder to Mark’s family of how special he was to his friends, Brother Rats and the VMI community. Thanks for your dedication and commitment to our friend! Frank provided this update: “After a 13-year run of raising money in the name of Mark Wilson, the organizers and family of Mark have come up with a new opportunity to keep Mark’s memory alive. Mark was tragically killed on Dec. 4, 1995, as a Navy Seal at Camp Ripley, MN, leaving behind a wife and 10-week old son. Things have changed for Anne Wilson, as she married a friend of Mark’s, a current active Navy Seal, who had

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gone thru BUDS with Mark back in 1994. Mark Schafer and Anne were married last October, and after having lived in Richmond for the last 13 years, Anne is back doing what she does so well, serving as a wife and also mother to young Mark, who will be 13 in September. Mark Schafer, Anne and young Mark are now living in Monterey, CA, where Mark S. is attending the Naval Postgraduate School after having recently served several tours overseas. Over the years, the proceeds from the Mark Wilson 5k run have gone to two different scholarship mechanisms to VMI in his name. The past several years, proceeds from the run have gone directly to the VMI Foundation, specifically to the scholarship at VMI that is in Mark’s name. The founders of the race and Mark’s family intended to fully fund this scholarship through this ongoing tribute run to Mark Wilson. With the run no longer in existence, an opportunity to continue to meet the intention of funding Mark’s scholarship is still there. Mark’s father and mother, Glen and Evelyn Wilson, have been working diligently to ensure both VMI and all potential donors are advised of this change and to encourage donors to continue to give to the Mark R. Wilson ’88 Scholarship at VMI. The VMI Foundation continues to exhibit leadership in assisting the Wilson’s endeavor, and this is where all of you come in. On behalf of the Wilsons and the memory of Mark Wilson, we ask your continued participation in the ongoing effort to fully fund the Mark R. Wilson ’88 Scholarship at VMI. The scholarship is currently a partial award for a deserving student. Our goal is to make it a full scholarship some day. There will be more information on ways to get involved coming directly to you soon. Donations can always be made to the VMI Foundation in Mark’s name via the scholarship. In the Spirit, Glen Wilson, Evelyn Wilson, Frank de Venoge, Gordy Fox and Mark & Anne Schafer.” Kevin Washington checked in to give me his new e-mail address and to invite me to join his LinkedIn group. Sorry, Kevin! When I clicked to accept the invite, it told me I wasn’t the intended recipient! Kevin wrote: “Drew, I guess I am one of those guys who has not provided an updated e-mail address. I had been in contact w/ Mike Wood and Tim West and almost made the 20th, but as you saw, not quite ... I saw the class photo and figure if I do not make the 25th, I may not be able to recognize too many BRs. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!” I also received this note and the attached picture form Lew Sigmon’s parents: “Mr. McKone, It was good to read about the Class of ’88’s reunion at VMI in the Alumni Review. Our son, Lewis III, was mentioned in the column.

He recently passed 20 years in the USMC and service to our country. We thought that we would pass along a photo that they sent us from a famous site in France where the German’s coined the term ‘Devil Dogs’ for the Marines. He, as have the others in your class, has represented the Institute with pride. As parents, we are ever appreciative of how the Institute helped shape his character and career. What a great place! Sincerely, Lewis Jr. and Sondra Sigmon.” I think the sentiments expressed by the Sigmons are indicative of the impact VMI has made on all of its graduates as well as the families that supported us through our four (sometimes five) years at the “I.” Since receiving the note, I have also heard from Lew who checked in from Europe: “Hey bud! It has been much too long since I have spoken to you! Sorry for that. We are in Stuttgart, Germany, where I am working in the U.S. European Command J4 (Logistics) as an exercise planner. We have tried to take advantage of being here in Europe and travel as much as we can. We have three great kids, Kendall, 11; Mason, 9; and Jesse, 6. They are all active in sports, Scouts and school. We are due to leave Europe in the summer of 2009. We are hoping to get back to the East Coast, probably back to Camp Lejeune. Since I just passed the 20-year mark in the Marine Corps, we are starting to think about life after the Marine Corps. I have not had a chance to make it to any our Class reunions. With kids being born or living outside of the Continental U.S., it has been hard to make the events. I am looking forward to getting to come up for some football games and weekends back at the ‘I.’” I received a surprise note from Shelton Davis who lives about 40 minutes from me in Montgomery County, MD. From the sound of it, it would appear that Shelton has been very busy since graduation! Good luck and safe returns from Iraq! Shelton wrote: “I wanted to drop you a line and let you know I am still alive and kicking. Sorry I could not make the reunion. I had to write a brief for the Surgeon General that had a deadline of that Saturday; moreover, I found out about the brief on Thursday night ... Anyway, all with me is well. I live in Sandy Spring, MD (probably about 30 minutes from you). I’ve been pretty busy since my days at VMI. Currently, I am the Chief of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation service at both Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Medical Center (so, I’m pretty centrally involved in the care of all the guys who are amputees), and I’m one of only a handful of docs on active duty who is board certified in Pain Management. So, as you might imagine, I am pretty busy. I am getting ready to head out the door to Iraq for about

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES 6 months, but I would love to reconnect with all the guys. So, save and forward my e-mail address and drop me a line.” I’d love to hear from more of you and to print your comments for our BRs to read and get caught up. Please take the time to drop me a line via e-mail, mail or just call … take care!

’89

Andrew J. Tunnard

Editor’s Note: There are no class notes from the class of ’89 in this issue.

down to Cameron Hall for matriculation. I had the pleasure of joining a couple of our classmates for 40th birthday celebrations this summer. Rob Hays’ family had a surprise birthday party for him, bringing folks in from both sides of the country for a celebration at Rob’s place near King George, VA. John Hahn and his family were there as well, having recently made the move from the Carolinas back up to New York with the U.S. Coast Guard. Chip Chenery’s wife, Mary, planned a “nothing but guy things” day for Chip’s 40th, where the order of the day was meat, beer and power tools at their home in Front Royal. Along with a cast of Chip’s “normal” friends from his nonVMI life, Kelly Musick made the drive up from

Class of 1989: During their annual Hatteras (North Carolina) fishing trip, were, from left, standing, Ken Cobb, Mitch Fridley, Chris Brooks (not an alumnus) and Harrison Bresee. Kneeling in front: Kevin “K.P.” Scott ’01, the mate on charter boat Miss Hatteras. According to Fridley, the two groupers are both North Carolina record citation fish. “We caught a total of 65 pounds of great tasting fish this day,” said Fridley, “and over 200 pounds of blue water fish on an off-shore charter the day before.”

’90

R. Hunter Trumbo

Hey, Guys, As I’m writing these notes, the summer is coming to a close, and soon the Rats will make their first Barracks appearance. Like many of our BRs, I turned 40 this summer, and it’s hard to believe how long ago we made that fateful walk, from dropping off our luggage in Old Barracks

2008-Issue 4

Chesapeake, and Trey Wetsel came in from Alexandria. Chip took advantage of the workforce to make a few upgrades to his trebuchet. With a little more work, he should be throwing pumpkins at Halloween again this year. At the beginning of the summer, Paul Hartigan touched base from Colorado where he’s busy at the fire department, running their volunteer recruitment and working on the training staff. His new recruiting process is in full swing, and he’s slated to bring in 15 new volunteers next month (September … just in time for wildfire season). He let me know that his wife, Lois, is busy with work, and his kids

are growing like weeds. Bryan, 6, is so tall that Paul has to watch his head when opening the freezer door on their refrigerator. Kelly, 4, is already working her charms, and Paul said that he knows he’s going to be in trouble when she becomes a teenager. Paul was planning to take a trip to Virginia over the summer and was hoping to compare notes with Dave Bender at his firehouse here in the D.C. area. Sean Hoover sent me a note letting me know he’d returned from Afghanistan at the end of February, where he had spent 13 months flying Apache Longbows for the Arizona National Guard. As seems to happen frequently, Sean ran into VMI folks over in Afghanistan. He was sitting in the chow hall when he looked up, and Lt. Col. Chris Dixon was standing in front of him. Chris was in country briefly, doing some training on protecting against IEDs. Sean said that Chris’s work is really having an impact and saving people’s lives. Elson Hin let me know that he and Weedon “Kevin” Gallagher had gotten reconnected through LinkedIn (a social networking site for professionals) and chatted for a while about the similarities of their companies. He let me know that Weedon was getting ready to head off to Afghanistan with the National Guard for a one-year tour. Keeping with the Middle East theme, Rich Mehl dropped me a note from over there, where he’s on his 7th deployment flying the U-2 over Iraq and Afghanistan. He said that while flying in the desert is often the same day after day, he was planning for some upcoming life changes. Rich just got engaged to Eva, a wonderful woman from Spain. Eva is finishing her second PhD at UC Davis just outside of Sacramento, where Rich has his home base. They’re getting married in San Francisco this summer, and Rich is looking forward to retirement from the USAF in just 2 years. I think he’s looking for career planning ideas, if anyone knows what to do with a former spyplane pilot. Greg Sandway’s wife, Janet, and I had a good chat, and she let me know that not too long after getting back from Afghanistan, Greg, got called up to spend some time in Iraq. (They just can’t get enough of him over there!) Greg e-mailed to let me know that he’s really proud of his USMC guys out there and how pleased he is to be part of an organization that is so committed to making a difference. Greg hasn’t run into any VMI folks, but he said that the other Marines always mention to him that the VMI officers they meet are great guys. Back on the home front, a few folks were e-mailing about a potential VMI football weekend, and Chris “Evil” Callahan forwarded a picture of himself at the Pennsylvania 500

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CLASS NOTES

Class of 1990: Race fans Chris Callahan and John Hopkins ’95 enjoying the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. NASCAR race with John Hopkins ’95. Chris hired John when he graduated from the “I,” and they have been friends ever since. John lives in Mastic Beach, Long Island, with his wife, Claire, and daughter, Caitlin, working for Forrest Labs. Chris lives in Sound Beach with wife, Jenny, and kids Amelia, 5, and Christopher, 2. After relocating company operations and working himself out of his supply chain management job, Mr. Callahan started his own executive placement firm focused upon the supply chain industry. He said it’s going well, in no small part because he really knows his customer’s business. When he’s not working or chasing the kids around, Chris is getting out on the Long Island Sound for some striped bass fishing. And last but not least, proud father and Coach Carlos Fernandes dropped me a note and a picture of the Purcellville Vikings, a soccer team that included his son Carlos II. The Vikings were the Loudoun Soccer U11 Boys House Tournament Champions. Gents, as always, thanks for your submissions. Please keep the mail coming! … Hunter

’91

George Petty III

Summer is fully upon us now in the Valley, the Corps is beginning to return to Barracks, a new head coach for Keydet Football and the annual fragrance of hope for glory on the gridiron

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begins to waft down the Nile. Hmm, could it be just the return of Chinese Beef and Peppers to Crozet? Nah …

I have not heard from many BRs this summer, but I chalk that up to the efforts of summer: gardening, vacation travels, job promotions, etc. How about taking a moment and shooting an e-mail off this way. The Alumni Review office is also seeking information about alumni who are contributing to the success of their community, company and organization. Finished an advanced degree recently? Send a note. Climbed Sup Hill with your young ones? Plant your VMI pennant, take off the oxygen mask, snap a picture and send it this way. None of the above interest you as topics in the Review? Well, be sure to return the survey that was mailed to you in August, or just visit the Ranks online and complete it online and save a stamp, save a rain forest and reduce your carbon footprint. You have registered for the Ranks, haven’t you? No? Well get off Pebble Beach, you shouldn’t be there anyways, and visit http://www.vmialumni.org to sign up and to participate. Now for the news: I’ll go first, as I have heard from myself most frequently. On 19 July 2008 at 0135, Lorraine gave birth to our daughter, Carmen Lorraine, at our home in Waynesboro. Yes, this was a planned homebirth, just as was her brother, Emmett’s. The only other interesting news from me is that Jolly-Rite popcorn

Class of 1991: Carmen Lorraine Petty, who was born on July 19, 2008, is shown above with her parents, George and Lorraine.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES from the supermarket will indeed grow and make ears. Try it sometime. Michael Milner sent a copy of an article from the Ft. Belvoir newspaper about his exploits in Japan. Michael, as some may recall, is one our class tri-athletes. Besides training for 3 triathlons this summer, he traveled to Japan in March to compete in Ninja Warrior – on one of those Japanese TV obstacle course shows. He did very well, progressing through three obstacles before meeting his ignominious defeat. He successfully navigated the Sextuple Step, the Log Grip, the Pole Maze and then the Jumping Spider bit him. Michael had a blast and hopes to return to the show for another crack. We’ll keep watching Leno for the outtakes, Michael. Shay Ferrell took time to send an e-mail from Okinawa. He is an orthopedic surgeon in the Navy with 3 years remaining before entering private practice. He hopes to relocate to North Carolina in the Raleigh-Durham or Wilmington area where he will be able to see his son, Jack, more often. Shay re-married in 2007 to Adrienne. They had a son, born 28 March 2008: Maxwell Michael. Congratulations, Brother Rat! Shay adds this line: “I think about the dark ages and living in Barracks and how we learned to endure the daily grind there prepared us all for life’s challenges.” WARNING! Shameless plug for alumni giving ahead! Barracks life indeed provided us all with warm, fuzzy, miserable, searing, joyful, unforgettable memories and experiences. The support of alumni is crucial to the VMI Experience. Although inflation combined with a decline in real income are wearing down families around the globe, please consider a modest financial support to the I. All donations currently made will count toward that big check to be presented at our 25th Reunion. Gen. Peay ’62 has said he would really like to see more alumni participating. He feels that

participation is more important than the size of the donation. END of Shameless plug for alumni giving. Steve Blasch sent word that he is now the Mini-Boss on the U.S.S. George Washington (CVN 73). Last I heard, Steve, Greg Booth and Steve Dudar were making plans to meet, but no news from them yet. Blasch, I hope you escaped bodily and career injury during that shipboard fire. Ian Connor dropped a line literally just saying “Hi.” Something is better than nothing; I do enjoy seeing the names of BRs popping up in the e-mail inbox. Steve Kostoff invited me to be a friend on Facebook. Steve is bummed he missed the reunion and looks forward to attending the 20th in 2011. Besides Paul Kubin, he is the only friend I have from the class: boo hoo hoo … sniff, sniff … is that Chinese Beef and Peppers? Nah, it’s the Keydets, and they are hot to kick some tail on the gridiron. See you at a home game!

’92

Chris Bergen

I hope the summer was enjoyable for all. Just a quick note: I’ll be heading to a new duty station (Whidbey Island, Washington) in January ’09. I will be making more deployments and will not be able to devote even the limited time that this job requires. If you’re interested in taking over my portion of the class agent duties (updates, cards), please let me or Andy know. Okay – to the updates. I got to see Woody and Leslie Woodward and children this past June. Woody had recently returned from Kabul, Afghanistan, and was enjoying being back with his family after a year

as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Counter-IED intelligence lead. Woody looked none the worse for wear, and Leslie and the children are happy to have him home again. Anhtuan Nguyen wrote in from LSA Anaconda in Iraq. He’s with the 55th Sustainment Brigade providing logistical support to the forward operating bases (FOBs) throughout the country. Working 14 hours a day with his reserve unit has taken its toll. From his e-mail, I can tell he’s missing the family. I hope by the time he gets this edition, he’s on his way back. Rod Gudz checked in from Newport, RI, where he’s working at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center as a mechanical engineer. He does imagery for submarines (periscopes). He and his wife, Kelli, of three years have one son, Andrew, and are living in Portsmouth. Rod recently graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School with his master of science degree in Systems Engineering and was able to meet the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Donald Winter, during graduation. Congratulations, Rod! Major Dave Womack, USA, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in July. Dave threw a great party at his home in Woodbridge for the event, where we were finally able to get his three girls and my three girls together while Dave and I complained about how old we were getting. Jason Troxell drove in from Philadelphia and joined the Womack family and Dave’s coworkers in celebrating the promotion. My old roommate, Rob Johnson, e-mailed me from Lima, Peru, where he is stationed with the DEA. Rob and the family are doing well and have been in Peru for over a year. Rob’s wife, Katrina, is working part-time in nursing at the U.S. Embassy. Their children Blake, 5, and William, 2, are doing well and speaking Spanish like champs (according to their proud dad). Thus far, Rob’s most satisfying accomplishment came assisting the Peruvian National Police on a case that resulted in the seizure of 2 metric tons of cocaine! Thanks for the update, Rob – and stay safe. Sorry for the short update, BRs. Hope you all are doing well, and I’ll see you around the tailgates this fall.

’93 Class of 1992: At Coach Bozeman’s retirement dinner on May 3, 2008, were, from left, K.C. Bratton, Mario Small ’90, Bryan Saunders, Jay King, Coach Bozeman, Richard Falcone, Obi Ezekwe ’97, Greg Hatchett ’90, Kenny Kovac ’90, William Harding ’94 and Andy Hoofnagle ’89.

2008-Issue 4

Paul Ackerman

Dear Brother Rats, I regret to inform the class that Jonathan Kindred ’93 passed away on May 19, 2008. For those of you who do not remember Jon, he attended VMI for one semester and was an English major and was on the wrestling team. I do not know the circumstances of his passing,

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CLASS NOTES because Philip is currently deployed to Africa. Initially, he was going to spend all of his time in Djibouti, but now it seems he will also travel to Kenya and Uganda during his stay to facilitate peace-keeping missions. He will mainly be based out of Uganda and work out of the U.S. Embassy there. I came to Pensacola Beach to spend the summer here with the four kids, but we will return to Arlington, VA, for the school year. Philip is due to return home hopefully no later than the end of February ’09. He said, so far, this type of deployment definitely beats being on cruise, but he misses the flying, of course. We had hoped to make it to the reunion but obviously are unable now. We hope you guys have a great turnout and a wonderful time! Philip’s work e-mail address is Philip.W.Walker@hoa.centcom.mil. I know he would love hearing from anyone who may also be in the area.” Rick Robinson also contacted me: “Unfortunately, I’ll be deployed for yet another class reunion and will be unable to make it. I will be there in spirit ... I assure you. I am deployed to Class of 1993: The plaque honoring Tom Miller has been erected on a wall in VMI’s Memorial Gardens. Iraq with 3 BDE, 4 ID and am currently located in a forward operating base just outside of Sadr but his wife sent me a card and a link to his ing about what everyone else is doing. I just City. I’m about half way through my rotaobituary, which will be printed in the next issue seem to keep getting swamped in my work and tion and should be returning back to Colorado of the Review (2009-Issue 1). Please e-mail me never get my info sent in! Ah well, such is the around mid-Feb. I will miss not being there (for if you would like the Kindred family address. life of an Army chaplain. I have you on my the second time), and I wish everyone a great Our reunion is close at hand, and by the time list to include on all future newsletters – there reunion. Thanks, buddy, and please pass my you read the hard copy of these notes, it will be should be at least two more before I redeploy regards on to all of our BRs.” I have asked Rick over. I hope to have notes in the next Review and one after I get home. Also, as an update to send me his address, so BRs could send him about some of our BRs who we have not seen on Operation Storytime, if you go on the CNN some mail. or heard from in a few years. web site and search their videos for ‘Operation Yu-Cheng Huang returned to Taiwan this past The long awaited plaque for Tom Miller Storytime,’ you can check out the video that January with his family. “I have settled down in is complete, and VMI is installing it in late was done out here. I’ll send along more info as Hsin-Chu city. Hsiu-Chin, Lynn and Jonathan August. So, any BRs who make it to Post, it becomes available.” are doing fine. Lynn is in the third grade here please stop by Memorial Gardens to view Tom Kristin Walker let me know that the Walker studying Chinese now. Jonathan just had his Miller’s and Paul Syverson’s plaques. family “will not be able to attend the reunion, two-year birthday party three months ago and is Currently, we have several getting bigger. I’m assigned to our BRs deployed who will not make Army HQs in Long-Tang County, the reunion. Charles Leggett is Taoyuan, and will be promoted to deployed to Iraq. His address is full colonel on July 1st. Hope you CPT Leggett, Charles; HHC / are doing just fine. Talk to you 168th BSB; Camp Liberty, APO later.” AE 09344. Charles sent me his Rich Goodman sent me some newsletter that I will try to scan pictures of some ’93 BRs on deployand send out to the class. Charles ment, “two of Steve Thrasher and has a program which films deme from Ali Al Salem Air Base, ployed soldiers reading stories to Kuwait. Ali is the Aerial port for their children, and then he mails all troops transiting to and from the CD to the soldiers’ families. Iraq and Afghanistan. One of Matt The program was featured on Bowers, Kevin Smith and me from CNN and can be seen at http:// Ramstien AFB, Germany, as I tranwww.cnn.com/video/#/video/ sited from BWI to Kuwait through us/2008/05/25/meade.operation. Germany.” story.cnn?iref=videosearch. He Kevin Smith got his reunion packet Class of 1993: At Ramstien Air Force Base in Germany wrote: “I appreciate you keeping in Germany and is “talking with Matt were, from left, USAF Majors Kevin Smith, Matt Bowers us tied in on all of the info for the Bowers about making the trip from and Rich Goodman. class, and I really enjoy readGermany together ... more to follow.”

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Steve Reaper (Grim) and his nickel tour of all the construction wife plan on seeing us at the rework. Ed is a professor at John union. “I was wondering if we had Carroll University in Ohio. Ed any BRs stationed at Eglin AFB, also informed me that Danny Ft. Walton Beach, Florida? We are Tweedy is an English professor. I down here now with the AF and think Danny is in Kentucky. wanted to see if anyone was in the Brian Withers ’99 contacted area.” So, all you FL, AL and GA me to try to track down Tom BRs, give the Reaper a call. Kent. Rumor has it that Tom is Hans Pauley is planning to see now racing cars in his spare time us in October and already has his and was scheduled to race at the tickets to fly from the UK. Va International Raceway in DanThe Melvin family is on the ville, Va. I sent the information to Class of 1993: Tom Kent in a silver-blue 1967 MG Midget move again. “My command in Brian and asked him if he makes #64 leading the pack at Virginia International Speedway Louisiana finished in June, and it to one of the races to send in Danville, Virginia, June 2008. now I’m stationed in the USCG some pictures. I received several HQ in Washington, DC. I’m the pictures of Tom racing his SilverExecutive Assistant (EA) to the blue 1967 MG Midget #64. Akers showing a successful quail hunting in Director of Acquisition Programs/Program Phil Grant sent me a note after he read the Texas. The picture should make the Review. I Executive Officer (PEO). The RDML I EA last class notes and saw that he made the notes. asked Joe, just in case, that Jim did not eat the manages all of the CG’s current acquisitions, “Couldn’t help noticing my little blurb this birds raw, and Joe reassured me that Jim let him including all aircraft and ships we are curtime around, courtesy of Jack Evans ’49B. He fry them up first. rently buying. It is a pretty exciting time to lives in a local retirement community a few Guy Berry sent me a thank you for getting be involved in our acquisitions, since we are houses down from my parents and is always him a ticket to VMI Graduation. I told Guy I buying more resources now than we ever have. telling me to rack it in for the faded VMI sticker can get him a ticket from the Alumni Review The best part is that our staff symbol in HQ on my jeep and the fact that I don’t send you staff, but he had to send me some pictures, is CG-93. What a coincidence. We are living regular updates on my endeavors. It seems, which I am glad to report he fulfilled his part of in Fairfax Station, VA, renting from a fellow like any other good Keydet, he decided to take the bargain. There is a picture with these notes. Coastie. Nice neighborhood, and it is good to matters into his own hands. I have had a few Michael Parker sent me some news and came drive around and see VMI stickers and license good years here in the Williamson County plates all over the place. Not much of that going by to visit VMI in July. “I got your information area north of Austin, Texas. I am currently a out of the Alumni Review Issue 2. I wanted to on in LA. We kept our house in LA, and we are felony prosecutor assigned to the 368th District see if you had any information on how to get a renting it to another Coastie who happens to be Court. I try all types of felony matters from hold of our BR Michael Livingston? Our BR Citadel ’93. I raised his rent when I found that DWI’s to murders but am most experienced in Jonathon Greever is getting married on July 5th out but not too much, since he was at least ’93. child sexual abuse cases. I received my Board in Lynchburg, so I will be flying in to attend. Our The family is great and adjusting nicely to beCertification in Criminal Law from the Texas BR Ed Tomlinson will also be driving in from ing back in civilization. The boys are all geared Board of Legal Specialization in January of this Ohio. I hear BR Tweedy will be part of the wedup for football to start soon, and Cady will be year after about 12 years of prosecuting for the ding. Currently, my plan is to drive over to Lexstarting pre-school. We are hoping to get down State. I recently accepted an offer to join the ington for a few hours the day after the wedding, your way for the reunion. I hope all is well with Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Sunday July 6th.” Michael and Ed Tomlinson you and your family.” as their First Assistant District Attorney (or XO made it to Lexington, and I gave them the quick Joe Moxley sent me a picture of him and Jim to all you military types) starting in January. So, my wife, Stacy, and my three girls – Katelyn, Ashlyn and Faith – will be relocating to the county just north of the Houston area in the next few months. I saw Hemi Zamalis a few months ago and took him for a ride in my 65 Buick Skylark convertible. He approved of the car, which meant the world to me. We ate chicken fired steak at a local hole in the wall and told stories until late in the evening. Lincoln Swineford and I keep in touch more often now that I need his advice on parenting our three girls, who we adopted in December of last year. My door is always open to any BR in the area.” Class of 1993: Guy Berry flying in the Japanese-American Friendship Day Air Show I sent Rick Barnes the following note near Tokyo, Japan. on graduation day at VMI: “SecDef

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CLASS NOTES had 2 birds from HMX-1 land on Addison Field, his wife, Frances, and their daughter, Lena, the Parade Ground, but when I went live in Juneau, Alaska. Addison to look for you, some pilot, a Third is the Curator of Collections & from ’95, said you had the day off. Exhibits at the Juneau-Douglas BR, when are you going to have City Museum. another chance to dust Smith Hall Mark Cameron is at Camp Lejein your rotor wash?” Rick let me une preparing for an upcoming know he was working, just riding a deployment with Fox Company better permit. “I am in Europe on the 2/6. He will be promoted to major tax dollar. Slovenia, Rome, Berlin, sometime during his deployment. Paris, London and Belfast. About Jim Tynan is in Montgomery, two days in each spot. TEAM!” AL, working as a postal inspector. I received some good news from Chris Coolidge recently linked up with him for lunch in Montgomery Brian Chamberlain: “I finished my a few months ago. Chris is workfirst year at VMI with the class of ing for AT&T as a result of the 1993. I left the Institute, because my 2007 merger with BellSouth. After girlfriend was pregnant (I found out the merger, he was promoted to 2 days after break-out), and I had to the 22 State Corporate Staff. Chris start raising a family. Well, that son Class of 1993: Jim Akers and Joe Moxley after a west works on a construction support Texas quail hunt in February 2008. is now a senior and has accepted team with six other subject matter a cadetship at VMI in the class of experts that monitor and analyze 2012. His decision has been a nice quality, methods, procedures and closure for me since having to leave the Institute Mike Wysong will not be able to attend the processes for the Outside Plant Network with out completing the journey. I look forward to reunion since “my wife is having a baby in Construction branch of AT&T. This is the being involved with VMI again and suspect Brad- October, and it looks like we are getting ready branch of AT&T that builds and places the ley might be the first child of the class of 1993 to to move from Maryland to the Columbus area facilities for their nationwide infrastructure. Chris and his wife, Mandy, moved to enter the Institute as a Cadet.” I told Brian that he after baby # 7 is born!” Chelsea, Alabama, about 35 miles southeast was correct that the first legacy from the Class of I hope these notes find you all well and look of Birmingham and out in the country. Their ’93 will be Bradley and for Brian to make sure he forward to seeing or hearing from you all in the son, Brodie, just turned six and their other looks me up when he drops Bradley off. future. In the Spirit … Paul son, Wyatt, turned two in April. Mandy is Harold and Amy Stills ’92 made their annual currently pregnant with their third child, due trip to Lexington on the 4th of July. A cadet Christopher L. Doyle at the end of January. named Tommy Kendzia will be matriculating Kit Badger lives in the Denver area and is and is a member of Harold and Amy’s church working for Bates Engineering as a structural and was up for the summer program. Amy and engineer with a focus on water storage/treatHarold plan to be back for football season, as ment facilities. Kit and his wife, Kim, now well. have two sons and a daughter. Kit spends his Bertha Scales called me to let me know that Hi, everyone. Thanks to all those who wrote free time enjoying the many outdoor activiAnthony Scales is doing well. She is going to ties that Colorado has to offer. He is an avid with news about themselves or other BRs. send me a picture when Anthony goes golfing mountain biker and runner. Please drop me a line if I haven’t written about with several BRs in class of 1993. Sean Dickman left active duty and is now on you in a while. I am always looking for new Mike Wallace informed me that he and Pat reserve status for the Marine Corps. He and his people to write about. Thompson and are planning on getting up to family have moved to Michigan, where he is If anyone has heard from Brian Larue, please Lexington for the reunion, and he is looking stationed with the Department of Homeland Selet me know. An old friend of his is looking for forward to playing some golf with some BRs. curity. Sean is at the Federal Law Enforcement him. Mike let me know that Bob Matson and Martin Training Center (FLETC) in Georgia attending Bret Wilkinson is living in Richmond (Glen Crawford don’t think they’ll be able to come training. After graduation in September, he will Allen) and working in the accounting business. due to National Guard commitments, and I return to Michigan to begin flying interdicBret recently met with Andy Mulcunry. Andy don’t think Bryan VanDeun is coming either tion missions for the U.S. Customs and Border is a partner with a local law firm. (currently in Africa).“ We’re being transferred Patrol. Cloyd Liley is stationed in Fort Bragg, NC, back to New Orleans next summer. Susan’s Mike Runkle is the XO for the Navy Exwith the 82nd Airborne Division. He just took excited about getting back home, and I’m lookperimental Dive Unit in Florida. Mike’s unit is command of Alpha Company Division Special ing forward to it also – a more laid back pace of responsible for testing and evaluating diving, Troops Battalion (A/DSTB). His new battalion life. This also means that y’all have a place to hyperbaric and other underwater life-support commander is LTC Chris Eubank ’91. CPT stay for Mardi Gras, JazzFest and other trips to systems and procedures (both mission and resTasha Jones ’02 also recently took command of the Big Easy.” cue), and conducts biomedical and environmental a company in the battalion. Cloyd is excited to Lincoln Swineford sent me a note on August physiology research and development. have three VMI commanders in one battalion. 15 to remind us that we, the Class of 1993, Mike Peacock and his wife are both attending The battalion will deploy on their second trip to matriculated 19 years ago on this date. I locked Afghanistan in April 2009. On his way home from the U.S. Army’s Command and Staff College. my doors just in case Lincoln decided to drive up Afghanistan last March, Cloyd ran into Buck SesThey have both received orders for 18th Airborne from Richmond and kick my door in to celebrate. soms ’91 (USMC) in Manis, Kyrgystan. Corps/82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC.

’94

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CLASS NOTES Vince Porter ran into Lee Worrell at Camp Victory on his way home from Iraq. Vince also ran into Dave Underwood. Their daughters were in the same scene for a dance recital; Dave’s daughter was a sunflower, and Vince’s daughter, Rylei, was a ladybug. Bill Stegemerten is separating from active duty Air Force and is PCSing to the 166 Air Wing, New Castle, DE, as a full time Guardsman, as a part of our nation’s small town Air Force. He is not real familiar with the area. So, if anyone lives nearby, please contact him at william.stegemerten@denewc.ang.af.mil. His wife, Renee, is also relocating her jewelry business. So, if anyone wants to buy something for their spouse, needs help with a fundraiser or wants to help their spouse start their own business, contact her at: www.mysilpada.com/renee. stegemertencontact. John Vazquez just returned from Iraq. He worked on the same staff as Adam Strickland and Jamie Moseley. Best wishes to everyone. I hope to see you in Lexington for a football game.

Rick Killmeyer

’95

Dan Williams

I can say with confidence that this has been the most enjoyable summer I have had in years. I’m not planning a wedding nor deployed to a garden spot such as Southwest Asia. Dan and I have much news to report. I spoke with Kevin Price recently. KP is staying busy in the Army Reserve and attending some great schools. I caught up with him a few days before he was headed to Ft. Campbell, KY, to attend Pathfinder School. He had just heard back from the Virginia State Police that his application had been accepted. He was waiting to hear on his report date. Dave Tillar reports that he is back at the “I,” not as a cadet but as a contracted employee. Dave’s employer, Draper Aden Associates, won the contract to build the third Barracks where Lejeune Hall was previously located. Dave replaced the deputy of construction, Col. Keith Jarvis ’82, who was mobilized for deployment to Iraq. Dave said when BRs find out he is working on this project, more people visit to take a construction tour. Dave also reports that one of his additional duties is giving tours to wealthy alumni. Those who

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fit that description are Dave Mitchell, Jamie Joyner, Curt Webster, Brian Kellner, Sean Burke and Wade Dunford. Also, Ray Jaklitsch and Brian Williams are planning a visit from Philadelphia. I think I will invite myself for that trip. Dave had to coordinate with the Department of Defense when Wade flew Marine One to VMI. Apparently, the construction crane needed adjustment so that Wade could properly approach the parade ground for landing. Ironically, Dave and his wife still live in Richmond where he commutes from. He stays in luxurious Moody Hall on Tuesday nights. This position is a nine-month tour, so eventually this project will complete and so will Dave’s weekly travel to the “I.” Dan and I received a great update from Dave Doss. He was stationed at Langley AFB in northern Virginia as a student at the Air Combat Command Staff School. Team Doss purchased a home in Smithfield, VA, and on their tour, frequented the company of Geoff Blum and his family. Shortly after their arrival, Dave and his family received orders to go to Ft. Leavenworth, KS (as a student not an inmate). Dave attended the Army’s Command and General Staff College for one year and then it was off to his current assignment in Abilene, TX. Dave is the Director of Operations for the B-1 Bomber squadron at Abilene. He and his lovely wife, Marlina, will celebrate their 13th wedding

anniversary this year, and their boys, Chace and Austin, are growing like weeds. When the Doss’s were stationed at Leavenworth, they found out that Brad Wineman ’99 lived up the street. Thanks for the great update, Dave! I received congratulations on my marriage from Dr. Brad Coleman. He and his family are doing well. I received the same congratulatory note from Ante Sucic. Not much has changed with Ante – still working for General Electric, as he and his wife are raising their 2 kids. Finally I received a note from Dustin Devore ’94. No, he didn’t flame me; he asked how I convinced such a pretty girl to marry me. I told Dustin that is a valid question, and I’m still trying to answer it. My wife, Lizann, and I hope to make it to the VMI/William & Mary football game in September and hope to see the Devores. It was great to hear from Brad, Ante and Dustin. Out of the blue I received a note from John “Wayne” Newton ’97. For those of you who know Newt, he left VMI after his 3rd class year and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He rose through the ranks to become a Non Commissioned Officer and spent the majority of his enlisted career in 3rd Ranger Battalion at Ft. Benning, GA, home of the Infantry. Newt then applied and accepted an OCS billet and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry. Subsequently, he served as a Platoon Leader and Company

Class of 1995: Keith Jarvis ’82 and David Tillar on top of Third Barracks at VMI during their tour of the new construction.

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CLASS NOTES Executive Officer in the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. After a few combat tours in Iraq, Newt left the Army and moved to Texas. He is working in Houston in the energy industry and is married with 2 girls and a baby boy. It was great to hear from my old VMI friend. Thanks for the note Newt; your comrades in the Class of 1995 are proud of you. Apparently, Dave Mitchell was bored one day in June and sent an e-mail to see what some of us were up to. World traveler Scott Southall reported that he was in Panama for a wedding. Matt Russell was at a Blues Traveler concert in York, PA, and was disappointed with the crowd attendance but was happy about the price of beer. I responded by saying that I was reviewing the anemic performance of my sales team and that I was about to pull them all into my office and have a “Rats, meet your cadre” reenactment. Fred Werth said he was going to consider my technique with his sales team, and Rick Franco replied with “the good ole days.” It was pretty mindless VMI humor, but we all enjoyed it. I received a status check from Tom Danielson ’96. He left active duty from the Marines a few years back and was working as staffing and recruiting agent. Tom left that career and is now working as a sales rep selling medical and surgical equipment. We caught up using the LinkedIn web site. It was good to catch up with Tom. I finally caught up with Jeff “squirrel boy” Wright. He and his wife live in the Philadelphia area, and he works just a few miles from my home. He and his wife had recently returned from a 3-week vacation in South America. We are planning on getting together for dinner. Elsewhere in the Philadelphia area, Brian and Danna Williams are the proud parents of a new baby girl. Teagan Irene Williams was born on July 21st. She weighed in at 8 lbs., 2 oz. and 21 inches long. “Stick boy” reports that he has begun a new Ratline and that the M60 firing in Sally Port has been replaced with a tiny “I’m hungry” cry. Congratulations, Brian and Danna. Dan and I received word that the Kellner family has picked up and moved to the Chicago area. Brian and Courtney are living in the Highland Park/River Forrest area and are getting accustomed to life in the Midwest. They report that they can see Lake Michigan from their home and that the weather has been great. Their neighbors told them not to get used to it, because winter is a completely different experience. I also recommend not to get used to it, as Chicago was once my home. Make sure you take a good look at the lake in February, as it will be frozen. Cold takes on a whole new meaning.

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Also reporting on a new move was Arie and Becca Richards. Arie finished up his one-year tour in Providence, RI, and then relocated to Ft. Meade, MD. The Richards have 2 children, John and Caroline. Life is busy for the Richards, but they are all very well. Finally, Dan and I would like to thank all BRs who have made contributions and who continue to support VMI in annual giving. Your efforts are critical to VMI’s success. We continue to raise awareness and encourage 100 percent class participation. Please continue to write, and keep us updated with news and events.

’96

Rusty McGuire

It seems like I just wrote the last set of these updates, but here we go again. I guess it is true that time does go faster when you get older. Speaking of older guys, I heard from Sterling Sweeney who told me that, along with Cassle Adamson, they went to visit John Adams while he was working

for President Bush and received one of the personal White House tours. John makes a great tour guide, as he gave me one of the Supreme Court a few years ago. John and his family have finally returned to Richmond where John accepted a position as an Assistant United States Attorney. I am glad to see him working for the good guys. I also heard from Corrie Brice who, after a tour to Kosovo, decided to go on active duty. He is currently stationed at Fort Sill and is proud to train new officers in the B.O.L.C. I told him he probably is just reliving his days on the RDC and treating the new officers like he treated the Rats. I can still hear his voice echoing in the Barracks while I was trying to get some sleep. Chris Oakey saw that his daughter’s birth was mentioned in the last Review and filled in the details by telling me that Lucille Neely was born 21 December 2007 at his home in Richmond, Virginia. He said the birth was pretty surreal, because the midwife stuck her in a stocking and placed her under the Christmas tree for a photo op about an hour after she was born. Of course, now she is almost 8 months and just started crawling and pulling herself up onto things, much to the dismay of

Class of 1996: Golfing in Myrtle Beach were, from left, Bart Filipiak, Darren Maydian and Kevin Wampler.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES her older brother, Knox, whose toys have all had to be placed out of reach. Chris’ commercial construction company, CKO Construction, is now in its 5th year and clipping along swimmingly. He hired a superintendent at the beginning of the year, which has freed him up considerably to focus on other facets of the business and expand into larger projects. Every year has been better than the last, and this year is no exception, despite the economic downturn, he said. He is truly blessed in so many ways and hopes everyone else feels the same. As a soon-to-be parent of two, I know what he means. This summer has been a great opportunity for me to contact our Brother Rats. Trent McMillan ’98 is scheduled to get married on Labor Day weekend, and I will follow up in the next issue with the pictures. Coordinating schedules, flights and accommodations for Jekyll Island, Georgia, has been a challenge. I also ran into Darren Marting and Anthony Martin at our summer prosecutor conference in Virginia Beach. There are probably about 10-15 alumni who are prosecutors in Virginia, and with the addition of John Adams, we now have 4 in our class alone. ’96 leads the way. Anthony, who serves in Amherst County, was celebrating his anniversary at the conference with his bride, so I think he missed a few classes. Darren, who actually lives a few miles down the road from me, is working in Fredericksburg and truly enjoys being a prosecutor. At VMI, we used to talk about starting Marting & McGuire someday, but we both love prosecuting too much for that. I also had a chance to visit our past fearless leader and class agent, R. Christian Hoff, a few weeks ago. I had a meeting scheduled at the Pentagon, so I decided to go up the night before to have dinner with Christian and my Rat, Bill Steinbach ’99. Next thing I know, I am at a VMI event with Eli Wahesh, Peter Segersten and a number of younger alumni. Eli worked as an intern for Booz Allen over his summer break from grad school in NOVA. Pete is working the corporate chain in the computer world, and his wife, Cathy, occasionally lets him out to hang with the boys in NOVA. After Christian finally arrived, he decided we needed to head off to the marina and spend the rest of the evening on his boat. Christian is still enjoying the bachelor life in NOVA which is probably why he can afford those nice toys. After docking in Georgetown, more alumni arrived; John Amory Glaccum and Jason Ancarrow ’97 joined the fun. John is working his way up the DC law firm ladder and enjoys his post-Army career. While I don’t get the chance to go out much, I seem to run into Jason regardless of the city.

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I still have not figured out exactly what he does, but I want that job. Chris Noe told me that Melissa and the kids are somewhat settled in Heidelberg, Germany now. Chris is the deputy chief of the Logistics Automation Branch in the USAREUR G-4 now, and it is like drinking from a fire hose. He expects to be there for about a year, and then hopefully he should be able to move down to a brigade to be a battalion XO. He spoke with Paul Zackrison who is stationed in Germany as well, at Ramstein AB. He believes Zack is working on the USAFE staff, and Zack said something about deploying soon. I also heard from Darren Maydian who is still in Kingsport, TN, working with Pfizer as a senior therapeutic specialty rep. Translation: He sells antibiotics to hospitals in east TN. His family is doing well. His son, Carter, just started 2nd grade, and Riley will be 2 in November. His wife, Karen, has had her hands full this summer, as the interests of a 7-year-old boy and a 20-month-old girl are very often different. Keeping them both entertained has been a workout for her. They were able to go back to VMI in April to catch a baseball game doubleheader vs. Coastal Carolina. VMI split those games, but he said the former Patchin Field is easily the best venue in Virginia to see a ball game. He was very impressed with the new stadium and also with all the upgrades/renovations around Post. I laughed when he said, “You know you are getting old when the ‘new’ Science Building is being targeted for renovations.” Every summer, he has a Room 165 reunion with Bart Filipiak and Kevin Wampler. It has in the past been centered around a weekend on the lake, but this year they turned it into a golf weekend in Kingsport. Bart is a market development manager at Corning Cable Systems in Hickory, NC, and Kevin is a plant manager with Stanley Furniture in Martinsville, VA. Darren said both of them looked great. The group had a lot of fun – 45 holes of golf over 2 days and ensuring they stayed “hydrated.” He also said the Room 165 LowRoller Invitational is likely headed to Myrtle Beach next spring. I might have to join them for that trip. Ken McCoy shared some wonderful news when he told me that Tracy is pregnant and they are expecting their first child in November! He is really excited, and he still has a hard time believing he is going to be a dad! He will have a pic for the next class notes, and hopefully my son’s pic will be with his. He is still working with GE and the Navy Reserve and is looking forward to returning to see the changes Turner Perrow has made around Post.

’97

John Duckworth

Brother Rats, I hope you have all had a relaxing summer. It is amazing how fast three months can fly by when you’re trying to keep up with an active family and work a full time job. Thanks to all who have been in touch to let me know what they have been up to. I do my best to make sure no one is overlooked, but if I don’t hear from you, I have nothing to write about. Anyhow, I wish you all the best, and hope you are having a pleasant fall. Jared Wood wrote to announce that he and Tanya welcomed a new daughter into the family. Elizabeth Grant Wood was born August 14th, 2008. She and her mother are doing well, and Jared’s first daughter, Isabella, just turned 4. Phil Zoffuto had a cookout at his home outside Richmond where he was able to catch up with Rick Hezel, Matt Linderman and William Talley ’03, who are all living in the area. Phil reports that Blair Gregory is also well and is working on relocating to Virginia as well. I heard from Ed Ramatowski. Seems he heard the call of duty, and in November, he joined up with the Missouri Air National Guard as a chaplain. He has attended the Commissioned Officers Training Course and will be serving with the 157th AOG at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, MO. Ed Bonham is proud to announce his marriage on May 17th to Jessica Lynd. Jared Wood was there to perform the nuptials, and Matt Smith, Mike Russell, Noah Slemp, Joe Cofer ’96+1 and David Ross ’01 were all on hand to aid in the celebration. In addition to getting married, Ed has also been busy with the Fire Department. He recently attended the Virginia Fire Officer’s Academy. His department has grown from 4 to 40 officers in less than five years and will continue to expand as the area grows. Ed spoke to Ed Ramatowski a month or so ago, as he was in the process of finishing up USAF training for his officer and clergy schools. Jeremy King wrote to announce that he and Amy Cline got married on May 10th at Cypress Trees Plantation, Edisto Island, SC. Oliver Johnson and Andy Clark were groomsmen in the wedding. Jamie Jeter, Jim Rodgers and Scott McCormick were also there. After the wedding, the newlyweds went on a seven-day cruise through the Virgin Islands and stopped at San Juan, St. Marten and St. Thomas. If you ever want to go on a nice cruise, Jeremy recommends

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CLASS NOTES 1

Class of 1997 Photo 1: On May 10, 2008, Jeremy King married Amy Cline in Edisto Island, South Carolina. In attendance from the class of 1997 were, from left, Mr. and Mrs. King, Jamie Jeter, Oliver Johnson, Scott McCormick, Jim Rodgers and Andrew Clark. Photo 2: Chaplain Ed Ramatowski and two classmates at the Air National Guard Commissioned Officers Training Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Photo 3: Phillip Zoffuto with his daughter, Julia. Photo 4: Ed Bonham married Jessica Lynd on May 17, 2008. Attending were, from left, Noah Slemp, the groom, Mike Russell, Matt Smith, Rev. Jared Wood (celebrant) and Joe Cofer (’96+1). Photo 5: Mike Guarin’s sons, Benjamin and Timothy.

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CLASS NOTES taking the Royal Caribbean, Freedom of the Seas. Everything was perfect! Things are pretty much the same old, same old for Brett Ogletree. He is still working with the Federal Reserve in Richmond and still married to his awesome wife, Catherine. They just celebrated their son, Evan’s, first birthday with a little party at the house. The Hagan clan was also in attendance. Back in the beginning of June, they took a trip back to Lexington to do a little fishing on the Maury River. Jason St.Clair wanted me to let everyone know that he was sorry to miss the reunion last fall, but he couldn’t come because his wife had just given birth to their son, Bryce Harold, on October 4th. Bryce’s middle name, Harold, is after Jason’s father, Hal K. St.Clair ’63, who passed away in February 2007. Jason really appreciated what VMI did for his father’s funeral. Colonel Brodie (honorary alumnus and honorary BR ’92) played trumpet, and the glee club sang Shenandoah. It was by all accounts a superb performance. Jason has been recently been promoted to Continuous Improvement Manager, and he’s working in the Lean Initiatives organization at Areva NP, a nuclear fuel services company. Shelley Pridgen wrote in with an update. She and James recently had their second daughter, August Loftin, on Nov. 29, 2007. James also recently got a job as an Air Intradiction Officer with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. He’ll be flying various aircraft for them. His first duty station is Niagara Falls, NY. James has already begun work up there, and the girls and Shelley will follow once their house in VA sells. James is very excited about this job, as he gets to fly and carry a gun. So, it’s his dream job! George Mosby wrote to say that he is still in New York City working for the same company as Chris Berry. I got a call from Paul Bickford the other day. It seems he sent me a nice long e-mail a few months back with all kinds of good news in it, and I somehow neglected to include it in the spring notes. I’m not sure how I managed to miss it, but you all should know that I have never intentionally left out anyone’s news. That said, I’ll pay a little closer attention to make sure I don’t repeat the mistake. Anyhow, Paul says things are going well in his neck of the woods. His wife is due with their second child this November, and work with Ferguson still has him flying all over the country. Life is good, though. Not long ago, Paul had the opportunity to meet up with Matt Coley in Ohio (Matt also works for Ferguson). They had dinner together, and Paul held a Sales Training Seminar for Matt’s group in Streetsboro. Matt is the General Manager there and is doing well for himself. He

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has two kids, 6 and 8, and hunts deer whenever he gets the chance. Paul had recently spoken to John Newton who is now working in the private sector in Houston after spending 12 years with the Army. John has three kids and will be visiting family near Paul this summer; they plan to get together. Paul also ran into Pete Gagliardi who is running his own winery and has a pet cougar! Reports are that Dan Evilsizer is still in Korea running a bar that he owns, going to school at the University of Korea and traveling the world when he can. Oliver Johnson “OJ” wrote in to say that he is still happily married to “EJ.” They have 2 girls, Joy and Sara. OJ is still in the Air Force at Pope AFB, and it looks like they could be PCSing next year, but they won’t know where until October. OJ hosted the Cape Fear Chapter of the VMI Alumni Association for a BBQ and golf outing at Anderson Creek Club in Spring Lake, NC, in July. They had about a dozen alums show and had a great time! He and Andy Clark, Scott McCormick, Brad Pickelsimer, Greg Reynolds and Steve Strain are planning a trip to NYC for the final Yankees/Boston Red Sox game at Yankees stadium August 28. I can’t wait to get the report. I can’t remember the last time I saw Dan Rippy, but he wrote to say that he is a practicing attorney in the Chicago suburbs and is getting married August 30th to Deb Wendling, a local prosecutor where he works. He was previously employed as a prosecutor and legal counsel to the Illinois Senate before going to the dark side of the law and starting private practice last year. Congratulations, Dan. Brad Davis is still a helicopter pilot with the Marine Corps and is stationed out at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Brad has completed test pilot school and is now assigned to developmental testing of the new VH-71 presidential helicopter (Marine One) which will replace the Sikorsky H-3s at HMX-1 in the next few years. Garret Field sends greetings from Afghanistan and a photo from New Market Day at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Garrett was married on Dec. 10th, 2007 to Jada L. Lashomb of Clayton, NY, before he deployed and is looking forward to coming home, hopefully sooner than later. And finally, I just got a note from Mike Guarin. Mike has recently left his position as an investigator with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office to be an investigator with the Board of Bar Overseers of the Supreme Judicial Court. In a nutshell, he now investigates lawyers who are accused of professional misconduct. I’m sure he’ll stay VERY busy. Mike is still married and has two boys, Benjamin and Timothy.

Well, that’s all I have for now. I hope that’s enough to slake your thirst for another few months. Keep in touch. Stay Safe. In the Bonds … John

’98

Hamel Reinmiller

Editor’s Note: There are no class notes from the class of ’98 in this issue.

’99

Brad Wineman

I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer. I have to apologize for not keeping in touch, but it has been a busy few months here. I’ve left my job with the Army at Fort Leavenworth and taken a new position on the faculty of the Marine Command and Staff College at Quantico in July. It was all last minute, so I’m still catching up. I am indebted to BR of the Year Jochen Dunville for all of his logistical and mental sanity help in getting me settled in Virginia. Matt Irving has also been helping me out with my move but mostly through insulting e-mails. In the spirit of my new employer, I will begin with an update about the Marines from our class. Jason Berg is nearing completion of his deployment to Iraq as a transportation company commander. He has swung a sweet deal for his next assignment on Capital Hill with a Congressional Fellowship. Chris McGuire is also nearing his tour in Al Anbar with his company command. I also got a long note from Rich Hallett who is back in Iraq “yet again,” where he continues to blow up bad guys in his AH1-W Cobra and unsure of how many more times he will return in the future. On the Army side, I heard from Barry Williams who is settling into his new station at Fort Campbell, where he admits the humidity is “quite different” from Kansas. He and Fatina are expecting their second child in September. Dave Kaczmarek checked in from Fort Bragg, where he is working as a Civil Affairs Team Leader. He met recently with Jon Wright and wife Kerri who is expecting a new baby next year. From inside the box, Aaron Bush showed up on the radar, wanting to report to all of us that he is still “fighting the fight” on his deployment. I’m assuming somewhere in the Middle East but who knows for sure – he did not say. Back from Iraq, Woody Cromley is settling back into

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CLASS NOTES civilian life, ready to start a family and home. He does confirm that, yes indeed, classmates, John Deem is alive. Location and further details were not disclosed. I am assuming not in the same unnamed place as Aaron. In other Army Strong news, I got a note from Bill Steinbach who is working for Booz Allen in DC. He sees Tom Hanifen every once and awhile who is still E Co (Honor Guard) Commander in the Old Guard at Ft. Meyer. He also ran into honorary Brother Rat 1SG (retired) Percell Artis at a few Potomac River alumni happy hours. He is working for Booz Allen Hamilton as well. And with a smile, Bill informed us all that Rob Hardee enlisted as an MP in the Army Reserve recently and heads to Ft. Leonard Wood for basic and AIT in September. Our latest BR to carry the 1999 flag back to the faculty/staff of the Institute, Eric East began his duties this summer in Kilbourne Hall as an ROTC instructor at VMI. He says things are going well and that he enjoys seeing BRs randomly passing through on visits to Post, most recently Mike Nelson and John Boland. And our lone Navy representative this quarter, John Holmes, is in Baghdad as a mobilized reservist working at the Army C9 staff level in CENTCOM, doing civil affairs for the 304th CA Brigade. Babies, Babies, Babies. Brannon Howle and wife Ashley welcomed their first child, Lily Scott Howle, on May 14, 2008. He is working in Richmond where he meets regularly with

Wes Barrow and is studying for his August CPA exam. Kris and Scotty Burris gave birth on July 22 to a new girl, Addison Emily, and all are doing well. Andy Smith had his third child, Isaac Andrew, on April 24 to help keep his twin boys company. Andy reports that he runs into John “Johnny Mac” McMahon in downtown Bedford. BRs are even having kids out on the tundra. In Alaska, Wescott Bott and Anne Marie welcomed Reed Wescott Bott to the world on July 24. And defying Mother Nature, Old Man Jay Witt is now the father of new son Elijah Joseph born on May 13. Jay was hoping he would arrive on New Market Day to commemorate the battle that he fought in as a cadet in 1864. Heather and the baby are doing fine. From our BRs in the north, Mike Polhamus is still in Rochester, New York, with wife Jamie where he is staying in shape training for triathlons and playing on a few amateur soccer teams. Russ Roselle and family are still in Pennsylvania enjoying life, in spite of his claims that he has “no news.” Also surfacing in Yankeeland is ghost BR Chris Forbes who is now a special agent with the FBI working out of New York City. Apparently, Chris was a part of the Eliot Spitzer investigation – I am hoping not “undercover.” He has kept tabs on Chris Varner who graduated from the FBI Academy shortly after him and is assigned to New Haven, Connecticut. Apparently, V-Dogg made his reputation at the Academy as the “ex-Army guy who was going to run the normal route, turn

around and run it in reverse, and promised he’d still finish before the last runner.” Good luck to both of you fighting the world of evil. Burr Powell has started his own business, “Harrison’s of Leesburg,” doing clothing and wardrobe consulting. He also was helpful with this update: “Matthew Hart is good about sending in notes, but I do know that he’s doing a lot of road biking these days around WinstonSalem (trying to regain his VMI figure). Daniel Hendrix and his wife, Amanda, were married in Minot, ND, in April. The wedding party included myself and the best man, his brother, Philip Hendrix ’03. I got together for a cookout and poker night recently with Les Gould at his southside Richmond home, along with Jason Smith and Brian Culver ’98, and their spouses and kids. I was the only single guy there and ended up doing most of the babysitting, but truth be told, I was an enthusiastic volunteer. Jake Abell is also doing well in his business, which he claims is ‘booming,’ outside of Richmond. He keeps close tabs on Bill Gage and Ryan ‘Goose’ Bogese. Bill is still in the Secret Service and is expecting his first child, a son, in October. Goose is now single, enjoying the bar and nightlife and still working with Max Chance as a PE at an engineering firm in Richmond. He is also keeping in touch with Robbie Trent who is now in Lynchburg on recruiting duty.” Lastly, our BR Dan Payne has been selected by the Alumni Review for a feature article

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES regarding his work with the McShin Foundation in Richmond, which works with those recovering from substance abuse. Thanks for representing the class and VMI with all the great work you do, Dan. As you can see, the notes are getting slimmer. Please keep sending me information and updates on what you are doing and who you have been in contact with. I have changed locations, but the e-mail is the same. Best to all of you.

’00

Christian Arllen

Kelley and I have been busy lately preparing for the arrival of our first child. As of today, we are at T-10 days and counting, but you never know how the kid’s clock is set. As always, it is great to hear from all of you on the class e-mail list and those of you that shun the list server. If anyone is interesting in joining the list, drop me a line. Here is a bit of movement information: Conrad Bicknell is still flying FA-18s for the Navy at China Lake, living in Ridgecrest, CA. He recently spent some time with John Stewart in San Diego who was in the area for high altitude jump school. Conrad reports that Chris Coats ’97 is keeping busy as Dept. Head on U.S.S. Abe Lincoln. Miten Bhavsar is moving to Phoenix, AZ, and should be there by now. David and Sarah Hoffman moved to Henderson, NV (aka Las Vegas), recently where he is a Flight Test Engineer with the Air Force. He just finished Test Pilot school in June and had classes with Dave Hudock ’97 at the Air Force Institute of Technology. They have a two-and-ahalf-year-old girl by the name of Grace. Dave and Jen Merchan are the proud new parents of Elena Ivy, born July 12th. In September, Jeb Cox will marry his fiancée, Alisa. They are planning what sounds like an incredible honeymoon touring the Adriatic coast and several other interesting areas in the region. He is still involved with commercial real estate development in Houston. Tim Joyce recently moved to the area from Boston and also works in the real estate development sector. Jeb reports that Greg and Beverly Bosley also live in the area with their kids. Justin and Jackie Wood are doing well in Nashville, TN, and their daughter, Jordan, just turned one and a half. Tony Cerella is currently serving in Tikrit, Iraq, on an MiTT assignment working with the Iraqi army. He is working with Major CJ Mulligan ’96. Tony and Bethany are expecting twins soon. Bethany is in the Monument, CO, area,

2008-Issue 4

close to her family while Tony is deployed. Carl and Rachael Hammond moved recently to Columbia, SC, where Carl is working with Michelin. Their son, Carter, turned one and half this month. Pat Haddock mobilized with the Army Reserve to Afghanistan in June. He has run into a number of VMI alumni since arriving in country. His tour should be over in April, and he plans to return to work with Coca-Cola upon completion of the tour … hmm … caffeine. John Ferguson made it back just in the nick of time from deployment to be with Molly in July for the birth of twins Dean and Sophie. They are still in Rapid City, but a move to Texas to teach at B-1 school may be in the works. Matt Keller just finished a summer internship with DOJ in the Washington, D.C., area. He will be moving to Alexandria soon. It turns out that Matt and Rob Bowman ’03 were in the same Evidence class this past summer. Man down, man down, Tony Esteve is engaged; call a corpsman! Just kidding. Word is she is a great gal, and they are planning a wedding for the fall of 2009. Congratulations, Tony. Actually, Chris Lucas is on the short list as well with a wedding scheduled in September. Many happy returns to both of you. Paul Keeton and his wife, Chrissy, had their first child, Reagan Chace, in March. Congrats. They are living in Richmond where he is a VP with Dorsey, Wright & Associates. He reports that Craig Giorgis and his wife-to-be, Karen, will be stationed in San Diego after they are married. Congratulations are due to Rich Baltimore who graduated from Darden recently and now works for Clear Carbon Consulting. For those of you who love your Oreos, Don Ferguson is your man. I plan to put in my request for quadruple stuff double decker Oreos, now that I know he has pull with Kraft. The Fergs’ wife, Alicia, graduated from Richmond Law School this past May and is already practicing in estate planning. Well done, Alicia! Their daughter, Savannah, will start kindergarten this year. B.J. Arvin starts his first teaching job at Donovan Jr./Sr. High School in Donovan, IL this fall. He is teaching Business/Computer Ed, as well as coaching basketball and track. Joe Segar is still in Fredericksburg, VA, building a 30mm gun system for the Navy with GE. Tom Boyer and family moved to Seattle in January, working with SAIC in the aerospace world. It turns out that the VMI connection does work, as Hamid Abdurrahim ’09 is working for him as an intern. Micah North is still at ATK in Dayton and continues to move up the food chain. Bobby Kennedy recently changed assignments and now works in Programs & Priorities

Division at the Pentagon where he runs into quite a few alumni. He and Alicia are doing well, as are the kids. Bobby shared some wonderful news: his Rat, Rob Sarver ’03, became a SEAL recently. Way to go, Rob! Nicholas Harding also checked in with a raft of good news. He married Kristen a while back, and they had their first child on May 13th: Gabriella. They are living in the Colorado Springs area where he is in the natural gas business, having finished tours with the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. We seem to have a great deal of news regarding weddings and births, so it is fitting that I rap up with news about Lee and Jessica Nelson. They, too, are expecting their first child about the time of publication. Lee is still building and breaking large structures as the Lab Manager for the Structural Engineering Dept. at NC State.

’01

Jason Whitaker

Summer has passed, and autumn is finally here. I hope everyone is doing well, and I want to thank all of you for continuing to send me updates and photos about yourself and others. For those who were able to attend the VMI Alumni Family Day at Kings Dominion in early August, please let us know how much fun you had. Kudos also to Charlie Bunting for putting together a class gathering in Washington, D.C., on August 15. I look forward to getting pictures and information about everyone who was able to meet up during those events. Dawn and I will be in Folly Beach, SC, with some of the members of the infamous “dork squad” from GOTEL company. So, I’ll be sure to include a summary of how all those guys are doing. At the top of the submission list is the next big daddy in our class, Seth Ford. He and his wife, Sarah, are expecting their first child, a girl, in November. Seth will complete his ophthalmology residency in June 2009. So, if you are looking for a good eye doctor, I suggest contacting Seth. Congratulations to Eric Poole who married Rachel Elaine Rollo on June 14th, 2008, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Bill Fitzpatrick was Eric’s best man, Richard Bruce catered the wedding and John Krahling ’10 was also in attendance for a small reunion. Top Palmer was going to attend but couldn’t make it. Eric said Top and Rich share a very successful catering business at the Outer Banks (called Pigman’s BBQ). Top and Rich, be sure to thank Eric for plugging the

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CLASS NOTES restaurant, and for those who will head to the Outer Banks, keep them in mind when looking for a place to eat. Also, Eric is currently a writer for Harris Publication’s Tactical Group and writes about law enforcement agencies/ military units and their equipment in service of our country. He has articles in magazines every month on the newsstand, so keep an eye out! If you would like to read some of his published articles, search under his name on the Tactical Group’s web site at www. tactical-life.com. Rachel and Eric live in Chesapeake, Virginia. Speaking of classmates in North Carolina, Greg Martin moved to Charlotte in May 2008 and loves every moment of it. He is still working for the same engineering firm (AREVA) he has been with for the past seven years, which allows him more than his fair share of opportunities to travel to various nuclear power plants across the U.S. In June, Greg and his girlfriend, Caren Gandolfi, traveled to Haiti and did a week-long missions trip through their church in Charlotte. It was her second trip and his first time being there. Greg said it was a lasting experience which has forever changed his life. They worked many hours that week on various projects improving the living conditions (running water, showers, improved sewer, beds, passing out clothing/shoes, etc.) in an orphanage that is owned and run by a few of their friends. Greg said he ate more fruit and rice than he ever had in his entire life. He said they plan on doing more mission trips in the near future. Greg described the people of Haiti as absolutely wonderful but desperately in need of our support, love and prayers, since the country has so much widespread poverty and a desperate need for God in their lives. Good job, Greg; it is great to see examples of our class giving back to those who are less fortunate. By the way, I bet they all have a greater understanding of NASCAR thanks to Greg’s motor sports enthusiasm. Big thanks and welcome home to Jim Bourie and Fred Hair who recently returned from combat deployments in the Middle East. Eric Fromm also just returned from deployment and is preparing to take command of C Battery 3-27 Field Artillery at Fort Bragg on Oct. 2, 2008. Nicki Myers is currently deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan, with the Air Force OSI and is enjoying the mission. Congratulations to Songho Pak who is getting married to his fiancée, Janet Shin. His best man is David Nagel, and one of his groomsmen is Joe Wunder. Their wedding is on Sept. 6, 2008, in Richmond, Virginia. Eric Gannon is living in Phoenix, Arizona, with his wife. She’ll be finishing her residency at the Mayo Clinic in July 2009, and they’ll be

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moving to Nashville at that time. Eric has four months left on his masters in business administration (MBA) and is counting down the days. Eric left his job with Starbucks and is devoting all of his time to his on-line bookstore. Eric and John Niederhaus spent 11 days hiking 200 miles in the Sierras on the John Muir Trail. After several years in the Washington, DC, area, Derek Bogdon relocated to New England in early 2006 for a promotion with Covidien (medical device manufacturer). Derek is a district sales manager specifically working in the Nursing Care Division. Derek and his wife, Sara, celebrated their two-year wedding anniversary this past July at their home just outside Providence, Rhode Island. Brett Carter is back from his adventures in Africa and has completed his studies at the University of Chicago. Brett and his wife, Ana, have settled in the Boston area. Brett is working on a PhD in political economy at Harvard University, and Ana is in medical school. Brett advised me that if anyone goes to the Boston area, they should send him an e-mail, so he can introduce you to a few Harvard bars, which Brett said – while not quite as stodgy as one might expect – bear little resemblance to Spanky’s, the Palms or that other really nasty place by the gas station that served us when we were Third Classmen. Oscar Alfaro graduated with an MBA from Norwich University on June 13, 2008. While on campus, he was surprised to bump into John Koubaroulis who graduated with an MJA (masters in justice administration). Oscar also learned that Brady Allen ’00 graduated with his MBA from Norwich University. Melissa Williams is still in Maine working in a family practice office and happy to say she is enjoying not being a resident anymore. Melissa recently got her motorcycle license so she can enjoy the two months of nice weather in the great North. Melissa also spent a week in Cape Cod with Kelly Sullivan, Kim Herbert and Maria Vasile and had a blast. Melissa reported that Kelly is still doing the engineering thing with Time Warner Cable and recently got a raise. Kim is mom to a sweet black lab, “Malley,” and Maria is still an industrial hygienist with NASA. Ben Stanley reported his first class announcement after graduating the “I” from Loganville, Georgia, a suburb outside of Atlanta. Since leaving VMI, he met the love of his life and was married back on June 19, 2004, to Rebecca Marie McCullers of Melbourne, Florida. On December 7, 2007, Rebecca gave birth to their daughter, Ava Grace Stanley. Ava is doing well and is learning to crawl – low crawl, of course, as Ben described. Ben is the director of business development over North America for

Integrated Voice Solutions, a company that provides technology solutions for the health care industry. Ben recently met with Justin Prior, his wife, Amanda, and their son, Jackson, while they were visiting family in Atlanta, Georgia. Ben heard they are expecting their second child. Awhile back, Ben spoke with his old roommate Brian Wright, who is living in the D.C. area and is married to his wife, Jenna. Brian and Jenna have a daughter named Kenzie Wright, who is now 18 months. Well that is all I have right now. Thanks again to all those who sent in submissions. I definitely enjoy hearing from you and being able to publish your news in the Alumni Review. God bless all of those who serve our country and your families. Keep up the good work, class of 2001! Respectfully … Jason

Salmaan Khawaja

’02

Matthew Thompson

Brother Rats, I hope that this edition of the Alumni Review finds you and yours well as we enter the fall season. At least we don’t have to endure the “Dark Ages” of winter in woolies anymore! I recently visited Lexington and have been amazed at the progress of construction all across Post, including the new Third Barracks. For those of you who are unable to visit VMI these days, you can follow along with the construction progress at http://www.vmi.edu/ Construction.aspx?id=12823. I also wanted to pass along information about a wonderful book by Mike Judge ’01 entitled, The Jeep: A Story of the Virginia Military Institute, in which he chronicles the absolute best prank ever pulled off between VMI and the Citadel. (You may remember the Citadel Jeep paraded across our football field at halftime during our cadetship.) Those who participated in any capacity shall, of course, remain nameless! In addition, I believe Mike’s story really captures the essence of our experiences while cadets at the Mother I. Proceeds from the sales of his book go directly the Ryan Doltz ’01 Memorial Scholarship fund. For further information on Mike’s book, please refer to http://www. jmichaeljudge.com/index.htm. With regard to class notes, I wanted to first note that CPT Matt Thompson is recovering well from his recent accident, and we have all been praying

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES 1

Photo 1: John Pettry and his daughter, Shelby Elaine, on March 2, 2008. Photo 2: Steve Kolenich, Andrew Carbone, Gary Levenson ’80, Randy Heath ’84, Will Felvey, Brady Daniels, Adam Stanley-Smith, Jamie Dillon, Brandon Farris and Jones Felvey II ’50B. Photo 3: Eric Poole and Rachel Elaine Rollo on June 14, 2008, at their wedding in Outer Banks, North Carolina. Photo 4: In June 2008, Greg Martin went to Haiti on a church mission trip.

Photo 5: At Parker Reeves’ New Year’s Eve costume/engagement party, were, from left, Landon’04 Winkelvoss; Justin Harber; Jackie Winkelvoss; Jay Witt ’99 and his wife, Heather, Reeves’ fiancée, Jenni; Parker Reeves; Kacie and Chris Simpson; and Jason Whitaker. Photo 6: Maria Vasile, Kim Herbert, Melissa Williams and Kelly Sullivan in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Class of 2001

2008-Issue 4

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CLASS NOTES for and wishing him a full recovery. September (one week before the I recently heard from Brain Meadreunion). David Woody and his owcroft who let me know that he wife, Denise, celebrated the birth is back in Virginia. Brian recently of their first child, Jackson Bryce finished a successful icebreaker Woody, on June 5th. In their latest tour, and the Coast Guard has now family photo, David and young assigned him to VA Tech where he Bryce were sporting matching is beginning work on a master’s in “Don Johnson” attire. Bryan electrical power engineering. Brian Wacker and his wife, Andrea, just said that he is currently in a twoannounced that they are expecting year program and expects to be astheir second child in the April/May signed to Coast Guard Headquarters timeframe. Bryan wanted me to in DC in 2010. On the home front, send on his regards at the reunion, Brian got married at the end of July as he will be participating in a Cert in Seattle, WA, and his wife, Jean(SWAT) team competition with nine, is also moving out to Virginia his unit in the DC area. I ran into as soon as she finishes massage Matt Smith recently, who is living therapy school. Brian said that in Fredricksburg with his wife, Class of 2002: Joe and Brianne Williams with their first they’re looking forward to children Stephanie, and their two little child, Benjamin Brannock, born on May 5, 2008. in a few years after he completes girls, ages two and eight months. I school, and he is excited to spend also received an e-mail from Mike some long-term quality time with deMayo not too long ago. Mike his family. Brian also let me know that Dersaid he was looking forward to the reunion, and William Talley V rick Bodkin got the job with an environment although he is currently stationed in Iraq as an consulting firm and lives a few blocks away Army civilian contractor, he is taking leave in from him. They’ve got plans to explore the October, so he can make it to Mother I. Bill local hiking trails, as work and school allow. Talley told me that he ran into Adam Holloway Lesley Carney, proud wife of Sam Carney, in Richmond with his wife and baby girl. Adam Phil Kerns wrote me to let me know that Sam graduated is doing well and working for CarMax. Dave from Green Beret training in March and is set Narcum is married, living in Fairfax, VA, and to deploy to Afghanistan in January. Sam is curworking for a consulting company in the DC rently doing quite a bit of training in preparation area. Matt Waite is back from Germany, where for his deployment, and we wish him the very he was deployed with the Army, and is in the Greetings, Brother Rats! As I write these best of luck in his endeavors. DC area. Ryan King is stationed out at Camp notes, it is mid-August and our 5-year reunion Joseph Williams contacted me and works Pendelton with the Marines. Ed Donahue is out is less than two months away. By the time this in DC for the U.S. Department of Immigraof the Marines and looking to become a cop in article goes to print, most of us will have had tion and Customs Enforcement, Detention Massachusetts somewhere. Jason Annis and his the opportunity to catch up with each other. So, and Removal Operations Section. Joe and his wife, Theresa, are expecting their first child in our next installment should be more robust. In wife, Brianne, just moved to Montclair, VA. mid-September. Jason is still with the Federal addition, I would like to extend a big “thank Joe also (and perhaps most importantly!) let Reserve in Richmond and doing well. Keep the you” to all our company reps and our class me know that he and Brianne had their first updates coming, everyone! We’ve gotten a lot agent, who helped make our last (extra large) child, named Benjamin Brannock Williams. of great responses since the last installment of installment a success! I would also like to introBenjamin arrived on Friday, May 9, 2008, our class notes, and we appreciate your comduce our new company reps, Mark Carr (Alweighing 6 lbs., 15 ounces and in excellent ments. I’ve attached the e-mail addresses of our pha) and Marco Midence (F-Troop). Not much health. company reps at the bottom of these notes for evhas changed for me in the last few months. I’ve Adam Soller wrote in to note that he moved eryone’s reference. Until next time! Phil Kerns been stuck in northern VA all summer without back to Alexandria, Virginia, from sunny San Alpha: (Mark Carr) I am working as an any vacation, due to several work-related projDiego for a promotion with his company, Oxassistant men’s soccer coach at West Virginia ects, but it’s provided me a good opportunity ford Finance Corporation, where he provides University. I volunteered to do this a couple to train for my upcoming marathon in October. venture debt to biotech companies. days ago, so I apologize that I missed many Speaking of running, I recently met up with Lastly, I wanted to note that those of you members of Hardcore Alpha. I spoke with Dan McNair to run an 8K in Bethesda, MD, who have dropped a line to me have probably Brian Andrew who just completed his tour back in July. Needless to say, I tried to keep noticed how quickly these notes appear in in Kuwait and is working in Richmond for up with Speedy Dan but lost him somewhere the Review. I wanted to thank the staff at the W.M. Jordan. He mentioned that Aaron around mile two! We met up afterwards to chug Review for working so diligently and really Fegley and Matt DiVito are both at Fort Lee several (free) beers as part of the post-race fesmaking this process much more efficient. I in Captains Career Course. He also said that tivities. Dan was then off to India and Thailand would encourage all of you to e-mail me to Marc Motyleski got out of the Army and is for several weeks as part of his Georgetown touch base and let me know how things are now working in northern Virginia. I see Lars MBA program. Before he departed, I convinced going! I wish you and yours a wonderful fall Wagner often, and he is working for Perini Dan to join me in a team relay race from season. Corporation, managing contract completions Cumberland, MD, to Washington, DC, in late In the bonds … Salmaan for surveys on defaulted projects. After working

’03

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CLASS NOTES on projects in MD, CO and VA, Lars is now stationed in northern NJ but hopefully not for long. He has been in touch with Lara Tyler who is living in downtown Richmond with Stuart Chambers at the River Lofts. Lara is still running her construction management company, Tyler LLC, in Mechanicsville. Lara and Stuart have been preparing for the Richmond Marathon in October. Jennifer Dinneen is living in a suburb of Chicago working as an engineer for Underwriters Laboratories. She bought a house last year and spends most of her time working on her house and traveling. Will Belmont just moved into his new house in Winchester, VA, with his wife and newborn daughter. Rich Eytel is working as an instructor at the United States Naval Academy teaching navigation and is engaged to be married to his fiancée, Kristen, in February. Rollin Steele married Alexis Swift in 2006 and is currently serving at Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, as a captain. Steele told me that both Chip Hancock and Doug Barns are doing well as Marines. Craig (Keg) Blackwood moved to the San Francisco area a couple years ago and is currently working in private wealth management. He is also working on getting his CFA and becoming a Superhero. Please e-mail updates at carrmarka@hotmail. com. Bravo Company: (Bill Talley) There have been a lot of things happening since the last set of notes in May for Bravo. I spoke with Matt Brady who is down in the Chesapeake, VA, area running his family’s furniture store. He has a son, Luke, who is about 2 years old, and he

and his wife are expecting another child right around mid-October. Matt will be at the W&M game in Williamsburg, so shoot him an e-mail if you’re going to be there, as well. Ray McKay is also down in that neck of the woods, where he is stationed in Portsmouth, VA, with the Coast Guard as a lieutenant. Before arriving in Hampton Roads, Ray was in the international training area and visited over 30 countries, in addition to being stationed in Boston for 2 years dealing with maritime safety. I understand that John Tamborino has just gotten out of the Marine Corps after serving 3 tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a sniper. He is somewhere in the Washington, DC, area and still tossing back beers with Ed Donahue. Mel Ward is stationed down in North Carolina and is about to be deployed for her 2nd tour in October. Chaz Wagner is doing well in the DC area and must be thanked for helping me put together the “Bravo E-mail Distribution List.” If you are not on this list or getting e-mails from either Chaz or myself, please send me an e-mail so that we can add you to the list. This is one of the main ways we are getting information for notes. I don’t have visual confirmation, however, am told that Phil Hendrix is in the Richmond area and doing well. That’s about all confirmed items I have on Bravo currently. However, I do have some unconfirmed information that I am citing below; it may not all be true. I look forward to seeing everyone at the 5th in October and having a packed section of notes after that. If you’re up at any football games, look for me in front of Moody, tailgating, and feel free to stop by and have a beverage!

Class of 2003: Will Blanton and Chris Bluhm near Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Chris is stationed.

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Unconfirmed Intel: Jan Wierzbicki: Jan went back to Alaska after graduating and took up polar bear wrestling. You can see him on the Discovery Channel in the new series “The Alaska Experience.” Chaz Wagner: Drives a vintage 1980s “night rider.” Pierre Ngankeu: Pierre has taken over the kingdom of Cameron and has 20 wives. I would say he’s doing alright. Echo: (Matt McQueen) Mike Haag is still stationed in England with USAF and has been seeking ways to escape the dreary days in London for better time. As a result, he has been taking advantage of the EU train system by traveling with a few friends throughout Europe. In Germany, Mike hiked through the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and few others in the Balkans to include Kosovo. Despite Mike’s best efforts to describe his “hardship” tour as a backpacking-adventure, he insists everything was done in a very respectable, law-abiding, non-threatening manner (not sure how much we can really trust that comment). However, he did suggest for future reference that you should avoid any sort of rocking-out in an Eastern European bus – locals don’t respond so well to these actions. All in all, Mike enjoyed his time in the European Theatre and informed me that he will be returning to the U.S. and in contrast to rainy London, was able to score a slot in sunny Tuck-son, Arizona. His scheduled move would be right after New Year’s. Joe Voorhees has changed jobs and is now working for WorkFlowOne as an Account Executive. Joe has been enjoying the summer down on the beach and said the offer’s on the table if anyone’s in the area to give him a shout. Just remember, a nice gift of pens and pencils would be most welcomed and appropriate, as Joe will be taking donations for the upcoming reunion and any future efforts therein … right backatch’a, Joe! Got a great update from TJ Claytor informing me of his return from the Middle East where he was serving with his VA Guard unit. Just before his deployment to Kuwait, TJ and his wife, Holly, were married on June 9, 2007. They are currently living in Mechanicsville, VA, where TJ is an officer with the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, and Holly is the Director of Public Relations for the Special Olympics of VA. TJ was planning to get out of the National Guard in January and devote his full time to serving and protecting. I must admit, it’s a proud and special aspect of our class knowing how many of our BRs are serving this country in so many different capacities, but to know we have a significant number within the police/sheriff/state trooper

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CLASS NOTES force – our hats are off to you guys each day you’re out on the streets! (Just be kind to your BRs as we transit through! Please!) Per usual, Christopher Adams is high on life and loving Texas as always. After a five-year stint, Chris will be leaving his teaching position at Texas Military Institute and picking up a full-time job with the National Guard. From 15 August-30 September, Chris will be working at U.S. Army South and then starting in October, will pick up a one-year contract as the small arms master gunner of his battalion. Chris tried at best to describe his new position to me – the only thing I could picture was Chris in the back of a Ford pickup, cowboy hat/boots and with a mounted 50-calibre, singing “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon” at the top of his lungs! The only response I got was – “Well, let’s just say Andrew Alissandratos would be jealous!” Knowing Andy and his personal armory, I wouldn’t doubt it. Spencer Robbins’ job hunt after separating from the Army has landed him in Florida. Working with an investment research firm in Boca Raton, Spence has found his new home in sunny south Florida. He did admit to taking a few trips and bearing witness to the South Beach spectacle but has wisely convinced himself to avoid any future returns and says that Boca Raton is just alright for him! Congrats, Spence! Congratulations to David and Denise Woody on the birth of their son! We are all looking forward to seeing your boy in October! Dave and Denise gave birth to Jackson Bryce Woody on 5 June 2008, 8lbs/1oz, 20.5in! We are all looking forward to congratulating you and Denise in person – all the best, my brother. In addition, Dave informed me that he has relocated from Ft. Campbell and is stationed at Ft. Knox attending the Career Course. Good luck, Dave! Golf Company: (Doug Warner) First off, thanks to everyone for their VERY POSITIVE feedback on the most recent edition of Class Notes for ’03!! I’m glad to know the hard work of everyone really paid off and was well received by the class! CPT Jared Hull contacted me to let me know he is doing well in Iraq, serving with the Army, and plans to be at the 5-year reunion in October. I also heard that CPT Chris Bluhm is enjoying his stay at the Army’s Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and apparently ran into LTJG Will Blanton, who is out there serving with the Navy. Chris’ mom sent us a picture of the two of them in front of some Navy ships, which you can see in this edition of the Alumni Review. CPT Josh Gonzales is still working for Homeland Security in Washington, DC, but recently went down to his home state of Louisiana for some Army Reserve duty training. I got a great

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e-mail from Andy Reel, where he informed me that he was married on August 7, 2004, to Elizabeth Apgar from Roanoke, whom he met the summer before his 1st class year. They now live in Lynchburg, VA, where Andy is the Director of Manufacturing for Boxley Block LLC. On April 28, 2008, Andy and his wife gave birth to their first baby, a boy named Walker Morris Reel, who weighed in at a whopping 8lb 10oz, and was 21.5 inches long … sounds like a future VMI Football player to me! In fact, Andy told me that Walker already has a provisional appointment with the Class of 2030! Andy couldn’t be prouder and said that being a dad is an amazing experience. Please see the picture of Andy holding Walker included with this edition of the Review. Recently, on August 9, 2008, Kyle Padgett was married to Ms. Katie Mackintosh of Norfolk, VA. I had the pleasure of attending the wedding, where I got to catch up with Tommy Baldwin and Josh Bandy. It was truly a great time, and many “Old War Stories” from VMI were told late into the night! Kyle and Katie were heading off to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, for their honeymoon and then will be living in Norfolk. We wish them the best of luck in their new marriage! Finally, James Kuhn and his wife, Holly, have recently moved to Oklahoma, which is where Holly (now Dr. Holly Kuhn) will complete her medical residency and where James intends to go to Seminary school. As for myself, I’m still living in northern Virginia. So, if you’re passing through, send me an e-mail and feel free to stop by for a visit. Please send all of your updates on Golf Co. Brother Rats (as well as any other BRs

Class of 2003: On April 28, 2008, Andy and Elizabeth Reel welcomed Walker Morris into the world, weighing in at 8 lbs., 10 oz. and 21.5 inches long. – I can always pass them to the right Company Rep.) to my e-mail, which is doug03notes@ gmail.com. I’ll see you all at the reunion in October! Your Golf Company representative, Doug Warner. Hotel Company: (Rob McLean) It’s been a busy summer for the Hotel crew, most notably in the marriage department. Allen Maxey, Matt Keck, Kyle Pfeiffer, Jason Lambert and Garth Best all tied the knot since the last update. Matt’s wedding included two ceremonies, one Christian and one Sikh (Indian) for the family of his wife, Komal. Matt rode into the Sikh ceremony on horseback wearing a pink turban and full Indian garb. Garth’s wedding took place in Chattanooga, TN. Much to our delight,

Class of 2003: Kyle Padgett was married in Norfolk, Virginia, on Aug. 9, 2008. In attendance were, from left, Josh Bandy, the groom, Tommy Baldwin and Doug Warner.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Dave Walker made a surprise appearance, and we all danced the night away. In honor of Garth’s new father-in-law, Hugh Hopkins ’69, and several of his Brother Rats who attended the wedding, Matt, Jason Boncher, Danny Goldberg and I led the entire reception in an Old Yell for the Class of 1969. Garth was thoroughly embarrassed … Mission Accomplished! Kyle married his wife, Jennifer, in July. Jason Lambert and Bonch were both groomsmen in the wedding, and Kyle’s brother, Grant Pfeiffer ’07, was the best man. Daren Williams, Tom Bliss, Will Johnson and Jason Lambert were all in attendance at Allen Maxey’s wedding. I’ve recently heard from other Hotel Brother Rats who weren’t mentioned in the last Alumni Review. Nicolette Weaver recently got out of the Marine Corps and is taking a job with the State Department in Washington, DC. Shawn Herrick is in Afghanistan until December and will be stationed in Germany after that. Dave Bull recently joined the Army as a Chaplain’s Assistant and is stationed in Korea. Joe Pederson and I landed safely in Charlottesville in late July and will begin at The Darden School at UVa this fall. If anyone is sliding through the area or knows of any of our Brother Rats who might be attending UVa, please give me a shout. Band Company: (Steve Nakazawa) Not much has changed since the last submission. I’m still working in management consulting and living Arlington, VA, with Marco Midence. I finished my first semester and a summer term in the MBA program at George Mason University, and now I’m getting ready for the fall semester. Jason Boatright just returned from his tour in Bahrain and will be a Company Commander in Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 in California. Jason will be deploying in late December, heading to Japan for seven months. David Burdette is still doing well in Atlanta. David recently hosted AJ Schmaus and Vadim Simakhov (and their wives) at Fripp Island, SC, for the 4th of July holiday. There was beach, booze, cigars, Charleston and good fun all around. He is also happy to report he is playing more golf, and business is booming. He is currently working on several large ESOP deals. Jordan Fox is in Omaha and just accepted an offer with TASC (a Northrop Grumman subsidiary) and is looking forward to starting that. Miheala Froelich (Guberovic) tells me that her daughter, Mila, is now a climbing, walking, running, water-loving and fearless toddler. She has just finished teaching a summer term at Duke and will be teaching calculus at Duke in the fall. She and her family will most likely be leaving for Heidelberg, Germany, in May 2009. Sam LaGrone will be moving to the DC area in September to be a writer for the Air Force Times. Curtis Nieboer is now living in the

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northern VA area and working at the Office of Naval Intelligence. He will start on his master’s in Military History at George Washington University this fall. John Noonan is still stationed out in Cheyenne, WY, with the Air Force. Greg Shpunder is still in upstate New York working for Cintas and is set to take the GMAT and apply to MBA programs. The following are e-mail address for all company contacts: Phil Kerns – KernsPD@aol.com; Mark Carr (Alpha) - carrmarka@hotmail.com; Bill Talley (Bravo) - wht5@whts.com; Brandon Matthews (Charlie) – matthewsbr@yahoo.com; Blake Traina (Delta) - coltran03@yahoo.com; Matt McQueen (Echo) – Matt03Notes@gmail.com; Marco Midence (FTroop) – blkhrtprocession@ yahoo.com; Douglas Warner (Golf) - douglas. warner1@gmail.com; Rob McLean (Hotel) rob.mclean03@gmail.com; Steve Nakazawa (Band) - steve.nakazawa@gmail.com

Ryan Shealy

’04

C. Justin Roberts

Hey, Brother Rats! We sit here at the end of summer [August 2008], and it’s hard to believe that yet another three months have gone by. What’s even more difficult to comprehend is that by the time you read this, it will be less than a year from our five-year reunion. I have already had a lot of volunteers step up and offer their help when it comes to the planning, but if you have any suggestions, please don’t hesitate to let me or Justin know. Tentatively, keep the weekend of Oct. 9, 2009, open. More info to come later. OK; let’s get this thing rolling. I ran into Scott Campbell out and about in Richmond, which seems to be the place to run into fellow alumni, and we were able to catch up for a few minutes. He let me know that while he was at Ft. Sill for BOLC II, he was able to hang out with Rich and Devon Connaroe and Jim and Scarlett (’05) Bean. Rich has been accepted into the Army’s JAG program and will start school at UVa when he gets back from Iraq next year. He is currently in Kuwait. Devon and the kids have moved back to Virginia and are looking forward to having Rich home. Scarlett was home on leave from Iraq, and just before Scott left Sill at the begin-

ning of March, Jim got new orders back to Iraq. After Ft. Sill, Scott reported to Ft. Knox for Armor BOLC III after leaving Ft. Sill. He ran into George Cushman and Nate Joslyn while he was there. Both of them were in the captain’s career course. Campbell finished up Armor BOLC III on the 20th of June and bought a house in Sandston, VA, while he was gone and extends the offer to anyone passing through to stop on by and have a cold one … or five. Now, Scott’s back working for the Richmond Police Dept. and is looking to join their EOD team and maybe eventually transfer to Internal Affairs. Joel Andrus and his wife have a house in Norfolk now, but he is in Richmond quite a bit. He is still working for Kemper Consulting, Inc. Joel tells me that John Cobb is out of the Navy working for a defense contracting company in Alexandria. Chuck Karamon is teaching in Indianapolis, IN. Joel also ran into Adam Halstead back in May, who is also living in Norfolk in school to become a harbor pilot. Joel let us know that Mike Gregory is a police officer in Lynchburg, not in Harrisonburg as Justin and I had reported earlier. People are coming out of the woodwork for this one! We got an e-mail from Alex Nicoloff telling us about his life up in New York City, where he has been since graduation. Alex works for a primary research firm on Wall Street and has been with this firm for about a year. Prior to that he was with an investment management firm called AllianceBernstein for a little over three years. Andrew Cunningham is still in NYC, and he is currently working for NBC. Also, Shore Stokes from 2005 is there, and he and Alex actually work in the same building. His brother, Kirk, is working for the same company (Bowne) as Shore, but he is based in Hong Kong right now. Alex’s old roommate, Ryan Consaul, wrote in to say that he’s recently been promoted to senior analyst in GAO and is now working on homeland security and justice issues. Alex and Ryan are headed out to San Francisco on Labor Day to have a roommate mini-reunion with Matt Sharpe, who I also randomly saw in Richmond while suit-shopping for a wedding and who is, if I remember correctly, engaged to his Ring Figure date, Alexis Chisolm. Dave Harris is happy to report his wife is pregnant and is due in January. He’s on his fourth year at IBM and lives in Vienna, VA, now. His old roommate, Josh Powers, is back from his second tour in Iraq and is enjoying more time with his family and son, Patrick. Jon Dumas is doing well and living in Massachusetts with his wife and daughter, Lilly. Chip Satterlee has been deployed back and fourth between his unit in Afghanistan and the states as their chaplain. Josh Powers let me

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CLASS NOTES know that he finished his last deployment in May and has been hanging out with his wife and son, Patrick, at Fort Benning for the past couple of months, like Dave said. Patrick turned 1 on the 29th of July, and Josh was very glad to be home for it. He took advantage of some down time and finished up Pathfinder School and will be headed to the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course at Benning in September. After the career course, they’ll PCS and get ready for company command. Chris Russo is down there, and they have gotten together a few times. Tim Price is down there as well, but Josh hasn’t had the opportunity to see him yet. Eric Waters is very proud to announce that he and his wife are expecting their first child in January! He is still flying UH-1H as an instructor pilot for the U.S. Air Force. Eric has been flying a lot of night flights and racking up the instructor hours. Matt Vogel is getting married on August 23rd, which is my birthday. It’s a great date, Matt – haha! Ryan Walker is back in Richmond working at a very good law office. He and Becca bought a house somewhere in or close to Richmond. Rob Wilson is at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, and has completed his Combat Rescue Officer Training. Mark Hamilton is now on his second deployment to Iraq flying the MH-53 Pave Low. He will be transitioning to the CV-22 Osprey in the December time frame. As far as my fellow EEs go, Josh Wright and his wife are saying “Aloha” to life in Hawaii, and he will be an instructor at the Prototype in Ballston Spa outside Saratoga Springs for the next two years. Ed Cooper has someone to pass on his “TI-89 of Justice” to now. He and his wife, Erin, welcomed their daughter, Emily Ashley. I still talk with Chris Johnson and Matt York every now and then … work gets in the way of e-mailing – haha! Not much to report, unless you count all the random jokes we send back and forth to each other to keep us entertained. To account for the other two, no word from John Puvogel or Dave Smit; hope they’re doing well! Jim Bean had a lot of updates for me this time around. He’s currently in Baghdad and set to

come home in November. Scarlett, however, won’t be back until July. I know they can’t wait to have some quality husband/wife time together. (Editor’s Note: See article about the Beans in the OEF/OIF section of this Review.) On New Market Day, there was a barbecue in Baghdad with Scarlett Bean ’05, Cy Dekeyser ’02, Matt Swanson ’92, Charles Leggett ’93 and Scott Bartholomew ’06. Kit Rauh and LTC John Parrott ’88 planned to attend, but as often happens in Iraq, other things came up at work. Jim sees Kit Rauh every other weekend or so, as they are in different camps of the same FOB in Baghdad. He is a battalion Intelligence officer in the 101st. He has made it his mission to get only one haircut a month there and still wears his First Class Private belt with his ACUs. He is planning to get out of the Army at the end of this (his 2nd) tour and become a teacher in either Virginia or Tennessee. Bean also said that his old roommate, Chipper Woodruff, was made the executive officer of his unit (C-17 unit in the Mississippi Air Guard). He hangs out with his “big gray girlfriend” a lot, flying back and forth from Iraq to Germany and the States. Jim thinks he had a recent mission to Hawaii. I heard from Jake Reisch, just in time for the update. He is still enjoying his job as a state trooper and has been certified to train other troopers when they first graduate (FTO –field training officer). Jake’s getting anxious to move on to the Federal sector, and in regard to that, he is slowly but surely working his way through the application process with the U.S. Secret Service. He has been in for an interview so far and passed the entrance exam and is now basically waiting for the lengthy background investigation to pick up. He thinks he may have a decent shot of being able to work in the DC area with them or even Richmond, if he’s really lucky. So, we’ll have to see how things pan out. Jake and his wife have enjoyed a full year in their house and will be married a year in October, which is crazy to think about. Oddly enough, he also ran into Scott Campbell but, this time, when he was in the U.S. Secret Service office. Jake had got off the phone with

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Brian Trueblood the night before he sent me the update for their weekly (or so) conversation. He is officially out of the Marine Corps and is engaged to Clara, his high school sweetheart. They managed to survive 4 years at VMI together and 2 tours to Iraq and now have decided to take the plunge. No talk about wedding dates or other plans, but it will most likely be in Pittsburgh where they are both from. As for Brian, he recently got into a nursing program at the University of Pittsburgh to get his RN and become a trauma nurse. It’s alright to call him “Gaylord Focker,” because Jake has been since he proposed the idea to him a couple months ago. Jake knows from Brian that Eric Damon turned in all his gear in CA, where his final duty post was for the USMC, and headed to Las Vegas for a week with his girlfriend as a celebration of his newfound freedom. Hamilton Bice officially graduated from medical school in WV in May and has received his residency location in Newport News, luckily at the same hospital as his wife. Matt Mikula and Reisch went out for beers recently for “Steal The Glass” night at Capital Ale House in Midlothian and caught up. Jake ran into him the beginning of the summer, because while on summer break from William and Mary law school, he is working in the Commonwealth Attorney’s office in Chesterfield County; so they crossed paths at work. He is loving law school but kind of ready to be done with all the studying that goes along with it. JB Rosson married his fiancé, Summer, on July 26th. John Ginder, Justin Roberts and a bunch of other guys were there. Wish I could have been, but I was on a cruise through the Bahamas for another friend’s wedding. Sorry, JB. Sean “Leroy” McElroy, Gary Cutler, Kevin Strait and Drew Hardin are all in the same FOB (Rustamiyah) in Iraq right now. Jon Rushin is at Camp Victory. Leroy talked to Jon Davis a while ago. He was at Taji, but I do know he was ready to get his own company command. Once Leroy gets back from Iraq, he should be done with the Army. So, pretty much right now until he gets out, he’ll be job hunting and playing poker. He also talks to Morgan Harris and Bodenheim every once in a while and reports that they’re both doing well. Vinny Laorenza will be finishing up his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from UVa in the next few months, and Natasha Davis recently finished her master’s degree in engineering management from ODU. They’re both still working for SAIC in Alexandria, VA. Since it’s been a while, Vinny plans to drive through Lexington and visit the “I” in August on his way to a softball tournament in Salem. Vinny talked to Rory Miller recently, and he’s doing well in CT, hoping to eventually take the reigns

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES of his family’s aerospace industry manufacturing company. Lastly, but definitely not least, we have a few more babies in the class! - Jason Brinkmoeller and his wife welcomed their first daughter, Hartley Rae, on July 30th. - Noah Diehl and his wife had their second daughter in July. - Dave and Stephanie Bruton had their second daughter, as well, Anastasia Elizabeth, on June 10th. Justin and I both just want to thank everyone who submitted updates for this edition. We really wouldn’t be able to do our jobs without your participation. If you have a free minute, go to the VMI Alumni Association’s web site (vmialumni.org) and sign up for the VMI Ranks. It’s a great way for us to be able to get in touch with you to make sure that we get as many updates as possible for each Alumni Review. In the Spirit, Ryan Shealy and Justin Roberts

Timothy Johnson

’05

William Ray

Brother Rats, It’s been a while since our last set of class notes and I apologize for those growing frustrated over the lack of news for the Class of 2005. Recently, Will Ray and I took over the Class Agent role from Jon Proctor who could no longer fulfill the role due to the demands placed on him at Ole Miss Law School. The last several months have been quite busy for the members of 2005 as Brother Rats have gotten married, received promotions, earned graduate degrees and have had children, and I send my congratulations to all of you. Perhaps the greatest shock was meeting our Rats’ Rats at football games this past season and then witnessing our Rats graduate this May. It was great heading back to VMI this May for graduation week and running into many members of our class who had come from all over to take part in the week’s festivities. In April, I had the privilege of traveling to Atlanta, Georgia, to witness the marriage of Ashley Gurganus to Jay Coleman. A sizeable Keydet contingent was on hand for the weekend’s festivities. Will DeShazor and Donnie Barbaree served as groomsmen and Brian Gorski and Brandon Wheeler headed up a saber arch for the couple’s entrance to the reception. Other VMI men in attendance were Ryan King,

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Marc Lyons, Shore Stokes, Andy Karnes, Ben Melton, Chris Johnson, Jason Downs, Alex Boykin, Jed Messina ’08, Zach Carmen ’08 and father of the groom, Colonel John Coleman ’77. After a great wedding and even better reception, we all agreed that Jay’s wedding was to be the standard by which we will judge all the other weddings to come. Jay and Ashley are living in Jacksonville, North Carolina, as Jay is flying Cobra helicopters for the Marine Corps out of MCAS New River at Camp Lejeune. Marc Lyons is still living down in Charlotte and working for Bank of America as an eCommerce/ATM Operational Risk Specialist. About two years ago, he purchased a home in the area, and he currently lives with Dick Litwin and his dog, Chuck-hustle. Just recently, Mark proposed to his girlfriend, April Bunn, and she said yes. Mark said April is “very excited and has already set the date for the wedding – June 13, 2009.” On the sports front, Marc and Dick are making their impact felt on the Cornelius Parks & Recreation Softball League as their team, the RJ Gators, won the regular season and tournament championships in 2007. Chances of a repeat in 2008 were greatly hindered when the league commissioners suspended Dick Litwin for three games due to illegal overhand high and tight pitches, which are prohibited in the underhand co-ed league. Litwin was unable to comment on the suspension by the time notes went to press. Duke Acors and Will DeShazor made it up to Charlotte for Dick Litwin’s birthday and to participate in the 1st Annual Dick Litwin Best Ball Classic. Due to a well-thought-out strategy, Duke’s team was carried to victory on the shoulders of his date that weekend who was a former college golfer. Will DeShazor had to withdraw from the weekend’s festivities due to an urgent matter concerning his girlfriend’s mother’s toy poodles When Duke and Will are not golfing or grooming show dogs, Duke works in management with APM terminals, and Will works in management for Norfolk Southern, both in Charleston, South Carolina. This past Memorial Day weekend, Marc and few other Brother Rats made their annual pilgrimage to the NASCAR races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. As expected, a great time was had by all who came, and Marc encourages others who are interested in going next year to contact him. Brian Gorski finished up his second tour to Iraq with the Marine Corps in April and assumed command of CI/HUMINT Support Company for Second Intelligence Battalion. Currently, he is stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Shore Stokes is still working in New York for Bowne & Co., a financial telecommunications firm, and has moved over to Sales. In early August, he made a trip down to Savannah,

Georgia, to welcome back Ryan Murphy from his deployment to Iraq. After spending his first two years following graduation in New York City working with Bowne & Co., Kirk Stokes accepted a position in the company’s Hong Kong office and is beginning his second year overseas. He works as a projector coordinator for the IPO team and travels to the Tokyo and Singapore offices frequently. In March, he and Shore met up “halfway” in Italy. He anticipates remaining in Hong Kong at least until July 2009, but he should make it back stateside to visit for the Christmas season. Kirk isn’t the only 2005 Keydet in Hong Kong, as Austin Cam works for the Goldman Sachs Hong Kong office as a Derivatives Analyst. Ryan King is still living in Houston and attending South Texas College of Law in downtown Houston. He has one year left before he becomes a licensed attorney. Over the Fourth of July he met up with Andy Karnes, Ben Melton, Alex Boykin and Nate Johnson in Austin, TX, where they spent the weekend on a party boat on Lake Travis. At the end of August, Andy, Ryan and Ben met up at Lake Charles, Louisiana, for a weekend at the L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort to see Ben off as he leaves Texas for Georgia. A report of the weekend will be in the works for the next class notes. Ryan also added that “the men of C-28 will be in Lexington the weekend of November 8. Maybe we’ll see you there.” Alex Boykin moved to Abilene, Texas, this past summer to Dyess AFB from Little Rock AFB where he is flying a C-130 aircraft. Andy Karnes and Ben Melton returned from a 14-month deployment to Iraq last February. They were stationed at Ft. Bliss in Texas but lived in Austin, Texas. Andy is in the process of deciding what the next move is, since his initial commitment to the Army will be nearing completion. In August, Ben moved from Texas to Ft. Benning, Georgia, for the Captains Career Course. He will be staying on for a few more years with the Army, as he was sent to the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) and passed in May. Danny Fields also successfully completed SFAS with Ben, and the two will begin the Q-Course in 2009. In addition, Andrew Troy, Eric Huggard, Nick Viar and Phil Sauls were also invited to SFAS. Jason Downs is living in Snead’s Ferry, North Carolina, along with Brother Rats Joe Amaral and Tony Iliadis. Joe and Jason are currently with the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion and are actually on the same team, as Joe transferred out of the 3rd Recon Battalion into the 2nd. The two left at the end of August on what should be a 7-month MEU to the Mediterranean. Jason said the three are having a blast sharing a house near the beach and that Tony seems to be enjoying life as a “fat, supply Lieutenant.”

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CLASS NOTES At the end of June, I headed up to northern Virginia for Jim White’s wedding. He married his long time girlfriend, Whitney Gurganus, a Radford alumna, in a ceremony at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 28, 2008. Rob Williams and Brant Wilkins served as groomsmen, while Nate Smith and Matt Wilkins served as ushers. Other Class of 2005 members present were Ben Melton, Jason Downs, Jarod Wheeler, Sean Matson and his wife, Casey, and Colin Alstad The reception was held at the Fort McNair Officers’ Club in Washington, D.C., and we all had such a great time that we went out afterwards to a bar in Old Town Alexandria to continue the celebration. Following Jim White’s wedding weekend, I had the opportunity to catch up with Andrew Troy in Richmond who was back for two weeks from Iraq, as he is on a 15-month deployment to the region and should be returning in October 2008. Sean Moore and Chris Johnson also came into town that weekend to see Andrew, and we had a great evening of drinks and sharing old war stories in the Richmond Fan District. Sean currently resides in Inwood, WV, and is working for James River Equipment as a Sales Coordinator. Chris completed his master of science degree in Exercise Science at Georgia Southern University in May

2007. Following graduation from GSU, he went to work for a physical therapy office working between Greensboro and Atlanta, Georgia. This summer, he joined the Army Reserve and is attending the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia, on the Army’s Health Professions Scholarship Program. He welcomes anyone living near or traveling through the Augusta, GA / Aiken, South Carolina, area to drop him a line. Andy Cochet just finished a temporary duty assignment (TDY) down at Eglin AFB in Florida, where he ran into Allan Coones and sends the following report: “He [Allan] was stationed there working in satellite tracking for the Air Force. We had a good time down at Ft. Walton Beach before my TDY ended. Recently, he crossed over into the Army and is now on his way to a gauntlet of schools including Ranger school and Airborne. He recently married before leaving Florida. This past May, I attended Matt Dussia’s wedding in Virginia Beach, VA. He wed the former Miss Lauren Atwood. In May, Matt graduated from seminary at Regent University with a master of divinity degree. He is currently in the Air Force Reserve and is pursuing ordainment. It was a great weekend. VMI alumni in the wedding party included David Carroll, Doug Dobbins and me. That weekend,

I crashed with David Carroll and his girlfriend, Ling Ling. David recently completed a master’s program at the University of Virginia in chemistry and is currently living in Washington, D.C., working for a patent firm. He compared it to “studying chemistry but without the tests.” As it turns out, Ling Ling (an attorney for the U.S. Mint) is actually working under my aunt at the Treasury – small world. Doug Dobbins is close to graduating from seminary in Boston, as well. He was the best man in Matt’s wedding. He did a great job coordinating everything and gave a very heartfelt speech at the reception. Also in attendance were Dan Harrison, Jon Cirillo, Ted Henderson, John Sakaleros and Brian Tuohy. As for myself, I am finishing my last couple of months as a medical student at the Uniformed Services University of Health Services (USUHS). With any luck, I will be delivering babies and all that good stuff come June. Mary Kathryn Osborne ’06 and I got engaged on December 27th – we are planning our own wedding for the not-too-distant future. We plan on having Rev. Matt Dussia preside over the ceremony.” David Carroll also added that Matt will start a teaching job in Chesapeake for this academic year. John Sakaleros sends greetings from across the pond in Greece. His work is keeping him busy, and he is trying to

Class of 2005 Photos (See next page)

Photo 1: Jay Coleman married Ashley Gurganus on April 19, 2008. Attending were, from left, standing, Jed Messina ’08, Chris Johnson, Jason Downs, Tim Johnson, Zach Carmen ’08, Brian Gorski, Jay Coleman, John Coleman ’77, Ben Melton, Shore Stokes, Ryan King, Andy Karnes and Marc Lyons. Kneeling: Christian DeShazor ’04, Donnie Barbaree, Will DeShazor, Alex Boykin and Brandon Wheeler. Photo 2: Congratulating Brother Rat Gibson on receiving his VMI diploma on May 16, 2008, were, from left, Chris Perry, Jim White, Greg Staat, Eric Kaltrider, Jim Driggs, Derek Rankin, Rob Gibson, Jeff Durham, Tim Johnson, Jason Downs and Greg VanPelt. Photo 3: Joe Amaral and Jason Downs during field training with the USMC 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion in May 2008. Photo 4: Welcoming back Seth Parker from a 14-month tour in Afghanistan on Aug. 7, 2008, in Richmond, Virginia, were, from left, Greg VanPelt, Alex Boykin, Tim Johnson, Jason Downs, Joe Amaral and Parker.

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Photo 5: Jim White married Whitney Gurganus on June 28, 2008. In attendance were, from left, Chris Lomicka ’08, Chris Lohr ’08, Rob Williams, Ben Melton, Tim Johnson, Jason Downs, Colin Alstad, Andrew Reavis ’09+3, Nate Smith, Brant Wilkins, Jarod Wheeler and Matt Wilkins. Kneeling: The newlyweds, Jim and Whitney White. Photo 6: Capt. Scarlett Collins Bean, USA, turning over command of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company 168th Brigade Support Battalion after a successful 14-month command. (See article on Bean and her husband in the OEF/OIF section of this issue.) Photo 7: Alex Boykin, Ryan King, Andy Karnes and Nate Johnson celebrating 2008 Fourth of July on Lake Travis near Austin, Texas. Photo 8: 1st Lieutenants Lev Pobirsky and Tim Riemann, USMC, in Haditha, Iraq, February 2008. Photo 9: Ken Cooper on a convoy from Command Observation Post Speicher to Command Observation Post Warrior near Kirkuk, Iraq.

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CLASS NOTES purchase his own apartment in the near future, MEU. We are pushing out to the Mediterranean for the Army. He enlisted in the fall of 2007, so he can have the Brother Rats over for an at the end of August for a 7-month deployment. attending Boot Camp at Ft. Benning, followed overseas get together. Also going out with the 26th MEU is Brandon by AIT, Jump School and SFAS. He is currently Brandon Haney is living Fredericksburg, Wheeler who is an infantry platoon commander. going through the Q-Course and hopes to be Virginia, and recently got married to Stephanie His wife will be finishing up her last year of law with the 5th Special Forces Group after about Anne Wilkins. The two eloped on August 8, school while we are deployed. Upon returning, two years of training. Scarlett Collins Bean just 2008, at 8:00 PM and plan on holding a formal my wife and I will be PCSing, as well, for Officer completed a 14-month company command with wedding ceremony in the spring or summer of Selection Officer (OSO) duty. I look forward to the Headquarters and H&HC 168th BSB with 2009. Stephanie graduated from James Madison getting back in two years for our 5-year reunion 13 months of the command in a combat zone. University with a degree in Elementary Education and catching up!” She has attained the rank of Captain and will be and is starting her first year teaching this fall as Ian Dunlap is currently in the middle of his attending the Captains Career Course at Ft. Lee a kindergarten teacher with a local Spotsylvania 2nd deployment with the Marine Corps in the from January through July 2009. County elementary school. Brandon is working last two years. He was originally deployed For those in attendance at May’s commenceas the Security Manager for the Rappahannock to Iraq as part of Military Transition Team at ment ceremony, a familiar face was among Juvenile Detention Center in Stafford, VA. COP Golden in November 2007 but since then, those receiving their VMI diplomas. Rob Brandon is volunteering his free time as an has bounced around the Anbar province as a Gibson finally was able to walk the stage and EMT-Basic with the Spotsylvania County Rescue U.S. advisor to an Iraqi infantry battalion. His receive his diploma at the May commencement Squad and is about to start a class to become a deployment is set to conclude near the end of exercise. Having completed his studies during Medic. Ian Foley moved from the DC area to the November 2008 at which point he will return to the 2005 Summer Session, he planned on waitRaleigh-Durham area a little over a year ago and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and determine ing until May 2006 to receive his diploma, but is currently working as a chef for several catering whether to continue on with his career in the the Marine Corps schedule did not line up with companies. On August 4, 2008, he VMI’s until this year. He sent the married Autumn Thomas in Raleigh, following update: “I am in Cherry North Carolina. Point, North Carolina, a 1st Lt in Sam Johnson sends the following the USMC. I’m doing the same from Jacksonville, North Carolina: thing my old man did back in his “John Streetman returned from Iraq active duty days (an Air Support in late February and met up with me Control Officer) and will deploy and Andrew Stone down in Savanfor the first time this January nah, Georgia, for Saint Patty’s Day. to Iraq. I’m engaged to Brandy While we were there, we also saw Baker of Norfolk, Virginia. About Alex Correll who seemed to be doa year from now (post-Iraq), we ing great with his girlfriend, band and will tie the knot. Anyone CONUS finishing out law school. Savannah is next August/September looking a great time and definitely worth going for free booze can hit me up on every chance you get. Andrew Stone is facebook for directions. I bumped doing very well for himself and is just into Saul Newsome in Lejeune a finishing up his managerial training at few months ago, just back home Class of 2005: Tom and Missy Hardinge on a summer Towne Bank in Norfolk, VA. He is also from deployment number two. He mission to Ghana, Africa, in August 2008. working on his MBA and just bought a looked happy and indestructible house in Suffolk, VA. John Streetman and was one of the few guys I’ve took command of Headquarters Batbumped into sporting the combat tery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines and will remain Marine Corps. During his deployment, Ian has ring on a random day. I got a call from Iraq in 29 Palms, California until he PCSs (permanent been keeping a blog of his time and experiences from Tim Riemann the day prior to graduachange of station) to Camp Pendleton, CA, in fall over the past few months. It can be found at the tion. Not recognizing the number, I didn’t pick ’09 where he will be joining 1st Air Naval Gunfire following link: www.barikiansblog.com/ian. up, since I was walking around commissioning Liaison Company (ANGLICO). Johnny Johnson Seth Parker completed a 14-month deploy... and I definitely did 10+3 feeling like a dirt and his wife, Lauren, are living in northern Geor- ment to Afghanistan with the Army. For seven bag afterwards, but he was congratulating me gia and are doing very well for themselves. His months of his deployment, he served as a Rifle for walking. He is a proud married daddy of a wife is finishing up on her master’s degree, and Platoon commander with the 173rd Airborne beautiful little son, but I haven’t talked with him Johnny is still working as a computer software en- Brigade. On July 1, 2008, he was promoted to too much. I caught up with Mark Lenzi last Nogineer. In June, Major Craig Wiggers had a mini the rank of Captain. His permanent duty station vember. Still doing well – I couldn’t tell you his VMI reunion at his home in Jacksonville, NC. In is Vicenza, Italy. In the beginning of August, finger had been shot off – it was reattached and attendance were Brian Gorski, who just returned Seth took leave to come back to the states to has healed very well.” Mark Lenzi is on another from his second Iraq deployment, Mel Ward ’03, visit family and friends. Greg VanPelt, Jason deployment with the Marine Corps and sent the Dianna Neives ’04 and a few other VMI alumni. Downs, Alex Boykin, Joe Amaral and I met following update: “I’m in Afghanistan right now Major Wiggers should be picking up Lieutenant Seth in Richmond one night to catch up, have as the XO for Golf Company, 2d Battalion, 7th Colonel this year and will be moving to Quantico a few drinks and make some new memories to Marines. I’ll be here till the end of the year. I where he will be attending Command and Staff which Greg can attest. Greg was in town on a was in Iraq last year as a platoon commander College. I am the M777 Howitzer platoon com- three-day weekend from Ft. Bragg where he (not a platoon leader) from February to Septemmander with Lima Battery, attached to the 26th is currently going through the 18X program ber for 3d platoon, Golf 2/7 (before I got shot)

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CLASS NOTES and Weapons platoon (when I recovered). I got promoted to 1st Lt on May 27, 2007. That’s about it. Overall it’s going well. We’ve taken some casualties but won a lot of fights, too. Such is the nature of the fight here. The Taliban are significantly better fighters than anyone in Iraq.” Lev Pobirsky returned this spring from a deployment with Marine Corps in Iraq. He is now serving as a Series Commander at the MCRD, Parris Island, South Carolina. Although most are already aware, in October of 2005, Matt Hendricks was wounded by an IED in Ramadi, Iraq, where he was serving as a Rifle Platoon commander with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. After recovering from his injuries, he was medically retired due to the wounds he sustained in the incident. On July 26, 2006, Matt married Lynn Winterbottom in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. Matt and his wife are currently living in the northern Virginia area. He is working as a teacher at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Virginia, where he teaches American literature to juniors. Ken Cooper is currently on deployment to Iraq with the Air Force as a project manager. He is stationed at COB Speicher and saw Mark Searles ’06 in the chow hall at Kuwait and sees Laura Mack and Sarah Johnson ’04 frequently in the chow hall at Camp Speicher. Phil Shapiro is currently stationed at Little Rock AFB in Arkansas flying C-130s. Following graduation, he married his longtime girlfriend, Tiffany Stinnett, in August of 2005. He keeps in touch with Ken Williams who is living in Colorado working as a Financial Advisor for Merrill Lynch. Phil and Tiffany are planning a trip to Colorado this fall to meet up with Ken at the Navy-Air Force football game in Colorado Springs. Tom Ferrara dropped me a quick line in August to let me know he’s nearing the end of a deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan, with the Air Force. By the time the notes are published, Tom will be back in Alaska working with an Intelligence Flight. Colleen Wall is still with the Navy and is currently stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, finishing up the Navy nuclear power training pipeline. She informs me that John Baber and Jon Corrado are also in the same program. After her training is completed, she will be assigned to an aircraft carrier (CVN) in November. Ben King recently made a move to a completely different side of the world. For several months, he had been stationed out in Oregon flying F-15Cs for the Air Force, but in August he was moved to RAF Lakenheath in England to continue flying F-15Cs. Hao-Po Chang sends his greetings from Taiwan where he is currently serving as a Company Executive Officer in the Taiwanese military. He is stationed on an island offshore of Taiwan.

2008-Issue 4

I spoke with Alex Correll in August to catch up on post-law school life. On May 17, 2008, he was awarded his J.D. from the Wake Forest University School of Law. He has accepted a position as a tax lawyer with a firm in Charlotte and was able to pass the bar on the first attempt. Matt Kurz and Jamaal Stafford also graduated this spring from law school. Matt received his J.D. from the College of William and Mary and Jamaal from the University of Virginia. Lawton Way completed his two-year commitment to Teach for America in the spring of 2007 where he taught high school students in the Mississippi Delta region. Currently, he is living in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he will be entering his 2nd year of law school at the College of William & Mary. Brandon Fellers recently moved from Richmond to Indiana to start law school at Valparaiso University. When I spoke with him at May graduation, he said he would most likely complete a year of school at Valparaiso and seek a transfer to higher-tiered law school for the next academic year. Wells Griffith of Mobile, Alabama, is entering his third year at the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi. He is enjoying his time thus far and is certainly making a name for himself among the student body, as he was elected Law Student Bar Association President for the 2008/09 academic year by his peers. The LSBA oversees the welfare of the entire law school student body, focusing its efforts on creating opportunities that enhance the overall academic, social and political development of each student. He was also elected Vice-Chair/ SBA of the American Bar Association’s Law Student Division by the Presidents of all ABA accredited law schools in August 2008 at the American Bar Association Conference in New York City. He will serve as the unified voice for all law school students and their Student Bar Associations to the American Bar Association, advocating on the issues that currently face all law students. Ryan Clemens is in his final semester at the University of Alabama and will graduate in December with a Ph.D. in Chemistry. In August, he accepted a position as a chemistry instructor at the Marion Military Institute, a state-supported military junior college in Marion, Alabama. Kurt Karpov earned his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Oakland University. Following graduation, he plans on taking a commission as an Ensign with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Corps. In November 2007, Henry Hak moved from Alexandria, Virginia, to San Diego, California. He is still working for the U.S Navy and is thoroughly enjoying California with the warm weather and plenty of opportunities to go surfing. Jim Kingsley is living in Washington,

DC, and is working for the U.S. Secret Service. The year has been quite busy for him, as he’s been traveling in support of the candidates for this year’s presidential election. Hopefully, things calm down long enough for Jim to fit in a few football games this fall at the Mother I. Andrew Stribling is working for a fellow alumnus, G. Wayne Eastham ’76, at the Carr & Hyde Insurance Agency in Warrenton, Virginia. When not at work, Andy found time to start up and play for a rugby team in Warrenton known as Molly’s Marauders. He’s still living at his family’s orchard and invites anyone passing through Warrenton to drop in for a visit. He’s also looking forward to John Rerucha’s wedding which will be in December 2008. Paul Bryan still works in Roanoke for an engineering consulting firm. He finds himself visiting VMI quite frequently, as his company worked on the renovations to Foster Stadium and Grey-Minor Stadium. Currently, he is working as a project manager for the construction of the Third Barracks and the Center for Leadership and Ethics on Post. In addition to his project management duties, he was promoted to the position of Business Development Manager for his office, which will provide him more interaction with clients. In May, I had the opportunity to speak with Lucas Moore. After living in Richmond for almost a year and a half, he moved out to the Roanoke area in January 2008 to open up an office for Tradesmen International, Inc in Floyd County. He seems to be enjoying the move, as it takes him closer to his childhood home of Henry County, but he says it seems like he’s working non-stop setting up the new office. I also met up with Brian Duncan in Richmond this June, and he’s still living in Reva, Virginia, working for the co-op. He recently purchased a nice, big Ford 250 so he could “fit in with the locals,” and he also got another dog, a yellow lab, named Duke. Mike Parsons had quite a busy year with a number of changes. A little over a year ago, he earned his master’s and enlisted in the Navy on a SEAL Challenge Contract. Following boot camp and A-School, he went to BUD/S in Coronado, California, but was medically discharged at the end of first phase. After trying to find a place for Mike, the Navy gave him an honorable discharge after they discovered a mistake had been made on his enlisted dive physical. Currently, he is back in his home state of Ohio working for an engineering firm but plans on getting medical waivers to enter the military again. Randy Wainman recently moved to Orlando, Florida, from Baltimore, Maryland, through his company, Lockheed Martin, where he is an engineer. He recently completed the company’s Operations Leadership Development Program and has met two other VMI alums on the work

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CLASS NOTES site. He hopes to make it up to the VMICharleston Southern football game in Charleston, South Carolina, this fall. So, if you’re in the Charleston area, drop Randy a line. Kevin Jones has returned from China and is living in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He still works for the same company but now is responsible for European account development. It appears he’ll be staying put for a while, as he has purchased a home and recently adopted a golden retriever puppy. Jim Driggs was married on June 6, 2006, just over a year after graduation, and he and his wife live about 5 miles north of Richmond in Mechanicsville, Virginia. They bought a house not long ago, and Jim has gotten into real estate investing and sales here in Richmond. He currently works for Hometown Realty helping people buy and sell homes full time. He also helps people relocating to another city or state anywhere in the United States. So, the next time you know of someone who needs a good real estate agent, let Jim know. His wife graduated with her graduate degree in counselor education from Virginia Commonwealth University and currently works as a guidance counselor at a local elementary school. In May, Robert Oaks came to stay with Jim for about a week for the VMI Commencement ceremonies. Tom Hardinge sent the following letter from the Midwest: “I moved to Iowa shortly after graduating, which is where my girlfriend at the time, Missy, was from. Missy and I were Band Co. homecoming reps, if you don’t remember; she drove 17 hours just to be there that weekend! Anyway, we got engaged on Thanksgiving 2005 and married June 17, 2006, in West Des Moines, Iowa. We currently live in Urbandale, Iowa, which is a suburb of Des Moines. No children yet! I started working for a Mechanical Contracting Company called Baker Group (www.thebakergroup.com), and I am already coming up on three years this August. My official job title is Project Engineer, and I am mainly involved in design-engineering mechanical systems (HVAC, plumbing) and also have some project management duties. Aside from work, Missy and I have been pretty involved with our church, the Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines. This fall will be our fourth year being a part of the high school youth program, where we are small group leaders ... sort of act as mentors for the high school kids. I play guitar on Sundays for church and Missy sings, and I also play guitar for a 20s and 30s service on Thursday nights called Immersion and for the high school service on Sunday evenings. We’ve been chaperoning youth trips as well ... ski trips to Colorado, while Missy has been with them to Florida a few times.” Tom also mentioned that he and Missy had just returned from a mission trip to the country of Ghana in Africa through

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the GlobeServe organization. While in Ghana, they spent two weeks providing medical aid to people who couldn’t receive it otherwise, installing simple water filters to help people get clean water, and educating and ministering to people who had never before heard the word of God. Tom said the trip “was an eye opening and life changing experience!” Tom and Missy also ask that you keep them and the state of Iowa in your thoughts and prayers following the tragic floods this year. They survived the floods, but there is still widespread devastation across the state that will require lots of time from which to recover. Congratulations go out to Kamau Hull, whose son, Tristan Alan Hull, was born on March 8, 2008. Preston Beverly will be Tristan’s godfather. Kamau also is in the process of opening several businesses with the first being an online electronics retailer. For those interested, you can visit the site at www.hullselectronics.com, as some products are ready to view. Wes Feazelle married Nancy Jasek on June 10, 2006, in Roanoke, Virginia. On October 10, 2007, they became the proud parents of Benjamin Wesley Feazelle. They are living in Roanoke, and Wes works for Salem Preferred Partners as a Financial Analyst. After leaving on the 10 credit rule, John Ikner has embarked on a busy career that has prevented him from being able to keep in contact with everyone. After leaving VMI, he went to Phoenix, Arizona, to manage a large law firm with the intention of enrolling in law school after a year’s time. However, the twist and turns of life eventually led him into banking with Wells Fargo Bank. Starting out in an entry level position, he was promoted within 8 months to manage a large branch and then promoted 9 months later to a regional manager role. He now manages all of the retail acquisition and household growth programs for all of northeastern Arizona, spanning 14 bank branches for Wells Fargo. He was also married to Tierra Medlar on June 15, 2005, in Pinetop, Arizona, and they gave birth to a baby daughter, Emily Kay Ikner, on January 31, 2006. They currently reside in Prescott, Arizona, and welcome anyone who plans to be in the area to stop by and say hello. John also remains active in the Arizona Alumni Association Chapter and assists the chapter president in expanding recruiting efforts in northern Arizona. As for your class agents, Will Ray is still living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He no longer works as a Youth Pastor for the All Saints Church. In February, he returned to work with the UNC Hospital Systems Autism Center and this fall began attending the UNC School of Public Health to earn his master’s in Public Health. I am back in Richmond helping a friend with his company, Fitness Solutions, and

also helped coach a swim team this summer. Unfortunately, I am over my limit on length for these notes. I encourage all of you to keep in touch and make it back to the Institute some time this year to see the changes on Post. I wish everyone continued success and happiness as you continue to do the great things of which I know you are capable. Stay safe, and God bless. In the Bonds … Tim Johnson

’06

Will Davis

Greetings, BRs!!! I hope this finds everyone happy and healthy. This year is our Rat’s 1st Class year, and our Rats will have Rats of their own; time flies when you aren’t at VMI. I have had the pleasure of running into a few dudes here and there, which is always good. I plan to go back to the Mother “I” sometime in November. Hopefully, I will run into some more of you guys and reminisce like we saw the alumni do when we were Cadets. I have been in training with the Air Force for some time and will finish up hopefully by November. My wife, Ashley, will be finishing up her final year at VCU/MCV and will be a pharmacist come May. Alright, enough about me – on to the class. Zohn Burden is coaching football at ODU right now and is loving it. He is the defensive backs coach which is not what you’d expect since he played as a wide receiver. He is also working on a master’s in Sports Management. Alex Bruster is still in Richmond, VA, and hangs out with Chris Authier and Kyle Richards a lot. Cintas is his employer, and he recently took a promotion to outside sales after some management training. He married Mrs. Melissa Bruster, and they started to have puppies first before kids – a cute weimaraner. Brian Lennon is currently stationed at Ft. Rucker and working with Chris Jackson ’98. Lennon heads to Iraq in the spring time. He has seen Heather Miras and Sean Driver around base but has been too busy to catch up too much with them. Tim Fairchild graduated in May ’07, a little delayed for a good reason, and then decided to get married three days later. He works for a construction company now but just got accepted to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. He will have already graduated once this article is published and is very excited to do so. He will work with Matt Tamilow ’04 and Brad Haywood ’04. He is a former Marine as of May ’08. Mike Yeo is living in California and is

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES stationed at Camp Pendleton. (I would think he would be living in San Francisco.) He is a logistics officer with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and is the Support Plt Commander for Bravo Company. He will be deploying by the end of September and will be going to Al Asad to do stuff that I didn’t understand, so I can’t tell you about. He is not married; he is having too much fun in California. He ran into Carney quite a few times, and he did say that he ran into Derick Behney, Phil Hahn, Jeff Butwell and Dan Ervin. Chris Marr is living in Ft. Walton Beach, FL, and is stationed at Hurlburt Field flying the AC130H Specter Gunship. He ran into Dan Rogers and John Anderson in Pensacola, FL, and is sad that John never returned his calls after their date. Tommy Zager is living in Jacksonville, FL going through the P-3 RAG. He got his wings in February and selected P-3s, so now he is down there just learning how to fly it like a war machine. Bill Keller will graduate flight school 18 September and will be stationed at Ft. Drum, NY, from where he will deploy with the 10th Mt. Division to Iraq in October. Grant Harris finished his MBA in Organizational Psychology and Development in December ’07. He is working as Management Consultant to Army/Gov in Crystal City VA, just completed a speaking engagement as commencement speaker for his old high school’s graduation (They picked him over Gov Kaine ... go figure. We marched in his parade, he thinks), and has no kids or wives yet. Andrew Ihnen finished his master’s in materials engineering this past May and began work on a PhD in the same subject area. The focus of his work is surface analysis and modification for biological materials. In June, he attended Chris Chase’s wedding, along with Kevin Simpson, David Rahl, Jimmy Angerman, Chris Foltz, Sean Moran, Terry Slack, Jon Nagle and Joey Zyra. Parker Thurman is living in Virginia Beach still and is on his second year of marriage to his wife, Caroline. He has an 11-month-old daughter named Sophia. He is working in Norfolk for Anderson & Strudwick for Graham Alley’s dad. On a different note, he would like everyone to cheer on Graham Alley ’08 as he enters his 7th year at the institute. Talk about determination. Matt McGonegle is living in Virginia Beach, working for Coastal Training Technologies. He is managing an international sales force, and in September, he will be traveling to the Philippines for a training and development trip. Scott Bartholomew just finished 14 months in Iraq running maintenance operations for the largest armored battalion in western Baghdad. On the last day there, he ran into Nick Saccone

2008-Issue 4

at Sather Air Base where he’s doing some engineering stuff (literally, he saw him a couple hours before he flew out of country). Other than that, nothing is really changed since the last edition for him. Colleen Thompson is going to be starting nursing school this fall and is still working at GEICO. She said that’s all that is new with her. Adam Rosenbaum is still deployed to Q-West, Iraq. He is slotted to leave in January to finish a 15-month deployment. He is getting married sometime next summer to Katie Ryan; they have been dating since our 3rd Class year. She is finishing her master’s in Clincal Psychology. On R&R, he caught up with Chris Gilliland in Florida, Clark Dudley, Mike Werner, Kyle Rosch, all our Rats. They had a pretty good time. He talks to most of the Army guys over there, and this is what he says about them. Curt Ivins just got back to Ft. Bragg. Dave Raser is still at FOB Normandy. Dave Bhatta is doing well and doing great things with his unit. Blake Faller and Scott Bartholomew are getting ready to redeploy back to Fort Stewart. Seth Enterline left Q-West back in December and is back at Fort Bliss. His wife, Jamie, is now pregnant, so that’s great news. Frank Dolberry is getting moved again. He is doing great things with 6-8 Cav, 4th BCT, 3D ID. Looking to get back a little early, probably sometime in November. He sees Pasquale and Chovanec every so often. As for Rosenbaum, he is still running Recovery Operations and managing KBR. He is taking some classes in logistics and helping plan the wedding. He is going to head down to VMI next spring for commissioning and graduation hopefully; his Rat is in OCS now. Other than that, not too much is going on with him – just enjoying Iraq and looking forward to coming home. Kyle Madden is on schedule to graduate from ODU with a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering in December 2008. Other than that, his life is pretty much the same, which is a good thing! Bryan Yerger is a 2nd Lt. in the USMC and is stationed at Quantico, VA. He is currently in school to become a Communications Officer and will be headed to the West Coast sometime in December. Chris Eaton got married to Ashley on 29 December 2007 and is stationed in Germany with the 1st Armored Division. He is currently in SE Baghdad with Alpha Battery 4-27 FA, Task Force 1-35 AR. Mark Searles is 3 km down the road, but he has not seen him since they ran into each other in Kuwait. Frank Dolberry is with Mike Pasquale, Ben Chovank, Ryan Nolan, Gabby Canceran and John Kennedy at the same Forward Operating Base. Kyle Fricke is working at Afton Chemical

Corp as a research and development chemist developing new petroleum additives. He says it has been a great job thus far. Other than that, he is trying to keep it simple. Kyle just bought a house, so he is hard up for money. He has seen Jimmy Wicker, Mick Mazzenga and Greg Quillen around. According to Kyle, Jimmy is getting married in late July, and Mick is graduating from UVa with a master’s in Engineering. Greg is now in the Coast Guard with the honor guard in D.C. and will be getting married in early October. Doug Ziegenfuss just got back from a tour in Iraq with the 237th engineer sapper company out of West Point, VA. He did route clearance in Baghdad. Now that he is home, he is planning on starting on his master’s in history at ODU. He still lives in Virginia Beach. He said that Andy Upshaw is stationed in Germany but is currently in Iraq serving as an intel officer with an aviation unit. They were on the same base for about 6 months, so they got to have breakfast once a week or so. Upshaw said that the breakfast was pretty good. Brian Yannetti has been doing well and seems to be overworking himself. Terry Slack said that Chris Chase got married on 21 June, and his crew all went to that. Slack is in Afghanistan working with CJTF-101 and the J6. He says it’s a joint billet attached to the 101st Airborne Division, and he’s now at Bagram Air Field. Looks like his job will take him to Pakistan to help them with their communications and develop some things for their border comms with Afghanistan. He’ll also get to work on the Afghanistan side of the border, as well. He said at least he won’t be tied to a desk, so that’s pretty cool. Jimmy Angerman got back from a deployment (Dec to Jun) to Okinawa with U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5. Shortly after he got back, he also met up with BRs Terry Slack, Sean Moran, Chris Foltz, Kevin Simpson, Andrew Ihnen, Joey Zyra, Jon Nagle, Brian McGill, Dave Rahl and Chris Chase in June for Chase’s wedding. Angerman said that Nagle is off to Iraq, Slack is off to Afghanistan and Ihnen is working on grad school. Looks like they are keeping up with each other pretty well. Brian Lennon is in flight school at Ft. Rucker. His stick buddy is Chris Jackson ’98. He was a trooper in VA, a Marine reservist and a blackwater contractor who decided he wants to be a pilot for the Guard now. Lennon is going to Iraq in the spring. He has seen Miras, and she should be graduating any day now. Driver is there, too, but he hasn’t seen him in a while. I’m glad to hear you all are doing some good things out there. You guys are making the Class and VMI proud. Please continue to send me information. I need some higher resolution pictures

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CLASS NOTES than what I can get off MySpace or Facebook. They are too poor quality to put in the Review. Just send them to me as the original file, and I’ll be sure to put them in the Review for you. Take care, and God Bless! Rah VA Mil!!!

’07

Sally Coffman Arciero

I hope that these notes find everyone well. It’s certainly been a struggle keeping in touch with you all after graduation. We are all beginning our careers and moving to different areas of the country and even the world. My knowledge of your updates is limited, and I need your help to ensure that I have current information. If something awesome has happened to you and it’s not included in this first set of notes, then I probably don’t know about it. So, if there is something you want in the next set of notes, use my contact information to update me. This includes new marriages, births, PCS orders, etc. ... I will endeavor to check up on all of you the best I can, but you know how to reach me, as well, so don’t be strangers! And now, on to the notes ... As most of you probably know, Joe Cassin married Caitlin Cassin soon after graduation, and they are now the proud parents of triplets. I believe these are the first ’07 babies! Joe is now working as a hardcore police officer in California. I was able to catch up with the Cassin family, Chris Chang-Lo and Lt. Jenifer Farkas in San Francisco over the 4th of July weekend and got to see these babies myself! It was an enjoyable time, and it was nice seeing some familiar faces out here on the West Coast. Chris Chang-Lo is living in San Rafael, California, and is working as an Internet Banker in San Francisco. Sounds rich ... Lt. Jenifer Farkas is currently stationed at Vandenburg Air Force Base in California. I believe that Lt. Paul Issler and Lt. Justin Blanks are there with her. From what I gather, she is enjoying herself immensely. Elizabeth Davis (Gauthier) and Josh Gauthier married last year, as well. Last I heard, they are living happily in Florida. I believe they have a new house and 3 dogs to keep them busy. My old roommate, Vanessa Berrios, married Lt. Jeff Butwell ’06 pretty soon after graduation. They live somewhere down South, I think, maybe near Fort Bragg. Isaac Ostlund also tied the knot to the new Mrs. Candace Ostlund. I have a crazy story concerning Isaac. I was driving home from work out here in Monterey, California, one day, and I was passed by a bicycler at a traffic light. I thought it looked amazingly like Isaac Ostlund, but I had no

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knowledge of him being in Monterey, as well. As soon as I got home, I sent him a message seeing if he was indeed living out on the West Coast. Turns out he does not live here, but he WAS visiting Monterey on a business trip and he WAS biking around the town in his spare time. Small world. So, apparently he is now happily married and NOT living in California. Lt. Blair Zaremba (DiDomenico) also married Lt. Joseph DiDomenico ’04 last year. Currently, she is deployed to Iraq, I believe. My thoughts and prayers are with her, as well as with Lt. Abby Ward, who is also deployed to Iraq right now. I hope they both return safe and sound. I keep in touch with Jeff Choma from time to time. He is working as a Maryland State Trooper now and lives with his girlfriend, Tori, and 3 cats. So, if you’re ever passing through Maryland, keep an eye out for him cruising the roads. We have several Brother Rats attending graduate school in Virginia (at Virginia Tech, I think). Among them are Eri Kamura, Karen Bill and Wesley Thomas. From what I hear, they’re living it up and having a great time. I’m pretty jealous. (Editor’s Note: At press time, Karen Bill is teaching at VMI in the Civil Engineering Department.) I’m sure you know that our Regimental Commander Lt. Sal Sferrazza is making his way through Pararescue School. Good luck to him in his endeavors, but I hear he doesn’t really need luck to kick a#&. Would you really expect any less? Jamaal Walton, our fearless leader, is in graduate school at FSU. I’m sure he is enjoying the Florida beaches in his spare time. Lucky guy. Lt. Quincy Washa is newly stationed in San Diego, California, at the Marine camp there (Camp Pendleton, is it?). Lt. Farkas and I are trying to get another West Coast reunion together for the Labor Day weekend, but looks like Lt. Washa won’t be able to make it. Lt. Tabitha Pinter is in North Carolina doing Marine things. She has a nice house and has more fun than I do. Mira Veis is living in Washington, D.C., or Arlington ... or are they the same thing? She definitely seems to be having a great time. She has a new dog, as well. Also in Washington, D.C., is Laura Hash who lives with Danny Plitnik. I think they are both in grad school. Lt. Jose Lopez just moved somewhere, but I forgot where – Oklahoma or something like that. He’s doing hardcore Army stuff. We keep in touch sometimes, but apparently he leads a boring life, as he doesn’t seem to have much information to pass on to me. (Just kidding, Joe-Frank.) Finally, for myself. I am married now and I am living in Monterey, California, where I am working for the Air Force. I am actually studying some hardcore Arabic out here at the DOD language school. I have 3 dogs, and they are quite possibly

the spawns of Satan. I’ll be moving on from Monterey, hopefully, in the fall when I graduate the course here and they put me in Texas for some more schooling. Until then ... wish me luck with the final test ... I hear it sucks. That about sums up all the information I have on you all. Please, don’t hesitate to contact me with updates or information or even just to chat. My phone is pretty much perpetually off, but I’m pretty good about calling back, once I get a message. Remember, if I don’t include something important about you, I don’t know it. So, make sure that I do for the next notes! Hope to hear from you guys. Take care of yourselves, and God bless.

’08

Robert Hill

As it gives me great pleasure to submit our first set of class notes, I must also pass on some bad news. On the 8th of July, 2008, Cpl. William “Billy” McMillan III was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Billy spent his Rat year at VMI before deciding to enlist in the Army. He was serving as a medic with the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, parents Lloyd and Marge, and siblings, Brad and Lauren. Billy earned the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Ty Anthony, Zach Carmen, Scott Sanders, Jacob Widrick and Lexington local Brice Bahhur recently returned from a trip to Uganda, Africa. Uganda is bordered by the Sudan on the north, the DRC in the west, Rwanda in the southwest, Tanzania in the south and Kenya in the east. The group went to volunteer at an orphanage in Lira, Uganda, which is in the northern part of the country. Their trip was set up thru MAJ Diorio of the VMI Navy ROTC department. Mrs. Diorio is from Uganda and MAJ Diorio has travelled there several times. His wife is good friends with the hosts of the VMI group, who have built over 70 schools and orphanages around Uganda and the neighboring countries. The group’s first few days were spent in Kampala, the capital, with their hosts. After staying in Kampala, the group travelled to the primary and secondary school in Lira, Uganda, a few hours north of the capital. Their hosts also had a house near the schools which they built, so they stayed with them. The children in the secondary school/ high school are sponsored by donors overseas and stay in dormitories. According to Ty, “They are mostly orphans who have lost their parents and/ or families in the recent civil wars in Uganda.”

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Across the street from the secondary school/high at Ft. Knox before he heads to Ft. Benning in fall; both are working on master’s degrees in Civil school is the primary school, which is a private September for BOLC II. Ultimately, he’ll end up Engineering. Phill spent the summer working for school for local kids of Lira. This is where the at Ft. Bragg in a few months. Eddie’s roommate, Lt. Col. Charles Bott ’96 doing research at the group volunteered most of their time, as they Pat Clark, is enjoying some time off at home in Mother I. Will Flathers, a Marshall and Goldneeded help building a new building. The crew Chesapeake before heading to OCS. water Scholar, will be attending the University of spent about 5 days working there with a local Ed Griffith has moved to the Houston area. Ed Sheffield in England. He will be studying Autoconstruction crew, mixing mortar, carrying clay is working for Amstar Surface Engineering. He matic Control and Systems Engineering. Followbricks, etc. All the labor was manual and very seemed to be enjoying the area when we talked ing his master’s degree, he will be attending flight tough. Following their work on the school, they in early July, although he’s working hard and it’s school with the Air Force. 2nd Lt. Ben Switzer spent 3 days building 4 soccer goals for the kids at hot. Wait, did Ed say he was working hard? Just was recently married to the former Ms. Shirley the primary school. Their previous goals were two kidding. S. Swank. Ben will be attending the Air Force sticks in the ground for boundaries. Alex Menas is enjoying life in L.A. while work- Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Brice raised money for projects through his ing for the Air Force. Force Base in Ohio. Teddy Davis and Joel EnterLexington church and using those funds, they Jason Webb and Brett Whitsitt have arrived line will be entering law school. Teddy is living were able to build four steel soccer goals with nets in Coronado, California, to begin training for in D.C. and attending the George Washington on them to donate to the kids. After University Law School, while Joel the goals were completed, the group is attending Albany Law in Albany, played a local Ugandan club team in New York. Brandon Harrington is a game of soccer. Ty didn’t want to attending Andover Newton Theoinform me of the score, but he did say logical School in Massachusetts on they lost. behalf of the Army. He is on his way After working in Lira, the VMI to becoming an Army chaplain. group headed back to Kampala. Trey Barham was one of three Once they arrived in Kampala, they Keydets drafted in this year’s Major prepared for a two-day safari through League Baseball draft. He was the Murchison National Park. Ty selected by the Oakland Athletemphasized how beautiful it was. ics in the 25th Round of Major Their resort room looked out into the League Baseball Draft. Currently, Nile River. In addition to the safari, Trey is pitching for the Vancouver the group took a boat ride down the Canadians of the Northwest League, Nile River. After their excursion, the Oakland’s Single A affiliate. crew headed back to Kampala before Erik Olson has begun working heading home. The complete trip for Northwestern Mutual Financial Class of 2008: Ty Anthony, Zach Carmen, Scott Sandlasted a total of 21 days. Network at their regional office in ers, Jacob Widrick and Lexington local Brice Bahhur Ty expressed his gratitude toward Roanoke, Virginia. Erik said he’s volunteered at an orphanage in Lira, Uganda, from July 18, to Aug. 9, 2008. his hosts, the Dioro’s and Mr. Gil Mihaving a great time helping people nor ’63, who sponsored Ty and Jake. and really likes the fact that he’s It was a humbling and life changing getting paid to do it. Erik is engaged experience for Ty who said, “It made all of us Navy SEALS. Lynn Larson, Marcus Carlstrom, to Ms. Kelly Baker. Jarrett Moran is working for realize just how lucky we are to be a U.S. citizen John Walaski and Clinton Adams are currently CH2M Hill in Newport News, VA. Currently, he’s and have even the opportunity to live a good life. at Quantico attending the USMC’s The Basic a project engineer. Hopefully, he’s getting a bit It really made us appreciate the little things in life School. A few future Mavericks have arrived in more sleep then our long nights in Nichols. Donthat we would otherwise take for granted.” Pensacola for the Navy’s Flight School. Matt nie Cowart has spent two months in Taiwan this Ty, Scott and Jake are all 2nd Lt. in the Marine Harrison recently joined Nikoli Howe and Matt past summer. Just before the Olympics, he moved Corps and will begin TBS this October. Zach has Turner in Florida. Hopefully, Matt doesn’t fall to China, and he has tickets for an Olympic soccer one additional semester to complete before he will asleep in a jet like he usually did in any class match. be commissioned in the Marine Corps. at VMI. Two other Ensigns, Dennis Harbin A week from now [August], I’ll be moving to John Sollock has been named the Assistant and Stephanie Mills, are stationed in Norfolk. State College for my master’s program at Penn Coach of the Men’s Soccer team at the UniverStephanie is awaiting a deployment and Dennis is State. If anyone is in the area in the next few sity of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He will be stationed on the U.S.S. Bainbridge. Ensign Chris months, give me a call. I would really like to thank coaching with former VMI men’s assistant Henry Malta has been stationed at San Diego. We also all of you who have responded to my e-mails and Ellis, who is in his first year as the head coach of have a large contingent of 2nd Lt.’s who travelled Facebook messages. It’s really important that I the team. John will be working on his master’s to Ft. Lewis to assist with the Army’s LDAC. have contact information for as many people as degree in addition to his coaching responsibilities. Shane Cox, Dave Jacobs, Jesse Burnette, Giles possible, so I can pass on important information. I spoke with Eddie Burke; he and 2nd Lt. Chris Hohn, Patrick Zanelotti and my roommate, Matt These notes will be published four times a year, Haviley were hanging out in Chicago. Eddie will Mitchell, all made the cross county trip. Zanelotti and I encourage everyone who would like to, to be attending Purdue University (BOO, go PENN will be traveling to Ft. Benning shortly to begin send me updates, and I will gather them for the STATE) in the fall to work on a master’s degree. BOLC II along with several others. Alumni Review. You can also send pictures that He spent the summer working for Christopher B. A few of us are about to begin the “real” college you would like to be included within our notes, Burke Engineering, an Engineering New Report experience. Phill Yi and Travis Hughes are going but please remember to include the names of those Top 150 design firm. Chris is currently stationed to be roommates as they attend Virginia Tech this in the pictures. Take care, and stay safe.

2008-Issue 4

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CLASS NOTES VMI’s 25 Most Senior Alumni According to the records of The VMI Alumni Association, the men listed below constitute the 25 senior alumni of the Institute. Please contact the Alumni Review to report any errors. William E. Cantrell ’26 Prentis P. Smith ’29 Richard D. Schmitz ’31 Ernest C. Johnson ’29 Kenneth W. Chapman ’30 Thomas M. Zeledon ’30 William B. Walshe ’32 Richard C.Wight Jr. ’30 H.H. Finlayson ’34 John A. Chambliss Jr. ’31 Howard J. Bell ’33 William R. Landrum ’34 James Heine ’34

BIRTHS ROBINSON – A daughter, Elizabeth Mae, to Maggie and Ronald A. Robinson Jr. ’87 on May 13, 2008. PHILLIPS – A son, Britain Wallace, to Anne and Christopher L. Phillips ’90 on Jan. 24, 2008. FERRELL – A son, Maxwell Michael, to Adrienne and M. Shay Ferrell ’91 on March 28, 2008. PETTY – A daughter, Carmen Lorraine, to Lorraine and George E. Petty III ’91 on July 19, 2008. HURST – A daughter, Eleanor Mae Runnals, to Jennifer and David L. Hurst ’93 on June 15, 2007. REINER – A daughter, Emelyn Grace, to Vicky and Matthew K. Reiner ’95 on Aug. 9, 2008. SMITH – A daughter, Jessa Leigh, to Jen and Josh I. Smith ’97 on April 3, 2008. 162

Oct. 17, 1905 May 19, 1906 Feb. 24, 1908 May 19, 1908 July 27, 1908 Dec. 21, 1908 Nov. 30, 1909 May 26, 1910 Oct. 2, 1910 Oct. 21, 1910 Nov. 25, 1910 Dec. 3, 1910 Mar. 18, 1911

E. Lane Whitley ’34 Paul deWitt ’33 William R. Vivian ’32 Wayne C. Weaver ’33 Emmett J. Heerdt ’34 John D. Todd Jr. ’34 Richard H. McCormick ’34 Robert B. Rust Jr. ’34 Thomas St. John Arnold ’35 Alfred J. Snapp ’35 Francis T. Follin ’35 James E. Kirk ’36

WOOD – A daughter, Elizabeth Grant, to Tanya and Jared G. Wood ’97 on Aug. 14, 2008. FEAZELLE – A son, Benjamin Wesley, to Nancy and C. Wesley Feazelle ’05 on Oct. 10, 2007.

April 1, 1911 June 5, 1911 Aug. 3, 1911 Dec. 6, 1911 Feb. 27, 1912 June 30, 1912 Dec. 4, 1912 Jan. 4, 1913 Sept. 8, 1913 Sept. 18, 1913 Sept. 19, 1913 Oct. 25, 1913

FIELD – Jada Lashomb to Garrett D. Field ’97 on Dec. 10, 2007. KING – Amy Cline to Jeremy S. King ’97 on May 10, 2008. REID – Kristen to James L. Reid III ’97 on Aug. 13, 2005.

HULL – A son, Tristan Alan, to Nicole and A. Kamau Hull ’05 on March 8, 2008.

PAK – Janet Shin to Songho Pak ’01 on Sept. 6, 2008.

IKNER – A daughter, Emily Kay, to Tierra and John W. Ikner ’05 on Jan. 31, 2006.

POOLE – Rachel Elaine Rollo to Eric R. Poole ’01 on June 14, 2008.

MARRIAGES

COLEMAN – Amanda Ashley Gurganus to John C. (Jay) Coleman II ’05 on April 19, 2008.

RATRIE – Nancy Pryor to Harry Ratrie Jr. ’44 on May 17, 2008.

FEAZELLE – Nancy Jasek to C. Wesley Feazelle ’05 on June 10, 2006.

WILLIAMS – Mary Ballou Ballentine to John D. Williams ’45 on Sept. 13, 2008.

FOLEY – Autumn Thomas to Ian M. Foley ’05 on Aug. 4, 2008.

RAMSEY – Ellen Lewis to A. Wharton Ramsey ’67 on Aug. 2, 2008.

HANEY – Stephanie Anne Wilkins to Brandon A. Haney ’05 on Aug. 8, 2008.

BONHAM – Jessica Lynd to Edward T. Bonham V ’97 on May 17, 2008.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES HARDINGE – Missy Florer to Thomas C. Hardinge ’05 on June 17, 2006. HEELY – Erin Baker to Conor L. Heely ’05 on Sept. 28, 2008. HENDRICKS – Lynn Winterbottom to Matthew J. Hendricks ’05 on June 26, 2006. IKNER – Tierra Medlar to John W. Ikner ’05 on June 15, 2005. KRECKMAN – Victoria Barger to Scott A. Kreckman ’05 on April 28, 2007. SEARS – Emily Reynolds to Shelby E. Sears ’05 on May 24, 2008. SHAPIRO – Tiffany Stinnett to Philip A. Shapiro ’05 on Aug. 27, 2005. SPARKS – Katherine Akers to Jeffrey A. Sparks ’05 on May 17, 2008. WHITE – Whitney Blair Gurganus to James R. White ’05 on June 28, 2008. SWITZER – Shirley S. Swink to Benjamin P. Switzer ’08 on May 24, 2008.

TRUSLOW – Stacy Wade to Chad D. Truslow ’08 on May 24, 2008.

DEGREES George D. Salaita ’60 History East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN December 2007 Mark A. Schroeder ’93 Public Administration University of Toledo Toledo, OH May 2008

M.A.

M.P.A.

Matthew A. Dussia ’05 Religion Regents University Virginia Beach, VA May 10, 2008

M.Div.

P. Christian Johnson ’05 Exercise Science Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA May 5, 2007

M.S.

Kurt S. Karpov ’05 Electrical Engineering Oakland University Auburn Hills, MI May 5, 2008

M.S.

David G. Carroll ’05 M.S. Chemistry University of Virginia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Charlottesville, VA May 20, 2007

Matthew J. Kurz ’05 J.D. Law Marshall Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary Williamsburg, VA May 10, 2008

B. Alexander Correll Jr. ’05 J.D. Law Wake Forest University School of Law Winston-Salem, NC May 17, 2008

Jamaal W. Stafford ’05 J.D. Law University of Virginia School of Law Charlottesville, VA May 18, 2008

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They Were Heard From— VMI Alumni In the Civil War

Rockbridge: A Photographic Essay

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The Corps Forward

Editor: Col. William Couper (1904) Foreword: Col. Keith E. Gibson (1977) The remarkable story of every cadet and faculty member who marched to New Market. Hardcover with Dust Jacket Paper Back

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2008-Issue 4

$49.95 $19.95

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163

PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENTS APPOINTEE’S NAME

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

APPOINTEE’S NAME

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

Class of 2013 Abbe E. Boniface Nolan Randall Faulconer Aaron Freeman Hannah Goldhardt Gregory S. Hamilton

Taylor Heath Rachel Yvonne Lindgren Caitlin Elyse Malik

John Boniface III ’88 Paul A. Faulconer ’78 Andrew L. Faulconer 2010 Jonathan C. Freeman ’87 Jay Freeman ’82 Jeff Goldhardt ’79 Clifford C. Hamilton II ’77 D.E. Rheutan ’17 C.B. Slemp 1891 John Boniface III ’88 Robert Lindgren ’85 David F. Woolwine ’55

Father Uncle Cousin Father Uncle Father Father Grandfather Great-greatgrandfather Father Father Grandfather

Steven Malone Wilson Morgan Rachael Witter

Charles S. Wilson ’84 Michael Witter ’78

Father Father

John Boniface III ’88 Paul C. Clare ’63 Matthew W. Williams ’93 Steve Gallahan ’77 Scott Sayre ’80 Franklin M. Thurston Jr. ’91 Thomas F. Morehouse III ’70 Jan B. Woodman ’58

Father Grandfather Uncle Father Cousin Father Stepfather Grandfather

Aidan Henry Barton Samuel Coleman Olivia Grace Hearn Andrew Hatton Long

Anthony Arnold ’83 Walter W. Coleman ’88 Brent Hearn ’85 Giles H. Miller Jr. ’24 Angus M. Green 1876

Margaret Augusta Moss

Robert C. Moss III ’81 Sydney S. Smith ’37 Clyde E. Moss ’71 Claude B. Nolen III ’86 Robert M. Cooper ’55 John VanKesteren ’59 Andrew E. Petretti ’84 Richard O. Stuver ’82 Edward W. Swanson ’90 Michael Witter ’78

Stepfather Father Father Great-grandfather Great-greatgrandfather Father Step-grandfather Cousin Father Great-uncle Grandfather Father Father Father Father

Paul C. Clare ’63 Brent Hearn ’85 Daniel R. Liston ’84 Claude B. Nolen III ’86 Robert M. Cooper ’55 Davis A. Pitts ’88 Sidney A. Hannah ’51 Michael Runkle ’94 James A. Tavenner ’91 Cloyd Tavenner ’88 David Tavenner 2002 Charles S. Wilson ’84

Grandfather Father Father Father Great-uncle Father Cousin Father Father Uncle Uncle Father

Jonathan C. Freeman ’87 Jay Freeman ’82 John Boniface III ’88 William A. McVey ’64 Samuel P. Smith ’35 Claude B. Nolen III ’86 Robert M. Cooper ’55

Father Uncle Father Great-uncle Great-grandfather Father Great-uncle

Class of 2017 Brookes T. Boniface Skylor Davis Paul Matthew Fouriezos Brandon G. Gallahan William George Saunders Franklin M. Thurson III Elizabeth Marchello Towell Madison H. Weitekamp

Class of 2018 Class of 2014 Tory Lyn Avalos John Boniface IV Andrew Gatewood Crockett

Brian T. Neale ’98 John Boniface III ’88 William Gatewood 1886 Robert Gatewood 1849

Kevin Lewis Hedrick Danielle Nicole Hurley Rachel Amelia Jorgensen Lauren Taylor Malik Holly Shea Sayre Charles Scott Wilsonn Jr.

Arthur Gatewood ’18 Richard Gatewood ’23 Ben H. Hedrick ’68 Bailey Hurley ’74 William A. McVey ’64 Samuel P. Smith ’35 David F. Woolwine ’55 R. Scott Sayre ’80 Charles S. Wilson ‘84

Stepfather Father Great-greatgrandfather Great-great-greatgrandfather Great-uncle Great-uncle Great-uncle Father Great-uncle Great-grandfather Grandfather Uncle Father

Matthew A. Liston Meagan Kathleen Shirley Jacob Xayavong

Rhys VanKesteren Nordstrom Andrea Christine Petretti Christina Teresa Stuver Victoria Lynn Swanson Wyatt Ambrose Witter

Class of 2019

Class of 2015 Tyler Simmons Brooks Timothy Michael Chester Jr. Daniel James Colonna

Viktoria Maslova Nolen

Ray S. Brooks ’76 Vic Arthur ’75 John O. Colonna II ’79 Gary Colonna ’52 Benjamin A. Colonna 1864 Benjamin A. Colonna ’14 John O. Colonna ’22 Daniel R. Liston ’84 Charles E. Shirley Jr. ’83 Phayseng Xayavong ’93

Father Uncle Father Grandfather Great-greatgrandfather Great-uncle Great-grandfather Father Father Father

Mickenzie Davis Isabel Hearn Sean M. Liston Maria Maslova Nolen Charles Beauregard Pitts Kyle Runkle Thomas Nelson Tavenner

Taylor Nicole Wilson

Class of 2016 Benjamin Coleman Kenneth Jose Trujillo Eckhoff Thomas Connor Fairburn Natalie Marie Petretti Harry Rucker Porter James Austin Tavenner Jr.

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Walter W. Coleman ’88 Robert E. Eckhoff Jr. ’87 Thomas S. Fairburn ’82 Andrew E. Petretti ’84 Harry W. Porter Jr. ’23 James A. Tavenner ‘91 Cloyd Tavenner ’88 David Tavenner 2002

Father Father Father Father Grandfather Father Uncle Uncle

Class of 2020 Owen Freeman Daniel Heath Katherine Myers Jorgensen Viktor Maslov Nolen

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENTS APPOINTEE’S NAME

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

Phillip H. Thurston Carter H. Weitekamp

David A. Pitts ’88 Sidney A. Hannah ’51 Franklin M. Thurston Jr. ’91 Jan B. Woodman ’58

Father Cousin Father Grandfather

William O. Giles III ’60 Martin S. Crawford ’93 Paul C. Clare ’63 Sean C. Dickman ’94 Gary Fellows ’80 John D. Warburton ’68 Michael Runkle ’94 Edward E. Swanson ’90

Grandfather Father Grandfather Father Father Grandfather Father Father

Class of 2021 Mareena Nickole Camacho Nathaniel W. Crawford Kylie Davis Joseph Warren Dickman Nicole Fellows Benjamin K. Harris Kaitlyn Runkle Ashley Brooke Swanson

Class of 2022 Amelia Holbrook Jorgensen Hanna Elizabeth West

William A. McVey ’64 Samuel P. Smith ’35 James N. Joyner ’67 James N. Joyner III ’95 Richard L. Joyner 2001

Great-uncle Great-grandfather Grandfather Uncle Cousin

Sean C. Dickman ’94 Peter B. Fulkerson ’28 Samuel V. Fulkerson 1884

Father Great-grandfather Great-greatgrandfather Great-great-greatgrandfather Grandfather Great-grandfather Grandfather Great-grandfather Great-uncle Great-grandfather

Class of 2023 Ashleigh Taylor Dickman Samuel Vance Fulkerson

Abram Fulkerson 1857 Alan Dohme Johnson Charles Edward Johnson V Annabel Holbrook Jorgensen Emme Levenson Catherine Virginia Kent Pitts Rachael Powell Maya Catherine Sweeney

Charles E. Johnson III ’57 Charles E. Johnson Jr. ’26 Charles E. Johnson III ’57 Charles E. Johnson Jr. ’26 William A. McVey ’64 Samuel P. Smith ’35 Jeff Levenson ’84 Gary Levenson ’80 David A. Pitts ’88 Sidney A. Hannah ’51 Fred G. Kennedy Jr. ’63 Sterling Sweeney ’96

Father Uncle Father Cousin Grand-uncle Father

Dalton Patrick Cadd Nathan Christopher Dickman Charles Thomas Houk Jr. Steven Donald Powell Isabella M. Rees Alden Luke Sweeney Eliza Margaret Sweeney Evelynn J. VanDrey

Chase Mackenzie Lindeman Mikaela Runkle Brian Matthew Tavenner

Victoria Grace Witter

2008-Issue 4

RELATIONSHIP

Paul C. Clare ’63 William A. McVey ’64 Samuel P. Smith ’35 H. Michael Hancock ’76 Michael Runkle ’94 James A. Tavenner ’91 Cloyd Tavenner ’88 David Tavenner 2002 Michael Witter ’78

Grandfather Great-uncle Great-grandfather Grandfather Father Father Uncle Uncle Father

G. Ellis Pittman Jr. ’83 Sean C. Dickman ’94 Charles Houk ’98 Fred G. Kennedy Jr. ’63 Bradley L. Rees ’94 Sterling Sweeney ’96 Sterling Sweeney ’96 Michael R. Wright ’87

Godfather Father Father Grand-uncle Father Father Father Uncle

William A. McVey ’64 Samuel P. Smith ’35 Bailey Hurley ’74 Steve Isola ’94 Brian T. Neale ’98 Matthew W. Williams ’93 Michael Witter ’78

Grandfather Great-grandfather Grandfather Father Father Father Father

Thomas F. Morehouse III ’70 Bailey Hurley ’74 Bradley L. Rees ’94 Dwight D. Smith ’92 Michael R. Wright ’87

Grandfather Grandfather Father Father Uncle

William A. McVey ’64 Samuel P. Smith ’35 Paul C. Clare ’63 Aron J. Buss ’95 Chad Lloyd 2001 Brian T. Neale ’98

Grandfather Great-grandfather Grandfather Father Father Stepfather

Donald L. Cummings ’65 Frederick W. Harvey ’65 Thomas L. Hernandez ’89 Charles Houk ’98 Mohammad Khandan ’84 Douglass A. Taylor ’67 James A. Smith III ’60 Waller G. Wills III ’57 Waller G. Wills Jr. ’19 Plummer D. Drewry 1900 William N. Radford 1867

Grandfather Grandfather Father Father Father Grandfather Step-grandfather Grandfather Great-grandfather Great-grandfather Great-greatgreat-uncle Great-great-greatgrandfather Grandfather Uncle Father

Class of 2026 Brock Alan Boehling Rhiannon Nicole Hurley Lenox Robert Isola Autumn Brooke Neale Matthew Winston Williams II JohnPaul Michael Witter

Class of 2027 Peyton Julia Clapper Patrick Bailey Hurley Jr. Declan William Rees Axel D. Smith Samuel H. VanDrey

Class of 2028 CorrieLee Louise Boehling Brennan Burton Jacob Reagan Buss Hannah Grace Lloyd Brice Thomas Neale

Class of 2029 Christian John Gurdak Nathan James Harvey Robert James Hernandez Ryan Blakesley Houk Samuel Boltin Khandan-Barani Katherine Jane Michel Henry McNair Mitchell

Class of 2024 Ian Burton David William Jorgensen

ALUMNUS-CLASS

Class of 2025

Class of 2020 (continued) Brandon Pembroke Pitts

APPOINTEE’S NAME

William M. Chalmers 1867 Mary Catherine Nelson William S. VanDrey Ainsley E. Van Deun (continued on next page)

Donald F. Nelson ’69 Michael R. Wright ’87 Bryan Van Deun ’93

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PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENTS APPOINTEE’S NAME

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

APPOINTEE’S NAME

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

Class of 2030 Justin Robert Anderson Brooks Douglas Avant Jackson Whitaker Boatright Jackson Everett Bensten

Joseph Reyner Brenner III Jericho C. Brown Jackson Bruce Hartwell Patrick Benton Chudy Taylor Bridger Dickinson Kai Aleksandr Engle Gideon Joseph Fritchley Davis West Hagstette Taylor Mark Haire Garrett Scott Henderson

Robert Wright ’78 Paul D.C. Marks Jr. ’69 James A. Boatright 2000 David F. Woolwine ’55 David F. Woolwine Jr. ’79 Stephen M. Woolwine ’84 Joseph Brenner Jr. ’55 Robert W. Brown ’78 Maurice S. McNamara ’73 Lawrence M. Ryan ’68 Paul M. Dickinson Jr. ’96 Paul M. Dickinson ’70 Nicholas Engle 2007 Vance Powell ’67 Paul D.C. Marks Jr. ’69 Paul C. Marks ’46 Kyle D. Haire 2003 Norman J. Worrell ’72 K. Scott Henderson ’96

Grandfather Grandfather Father Great-grandfather Grandfather Uncle Grandfather Grandfather Grandfather Grandfather Father Grandfather Father Grandfather Grandfather Great-grandfather Father Grandfather Father

Jack Everett Jacobs Oliver Powell Keiser Sean Frederick Kennedy William Garret Nelson Kevin Paul Powell Walker Morris Reel Henryk James Rees Connor Thomas Richardson Gavyn Wade Shepard Madison Quinn Taylor Archer Henry Thomas Vester Jay Thompson IV

Todd J. Jacobs ’90 William E. Powell ’77 Samuel Pace ’79 Fred G. Kennedy Jr. ’63 Donald F. Nelson ’69 Fred G. Kennedy Jr. ’63 Andrew M. Reel 2003 Adam Reel 2007 Bradley L. Rees ’94 Michael Richardson ’92 Alfred J. Snapp ’35 Douglass A. Taylor ’67 Kevin Thomas ’98 Vester J. Thompson Jr. ’40 Vester J. Thompson III ’79 Edward F. Thompson ’81 James F. Russell III 2004 Fletcher S. Thompson 2010

Father Grandfather Great-uncle Grandfather Grandfather Grand-uncle Father Uncle Father Father Great-grandfather Grandfather Father Grandfather Father Uncle Cousin Cousin

Perfect, personal and unique gifts for graduation and alumni!

VMI “Keeping Box”

Our famous Virginia “Keeping Box”, similar to English keeping boxes found in colonial homes, is now available in solid walnut or cherry with the VMI spider or seal with the graduate’s name/class year laser engraved into the wood. This can serve a variety of purposes in the home or office and makes an ideal gift for graduates that will be seen and used for many years.

As shown solid walnut $199.95 + S&H - See website for more options Box actual size: 15 1/2” X 10 1/2” X 7 1/2” deep

VMI Alumni “Plaque”

We now have available, an award plaque with the VMI seal, name and graduation year laser engraved. These are available only in cherry because this offers the best contrast between the laser engraving and the natural wood’s beauty. This VMI alumni plaque really looks magnificent displayed proudly in your office or home! A portion of the sale proceeds of each VMI plaque will be donated to the VMI Alumni Association. Only in solid cherry $34.95 + S&H See website for more options Actual size: 7” X 9”

The VMI Alumni Association c/o Hal Woodworking, 9475 Big Island Hwy. Bedford, VA 24523 Lt. J. N. Henderson, USNR VMI ‘97, Boardmember

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Order online at

www.halwoodworking.com or call toll free 800-755-8546 email: info@halwoodworking.com

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS TAPS Richard D. Calhoun ’33 Capt. Richard Dayton Calhoun ’33, USN (Ret), of Pensacola, Florida, died on June 17, 2008. He was 97. Calhoun matriculated from Farmer City, Illinois, and attended VMI for four and one-half months. He attended the University of Illinois’ Northwestern Dental School, where he earned a bachelor of science degree, a master of science degree and a D.D.S. degree. After graduation from Northwestern Dental School he practiced dentistry in Madison, Wisconsin, until he entered the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant, junior grade, in July 1941. He served in Antigua, West Indies, Hawaii, Taiwan, China and Subic Bay, The Philippines, as well as at many bases in the United States. He retired from the Navy in 1972. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Pensacola, Psi Upsilon Fraternity and Psi Omega dental fraternity. He was a National Sojourner, and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Mayflower Society, the Marine Corps Aviators Association, the National Retired Officers Association, the National Council of the Navy League, the Pensacola Historical Society, the Pensacola Museum of Art, the National Rifle Association, the Pensacola Country Club and the Executive Club. He is survived by a daughter, Jacqueline Calhoun Rosen of South Carolina; and a grandson.

Edwin R. Nelson ’33 Edwin Raymond Nelson ’33 of Shreveport, Louisiana, died on Jan. 8, 2008. He was 95. Nelson matriculated from Shreveport. He attended VMI for two years and earned a bachelor of arts degree from Tulane University. He was a landowner in DeSoto Parish and a previous partner in the Louisiana Lumber Company, and had various associations with Bayou State Oil Company, Shreveport Regional Airport and other business endeavors. He was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and a former member and deacon of First Baptist Church in Shreveport. At the time of his death he was a member of Word of Life Church, also in Shreveport. He is survived by a daughter, Claudia Nelson of Shreveport; a niece, Evelyn Nelson Davis of Baton Rouge; a nephew, Edward Kenneth Nelson Jr. of Shreveport; a great-nephew, Brian Taylor Davis of Baton Rouge; a sister-in-law, Justine Holmes Parish and her husband, Jim, of Houston, Texas; two uncles, John Gardner (Jack) Nelson and Ross Barton Nelson Jr., both of Shreveport; and a cousin, Ross Barton

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Nelson III of Shreveport. His wife was the late Claudia Ruth Bulitt Holmes Nelson.

Jack N. Flanagan ’35 Jack Newman Flanagan ’35 of Memphis, Tennessee, died on Feb. 18, 2008. He was 94. Flanagan matriculated from Blanton, Mississippi, and attended VMI for two years. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. At the time of his death he was a retired real estate broker in Memphis. Prior to that, he was a planter in Glen Allen, Mississippi. He was a member of Christ Church Episcopal in Whitehaven, Tennessee. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marie Pahlen Flanagan of Memphis; two daughters, Mary Anna Matthews of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Nancy Mendoza and her husband, Joe, of Memphis; a son, Jack Flanagan Jr., and his wife, Sandra, of Southaven, Mississippi; two grandchildren, Jennifer Kelly and her husband, Jay, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Brent Flanagan of Memphis; and two great-grandchildren, Anna Kelly and Ryan Kelly.

Meredith S. Urick ’35 Meredith Saunders Urick ’35 of Richmond, Virginia, died on May 9, 2008. He was 96. Urick matriculated from Roanoke, Virginia, and held a bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts from VMI, where he was a member of both the track and football teams for four years and a member of the Monogram Club for three years. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1941-46 with the 390th Fighter Squadron of the 366th Fighter Group. His service included 40 months in Puerto Rico and Europe. He separated from the Army holding the rank of lieutenant colonel. At the time of his death he was the retired head of the Division of Personnel and Training with the Virginia State Police and was the oldest living retired Virginia State Trooper. He was also one of VMI’s 25 Most Senior Alumni. He was a member of St. Giles Presbyterian Church. He is survived by a son and daughter-inlaw, Meredith S. (Nick) Urick Jr. and Happy Urick; two grandchildren, Dennis Urick and Lois Perez; and one great-grandchild, Meredith Urick. His wife was the late Lois Urick, and his brother was the late Fred W. Urick ’33. Another son, John William Urick, was killed in Vietnam in 1967.

Oscar H. Adams ’36 Class Agent, 2001-08 Col. Oscar Hunter Adams ’36, USA (Ret), of Richmond, Virginia, died on July 18, 2008. He was 94 and had served as the 1936 class agent since 2001. Adams matriculated from Vienna, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he was the Bravo Company first lieutenant. He also held a master’s degree in sanitary engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Following graduation from VMI he worked for Atlantic Greyhound. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army’s Medical Service Corps from 1943-67. He was assigned initially to the 28th Malaria Control Unit at the Medical Training Center at Fort Lee, Virginia, and served throughout the war with the 5th Army in Malaria Control. After the war he was integrated into the Regular Army and assigned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the Hospital Construction Branch of the Surgeon General Office of the Army. He served as chief of that office on three different occasions. His responsibilities included planning, development and construction of Army hospitals all over the world. He received significant praise for his work in rebuilding Walter Reed and the medical center at the Presidio in California. He was awarded two Legions of Merit and retired holding the rank of colonel. Following his retirement from the Army, Adams worked for the Virginia State Health Department Regional Office in Lexington, Virginia. In 1971 he moved to Richmond where he became director of engineering services for the State Health Department. Some of the departments he was responsible for were the public water supplies, sewer disposal, shellfish sanitation and toxic substances. He retired from the State Health Department in the early 1980s. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Monroe Adams of Richmond; a son, Robert T. Adams, and his wife, Claudia; seven grandchildren, Lt. Col. William J. Adams, Franklin L. Adams, Lydia A. Hart, Laura A. Woerner, Ruth S. Adams, Elizabeth A. Wagoner and First Lt. Charles M. Gill; and four great-grandchildren, Analise Adams, Amanda Adams, Patrick Adams and Mason Wagoner. His first wife was the late Ruth Thomas Adams, and his eldest son was the late William Hunter Adams.

George D. Wray Jr. ’36 George Downing Wray Jr. ’36 of Shreveport, Louisiana, died on April 26, 2008. He was 92. Wray matriculated from Shreveport and

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TAPS attended VMI for two years. He was an F Company corporal. He later graduated from Tulane University, where he studied business and history. He worked in the first air conditioning business in Shreveport before leaving in 1941 to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. He separated from the Army in 1946 holding the rank of captain. Following the war he joined his father in the automobile business at Wray-Dickinson Company, and served as its president for many years until his son took over the business. With his father and two brothers, Newton Wray and Charles Wray, he was a founder of KTBS-TV and was a pioneer in radio and television broadcasting in the Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas area. He served on the board of directors of Commercial National Bank for many years. He was an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Shreveport, where he also taught Sunday School. For the last 20 years he was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. He was a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Shreveport, the Shreveport County Club, the Shreveport Club, the Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club, the Holidayin-Dixie Cotillion Club (Rex XXXVIII) and the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Geraldine Smitherman Wray of Shreveport; four children, Mary Virginia Wray Hill and her husband, Kevin B. Hill, of Shreveport, Deanie Wray Galloway of Bossier City, Louisiana, George D. Wray III and his wife, Allison Lange Wray, of Shreveport, and Nancy Wray Armistead and her husband, Charles W. Armistead, M.D., of Mountain Home, Arkansas; 11 grandchildren, Sarah Brandon Colmark and her husband, Charles Colmark, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Rachel Hill of Shreveport, David Galloway of Grapevine, Texas, Kathryn Galloway Jordan and her husband, Jeffrey Jordan, of Lafayette, Louisiana, Christine Wray Moody and her husband, Robbie Moody, of Waco, Texas, Matthew and William Wray of Shreveport, Chase Christopher, Grace and John George Armistead, all of Mountain Home; his sister-in-law, Florence Hendrick Wray; a nephew, Edwin Newton Wray Jr. and his wife, Suzanne; a niece, Lois Wray Rowe and her husband, Kirby; a niece, Betty Wray Anderson and her husband, Brady, and their children and grandchildren.

previously as class agent from 1947-48. Smith matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI, where he was the C Company captain. He was a member of the varsity cross country and track teams for three years, and was also a three-year member of the Monogram Club. During his first class year he was captain of the cross country team. A veteran of World War II, he served from 1941-46 in the U.S. Army’s Third Armored (Spearhead) Division as company commander, assistant battalion executive officer and plans and training officer of the 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. He took part in five campaigns in Normandy, the Ardennes, northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the American Service Medal, the European Middle Eastern Service Medal, the American Defense Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the French Croix de Guerre. After the war he and his wife, Betsy, started an independent insurance agency. He worked in and around the Richmond area, especially in the area of youth development and highway safety. He founded the Richmond Area Youth Safety Council, and chaired the boards of the Governor’s Highway Safety Committee, the Richmond Area Safety Council, the Richmond Association of Insurance Agents, the Virginia Society for the Prevention of Blindness, the Virginia Highway Safety Commission and the Virginia Boating Advisory Committee. He was a past president of the VMI Club of Richmond. In 1962 he was the recipient of the Stock Insurance Club of Virginia Award for outstanding service in the conservation of lives

S. Strother Smith Jr. ’37 Class Agent, 1947-48, 1997-2008 Sydney Strother Smith Jr. ’37 of Goochland County, Virginia, died on July 3, 2008. He was 94 and had served as the class of 1937’s class agent since 1997. He served

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Smith ’37

and property. In 1963 he received the Past Presidents’ Award of the Virginia Association of Insurance Agents for outstanding contributions to the insurance industry. He was the co-founder and treasurer of St. Alban’s Anglican Church in Richmond, and served as trustee for the Anglican Catholic Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic States. He was treasurer of the Virginia Accident and Health Association and, for 20 years, of the Virginia Committee for National Health Agencies. He served on the boards of directors of the Richmond Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Richmond Mental Health Association and the Society of the Sons of the Revolution in Virginia. He was listed in “Virginia Lives,” a who’s who of Virginians. Smith served as chairman of the Goochland County Republican Committee for eight years, and in 1963 he was one of the first two Republicans elected from the city of Richmond and Henrico County to the Virginia House of Delegates in over 100 years. In addition, Smith served as aide-de-camp to A. Linwood Holton Jr., who served as governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1970-73 and whose son-in-law, Timothy M. Kaine, is the current governor of Virginia. In recent years Smith served as chairman of the Goochland County Republican Committee. At the time of Smith’s death, House Joint Resolution No. 6071, whose primary patron was Delegate William R. Janis ’84 (R-House District 56), was entered into the record of the Virginia General Assembly. In it, Smith’s service as a delegate was detailed. It stated, in part, that “as one of only six Republican Delegates, popularly known as the ‘Watchdogs,’ then serving in the House, Strother Smith served on the House Committees on Executive Expenditures, Officers and Offices at the Capitol, Public Institutions, and Retrenchment and Economy, earning accolades for his ability to fight tenaciously but affably in a hostile, competitive budgetary climate, from which members of his party had been largely excluded, to secure much-needed state funding for important programs and projects within his community, most notably Richmond Professional Institute, funding for which constituted the initial seed money for its meteoric growth and evolution into a modern, world-class institution of higher learning now known as Virginia Commonwealth University.” He is survived by his children, the Rev. S. Strother Smith III ’63, attorney-at-law, of Lebanon, Virginia, the Rev. Caroline Smith Parkinson of The Plains, Virginia, and Richard Hewlett Smith II; seven grandchildren; and

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS 16 great-grandchildren. His wife, Elizabeth Peele Oglesby, to whom he was married in 1940, died in 2001. In addition to his son, his VMI relatives included his great-grandfather, Charles M. Barton, class of 1856; his great uncle, Henry M. Smith, class of 1888; and his uncle, Richard H. Smith Jr. ’15.

Russell H. Ferrey ’39 Russell Harrison Ferrey ’39 of Atlanta, Georgia, died on July 10, 2008. He was 91. Ferrey matriculated from Burlington, Ontario, Canada, and held a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI, where he was a member of the cross country and track teams for four years and of the Glee Club for three years. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1942-57 and in the U.S. Army Reserve Signal Corps from 1958-63. He served during the war in the Pacific Theatre of Operations and was stationed at Port Moresby, New Guinea, and Palo, Leyte. Ferrey, who worked for the Eastman Kodak Company prior to the war, rejoined that firm after the war. He worked there as a research chemist until 1960. At that time he began teaching mathematics in Fairfax County, Virginia, and Dare County, North Carolina, schools. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy W. GibsonFerrey of Atlanta; three children, Dayl Ferrey Reid-Roberts, Spencer Page Ferrey and Elizabeth Ferrey Godburn; two stepchildren, Diane Callahan and Thomas Harris Gibson III; seven grandchildren, Deborah Reid Brash, Patricia Reid Strong, M. Stephen Reid, James O. Tucker, Gwendolyn Elizabeth Tucker, John Russell Tucker and Cathrine Megan Ferrey; three stepgrandchildren, Wendy Healan, Emily Gibson and Graham Gibson; 11 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Allan E. Ferrey ’46 of Burlington, Ontario, Canada. His first wife was the late Elizabeth Spencer Page Ferrey. Another brother, James P. Ferrey ’37, died in 2003.

Robert H. Deaderick ’40 Robert Hardin Deaderick ’40 of Richmond, Virginia, died on May 26, 2008. He was 90. Deaderick matriculated from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he was an F Company second lieutenant. He was a member of the varsity track team and the Monogram Club for three years, and served as captain of the track team during his first class year. A veteran of World War II, he served in the

2008-Issue 4

U.S. Army Field Artillery from 1942-45. He was a forward observer in Gen. George Patton’s 7th Armored Division, spearheading its combat advance across Europe, where he was instrumental in liberating numerous occupied venues. He received the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart Medal, and was recommended for the Silver Star for gallantry in action. He separated from the Army holding the rank of captain. Prior to the war, he worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority as a civil engineer. Following the war, he worked as a structural engineer in Cleveland, Ohio, for the Austin Company. In 1954 he and his family moved to Richmond where he worked for Baskerville & Sons Architects. In 1961 he started his own business, Robert H. Deaderick, Consulting Structural Engineer, which he later expanded by creating Home Inspection Consultants. He was responsible for many projects in Fredericksburg, including conversion of the old Shannon Farm to the Sheraton Hotel; the addition to the Fredericksburg Baptist Church in the 1960s; the renovation of Gari Melcher’s Home and Studio at Belmont in the 1970s; structural components of the Executive Office Building on Caroline Street, which is Fredericksburg’s tallest building; and underpinning of the old National Bank building and tunnel. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jane Argenbright Deaderick of Richmond; two sons, Robert H. Deaderick Jr. ’65 and his wife, Caroline, of Fredericksburg and R. Douglas Deaderick of India; two daughters, Diane Montgomery-Logan and her husband, Lanny Watts, and Sally Deaderick Thompson and her husband, Gary; seven grandchildren, Andrea and Gretchen Hildebran, Rob, Elizabeth and David Deaderick and Shelby and Douglas Thompson; three nieces; and three nephews, among them Joseph W. Hutt III ’78 of Lynchburg, Virginia.

William E. Hall Jr. ’40 Judge William Ellison (Will) Hall Jr. ’40 of DeRidder, Louisiana, died on July 4, 2008. He was 88. Hall matriculated from Shreveport, Louisiana, and attended VMI for two years. He was an F Company corporal. He received his law degree from Louisiana State University and was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in 1942. A veteran of World War II, he enlisted in the Army on the day following his graduation from law school in 1942. He was one of the “90-day wonders.” He served as captain of Battery C, 748th Field Artillery Battalion, 9th Army. He was stationed at Burton-on-Trent, England,

before going into Germany. He was discharged in 1946 holding the rank of captain. In 1946 he became a partner in the law firm of LeCompte and Hall in DeRidder. In 1953 the firm became LeCompte, Hall and Coltharp, and finally Hall, Lestage and Landreneau. He served as city judge from 1954-83. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school for 25 years beginning in 1947 and served on many church committees. He served for many years on the boards of directors of City Saving Bank and the FSH Society. He was a past president of the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club, the 30th Judicial Bar Association and the Beauregard Country Club. He was a state board member of the American Cancer Society and the American Red Cross. He served as chairman of the advisory committee of the Louisiana Mineral Law Institute, as chairman of the United Way Advisory Council for Beauregard Parish, and as campaign chairman of United Way in 1991, and was a member of the Bundick Creek Dam Commission. He was a member of the executive committee of the Public Affairs Research Council, and was the secretary of the Beauregard Democratic Executive Committee and the DeRidder Democratic Executive Committee. He was a member of the American Legion, the VFW Louisiana Council of City Judges, and Louisiana Day Judges. He was chosen Citizen of the Year in 1960 and was elected Boss of the Year in 1978 by the DeRidder Legal Secretaries Association. He was selected by the Young Women’s League of DeRidder as the first King of Mardi Gras in 1985 and served as chairman of the Beauregard Advisory School Improvement Committee. In 2006 he was honored by the Lions Club for his 60 years of membership and commitment to the club. He is survived by two daughters, Dabney Richey and her husband, Lanier Richey, of Tyler, Texas, and Jill Hall and her husband, Sterling Smith, of Austin, Texas; two grandchildren, Will and Molly Richey of Tyler; a brother, Frank J. Hall, and his wife, Dorothy, of Shreveport; a nephew; and three nieces. His wife, to whom he was married in 1943, was the late Lady Van Beth Williams Hall, and his daughter was the late Lady Beth Hall.

Richard L. Moriarty ’41 Col. Richard Lee Moriarty ’41, USA (Ret), of St. Augustine, Florida, died on March 17, 2008. He was 86. Moriarty matriculated from The Plains, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI.

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TAPS A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1945-75, attaining the rank of colonel. During the war he served in the European and Pacific theatres. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Lee Simpson Moriarty of St. Augustine; a daughter, Karen Lee Moriarty Graves of Rocky Mount, Virginia; two sons, Rick M. Moriarty of Amissville, Virginia, and Edward L. Moriarty of Milton, Florida; and two grandsons.

Chesley M. Moyer Jr. ’43 Chesley Maurice (Ches) Moyer Jr. ’43 of Staunton, Virginia, died on May 13, 2008. He was 85. Moyer matriculated from Staunton and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he was a C Company corporal. He was a member of the wrestling and baseball teams for one year and of the equestrian team for two years. A veteran of World War II in the Pacific Theatre of Operations, he served in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps from 1943-54, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. He was a civil engineering instructor at VMI in 1948-49, when he became county engineer for Alleghany County. In 1954 he became city engineer for Staunton, after which he was named assistant city manager and, finally, city manager from 1963-67. He also served on the city Board of Zoning Appeals. He was assistant manager and then city manager of Suffolk, Virginia, from 1967-73, and then went to Manassas, Virginia, where he retired as city manager after 11 years of service. He was dispatcher for the Staunton Rescue Squad for 22 years, and was a member of Central United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Audrey Falls Moyer of Staunton; a daughter, Janice M. Campbell of Staunton; four grandchildren, Rachel Davis, Rebecca Gibson and her husband, Eric, and Robert Davis; four greatgrandchildren, Brian Bell, Kaleb Gibson, and Febian and Nadia Crosby; and a sister, Betty Beam of Bridgewater, Virginia. His brother was the late Frederick M. Moyer ’45.

Reley B. Roberts Jr. ’44 Reley Baxter (Bob) Roberts Jr. ’44 of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, died on June 2, 2008. He was 86. Roberts matriculated from Danville, Virginia, and attended VMI for one and one-half years. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1942-46 and participated in the invasion of Normandy Beach. He served in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command from 1949-52 and again from 1955-60, holding the rank of first lieutenant.

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He had been a resident of New Smyrna Beach since the 1960s. He was a member of the VFW, the Disabled American Veterans and a life member of the American Legion. He was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels. He was a firefighter with the New Smyrna Beach Fire Department and one of the founding members of the Firefighters Local 2271. He was also involved with Cape Canaveral during the Apollo missions. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Margaret Metzger Roberts of New Smyrna Beach; a daughter, Betsy Miller of Longwood, Florida; five sons, Kevin Roberts and his wife, Cynthia, Rusty Roberts and his wife, Kimberly, both of New Smyrna Beach, Rodney Voight, Randal Voigt and Patrick Voigt; five grandsons, Christopher and Kyle Roberts and Austin, Kyle and Kevin Miller. His brother-in-law was the late James R. Mathewson ’26.

Robert W. Gleason ’45 Robert Wade Gleason ’45 of Richmond, Virginia, died on April 13, 2008. He was 84. Gleason matriculated from Salem, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he held the rank of corporal. A veteran of World War II and Korea, he left VMI before graduating to serve as an infantry platoon leader with C Company, 1st Battalion, 47th Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-46 and again from 1950-53, attaining the rank of captain, and in the U.S. Army Reserve until 1984, attaining the rank of major. For his service in the European Theatre of Operations during World War II he was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, the European Theatre of Operations Ribbon with two Campaign Battle Stars (Rhineland and Central European campaigns) and the Distinguished Unit Citation. Assigned to the 9th Infantry, he crossed the Rhine at Remagen and, after completion of combat operations, participated in humanitarian activities after the liberation of Dachau. He then helped supervise security and support activities at the Nuremberg Trials, accompanying Karl Donitz, Rudolf Hess, Hermann Goering and others during their daily routines. He was then assigned as a team leader with Graves Registration in the area of the Maritime Alps based in Cannes, France. After a brief stint as the military “mayor” for the town of Zell am Zee, Austria, he returned to VMI and resumed his studies, graduating with the class of 1945. He was hired into the Bell System by John deButts ’36, the future chairman of AT&T. He retired from the Bell System and AT&T following 35 years of service. While with the Bell System he was recalled to active military

service for the Korean Conflict, and he served in Vietnam as an AT&T/Bell System contractor supporting the Defense Communications Agency. He worked with AT&T in Oman and Saudi Arabia, and he spent considerable time as a special projects manager for a number of activities supporting the Defense Communications Agency and other offices of the U.S. government. During this same period, he served in both the Virginia Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve. After retiring from the AT&T/Bell System in 1983, Gleason worked as a telecommunications contractor for eight years in Germany, assisting the U.S. Army Europe install and manager the European Telephone System. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Vera Daniloff Gleason of Richmond, whom he met in Cannes; two sons, Robert E. Gleason ’76 and his wife, Suzie, and their children, Nicole and Danielle, and Michael W. Gleason ’83 and his wife, Elisabeth, of Richmond; and a half-brother, Michael P. Gleason, and his wife, Kendall, and their children, Palmer and Trevor, of Matthews County, Virginia. Gleason will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetary on Nov. 7, 2008.

Paul A. Louis ’45 World War II POW Paul Adolph Louis ’45 of Miami, Florida, died on May 24, 2008. He was 85. Louis matriculated from Miami and held a bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts from VMI, where he was color sergeant during his second class year and a member of the Honor Court and General Committee during his first class year. He was a member of the football team for four years and of the Monogram Club for three years. Louis left VMI in the spring of 1943 to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After flight training he was assigned to the 441st Squadron (Med. Bomb.), 320th Group, 12th Air Force, operating as a B-26 pilot from Sardinia and later Corsica. On his 29th mission he was shot down over northern Italy, captured and imprisoned in Germany until he was liberated by Patton’s Third Army at the end of the war. He served with distinction as a first lieutenant. He was awarded seven Air Medals, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Purple Heart. He returned to VMI in September 1945 and graduated in June 1947. In 1970, in comments published in the class of 1945’s 25th reunion book, he wrote of his experience as a returning veteran. He said, in part, “VMI in 1945, 1946 and 1947 was an inspiring experience. About 150 veterans in their early 20s, with military

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS ranks from major to private, returned from the battlefields of the four corners of the earth and became part of a Cadet Corps composed of about 800 peach fuzz teenagers. We learned then what America is beginning to learn now: Youth must be served. Leadership, academic excellence and physical prowess were not monopolized by the veterans. Those teenagers met us on even terms, and the overall excellence of the academic, military and athletic standards of the Institute were raised to new heights.” Following graduation from VMI, Louis graduated from the University of Miami School of Law and was admitted to the Florida Bar in June 1950. He then practiced law for 57 years, and was a founder of the firm now known as Sinclair, Louis, Heath, Nussbaum & Zavertnik in downtown Miami. It was his representation of a young black man convicted of murder by an all-white jury that led to one of his great achievements in the law, Neil v. State, which was the seminal 1984 Supreme Court of Florida decision which ended the common practice of excluding individuals from jury panels based upon the color of their skin. He was a member of the Florida Bar Board of Governors; the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission; the Peer Review Committee; the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; and the Dade County Health Facilities Authority, and was a trustee of the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Ann Lapof Louis of Miami, to whom he was married in 1971; two sons, Louis Benson Louis IV ’94, M.D., and his wife, Paula, of Miami and Marshall Dore Louis and his wife, Lauren Fleischer; a daughter, Connor Cristina Louis Guntrip and her husband, Martin Guntrip; his mother-in-law, Nana; a nephew, Louis Stein; three nieces, Lisa Stein, Wendy Fisher Kamiel and her husband Michael, and Leslie Fisher Dew and her husband, Raleigh; two step-siblings, Ruth Elsasser and Irving Rubin; and a cousin, Bernard Weintraub.

William H. Russell ’45 William Hamer Russell ’45 of Kansas City, Missouri, died on May 15, 2008. He was 85, and died on his birthday. Russell matriculated from Hagerstown, Maryland, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he was a member of the football team for two years and the basketball and baseball teams for four years. He was also a member of the Bomb staff and the Monogram Club. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1943-46. He served in the European Theatre of Operations and received

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his commission as an officer in France. Russell earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Missouri at Columbia. He moved to Kansas City in 1948 to work for the International Milling Company. Subsequent service was with The Great Western Paint Company, Hallmark Cards, White Weld and United Telecommunications/Sprint, from which he retired as a vice president. He was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity, Beta Commission; the American Society of Civil Engineers; the Financial Executives Institute; the Financial Analysts Society; the University Club of Buffalo, New York, and Kansas City; the Kansas City Country Club, of which he was a past director; Rotary Club 13; the Vanguard Club; and Hatchet Club Investors. He was a past director of the Kansas City Senior Golf Association and a co-founder and past vice president of the Junior Golf Foundation of Greater Kansas City. He was an honorary alumnus and trustee of the Barstow School, and a director of the Helping Hand and Goodwill Industries; the Jones and Babson Mutual Funds; the Investors Mark Series Fund Inc. of BMA; and the Buffalo Funds. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Janet Redheffer Russell of Kansas City; three daughters and their husbands, Melissa and Ron Langstaff, Jennifer and Bob Sawyer and Charlotte and Dwayne White; seven grandchildren, Allison Langstaff Harding and her husband, Darren, Lara Langstaff Sullivan and her husband, Brogan, Scott Langstaff and his wife, Crystal, Stephanie Sawyer Freeman and her husband, Paul, Russell Sawyer, Lindsey White Horner and her husband, Bobby, and Emily White Dugger and her husband; Steve; 13 great-grandchildren; a brother, James S. Russell of Asheville, North Carolina; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Hartwell T. Sweeney ’46 Hartwell Townes Sweeney ’46 of Tucson, Arizona, died on June 23, 2008. He was 82. Sweeney matriculated from Portsmouth, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI, where he held the rank of sergeant. He was a member of the Hop and Floor Committee, the Honor Court and the VMI Commanders. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-45. He worked in the motion picture department of Eastman Kodak for 32 years. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patricia Maxwell Sweeney of Tucson; a son, Geoffrey Sweeney; four daughters, Ann Zawada and her husband, Bob, Elizabeth Sweeney, Cathy

Baldwin, and Julia Foster and her husband, Thomas; seven grandchildren, Joshua and his wife, Carol, Yana, Sarah and her husband, Colin, Geoffrey, Taylor, Maxwell and Casey; and four great-grandchildren, Lilianna, Isabella, Bronwyn and Caitlyn. His brother, Robert L. Sweeney ’40, died in 2005.

Richard R. Davison ’47 Richard Read Davison ’47 of Bryan, Texas, died on June 2, 2008. He was 82. Davison attended VMI for one year. A veteran of World War II, he served as a private first class in the U.S. Army from 194446. He saw combat in the Battle of the Bulge and was stationed in Nuremberg during the War Crimes Trials in 1945. He returned to Texas in 1946 and enrolled at Texas Tech University, where he received a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering in 1949. After graduation he worked for Lyon Oil Company in Snyder, Texas. In 1955 he moved to Bryan where he earned a master of science degree in 1958 and a doctorate in 1962, both in chemical engineering, at Texas A&M University. He then taught at Texas A&M for 45 years before retiring in 2003. He was one of the founding members of Grace Bible Church in the 1960s and was a consistent member of GBC’s board of elders. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joy Childs Davison of Bryan; two daughters, Mary Joy Hinton and her husband, Richard, of Dallas, Texas, and Julie Larson and her husband, Rick, of Bryan; a son, Dick Davison Jr. and his wife, Karen, of Bryan; and five grandchildren, Andress Koenning of Dallas, Richard R. Davison III and Howard Davison, both of Bryan, Marion Larson of Bryan and Elizabeth Hinton of Dallas.

John E. Timberlake ’48A The Rev. John Edward Timberlake ’48A of Harrisonburg, Virginia, died on June 43, 2008. He was 81. Timberlake matriculated from Fredericksburg and attended VMI for two years. During World War II he served as a pharmacist’s mate in the U.S. Navy Reserve. An ordained minister and pharmacist, Timberlake earned a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from the Medical College of Virginia and an M.Div. degree at Union and Louisville Presbyterian Seminaries. He served pastorates in Virginia and Kentucky. He was past Grand Chaplain of Masons in Virginia and past president of ministerial associations in Suffolk and Newport News, Virginia. He was a past president of the

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TAPS Rappahannock district Virginia Pharmacists Association and of the Mending Hearts Chapter 119 in Newport News, and founding president of Chapter 135, Harrisonburg. He was a scoutmaster and a Boy Scouts of America district training chairman. He is survived by his wife, Janet James Timberlake of Harrisonburg; a son, John M. Timberlake of Harrisonburg; and a sister, Betty Timberlake Trippett of Larchmont, New York.

Frank Everts Jr. ’48B Frank Everts Jr. ’48B of Dallas, Texas, died on July 9, 2008. He was 81. Everts attended VMI for two years. He was a member of Band Company. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1945-46 in the South Pacific on the U.S.S. Natoma Bay. He was 17 years old at the time. Everts held a bachelor of arts degree in business from Hardin-Simmons University, a private Baptist university in Abilene, Texas. He was a percussionist in the school’s band. A third generation jeweler, he was president of A. A. Everts Jewelers, which was established by his grandfather in 1897. He was a graduate Gemologist and the first Senior Member of the American Society of Appraisers in the Southwest. He taught appraising for the American Gem Society, SMU and other venues nationally. As the chairman of the AGS appraisal committee from 1975-81, he was instrumental in developing appraisal standards still used today. He was a past president of the Texas Jewelers Association and a past board member of the Retail Jewelers of America. He served often in many State and Federal District Courts as an accredited expert witness in his field. He was a 33 degree Mason and a member of the Masons for over 50 years, working with the Scottish Rite and as a Shrine and Highlander band member. He was active with the Salesmanship Club, the Visiting Nurse Association Board, the Boy Scouts and the Dallas Rotary Club, which he served as president in 1976. He taught Bible study at the Austin Street Center. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Boleman Everts of Dallas; six children, Roselyn Morris, Christine Hornbuckle and her husband, John, Frank Everts III and his wife, Susan, Robert D’Orazio and his wife, Gail, Victoria England and her husband, J.D., and Sandra D’Orazio; and eight grandchildren, Ruth and Rachel Morris, Laura and John Spence Hornbuckle, Hillary, Rosemary and Emily Everts, and Patricia England.

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O. Lee Slayton Jr. ’48B Class Agent, 1949-51 and 2008

of La Jolla, California, James Al Slayton of Edmond, Oklahoma, John B. Slayton of Palestine, Texas, and Robin Slayton Graham of Houston, Texas; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a sister, Maggie Glauber of Alexandria, Virginia. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1950, was the late Barbara Broome Slayton. Following her death in 1972, he was married to Wanda Morris Slayton from 1972-96. His Slayton ’48B cousin was the late George J. Helms ’34.

Ofus Lee Slayton Jr. ’48B of Lynchburg, Virginia, died on July 21, 2008. He was 80 and was serving as the class of 1948B’s class agent at the time of his death. Slayton matriculated from Rocky Mount, Virginia, and held a bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts from VMI, where he was the D Company captain. He was a member of the Hop and Floor Committee for three years and of the Cadet newspaper staff and the track team for two years. He served in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command from 1948-55, attaining the rank of captain. His service included a combat tour in Korea. He was awarded one Air Medal. In 1955 he became a geological scout for Amerada Petroleum Company in Midland, Texas. He joined Getty Oil Company in land management in 1957, rising to the position of district manager in Houston before joining Texas Crude Companies as vice president in 1980. He was active in the American Association of Petroleum Landmen, serving as a director from 1974-76 as well as in state and local chapters. He was president of the Michigan Association of Petroleum Landmen from 1974-76. A lifetime member of the Episcopal Church, he was active at parish, diocesan and national levels. He served as senior warden at the Church of the Resurrection in Oklahoma City at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Lansing, Michigan, and at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Bon Secour, Alabama. He served the Diocese of Texas from 1977-99 in a variety of capacities, including as a member on the board of directors of St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, as a trustee of the St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation and a trustee of the Bishop Quin Foundation for nine years, six as president. He was a stewardship consultant for the Dioceses of Texas (1982-99) and the Office of Congregational Stewardship of the Episcopal Church of the U.S.A. for 12 years. In this capacity, he assisted more than 200 congregations in building programs’ capitol fund drives and developing faithful giving programs. He is survived by his wife, Laura Lee Johnson Slayton of Lynchburg, a former high school sweetheart to whom he was married in 2002; four children, Lee Ann Slayton

Kenneth W. Carrington ’50B Kenneth Wilson Carrington ’50B, M.D., of Salem, North Carolina, died on July 11, 2008. He was 79. Carrington matriculated from York, Pennsylvania, and held a bachelor of science degree in pre-med from VMI, from which he graduated with distinction. He was a member of the football team for four years. He served briefly in the U.S. Air Force before attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1954. He was a resident in neurological surgery at the University of Michigan and a Fellow in neurological surgery at Harvard Medical School. He practiced neurological surgery in Augusta, Georgia, from 1961-77. He was a member of the American Medical Association and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, as well as of the Holy Trinity Church in Clemson, South Carolina. He is survived by his wife, Priscilla Whitt Carrington of Salem; his children, Karen Elaine Carrington of Shanghai, China, Debra Ann Carter and her husband, David, of Boca Raton, Florida, Krista Lee Gillam, DVM, and her husband, Brad, of Bell Buckle, Tennessee, Kenneth Wilson Carrington Jr. and his wife, Allyson, of Charleston, South Carolina, and Troy Wade Carrington and Casey Nicole Carrington, both of Los Angeles, California; and eight grandchildren, Dax White and his wife, Kathleen, Harrison Carter, Matthew Carter, Carrington Carter, Rachel Berkley, Reid Gillam, Kenneth Wilson Carrington III and Beckett Carrington.

Stephen M. Evans Jr. ’50B Steven Morris Evans Jr. ’50B of Garland, Texas, died on May 22, 2008. He was 78. Evans matriculated from Shreveport, Louisiana, and attended VMI for one year. He then transferred to Vanderbilt University, from which he graduated with a degree in mechanical

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TAPS engineering. He later earned a master’s degree from the Harvard Business School. Morris joined the Army Signal Corps at the end of the Korean War and was stationed at White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico. While there he helped design cameras to track missile launches. After the war he moved to Dallas, Texas, where he worked as assistant to the chief engineer for Chance Vought, after which he went on to become president of several companies. He held a number of patents. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Mayme Diffey Evans of Garland; three children, Stephen Morris Evans III of New York City, William Arnold Evans and his wife, Marci, of Plano, Texas, and Jenny Wennerberg and her husband, Evan, of Plano; and three grandchildren, Katie Wennerberg, Steven Wennerberg and Emily Evans.

James G. Reid Jr. ’50B James Garnett Reid Jr. ’50B of Richmond, Virginia, died on June 1, 2008. He was 79. Reid matriculated from Richmond and attended VMI for one year. In 1948 he joined Williams and Reed, a wholesale flooring company, as a trainee. After several years be was given a territory and began his career as a salesman. In 1954 he joined Capital Equipment Company, a distributor of heavy construction equipment, as a salesman. In 1961 he resigned from Capital and joined Rish Equipment as its sales representative in Tidewater, Virginia. In 1965 he was named branch manager for Rish’s operation in Norfolk, Virginia, and remained in that position until 1969. In 1969 he purchased an interest in Capital Equipment Company and moved back to Richmond to assume the responsibility of vice president and sales manager. He was a member of the West Richmond Rotary Club and a life member and commodore in 1976 of the Fishing Bay Yacht Club in Deltaville, Virginia. He was a past president of the Virginia Equipment Dealers Association. He was a member of St. James’s Episcopal Church for 35 years. He is survived by two daughters, Leslie Reid Baker and her husband, Brian, of Virginia Beach, and Carrie Reid Russell and her husband, Ames, of Richmond; three grandchildren, Caroline Baker, Sam Russell and Helen Russell; and a brother, L. Bagley Reid of Fishers Island, New York. His wife, to whom he was married for 49 years, was the late Jean Gillespie Reid. His father was the late James G. Reid ’23 and his uncle was the late Clarence W. Huff ’22.

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William B. Bowles IV ’51 William Boardman Bowles IV ’51 of Salem, Virginia, died on July 12, 2008. He was 79. Bowles matriculated from Salem and attended VMI for two months. He also attended Roanoke College. He was the president of Bowles Nelson Powers. He is survived by a cousin, Em Bowles Locker Alsop of Richmond, Virginia, and her daughter, Carter Boardman Alsop Kesler.

Don F. Gross ’51 Don Frederick Gross ’51 of Covington, Virginia, died on July 9, 2008. He was 80. Gross matriculated from Vinton, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year. He later attended Carson Newman College and graduated from Roanoke College with a bachelor of science degree in biology. He earned a master’s degree in forestry from Duke University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954-56. He had been the owner and operator of Virginia Real Estate since 1978 and was a real estate broker, appraiser and consulting forester. Prior to that, he worked for 20 years as an industrial forester, 18 years of which were with Westvaco. He was a member of the Association of Consulting Foresters. He was a member of Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church, where he served as treasurer and finance chairman, among others. He was a former member of the Alleghany County School Board and Highlands School Board, and was a director for 21 years of the Mountain Soil and Water Conservation Districts. He was recognized in 1991 as Outstanding Conservationist. He was a past president of the Virginia State Association and served on the National Association of Conservation Districts Forestry Committee. He was a past president and current board member of the Roanoke Hollins Livestock Market. He is survived by his wife, Camille B. Gross of Covington; five children, Thomas F. Gross and his wife, Kelly, of Daleville, Virginia, Laura G. Wilkinson and her husband, David, of Richmond, Virginia, Linda Shawcross and her husband, Bill, of Clemmons, North Carolina, Adam Beck and his wife, Maureen, of Glen Allen, Virginia, and James Beck and his wife, Laura, of Montclair, New Jersey; and 10 grandchildren, Shannon Gross, Claire Gross, Andrew Gross, Olivia Wilkinson, Katie Shawcross, Emily Shawcross, Meghan Beck, Molly Beck, Mara Beck and Andreas Beck. His first wife, Jane Wood Gross, died in 1995.

Arthur J. Johns ’51

Commander Arthur Janovsky Johns ’51, U.S. Navy (Ret), of Hendersonville, Tennes-

see, died on May 8, 2008. He was 78. Johns matriculated from Chicago, Illinois, and attended VMI for two years. He also attended the Northwestern University School of Law. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1954-74 with the Judge Advocate General Corps. He was a graduate of the Navy War College and was awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and three Bronze Star Medals. When he retired from the Navy he began a private practice of law in San Diego, California. He was a former Sumner County Military Officers Association of America officer in Hendersonville, and served on various boards of directors in California. He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Ellen R. Johns of Hendersonville; a daughter, Joyee Goodall, and her husband, Randy, and their children, Elizabeth and Michael, all of Austin, Texas; two sons, Craig Jones, and his wife, Kate, and their four children, Hayley, Alex, Tucker and Jackson, all of Granite Bay, California; and Kevin Johns and his wife, June, of Hahira, Georgia, and his two children, Melissa and David; a brother, Carlton Johns, and his wife, Ruth, of San Francisco, California; and a stepdaughter, Donna Kieser of Hendersonville.

Robert L. Montgomery III ’51 Robert Lee Montgomery III ’51 of Olanta, South Carolina, died on June 25, 2008. He was 78. Montgomery matriculated from Salem, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year and five months and was a graduate of Roanoke College. He served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and was retired from the Virginia Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, where he was an area coordinator. He was a founding member of the Aberdeen Men’s Golf Association in Longs, South Carolina, a Master Mason and a member of the Northern Virginia/Commonwealth Basketball Officials Association. He is survived by a daughter, Kim Proctor, and her husband, William, of Olanta; a son, Scott Montgomery, and his wife, Frances, of Elon, North Carolina; his fiancée, Lesley Mason of Epping, England; seven grandchildren, Ashley M. Harvey and her husband, Chris, Amy Catherine Montgomery, Wade Thomas Montgomery, Craig Scott Montgomery, Meghan Elizabeth Proctor, Ryan Lee Montgomery and Mason Stuart Montgomery; and two greatgrandchildren, William Christopher Duval Harvey and Laney Quinn Harvey.

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TAPS Edward V. Coggins Jr. ’52 Col. Edward Vaughan (Coogie) Coggins Jr. ’52, USAF (Ret), of Fort Worth, Texas, died on Feb. 28, 2008. He was 76. Coggins matriculated from Portsmouth, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year. He was a 1953 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and earned a master of science degree from U.S.C. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the U.S. Air Force for 26 years. He was a fighter pilot for most of his Air Force career. He served two combat tours in Vietnam and commanded the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron from 1971-73. Following his retirement in 1979 he moved to Fort Worth. In civilian life he worked as a computer and management consultant and as a professor of military history at the American Military University. He was the author of two books: Wings That Stay On, a history of fighter aviation, and Virginian in Blue, a biography of Civil War Gen. George Thomas. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joan Marie Hayes Coggins of Fort Worth; five daughters, Denny and her husband, Gary Berry, Kathy and her husband, Dave Phillips, Patti and her husband, Joel Bonfiglio, Shari and her husband, Ty Seidule, and Laurie and her husband, Todd Arnold; eight grandchildren, Laura, Tom, Kacie, Tyler, Peter, Sam, Wade and Andy; a nephew, Bob; and two nieces, Joy and Debbie.

William M. Carter III ’53 William Martin Carter III ’53 of Chesapeake, Virginia, died on June 13, 2008. He was 77. Carter matriculated from Norfolk, Virginia, and attended VMI for eight days. He was a retired parts control traffic coordinator with the Ford Motor Company, for which he worked for 35 years.

Richard L. Stilwell ’53 Richard Lee Stilwell ’53 of Chocowinity, North Carolina, died on May 24, 2008. He was 75. Stillwell matriculated from Luray, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he was the C Company first sergeant. He worked briefly for Bethlehem Steel before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1954. He separated from the Air Force in 1955 and then earned a master’s degree in business from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management in 1958. He took a job with IBM in the New England area and worked for IBM for 33 years as a systems engineer. He spent 31 years living

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in Sherborn, Massachusetts, before retiring to North Carolina in 2002. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Claire Schwennker Stilwell of Chocowinity; two daughters, Jennifer Hill and her husband, Richard, of The Woodlands, Texas, and Karen Miller and her husband, Mark, of Pasadena, California; a son, Jim, and his wife, Michelle, of Hopkinton, Massachusetts; seven grandchildren, Kevin and Derek Hill, Thomas, Isaac and Jane Stilwell and Luke and Elise Miller; a brother, James E. Stilwell ’58, and his wife, Kay, of Harrisonburg, Virginia; and a sister, Anne, of Luray, Virginia.

Thomas A. Dicks ’55 Thomas Alan Dicks ’55 of Springfield, Illinois, died on July 11, 2008. He was 76. Dicks matriculated from Broadlands, Illinois, and attended VMI for two months. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Illinois and retired from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in 1999.

Steve B. Dod ’55 Steve Bare Dod ’55 of Staunton, Virginia, died on May 16, 2008. He was 76. Dod matriculated from Lexington, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year. He also attended the University of Tennessee. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1953. A seaman, he served in the United States Honor Guard in Washington, D.C. and separated from the Navy in 1955. He was retired from Dod Distributing Company, which he founded in 1960 and led for 37 years. He was on the board of directors of the Virginia Beer Wholesalers for 12 years, and served on the advisory boards of First and Merchants Bank, Sovran Bank, NationsBank, Bank of America and Frontier Community Bank. He was a member of the board of directors of the Frontier Culture Museum, and a member of the Elks Club, the American Legion and the V.F.W., as well as the Eagles Club, the Moose Club and Saints and Sinners. He was a 32nd degree Mason of the Mountain City Lodge in Lexington, and Shriner of the Kazim Temple. He is survived by a daughter, Nancy Lee Dod of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina; a son, John Byard Dod and his wife, Tina, of Harrisonburg, Virginia; four grandchildren, Leigh Anna Dod, John B. Dod III, Maddy Dod and Steven Dod Lynn; a sister, Laura (Punky) Dod of Lexington; a brother, William Rader Dod of Lexington; and numerous nieces and nephews. His wife was the late Jean Woodfield Dod.

Ray I. Lloyd Jr. ’55 Ray Irving Lloyd Jr. ’55 of Radford, Virginia, died on May 21, 2008. He was 76. Lloyd matriculated from Narrows, Virginia, and attended VMI for two years. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1964. He served in the U.S. Navy and in the U.S. Army Reserve. During his military career he attended the U.S. Navy Engineman School and Submarine School, the U.S. Army Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy and the Sergeants Major Academy. He retired from the Army Reserve in 1992 with 39 years of continuous service and holding the rank of command sergeant major, AUS. He was retired as the Radford City assistant manager. He served on numerous committees and authorities including construction of the New River Valley Regional Jail, Radford Recreation Center, Radford Fire Station, the Virginia Employment Commission Building, the Radford Public Library, the Radford Municipal Building and Bissett Park. He was a member of Central United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Miller Lloyd of Radford; three children, Dianne L. Clark and her husband, Timothy, of Radford, Benjamin B. Lloyd and his wife, Laura, of Owensboro, Kentucky, and Angela M. Hill and her husband, Scott, of Christiansburg, Virginia; six grandchildren, Zachary Leelin and Nicholas Irving Clark, Caleb Irving and Isaac Hayes Lloyd, and Michael Thomas and Matthew Lee Hill; two brothers, David Lloyd and his wife, Donna, and Thomas Lloyd and his wife, Nancy, all of Narrows; a sister, Suzanne Sawyers, and her husband, Fred, of Montana; many nieces and nephews; a sister-in-law, Cheryl Rogers, and her husband, Neil; a brother-inlaw, Kent Miller, and his wife, Dorinda; and a stepmother-in-law, Dulcene H. Miller.

Charles I. McClelland ’55 Charles Irvin McClelland ’55 of McLean, Virginia, died on July 14, 2008. He was 75. McClelland matriculated from Clarksville, Pennsylvania, and held a bachelor of science degree in physics from VMI. He earned an LL.B. degree from the George Washington University Law School in 1963. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a jet instructor pilot in Furstenfeldbruck and Wiesbaden, Germany, in the late 1950s. He was an examiner in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Officer in the 1960s, and was a senior partner in the Alexandria, Virginia, law firm of Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier and Neustadt for nearly 40 years. He is survived by his wife, Christine McClelland of McLean; two daughters, Ashley

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS McClelland and Morgan McClelland, both of McLean; two sons, Douglas McClelland of Vienna, Virginia, and Paul McClelland of Wilmington, Delaware; and his mother, Amelia McClelland of Clarksville, Pennsylvania.

James D. Reynolds ’55 James Douglas Reynolds ’55 of Yorktown, Virginia, died on May 31, 2008. He was 75. Reynolds matriculated from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and held a bachelor of arts degree in biology from VMI, where he was a member of the football team for three years. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the U.S. Air Force Military Intelligence from 1956-80. He was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency for many years and was also an instructor navigator in the Strategic Air Command’s Air Refueling Operations. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals and the Vietnamese Honor Medal. He retired holding the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was a retired bank assistant vice president, and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was a former member of the Exchange Club of Hampton Roads. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Lois Marie Reynolds of Yorktown; a daughter, Carolyn Elizabeth Reynolds; a son, James (Doug) Reynolds and his wife, Trudi Jordan; and two grandchildren, Marlee Nicole Reynolds and Patricia (Tricia) Marie Reynolds.

Jack Sidney ’55 Jack Sidney ’55 of Manhattan Beach, California, died on March 16, 2008. He was 74. Sidney matriculated from Beverly Hills, California, and held a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI. He served in the U.S. Army from 1956-57. He went to work for his uncle in the men’s wear business, and eventually he came to own the London Shops with its landmark location on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Following his retirement in the men’s wear business he had a second career in real estate with Sidney Properties in Manhattan Beach. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sherry Sidney of Manhattan Beach; four children, Larry, John, Alice and Steven; and five grandchildren, Wiley, Milo, Eliza, Tiffany and Kelly.

Thomas E. Hays Jr. ’57 Thomas Edward Hays Jr. ’57 of Hope, Arkansas, died on May 7, 2008. He was 73. Hays matriculated from Hope and held a bachelor of arts degree in biology from VMI,

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where he was a sergeant during his second class year. He was a member of the golf team for three years. He served in the U.S. Army in 1957-58, and later graduated from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, Rutgers University. He began his banking career with the First National Bank of Dallas, Texas. He moved back to Hope in 1962 to join his father, Thomas Hays Sr., and his uncle, former U.S. Senator Lloyd Spencer, at First National Bank of Hope, where he progressed from cashier to president and CEO. He was chairman of the board at the time of his death. He was a past president of the Arkansas Bankers’ Association and a past member of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Little Rock branch. As chairman of First National Bank, Hope, he directed the expansion of the bank to become First National Bancshares of Hempstead County, including First National Bank of Hope, Bank of Blevins, First National Bank of Lewisville and Texarkana First Bank, N.A., of Texarkana, Texas. He was a leader in economic and community development in Hope, Hempstead County and Southwest Arkansas. He was recognized for his service by being named Hope/Hempstead County Citizen of the Year. He served from 1962 until his death on the board of directors of the Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation. He also served as a member of the board of directors of the Hope Water and Light Company, and was a member of the Hempstead County Hunting Club. A lifelong Presbyterian, Hays was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Hope, where he served as an elder and trustee. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Betty Jo Fite Hays of Hope; three sons, Thomas E. Hays III and his wife, Helen, of Cambridge, England, Daniel Fite Hays and his wife, Kristi, of Hope, and John Julian Hays and his wife, Tonja, of Hope; eight grandchildren; and a sister, Nancy Hays Gottwald, and her husband, Bruce C. Gottwald Sr. ’54 of Richmond, Virginia. Among his other survivors are two VMI nephews, Bruce C. Gottwald Jr. ’81 and Thomas E. Gottwald ’83, both of Richmond.

Michael W. Maupin ’59 Class President, Valedictorian Michael William Maupin ’59 of Richmond, Virginia, died on May 5, 2008. He was 70. Maupin matriculated from Charlottesville, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he was named a distinguished graduate. During his first class year Maupin served as an F Company second lieutenant and as president of

the General and Executive Committees. He was a member of the VMI Commanders for four years and served as its director during his first class year. He received the Lemuel MacKennie Long Jarman Award as a fourth classman Maupin ’59 and the Alvin Meyer Class of 1941 Award as a second classman. He was designated a Distinguished Student for three years and a Distinguished Military Student for two years, and at the time of his graduation he was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. He served on active duty with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1961-62, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. He graduated in 1964 from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was editor of the Virginia Law Review. Following a clerkship in 1964-65 with Justice Tom C. Clark ’21 of the United States Supreme Court, he joined Hunton & Williams LLP in 1965, where he practiced law until his retirement as a partner in the firm. He was a member of the board of the Richmond Symphony and a past president of the Virginia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and served on the board of Art Works, a Richmond Arts Council project to promote Virginia artists. He was a former member of the board of directors of the Robert E. Lee Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He was a past president of the VMI Club of Richmond and served at one time on VMI’s Alfred Dickinson Barksdale ’11 Memorial Law Scholarship Selection Committee. Maupin was elected associate general counsel of the VMI Foundation Inc. in 1978 and served in that capacity and, later, as general counsel for many years. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Powell of Richmond; and two sons, William Maupin and his wife, Jeanine, of New York City, New York, and John Maupin and his girlfriend, Sarah Wyse, of Orlando, Florida.

Solomon S. Ratner ’59 Lt. Col. Solomon Stanley Ratner ’59, USA (Ret), of Aventura, Florida, died on Aug. 12, 2006. He was 68. Ratner matriculated from Miami, Florida, and held a bachelor of arts degree in biology from VMI, where he was a D Company corporal. He was a member for four years of both the Hop and Floor Committee and the Glee

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TAPS Club, and was a member for two years of the wrestling team. He earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees from Florida Atlantic University and a doctorate from Nova University. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps from 1960-84, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He attended the Command and General Staff College and the National War College, and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with V for valor. He is survived by two sons, Lon Ratner and Ryan Ratner and his wife, Ann; and four grandchildren, Kaylin, Richard, Jordan and Noah.

Chester G. Pauska ’62 Chester George Pauska ’62 of Round Rock, Texas, died on July 5, 2007. He was 65. Pauska matriculated from Richmond Hill, New York, and attended VMI for three years. He was a biology major. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sandy Popowich Pauska of Round Rock; a son, Keith Pauska, and his wife, Carrie, of Portland, Texas; a daughter, Natalie LaPerriere, and her husband, Craig, of Plymouth, Massachusetts; two granddaughters, Lorelei Pauska of Portland and Cosette LaPerriere of Plymouth; and a brother, Edward Pauska of Long Island, New York.

William G. Morris ’63 Lt. Col. William George Morris ’63, USA (Ret), of Colonial Heights, Virginia, died on April 14, 2008. He was 66. Morris matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI. He later earned a master of arts degree from Chapman University. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the U.S.

Army for 24 years beginning in 1964. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters. Upon retirement from the Army, Morris taught science at Clements Middle School for 14 years. He is survived by his wife, Joyce (Jo) Morris of Colonial Heights; his children and their spouses, Diana J. and Ron Batliner, Shari D. and Col. Charles Hardy and William J. and Cheryl Morris; his grandchildren, Chad, Brittany, Brandon, Tarin and Jayden; his father, William H. Morris; and his brothers and their spouses, Robert H. and Debbie Morris, Brian D. and Theresa Morris and James O. and Debbie Jo Morris.

Ralph E. Eckert ’66 Ralph Edward Eckert ’66 of Pompano Beach, Florida, died on April 27, 2008. He was 65. Eckert matriculated from Cheverly, Maryland, and held a bachelor of arts degree in biology from VMI, where he was a Band Company corporal and a member of the VMI Commanders and the SCUBA Club. He served in the U.S. Army from 1967-69, attaining the rank of captain. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Following his service in the Army, Eckert worked in the health care industry, then owned and operated several adult education centers in New England. In 1977 he moved to Florida, where he became a real estate broker and was active in the North Broward Realtors Association. He was the president-broker of Harbor Village Properties in Pompano Beach. He was a former president of the North Broward Kiwanis Club. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Seaman (PJ) Eckert of Pompano Beach; his mother,

Hettie J. (Shank) Eckert; and a sister and her husband, Helen M. and Dr. Graham Gilmer. Editor’s Note: Because of several errors in the obituary for John B. Foret ’67 that was published in 2008-Issue 3 of the Alumni Review, his obituary, as provided by Mrs. Foret, is being republished below, with apologies to Mrs. Foret and the Foret family from Kathryn Wise, vice president of The VMI Alumni Association.

John B. Foret Jr. ’67 John Bert Foret Jr. ’67 of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, died on March 12, 2008. He was 62. Foret matriculated from Takoma Park, Maryland, and held a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI, where he was a member of the band. He earned a master’s degree in the technology of management from the American University in Washington, D.C. He served two years in the U.S. Army’s 52nd Artillery Brigade in Syracuse, New York, and retired as a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve after 30 years. He retired from the Food and Drug Administration as director of the Division of Compliance and Enforcement after 37 years, which also included his final year with the Department of Homeland Security, Protective Security Division. He is survived by his wife, Mary A. Foret of Gettysburg; three sons, Paul Bert Foret of Huntersville, North Carolina, Philip John Foret, Esq., of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, and Stephen Edward Foret of Harleysville, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren, Hannah Elizabeth, Miles Philip, Isabelle Marie, Gabriella Therese and Amelia Catherine; and one sister, Margaret DeNeane Odom of Owings Mills, Maryland.

Death in the VMI Family Bonnie Drumm Faculty Wife Benita McCarthy (Bonnie) Drumm of Barboursville, Virginia, died on June 2, 2008. She was 91 and the widow of Col. Austin Marcus Drumm, who started at VMI in 1953 and taught history for 22 years until his retirement in 1975.

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THE VMI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION DIRECTORY The VMI Alumni Association, Inc. President

Richmond P. Lykins Jr. ’73 1882 Elmhurst Dr. Germantown, TN 38138 vmi73agent@aol.com

First Vice President Randolph M. Blanks ’67 4773 Charter Ct. Woodbridge, VA 22192 vmi67@comcast.net

Second Vice President Robert A. Heely ’69 507 Westover Ave. Norfolk, VA 23507 bob_heely@wcbay.com

The VMI Foundation, Inc.

Executive Vice President

President

Walter C. Perrin II ’62

Adam C. Volant ’88 P.O. Box 932 Lexington, VA 24450 adam@vmialumni.org

Immediate Past President

James F. Spellman Jr. ’85 jfspellman@vmialumni.org

James L. Adams ’71

The VMI Keydet Club, Inc. President

William H. Stephens Jr. ’73

Historian

Thomas W. Davis ’64 davistw@vmi.edu

Executive Vice President

Executive Vice President Gregory M. Cavallaro ’84

Terms Expire June 30, 2009 Terms Expire June 30, 2010 Michael Zirkle ’97 mzirkle@vmialumni.org Rick Hall ’79 rick.hall@ljbank.com Michael Soares ’75 mLodington@gmail.com Heidi Nagel ’02 Heidimason@aol.com Terms Expire June 30, 2011 Kenneth Herbert ‘81 kherbert81@cox.net Douglas Burdett ’82 douglasburdett@yahoo.com

Directors at Large

Region/ Director

Chapter Name

Chapter President

President’s E-mail

Chapter Representative

Region I Far West

Hawaii Greater Los Angeles Bob Clingenpeel ’69 New Mexico Northern California bclingenpeel1@ Pacific Northwest gmail.com Rocky Mountain San Diego Inland Empire Chapter Alaska Arizona Las Vegas

Russell Shun Takata ’74 Matthew R. Hemenez ’90 Frank J. Leech ’55 Todd E. Arris ’87 James R. Farmer ’68 Charles G. Decher ’00 Jay C. Wegrzyn ’66 Andre J. Gibson ’78 Trent L. Boggs ’83 Robert D. Clingenpeel Jr. ’69 Kenneth S. Krynski ’89

takatar@earthlink.net mrhemenez@cox.net judsonleech@comcast.net tearris@gmail.com seattlefarmer@comcast.net gillespie77@mac.com jcwegrzyn@yahoo.com andrejg@aol.com tboggs@gci.com bclingenpeel1@gmail.com kenkrynski@aol.com

Russell Shun Takata ’74 Robert W. Edwards ’83 R. C. Saunders III ’66 Todd E. Arris ’87 James R. Farmer ’68 James R. Greathead ’60 Nathaniel P. Ward IV ’65 Peter H. Lyons ’54 Marcus Bruce Paine ’81 Thomas D. Kelly ’50B John D. Christie ’59

Region II Midwest

Robert R. Costigan ’70 Jeffrey L. Minch ’73 Jeffrey T. Golden ’99 Todd J. Jacobs ’90 Timothy S. Feagans ’90 Alexander E. Woelper ’80 Joseph J. Leonard Jr. ’83 Michael A. Demers ’80 Harry W. Gore Jr. ’72 David C. Hagemann ’80 James F. Dittrich ’76 Gregory G. McDearmon ’99 Walter J. Kleine ’63 Hamel Reinmiller ’98

bcosti@mindspring.com jminch@littlefield.com jeff.t.golden@smithbarney.com toddjacobs@mindspring.com tfeagans@marcusmillchap.com alexw@enconinternational.com Joseph.J.Leonard@uscg.mil michael.demers2@wpafb.af.mil goreharry@vmialumni.org david.hagemann@us.army.mil jim_dittrich@leisurearts.com ggmcd34@earthlink.net WKleine@STX.RR.com HBRvmi98@vmialumni.org

Jimmie V. Thurmond ’56 Jeffrey L. Minch ’73 Donald A. Noschese Jr. ’92 Todd J. Jacobs ’90

Patrick L. McGuire ’85 Matthew L. Camfield ’94 John R. Gibney Jr. ’80

magsvmi@email.com matthew_camfield@msn.com jrgvmi80@nyc.rr.com

Patrick L. McGuire ’85 John W. Wainwright III ’82 John R. Gibney Jr. ’80

Owen J. Curley ’87 Duane E. Williams ’66 John D. Kearney ’73 Allan R. Berenbrok ’80

ojcurley@niles-law.com dwilliams@pa.net kearneyjd@msn.com aberenbrok@chesterengineers.com

Thomas J. Hickey Jr. ’68 Lester C. Martin ’68 John D. Kearney ’73 Robert A. Lane ’75

Terence L. Bowers ’68 Thomas N. Daniel Jr. ’60 Paul W. Holland ’90 John R. Savage ’74 Richmond P. Lykins Jr. ’73 William E. Kirby III ’96

tbowers68@comcast.net tomdaniel60@charter.net paul.holland@mckesson.com

Raymond R. Lawson ’81 Campbell C. Hyatt III ’65 Paul W. Holland ’90 John R. Savage ’74 Richmond P. Lykins Jr. ’73 Charles S. Sanger ’82

San Antonio Centex Fred Lehman ’91 Chicago Fredrick.Lehman@ Kansas City, Missouri morganstanley.com North TX - Dallas Rio Grande SE TX - Houston Southwest Ohio St. Louis Detroit Little Rock Bluegrass Third Coast (Corpus Christi) Oklahoma

Region III Northeast

John Gibney ’80 jgibney@ actuary.nyc.gov

Greater Rhode Island New England NY City - Long Island

Region IV Mid Atlantic

Baltimore Central Keystone Grover Outland’81 Delaware Valley outland@ Western PA - Pittsburgh techusa.net

Region V Southeast

Guy Conte ’75 guyconte@ gmail.com

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Augusta Appalachian Atlanta Coastal GA - South Carolina Midsouth Middle TN- Nashville

vmi73agent@aol.com tkirby@pvcre.com

Walter E. Woelper Sr. ’42 Steven P. Weiss ’86 Michael A. Demers ’80 Robert C. Polk ’61 Mark A. Benvenuto ’83 Hugh R. Hill ’85 M. Douglass Payne ’73 Michael A. Davis ’06

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THE VMI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION DIRECTORY Region/ Director

Region VI Carolinas

Lane Toomey ’74 toomeyl@ pinehurst.net

Region VII Deep South Jim Joustra ’76 Jim.Joustra@ Walgreens.com

Chapter Name

President’s E-mail

Chapter Representative

Club of the Triad John R. Fisher ’89 Cape Fear Charles L. Toomey ’74 Central NC- Raleigh Michael J. Tutor ’96 Charlotte James A. Sharp ’93 SE N. Carolina/NE S. Carolina Palmetto, South Carolina Coastal Carolina, SC Donald P. DeLuca ’62

j_fisher@ml.com toomeyl@pinehurst.net mike@tutorresumes.com jim@twpllc.com

John R. Fisher ’89 Charles L. Toomey ’74 Jonathan D. Atkins ’98 E. Hugh Daughtry III ’83

Birmingham Central Florida Mobile NE Florida - Jacksonville Southern Florida Tennessee Valley West Coast FL - Tampa Southwest Florida-Fort Meyer

William H. Cather Jr. ’65 James G. Joustra Jr. ’76 Charles M. Rogers IV ’83 Michael T. Fellows ’95 John A. Weekes Jr. ’97 Herbert U. Fluhler ’77 Larry L. Fluty ’78 Bradford T. Herrell ’01

billcather@bellsouth.net jim.joustra@walgreens.com max.rogers@mobileinfirmary.org michael.fellows@mac.com jweekeslaw@gmail.com huf2000@aol.com lfluty@tbegroup.com vmigrad1@hotmail.com

William H. Cather Jr. ’65

William A. Madison ’90 Thomas A. Brown ’78 W. Ware Smith Jr. ’62

bmadison@themadisonfamily.net tbees@comcast.com ware.smith@ubs.com

William A. Madison ’90 Bland Massie, Jr. ’77 W. Ware Smith Jr. ’62

W. Douglas Thomas ’65 James E. Duncan ’98 G. Wayne Eastham ’76 Thomas E. Jenks, III ’67 T. Troy Barbour ’89 Roger A. Jarrell II ’91

wdtllt@comcast.net jim@realcentralva.com weastham@carrhyde.com tedjenks@comcast.net troy.barbour@hcahealthcare.com rjarrell@spilmanlaw.com

Kevin J. Callanan ’78 Mark H. Bryant ’77 R. Edward Duncan ’60 Lewis V. Graybill ’62 Harrison L. Friedley Jr. ’61 Roger A. Jarrell II ’91

Robert W. Leatherbury ’80 David G. Tyler IV ’86 Douglas N. Burdett ’82 Edward M. Plucinski ’86 Gary J. Haste ’77 John L. Rowe Jr. ’66

lbcpa2@verizon.net

Thomas F. Wilson ’80

douglasburdett@yahoo.com ed.plucinski@hanson.com ghaste@associatedcontracting.com johnrowejr@verizon.net

James A. Parsons ’80 David J. Trenholm ’70 H. Ali Mahan ’80 Oliver D. Creekmore ’66

Sean P. Boyle ’91 Joseph E. Blanks ’94

boyle100@comcast.net vmijoe@hotmail.com

R. Rucker Slater Jr. ’88 Douglas B. Warner ’03

Ramil B. Ibanez ’90 William H. Talley IV ’77

ramil.ibanez@wachoviasec.com wht4@whts.com

Michael C. Denton ’81 Augustus Robbins III ’47

Carl J. DeBernard Jr. ’94 Richard A. Duke ’90 Peter J. Kokolis ’96

carl.debernard@dhs.gov rduke@mcguirewoods.com Peter_Kokolis@ml.com

R. C. Thompson III ’74 Robert B. Powell ’63 John J. Kokolis ’96

Vaipot Srinual ’72 Ching-Pu Chen ’85

Region VIII New River Valley Southwest VA Lynchburg Turner Perrow ’96 Roanoke tperrow@ perrowconsulting.com

Region IX Shenandoah Valley Ted Jenks ’67 tedjenks@ comcast.net

N. Shenandoah Valley Chapter Charlottesville Blue Ridge Rockbridge County Allegheny Highlands Stonewall Jackson

Region X

Eastern Shore Hampton Roads J. Sills O’Keefe ’93 Norfolk sokeefe@ Peninsula norfolkacademy.org Virginia Beach Western Tidewater

Region XI Metro D.C.

Sean Boyle ’91

George C. Marshall Potomac River

Chapter President

dpdl123@aol.com

Karl L. Klinar ’54

John H. Friend III ’82 Grafton D. Addison III ’82 Christopher R. Jones ’72 Raymond J. Pietruszka ’77 Andrew M. Neff ’79 Brett R. Martin ’00

boyle100@comcast.net

Steve Nakazawa ’ 03

steve.nakazawa@gmail.com

Region XII Central VA

Richmond Robert Louthan ’82 Tri Cities rpl@aocp.com

Christopher Ratchford ’94 christopher.l.ratchford@ wachoviasec.com

Region XIII

Fredericksburg - Quantico Rappahannock Rappahannock Eric Nost ’79 Williamsburg enost@cffc.copm

Region XIV Pacific Rim

Thailand Taiwan

Vaipot Srinual ’72 Ching-Pu Chen ’85

chingpu@saturn.yzu.edu.tw

Europe

Italy

Steven G. Cade ’87

steven.cade@us.army.mil

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ALUMNINEWS NEWS ALUMNI Arthur V. Brandriff Jr. ’59, principal of Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, has retired after 38 years in that position, according to an article on WAVY.com. Brandriff helped to open Western Branch in 1968, and in the years that followed, he held a variety of positions, including assistant principal, head football coach, athletic director, physics teacher and finally, principal. Since the school opened, the student body has grown dramatically from 89 to 2,400 students, and Brandriff knows nearly every one, the article says. In all of his years at Western Branch, his belief in the school’s students did not waver. “You try to treat them [well], make them feel good, find something they’re good at,” Brandriff was quoted as saying. “You know they’re not all academic scholars, but they may be great musicians, or great artists or great athletes.” Brandriff, who matriculated from Pennsville, New Jersey, graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. In addition, he earned a master’s degree from the College of William and Mary and served as a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

plant-insect and plant-plant interactions which have led to a paradigm shift in integrated pest management in agriculture and have significantly advanced agricultural sustainability. The research efforts associated with this award have been a major force in reorienting the thinking of agricultural scientists and educators toward a more ecologically sound approach to pest management. This research has demonstrated the sophisticated natural interactions between plants, insects feeding on plants and natural enemies that prey on or parasitize these herbivores and has shifted the pest management agenda worldwide. Tumlinson is the Ralph O. Mumma endowed professor of entomology and director of the Center for Chemical Ecology at Penn State University. Prior to joining Penn State in 2003, he led the Insect Chemistry Research group in the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service laboratory in Gainesville, Florida. A distinguished VMI graduate, Tumlinson earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Institute and also holds master’s and doctorate degrees from Mississippi State University. He matriculated from West Point, Mississippi.

society’s highest accolade and recognizes those who have achieved eminence in a branch of engineering, according to an ASCE press release. The active roster of distinguished members consists of only 193 of the society’s more than 140,000 members worldwide. Walton, who is being honored for his career as a civil engineering educator and researcher and for his professional and technical leadership in transportation planning, financing and policy analysis, is being formally inducted on Nov. 6, 2008, at ASCE’s Annual Civil Engineering Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Walton serves as the Ernest H. Cockrell Centennial Chair in Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, where he also holds a joint appointment in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. He has authored or co-authored more than 250 publications on such topics as freight transport and transportation planning, policy and economics, and intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Walton holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from VMI and a master’s degree and doctorate from North Carolina State University.

The American Air Museum has In May 2008, James H. announced that Gen. John P. Tumlinson III ’60, Ph.D., Jumper ’66, USAF (Ret), has was awarded the 2008 Wolf agreed to serve on the museum’s Prize in Agriculture by Simon board of trustees. Perez, president of Israel, in a The American Air Museum in ceremony in Jerusalem. Britain stands as a memorial to the The $100,000 prize, consid30,000 American airmen who gave ered by many to be the Nobel their lives flying from United KingPrize for agriculture, was dom bases during the Second World shared by Tumlinson with two War and also honors those who other scientists. fought in Korea, Vietnam, Libya, The Wolf Foundation, which Iraq and other conflicts and battles James H. Tumlinson ’60, Ph.D., left, received the Wolf is dedicated to the promotion of the 20th and 21st centuries. Prize in agriculture from Simon Perez, right, president of of science and art for the A self-contained gallery or hanIsrael, and Professor Yuli Tamir, minister of Education. benefit of mankind, awarded gar, the museum houses the largest prizes in agriculture, chemiscollection of American war birds try, mathematics, medicine and music. The C. Michael Walton ’63, Ph.D., professor on display outside the U.S., including a ceremony was held in the Knesset, which of civil engineering at the University of vintage B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberais the legislature of Israel, located in Givat Texas at Austin, has been named a Distin- tor, B-25 Mitchell, P-47 Thunderbolt, and Ram, Jerusalem. guished Member of the American Society aircraft from the Cold War era such as a The Wolf Foundation recognized Tum- of Civil Engineers (ASCE). B-52 Stratofortress, SR-71 Blackbird and linson and his fellow award winners for Formerly known as honorary member- F-4 Phantom. Many are suspended from the their discoveries of mechanisms governing ship, distinguished membership is the ceiling as if in flight.

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ALUMNI NEWS The American Air Museum is part of the aviation museum at Duxford, a former Royal Air Force and U.S. Air Force fighter station in Cambridgeshire, U.K. Jumper, who graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, holds a master of business administration degree from Golden Gate University. Upon graduating from VMI, Jumper was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force, where he remained until his retirement in 2005. A veteran of two tours of duty in Southeast Asia, he has commanded numerous Air Force combat units in military operations around the world and served as senior military assistant to two U.S. Secretaries of Defense. Jumper is best known for his final assignment as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, a position which he held from 2001 to 2005. In June 2008, Robert S. Woods ’66 was inducted into the Atchison, Kansas, International Forest of Friendship, which is a living, growing memorial to the world history of aviation and aerospace. Woods learned to fly during high school, obtaining his student pilot’s license in 1961 and private pilot certificate shortly thereafter. Upon graduating from VMI, he was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force. In 1967, he was deployed to Southeast Asia and spent two and a half years engaged in special operations throughout the region, accumulating approximately 2,000 combat hours while flying 707 combat sorties. For these actions, he was awarded the USAF Presidential Unit Citation, the USMC Presidential Unit Citation, the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was honorably discharged in 1972. Since leaving the military, he has served as a securities broker, rancher, corporate pilot, chief pilot, director of operations, flight safety international instructor and an FAA aviation safety inspector. According to the International Forest press release, Woods has actively mentored and motivated aspiring aviators and has selflessly promoted and supported aviation, especially women in aviation through his affiliation with The NinetyNines, Inc., the International Organization of Women Pilots. He has also been responsible for training, testing and certifying

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many aviators who are currently flying in commercial and corporate aviation. The International Forest of Friendship was a gift to America on the nation’s 200th birthday (1976) from the city of Atchison [Kansas] (Amelia Earhart’s birthplace) and the Ninety-Nines. It consists of trees representing all 50 states and 35 countries around the world, including a “moon tree” grown from a seed taken to the moon on Apollo 14. Among the more than 1,200 honorees are such internationally recognized flyers as Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, the Wright Brothers, Sally Ride, Eileen Collins and Chuck Yeager. An article about Ralph L. Costen Jr. ’70 and his business, Costen Floors, appeared in the July 14, 2008, issue of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. When Costen Lumber Company began in 1948, it was a small hardwood flooring contractor with 10 employees, the article stated. “Around 1956, Dad changed all that by using our own crews to install floors,” Costen was quoted as saying. The company has more than a hundred employees and offers all types of flooring, from ceramic tile to hardwood to carpet. Costen Floors is a family business, with command passing from father to son to grandson. In 2008, the title of president will be handed to the third generation, Ralph “Tripp” Costen III ’97, who, as of this writing, is the company’s vice president. The family-run company believes in corporate social responsibility, making donations such as the recently installed basketball court at VMI’s Cameron Hall (known as Costen Court), as well as flooring for Needle’s Eye Ministries and the American Heart Association, the Times-Dispatch article said. In June 2008, James N. Parks ’73 was inducted into the Academy of Fellows of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). Parks, who is a program manager for SI International, is the treasurer for the SAME New York City Post. He has been active in SAME since the mid 1970s, including memberships in the Virginia Peninsula, Hampton Roads, Saudi Arabia, Germany and Korea Posts, as well as leadership positions in the northern Japan and Tokyo Posts.

Parks retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after 33 years of military and civilian service that included assignments in Hungary and Iraq. He matriculated from Danville, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. SI International provides information technology and network solutions primarily to the Federal government. Thomas J. Wilson IV ’74 has been elected by the Virginia General Assembly to an eight-year term on the 26th Circuit Court Judicial District bench, according to an April 24, 2008, article in the Daily NewsRecord (Harrisonburg, Virginia). Wilson replaced John McGrath, Rockingham County Circuit Court judge, who retired on Feb. 29, 2008. Wilson is the principal counsel for Wilson & Bowers PLC. He represents Rockingham Publishing Company, the parent company of the News-Record. Wilson, who matriculated from Harrisonburg, holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from VMI and a law degree from the University of Richmond. Steven J. Chapin ’75, PE, senior vice president of Hayes, Seay, Mattern & Mattern, Inc. (HSMM) AECOM, has been appointed Transportation Regional Market director for AECOM in Virginia. In a press release announcing this appointment, the company noted Chapin ’75 that Chapin is recognized for his contributions in strategic planning, business vision and service to the transportation industry. In his new role, Chapin is concentrating on client service and market development activities for HSMM AECOM as well as performing program management duties for large projects in which HSMM AECOM and select AECOM sister operating companies participate. His work efforts encompass the Mid-Atlantic region, but his primary focus is within Virginia.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI NEWS Chapin, who matriculated from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, is registered as a professional engineer in Virginia and eight other states. He joined HSMM AECOM in June 1984. HSMM, an AECOM company, is an architecture and engineering firm serving public and private sector clients across the nation and around the world. The company employs more than 700 personnel located in 22 offices nationwide, including Virginia offices in Roanoke and Virginia Beach. With more than 35,000 employees around the world, AECOM is a global provider of professional technical and management support services to a broad range of markets, including transportation, facilities, environmental and energy. Scott R. Shuman ’79 has been promoted to the position of military programs manager for JLG Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corporation. In his new role, Shuman is responsible for all military programs and personnel supporting continental U.S. (CONUS) and outside continental U.S. (OCONUS) efforts to manufacture and resell JLG construction equipment and related business partners’ equipment. Shuman matriculated from Front Royal, Virginia. Rear Admiral William A. “Andy” Brown ’80 became commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers, in August 2008. COMFISCS is comprised of more than 7,000 military and civilian personnel located across the globe providing an array of integrated logistics and contracting services to Navy and joint operational units across

all warfare enterprises, and base supply functions at more than 100 shore entities. Brown graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in biology and was commissioned in the Navy. In 1990, he received a master in business administration degree from the Navy Postgraduate School and attended the Stanford Business School Executive Training Program in 2004. He is a certified acquisition professional. His initial sea tour was on the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (CV 67), serving as disbursing officer, wardroom officer and stock control officer. As a lieutenant, he was assigned as supply officer aboard the U.S.S. Leftwich (DD 984) during Operation Nimble Archer. In 2000, he was the supply officer on the U.S.S. George Washington (CVN 73) during Operation Southern Watch. Ashore, Brown has had assignments at the Naval Air Systems Command; the former Naval Aviation Supply Office; Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Naval Supply Systems Command; and Commander, Naval Air Forces. During Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, he served as the operations director at the Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia. His most recent flag officer assignment was as director of Ordnance Supply / fleet supply officer at Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk. Brown’s awards include the Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards) and various other decorations. He is a 1989 recipient of the Navy League’s Vice Admiral Robert F. Batchelder Award. Yves E. Pollart ’80, PE, BCEE, has been elected to RETTEW Associates, Inc., Board of Directors.

As a member of RETTEW’s board, Pollart has fiduciary responsibility to the firm and its shareholders, playing a role in RETTEW’s decision-making regarding financial management, the Pollart ’80 firm’s strategic direction, major policies and the appointment of corporate officers. His seat on the board runs through July 2011. Pollart joined RETTEW as director of environmental engineering in 1999. In 2003, the company named him shareholder in recognition of his dedication and efforts to grow the firm’s client base and related services. Pollart manages the department’s studies, designs and reviews of water treatment and storage facilities; air quality; acid mine drainage studies and remediation; and wastewater collection, conveyance and treatment systems. A registered professional engineer in 10 states with 28 years of experience, Pollart is also a board-certified environmental engineer (BCEE) through the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and holds both a wastewater and water operators license. Pollart has served in a management or key design capacity for municipalities and municipal authorities throughout the commonwealth and has instructed wastewater classes for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil

In June 2008, Lt. Col. Robert C. Kerecz ’83, USA, was promoted to colonel at a ceremony in Fort Dix, New Jersey. Assisting with the pinning were Kerecz’ wife, Christina, and Col. John Ledden, commander of the 1st Battle Command Training Group, 2nd Brigade, 75th Division. Kerecz assumed command of Task Force Edison, 1 Black County Training Group (BCTG), 2nd Brigade, 75th Division, which is tasked with providing battle command staff training to and validation of U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard battalion and above command and control headquarters deploying in support of OIF/OEF, primarily at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The task force also supports the training and validation of provisional reconstruction teams at Fort Bragg.

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ALUMNI NEWS engineering from VMI and a master’s in environmental pollution control from Penn State University. At the summer Olympics in Beijing, China, David Neville III, son of The Reverend David I. Neville Jr. ’83, made his Olympic debut for the United States and took home both a bronze and a gold medal. In the 400-meter final, 24-year-old Neville dove for the finish line and earned the bronze. “I felt people coming up on me on the inside, and there was nothing else I could do,” Neville was quoted as saying after the race. “The first thing that popped into my mind to save that medal was to dive.” A few days later, Neville and his USA teammates won the gold in the Men’s 4x400 Relay Final. When he is not training as a world-class runner, Neville is a practicing minister, like his father. The senior Neville graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He is a former VMI track star who knew that a fast start for his son was the key to being in position to medal. “At the 200 (meter mark),” Neville senior said, “[David] was way out there and looking good. At this level, you have to go for it. He did it. Praise the Lord.” According to a July 18, 2008, article in the Fredericksburg, Virginia, Free LanceStar, Quintin D. Elliott ’85 and James S. Utterback ’85 have been appointed district administrators in the Virginia Department of Transportation. As Fredericksburg’s district administrator, Elliott oversees 11,500 miles of road in the 14-county district, which stretches from Stafford and Spotsylvania east to Mathews and Gloucester, the article states. As Culpeper’s district administrator, Utterback assumed responsibility for 10,250 miles of road from Culpeper, Orange and Fauquier counties south to Albermarle County. Utterback replaced Elliott, who has been Culpeper’s acting district administrator since July 2007, according to the Free Lance-Star article. Both men are VDOT veterans, VMI Brother Rats and roommates during their

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third class year at the Institute. Elliott joined VDOT in 1985 as a transportation engineer trainee and has risen in the ranks, holding a variety of positions within the organization. A retired Virginia Air National Guardsman, he graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Before joining VDOT, Utterback was a program manager for ITT Defense and Electronics in Roanoke from 1995-99. Prior to that, the article states, he spent a decade in the U.S. Air Force and is now a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve. He graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and also holds a master’s degree in business from Webster University.

Lt. Col. Bryan Amsel ’86 is a member of the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee preparing for the 56th Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kathrine McDowell.)

Lt. Col. Bryan E. Amsel ’86, USAF, has joined the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee (AFIC), which is preparing to support the 56th Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20, 2009. As contracting officer for the committee, Amsel is responsible for coordinating all Department of Defense support in and contracting actions in support of the 56th around the District of Columbia. HistoriPresidential Inaugural as well as serving as a liaison to the Presidential Inaugural cally, as many as 5,000 service members Committee on all procurements requiring have participated in the celebration, both in view of the public and behind the military ceremonial support. According to an AFIC news release, the scenes, the news release states. Amsel, who earned a bachU.S. Armed Forces have elor’s degree in economics from participated in presidential VMI and a master’s degree from inaugurations since April the University of Montana, is a 30, 1789, when members of reservist in the U.S. Air Force the U.S. Army, local militia and has served for 22 years. units and Revolutionary War veterans escorted George Owen J. Curley ’87 has been Washington to his first inauelected to the partnership of guration ceremony at Federal Niles, Barton & Wilmer, LLP, Hall in New York City. Two a full-service Mid-Atlantic law hundred twenty years later, Curley ’87 firm. His litigation practice the military’s participation focuses on commercial, real continues to honor the naestate, construction, maritime, tion’s commander in chief, recognize civilian control of the armed property insurance, related first party insurance matters, tort defense and complex forces and celebrate democracy. Military participation usually includes civil litigation. Curley is licensed to practice law in musical units, marching bands, color guards, salute batteries and honor cor- Maryland, North Carolina and the District of Columbia. He has been an attorney dons. The Secretary of Defense has authorized with Niles Barton for eight years and nearly 750 service members to be assigned serves on the firm’s Technology and Hirto AFIC by Inauguration Day to coordinate ing Committees.

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ALUMNI NEWS Curley, who matriculated from Winchester, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in history, earned his law degree from the Catholic University of America. He is a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Niles, Barton & Wilmer, LLP is a fullservice Mid-Atlantic law firm. This year, the firm celebrates its 170th anniversary.

U.S., Mexico and parts of Central and South America. Boyd began his career at Lawee, Inc., the former owner of the Univega brand of specialty bicycles, where he was a sales representative throughout the Southeast United States. He graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in history and earned an MBA through Pepperdine University’s Presidential/Key Executive Program.

from the University of Texas at Austin. Clark Nexsen employs a staff of over 418 architecture and engineering professionals with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, and Norfolk, Alexandria, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia.

An article about Jeffrey A. Zeigler ’92 and the company he founded, TechTurn, appeared in an April 2008 edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. TechSteven D. Boyd ’89 has joined BenQ In June 2008, Bruce A. English ’91, Turn, an Austin, Texas-based company America as the company’s associate whose East Coast office is in vice president of retail. In this position, PE, was named an associate at Ashland, Virginia, specialBoyd manages all aspects of BenQ’s Clark Nexsen, an architecturizes in the proper disposal of retail channel, including brand devel- al, engineering, planning and technology equipment. opment, pricing and program manage- interior design firm. English Most computers, when no ment, product selection, and in-store is the senior structural engineer for the firm’s Charlotte, longer in use, are marked for merchandising. charity or taken to the landfill. BenQ is a leading global provider of North Carolina, office. With more than 14 years of However, unless properly LCD displays and DLP® projectors. “scrubbed,” computers conPreviously, Boyd was chief executive design experience, English tain elements that are toxic to director at Hollins-Schechter law firm, is a registered professional our environment, the Timeswhere he oversaw operations, human engineer in North Carolina, English ’91 Dispatch article said. resources, information technology and Virginia and Tennessee. He is also an adjunct professor with According to the U.S. Envimarketing. ronmental Protection Agency, Prior to Hollins-Schechter, Boyd was the University of North Carothe director of sales for Giant Bicycle, lina at Charlotte and teaches a course in two million tons of discarded televisions, personal computers, printers, scanners, Inc., where he and his team were re- structural steel design. A distinguished VMI graduate, English faxes, mice, keyboards and cell phones sponsible for channel selection and management, sales programs, and pricing, holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engi- were discarded in 2005, primarily in revenue and product forecasting for the neering and a master of science degree landfills. Employees at TechTurn’s two facilities help alleviate this problem by evaluating computers and deciding if they can be refurbished or if they need Cmdr. Peter M. Mantz ’90, USN, to be stripped clean for recycling. assumed command of Helicopter At the time of this writing, TechTurn Sea Combat Squadron Two Eight on May 2, 2008, at Naval Air Stadoes not “clean” personal computers, but tion Norfolk (Virginia). this capability is planned for the future. The squadron consists of ten Also in Zeigler’s plan is expansion. MH-60S aircraft, 53 officers and “We will continue to grow, both organi264 enlisted personnel. At sea, cally and through acquisitions,” he said. the squadron performs vertical replenishment; passenger, mail Europe and Asia are in his sights. and internal cargo transport; Zeigler graduated from VMI in 1992 and search and rescue / naval with a bachelor’s degree in history and special warfare support. At home international studies. In 1999, he moved base in Norfolk, the squadron to Austin where he started his own webprovides drone recovery, special operations training and basic based companies, ComputerResale.com fleet support to Navy, Army and and Newmarket IT, which later became Air Force units located along the TechTurn. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Mantz, who graduated from VMI with distinction, earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the Institute along with a commission in the U.S. Navy. Among many assignments at home and at sea, Mantz served as the senior Naval instructor in VMI’s Naval ROTC unit from 1996-99.

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Keith D. Burwell ’95 has been selected to fill an active seat as an Advisory Board member of the Sales Lead Management Association (SLMA). In addition, he

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ALUMNI NEWS has become a contributing author to the SLMA’s Resource Library. On the SLMA Board, Burwell assists in consulting businesses on industry best practices, benchmarks and techniques on improving sales lead management, and buying and generating sales leads through the Internet and other Webbased methods. Burwell is the senior vice president of sales and business development for Kaleidico, a software firm which provides solutions for online lead management, delivery and analytics. The company’s products include icoSales – a sales management solution – and icoMatch – a lead distribution platform. Prior to working at Kaleidico, Burwell was the national director of operations for Online Home Equity at Quicken Loans, and before that, he was a management consultant, working with companies such as Key Bank, Boeing, M&M/ Mars, Bosch and Foster Wheeler. Burwell, who matriculated from Can-

ton, Ohio, graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in economics and later earned an MBA from Liberty University. While at VMI, he was a three-year starting defensive end on the Keydet football team. In May 2008, Lt. j.g. James O. Shambley ’05, USN, was named the top new pistol shooter at the U.S. Fleet Forces Command Atlantic Rifle and Pistol Championships, according to an article by the Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Yorktown Public Affairs Office in Yorktown, Virginia. Since this was his first year shooting, Shambley said it was “an unbelievable honor” to win top new shooter. The competition, at which Shambley was awarded a Secretary of the Navy Trophy Rifle, was held at the Dam Neck Annex Rifle and Pistol Range in Virginia Beach. Following this event, Shambley went on to compete in the All-Navy (East) Rifle

Glenn B. Hammond Sr. ’69 is Promotion Officer for Son Barry Hammond II ’06

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and Pistol Championships in late May, where he finished 22nd out of 73 shooters, earning him a place on the 2008 Active Duty Navy Pistol Team. Shambley, who began shooting with his father at a young age, graduated with distinction from VMI and holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He is a project engineer for Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic, Public Works Department, NWS Yorktown. Though his shooting talent is not a requirement in his current position, it will come into play in the near future when he transfers to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 (NMCB-133) in Gulfport, Mississippi. This “Seabee” battalion will be deploying within a year, the NWS article stated. “At the Seabee battalion, where we actually [will be] building and defending, I’ll be able to help train the guys under me using the advanced marksmanship training I received,” Shambley was quoted as saying in the article.

Lt. G. Barry Hammond II ’06, USAF, third from left, who is stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, has been named Company Grade Officer of the Year for the 416th Flight Test Squadron. Hammond, who graduated with distinction from VMI, earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Institute. His father, Glenn B. Hammond Sr. ’69, is a retired colonel in the U.S. Air Force and a U.S. Administrative Law judge in Roanoke, Virginia. In the photo at left, Judge Hammond, second from left, was the promotion officer for, from left, Lieutenants Katrina Powell ’06, Barry Hammond II ’06 and Phil Hahn ’06. Hammond Sr. pinned his own 1971 first lieutenant bars on his son’s uniform and presented Powell’s and Hahn’s mothers with a set of miniature first lieutenant bars, also from 1971. The ceremony took place in California on June 11, 2008. Below Glenn, left, and Barry, their first class year.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI NEWS ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Sentinel Event Southern Style by Jules M. Seletz ’53, M.D. BookSurge Publishing, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-4196-8961-1. Available from amazon.com. Sentinel Event, Southern Style is the seventh of the Jake Stein series of fictional mystery/medical thriller novels that deal with the Healthcare Industry’s untoward incidents, mishaps and catastrophic outcomes known as “sentinel events” that in reality turn out to be nefarious deeds perpetrated by people from different walks of life. As a co-protagonist character, Charlie was a high school student in the third of the Jake Stein Sentinel Event Series, Code Pink, A Sentinel Event. Now as a character in this book, he is a cadet at VMI. Dr. Jacob (Jake) Stein, a physician surveyor for JCAHO – the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations – was responsible for Charlie’s attending Jake’s alma mater, VMI, with the class of 2007. As a role model for Charlie in Code Pink, A Sentinel Event, he turned Charlie’s life around, scholastically and socially, and added direction, ambition and perseverance to Charlie’s vocabulary. Jake returns to VMI in 2007 to investigate a potential sentinel event at a hospital in Lexington, Virginia. Jake not only reconnects with Charlie, but must also confront a nemesis from the first sentinel event book, Sentinel Event – a character who has taken an oath to kill Jake. Suspicions surface that a serious terrorist attack might soon take place on the VMI Post. It is feared that it might also spread throughout the entire commonwealth of Virginia, perhaps throughout the United States and possibly all over the world. About the Author: Jules M. Seletz ’53 graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He received his M.D. from Chicago Medical School in 1958, and after five years of post-graduate training at the former Boston City Hospital, he practiced as a general and peripheral vascular surgeon for over 30 years. Seletz, who was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduation from VMI, served in the Army for 40 years, with a 15-year break in service to obtain post-graduate civilian training. He began his service in the field artillery during the Korean conflict. Later in his career, he was deployed as a military surgeon to Morocco in 1985, to West Germany in 1987, to Botswana in sub-Sahara Africa in 1989 and to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during Desert Storm in 1991.

He retired from the Army as a full colonel in 1994 while stationed at West Point and for the next seven years, he served as a physician surveyor for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), which is the internationally accepted accrediting body for the healthcare industry. During his survey of hospitals, Seletz ran across several “sentinel events,” that is, untoward incidents, mishaps and catastrophic outcomes. These spurred the idea for his fictional book series, the seventh and most recent of which is Sentinel Event Southern Style. His other books in this series are: Sentinel Event; Not Another Sentinel Event; Code Pink, A Sentinel Event; West Point’s Sentinel Event; Sentinel Event on the High Seas; and Sentinel Event Behind Bars.

... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... 2008-Issue 4

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INSTITUTE INSTITUTE Ramsey ’72 Appointed to VMI Board of Visitors

Who Is This Cadet?

The appointment of George P. “Pete” Ram- three years as its president. He is currently a sey III ’72 to the VMI Board of Visitors was member of the VMI Foundation Investment recently announced by Virginia Governor Committee. Tim Kaine. Ramsey fills the slot vacated by In addition to his service to VMI, Ramsey G. Gilmer Minor III ’63, who completed two has served on the board of trustees and as four-year terms, one term as president, at the chairman of the board of the James River end of June 2008. Day School, a private elAdditionally, the governor ementary school. He has reappointed Anthony Q. McInbeen a member of the board tosh ’89, James E. Rogers ’67 of advisors of the Lynchburg and Gen. Ronald H. Griffith for College School of Business another term on the board. and a Junior Achievement of Ramsey, who is president of Lynchburg Board member. Taylor Ramsey Corp., a lumber He is a charter member products manufacturing comof the Lynchburg Regional pany headquartered in LynchAirport Commission and burg, Virginia, graduated from was chairman of the VirVMI with a bachelor’s degree ginia Aviation Board, which in biology. He was a lieutenant advises the governor of Virin the Corps of Cadets and a ginia, his secretary of transRamsey ’72 Dean’s List student. A threeportation, and the director year-starter on the Keydet footof aviation on matters reball team, he is known as the best offensive lating to aviation in the commonwealth of lineman in his era and was inducted into the Virginia. VMI Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. Ramsey was a member of the board of a loRamsey has, over the years, continued his cal hospital’s foundation and was a member involvement with the Institute. He served on and president of the board of Boonsboro the VMI Keydet Club Board of Governors and Country Club. He currently serves on the was a member of the VMI Athletic Council. AAA Mid-Atlantic Virginia Regional Board. More recently, he has served on the VMI Ramsey and his wife, Margaret, live in Foundation Board of Trustees, including Lynchburg.

Can the VMI cadet below be identified simply from his picture? Are there clues in his uniform? This tintype of a VMI cadet from 1866 is included in Photography in Virginia, a book written by Jeffrey Ruggles to accompany the first major photography exhibition to be organized by the Virginia Historical Society (VHS). While almost nothing is currently known about the cadet in this photograph, the tintype is stamped on the back with the credit, “A. H. Plecker’s Traveling Gallery, Oct. 20, 1866.” In his book, Ruggles notes that the date and likely Lexington location suggest that the portrait was created in the period that Adam Plecker and longtime Lexington photographer Michael Miley worked together. The VHS would appreciate any insight that VMI alumni may be able to offer regarding the identification of the pictured cadet. Contact Meg McLemore Eastman at 804/340-2275 or meastman@vahistorical.org if you have any information to share. “Photography in Virginia” will be on view at Virginia Historical Society in Richmond from Nov. 1, 2008 to May 3, 2009. For more information, please contact the VHS at 804/3584901 or visit www.vahistorical.org.

New Market Medal Awards Call for Nominations The VMI Board of Visitors is requesting nominations for New Market Medal candidates. Alumni and friends of the Institute are welcome to submit candidate names. The purpose of the New Market Medal, which was created in 1962, is to recognize individuals from national or international fields whose lives have displayed the virtues shown by the 1864 New Market cadets: duty, honor, devotion and leadership. The New Market Medal Award Committee is appointed by the VMI Board of Visitors. It is scheduled to meet annually to consider nominations for the award. However, the committee is not obligated to recommend a recipient each year. If a recommendation is forthcoming, the committee makes its recommendation to the board of visitors. As a condition of the award, the nominee should indicate willingness to receive the medal during New Market Day ceremonies held May 15 at VMI in conjunction with the Corps review on that date. Nominations and supporting material should be directed to the Chairman, New Market Medal Award Committee, in care of: Col. Michael M. Strickler ’71 Secretary to the VMI Board of Visitors Superintendent’s Office, VMI Lexington, VA 24450

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INSTITUTE

Cadets lay a wreath in front of the statue, Virginia Mourning Her Dead, during the New Market Parade and Ceremony May 15, 2008. Photo above by Kevin Remington.

New Market Day 2008

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INSTITUTE VMI Retains Spot in Top Rank of Public Liberal Arts Colleges Virginia Military Institute kept its place in the top rank of liberal arts colleges in the latest ranking released by U.S. News & World Report. In the rankings released in August 2008, VMI was ranked as the No. 3 public liberal arts college in the nation, coming in behind the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy. This is the same position VMI held last year, when federal service academies were added to that category for the first time. For the previous six years, VMI held the No. 1 position. VMI also held onto its position of 71 among all liberal arts colleges – both public and

private – in the nation, putting it firmly in the first tier of colleges nationwide. This equals the highest ranking VMI has ever held among all colleges. “Our consistent, performance in the top tier continues to validate our commitment to ensure the excellence of VMI’s academic program,” said Col. William J. Stockwell, acting deputy superintendent and dean of the faculty. “This is a tribute to the quality and dedication of our faculty and staff and their extraordinary efforts to provide the finest education for our cadets.” U.S. News considers such factors as a college’s reputation as rated by academic

Dedication of New VMI Cadet Marker Submitted by the Women’s Memorial Society

A new granite marker, measuring three feet by two feet, was unveiled in New Market by former Secretary of the Army John O. Marsh Jr. and Cadet Brian Holt ’08 on May 15, 2008. Members and guests gathered in St. Matthew’s Cemetery for the Women’s Memorial Society annual commemorative service to honor and remember the Southern soldiers and VMI cadets who died as a result of the 1864 Battle of New Market. One year earlier, Secretary Marsh, as the 2007 speaker for the society’s yearly event, inspired the organization to acknowledge the original burial location of six VMI cadets who were interred at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church Cemetery after the May 15, 1864, Battle of New Market: Sgt. William Henry Cabell, Pvt. Charles Gay Crockett, Pvt. Henry Jenner Jones, Pvt. William Hugh McDowell, Pvt. Jaqueline Beverly Stanard and Pvt. Thomas Garland Jefferson. The six cadets were ultimately relocated to VMI in 1866, leaving a gap in the straight line of soldier’s grave markers. The new marker bears the names of the six cadets and an image of the New Market Cross for Valor. Col. Keith Gibson ’77, executive director of VMI Museum Operations, was the guest speaker for the program. He gave a moving talk on the importance of remembrance and especially of remembering the six VMI cadets who were buried in St. Matthew’s Cemetery and how their names represented young lives abruptly halted. Only their names remain – no legacy of career, no heritage of generations of descendents. Their names are the power of unfulfilled promise, the potential of the life that might have been and also the inspired example of youth willing to sacrifice the most scared thing – life itself. Gibson concluded by pointing out that for 142 years, the grave site

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leaders nationally, the retention of students, class size, the quality of the faculty, the quality of students, financial resources, graduation rate performance and the alumni giving rate. VMI’s engineering programs were once again included in the magazine’s list of the nation’s best undergraduate engineering programs at schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The Institute placed No. 21 on that list this year, up from last year’s ranking of 25th. The rankings in the engineering category are based exclusively on the reputation of the program. Also in August, VMI ranked as No. 9 in Forbes Magazine’s list of America’s Best Public Colleges, just behind such institutions as the U.S. Military Academy, the University of Virginia and the College of William and Mary, but ahead of many other well-respected schools.

where these cadets first rested had gone unmarked. The stone being dedicated will remind all who pass that they were here, he said, and we must dedicate our lives in their example. The special hour-long program also included a color guard and drill and ceremonies team from VMI, as well as “Taps” played by Cadet Holt. Local fifth grade students from Ashby-Lee Elementary School placed memorial flowers at the new cadet marker, and Dr. Betty Karol Wilson sang, “Oh, Shenandoah.” Following the benediction by Pastor Jeffrey Sonafelt of Reformation Lutheran Church, a luncheon was hosted at the Johnny Appleseed Restaurant by owners Mr. and Mrs. John Crim ’68. Ten VMI cadets were mortally wounded at the Battle of New Market. Five of the six cadets mentioned previously in this article – Cabell, Crockett, Jones, McDowell and Stanard – died on the battlefield. The sixth, Jefferson, died three days later in a private home. These six were buried in St. Matthew’s cemetery at New Market. Four other cadets – Samuel Francis Atwill, Alva Curtis Hartsfield, Luther Cary Haynes and Joseph Christopher Wheelwright – died over the period of the next six weeks as a result of the wounds received in battle. Wheelwright had been taken from the battlefield to the home of a doctor in nearby Harrisonburg, where he died on June 2nd; Haynes died circa June 15th at the old Powhatan Hotel Hospital in Richmond; Hartsfield died in a Petersburg hospital on June 26th; and Atwill died on July 20th at the home of Dr. F.T. Stribling in Staunton, Virginia. In spring 1866, the remains of Jones, McDowell, Jefferson, Wheelwright and Atwill were reinterred at VMI. On May 7, 1866, a detail of four cadets, all of them New Market veterans, set out to bring back the bodies of their classmates. On May 15th, the bodies were escorted in a procession of the Corps of Cadets from the VMI hospital to the town’s Presbyterian Church where memorial services were held. Following the ceremony, the bodies were placed in a vault in the old Porter’s Lodge near the Limit Gates. The remains were subsequently moved to the magazine [storage area] located on the

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bluff across the ravine behind Barracks. In 1878, the remains were again moved to a cadet cemetery in a wooded area which now is the northwest corner of the parade ground, and in 1912, the cadet remains were placed in their final graves under the statue “Virginia Mourning Her Dead.” Although individual headstones mark their graves, the remains are actually buried in a copper box set into the foundation of the monument. A sixth grave – that of Crockett – was added in 1960. The four other cadets who died at New Market are buried elsewhere. Cabell’s grave is at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond; Hartsfield is buried in an unmarked grave in Petersburg; Haynes is interred at his home, Sunny Side, in Essex County; and Stanard is buried in Orange, Virginia. For more information, visit www.vmi.edu/archives or www.vmi.edu/museum. The Women’s Memorial Society of the Lost Cause, as it was originally named, was organized in 1867 by a group of women in New Market and vicinity for the purpose of raising funds to erect

Left: Standing behind the newly unveiled cadet marker were, from left, Mrs. Barbara Blakey, president of the Women’s Memorial Society; guest speaker, Col. Keith Gibson ’77; and former Secretary of the Army, John O. Marsh Jr. Above: The new cadet marker acknowledges the original burial location of six VMI cadets following the May 15, 1864, Battle of New Market. This marker is located in St. Matthew’s Cemetery, behind Reformation Lutheran Church in New Market, Virginia.

markers for Confederate soldiers and to care for their graves. Their efforts continued and were rewarded when, on May 12, 1898, under the presidency of Mrs. M. White Williamson, a monument to the memory of Southern soldiers and VMI cadets was unveiled. The guest speaker that day was New Market veteran, the Honorable John S. Wise, VMI class of 1866. Day-long ceremonies and a parade marked the occasion. Since its organization in 1867, only seven women have served as president of the society. A member since 1983, Mrs. Barbara J. Blakey, registrar, VMI Museum Operations, is the current president. Additional information and photographs of the 2008 memorial service can be found at http://www.picturetrail.com/vminewmarket.

Class Agent Bland Massie ’77 was a passenger in a hot air balloon ride on July 4, 2008, when he took the aerial photo at left of the new “Third” Barracks under construction. The new Barracks is being constructed where Lejeune Hall once stood and is expected to be ready in fall 2008. It will incorporate a Visitor’s Center, bookstore, and Keydet Canteen.

Editor’s Note: Unless stated otherwise, the articles in the Institute section of the Alumni Review were provided by the VMI Communications and Marketing Department.

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ATHLETICS ATHLETICS

VMI Baseball Posts Its Best Conference Record Since Joining Big South Chalk it up as another impressive season for the VMI baseball program. In his fifth season as the Keydet skipper, Marlin Ikenberry ’95 guided VMI to its third consecutive winning season and saw yet another record fall by the wayside, as VMI posted its best conference record since joining the Big South Conference. In fact, the team’s 14-7 record put the Keydets in a tie for second place in the always-competitive conference while tying the school record for best conference winning percentage. Counted among those 14 conference wins were several thrilling triumphs, including 16-inning victories over instate foes Liberty and Radford, walk-off wins against both #15 Coastal Carolina and Radford, and come-from-behind victories against Winthrop and High Point. Beyond the team’s league triumphs, 2008 also saw record-setting performances. Senior Trey Barham (photo center) firmly entrenched himself as one of the school’s all-time greats, graduating as VMI’s all-time leader with 22 victories

and 291 strikeouts in his stellar career. Barham helped lead the pitching staff to one of its best seasons on record, as the Keydet hurlers posted the most combined

strikeouts and innings pitched, as well as the fewest walks per nine innings, in school history.

Following the season, several Keydets earned postseason honors, as senior Shane Geisslinger (photo, bottom right) was named First Team All-Conference at second base, and sophomore Chris Duty earned Second Team All-Conference accolades as a relief pitcher. Two sophomores were honored by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID), as Tanner Biagini was named First Team All-State and Duty once again took home Second Team honors. Three of the players who helped make the 2008 season successful for the Keydets moved on to professional baseball in June. Junior Michael Bowman (photo, bottom left) became the second-highestdrafted Keydet in history by being taken in the ninth round by the Milwaukee Brewers. Barham followed when he was taken in the 25th round by the Oakland Athletics, while junior Mike Roberts rounded out the group when he was also taken by the Brewers in the 38th round. It marked only the second time in program history that three players were drafted in a single campaign.

Record-setting Performances in 2008

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VMI Track and Field Names Webb Head Coach Long-time VMI Assistant Coach Darrin Webb has been named the new director of track and field and cross country. “Darrin Webb has been a stalwart in his roles at VMI as an assistant and associate head track coach for 14 years,” said Donny White ’65, athletic director. “He understands VMI, he knows what it takes to have a successful track program and he is a team player. I am confident that Darrin will continue VMI’s excellent tradition in track and field.” Webb, a 1994 graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in exercise science, came to the Institute shortly after his graduation. The Phelps, New York, native served as an assistant under retiring VMI Coach Mike Bozeman for six seasons and was then promoted to the position of associate head coach in the year 2000. He has served in that role since. “It is a great honor to be named the director of track and field and cross country at VMI,” stated Webb. “I would like to thank Gen. Peay ’62, Director White, Coach Bozeman, and everyone in the VMI Track and Field and Cross Country community who have shown support for me and my family, not only throughout this process but also over my entire 14 years at VMI. Rest assured, I will work day and night to build upon the successes created by the four outstanding head coaches who have come before me: Coach Read, Coach Cormack, Coach Williams and of course, Coach Bozeman.” During his tenure at VMI, Webb’s responsibilities have included recruiting, budget management for travel, home meet management, as well as coordination with academic services, the Admissions Office and the Sports Information Office for all publications regarding the track and field program. 2008-Issue 4

Webb has had a positive impact on the VMI program over the last 14 years. Since joining the Keydet staff, he has been part of five Southern Conference team championships. He has trained and coached 61 conference champions throughout his 14 seasons, as well as more than 90 athletes who have achieved All-Conference honors in the Big South Conference and Southern Conference. Webb also has to his credit a 2004 Indoor NCAA All-American in the 200m; five NCAA qualifying marks in the 100m, 200m and high jump; and a 1996 provisional qualifier in the decathlon. He has coached five Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) champions: two in the high jump, one in the 55m dash and two in the 200m. The 2004 Indoor IC4A champion also holds the meet record of 20.85 in the 200m. Webb has coached more than eight athletes who have scored at the IC4A championships in events including the heptathlon, decathlon, pole vault, high jump, long jump and 110-meter hurdles. Since arriving at VMI, he has worked with athletes who have recorded over 82 top-10 performances in the history of the VMI program, added nine new men’s school records, and 21 women school records. “I am excited about the future of the program, as our team possesses both youth and outstanding senior leadership,” Webb said. “I am confident that all of the program’s long-time supporters and alumni will be given a team to be extremely proud of as we go forward.”

Long-time Assistant Becomes Fifth Head Coach in VMI Track and Field History

Webb and his wife, Michelle, who live in Lexington, have a six-year-old daughter, Savannah Louvier. Editor’s Note: Unless stated otherwise, the articles and photos in the Athletics section of the Alumni Review were provided by the VMI Sports Information Office.

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VMIFOUNDATION, FOUNDATION, INC. VMI INC. Cadet Investment Group Creates Cadet Leadership Award; Award Honors Service of William P. Schubmehl ’54 In late April 2008, the Cadet Investment Group (CIG) inaugurated a new annual cadet award to recognize exceptional leadership. Given annually to the officer of the CIG who has “demonstrated the leadership, knowledge and dedication required of successful investment professionals,” it is named the William P. Schubmehl ’54 Investment Excellence Award. A long-time leader in Virginia business, William P. Schubmehl is a former vice chairman of the Richmond-based investment firm of Scott & Stringfellow. After graduation as a civil engineering major and four years of service as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, Schubmehl attended the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and was awarded a master in business administration degree in 1961. His first position after graduation was with Wheat First Securities in Richmond. After nine years with Wheat First, he worked for Branch, Cabell & Co. and the Bank of Virginia Trust Company. At Scott & Stringfellow, he served for 13 years as head of the company’s retail branch system and in 1992, was promoted to the position of president and chief executive officer. He served in that position for four years.

A dedicated alumnus of the Institute, Schubmehl served as a member of the VMI Foundation’s Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2007 and as a member of the VMI Investment Committee from 2000 to 2008. The rationale for the Investment Excellence Award stems from the 25 years of selfless service that Schubmehl has provided the CIG. “Mr. Schubmehl is well known for the exceptional generosity he showed with his time,” said Col. Robert Moreschi, one of the two faculty advisers for the CIG. “He has had regular conversations with the faculty advisers about the group and its activities and faithfully attends every year-end banquet. On many occasions, he has come to VMI to speak to the group as a whole and meet individually with the officers.” According to Col. Clifford West, the CIG’s other faculty adviser, Schubmehl also has introduced changes that have enhanced the experience of the cadets. “It was Mr. Schubmehl’s idea to invite the group’s officers to attend a VMI Investment Committee meeting, which has occurred for the past three years,” said West. “Through this opportunity, the cadets have had the chance to meet and listen to the presentations of professional money managers and to make presentations to the Investment Committee about the CIG and its money management. This extraordinary experience would not have been afforded the cadets were it not for Bill’s initiative and enthusiasm.” “A consummate investment professional, Bill Schubmehl exemplifies all of the traits that VMI hopes its cadets will exhibit in their professional and personal lives,” said Col. Moreschi. “Truly, I cannot think of a better example for the group’s cadets than Bill and no better way to pay tribute to his dedication to excellence within the profession and his dedication to VMI and the group’s cadets than establishing this annual award in his honor.”

Schubmehl Hopes Cadets Get “Real World” Experience in CIG In the business world, a person must be adept at exchanging ideas and reaching consensus with others, says Bill Schubmehl. These skills are what he hopes cadets Schubmehl ’54 gain through their participation in the Cadet Investment Group (CIG), along with a working knowledge of the stock market and how to invest. “In the CIG, third classmen argue with firsts and vice versa. There’s a good exchange of ideas back and forth,” said Schubmehl. “This is what happens in the ‘real world’ of business. Together, they must come to an agreement about how they will invest the dollars they’re allotted.” According to Schubmehl, in the 24 years that the CIG has been in place, many cadets majoring in economics who were CIG members have gone on to successful careers in investment and banking, proving that the experience is an effective one. The group has grown in popularity over the years, initially including only economics majors and then broadening to include cadets with a variety of major studies. What makes this experience truly unique for VMI cadets, explained Schubmehl, is that there is no “Blue Book” or book of answers to follow in making investment decisions. “Investment is an art,” he said. “You find out very quickly whether or not you’ve made a sound choice,” but there are

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no right and wrong steps to reaching that choice. There are criteria, of course, that Schubmehl put in place when the CIG was first formed in 1984, including the requirement that companies selected for investments must be rated “A” by Standard & Poor’s (an organization that publishes financial research and analysis on stocks and bonds). Schubmehl, who initially intended to be a career military officer, became interested in the field of investment when he was a graduate student at University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. “I had no business background,” he said. “My father, an Army officer, was not a businessman. I thought a business degree would round out my credentials, along with the degree in civil engineering that I received from VMI.” This turned about to be a sound choice for Schubmehl, since not long after graduation from Darden, his successful career began and has flourished. When asked about his experience at VMI, Schubmehl said that although life at the Institute was demanding, particularly as a Rat, he liked the people and the environment and felt that he received a high quality education. “I never had a problem at VMI,” he said. “I hear a lot about the focus on the toughness and rigor of the VMI experience and how challenging it is. Yes, those aspects are there, but VMI is also an excellent school for academics. More emphasis should be placed on academics when we talk about the Institute. I say, ‘If you want a good, solid education, go to VMI.’”

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC.

Foundation Fund Sets Record for Fiscal Year 2008

The Foundation Fund, the VMI Foundation’s annual effort to provide unrestricted money to support the Institute’s academic and co-curricular programs, enjoyed record success in Fiscal Year 2008. The donations to the Foundation Fund totaled $2,780,291, which includes more than $1,040,664 received in fulfillment of pledges, from alumni and friends of VMI. This figures represents an increase of $219,686 (or 7.9%) over last year’s record total of $2,560,605 and the fourth consecutive year in which donors have provided more than $2 million to the fund. “This excellent result for the Foundation Fund means a better education for cadets in the forthcoming academic year,” said Jim Adams ’71, executive vice president of the VMI Foundation. “The unrestricted money that the fund generates for VMI is used all over Post to better the singular education that cadet receives on Post. It also shows that the VMI family – alumni,

parents and friends – understand the critical necessity of private money to VMI and are willing to sacrifice in order to ensure VMI has what it needs.” The success enjoyed by the Foundation Fund was shared by the other two funds associated with VMI Annual Giving: the Keydet Club Scholarship Fund and the Athletic Operations Fund (AOF). Together, these two funds received $3,405,179, almost $126,000 (or approximately 4%) more than last year’s total of $3,279,552, with the AOF passing the $1 million mark for the third time in its short history. Taken together, the three components of VMI Annual Giving raised a grand total of $6,185,499, a new record. Moreover, this is the first time ever that the VMI family has donated more than $6 million to Annual Giving in a single fiscal year. Alumni participation in the Foundation Fund remained strong with 3,332 alumni making a donation in Fiscal Year 2008. All told, 4,569 alumni made a gift in support of VMI in this past fiscal year. “These numbers translate into 35.7% of alumni making some form of gift in support of VMI this year against the same percentage as last year,” said Adams. “As the VMI Foundation continues in its duty to solicit gifts and commitments from every part of the VMI family, we hope that alumni realize the critical role that they play in supporting the Institute.”

VMI Foundation Announces Employee Promotions Effective July 1, 2008, two staff directors of the VMI Foundation – Terrie Conrad and Patrick Webb – were promoted to the positions of vice president, Planned and Constituent Giving, and vice president, Alumni and Reunion Giving, respectively. Since joining the VMI Foundation in October 2004, after many years in fundraising including stints at HampdenSydney College and Mary Baldwin College, Mrs. Conrad has concentrated on planned giving and corporate and foundation fundraising. However, she also has been involved in engaging family and friends of alumni in the effort to provide financial support to VMI. Her initiatives have included the establishment of the Washington Arch Society, an organization that recognizes those alumni and friends who make planned gifts, as well as the Society of VMI Family & Friends, which encourages the non-alumni family members of cadets and alumni, as well as those people who admire VMI’s mission and its extraordinary means of accomplishing it. “In the short four years that Terrie has been here, she has applied her solid professionalism and expertise to advancing a cause about which she has long been enthusiastic – VMI. In doing so, she has strengthened the Foundation’s fundraising efforts in the fields of planned giving and corporate and foundation 2008-Issue 4

fundraising and invigorated the effort to solicit family and friends,” said Jim Adams ’71, executive vice president of the VMI Foundation. The money raised through VMI Annual Giving and the 10th, 25th and 50th Reunion Funds are important components in the ongoing effort to provide VMI with the private financial support it needs. Under Col. Webb, who also joined the VMI Foundation in October 2004, these programs have been more aggressive and have made better use of new technologies. “Evidence that Pat’s leadership and energy have been beneficial to both reunion funds and Annual Giving can be seen in record totals each year for reunion funds as well as in the record dollars collected by Annual Giving and increases in alumni participation – all of which translate into a stronger VMI,” said Adams. “VMI can face the present and the future with more confidence, thanks in large measure to the work that Terrie and Pat have done to engage all facets of the VMI family.”

Editor’s Note: Most articles in the VMI Foundation section of the Alumni Review were provided by the VMI Foundation.

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Class of 1958

Sets New Records with 50th Reunion Fund

At the class’s 50th Reunion, the class marched the length of the parade ground, as is tradition, into Barracks.

At the close of Fiscal Year 2008, the VMI Foundation announced that the class of 1958’s 50th Reunion Fund had set new records for such funds: $16,179,767.58 in gifts and commitments and, with 112 of 124 Brother Rats contributing, a 90% participation rate. When asked about how the class of 1958 managed such a magnificent performance, Stirling Williamson, the class president, cited work that had begun many years before the class presented its reunion fund check to the superintendent. “Shortly after our 45th Reunion, we formed two committees for the 50th Reunion: the Event Planning Committee and the Reunion Fund Committee,” Williamson said. “With Carole Green of The VMI Alumni Association lending invaluable support, the Event Planning Committee, co-chaired by John Peters and Ernie Edgar, spent countless hours making the arrangements for myriad reunion events. The objectives were to make everything go off like clockwork as well as encourage and entice as many

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of our BRs as possible to attend.” In this, the class’s effort was a success, as more than 90 of 124 Brother Rats made the trip back to Lexington. As to the Reunion Fund Committee’s work, Williamson pointed out that special effort was made to keep its work separate from that of the Event Planning Committee. “We wanted as many BRs as possible to attend, but we did not want any Brother Rat to feel that he needed to contribute to attend.” Regarding the work done by the Reunion Fund Committee, Williamson gave the lion’s share of credit to the committee’s chairman, Samuel B. Witt III, a former president of the VMI Board of Visitors. “The success of our fund can be attributed mainly to the efforts of Sam and his committee,” said Williamson. “The committee met early on, years in advance of our reunion, and they were tutored by the folks working for Pat Webb [the VMI Foundation’s vice president for Alumni and Reunion Giving] in the

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. many ways that giving could be structured.” Following the respond to the call to come to the aid of VMI, and the class pattern of other reunion fund efforts, every Brother Rat in of 1958 was no exception,” said Patrick Webb, vice president, the class of 1958 received this information. In turn, they Alumni and Reunion Giving. “They clearly relished the idea were contacted numerous times by members of the comof helping the Institute and of ensuring their class’s legacy, mittee to ensure they had received the information and to and they were prepared to devote much energy and many answer any questions. hours to the tasks involved. So, it was magnificent to see As to the goals for the reunion fund, after examining recent how their work culminated in the proud moments when they 50th Reunion Fund efforts, Williamson, Witt and the leader- presented the reunion fund check to the superintendent at ship of the committee set some ambitious ones: $10 million the parade during Reunion Weekend, and the final amount in gifts and commitments and 100% participation. However, of their fund was tallied.” they did not share them with the entire class. As Williamson “Moreover, their generous gifts come at an important recalls, “[The goals] were not used as a fundraising device. and exciting time in VMI’s history, as the many positive efThey were simply what Sam and his committee hoped to ac- fects of Vision 2039 are seen all over Post. Their gifts and complish. We felt that if we could get as many BRs as possible commitments will bolster this important effort and ensure to contribute, the total amount of the contributions would its success in the future,” concluded Col. Webb. be substantial.” “We wanted to be competitive to have our total compare favorably with other classes’ funds,” continued Williamson. “More important than that, however, we were at that stage in our lives where we wanted to give whatever we could afford to help pay back a debt to the Institute for all that it had meant to us in our lives and to help perpetuate its success in molding responsible citizen-soldiers.” When asked about the reasons why the final tally of almost $16.2 million was so far above the original goal, Williamson said, “The class of ’58 is fortunate in having some very successful BRs, and we are appreciative of their substantial contributions to our reunion fund. But we also are very proud of every dollar that was contributed by every Brother Rat.” Sam Witt was quick to take one exception with Williamson’s description of the Reunion Fund Committee’s work, specifically, “far too much credit in my direction.” As he explained, “Success was guaranteed by the hardscrabble work of the Fund Committee members following up with the Brother Rats for whom they were responsible and, of course, by our BRs who actually wrote the checks.” He also stressed the level of participation: “We had 90% of the class participate in the fund, and that – along with the number of Brother Rats who returned for the reunion – is what also is impressive.” “Anyone who works with a 50th Reunion class never fails to be impressed The class’s Old Yell in Barracks. with the energy with which alumni

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC.

Foundation 301: Faculty Support

Every year, the VMI Foundation publicizes how much money it gives in direct aid to the Institute. In the 2008-09 academic year, the Foundation’s aid to VMI will total more than $13.4 million. While alumni and friends – to include cadets’ parents – understandably are pleased to see that the Foundation is able to provide the Institute with such generous support – more than one fifth of VMI’s operating budget of approximately $64 million – many probably don’t know how that money is used by VMI. The truth of the matter is that, of the support that VMI receives from the Foundation every year, a large part of it goes to support VMI’s faculty. “Ask a group of alumni who on Post had the greatest positive influence on them as a cadet, and more often than not, they’ll mention a member of the faculty,” said Jim Adams ’71, Ph.D., executive vice president of the VMI Foundation. “So, the Foundation considers support of the faculty, the men and women who are so important to the education that our cadets received in and out of the classroom, to be one of its more significant tasks.” One of the ways that the VMI Foundation supports the faculty is through the raising and managing of endowments that support Institute professorships and chairs in many departments on Post. Currently, the Foundation manages endowments for eleven Institute professorships, such as The Navas-Read Institute Professorship in English Literature and The Benjamin H. Powell Jr. ’36 Institute Professorship in Engineering, and three endowed chairs, including The John W. and Jane M. Roberts Chair in Free Enterprise Business. The Institute professorships provide money to augment the salary of a faculty member as well as provide additional financial support to the academic depart196

ment of which the designated professor is a member. A chair is a fully endowed position, meaning that the money generated by the supporting endowment pays the salary and benefits of whoever holds the chair. In the current academic year, the endowments that support these chairs and professorships will provide almost $750,000 to members of the faculty and academic departments. Foundation-managed endowments also produce the money necessary to fund six visiting professorships – for example, the Wachtmeister Chair in Science and Engineering – at VMI. Through these endowments, VMI can bring prominent scholars to Post in order to teach for a semester or an entire academic year and bring their established expertise to the Corps of Cadets. “We are well aware that the Institute professorships and chairs are valued highly by the faculty,” said Adams. “They represent recognition for their teaching prowess and service to cadets and colleagues, as well as for their accomplishments in research. For the Institute, these positions are a means to retain members of the faculty who are thriving at VMI. They also provide a means by which VMI can attract faculty to VMI.” The Foundation’s support of the faculty, however, does not end with Institute professorships and chairs. In the forthcoming academic year, the Institute will use more than $468,000 in restricted and unrestricted money provided by the VMI Foundation to support VMI’s academic departments. Some of this money comes from established endowments, but a substantial piece of it comes from donors who make restricted spendable gifts in direct support of a certain academic department. “It is a mark of how close and enduring the relationships are between many of our alumni and their professors that these

Institute Professorships The General Edwin Cox ’20 Institute Professorship in History and Economics The Benjamin H. Hardaway Jr. ’13 Institute Professorship in Engineering The Jamison-Payne III ’58 Institute Professorship in Electrical Engineering The Charles S. Luck Jr. ’20 Institute Professorship in Engineering The Navas-Read Institute Professorship in English Literature The Benjamin H. Powell Jr. ’36 Institute Professorship in Engineering The John C. Allen ’62 Institute Professorship in Chemistry The Henry King Burgwyn Jr., Boy Colonel of the Confederacy, Chair in Military History The Cameron Professorship in Physics and Astronomy The Beverly M. Read ’41 Institute Professorship in Arts and Sciences The John W. and Jane M. Roberts Institute Professorship in Free Enterprise Economics Endowed Chairs The John Biggs ’30 Cincinnati Chair in Military History The John W. and Jane M. Roberts Chair in Free Enterprise Business George J. Collins ’62 Chair in Military History and Strategic Analysis Visiting Scholars Chairs The Economics-Mary Moody Northen Chair in Arts and/or Social Sciences The Edwin P. Conquest ’14 Chair in the Humanities The Wachtmeister Chair in Science and Engineering The Thomas Bahnnson and Anne Bassett Stanley Professorship in Ethics and Integrity The Eugenio Lopez ’51 Chair for Asian Studies The Phillips 1954 Visiting Chair in Rhetoric and Composition

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. alumni donate to the departments from which they received their degree and do so long after many of the professors have retired,” observed Adams. Another $331,670 from the VMI Foundation will be used by VMI to foster the faculty’s professional development and another $864,000 will go toward supplementing faculty salaries. “Ensuring that our faculty is able to develop and maintain the expertise necessary to stay at the forefront of their fields in turn ensures that the education that our cadets receive, no matter what their majors are, will contain the most cur-

rent knowledge,” said Adams. “At a time when state support of VMI as a portion of VMI’s operating budget is shrinking, the Foundation’s leadership is pleased that it is a source of funds that are used to retain talented faculty.” Inarguably, VMI’s academic program has made superb progress over the past decade. In all disciplines, cadets are receiving a better, broader education. As is demonstrated by the successes in graduate and professional schools as well as in the world of work enjoyed by our younger alumni, a VMI education is an effective one.

Of course, the vast majority of the credit for VMI’s academic success and the attendant increase in VMI’s academic reputation must go to the members of the VMI faculty as well as VMI’s leaders, especially those on Post. The VMI Foundation, however, is proud of the role that its donors – alumni, parents and friends (including many faculty) – play as partners with VMI in the unceasing effort to ensure that a VMI education retains its effectiveness as a means to prepare cadets for leadership and service in their careers and their communities.

Scott F. McCarthy ’73 Makes $300,000 Gift to Center for Leadership and Ethics, Establishes $100,000 Scholarship In May 2008, Scott F. McCarthy ’73 established a $100,000 scholarship and, in honor of his mother, the late Ethel I. McCarthy, made a gift of $300,000 to VMI’s new Center for Leadership and Ethics. At the same time, he established a $100,000 athletic scholarship in honor of his father, George F. McCarthy. (See the Keydet Club section of this issue for more about the athletic scholarship.) Often, the parents of cadets can see the value of a VMI education and the means by which it is provided well before their cadets do. Apparently, McCarthy’s parents saw immense value in VMI even before he matriculated, because when asked why he made two of his gifts in the name of his parents, McCarthy stressed their high opinion of VMI. “From when we first visited the Institute, my parents were deeply impressed by the quality of VMI’s academics, military training and athletics,” McCarthy said. “VMI’s philosophy of ‘every cadet an athlete’ matched my father’s belief that a combination of academics and athletics would best develop a well-rounded and well-grounded person. In addition, as a veteran, he believed that 2008-Issue 4

VMI’s military environment would impart self-discipline and decision-making skills not normally acquired in the typical civilian college environment.” “My mother was especially impressed by the concept of a gentleman that is embodied in VMI’s honor code,” continued McCarthy. “She felt that the Honor Code was unique, in that it produced not only an ethical person, but a person of civility in what she felt was a coarsening society.” Closely related to his mother’s admiration of VMI’s Honor Code as a means to produce civil and ethical people were McCarthy’s reasons for directing the bulk of his gift to the Center for Leadership and Ethics. As he explained, there is an obvious and pressing need for more ethical leaders in all walks of life. “One doesn’t need to look any farther than the nightly news to see examples of unethical conduct at all levels of business and government and leaders making unethical choices solely for career advancement or financial gain. Consequently, the need for programs that develop ethical leaders is greater today than ever. I felt, therefore, that VMI, with its Honor Code

and tradition of honorable service by its graduates, is the perfect location to establish a Center for Leadership and Ethics. Furthermore, I am hopeful that, in the future, this center reflecting VMI’s ethical standards will serve as a model for other academic institutions seeking to better the ethical and leadership development of their students.” Providing young people the opportunity to attend VMI regardless of their financial status is a long-standing tradition of the Institute. In establishing a scholarship with no other restriction beyond that of financial need, McCarthy helped to perpetuate it. “There are cadets who need financial assistance but are not able to take advantage of varsity athletic scholarships offered by VMI, and I wanted to provide the opportunity for a VMI education to someone in that category,” he said. “I made the scholarship basically unrestricted to ensure that cadets most in need of financial assistance received it.” With more than 80% of his gift devoted to funds that honor his parents, McCarthy stated that his gifts were an indication of the values that they instilled in him. “The values that my parents taught me as I was growing up are reflected in the values I learned at VMI. I believe that they would be honored that these gifts to VMI helped to perpetuate these values.” 197

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Memorial Gifts The VMI Foundation, Inc., and the VMI Keydet Club, Inc., received the following gifts in memory of deceased alumni, parents and friends during the time frame of May 1 through July 31, 2008.

Col. Oscar H. Adams ’36, USA Mr. and Mrs. Eric Bartsch Mrs. R.F. Bondurant Mrs. George M. Brooke Jr. Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Coffman Jr. Dr. J. Lloyd Cumbey Ms. Sarah G. Gantt Mr. David L. Nickel Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Vance

Mrs. Elizabeth B. Anderson Mr. Richard H. Knight Jr. ’70 and Mrs. Knight

Mr. Robert Emerson Balch ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Mr. Nathaniel Beaman III ’46 Mr. Nathaniel Beaman IV ’74

Mr. Huntington T. Block ’46 Mr. Stoddard P. Johnston ’46

Mr. Edwin H. Bodenheim II ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71 Mr. David Lloyd Schrader ’71

Mr. Bruce S. Branson Jr. ’40 Mrs. Bruce S. Branson Jr.

Mr. James R. Breckinridge ’67 Mr. Donald R. Barrett ’66

Col. George M. Brooke Jr. ’36 Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64

Dr. Chester F. Burgess Jr. Mr. Robert R. Sparks Jr. ’69

Mr. Edwin A. Burns ’56 Mr. and Mrs. Terry Griffin

Mr. J.E. Burton III ’52 Mr. William P. Diehl Jr. ’52 Mr. David R. White ’52

Mr. Paul Cabell ’42 Grey Cabell, Ann Stoiker and Anne Giles

Mr. Daniel D. Cameron ’42 The Honorable James W. Enochs Jr. ’49B

Mr. Allen T. Caperton Jr. ’52 Mr. David R. White ’52

198

Kenneth W. Carrington ’50B, MD Class of 1950B

Mr. Bruce R. Chambers ’73 Mr. Michael R. MacKenzie ’73

Mr. Benjamin S. Clark Jr. ’31 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Gathright II

Lamar W. Coleman ’55, PhD Mr. Benjamin L. Angle III ’55

Mrs. Nancy Crowder Coleman Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur C. Allen Mrs. Edwin H. Artz Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur R. Cross Mrs. Bette W. Hawkins Dunford Mr. Tazewell Ellett III ’44 and Mrs. Ellett Mrs. Gardner P. Heller Ms. Betty M. Hundley Mr. H. Thomas Hupp Jr. ’44 Mrs. Ted B. Jacobsen Ms. Carol H. Kelley Mr. and Mrs. Bernard J. Levey Mr. and Mrs. Martin B. Mait Mr. and Mrs. Russell B. Mait Managed Benefits Inc. Ms. Wanda M. Pratt Ms. Felicia T. Prendergast Mrs. Claiborne H. Stokes Mrs. Margaret J. Stone Ms. Anne G. Whiteside Mr. John E. Whitmore ’42 and Mrs. Whitmore

Mrs. Elizabeth B. Cooper Mr. Richard H. Knight Jr. ’70 and Mrs. Knight

Mr. James L. Cooper ’44 Mr. Richard H. Knight Jr. ’70 and Mrs. Knight

Mr. Edwin Cox III ’53 Mr. James M. Cox ’90

Mrs. Edwin Cox III Mr. James M. Cox ’90

Mr. Henry J. Cronin ’39 Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64

Mr. John A. Cummings ’64 Mr. William A. McVey ’64

Richard R. Davison ’47, PhD Mr. William A. Hallett Jr. ’47

Mr. Robert H. Deaderick ’40 Ms. Linda Chenoweth Class of 1940 Mr. and Mrs. Louis C. Collier Mr. J. Douglas Cook ’40 Mr. W. John Cowart ’40

Col. Walter A. Edens ’40, USA (Ret) and Mrs. Edens Mr. E. Patrick Garrigan Jr. Ms. Essie B. Gordon Ms. Catherine C. Harlow Mr. H. Thomas Hupp Jr. ’44 Mr. Joseph W. Hutt III ’78 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Innes Ms. Patricia G. Kaplan Ms. Ruth H. Lucero Mr. Charles B. Miller ’42 Mr. Albert M. Orgain IV ’65 and Mrs. Orgain Mr. Eliot P.Y. Powell ’40 Mr. and Mrs. John W. Sublett Mr. John E. Whitmore ’42 and Mrs. Whitmore Ms. Frances W. Wilkins Ms. Elizabeth H. Williams Mrs. H. Russell Wilkins

Deceased Brother Rats – Class of 1968

Mr. Howard R. Chapman ’68 Lt. Col. Guy H. Drewry III ’68, USA (Ret) Mr. John D. Griffin III ’68 Mr. W. Bogart Holland ’68 Lt. Col. Lawrence M. Ryan ’68, USA (Ret) Mr. Jay B. Slaughter ’68 Mr. Garland P. Sprinkle Jr. ’68

Deceased Brother Rats of 1948B Mr. O. Lee Slayton Jr. ’48B

Mrs. Frances C. Denman

Mr. Raymond O. Denman Jr.

Col. Herbert N. Dillard Jr. ’34 William C. Ruffin Jr. ’48B, MD

Mr. Steve B. Dod ’55

Mr. Benjamin L. Angle III ’55

Sgt. Ryan E. Doltz ’00, ANG

Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64 Capt. William F. Steinbach II ’99, USAR

Mr. John F. Drennan Jr. ’55 Mrs. John F. Drennan Jr.

Mr. Henry S. Dunbar III ’48B Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71 Col. Michael M. Strickler ’71

Mr. Walter Dyke ’64

Mr. William A. McVey ’64

Mr. Wayne R. Eggleston ’88 Mr. David T. Hart ’91

Mr. William H. Emory Jr. ’43 Mrs. William H. Emory Jr.

Mrs. James L. Enochs ’27 Col. George W. Dooley Jr. ’49B, USAF (Ret)

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mrs. Lillian W. Enochs Col. George W. Dooley Jr. ’49B, USAF (Ret) Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

John Fenton Mr. Graham L. Undercoffer ’74

Mr. Douglas C. France III ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Mr. Benjamin R. Gardner ’64 The Honorable Robert G. O’Hara Jr. ’64

The Honorable Michael E. Gersten ’64 Mr. William A. McVey ’64

Mr. Robert W. Gleason ’45 Mr. James O. Lewter ’45 Mr. Philip A. Read ’45 John Williams ’45 and Mary Williams

Mr. Steven Wayne Good ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Mr. James R. Goodyear ’62 Mr. Mark H. Graybill Jr. ’62

John B. Gorman ’48B, MD Col. George W. Dooley Jr. ’49B, USAF(Ret) Mr. Philip A. Read ’45

Paul J. Graham Mr. Graham L. Undercoffer ’74

Mr. Kent P. Graybeal ’42 Col. John M. Patton ’42, USAF (Ret)

Mr. Dan H. Green Mrs. J.T. Stone

Mr. Don F. Gross ’51 Mr. John J. Ross III ’51 and Mrs. Ross

Mr. G.W. Guinn Jr. ’50B Mr. C. Edward May Jr. ’51 Mr. Jacob H. Wamsley II ’51 and Mrs. Wamsley

Mr. J. Addison Hagan Jr. ’42 Mr. R. Palmer Hamilton ’85

Col. Leroy D. Hammond ’57 Mrs. Leroy D. Hammond

Mr. Douglas H. Hatfield ’40 Mr. W. John Cowart ’40

Mr. Thomas E. Hays Jr. ’57 Mr. Lynn D. Avis ’57 Mr. Robert F. Bolling III ’57 Mrs. Thomas E. Hays Jr. Mr. Harry H. Warner ’57

2008-Issue 4

Lt. Col. Dale H. Heely ’40, USMC Lt. Cmdr. Robert A. Heely Jr. ’98, USN

Mr. Richard E. Hill ’49B Col. George W. Dooley Jr. ’49B, USAF (Ret)

Mr. Henry B. Holmes Jr. ’16 Mr. William G. Davis ’68 and Mrs. Davis

Mr. Henry B. Holmes III ’41 Mr. William G. Davis ’68 and Mrs. Davis

Col. Robert F. Hunter Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64

Mrs. Beverly W. Hurd Mr. and Mrs. Gordon S. Hunter Mr. and Mrs. Larry W. Hurd Mr. W. Ware Smith Jr. ’62 Employees of Roanoke City Social Services

Lt. Joshua C. Hurley ’01, USA Capt. William R. O’Neal ’01, USA

Mr. Albert H. Jacoby Jr. ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Mr. J.P. Johann ’49B Col. George W. Dooley Jr. ’49B, USAF (Ret)

Mr. Edmund W. Kaaa Jr. ’56 Mr. Kenneth McDonald Jr. ’56

Mr. Anthony S. Kania Mrs. A.S. Kania

Capt. John W. Kennedy ’69, USAF Col. Robert M. Biddle Jr. ’69, USMC (Ret) M. David Gibbons ’68, MD Col. Robert D. Slay Jr. ’69, MD Geoffrey R. Taylor ’69, OD

J.D. Lawrence Jr. ’55, PhD Mrs. James D. Lawrence

Maj. Richard D. LeMay Jr. ’62, USA Mr. Mark H. Graybill Jr. ’62

Mr. Bruce A. Leve ’64 Mr. William E. Welsh ’64

Liviv Librescu Mr. Alan S. Baumgartner ’57

Mr. Paul A. Louis ’45 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Campbell Jr. The Honorable Thomas P. Harwood Jr. ’50B and Mrs. Harwood Mr. James O. Lewter ’45 Mr. Philip A. Read ’45 John Williams ’45 and Mary Williams

Vernon L. Lynch II ’62, MD Mr. Mark H. Graybill Jr. ’62

Mr. Joseph E. Martin Jr. ’72 Philip Jacobs Family The Honorable James D. Pagones ’72

Mr. Michael W. Maupin ’59 Mr. Edward C. Addison ’59 Lt. Col. Michael M. Irvine Jr. ’59, USA (Ret) Mr. Richard E. Phillippi ’59 Mr. Thomas G. Slater Jr. ’66 The Honorable Joseph M. Spivey III ’57 Mr. Harry H. Warner ’57 Mr. T.W. Williamson Jr. ’72

Mr. Robert V. Mazzoni ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Mr. William G. McClure Jr. ’43 Mr. William G. McClure III ’66

Maj. Gen. Ned D. McDonald ’48B, USAF Col. George W. Dooley Jr. ’49B, USAF (Ret) William L. Driskill Jr. ’50B, MD Ms. Nancy M. Howe Ms. Carolyn Kauffman Dr. Jennifer Q. Le Mr. Paul E. Malone Ms. Barbara M. McNabb Col. Jack Morris Mr. and Mrs. Harold C. Reid The Schmidt Family (Paul, Deb, Jonathan & Timothy)

Mr. J.B. McKemie Jr. ’55 Mrs. James B. McKemie Jr.

Mr. John McKenna Mr. Mark H. Graybill Jr. ’62

Mr. Thadeus J. Meler ’48A Lt. Col. Daniel W. Czupryna ’71, USA

1st Sgt. Luke J. Mercardante, Honorary ’07, USMC Mr. and Mrs. Keith Balcomb Mr. Terry Trotochaud

Mr. Alfred L. Miller ’53 Mr. Richard H. Knight Jr. ’70 and Mrs. Knight

Mr. Giles H. Miller Jr. ’24 Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64

Mr. R.L. Montgomery III ’51 Mr. John J. Ross III ’51 and Mrs. Ross Mr. Jacob H. Wamsley II ’51

199

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mr. C.M. Moyer Jr. ’43 Mr. John L. Rowe Jr. ’66 and Mrs. Rowe

The Honorable Nelson T. Overton ’49B Col. George W. Dooley Jr. ’49B, USAF (Ret) The Honorable James W. Enochs Jr. ’49B

Lt. Amos C. Pagh Mr. Clement B. Crowley Unit 397 - K

Mr. Frank M. Parker Jr. ’39 Col. Frank M. Parker III ’64

Mr. Henry P. Perrine Jr. ’55 Mr. Ralph A. Frye Jr. ’55

Mr. Robert N. Petrola ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Col. C.F. Pilley Jr. ’55, USAF Mr. Ralph A. Frye Jr. ’55

Lt. Col. William E. Powell ’61, USA Mr. Mark H. Graybill Jr. ’62

Col. Beverly M. Read ’41, USA Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64

Mr. John P. Read Jr. ’30 Mr. Philip A. Read ’45

Mr. James G. Reid Jr. ’50B Alanton-Baycliff Recreation Center Inc. The Alcorn Family Millie and Lenny Bracey Class of 1950B Dr. Robert Duley and Mrs. Duley Ms. Betty L. Gillespie Mr. and Mrs. Brenton S. Halsey The Honorable Thomas P. Harwood Jr. ’50B and Mrs. Harwood Mr. and Mrs. Bruce R. Hazelgrove Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Innes Mr. and Mrs. Brett J. Keller Mrs. A.B. Midgett Duncan and Lewis Lamond Mrs. William C. Overman Jr. Betsy & Jimmy Paul Mr. and Mrs. William A. Perkins Jr. Red Mill Elementary School Mr. Bagley Reid Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Smith Jr. Col. James E.B. Stuart Jr. Mr. William P. Talbott ’50B

Mr. Marvin Reinstein ’57 Mr. Lynn D. Avis ’57 The Honorable Joseph M. Spivey III ’57

Mr. Reed A. Remington ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

200

Mr. James D. Reynolds ’55 Mr. Ronald M. Bryan ’55 Mr. Kenneth McDonald Jr. ’56 Lt. Col. David F. Woolwine ’55, USAF (Ret)

Capt. James P. Rogan ’62, USA Mr. Mark H. Graybill Jr. ’62

Mr. James W. Rountree Jr. ’67 Ms. Karin E. Rountree

Mr. William H. Russell ’45 John Williams ’45 and Mary Williams

Mr. James M. Satterfield ’42 Ms. Caroline C. Fisher

Mr. George R. Schell ’58 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Mr. Zeke Scher ’47 Mr. Philip A. Read ’45

Mr. Helmut Schrader ’51 Mr. Jacob H. Wamsley II ’51 and Mrs. Wamsley

Jay R. Sculley ’62, PhD Col. William P. Albro ’79, VA AIR NG Chaplain Frederick Allner III ’77 Mr. H. Paul Bigler ’39 Mr. Bowlman T. Bowles Jr. ’60 and Mrs. Bowles Mr. Michael J. Colgan ’81 Mr. George J. Collins ’62 Mr. Theodore C. Cooley ’62 Mr. Martin N. Cristo ’81 Lt. Col. Anthony M. Curtis ’62, USAR (Ret) Mr. J. McNamara Curtis ’79 Mr. John M. Dick ’69 Col. Samuel W. Dobyns ’41, USAF (Ret) Mr. Spencer H. Elmore ’62 The Honorable James W. Enochs Jr. ’49B Mr. William H. Fisher Jr. ’62 Mr. Ralph H. George ’77 Mr. Mark H. Graybill Jr. ’62 Mr. Herbert R. Green Jr. ’66 Mr. W. David Gwaltney ’67 Mr. Edward J. Hammond ’46 Mr. Christopher D. Harris ’83 Mr. Jerry T. Haste ’77 Mr. Yun Heo ’84 Lt. Col. Joseph B. Hooten ’65, USAF (Ret) Col. Donald K. Jamison ’57, USAR (Ret) Mr. Malcolm T. Kerley ’71 Mr. R. Danny Kiser ’62 Col. Daniel Kornacki ’79, USAF (Ret) Mr. James K. Maurer ’65 Mr. C. Edward May Jr. ’51 Mr. H. Clarkson Meredith III ’81 Mr. Irvin Michelson ’36 Mr. Dennis J. Milsten ’80 Mr. Jeffrey B. Minnix ’79

Mr. William K. Mizell Jr. ’62 Mr. William L. Morris ’78 Mr. Robert C. Moss III ’81 Col. Albert M. Navas ’52, USAF (Ret) Maj. Gen. Robert B. Newman Jr. ’73 Mr. David B. Openshaw ’81 Mr. James L. Patton ’49B Mr. Edmund Pendleton Jr. ’56 Col. A. Allen Rasper ’74, USA (Ret) Mr. Augustus Robbins III ’47 Mr. Stephen A. Rogers ’79 Maj. Stephen T. Ross ’83, USAF (Ret) Walter M. Sanders III ’53, PhD Mr. Michael L. Santoro Jr. ’69 Maj. David H. Schwab ’73, USA (Ret) Mr. Bruce G. Seiling ’62 Mr. Dennis W. Staples ’79 Mr. Andrew M. Tarr ’77 Mr. V. Jay Thompson III ’79 Lt. Col. Charles L. Toomey ’74, USA (Ret) Mr. James A. Vest ’62 Mr. Kenneth W. Wester ’72 Mr. Thomas H. White ’79 John Williams ’45 and Mary Williams Mr. James L. Wood Jr. ’59 Mrs. DeWitt S. Worrell

Mr. Jack Sidney ’55

Mr. Benjamin L. Angle III ’55 Mr. Ronald M. Bryan ’55

Mr. O. Lee Slayton Jr. ’48B

Lt. Col. Woodson W. Bercaw Jr. ’48B, USA (Ret)

Mr. S. Strother Smith Jr. ’37

Mrs. Samuel T. Adams Mrs. John L. Couper Mrs. David C. Hastings Ms. Helen S. Moss Mrs. Archer Royall The Honorable J. Randolph Tucker Jr. ’37 Mrs. Edgar S. Wilson

Mr. Richard L. Stilwell ’53

Mr. David B. Stuart, Sr. ’53 Col. Clement L. Woodward ’53, USA (Ret)

Maj. Paul R. Syverson III ’93, USA Mr. and Mrs. Paul R. Syverson II

Lt. Col. Raymond R. Tamalis ’50B, USAF Mrs. Raymond R. Tamalis

Mrs. Powell H. Taylor

Mr. H. Clarkson Meredith III ’81

Mr. Vester J. Thompson Jr. ’40 Mr. W. John Cowart ’40

Mr. Walton R. Thompson Mr. and Mrs. James B. Hazen

Mr. John J. Tonkin ’55 Mr. Benjamin L. Angle III ’55

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mr. Christopher A. Touhill ’85 Mr. Philip A. Galgano ’85 Mr. George T. Trumbo II ’75 Mr. John W. Trumbo ’48 and Mrs. Trumbo

Matching Gifts The following companies or related foundations have made contributions to VMI, matching the gifts of alumni and friends listed under each. These gifts were received during the time frame of May 1 through July 31, 2008.

Mr. Millard M. Trussell Mr. Jack Trussell Mr. R. James Tucker Jr. ’39 Mr. C. Edward May Jr. ’51

Aetna Foundation Inc. Col. Douglas A. Stephens ’65, USAR (Ret)

Mr. Charles Undercoffer Mr. Graham L. Undercoffer ’74

Altria Group Inc. Mr. William K. Bhatta ’76

Mr. John L. Undercoffer Mr. Graham L. Undercoffer ’74

American Electric Power Mr. Charles E. Bayless ’95 Mr. Jack M. Burnett ’45 Mr. James G. Tapley ’43 Mr. C. Michael Thacker ’68

Mr. James G. Unger ’60 Mrs. James G. Unger Mr. Meredith S. Urick ’35 The Honorable Thomas P. Harwood Jr. ’50B and Mrs. Harwood Mr. Julian M. Weaver Jr. ’25 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71 Mr. Richard C. Weaver ’21 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71 Gen. Patrick H. Wen ’44 Mrs. Patrick H. Wen W.R. Whitehurst III ’49B, MD Col. George W. Dooley Jr. ’49B, USAF (Ret) Mr. Boguslaw J. Wierzbicki ’72 The Honorable James D. Pagones ’72 Mr. DeWitt S. Worrell ’62 Mr. Charles W. Beale III ’64 Mr. George J. Collins ’62 Mr. Spencer H. Elmore ’62 Mr. Randolph M. Hamner ’62 Mr. and Mrs. William Price Roe Mr. Marc K. Starnes Richard N. Willard ’62, MD Mrs. DeWitt S. Worrell Dr. Stewart S. Worrell Mr. Gregory R. Wright Jr. ’95 Mr. Graham L. Undercoffer ’74 Capt. Luke C. Wullenwaber ’02 Mr. John H. Trant II ’02 Mr. Reuben F. Trant II ’02 Mr. Timothy O. Trant II ’98 and Mrs. Trant

2008-Issue 4

Chesapeake Corporation Foundation Mr. Harry H. Warner ’57 The Clark Construction Group Inc. Mr. Thomas H. White ’79 Coca-Cola Company Mrs. Carolyn Corr Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Daniel L. Steidle Jr. Mr. Daniel F. Wells ’67 Consolidated Edison Company of New York Mr. George T. Cowherd Jr. ’51 Corning Inc. Foundation Mr. C. Eugene Moss Jr. ’62 The Delta Air Lines Foundation Mr. W.R. Beerbower ’72

Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hughes

Dominion Foundation Mr. Rudolph J. Bartol ’79 Mr. Kevin M. Cordray ’80 Mr. H.A. Curle Jr. ’76 Mr. Robert G. Gregory Jr. ’63

Arch Chemicals Inc. Col. James P. Dawson ’70, USAR (Ret)

Dow Jones Cmdr. Michael C. Coleman ’88, USNR

AT&T Foundation Col. Harold C. Fleischer III ’69, USA (Ret)

The Duke Energy Foundation Mr. Kenneth R. Jordan ’65

American Express Foundation Mr. Frederick K. Kressierer ’61

Bank of America Foundation Inc. Mr. Alfred B. Cramer IV ’79 Mr. Guy W. Gilleland Jr. ’46 Mr. C. Knox Hubard ’69 Mr. John G. Lester ’68 Ivan A. Marcotte ’83, PhD Mr. Matthew C. Spencer ’97 The Boeing Company Mr. Jeff Hanna ’52 Col. Albert L. Lahendro ’65, USAF (Ret) Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Mr. Hugh F. Gouldthorpe Jr. ’61 Mr. Eric S. Plogger ’93 Lt. Col. William E. Wray Jr. ’63, USA (Ret) C.B. Fleet Company Inc. Mr. W. Gregory Robertson ’65 Calibre Systems Inc. Mr. James R. Blanks ’91 Caterpillar Foundation Mr. Wilson E.D. Shepherd ’50B Mr. C. Randolph Williams Sr. ’63

El Paso Corporate Foundation Mr. E.D. Woomer Jr. ’73 Eli Lilly and Company Foundation Mr. Russell C. Proctor III ’65 ExxonMobil Foundation William P. Boyer ’38, PhD Freddie Mac Foundation Mr. Jason L. Middough ’97 GenCorp Foundation Col. Harry R. Bailey ’51, USA (Ret) The General Electric Foundation Mr. Jennings B. Bunch Jr. ’50A Mr. Paul A. Kuhne Jr. ’54 Mr. Richard E. Leithiser ’50B Mr. Buddy B. Rogers ’57 Goodrich Corporation Gen. John P. Jumper ’66, USAF (Ret) IBM Corporation Mr. Thomas G. Allen ’64 Mr. T. Bryan Barton ’68

201

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mr. John L. Botjer ’54 Mr. Joseph R. Brenner ’55 Mr. Richard G. Condit ’72 Mr. Jack Cowart ’67 Mr. Christopher S. Cramer ’82 Mr. G.T. Durvin Jr. ’70 Mr. John Goode ’81 Mr. James A. Griffin ’63 Mr. James P. Hart III ’55 Mr. James E. Henry Jr. ’68 Mr. Alfred W. Kaemmerlen James C. Kyle Jr. ’57, PhD Mr. Nowell E. Loop ’59 Mr. Richard R. Mandt ’50A Mr. Robert S. Miller ’53 Mr. E. Jeff Robertson II ’54 Mr. Tarn M. Rosenbaum Mr. Ira N. Saxe ’39 Mr. Ralph A. Warren Jr. ’50B Mr. Frank H. White ’59 Lockheed Martin Corporation Mr. C. Wayne Burton ’68 Mr. John F. Forsyth IV ’67 Mr. Joseph W. Keyes Jr.’82 Mr. David L. Lawson Jr. ’96 Mr. Roy I. Siegel ’77 Col. Spencer W. Wilkinson ’66, USAF (Ret) MeadWestvaco Foundation Mr. Michael L. Santoro Jr. ’69

The New York Times Company Foundation Mr. B. Drummond Ayres Jr. ’57 NewMarket Corporation Mr. Bruce R. Hazelgrove III ’83 Norfolk Southern Foundation Mr. Harvey H. Bradley ’49B Mr. O. Raymond Martin V ’71 Mr. Phillip R. Ogden ’63 Mr. Lawrence E. Wetsel Jr. ’61 The Northrop Grumman Foundation Mr. John B. Caulfield ’71 Mr. Phillip L. Saunders ’81 Pfizer Foundation Mr. David Douglas Mr. Hunter H. Mays Jr. ’71 Mr. Thomas H. Selman III ’84 Science Applications International Corporation Lt. Col. David L. Applin ’75, USA (Ret) Lt. Col. James A. Byron III ’81, USAF (Ret) Mr. Jeffrey C. Carver ’71 Lt. Col. Alan S. Fojt ’72, USA (Ret) Gen. John P. Jumper ’66, USAF (Ret) Mr. John C. Leon ’73 Mr. I. Allen Moore Jr. ’78 Lt. Col. James A. Wojcik ’67, USA (Ret)

The Medtronic Foundation Mr. Patrick M. Wilson ’78

Shell Oil Company Foundation Mr. Kenneth K. Kauffman Mr. James O. Lewter ’45 Mr. William L. Nuenke ’57 Mr. Ira P. Parkman Jr. ’66

The Merck Company Foundation Mr. William Terpeluk ’75

Sprint Foundation

Merrill Lynch & Company Foundation Inc. Mr. Craig M. Carlock ’74 Mr. Conrad K. Wharton ’84

St. Paul Travelers Foundation Mr. John Pittenger ’72

Microsoft Corporation Mr. James Nida MMC Mr. Thomas R. Buckner ’69 Mr. Douglas Lawrence Rowe ’71

202

Mr. William H. Russell ’45

State Farm Companies Foundation Mr. Quinter J. Herring Jr. ’50B Transcommunity Bank, N.A. Mr. Dennis P. Traubert ’72

UBS

Mr. Chalmers L. Glenn IV ’80

Universal Leaf Foundation Mr. John B. Adams Jr. ’66 The UPS Foundation Maj. John W. Diggs ’80, USAFR Verizon Foundation Mr. Edgar R. Bare ’54 Mr. Edgar L. Brown Jr. ’53 Mr. Bruce D. Cohen ’83 Mr. George A. Farry ’75 Mr. Chad D. Foster ’96 Mr. Scott Lee Fraser ’74 Mr. John S. Ingles ’44 Mr. William K. Kays Jr. ’55 Mr. W.B. Kuykendall Jr. ’50B Mr. R.N. Lineweaver III ’63 Mr. Gary J. Mackin ’82 Mr. Ralph T. Minor ’97 Mr. Daniel W. Murphy ’85 Mr. I. Thomas Orrell ’77 Mr. and Mrs. Louis D. Scarpa Mr. Ben W.L. Semmes Jr. ’55 Mr. David T. Wagner ’82 W.R. Grace & Company Mr. P. Andrew Faulconer ’78 Wachovia Foundation Mr. Robert W. Cole Mr. James M. Flaherty ’96 Mr. and Mrs. James Fleenor Mr. Matthew B. Hamilton ’85 Mr. W. Brett Hayes ’86 Mr. Robert B. Powell ’63 Mr. Richard L. Tuell ’78 Washington Group Foundation Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Dave H. Ecklund WellPoint Associate Giving Campaign Mr. C. Timothy Gundlach ’73 Mr. Ronald K. Milligan ’78 Wells Fargo Foundation Mr. Daniel R. Owens ’97 William J. & Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation Mr. Tayloe M. Dameron ’85

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

KEYDET CLUB KEYDET CLUB

Keydet Club Board of Governors Adds New Members for 2008-09 The Keydet Club Board of Governors for the 2008-09 year, effective July 1, is again led by William H. Stephens Jr. ’73, who is serving his second year as president of the board. Stephens has over 35 years of sales, marketing, franchising, management, consulting, business start-up and development experience. As the chief development officer for University Instructors Inc., he is responsible for marketing, opening new regional offices and managing the Supplemental Educational Services division of the company. Since joining the University Instructors in 2001, Stephens has been instrumental in many aspects of the company’s growth and expansion. He is currently a member of the company’s executive committee and board of directors. Stephens was a principal and senior consultant with Ventures Management, Inc., from 1997 to 2001. From 1986-97, he was vice president of franchising and vice president of company service centers for Voice-Tel Enterprises, Inc., of which he was a founder and co-owner. Both companies – University Instructors Inc. and Voice-Tel Enterprises, Inc. – have earned spots on the INC.500 list of America’s fastest growing companies. A VMI Distinguished Military Graduate, Stephens served for eight years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. Assisting Stephens with board administration are Charles F. Plageman ’90, first vice president; U. “Buzz” Birzenieks ’64, second vice president; and Joseph W. Keyes Jr. ’82, secretary/treasurer. All are serving their second terms in these positions. The following alumni were elected as Keydet Club Board governors by The VMI Alumni Association at its spring 2008 board meeting. Each of these members will serve a three-year term and will be eligible to serve a second term: Charles E. Branch ’95, Barry W. Coceano ’84, Donald B. Heslep ’56, Gary A. Morgan ’81, John R. Munno ’84 and Scott M. Saunders ’97.

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In January 2008, Bruce R. Kitchen ’81, an alternate to the board, was named a governor to replace a vacancy on the board. Completing their second terms as of June 30, 2007, and not eligible for reelection are James A. Comer ’86, Harley W. Duane III ’67, John E. Kemper ’68, Jonathan E. Kennedy Sr., Daniel M. Smith Jr. ’98 and Richard Woolwine III ’82. The Keydet Club thanks them for their service to VMI Athletics.

New Members Charles E. Branch ’95 Branch matriculated at VMI from Petersburg, Virginia, on a Keydet Club wrestling scholarship and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English. At that time, he was the first VMI wrestler to win four Southern Conference titles (the third wrestler in conference history to do this). On the mat, Branch won four conference titles at 134 lbs. (1 title) and 142 lbs. (3 titles) – the only VMI Keydet to win titles at two weight classes. He was ranked in the nation’s top 10 most of his career and was named Southern Conference Wrestler of the Year twice. He attained All-America status in 1994 when he placed fourth at 142 lbs. at the NCAA Division I Championships. That same year, he posted a 35-4 record and also won the Virginia Intercollegiate Championships and the prestigious Bloomsburg Invitational, where he was also named Outstanding Wrestler. Branch’s VMI wrestling career record was an astounding 117-26-1. He was inducted into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. After graduation, Branch worked as an assistant wrestling coach at VMI, then at the University of Virginia for two and a half years, and then at the Naval Academy for three years. He took his first head coaching job at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in 2001. There, he saw his teams improve every season, finishing with a 39-59-2 overall record. The 39 dual-meet wins were

the third best in EMU wrestling history. In 2005, he was selected by the National Wrestling Coaches Association to take a contingent of all-star U.S. wrestlers on a competitive wrestling tour of China. Later in 2005, Branch left coaching for employment at USB Paine Webber. Today, he is employed at Merrill Lynch as a private wealth manager. He, his wife, Erica, and their 1-year-old son, Charles, live in Greenwich, Connecticut. Capt. Barry W. Coceano ’84, USN Coceano matriculated at VMI from Medford, New Jersey, on a Keydet Club football scholarship and graduated with the class of 1984, receiving a bachelor’s degree in history. He was a three-year letterman in football and was also the 1st Battalion S-4 in the Corps of Cadets. Additionally, he was the recipient of the U.S. Naval Institute award as the outstanding Naval ROTC graduate. Upon graduation from VMI, he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy where he continues to serve on active duty in the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) officer community. During his 24-year Navy career, Coceano has served multiple tours both ashore and afloat, including operational tours at four EOD Mobile Units; tours aboard the U.S.S. Pensacola (LSD-38) and U.S.S. Missouri (BB-63); and a tour with Mine Countermeasures Squadron Two. Additionally, he was a Federal Executive Fellow with the Atlantic Council of the United States; a staff officer with the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and a graduate of the Naval War College. Currently, Coceano is the commander of EOD Group One, over all U.S. Navy West Coast EOD forces. From 2004-06, Coceano served as president of the Potomac River Chapter of The VMI Alumni Association. He and his wife, Dawn, have two daughters and live in Vienna, Virginia.

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KEYDET CLUB Donald B. Heslep ’56 Heslep matriculated at VMI from Fairfield, Virginia, and graduated with the class of 1956, receiving a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Following graduation, Heslep served for two years in the U.S. Army (1956-58) and then served in the Army Reserve until 1965. He was with Dupont Construction from 1958-64 and then started his own building and development company in Richmond, Virginia. Heslep built and owns the first self-storage facility in Chesterfield County – Blue and Gray Self Storage – which is the largest of its kind in the Richmond area. He also developed and owns The Oasis Sports Park, a golfing and baseball practice facility also located in Chesterfield County. Heslep was a construction arbiter for the American Arbitration Association for 23 years. He served a three-year term as a non-lawyer member of the Third District Committee of the Virginia State Bar. He has served on several boards in the Richmond area and is active in community affairs. This will be Heslep’s second term on the Keydet Club Board of Governors, having served the first time from 1984-90. He and his wife, Jo, live in Richmond. They have two sons, Mark ’83 and Don Jr. (Bluefield College ’84), as well as three grandchildren. Bruce R. Kitchen ’81 Kitchen matriculated at VMI from Richmond, Virginia, on a Keydet Club football scholarship and graduated with the class of 1981, receiving a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. As a cadet, he was a member of the VMI football team all four years of his cadetship and a member of the Monogram Club for three years. Kitchen continued his education by earning a master’s degree in oceanography and meteorology at the Naval Post Graduate School in 1991, as well as a master’s degree in national security and strategic planning at the Naval War College in 1996. Following his graduation from VMI, Kitchen served in the U.S. Navy from 198198, first as a surface warfare officer and then as an oceanographer/meteorologist. He also gained sub-specialty expertise as an instructor/curriculum developer and as a foreign area officer. Since 1998, Kitchen has worked for

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Triumph College Admissions (TCA), a market leader in helping schools implement successful test prep programs. He is responsible for all aspects of educational software and classroom materials sales and marketing, including development of material. He spearheaded the development of TCA internet-based software and classroom curriculum guides. In 2006, Kitchen also joined Springwell, a college planning center for students, where he is director for College Planning. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the center, including making sales presentations to prospective clients and ensuring all services are delivered in a timely, highquality manner. Kitchen lives in Fairfax County, Virginia, with his wife, Trish, and three children, Brett, 17, Kelly, 16 and Abby, 13. He is active with the Boy Scouts of America and local youth sports programs. Lt. Col. Gary A. Morgan ’81 USA (Ret) Morgan was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia. In August 1977, he matriculated into the Corps of Cadets as a member of A Company. Recruited by the late Jay R. Sculley ’62, Ph.D., to play goalkeeper for the soccer team, Morgan was awarded a Keydet Club soccer scholarship. He was a four-year starter, serving as captain of the team during his second and first class years. In each of his four years at VMI, he was recognized by the Southern Conference as the First Team All-Conference Goalkeeper, becoming the only four-time, All-Conference selection in school history. He received the Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership Award during his second and first class years and was inducted into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. After graduating from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in history and accepting a commission in the U.S. Army (field artillery), Morgan embarked on a 21-year journey that took him to Germany to serve in a Cold War Pershing Missile battalion; to Fort Bragg, North Carolina; to Washington, D.C., as an intermediate nuclear forces treaty compliance inspector (including interface with the Soviet Union); to VMI as an assistant professor of military science; to Korea; to Fort Bragg again; and finally, to the Pentagon as an inspector general in the U.S. Army Inspector General Agency.

Branch ’95

Coceano ’84

Heslep ’56

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

KEYDET CLUB

Kitchen ’81

Munno ’84

Saunders ’97

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In November 2002, Morgan retired from the Army and accepted a position with the Department of Defense Inspector General, Investigations Division, specializing in investigating allegations of military whistleblower reprisal and improper mental health evaluations. In June 2004, he was selected by the Department of the Navy’s Inspector General as a senior investigator, responsible for conducting highly sensitive administrative investigations for the Secretary of the Navy, the chief of Naval Operations and members of Congress. In October 2007, Morgan transferred to the Deputy Naval Inspector General for Marine Corps Matters organization as their senior officials investigator. Morgan is a graduate of the U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and Combatant Commander’s Inspector General Course. He also attended the airborne and jumpmaster schools. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, Korean Service Medal, Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge, the Army Staff Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge and the British Parachutist Badge. He is also the recipient of the U.S. Army Field Artillery Association’s Honorable Order of Saint Barbara Medal. Morgan has enjoyed a 35-year association with Special Olympics as a volunteer, coach and parent of a special Olympian. He is also an avid golfer. Morgan and Rhonda, his wife of 27 years, live in Spotsylvania, Virginia, with their youngest daughter, Whitney. Their oldest daughter, Liepha, is a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran who is now stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. John R. Munno ’84 Munno matriculated at VMI from West Islip, New York, on a partial Keydet Club scholarship and through hard work, earned a full scholarship and was a captain of the wrestling team for three years. He graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in economics. As a cadet, he was a Dean’s List student

for all four years and a four-year member of the Monogram Club. He served as a Charlie Company sergeant his second class year and as a lieutenant his first class year. He was an organizing member of the Fratelli Club and was an Azalea Festival escort his second class year. Due to the helpful intervention of Vince Thomas ’43 – thenmayor of Norfolk, Virginia – Munno was able to overcome challenges during his later cadetship and go on to finish one of the finest wrestling careers in the history of the Institute. Following graduation, he was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force and began pilot training. After receiving his wings, he was assigned to the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, where he was an instructor and evaluator of the T-38 supersonic jet trainer. His next and last assignment in the Air Force was to fly the F-16 Falcon at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. In 1992, Munno joined his current employer, American Airlines. In his position as a commercial pilot, he has flown the B727, MD80, B767, B757 and B737. In 1997, he became the 23rd wrestler in VMI history to be inducted into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame. Munno and his wife, Jamie Elizabeth Powers Munno, have two children, Joseph Isaac, class of 2012, and Alexandra Powers. Joseph is a scholarship recipient on the VMI wrestling team and is named after his godfather, former VMI wrestling Coach Ike Sherlock. The family lives in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to his son, Munno’s two brothers, Bob and Tom, are members of the classes of 1981 and 1988, respectively. Scott M. Saunders ’97 Saunders matriculated at VMI from Richmond, Virginia, and graduated with distinction, earning a bachelor’s degree in international studies. After graduation, Saunders first worked for Bloomberg Financial Markets in New York City, New York. In 1997, he joined Wachovia Securities’ Debt Capital Markets group, working in both its Baltimore and Richmond offices. Since 2001, Saunders has worked for BB&T Equity Capital Markets as an institutional salesman, covering the Northeast. He and his wife, Manya, have two sons, Charles, 3, and Alexander, 1. The family lives in Richmond.

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KEYDET CLUB

McCarthy ’73 Establishes Scholarship in Honor of His Father McCarthy ’73 As announced by the Keydet Club, Scott Forrester McCarthy ’73 has established the George Forrester McCarthy Football Scholarship in honor of his father. The scholarship will provide grant-in-aid assistance to a cadet who is a member of the VMI football team. “I have established the George Forrester McCarthy Football Scholarship to honor my late father’s firm belief in the value of sports, especially football,” said McCarthy. “He believed that football, more

George McCarthy in his U.S. Army uniform.

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than any other sport, had taught him the fundamental skills of both teamwork and leadership. He further believed that football is more than a game; it is a classroom where one learns the value of preparation, teamwork and perseverance.” “My father graduated from high school during the Great Depression and was financially unable to attend college on a full-time basis,” McCarthy continued. “I know that he would be very proud to have a scholarship established in his name that provides the opportunity to attend college and to play the sport he loved at an institution with the history, traditions and values of VMI. I know that my late mother would also be very proud of this scholarship.” George McCarthy was an outstanding athlete and loved sports throughout his life. As a student at Woodrow Wilson High School in New Jersey, he earned varsity letters in football, baseball and track and was sports editor for the school newspaper. Also during his teen years, he fought in the local Golden Gloves tournament, winning his weight class. His love, however, was football, and his proudest athletic achievement was being named to the 1932 All-North Hudson County high school football team at the halfback position. Financially unable to attend college full-time, he went to work for Sears, Roebuck and Company in Union City, New Jersey, in the credit department. Sports in general, and football in VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

KEYDET CLUB particular, continued to be a passion. He tried out for and won the halfback position on the Weehawken Field Club, a local minor league pro-football team. He worked for Sears by day, practiced in the evenings and played on Sundays. With America’s entry into World War II, McCarthy resigned from Sears and enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He was quickly promoted through the ranks to first sergeant. With his civilian business experience and his sports background, he was selected to be the athletic director for Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, in charge of all sports programs and combat physical training. It was here that he met Ethel Irene Macdonald, a civilian secretary for the Army Signal Corps, who he married in 1949. He was later reassigned to an infantry unit and participated in the landings at Leyte, a province of the Philippines, where the largest naval battle in modern history took place on Oct. 20, 1944. In the Allied campaign to liberate the Philippines, he was severely wounded and transferred to Japan, where he served as non-commissioned officer in charge of a rehabilitation center while recovering from his wounds. Upon discharge from the Army, McCarthy returned to work for Sears as a credit manager. He was elected as president of the Passaic County and Hudson County New Jersey Credit Bureau in 1952. He subsequently was elected as a director of the Scranton Pennsylvania Commercial Credit Bureau. In 1953, Sears transferred him to Washington, D.C., where he remained until his retirement in 1966. He passed away in 1970. George and Ethel’s son, Scott McCarthy, matriculated at VMI from Bethesda, Maryland. He was an ROTC scholarship cadet and a Distinguished Military Graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in modern languages, majoring in French. As a cadet, he served as a Delta Company corporal, sergeant and finally, as Second Battalion S-4. He participated in the Armed Forces Club, the Sport Parachute Club and the intramural boxing program. His knowledge of and interest in VMI developed from his mother, whose connection with VMI went back to her childhood when she and her parents would vacation 2008-Issue 4

in southern Virginia and visit numerous historic sites, including the VMI Post. When her son chose to attend VMI, she renewed her acquaintance with the Institute and became an avid reader of books and news articles about the school. She was especially impressed by the Institute’s Honor Code. Mrs. McCarthy passed away in 2007. After graduation, the younger McCarthy entered the Army as a second lieutenant, initially detailed to the infantry. He graduated from both the officer basic course and airborne course at Fort Benning, Georgia. He subsequently served as a platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he received the 101st Airborne Division Certificate of Achievement. Transferred to the Ordnance Corps, McCarthy attended the Maintenance Officer Course at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. He was promoted to captain and served in assignments including battalion maintenance officer and battalion S-4 officer in Germany. He completed his military service in 1980. During his service, he was twice awarded the Army Commendation Medal. For 25 years, he worked as a senior management analyst on several major Navy systems engineering programs, including such high visibility efforts as Strategic Sealift, the Harpoon antiship missile, the Aegis destroyer and the Navy Marine Corps Intranet. In addition, he worked with

several allied navies in the area of foreign military sales. Over the years, he has received several employer and Navy letters and awards recognizing his efforts. He is a member of the National Defense Industrial Association, the Bethesda Writers Center and the VMI Keydet Club. “The Keydet Club is honored to be the beneficiary of this wonderful gift from Scott McCarthy,” said Greg Cavallaro ’84, Keydet Club executive vice president. “I know that every cadet-athlete who is able to attend VMI because of this scholarship will appreciate that his education, on and off the gridiron, is being supported by the legacy of a man who was a true lover of the sport of football and a devoted son who represents the ideals of VMI.”

“[My father] believed that football, more than any other sport, had taught him the fundamental skills of both teamwork and leadership. He further believed that football is more than a game; it is a classroom where one learns the value of preparation, teamwork and perseverance.”

George McCarthy, left, as a football player.

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KEYDET CLUB

Board of Governors Approves Leadership Level Increase At its June 2008 meeting, the Keydet Club Board of Governors approved changes to the gift levels for several of its leadership membership levels. These giving level changes went into effect on July 1, 2008, for the Fiscal Year 2009. However, member benefits for the Fiscal Year 2009 will be based on membership levels as of June 30, 2008. The changes are summarized below: Letterman – The annual giving amount increases from $1,500 to $2,500 in a fiscal year (or $1,875 in the first year moved up to this level). Flying Squadron – The annual giving amount increases from $2,500 to $4,000

in a fiscal year (or $3,000 in the first year moved up to this level). Sportsman – The annual giving amount increases from $6,000 to $7,000 in a fiscal year (or $5,250 in the first year moved up to this level). It has been more than eight years since giving levels for these leadership membership categories have been increased. Because of tuition increases and operation expense growth, the board agreed that these changes are needed to support VMI’s Division I athletics program at a level consistent with the school’s goals and mission. As mentioned above, these giving level changes will not affect member benefits

during Fiscal Year 2009; instead, Fiscal Year 2009 benefits will be based on Fiscal Year 2008 giving levels. On this page is a chart that shows all member levels in the Keydet Club and corresponding member benefits. If you have any questions about your membership or wish to become a member, please contact the Keydet Club by calling 1-800/444-1839.

Editor’s Note: The articles in this section of the Alumni Review were provided by the Keydet Club.

Annual Membership Levels and Benefits FY09 (July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009)

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS (Based on prior year’s June 30 membership unless you move up a level in current year)

PLUS Twelve (12) season tickets for Football, Basketball and Baseball;

25% Discount First Year

OUT-OF-STATE FULL SCHOLARSHIP - $36,000 Reserved parking for football in stadium lot. IN-STATE FULL SCHOLARSHIP - $18,000

PLUS Eight (8) season tickets for Football, Basketball and Baseball; Special event invitations; No charge to attend Keydet Club “special” events.

SCHOLARSHIP - $12,000

PLUS Six (6) season tickets for Football, Basketball and Baseball; Seating in Supt.’s Box at football games; Cadet-Athlete recognition; No charge to attend Keydet Club pre-game events.

SPORTSMEN - $7,000

PLUS Four (4) season tickets for Football, Basketball and Baseball; First choice on available away game tickets.

FLYING SQUADRON - $4,000

(To move up in first year at 25% discount - $3,000)

LETTERMEN - $2,500 BIG RED - $1,000 (*$500 for Young Alumni <15)

PLUS One (1) season ticket for Football and Basketball; Honorary Coach invitation. PLUS Lapel pin; Leadership Outing invitation; Basketball halftime lounge; Complimentary Parade Ground parking.

HAIL VARSITY - $500

PLUS Football and Basketball Media Guides.

ONE BIG TEAM - $250

PLUS Priority ticket processing.

KEYDET - $1

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PLUS Two (2) season tickets for Football, Basketball and Baseball; Ferebee Lounge access; Complimentary stadium parking.

Bumper sticker and KC newsletter.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW