Alumni Review 2009 Issue 1 by VMI Alumni Agencies

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ALUMNI REVIEW 2009-Issue 1

Contents

VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE Alumni Review 2009-Issue 1

IN THIS ISSUE . . .

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

FEATURES 12 14 20 22 25

Founders Day 2008 Distinguished Service Awards The Late Jim Wheat ’41 Morris ’66: On Leadership Kirk ’50B Stumps for McCain

NEWS AND UPDATES 3 38 47 173 173 175 187

OEF/OIF: An Update Association/Chapter News Class Notes Births, Marriages, Degrees Most Senior Alumni Taps Alumni News

193 DEPARTMENTS 2 177 193 197 198 203

President’s Letter Association Directory The Institute VMI Athletics The Foundation The Keydet Club

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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.

Making a Difference: Payne ’99 Class of 2008 Alums in Uganda Bomb Dedications Fall 2008 Reunions

189

PUBLISHER The President of The VMI Alumni Association, Inc.

PRINTER Progress Printing Co., Inc. Lynchburg, Virginia

26 Making a Difference: Newcomb ’86

27 28 29 32

Volume 84, No. 4

ATTENTION POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to: VMI Alumni Review, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450 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. VMI ALUMNI AGENCIES TELEPHONE NUMBERS The VMI Alumni Association: The VMI Foundation: The VMI Keydet Club:

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

WEB SITE ADDRESSES Alumni Agencies: www.vmialumni.org VMI: www.vmi.edu ON OUR COVER Front: The Corps during Vice President Dick Cheney’s visit to VMI on Nov. 8, 2008. Inside Front: A cadet bugler sounds the call to formation inside the Third Barracks preceding the Barracks Dedication Cermony on Founders Day 2008. Cover photos by Kevin Remington.

A Message from the President In this issue, we share timely information with our audience, including updates related to Founders Day and the new Third Barracks dedication. We are very pleased that more than 2,900 alumni completed the Alumni Review Survey sent with the 2008-Issue 4 Review. An article in this issue details the results and offers some insight into changes suggested by this project. We remain focused on the delivery of a great alumni magazine, as we make every effort to manage effectively the resources so generously provided by alumni and friends of the Institute. A special thanks to all who took the time to complete the survey. By indentifying your preferences, you are helping us to make this a better magazine.

Lykins ’73

This issue also contains a number of very interesting articles that highlight our alumni. For example, former POW and retired Air Force Col. Thomas Kirk Jr. ’50B made the news regarding his involvement in the presidential election. Another article about J. Daniel Payne ’99 describes his important work with a non-profit community resource organization. We also highlight the experience of the late James Wheat ’41 in an interesting article written by Bolling Williamson ’60. Wheat attended VMI and realized in his second class year that he was losing his eyesight. Bolling’s article describes how Wheat did not let this limitation stop him from living a full and successful life. Proudly, we continue to present articles highlighting the service of our alumni in our nation’s war on terror. Nearly 1,300 alumni have served overseas in this effort. We also recognize the tremendous numbers who have served elsewhere, providing needed support and training. I find it remarkable that 63 cadets have put their studies aside and answered the call to duty as well, including Cadet Ben Kimsey, the current first class president who served in Afghanistan and at Guantanamo Bay. I am reminded of the words of Col. J.T.L. Preston … “and ready in every time of deepest peril.” Those words, which we all memorized, are as pertinent today as at any time in our 169-year history. I hope the articles and images on the pages of this Review remind you of our important and historic heritage. I am honored to bring these stories to our alumni and hope that you all are as proud of our school, our heritage and our alumni as I am. May God bless our alumni and VMI.

Richmond P. Lykins ’73, President

The VMI Alumni Association, Inc.

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1st Lt. Mark Searles ’06, USA, left, and Josh Mulford ’04, right, in Iraq.

Operation

Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom 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 Nov. 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

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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 1975

Class of 1974

Class of 1990

Johnson, Robert D. Maj., USAR

Wohlrab, Charles D. Lt. Col., Civilian

Class of 1983 Fitzgerald, Timothy W. Col., USMC

Class of 1988 Brotzen, Paul C. Lt. Col., USA

Class of 1989 Grealish, Joseph E. Cmdr., USN

O’Leary, Patrick O. Maj., VARNG 3

1st Lt. Mark Searles ’06, USA, on patrol near Salman Pak, Iraq. At the time of this writing, Searles is an infantry platoon leader in the 1st Armored Division, and he is stationed at Combat Outpost Carver, approximately 15 miles southeast of Baghdad.

Maj. Brian Hartless ’96, USAF, recently completed a year-long tour in Iraq with the Multi-National Security Transition Command. He has returned to his home base at Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath in England and will be going to the Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery, Alabama, in July 2009.

Class of 1991

Class of 2000

Hawks, Martin J., Warrent Officer, USA

Allen, Landon R. Capt., USMC

Class of 1994

Class of 2003

Lynch, Kyle D. 2nd Lt., USMC Searles, Mark T. 1st Lt., USA Slack, Terrence E. Lt., USMC Yeo, Michael C. Lt., USMC

Cameron, Mark C. Capt., USMC Kavanaugh, Stephen Maj., USA

Guy, Edmund A. III (Trey) Capt., USA Roche, John R. Capt., USA

Class of 2007

Class of 1996

Class of 2004

Brinkac, Christopher T. Lt. Cmdr., USN Walton, Glenn R. Ohleger, Michael P. Jr. Maj., USMC

Class of 1997

Class of 2006

Bishop, Justin A. 2nd Lt., USA Boykin, Nicolas S. 2nd Lt., USA Terminato, 2nd Lt. John A., USA Benson, Ryan W. 2nd Lt.

Bechtel, Steven R. 1st Lt., USMC

Keslick, Brian S. Staff Sgt., USMCR

Class of 1999 Budlong, David R. Sgt., USA Holmes, John M. Lt., USN

J. Michael Judge ’01 at Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq. Judge is serving as a headquarters and services company commander for a security battalion.

Lt. Col. Samuel Russell ’88, USA, 94th Base Support Battalion commander at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Rustamiyah in Iraq, wrote: “Finally, after 10 months, I was able to get street signs put around the FOB so that soldiers can readily identify where they’re located –particularly useful during an attack or trying to find the location of a casualty. I named the north-south roads after NFL football teams, and the east-west signs are numbered. Of course, my headquarters is on Redskins Road …”

Photo above, left: Larry Avery ’80 overlooking Sadr City, a suburb of Baghdad, Iraq. In October, he wrote to friends and family to say that his tour has been extended to May 2009, and when he returns in May, he and his family are scheduled to move to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

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Deployment Can’t Separate Sisters

Photo above: 1st Lt. Abigail Ward ’07, USA, with sister Capt. Melissa Ward ’03, USMC, together on Thanksgiving Day in Baghdad, Iraq. In response to a note from Alumni Association Executive VP Adam Volant, Melissa Ward wrote, “We are doing well … although our father (Lt. Col. Robert Ward ’72, USA) is not too keen on having his two daughters in a combat zone.”

The photo of the Ward sisters at right appeared in the Summer/Fall 2007 issue of the Alumni Review, with the following caption: After traveling from her deployed unit in Afghanistan, Marine 1st Lt. Melissa Ward ’03, USMC, left, greeted her sister, 2nd Lt. Abigail Ward ’07, USA, right, in Memorial Garden for Abigail’s commissioning ceremonies. Abigail knew that her father, Robert, VMI class of ’72, would be there, but she was not expecting her sister. VMI photo by Kevin Remington.

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Above: Larry Avery ’80 with Gen. David Petraeus, USA, who, at the time of this photo, was the commanding general of the Multi-National Force – Iraq. Effective Oct. 31, 2008, Petraeus is the 10th and current commander of the U.S. Central Command. Below: Lt. John Holmes ’99, USN, with Gen. Petraeus, USA. Holmes is serving as an economics officer for civil affairs at Camp Victory in Baghdad. He arrived in Iraq in August 2008 and is due to return to the U.S. in June 2009.

Lt. Col. Paul Brotzen ’88 on a C-130 plane traveling to Irbil in northern Iraq. Brotzen is the deputy director of the MultiNational Security Transition Command – Iraq (MNSTC-I)/ Civilian Police Assistance Training Team. MNSTC-I is the branch responsible for developing, organizing, training, equipping and sustaining the Iraqi Security Ministries and their associated Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), i.e. the military of Iraq and the Iraqi police. The stated mission is to train the ISF so that they become capable of defeating the insurgency and taking responsibility for maintaining security within Iraq.

Jacobs ’80 Reports Outstanding Support Photo at left: Col. Dennis Jacobs ’80, USAFR, is the commander of a 15-person field engineering detachment (FED) assigned to the 332d Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron (332 ECES) at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. “The 332 ECES serves as the ‘public works department’ for the 30,000-plus inhabitants living and working at the base or ‘city’,” he wrote. “The FED is implementing construction projects involving force protection, buildings, roads, fuels, water, wastewater, power and airfield operations. Designs must consider the temporary nature of the facility, local Iraqi conditions (heat and blowing sand), and availability of materials and contractors.” Jacobs wrote that he has received outstanding support from family, friends and co-workers during his two deployments. “These projects improve the quality of life for the thousands of folks who live here. [I’m] glad to contribute to the fight.” Photo at right, above: Jacobs, center, with two Air Force reservists (not VMI alumni), all deployed from March Air Reserve Base in southern California.

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Run for the Fallen Reaches the Finish Line Russell E. (Rusty) McGuire ’96, (photo above, runner at left, front) was one of 31 runners who took part in the final leg of the “Run for the Fallen,” which was a worldwide event honoring men and women who have died in the line of duty while serving in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom (OIF and OEF). According to the official Run for the Fallen Web site (http:// www.runforthefallen.org/), this effort began on Flag Day, June 14, 2008, when a dedicated team of runners started their trek across America from Fort Irwin, California, to Arlington, Virginia – one mile for every soldier, sailor, airman and marine killed in OIF and OEF. For 10 weeks, team members marked each mile with an American flag and sign card in an apolitical remembrance of each service member. The team’s objectives were to raise awareness about the lives of deceased service members; to activate their memories and keep their spirits alive; to support organizations that help wounded veterans and the families of those killed; and to aid in the healing process for those Americans whose lives have been affected by the war. Event organizers contacted McGuire and asked him to set

up the last 12-mile leg of the run, at which time he recruited 31 runners from his brother’s Richmond, Virginia-based SEAL Team Physical Training, Inc. organization. McGuire and his fellow runners honored the VMI alumni who have died in action, including McGuire’s Brother Rat James C. (Jamie) Edge ’96, Paul R. Syverson III ’93, John R. Teal ’94, Lowell T. Miller ’93, Joshua C. Hurley ’01, Luke C. Wullenwaber ’02, Ryan E. Doltz ’00 and William L. McMillan III ’08. The run concluded on Aug. 24, 2008, at Arlington National Cemetery. According to statistics on the Run for the Fallen Web site, there were more than 250 runs worldwide in support of this event. Although organizers are still tallying the total miles at the time of this writing, the initial figures are as follows: 9,145 participants ran 35,725 miles, collectively, for the fallen. Also, six miles were climbed vertically for this cause. Ten countries participated, including France, Brazil, England, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, South Korea, Indonesia, China and Tanzania, as well as over 43 states in the U.S. (Editor’s Note: Another story about the Run for the Fallen appeared in the last Alumni Review, 2008-Issue 4, on page 9.)

At the time of this writing, Capt. Landon Allen ’00 was serving in Afghanistan as a forward air controller with Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/6, part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). As Capt. Allen explained in his note, “A MEU is a marine air/ground task force comprised of a battalion of infantry marines, a combat logistics battalion, a composite air squadron (half a squadron of harriers attached to a helicopter squadron) and a command element unit. We arrived in Kandahar in March 2008 and served for four months in Garmsir. I am wrapping up [my] deployment … and had a picture taken with the other VMI alumni in my unit.” Pictured from left: Capt. Allen, Capt. John Moder ’98, C Company Commander; and 1st Lt. Steve Bechtel ’06, artillery forward observer attached to A Company.

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Amherst Solider Reports Progress in Iraq Editor’s Note: A previous article about Curt Ivins ’06 and his January 2008 visit to an elementary class in Amherst County appeared on page 8 in the 2008-Issue 2 Alumni Review. The article below documents another interview that took place during Ivin’s visit home in fall 2008. Curt Ivins [’06], who captivated Rockfish River Elementary School third-graders earlier this year when he visited to thank them for writing to him in Iraq, is back in the United States and stopped by home in Amherst County last week to give an update and say hello. Ivins, 23, an Army first lieutenant in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, just finished a year in Iraq and talked about some of what he did there as an assistant intelligence officer. His convoy-support base, Scania, halfway between Baghdad and Kuwait, had about 300 American troops assigned. They also got frequent visits from an assortment of small detachments from other countries such as Australia, Poland, Romania and Great Britain. Rocket and mortar attacks were commonplace when he first arrived. Ivins, a 2006 Virginia Military Institute graduate who majored in history, minored in both international studies and leadership studies and took three years of classical Arabic instruction – and knows the language well enough to read license tags – says the attacks subsided significantly during his year there. “When I got there last summer, every few days, we were rocketed or mortared,” he said. “By the time I left, it was few and far in between, maybe one a month.” They went 110 days without one. His job was to analyze what the enemy had done and what the enemy likely would do next. In between, he essentially was always on the job. “When you’re in Iraq, the job never ends,” he said. Often, he slept in his uniform. Consequently, the stress never subsided. “That’s the part that makes you tired the most,” he said. As part of his job, he would travel off base to meet with local officials, tribal leaders. He met the governors of two provinces. And he rode on reconnaissance patrols. Local support became key, because their patrol area simply was too huge to manage with the number of troops they had, Ivins said. They built schools, water plants, rebuilt bridges, damns, roads, issued contracts and opened a date-processing facility. The Iraqis gradually improved their security forces, he said. Scania Base also has a burn clinic. “It was the only one in Iraq solely for Iraqi children,” he said, run entirely with donated supplies from the U.S. (CBS aired a report about the burn clinic: http://www.cbsnews. com/stories/2008/07/31/eveningnews/main4312349.shtml.)

A highlight during his tour: a visit by the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders. “That was a big morale booster,” he allowed. His favorite soft drink, Mountain Dew, just wasn’t the same Ivins ’06 in Iraq. “It tastes entirely different,” he recalled, sipping a cold American-brewed can at home. It was the water or something, he surmised. Mail was a big deal, including newspapers such as Stars and Stripes and The Army Times. Sure, they had their own Internet café with e-mail, instant messaging and access to Facebook and VoIP and pay phones. But they like holding the news in their hands, too. Sometimes, support from home, while always important, wasn’t immediately acknowledged. “A lot of times, it had to be one-way support” because he was too mentally exhausted to reply. “It didn’t mean that I didn’t read 12 e-mails.” “You’d say, ‘OK, he’s OK,’” said his mother, Sue, who teaches horseback riding at their home, so far off of U.S. 60 that cell phones typically lose reception. An American flag and an 82nd Airborne Division flag fly from the wooden-rail fence there. And they appreciated care packages. At Christmas, he got seven boxes of supplies sent by the Charlottesville-based Blue Star Families of Central Virginia, an organization for family support of loved ones overseas (http://www.avenue.org/bsfcv). Ivins plans to continue in the intelligence field. His next goal is to attain the rank of captain. He has about four years remaining in his Army commitment, unless he stays in longer. He probably has one more overseas deployment ahead. Advice for people back home: Read, learn, investigate and do more than turn on television news to understand what is happening in the world. “You need to be educated,” he advised. A major irritant to soldiers: “People say they support us but not what we do,” he said. “If you can support us, (then) you can support what we do.” For his work, the Army awarded Ivins the Bronze Star. Ivins’ final thoughts to the folks back home, in his own words: “Finally, if it’s possible, I’d really like you to note and dedicate your article to my three friends and comrades, Capt. David Schultz, Staff Sgt. Laurent West and Spc. Jason Cox –– who died next to their fellow troopers defending their loved ones back home who they never got to see again, their country and the values that they believed in – and they believed in what they were doing.” by Scott Marshall New Era Progress (Amherst, Virginia) Published: Fall 2008

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Capt. Oscar (Buck) Sessoms ’91, USMC, left, and Capt. Andrew Osborn ’97, USMC, at Forward Operating Base Dwyer in the southern Helmand province of Afghanistan during the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit combat operations there recently. According to Sessoms, who submitted this photo, they are helicopter pilots who each flew approximately 200 combat hours delivering multiple precision guided munitions and close air support fires in support of 1st Battalion, 6th Marines and allied coalition forces in the Kandahar and Helmand regions.

From left: Maj. Chris Mulligan ’96, Capt. Tony Cerella ’00 and Capt. Doug Baker ’97, all U.S. Army, connected during a brief stop at Contingency Operating Base Speicher near Tikrit, Iraq.

At Joint Base Balad in Iraq were, from left, Capt. Trey Guy ’03, 2nd Lt. Justin Bishop ’07 and Maj. Trey Rhodes ’90, all U.S. Army. The group is standing in front of a counter -rocket, artillery, mortar mount, which is part of Capt. Guy’s command at Joint Base Balad.

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The 4th Infantry Division (ID) Headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, requested a VMI jersey and helmet for display at their location, which VMI provided. Proudly standing in front of the jersey are the only two VMI alumni on division staff, Maj. Mark Cheadle ’90, left, and Capt. Colin Mahle ’00, right. Cheadle is the deputy public affairs officer, and Mahle is the aide-de-camp to the commanding general. Photo by Sgt. Walter Klein, 4ID PAO.

Glenn Walton ’04 and Jeff Rhodes ’00 at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, on Nov. 11, 2008, Founders Day.

Maj. Robert Johnson ’74, USA, left, and Staff Sgt. Shawn Kennedy, right, who is, as Johnson wrote, “a legal clerk by profession, volunteering for a team mission. I am a retired Army infantry major who volunteered as a retiree recall in Dec. 2007 and have been deployed since Feb. 2008. I am the operations officer of Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Panjshir stationed at Forward Operating Base Lion in the Panjshir valley. I was part of Task Force Cincinnatus under Col. [Jonathan] Ives ’80.” When this photo was taken, Johnson and members of the PRT were conducting a reconnaissance patrol to site a school they were planning to build near a village.

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Operation Storytime by Staff Sgt. Bryant Maude

Editor’s Note: The following are excerpts from on article that appeared on the Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS) Web site.

Photo above: Maj. Weedon Gallagher ’90, USA, has been based in Kandahar, Afghanistan, since July 2008 and is scheduled to return in July ’09. He wrote to Class Agent Hunter Trumbo ’90, “We have a good team of about eight military and 23 civilian [personnel]. Since my AO is in the south and centered on Kandahar, I find myself working with coalition partners (i.e., United Nations) much more frequently than U.S. forces.” Photo above: Gallagher, left, with his civilian counterpart. “We make a good team.”

Fred Hair ’01, right, and Drew Hardin ’04 at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, April 2008.

Col. Tom Kelly ’80, who submitted the above photo, wrote: “We continue to hold VMI alumni meetings at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq. We want to let any alumni deployed in Iraq to know that they are welcome to join our meetings and e-mail group. All [of us] are in good spirits and confident that we’re making significant progress in providing security and reconstruction assistance for the Iraqi people. From left, kneeling: Maj. Stephen Kavanaugh ’94, WO1 Martin Hawks ’91, Lt. Col. Bob Merkel ’87, Col Tom Kelly ’80, Capt. John Roche ’03 and Capt. Douglas Massie ’00. Standing: Lt. Col. Tom Roltsch ’85, Lt. Col. Bill Wanovich ’87, Sgt. Ryan Spahr ’09, 2nd Lt. Ryan Benson ’07, Lt. Col. Mark Bartholf ’87 and Maj. Lee Worrell ’94. Go Keydets!”

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CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – It’s called “Operation Story Time,” and the idea is simple. A soldier reads a children’s book to his kids in front of a video camera, and then the video is converted to a DVD and mailed back home to the soldier’s family. “The idea was conceived prior to my first deployment,” recalled Capt. Charles Leggett [’93], the 168th Brigade Support Battalion chaplain. “We were looking at things that would help soldiers keep in contact with their families.” At the time, Chaplain Leggett was assigned to the 382nd Field Artillery out of Fort Hood, Texas. They thought they could videotape soldiers reading a letter, but shortly after they arrived in Iraq, a box of children’s books arrived, and the plan changed. “I received a box of children’s books from the executive officer’s wife,” said Leggett. “So, we brainstormed some ideas and came up with storytime for soldiers’ kids.” This is the chaplain’s second deployment, and as a result, he is better prepared. He has a digital camera, high-end video editing software, and thanks to the thoughtfulness of some caring people at Tuttle Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, lots of books. “My mother told the school about it, and they all chipped in and donated books and sent them to us,” said Capt. Jennifer St. John, the battalion adjutant. Capt. St. John also enjoys reading to her daughter. “The first time I read a book to her, she didn’t understand that I wasn’t there. She kept asking to play it over and over again,” said St. John. “Now storytime with mommy is one of her favorite things to watch.” “We’ve recorded about 80 story times so far,” stated Leggett. “It seems to make an impact, so we’ll continue to do it as long as we’re here.” Postscript: At the time of this printing, Leggett is preparing to hand off the Storytime program to Chaplain Kehmes Lands of the 553rd Combat Sustainment Battalion, which is relieving Leggett’s battalion.

VMI Photos by Kevin Remington.

Founders Day 2008

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VMI Photos by Kevin Remington.

Outland ’49B and Minor ’63

Receive Distinguished Service Award Virginia Military Institute’s 169th birthday was a cold but festive Founders Day. For two alumni, it was the day on which they were honored for their service to the Institute. Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, recalled the founding of the Institute in remarks at the morning parade. Following that, he hosted the dedication of the Third Barracks and then set the stage for the Founders Day Convocation, where the VMI Foundation bestowed its Distinguished Service Award on two distinguished alumni: Grover C. Outland Jr. ’49B and G. Gilmer Minor III ’63. The Distinguished Service Award is the Foundation’s highest honor and is presented to alumni and friends of the Institute who have shown extraordinary dedication to the welfare and advancement of VMI and to the work of the VMI Foundation on behalf of the Institute.

Distinguished Service Award recipient G. Gilmer Minor III ’63, far left, met with the Corps regimental staff following the Founders Day parade.

Outland matriculated from Norfolk, Virginia, in July 1945 and graduated in January 1949 with a degree in English and a commission in the field artillery. Only days after he graduated from Washington and Lee University’s Law School in August 1951, he reported to active duty. Outland served with the 235th Field Artillery Observation Battalion in Korea from late 1952 until August 1953, receiving the Bronze Star. He began practicing law in the Tidewater area and formed the partnership of Outland & Gray with George H. Gray, whom he had met at Washington and Lee. The partnership later became the firm of Outland, Gray, O’Keefe & Hubbard. Outland retired from the active practice of law in 2002. Outland has participated in many civic activities in the Norfolk area. He has been president of the Central YMCA and the Norfolk Council on Alcoholism, as well as a member of the Rotary Club and the American Legion. He has decades of service to VMI and the VMI Alumni Agencies. He has served on the Distinguished Service Award recipient Grover C. Outland Jr. ’49B, far left, met with the Corps regimental staff following the Founders Day parade.

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board of directors of The VMI Alumni Association since 1965 and His service to VMI has been wide-ranging. He served as a memas president of the association’s Norfolk Chapter. From 1981-83, ber of the Keydet Club’s Board of Governors from 1984-87. From he was president of the Alumni Association. He served for one 1993-2000, he was a member of the VMI Foundation’s Board of term on the VMI Board of Visitors from 1992-95 and one term Trustees, and he served as its president from 1997-2000. He beon the Keydet Club Board of Governors in the 1970s. came a member of the VMI Board of Visitors in 2000, becoming As chairman of the Fortune 300 medical supply and service its president in 2005 and serving in that position until 2008. company, Owens & Minor Inc., Minor has long been a leader “Both of these men are exemplars of leadership in their proin Virginia business. He joined Owens & Minor in 1963 after fessions and active citizenship,” said Walter C. Perrin II ’62, receiving a degree in history from VMI. He received a master of president of the VMI Foundation. “They also are examples of business administration degree from the University of Virginia’s Colgate Darden School of Business Administration in 1966. At Owens & Minor, he served in sales, management and operations roles before becoming president in 1981, chief executive officer in 1984 and, in May 1994, chairman of the board. Five years later, he relinquished the title of president, remaining executive chairman of the board and CEO until he retired in 2005. Minor is a member of advisory boards of the Virginia Health Care Foundation, the University of Virginia’s School of Nursing and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center, and a trustee of VCU’s School Grover C. Outland Jr. ’49B, left, receiving his Distinguished Service Award from Walter of Business Foundation. He is a C. Perrin II ’62, VMI Foundation president, on Founders Day, Nov. 11, 2008. member of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council and Virginia Business Council. His leadership in business and civic affairs has earned him wide ceaseless dedication to VMI’s ideals and mission and deep comrecognition, including being named Virginia Industrialist of the mitment to the betterment of the Institute. I [am] immensely Year in 2001 and receiving the B’nai B’rith National Healthcare pleased and privileged to present them with the Distinguished Award in 2004. Service Award.”

G. Gilmer Minor III ’63 speaking at the Founders Day Convocation after receiving the Distinguished Service Award. The 169th anniversary of the founding of the Institute was also observed with a parade and the dedication of Third Barracks. All photos on this and the previous page are by Kevin Remington, VMI, Article by VMI Communications and Marketing.

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VMI photo by Kevin Remington.

Barracks Dedication Part of Founders Day Activities

The Corps in front of the nearly completed Third Barracks during the Founders Day Parade, Nov. 11, 2008.

Two guards were posted to the Third Barracks on Nov. 11, 2008, marking the occupancy by the Corps of Cadets of the addition to VMI’s Barracks complex. The posting of the guards was the central event at the dedication ceremony. It was also one of three major events marking Founders Day on the 169th anniversary of the founding of the Institute. Other public activities for the day were a parade, which included a 17-gun salute, and a Founders Day Convocation held in Cameron Hall. The first cadet guard at VMI was posted on Nov. 11, 1839, when a state militia guard was relieved and the cadets took over the duty of guarding a state arsenal. That arsenal building was the Institute’s first Barracks. The first portion of today’s Barracks complex was completed prior to the Civil War, and New Barracks was completed in 1949. “I know that the founders would be highly pleased and encouraged that their bold dream for the Virginia Military Institute continues to unfold and develop,” said Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent. “When we dedicate the Third Barracks and the new Lejeune Hall, it will be an event the likes of which has happened only twice before in our long history.” While a handful of cadets have occupied rooms in the new Third Barracks building [as of November 2008], most of the

cadets who are being housed there took up residence in January when they returned to VMI from the holiday break. The building includes 123 cadet rooms, which are designed to house 387 cadets. In fact, 490 cadets will be moved into the rooms to allow the phased renovation of rooms in the older portions of the Barracks complex. In addition to cadet rooms, the addition includes support activities in an area designated as Lejeune Hall. This section includes the VMI bookstore and the Cadet Commons, a visitors’ center and snack bar area. The functions in this section mirror those that were housed in the older, separate Lejeune Hall building, which was torn down in 2006 to make way for the Third Barracks. The renovation of the older portions of the Barracks complex will be accomplished in phases over the next two years. When completed, the cost of the renovations and new construction will result in a $67 million upgrade to the Barracks. During the convocation, VMI alumni Grover C. Outland Jr. ’49B and G. Gilmer Minor III ’63 received VMI Foundation Distinguished Service Awards. The Distinguished Service Award is the Foundation’s highest honor. See the article on the previous two pages for more about this. (Above article by VMI Communications and Marketing.)

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Distinguished guests, faculty and staff, ladies and gentlemen of the Corps of Cadets, and friends of the Institute. Today marks an event the likes of which has happened only twice before in the long history of the Virginia Military Institute. Today we formally dedicate the Third Barracks and the new Lejeune Hall contained within its walls. This is a very special moment in the life of our Institute. While still under construction, we expect the Third Barracks facility to be completely finished in the March 2009 time frame ... with renovations of OLD and NEW Barracks continuing over 18 months into 2010. The list of individuals who have made this day possible and who should be acknowledged publicly is long, as befits a project of such magnitude and importance. Of necessity, in our expression of thanks to individuals who have been involved in this work, some will not be recognized. But be assured that our gratitude extends to everyone who has played a part in planning, financing and constructing this project. In the critical area of securing funding for this renovation and expansion project, which amounts to approximately $67 million, special thanks must be given to Governors Warner and Kaine who recognized our needs and supported our requests from the State’s General Fund and for bond financing. One tireless soldier in this campaign was Senator Thomas K. Norment Jr. ’68, who with other members of the Virginia Senate Finance Education Subcommittee have stood with us since the earliest days of the project in 2003. This morning, Senator Hanger is present, and he has always supported our initiatives ... as well as our own Delegate Ben Cline. Senator Northam ’81, Delegates Lingamfelter ’73 and Janis ’84, and other VMI faithful graduates have been most helpful. And I also want to express our warmest thanks to members of the House Appropriations Committee for their firm support, to our Government Relations Team headed by Brig. Gen. Bob Green ’67 and Major Kim Parker, and to the many members of our Board of Visitors ... past and present ... who made the case and “shepherded” this project through the halls of government, and to the VMI Construction Team, including Lt. Col. Dale Brown, director of Construction; Lt. Col. Keith Jarvis ’82 , deputy director of Construction and Project Manager; David Tillar ’95, Project Manager; and Will Reinholtz , Project Inspector. Warmest thanks also to the two firms that undertook this project to a successful conclusion: First, the architectural firm of Clark-Nexsen Architecture and Engineering of Norfolk, Virginia, and Raleigh, North Carolina, and to its president, Chris Stone ’78, and his team, and second, to Nielsen Builders, Inc., of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and its president, Tony Billers, and Andy Yowell ’67, Project Manager, and his team. These men and women have labored valiantly for over three years to bring us to this day. As we prepare to dedicate this magnificent addition to the VMI Barracks, we are mindful that it is not only an extension of the physical structures that we call Old and New Barracks, but that it is also an extension of the bold dream of our founders. When the 2009-Issue 1

Photo by Kathryn Wise.

Remarks by Superintendent Gen. J.H. Binford III ’62, USA (Ret), at Dedication of Third Barracks

From left, Cadet Ben Kimsey, president of the first class; Col. Thomas Trumps ’79, commandant; Chaplain James Park; and Thomas G. Slater Jr. ’66, president, VMI Board of Visitors, on the stage with Superintendent Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, USA (Ret), during his dedication ceremony remarks.

Institute was founded 169 years ago on a snowy day on 11 Nov. 1839, 28 new cadets and two faculty members (Smith and J.T.L. Preston) moved into the Lexington Arsenal building, constructed in 1816 and located where the old courtyard is now found. There, the cadets relieved state militia soldiers who served as the arsenal guard. The building they occupied was adequate for the storage of muskets and pistols but completely inadequate as a home for cadets and a college. Thus, even as the cadets were moving into their new Barracks, an additional story was being constructed on the arsenal building to accommodate its new purpose. Despite additions and improvements to the arsenal building, it continued to be inadequate as the home of what Smith called “a school for scientific education.” Even worse, the old building leaked and flooded whenever it rained. Something new was needed, and General Smith and the board of visitors aimed high with their plans. Working with New York architect Alexander Jackson Davis, they oversaw the construction of an entirely new, modern and architecturally fashionable Barracks. This brick and stucco building, which still exists along the south or “Washington Arch” face of the Barracks, provided cadet rooms, living quarters for professors, classrooms, a small library and rooms for debating societies. It was (to be) in the latest style, known as Gothic Revival, which created an environment that reinforced the military nature of the school. From that moment on, all additions to the Barracks and to the VMI Post would continue in this 19th century architectural style. This Barracks was dedicated in 1851 and served the Institute well until around 1859, when the popularity of the Institute and fear of approaching war led to rising enrollment and the need for an expansion. The result was an extension along the east side of the present Old Barracks to accommodate about 100 additional cadets, followed by a short extension along the west side. It is this building that was fired upon and burned by Union troops under General David Hunter in June 1864, in retaliation for the 17

Corps’ role in the Battle of New Market and the Institute’s role in producing officers for the armies of the Confederacy. Let me deviate for a moment and inform you that this spring 2009, former Governor DuPont (of Delaware) will visit the Institute for the unveiling of a plaque (in JM Hall) in his greatgrandfather’s honor. For you see, Captain DuPont, against his will, fired on the Institute as a Union Battery commander; later, as a U.S. Senator, he provided the resources through the United States Congress toward the rebuild of the Institute ... which his Battery destroyed. Thus, after the Civil War, the Barracks was rebuilt and the west side of Old Barracks was extended to include Jackson Arch and a hall named for former VMI professor and Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. This was the original Jackson Memorial Hall. The Barracks now formed the letter “U,” and a new three-story building – called Smith Hall – was constructed at the turn of the century in the open north side. Just beyond it, where New Barracks is now located, was another building, which served as the library, a museum and offices. Old Smith Hall was demolished a few years later, and the quadrangle that we know today surrounding the Old Courtyard was created. Old Barracks now matched Alexander Jackson Davis’ and Francis Smith’s original long-term plan for the Institute. This is how the Barracks remained until the late 1930s, when increasing enrollment led to plans for an addition. World War II intervened, however, and construction did not physically begin until after the war, with completion of the New Barracks addition in 1949. Two years later, the main arch was named Marshall Arch. Gone was the old library, but VMI had built a new one – Preston Library – in 1939, along Letcher “Academic Row.” The Barracks – now consisting of Old and New Barracks – followed closely the Davis design of the original Barracks. And they stood where the Arsenal, Smith Hall, the Old Library and original JM Hall once stood. Perhaps this explains the lore associated with ghosts from the past. In 1966, the home known as the commandant’s quarters was taken down to make room for a new cadet activities building, known as Lejeune Hall. This building is familiar to many of you gathered here today, because it served you well until it, in turn, was taken down to make room for this, the Third Barracks. I add it also was not economically feasible to repair. A few words about Third Barracks, which you will tour shortly. It contains 122 cadet rooms, capable of housing 548 cadets on six floors (if required and if maximum capacity is fulfilled). Our plan places all cadets on four stoops above ground and utilizes the concourse for Cadet Life activities and club sports storage. The basement area includes a new trunk room and mud room in support of Rat challenge, ROTC and other field leadership activities. Lejeune Hall, encompassing two floors in the Third Barracks west end, contains a modern PX and a Barnes and Noble Bookstore, which will see completion in the January timeframe. A sentinel box (to be built), a few historic quotes, and archway plaques recognizing our Vietnam and Gulf War VMI graduates who gave their lives will complete the aesthetics. Some facts of interest as regards Third Barracks: • There are 790 tons of reinforcing steel and 166,000 concrete blocks [in the structure]. 18

• Fifty-seven miles of power cable and 62 miles of communication and data cable [are installed]. • Lejeune Hall will include a coffee shop, pizza oven, grill, Quiznos and an enlarged Barnes and Noble Bookstore in the basement. • The stoop railings have a wire mesh to meet current safety code but have spacing wide enough to fit the hay straps to accommodate Monday morning hay airing requirements. • All cadet rooms are heated with a fan coil unit and two pipe system, meaning no more radiators to strain Rats over. • There is no air conditioning; however, space has been allotted for this equipment if desired in the future by a more accommodating superintendent. And • Each cadet room has its own sink and vanity as in Old and New Barracks. Cadets’ belongings will be moved to Third Barracks rooms over this Christmas (2008), with cadets occupying these new rooms upon returning from furlough. We will then commence the modernization and repair of Old and New Barracks with a new heating system, wiring to meet code requirements, environmental abatement of the flooring, new armory and new commandant’s offices on two floors, and other touches ... completing this work in 2010. Cadets will then be spread across all three Barracks, living by class autonomy on first through fourth stoops, with considerably less crowding, and then new furniture will be ordered for all rooms. Within these new walls, a spartan environment has been rigorously maintained in keeping with the Founders’ ideas of the benefit to young students of “plain living.” Moreover, by keeping these various extensions and additions connected one to the other, the Barracks has been maintained as the heart of VMI, the center of life of the cadet, and a chemistry lab of leadership, where the common experience of cadet life takes place, and friends are established for a lifetime. I am certain that our Founders, if they were here today, would be astonished by what they would see in these magnificent buildings, as well as in all the fine buildings around the Post. A modern, yet spartan Barracks, befitting of a Corps of 1500 cadets ... young men and women who have proudly and courageously chosen a harder road in their life’s higher education. And I also know that the Founders would be highly pleased and encouraged that, on this day, Founders Day, their bold dream for the Virginia Military Institute continues to unfold and develop. Today is a milestone along that path to a “greater” VMI. At this time, I ask Mr. Tom Slater ’66, president of the VMI Board of Visitors, and Mr. Ben Kimsey, president of the first class, to unveil the cornerstone officially dedicating the Institute’s Third Barracks. (Unveiling) And at this time, Col. Tom Trumps ’79, commandant of cadets, will direct the VMI Guard Team to post the guard sentinels. (Posting of the Guard Sentinels) I now invite all to proceed through the Third Barracks Arch and tour this latest addition to VMI. At 1130 hours in Cameron Hall, we will continue with Founders Day activities honoring two of our outstanding graduates. Thank you all for attending this morning. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Photo above: Cadet Ben Kimsey, president of the first class, shook hands with Thomas G. Slater Jr. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;66, president of the VMI Board of Visitors, after unveiling the cornerstone during the dedication of Third Barracks. Photo below: Directed by Col. Thomas Trumps â&#x20AC;&#x2122;79, commandant of cadets, to post the first sentinels for Third Barracks, the officer of the guard gives the order. VMI photos by Kevin Remington.

Photos above and below: After the posting of the first sentinels, the superintendent invited guests to tour the Third Barracks. As Gen. Peay explained in his dedication remarks, the new Barracks contains 122 cadet rooms, capable of housing 548 cadets on six floors (if required and if maximum capacity is fulfilled). The concourse is used for Cadet Life activities and club sports storage. The basement area includes a new trunk room and mud room in support of Rat challenge, ROTC and other field leadership activities. Photos by Kathryn Wise..

2009-Issue 1

“You Have to Play the Hand You’ve Been Dealt” A Look Back at the Life of the Late Jim Wheat ’41 By Bolling Williamson ’60

was the other man’s pursuit of a full, productive life, making him determined to do the same. He was encouraged to learn Braille, and following that, he took some business courses at the University of Richmond. The year was 1946. The nation was beginning to shift gears to a peace-time economy, and some business leaders in Richmond encouraged Wheat and his father to expand their business from just trading securities to assuming the risks of helping businesses raise capital for start-up or expansion – an activity performed almost exclusively by the large New York investment firms. His father discouraged the idea, but Wheat was intrigued and shortly thereafter hired a young business school graduate to help him implement his plans. Their first underwriting occurred a year later, and under the watchful eye of his nervous father, Wheat pulled it off. Two years later, the chairman of one of the largest banks in Virginia sought to buy out his majority stockholder and after becoming irritated at the “high-handed ways” of the New York investment bankers, asked Wheat to manage the entire deal. It would be the largest single stock issue ever handled exclusively by Virginia firms up to that time.

The “VMI Mafia” James C. (Jim) Wheat Jr. ’41 was far from a model cadet. During the next 35 years, the VMI’s regimen did not accomfirm grew under his leadermodate his independent spirit ship into a full service investand fun-loving manner, and in ment banking firm. Its culture the words of one biographer, reflected Jim Wheat’s positive he was almost constantly in nature and competitive spirit. trouble, attracting demerits In the words of one employee, “as a dog attracts fleas” – “It was exciting and fun, and including a number one his when you got a piece of busithird class year. He later ness from someone else, it described himself in this manwasn’t the money; it was the ner: “I was a nonconformist, achievement of having done but not rebellious. There’s a it. There was a lot of esprit de distinction.” corps.” Noting the large numToward the end of his second ber of alumni in the ranks, one class year, he realized that he competitor wryly referred to was losing his eyesight, and them as the “VMI mafia.” despite having memorized The company’s rise to promthe eye chart, he failed the test for admission to ROTC inence was not without bumps summer camp. His mother in the road, however. Wheat was blind – it was clear that had assembled a skilled manhe had inherited the same agement team that steered condition – and he began to the company through some give serious thought as to difficult periods. Having freed what he could do with his life. himself during the 70s from James C. Wheat Jr. ’41 Jim had developed an interest day-to-day management rein business and finance while sponsibilities, he was able to working during the summers at his father’s small securities focus his energy on increasingly complex investment banking brokerage firm in Richmond. So, he applied for a position with transactions, competing successfully with Wall Street firms on a commercial bank in Washington after graduation. When his a regular basis. As evidence of his reputation in the industry, father talked him out of it, Jim said, “Well, Dad, it’s like this. I’m going blind, and I can’t get in the service ... You got any he was awarded the first Distinguished Achievement Award ever given by the Securities Industry Institute, and he was elected to ideas?” the board of governors of the New York Stock Exchange – the “Yep,” replied his father. “You’re coming to work for me.” His father introduced him to a lawyer who had lost his sight, first blind person to hold that position. Under his leadership, and Wheat later said that the biggest thing he came away with Wheat, First Securities, Inc. had grown from a five-person office in 1944 into a major investment bank.

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... Prior to his death in 1992, someone asked Wheat to hypothesize the answer to this question: “If you could be allowed to see only three things, what would you choose?” After thinking for a moment, Wheat replied, “I’d like to see my son, the Corps at VMI on parade and the Grand Canyon, one more time.” ... Giving Back

Wheat applied the same energy to philanthropic enterprises as he did to building his company. Education was one of his primary interests, and he took leadership positions in the capital campaigns of several schools and colleges. Never hesitant to call a corporate executive to solicit business, he was just as aggressive in asking for support of a particular cause, and the telephone message, “Tell him Jim Wheat called, please, and here’s my number,” put the recipient on notice that he had been targeted for a contribution. One associate recalled that Wheat used the telephone “the way other people use a pickaxe.” As busy as he was, he always took time to help someone who needed him. When a business associate mentioned that a friend’s son had lost his sight in an accident and would appreciate a telephone call from Wheat, he flew to Chicago instead, so that he could talk directly to the boy in his hospital room.

Foundation, which awarded him the Distinguished Service Award in 1984. Prior to his death in 1992, someone asked Wheat to hypothesize the answer to this question: “If you could be allowed to see only three things, what would you choose?” After thinking for a moment, Wheat replied, “I’d like to see my son, the Corps at VMI on parade and the Grand Canyon, one more time.” Bomb photo

(Author’s Note: The material for of Wheat ’41 this article was drawn from A Hand Well Played – The Life of Jim Wheat Jr. by Ann Hobson Freeman (Cadmus Pub., 1994)) Postscript

“This recognition of the toughness of life, of the demands of life, without surrender to it, to me, is the maximum expression of human energy, the energy of the spirit.” J.C.Wheat Jr. “Address to the Corps” Nov. 12, 1973 “My blindness is one hell of an inconvenience, but it is not a handicap.”

The Man behind the Company

The accolades and honors that poured in following Jim Wheat’s death in 1992 did more than simply recognize his business accomplishments: they commemorated his spirit of determination and belief in the value of education. Among them were the James C. Wheat Jr. Award given annually by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities; an endowed professorship at the University of Virginia Graduate Business School; a scholarship established to assist VMI graduates in pursuing a graduate business degree; and the James C. Wheat Jr. reading room in Scott Shipp Hall. In 1997, the firm that bore his name was acquired by First Union Bank and later formed the nucleus of Wachovia Securities, when First Union Corporation merged with Wachovia Corporation. Subsequent acquisitions resulted in it becoming the nation’s third largest fullservice retail brokerage firm in terms of asset valuation.

Wheat was a formidable poker player and relished the camaraderie of outdoor sports such as fishing and duck hunting. He continued to fox hunt on horseback for a couple of years after he went blind, and when he was 60 years old, he and four others were stranded in a Chesapeake Bay marsh for two days, a period which featured extremely cold temperatures and a 13-hour snowstorm. Undaunted, he went back out hunting on the morning following the rescue. Despite his difficulties with the Blue Book, Jim Wheat ranked his experience at the Institute right behind the influence of his parents in shaping his future, and to many he was the epitome of the VMI alumnus: possessing a strong character, sense of duty and determination. In 1975, James C. Wheat Jr. ’41 received the Thomas Jefferson Citation for Public He was generous with his support Service. In the photo above, Wheat, center, is receiving the award from then-Virginia in resources and time, serving on Governor Mills E. Godwin Jr., second from right, while Charles Zeanah, far right, the VMI Board of Visitors from Mrs. Wheat and son James, left, look on. 1980-83 and as a trustee of the VMI

2009-Issue 1

Thomas Morris ’66 On Leadership

author of four books and has contributed another 17 major article and book chapters. From 1992 until 2006, Morris served as the president of Emory & Henry College. Morris has been a political analyst for television, radio and print media for more than 25 years. Prior to becoming Secretary of Education, he was the chairman of the Commission on Virginia’s State and Local Tax Structure for the 21st Century from 1999-2000 and in 2002, was a member of Virginia’s Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness. The Interview

Why did you attend VMI?

From the editor: In the following article, Director of Foundation Relations Scott Belliveau ’83 interviews alumnus Thomas R. Morris ’66, Ph.D. 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.

Morris: Well, unfortunately, like most 17-year-olds even today, I didn’t give a whole lot of thought to where I was going to go to college. I was raised in Virginia, had attended Thanksgiving VMI vs. VPI games with my family for years, and so, I was inclined to go to a Virginia institution. VMI was a respected institution; I applied and was accepted. No one in my family had previously gone to VMI.

What leadership lessons did you learn at VMI as a cadet?

Introducing Thomas Morris Dr. Morris is the Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia and was appointed to that post in 2006 by Governor Tim Kaine. Matriculating from Galax, Virginia, Morris graduated with a bachelor of arts in history. As a cadet, he participated in football and basketball and was a cheerleader his first class year. He also was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Wesley Foundation. After graduating from VMI, Morris studied at Princeton University, then completed master’s and doctoral degrees in government at the University of Virginia. He also received fellowships for additional advanced study including a year as a liberal arts fellow at the Harvard Law School and a year as a fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For 21 years, Morris was a faculty member at the University of Richmond. There, he was honored as a University Distinguished Educator, received many faculty research grants and served as the chairman of the Faculty Council. During this time, he also gained a national reputation as a constitutional scholar and political scientist as well as an expert on the politics and government of Virginia. He is the author or co-

Morris: The most important thing for me was self-discipline. You think of VMI as a system that imposes discipline, but in fact, what it did for me was permit me to develop my own self-discipline as I dealt with the system at VMI. Rat year, therefore, was the transformative year in my life. I also learned instinctively not to take the Ratline personally. And so, the flak that is part of the Ratline was just like water off my back. To not take criticism personally and keep things in perspective has served me well in my adult life. When I became a college president and Secretary of Education for Governor Kaine, to the extent that criticism came my way, I didn’t take it personally. It went with the job.

Do you think self-discipline is essential for a leader?

Morris: Absolutely. Self-discipline is right up there with commitment. Leaders must be self-disciplined enough to prioritize where they are going to put their energies, because, in any leadership position, there are many things that need to be done. I parachuted into state government from a college presidency. I vividly remember the end of the first week on the job with the General Assembly in session and people and issues coming at me left and right. I sat down in my chair and began to contemplate what it was that I thought I could influence, what was important and where I could best put my energies. As a political scientist, I studied political leaders. Two in my adult life who stand in the most contrast are Jimmy Carter, who was not able to prioritize during his administration and consequently was not successful, and Ronald Reagan who defeated him and came

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into office saying there were three primary things he wanted to do. He wanted to cut taxes, to increase defense spending and to balance the budget. At the end of eight years, the voters said, “Well, two out of three isn’t bad.” He didn’t get the budget balanced, but when he left office, the political arena was focusing on how to do it, and by the end of the 1990s, we had done it through the growth of the economy. So, what is critical is the self-discipline to stay focused on that which is most important. It is also essential to know when to move forward and when to stay put.

Have there been any leaders that you either personally encountered or studied who have influenced you?

Morris: My mother used to remind people that, as a boy, I read everything about Abraham Lincoln I could get my hands on. Most recently, I’ve read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals about how Abraham Lincoln led his administration. Among his many admirable traits, including an affirming sense of humor, he also was a great story teller. I do think that much of leadership is narrative. That is, you have to tell the story; you have to tell the narrative about the institution or political entity. The president or the leader has the responsibility for telling that institutional narrative and relating it to the present and to the future. Lincoln was able to do that as a leader. Another leader I would mention is Nelson Mandela. I recently read some of his leadership principles, and one that really struck me was that he was comfortable with contradiction, with paradox. He said that it’s never an issue of “either or,” that every problem has many causes and is multifaceted. I believe that emphatically. My experience is that the angels have never been all on one side or the other. Yet, we are in a political season now in which too many people believe that one person is all right and the other one is all wrong. That is not the way public policy issues are settled, and leaders make a mistake when they go too far in one direction or another. Nelson Mandela understood that.

Do you admire him as well for the fact that, after years of imprisonment, he announces that he rejects vengeance, declaring that the new South Africa will not be concerned with settling scores? Morris: Yes, I do. He said about himself that he went into prison emotional and strong-headed, and he came out balanced and disciplined and unwilling to hold grudges. As a leader, you will encounter people who you feel have responded to you inappropriately, and as a leader, you are judged by how you respond to them. Mandela did not retaliate; he did not hold grudges. He was balanced and disciplined. Another thing about leadership that has become more obvious to me as I have matured is that leaders wear two hats: one professional, one personal. The former is what you know about your job, your profession. The latter concerns the inner work of what you do. Increasingly, I have been more willing to listen to my inner voice, to my own instincts. I think the more one matures and gains experience, the more one feels comfortable going with instincts, because you realize over time that leadership is an art, not a science. There really are no hard and fast rules as to how you do it. It depends on the context.

2009-Issue 1

What are the leadership challenges particular to higher education?

Morris: Being an academic leader, you work in an environment of shared governance in which faculty play a dominant role, and you have so many varied constituencies, external and internal – alumni, community leaders, donors, faculty, staff, students. And that’s what makes higher education leadership so challenging but also so fulfilling and exciting. I loved juggling the different roles you have as an institutional leader and occasionally – you don’t want to do this routinely – but occasionally walking the high wire without a net. As much as possible, you want to have a net, and I learned enough about military history at VMI to know that you don’t want to open up too many battle fronts simultaneously. So, if you’ve taken on a number of new issues, and you’re pushing the envelope in certain areas, there comes a point when you say that is all I should take on at this point. It is important to have a sixth sense about such matters.

Are there any other traits necessary for successful leadership in higher education?

Morris: Higher education is no different than the business world to the extent that the leader must repeat the institutional message time and time again. As a professor, I was not used to repeating myself. I was accustomed in the classroom to discussing the topics of the day, assuming the students got it and moving on. You can’t do that in a leadership position. You have to discipline yourself, especially if it is an important message, to come back to it repeatedly.

You’ve studied government extensively, and before becoming Secretary of Education, you served on state commissions. So, you were familiar with the demands of public service when you took on your current post. What, however, surprised you about it initially, and what have you learned? Morris: I had taught sections on bureaucracy and the legislative process, and I knew about the many pieces of legislation that were introduced and how legislators tried to deal with such measures in a short period of time. Still, I was struck, and still am to an extent, by how much – how should I say this? – almost frivolous or at least peripheral legislation is introduced at every session. I am amazed at how many of the proposals eventually get set aside, are revised or become part of another bill, and how little damage is eventually done by the onslaught of legislation. The bureaucratic process is another version of that reality, in that there are so many issues in education from Pre-K through higher education. Where do you place your energies in order to have the greatest impact? You simply cannot do it all. So, where do you start? As the chairman of the P-16 Education Council, I focused on the important transitions in what we call the education pipeline. One of those was preparing students from the pre-kindergarten environment to be school-ready at kindergarten, a very important transition. Then, we focused on the transitions into high school from middle school and from high school into post-secondary education. It didn’t take much time before somebody said, “Well, what about the transition from elementary school to middle school?” I acknowledged its importance, recognizing that we couldn’t focus

on everything simultaneously. We also were working on college readiness with a national organization along with other states and were focusing on math and English in order to ensure that high school graduates could be successful in first-year college math or English courses. Of course, the questions came, “Well, what about science? What about language?” Well, those are important too, but we stuck to leading with English and math. So, you have to make some decisions and set some priorities. As I reflect on the current presidential campaign, I think that’s why the candidates don’t always come across well, because they are forced by the press to have a response to every conceivable issue. They are expected to run through the full list of possible issues and to have some kind of solution for each one. That’s unrealistic.

Now that you have first hand experience in it, what traits or skills are required to be successful as a leader in government?

Morris: Persistence. You have to stick to it. I often say that if there were an easy solution to whatever we are working on, we would have already come up with it. Whatever problem we are taking on is difficult; solving it will take persistence, the determination to keep moving ahead. One of the real satisfactions that I have had in public service was chairing the state commission on state and local tax structure back in 1999 and 2000. It was a commission with no elected officials, and we came up with recommendations for what to do about the tax-revenue crunch at the local level, which then took us to the state level. Many of the recommendations we made were adopted by the commonwealth in 2004 when the General Assembly and the governor enacted a $1.4 billion increase in revenues. It had been clear to us on the commission that there was too much pressure at the local level on revenues, and that, consequently, the state could not relieve the revenue burden at the local level without generating more revenues itself. We were fortunate that our report sat on the shelf for only about four years before it received serious attention from the legislature and Governor Mark Warner. But often, commissions study issues and issue reports, and they just collect dust. Somebody, however, has to lay the ground work because, for any solution we come up with, there are many people who have been laboring in the vineyard for a long time on that particular issue. A leader is able to pick up and build on what has already been done and then make the necessary compromises and adaptations to bring about a successful change.

That reminds me of the statement credited to Ronald Reagan that there is no end to what can be accomplished as long as people aren’t worried about who gets the credit. Morris: Yes, you do have to share credit broadly. In 2004, the revenue solution was a bi-partisan one with many Republicans going along with a Democratic governor. It was a divided government, that is to say the governor and the legislature were of different parties. There are advantages to divided government. It forces political actors to come together, and you often can get better results than you can with unitary government where one party controls all branches of government.

What advice would you give to someone who comes to you and says I want to be a leader in my profession?

Morris: I would ask some hard questions of them, of what they envision a leader to be. It is good to have goals and aspirations, but I certainly didn’t set out to be a college president. I set out to be a college faculty member. I would say, whatever you do, do it well. You’re going to be picking up leadership skills as you go along. I learned as I worked with other faculty members and chaired the faculty council at the University of Richmond that I had the capacity to get other people excited about ideas and working together on a common agenda. Also, leadership often is a function of timing and opportunity. Sometimes, opportunity presents itself at the right time; sometimes, it doesn’t. I was not seeking a college presidency, but the opportunity arose at Emory & Henry, and I went with it. I certainly was not seeking the position of Secretary of Education. I was a political analyst not a partisan and had only met Tim Kaine a couple of times. But one day, he called me out of the blue and asked me if I would do this job. I thought about it for a day and a half – which is how long he gave me to do so – and told him I would be privileged to have this opportunity of public service. When you begin a career, just realize that, in order to be a leader, you’ll need to work well with other people. It is important to take opportunities to learn how to be more successful in working with others. Stay open as well to opportunities that may, or may not, come your way again. Timing is important.

What would you tell someone who asks you for advice about public service?

Morris: I would encourage everyone to find opportunities for public service during the course of their lives. That said, it is possible to spend too much time in the public sector. The longer people stay uninterrupted in public service, elected or appointed, the greater the likelihood that they will make assumptions about their influence and their importance that don’t match reality. Put another way, those who have suspicions about people who stay in Washington too long have good reason for those suspicions. The ideal remains, therefore, a combination of work in both the private and the public sectors.

We’ll give you the last word.

Morris: Every leader is susceptible to impatience – impatience with others who aren’t working as hard or as quickly or as successfully as you think they ought to be. The phrase “constructive impatience” best expresses it. I think that is what I’ve been doing instinctively. You try to create an environment that addresses people’s uncertainties and discomforts and provides them a safe environment in which to work and express themselves. However, you have a responsibility as a leader to expect that they will do their best. Some years ago, I was on a panel of long-serving college presidents, and we all talked about those who had served 10 years or longer. One of the observations everyone made was that there were identifiable problems, with personnel and other matters, that were readily apparent when they first went to their institutions, and which, looking back, they wished they had dealt with more promptly. To be constructive and impatient, leaders must be curious and purposeful, balancing ambitious goals with the need for buy-in.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Friendship Compelled Kirk ’50B to Stump for McCain

When retired Air Force Col. Thomas Kirk Jr. ’50B heard that Sen. John McCain was going to run for president, he knew it was a campaign he would support. After all, he has known McCain since Christmas night 1970 when he was moved into a 45-man cell at the North Vietnamese prison American soldiers referred to as the Hanoi Hilton. Until last fall, Kirk and his wife, Ann, lived in Vail, Colorado, where he met with civic and community groups, was interviewed by newspapers and let anyone who would listen know what a great respect he has for McCain. Kirk visited with McCain when the senator first campaigned in Denver, and he got him to attend a fundraiser in Vail, which resulted in more than $1 million in contributions for the McCain campaign. “When I campaigned for John, I did not talk about politics; I talked about John the man,” said Kirk, who now lives outside of Phoenix. “I feel very strongly about John. He’s a man of honor and integrity who puts his country before all else.” Kirk’s personal relationship with McCain earned him one of Colorado’s 22 elected delegate spots to the Republican National Convention. He was one of nearly 400 Coloradans who attended the Colorado Republican Convention in May 2008 and competed for the coveted seats. “We all lined up, and they gave us 15 seconds to make our case,” said Kirk. “I said, ‘I’m a retired Air Force fighter pilot who got shot down over Vietnam and was a cellmate of John McCain’s. I know him well and love him, and I want to work for him.’ I got more votes than any other delegate.” Kirk said he had the time of his life at the Republican National Convention, which was held in September 2008 in Minneapolis-St. Paul. In addition to his responsibilities as a delegate for Colorado, Kirk was part of a six-member caucus group that included the governor of Utah, the secretaries of the departments of Veterans Affairs and the Interior, a congresswoman from New Mexico, and one of McCain’s sons. Not only did the convention afford Kirk the opportunity to celebrate McCain’s candidacy, but it also reunited the senator and other fellow prisoners of war. On the last night, he was seated in the VIP section of the arena with five Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and 13 other POWs. He got the chance to meet McCain’s mother, Roberta, as well as former President George H.W. and Barbara Bush, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and members of her family. “The last night of the convention when John spoke was just wonderful,” said Kirk, who sat behind Cindy McCain and former President Bush. “It’s a shame that not every Ameri-

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Photo above: Kirk at his home in Vail, Colorado. Photo by Brent Bingham of Photo Effects, photofxvail.com. Photo at left: Kirk’s return home after over five years as a prisoner of war. Photo courtesy Rocky Mountain News (Colorado).

can can attend an event like this one.” Prior to McCain’s speech that night, a video was shown about his life that brought into focus what he, Kirk and their fellow prisoners of war endured in Vietnam. Kirk completed 166 combat missions in Vietnam before he was shot down on Oct. 28, 1967, two days after McCain’s plane was shot down. Like the senator, he was routinely tortured, beaten and kept in isolation until his release in March 1973. “There’s not a day that goes by when something takes me back to that time,” said Kirk. His experience in Vietnam gave Kirk the opportunity to get to know McCain personally, and he came to admire him for his wit, intelligence and loyalty. Kirk also was impressed by McCain’s rejection of an offer of early release by the North Vietnamese when they learned his father was an admiral. The two went in different directions following the war, McCain returning to the states and a life of public service. Kirk continued to serve in the Air Force until 1978. He then became a financial advisor in Italy and Madrid, Spain, serving members of the military and employees of the Civil Service and State Department. In 1992, Kirk and his wife moved to Vail, where he was a ski instructor for 16 years and played the saxophone in a jazz band. He continues to work as a financial advisor in Phoenix.

Making a Difference:

Glenn Newcomb ’86 After 20 years in the corporate world of telecommunications, Glenn Newcomb ’86 and his wife, Janet, of Richmond, Virginia, decided it was time for a change. They felt called to full-time ministry and moved to Thailand in July 2007 where they are missionaries Newcomb for the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board. Through a small development foundation called Handclasp, the Newcombs are tasked with helping improve the lives of Thais in any way possible. “Janet and I are equal partners in our work here,” said Newcomb. “We worked closely together for most of the years we spent at Verizon in Richmond, so we already had a good foundation for our efforts here. I’m a planner and dreamer, and Janet is good at executing details, so it works out well for us.” The dynamic duo accomplished a large goal in their first year as missionaries by opening a community center in summer 2008. Handclasp had worked on the project for several years, but the Newcombs were able to secure the approvals and funding to lease a building and provided the organization to get the project off the ground. At the center, the couple teaches English six times a week and helps local university students with homework, and in fall 2008, they organized a series of health, finance and spiritual education seminars. In addition to his work at the community center, Newcomb teaches business at a nearby college, and his 15-year-old daughter, Jennifer, is a student at an international school but also serves at an orphanage for children with HIV. Janet Newcomb volunteers at Garden of Hope, a resource center that assists women and children involved in or affected by prostitution, sexual exploitation and trafficking. The program offers counseling for the wounds of sexual trauma but also helps women learn marketable skills such as cooking, sewing, customer service, English and computer training that will enable them to support their families legally. While the rewards of ministering to the people of Thailand are great, the Newcombs’ experience has had its share of challenges. “I would say the biggest challenge has been learning the language,” said Newcomb. “Thai is a difficult language with five different tonal patterns and so is quite hard to learn. We are fairly fluent now in conversation and commerce, but it has been a long road, and we still struggle. Making progress on this front is also very rewarding.” Last summer, the Newcombs helped Handclasp coordinate teams from the United States who volunteered in nearby villages and schools. In two weeks, a 60-member team built a house for an 80-year-old woman, taught in the village schools, painted orphanages and played with the orphaned children after school. “It was hugely satisfying to see 5,000-plus man hours of labor focused on the people here in such a short period,” said Newcomb. “This was also a challenge, given the logistics of housing, feeding and transporting 60 people to five different work sites every day, but it was a challenge that was well worthwhile.” Newcomb attributes the “never say die” attitude instilled in him as

a VMI cadet in part for giving him the strength and determination to move through the hard times and the setbacks he and his family have faced in Thailand. “I would also say that my wife and I take a very citizen-soldier approach to being missionaries,” he said. “We felt that God directed us here to accomplish some specific objectives, and we are here doing that. When we finish, we will return to our lives and seek to take up our careers again.” The Newcombs’ stint with Handclasp will end in the summer of 2009, but they plan to stay in Thailand for teaching a business class. another year with the organization, returning to Richmond in 2010 where Jennifer Newcomb will complete her senior year of high school. “I think we have all grown a lot personally from this experience, and our view of the world has changed greatly,” said Newcomb. “The world seems a lot bigger when you are so far from home, and you recognize how every culture has its struggles. Also, we’ve grown closer as a family and have gotten to spend time together doing things that not many families get to do.”

Above: Janet Newcomb, second from right, helping Thai students with homework. Below: The Newcomb family, from left, Jennifer, Janet and Glenn.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Making a Difference:

J. Daniel Payne ’99 John Shinholser met VMI graduate Daniel Payne ’99 six years ago when he became his sponsor in a 12-step recovery program. Shinholser took him under his wing, not only supporting Payne in his efforts to battle his addiction to drugs and alcohol, but also by showing him the ropes of the construction and painting businesses. The relationship has been mutually rewarding. With Shinholser’s help, Payne marked the six-year milestone of sobriety in September 2008, and thanks to Payne’s efforts, the recovery program Shinholser and his wife founded in 2004 is one of Richmond’s best known success stories. The Payne family, from left, Jack, McKenzie, Daniel and Gabriel durA non-profit community resource organization, ing the Thanksgiving 2008 holiday. the McShin Foundation is committed to serving individuals in their fight against the disease of addiction through peer-to-peer recovery support services. Foundation volunteers help clients get the treatment Payne, too, is grateful for his VMI experience. they need to fight their addiction and to find drug-free hous“A lot of my business practices come from VMI,” said Payne. ing, as well as the opportunity to re-enter the work force. The “At Widespread Solutions, we run a tight ship with weekly infoundation also works to reduce the stigma the public associates spections and standards for dress and behavior. While I wasn’t with substance abuse. the model cadet, I did learn about integrity and the ability to “I think one thing that sets us apart from other programs is overcome adversity at VMI.” the fact that we’ve been there, too,” said Payne, who graduated Payne said he is proud of the work the McShin Foundation is from VMI in 1999. “We lead by example, and the word ‘empathy’ doing in the Richmond area and of the changes he has made really means a lot. It helps our clients to see that our lives really in his life. He shares that success with his wife, McKenzie, and have gotten better through recovery.” two young sons with whom he lives in Hanover. Payne, the foundation’s executive director, developed the “McShin Model,” which centers around one addict helping another. The foundation helps its clients develop a custom recovery action plan, which is implemented with peer-delivered coaching, mentoring and lead-by-example recovery concepts. The foundation also provides ongoing support to addicts and their families. In addition to helping run the foundation, Payne operates his own company, Widespread Solutions LLC, which provides an avenue for McShin clients to work in the fields of painting, landscaping, construction and property management. The company supports the McShin Model, providing those new to recovery with a safe work environment, one that helps benefit the customer, the addict seeking recovery and the foundation. “Daniel is a once-in-a-lifetime individual, a real stand-up guy,” said Shinholser. “I’ve groomed him to be the leader of the McShin Foundation since day one, because I know VMI Payne, right, and Shinholser on the day that Daniel and and the caliber of its graduates. Daniel’s honest, he’s fair and his wife, McKenzie, were married in 2005. Payne wrote, he follows through, and the man he has become is a result of “John was a Marine and loves VMI.” going to VMI.” 2009-Issue 1

Class of 2008 Alumni Help Build Schools in Uganda Trip Made Possible by Generosity of Minor ’63 Editor’s Note: During summer 2008, four members of the class of 2008 – Tyler Anthony, Scott Sanders, Jake Widrick and Zach Carmen – and one Rockbridge County High School student traveled to Uganda to offer building and construction assistance to the people there. According to Anthony, who provided the photos and commentary on this page, the support of G. Gilmer Minor III ’63 made the trip possible. We left on July 19, 2008, and returned on Aug. 8. Our trip was organized and planned by Maj. Frank Diorio (VMI Navy ROTC) and his wife, Charlotte, who is originally from Uganda. The Diorios are good friends with David and Rachel Okopello of Uganda, who have organized, raised funds and built over 70 schools in Uganda and the neighboring countries. David and Rachel were our gracious hosts throughout our time in Uganda, and we were assigned to work at two of their schools – Truth Primary School and DARA Christian High School and Orphanage. Our goal was to help build a new nursery school next to Truth Primary, as well as build soccer goals for the children to use during their school recess. We also planned to take a two-day Safari while we were there. Zach Carmen was the originator and catalyst for this trip. The rest of us heard of it and decided to take the trip. In the beginning, I think we all had our own personal reasons for going, but collectively, we knew this was something not too many Americans would have the opportunity to do, and we anticipated a great experience. However, I don’t think any of us could predict just how life changing it would be. Most of the children at these schools are orphans or sponsored by donors overseas. Typically, they have lost their family, or they don’t have the money to afford an education. We saw many children who had to help their parents work and could not afford to go to school. We worked with a construction crew that had no shoes, safety standards, machines, or even decent shovels and basic equipment to work. Yet the crew continued to work, day in and day out, because they had to. To them, this was everyday life, but to us, this was disheartening and depressing. After spending just three weeks in Uganda (one of which was a typical tourist week), we all walked away with a better understanding of the world. We left the safety and comfort of America and entered a place seemingly untouched by the Western world, yet still very much aware of and influenced by America and the West. We saw our pop culture and music artists displayed on billboards and clothing. We were asked by kids to bring them back to America for education. We saw USAID trucks and UN sponsored projects all through Uganda. It seemed America was everywhere in their lives, yet they were nowhere in ours. That was the most important lesson that we learned from our trip, and that is exactly what we are planning to change. If you are interested in learning more about the trip or would like to know how you can sponsor a Ugandan child, please contact Tyler J. Anthony at: Tyler.John.Anthony@gmail.com

Photo above: Upon their arrival in Uganda were, from left, Brice Bahhur (a high school senior from Lexington) and class of 2008 Brother Rats Tyler Anthony, Scott Sanders, Jake Widrick and Zach Carmen.

Photo above: Widrick and Anthony with students from Truth Primary School. Photos by Scott Sanders.

Photos: 1. A child helping her mother crush stone. 2. Anthony and Widrick at work. 3. Children who live in a nearby village. 4. Child attending class at Truth Primary School.

Tyler Anthony ’08 and Jake Widrick ’08 thank Mr. G. Gilmer Minor III ’63 for supporting this trip through his sponsorship.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

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 1962-77. 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

1962: To COLONEL ALEXANDER HENDERSON MORRISON The staff of the 1962 Bomb takes great pleasure in dedicating this yearbook to Colonel Alexander Henderson Morrison, not only because, for the past six years as faculty advisor to the Bomb, he has been instrumental in the production of this publication, not only because of his vital contributions to the VMI Publications Board during this time, but largely because, in every way, he has more than met the highest expectations of any member of the faculty. He has been friend, advisor and teacher to countless cadets, and moreover, he has fulfilled these roles in a singular and outstanding manner. Mere instruction and administration of an academic program, however, are not enough to constitute an education, for a proper education depends upon inspiration and stimulation to do independent, original thought and work. It is because Colonel Morrison has provided this inspiration, has stimulated this creative thought and has encouraged his students to learn more than the course requirements, that he is a most valuable asset to the academic life of VMI. (Col. Morrison graduated from VMI in 1939. Except for military service and graduate school studies, he taught economics at the Institute for over 35 years. He was head of the Department of Economics from 1961-74 and retired in 1981.) 1963: To BRIGADIER GENERAL LLOYD J. DAVIDSON General Davidson has striven with patience, foresight and a keen awareness of the problems and promise of our system to bring to fuller fruition the intellectual life of the faculty and the Cadet Corps it serves. … the dean and the academic board, through critical self-appraisal and positive action, have affected significant advances in the academic program. Aware that in the intellectual quality of the faculty rests the basis for improving the intellectual life of the Cadet Corps, the administration has worked unceasingly toward improving the professional caliber of its academic staff. … improvement in faculty qualifications, increases in research and publication, a gratifying change in the intellectual life of the Institute … mark clearly advances in the professional competence and 2009-Issue 1

performance of the faculty and delineate areas where future gains may be expected. … General Davidson leads a life of dedication to the ideals which will cause the VMI to increase in stature and in worth. (Brig. Gen. Davidson was dean of the faculty at VMI from 1955-65. He was professor of English, 1965-76.) 1964: To CAPTAIN STACY C. HARRIS, Assistant Commandant of Cadets There are many men who have given of their time and effort to help the class of 1964 through its four turbulent years at the Institute. … Yet there is one particularly known to every cadet in the Corps and especially to every cadet in the first class. … This man has been a constant source of aid, not just to members of our class who have run afoul of regulations; he has helped us all in the little ways that we seldom see. Captain Stacy C. Harris, you are the man who the class of 1964 chooses to recognize. The dedication of a yearbook is but a small thing compared to the things you have done for us; yet it is our only way of saying, “Thank You.” You are a part of the Virginia Military Institute we shall always revere. We hope you will forget our thoughtlessness and our petty problems and remember us as we remember you – as a friend. (Following 30 years in the U.S. Army, Stacy Harris worked at VMI from 1958-75, serving as VMI’s first full-time assistant commandant and later as deputy commandant.) 1965: To COLONEL ROBERT CARROLL It is with a deep sense of honor and inexpressible gratefulness that we dedicate the 1965 Bomb to Colonel Robert P. Carroll. We ask that Colonel Carroll accept this dedication as a token gesture of our appreciation for the many services he has rendered to cadets and to VMI, for it is impossible to express adequately the true sentiment that we feel. Colonel Carroll has always sought ways to improve the Biology Department, which now offers one of the best curricula at VMI. Every aspect of the Biology Department bears his influence. Because he is fully responsible for the creation of VMI’s Biology 29

Department, “Doc” is considered as our own “Mr. Biology.” There are many alumni who are now practicing medicine, or performing research, or any other number of services, because he cared about them. He has always been willing to help cadets obtain jobs or graduate school appointments. Because he cared, many who would not otherwise have done so have continued their education. No problem was ever too small for his greatest concern, and no cadet ever received less than Doc’s fullest attention. Doc has found time to work with the Boy Scouts, the Christmas Basket Program and other church and civic organizations. Because he worked to help improve his community, he is well known and highly respected by its leaders and citizens. It is hoped that this dedication will, in some way, convey our appreciation and gratitude to Colonel Carroll for all that he has done for us and for VMI. His influence on our lives will never be erased; forever, we shall remain indebted to him for his guidance and living example of sincerity, devotion and love. It is fitting that this volume be dedicated to a man who has devoted his life to us and VMI. (Colonel “Doc” Carroll taught biology at VMI from 1928-68 and was head of the Biology Department from 1947-65. VMI’s Carroll Hall is named in his honor.) 1966: To COLONEL JAMES M. MORGAN Jr. We, the staff of the 1966 Bomb, proudly dedicate our effort to Colonel James Morgan, educator and friend. To speak in superlatives about the history of Colonel Morgan would sound trite, but it suffices to say that he graduated from VMI in 1945 as recipient of the First Jackson-Hope Medal, first captain of the Corps and an officer of his class. Having served as head of the Civil Engineering Curriculum since 1955, he assumed the position of dean of the faculty in September 1965. His achievements as dean have been in accord with his exemplary past performance as cadet, instructor and leader of men. (Gen. Morgan graduated from VMI in 1945 and taught civil engineering for many years, serving as head of the CE Department from 1956-65. He was VMI’s dean of the faculty from 1965-84 and later rose to the rank of major general. He is the co-author of a recently published a book entitled Keydet Gray and Garry Owen: The Horse at VMI. Morgan Hall, an extension of Nichols Engineering Hall, is named in his honor.) 1967: To COLONEL TYSON WILSON His interest in cadets has become legendary. No cadet who sought his advice on any subject failed to feel the sincerity of his concern. His donation of time and work to establish a schedule of visits by representatives of law and business schools was extraordinary. Even more amazing is that this effort was not a part of his job as assistant professor of history, but a sideline, a hobby. His success in this endeavor is evidenced by the steadily increasing number of cadets who enter graduate schools. Major Wilson’s help and encouragement is responsible for no small part of this increase. In January 1967, Major Wilson, colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, was called to active duty. Major Wilson, 30

although not a graduate of VMI, exemplifies the goal of VMI – the citizen soldier. (Colonel Wilson, who served in the military during World War II, taught history at VMI from 1952-84.) 1968: To CAPTAIN JAMES C. WEST Brother Rat West – that is the way Captain James C. West has become known to the first class. The term “Brother Rat” has always been used to mean friend and fellow sufferer. It also means respect, honor and that certain brand of love peculiar to VMI men. This is the type of love which only results from true appreciation and mutual understanding. For these and many more reasons, we feel honored to use the title for a man who is far above us in wisdom and generosity and for a model to be emulated in later life. … All this in addition to his regular job in the Air Force. Captain West has been more than instrumental in molding the attitudes of the Corps. His aid has always been available to any cadet with a problem, whether this problem be legal, personal or military. This makes the uniform he wears unneeded to gain respect, as the respect is incorporated within the make-up of the man himself. (Capt. West graduated from VMI in 1962 and taught Air Force ROTC courses at the Institute from 1964-68.) 1969: To COLONEL HERBERT E. RITCHEY Associated with the Institute for a period of 37 years, Colonel Herbert E. Ritchey has made a lasting impression on more than a generation of his students, not only as a teacher, but as a friend and advisor. It is not, however, this span of service alone that warrants this dedication. Determined to see that students understand the complex subject matter he teaches is indicative of his personal interest in them as individuals. Colonel Ritchey’s willingness to advise in matters both academic and personal, and his invaluable assistance to those applying to graduate schools complement his outstanding service to both students and the Institute. Many former cadets – now physicians, dentists or industrial chemists – can apprehensively recall having their egos deflated many times in the course of their recitations in organic chemistry. They cannot, however, deny the effectiveness of his teaching methods, the fairness of his examinations and, most of all, his genuine concern that students grasp the difficult material he presents. (Col. Ritchey taught chemistry at VMI from 1930-32 and from 1934-70.) 1970: To MRS. MARY MOODY NORTHEN Since Ring Figure of 1968, our class has been fortunate to have had an unusually close relationship to Mrs. Mary Moody Northen – a warm hearted and sincere friend. Out of our respect and admiration for this lady, the award of “honorary Sister Rat” has been bestowed upon her by our class. It is fitting that this title be awarded to one who has done so much for our class as well as the Institute and all alumni of VMI. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

She has contributed to the Institute by serving ably on the VMI Foundation and to the alumni by providing for a faculty which, in quality and excellence, cannot be bettered anywhere. It is a fitting memorial to her father, one of VMI’s most distinguished alumni. (Mrs. Northen was the daughter of William L. Moody Jr., VMI class of 1886, for whom VMI’s alumni building is named. Residing in Galveston, Texas, she was a generous donor to the Institute and served as a trustee for the VMI Foundation. She was declared an honorary alumnus in 1965 by The VMI Alumni Association. As a tribute to her, VMI established the Mary Moody Northen Chair in the Arts and Social Sciences.) 1971: To ADOLPHUS G. BRADSHAW III AND MICHAEL GARY MARTIN It is always difficult to put into words the sense of loss the Corps experiences when one of its fellow cadets dies during his tenure here at the Institute. On June 19, 1970, the Corps lost two of its members and the class of 1971 two of its BRs. Butch Bradshaw and Gary Martin had already established enviable records in almost every facet of cadet life but perhaps most outstandingly in this publication. Butch was to have been editor-in-chief and Gary the photography editor of the 1971 Bomb, and these positions were earned only after both had spent their entire cadetships on the Bomb staff. It is entirely safe to say that both Butch and Gary were dedicated to making this yearbook the finest possible and that we have endeavored to fulfill their dreams. (These two cadets died in an automobile accident in 1970 as they were driving to ROTC summer camp.) 1972: To all those who have gone before, but especially to those two whom we know for exemplifying the spirit of VMI as citizen and soldier, the 1972 Bomb is respectfully dedicated. THOMAS GEORGE BLAIR Jr. Class of 1969 Killed in action Vietnam, 29 May 1971 ARTHUR LEE GALLOWAY Jr. Class of 1969 Killed in action Vietnam, 27 March 1971 1973: To DR. WILLIAM W. OLD III, POST SURGEON (“Outrage” Section) To that man who has given selflessly of himself during his tenure at the Virginia Military Institute, fighting the insidious enemy of all cadets, disease and discomfort. How many limping cadets can today testify to the valuable time and effort he has spent upon bringing them back to lead a normal and productive life? … A dedicated and competent physician but a great and wonderful human being also! (Dr. Old, who earned his medical degree at the University of Virginia, served as VMI’s institute physician from 1963-92.) 2009-Issue 1

1975: To LT. COL. STACY HARRIS, DEPUTY COMMANDANT For the past 17 years, Colonel Harris has been an unswerving bastion of stability in an atmosphere of turmoil. Commandants have come and gone; three superintendents have set radically different objectives. However, Colonel Harris has remained a stable and quite sobering influence. Known affectionately as “Uncle Stace” or “Grandpa” to many first classmen, Colonel Harris will be missed not only by the class of ’75, but by the Institute. His dedication to duty and his desire to help cadets at VMI become more disciplined and responsible men, have won the respect and affection of the class of ’75. To Colonel and Mrs. Harris we extend our best wishes for a happy retirement. (Stacy Harris shares a distinction with few others in history, this being the second Bomb dedicated to him. See his earlier description following the 1964 Bomb dedication.) 1976: To MRS. ELIZABETH MESSICK The highlight of every cadet’s day is looking into his mailbox, brushing aside the spider and grasping a letter. Mail brightens up the day more than a cancelled FEI. For as long as we can remember, Mrs. Elizabeth Messick has delivered our meager reminders of civilized life into our mailboxes and still has time to stop and cheer up a glum Keydet who stands forlorn and forgotten. There are cadets who, stranded at the I over a vacation, have been welcomed into the Messick home. Other cadets have been invited to the table for a fine Sunday dinner. The 1976 Bomb is hereby dedicated to Mrs. Messick, for she has proven a true friend to the Corps and is deserving of far greater honors than we can bestow upon her. (Mrs. Messick served as VMI’s mailroom clerk from 196976.) 1977: To MRS. PAT HENSON No cadet, past or present, has enjoyed the thought of his trips to the commandant’s office to answer a special report, hear a non-inspirational chewing out or walk through a permit. For the past six years, and in particular the last four of them, there has been a special lady seated outside the office of the commandant who has made the chore of “seeing the man” all the more transitional. Mrs. Pat Henson is the one who told us so often, “He’s not in a good mood – come back tomorrow.” Oftentimes, with an imminent 10-6-30 pending, it’s Pat who always tries to cheer you up before the great letdown. She always makes time to talk with cadets en route to the commandant, and she always greets those who enter that foreboding realm with a smile on her face. The 1977 Bomb is hereby dedicated to you, Pat Henson, for you have proven yourself to be a friend of the class of 1977 and to the Corps. May God bless a fine lady!” (Mrs. Henson was the highly admired commandant’s secretary from 1971-86; she died at the age of 45.)

First Fall Reunion

Sept. 19-20, 2008

Reunion photos by Kathryn Wise.

Classes of 1963 and 1973 and the honored class of 1983

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33 Class photo by Reithmiller â&#x20AC;&#x2122;63.

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Class photo by Reithmiller ’63.

Second Fall Reunion Oct. 3-4, 2008

Classes of 1993 and 2003 and the honored class of 1998

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

2009-Issue 1

ALUMNI FRONT ASSOCIATION NEWS ASSOCIATION NEWS Alumni Review Survey Results Indicate Strong Interest In the 2008-Issue 4 Alumni Review, we provided an important survey that asked for information about reader interests and suggestions for change. The survey arrived with your Review in paper form, and we also created a Web site where alumni could input their answers. The results are quite compelling, both in terms of the numbers of alumni respondents and in the depth of detail provided. While the data is still being evaluated at the time of this writing, we have noted some clear points of reference that offer insight on our future direction. Most interesting were responses to the question asking readers to indicate what parts of the magazine they “always,” “sometimes” or “never” read. Class Notes are always read by 91% of the respondents, and this statistic affirms the fact that Brother Rat relationships are of primary interest in the magazine. Other reader interest statistics are identified in the sidebar below. In addition to strong indicators about what alumni enjoy most about the magazine, the survey gathered information about format and delivery. Alumni were strongly inclined to prefer four issues

The Results of Question 20 from the Survey

per year versus three or less. Additionally, 67% of those responding are willing to go to the Internet for at least some portions of the magazine. While there is no intent to migrate the magazine to a Web-only version, it is noteworthy that a majority of readers see the Internet as a viable delivery mechanism for the Review – albeit in a limited fashion. The Alumni Association is actively pursuing solutions that could use the Internet to display portions of the magazine without diluting the value of the printed book. For example, at this time, the Review is available as a PDF file on the Alumni Association’s Web site, vmialumni.org. Alumni receive the magazine – without cost – for life, and while 54% of survey respondents indicate they are willing to pay a subscription fee, there will be no change in this current benefit. However, the willingness to pay does affirm that our readers value the magazine. Related questions asked readers about widows receiving the magazine and segmenting the delivery to include only those who were supporting VMI financially. Eightyfive percent of respondents believed that financial support should not be consid-

ered as subscription criteria. Similarly, there was strong agreement that widows should receive the magazine, with several commenting that the extended VMI family remains interested in receiving the publication. Almost 70% of respondents said they would not object to advertising in the magazine, noting that almost all similar publications include ads, as did the Review in earlier years. Advertising in the magazine might offer some opportunity to defray costs and could assist in broadcasting information. The Review editor, staff and the Alumni Association Board of Directors are considering this carefully. Future changes to the magazine will result from the survey results. Some of the data is useful in determining where changes will be well received from readers. Comments from those who responded were, for the most part, positive and appreciative about the magazine, and we received many helpful suggestions, which we are considering. Alumni appear to be proud of the Review and want to continue receiving the publication that has been a staple in their communication from VMI. OEF/OIF 61% Reunion 59.5% Feature 54.7%

Question: Please rate your interest by how often you refer to or read each section of the Review.

VMI History 63.3%

Choices are Always, Usually, Never.

Taps 73.7%

Chapter activities/photos 29.9% Association New s 27.1% Class notes 91.3% Alum ni New s 65.1% Institute 65.3% Athletics 41.6%

The Pie Chart shows the percentage answered “Always” for each section. Results are also shown at far right.

Foundation 20.4% Mem orial/Matching 15.1% Keydet 25.1% Donors 26.9%

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI FRONT ASSOCIATION NEWS Coastal Carolina Chapter Meets in Charleston and Elects Officers

The chapter’s newly appointed officers, from left, Jerome Brinkley ’84, Brendan Kearney ’03, Kyle Sinisi ’84, Mike Efremov ’84, John Aydlette ’90 and Will DeShazor ’05.

On Aug. 20, 2008, members of the newly formed Coastal Carolina Chapter met at the Triangle Bar & Grill in Charleston, South Carolina, to get to know each other, swap old VMI stories and plan upcoming events. Seventeen alumni attended, including those whose graduation dates range from 1947 to 2007. The chapter hopes to grow its numbers, since there are as many as 80 alumni who live in the region. Robert Crumpler ’07, VMI Alumni Association New Cadet Recruiting coordinator, was the guest speaker. Reports from those attending say that Crumpler provided an interesting presentation on the state of cadet recruiting and the significant role that the Coastal Carolina Chapter and other chapters could play in the recruiting process. To cap off the evening, the chapter elected officers to assist in the coordination of future events and meetings. Jerome Brinkley ’84 was selected for the position of president, John Aydlette ’90 was named vice president, Mike Efremov ’84 and Brendan Kearney ’03 are the members at large, Will DeShazor ’05 is secretary, and Kyle Sinisi ’84 is treasurer. Overall, the evening was a great success, and the chapter is looking forward to some exciting upcoming events.

Photo 1: From left, Ashley Efremov, Mike’s wife; Roscoe Davis ’88, Howard Chapman ’68, and Mike Efremov ’84. Photo 2: Sam Murphy ’79, left, and guest speaker Robert Crumpler ’07, VMI Alumni Association New Cadet Recruiting coordinator. Photo 3: Duke Acors ’05, Ben Rand ’03 and Will DeShazor ’05. Photo 4: Jerome Brinkley ’84 and his wife, Stephanie, with Mike Efremov ’84 and his wife, Ashley. Photo 5: Ed Davis ’60, left, and his wife, Sheila, right (in front), with Sam Murphy ’79 and his wife, Karen Komar. Photo 6: From left, Leven Harrison ’02; Brendan Kearney ’03 and wife Natalie; and Jerome Brinkley ’84.

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2008-Issue 2

ALUMNI FRONT ASSOCIATION NEWS Classes of 1993-2008 • •

The Alumni Association Wants YOU to Get Involved: Be a Part of the Best Young Alumni Group in the Nation

Membership with the best Alumni Association - Cost: FREE Stay in Moody Hall - Cost: FREE*

• •

Use Moody Hall for functions - Cost: FREE* The only fee requested is YOUR involvement!

*For information and reservations, contact Carole Green at cgreen@vmiaa.org or 800/444-1839.

Young Alumni Committee Members Chair: Steve Nakazawa ’03 steve.nakazawa@gmail.com Christopher Ratchford ’94 christopher.ratchford@pacificlife.com Frederick Lehman ’91 marinepatriot@aol.com Sills O’Keefe ’93 sokeefe@norfolkacademy.org Mike Zirkle ’97 zirkle_michael@bah.com Doug Warner ’03 doug03notes@gmail.com Heidi Nagel ’02 heidimason@aol.com Jared Swanson ’03 jswan03@gmail.com Joel Andrus ’04 jandrus@kemperconsult.com Matt McQueen ’03 matt03notes@gmail.com Kelly Sullivan ’01 kelly.k.sullivan@twcable.com

Get Involved Get in touch with your Class Agent! 1993 - Bill Cox bill@carebyfarm.com 1994 - Chris Doyle cldoyle94@hotmail.com 1995 - Rick Killmeyer fjkiv@hotmail.com 1996 - Rusty McGuire mcguirere@comcast.com 1997 - John Duckworth vmi97classnotes@yahoo.com 1998 - Hamel Reinmiller HBRVMI98@att.net 1999 - Brad Wineman winemanba@usa.net 2000 - Chris Arllen christian@arllen.com 2001 - Jason Whitaker vmiagent01@gmail.com

JOB OPENING:

Placement Officer Apply today to work with YOUR Bother Rats and The VMI Alumni Association Contact: Adam Volant avolant@vmiaa.org

2002 - Salmaan Khawaja salmaan.khawaja@gmail.com 2003 - Billy Talley wht5@whts.com 2004 - Ryan Shealy ryanshealy@gmail.com 2005 - Tim Johnson johnsontm1@verison.net 2006 - Will Davis davismw06@gmail.com 2007 - Salome Coffman Arciero tkdchic9@yahoo.com 2008 - Robert Hill rphill48@gmail.com - Get in touch with your chapter and regional director. - See The VMI Alumni Association Directory on pages 185 and 186 in this issue!

The VMI Alumni Association’s Online Community...

VMI Ranks www.vmialumni.org -Free e-mail forwarding address -Online event registration -Online alumni directory -Class and chapter pages -Alumni news -Ability to manage your own profile -VMI Job Board

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI FRONT ASSOCIATION NEWS Are You Interested in Helping a Cadet? Try the VMI Alumni Mentoring Network by VMI Career Services

Virginia Military Institute now has an alumni mentoring capability in its web-based recruiting system, “KeydetConnect.” Cadets are often seeking a voice of experience in the working world that can give guidance to the job search process. We can’t think of a better source for career guidance than VMI alumni. Mentoring is accomplished through periodic alumni-cadet networking opportunities and through the VMI alumni network in KeydetConnect. As an alumnus, you can sign up with this mentoring system to serve as a career contact or mentor for current cadets. The system provides an easy way for you to make yourself available to undergraduates who are exploring career options. You can choose to do this in a variety of ways, including e-mail, phone or regular mail. When you sign up, you will have the opportunity to enter information about yourself including the type of industry in which you’re employed, information about your job and organization, the college activities in which you took part, and the career path you followed. The information you provide will allow cadets to explore alumni contacts and reach out for the career related guidance they need. Cadets will not be able to access the Web site until there are enough career contacts available. You can, however, register and load your information into the system whenever you’d like. It won’t take more than a few minutes to register but may have a lasting impact on our cadets! If you have questions about this process, contact Lt. Col. Dave Chase or Mrs. Kaye Taylor of VMI Career Services (careerservices@vmi.edu), phone 540/464-7560. To get started, register at the VMI Alumni Mentoring Network Web site: www.myinterfase.com/vmi/mentor/home.aspx.

Important Dates at VMI in 2009 April 20-21, 2009: Early Spring Reunion (1939, 1944, 1949A, 1949B, 1949C and 1954) April 24-25, 2009: Spring Reunion Weekend (1959, 1969, 1979 and 1989) May 16-17, 2009: New Market Ceremony and Graduation

2008-Issue 2

September 4-5, 2009: First Fall Reunion (1964, 1974 and 1984) October 2-3, 2009: Second Fall Reunion (1994, 1999 and 2004) October 16-17, 2009: Parents Weekend November 20-21, 2009: Ring Figure

ALUMNI FRONT ASSOCIATION NEWS Arizona Chapter Dinner Photo at left: Col. Tom Davis ’64, center, who is a former VMI history professor and current historian of the Alumni Association, was the guest speaker at a chapter dinner in Phoenix, Arizona, on Oct. 18, 2008. At left with Davis were Dr. Vaughn Tweedy ’50B, left, and Bob Clingenpeel ’69, right. The dinner was held at the Sonora Brewhouse.

Rappahannock Chapter Gathers in Hartsfield, Virginia Photo at right: Members of the Rappahannock Chapter got together to meet, eat barbeque and hear a report from guest speaker Adam Volant ’88, executive vice president of the Alumni Association. The group met at the Piankatank River Golf Club in Hartsfield, Virginia. Richard Duke ’90, chapter president, left, and Eric Nost ’79, regional director for the Alumni Association Board of Directors, right, led the meeting. As a regional director, Nost’s assignment from the board is to communicate with and assist chapters in his region to serve alumni needs.

Alumni Attend the FBI Conference for Firearms Instructors Photo at left: Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) held its annual week-long conference for principal firearms instructors (PFIs) at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Representing VMI were, from left, Supervisory Special Agent Sean Boyle ’91 from the Critical Incident Response Group, Special Agent Scott Falls ’81 from the Little Rock Division and Special Agent Mark Moss ’88 from the Charlotte Division. According to Boyle, PFIs are senior firearms instructors chosen by their division to manage their division’s firearms training program for all other FBI agents. There are 57 PFIs in the FBI.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI FRONT ASSOCIATION NEWS Steelers’ Training Camp Visit Reunites Old Friends Donnie Ross ’74, far left in the photo at top left, visited the Pittsburgh Steelers’ pre-season training camp with Dan Troppoli, second from right, former VMI director of Admissions and Financial Aid, and Allan Berenbrok ’80, far right, president of the VMI Alumni Association Pittsburgh Chapter. Ross’ intent was to reunite with the Steelers’ head coach, Mike Tomlin, second from left, who, along with Ross, was an assistant football coach for VMI in 1995, and to introduce Berenbrok to Tomlin. According to Ross, the 35-year-old Tomlin is grateful to VMI for giving him the opportunity to coach, which started his now illustrious career as the youngest head football coach in the NFL. Photos courtesy Ross. Photo at bottom left: The Steelers during training camp.

VMI Ranks New Features Coming Soon The VMI Alumni Agencies Web Team is working on adding new features to the VMI Ranks Web site, including a link to your own Facebook profile, messaging, groups and enhanced photo sharing capabilities. You may already be familiar with these capabilities if you’ve used Web sites like Facebook, MySpace and the VMI inCircle site. These efforts to keep up with ever-

changing technology trends will allow alumni to more easily keep in touch with each other and with the Institute. In addition to these features, the VMI Alumni Agencies Web site offers users an alumni directory, class pages, job postings, lifelong e-mail and online event registration. Membership is free, so if you are not already a member, visit us at www.vmialumni.org.

VMI Decal Makes Friends Out of Strangers While visiting the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, Maj. E. Sean Lanier ’94, in dark green uniform at right, noticed a truck with a VMI decal on it. Upon investigation, he found out that the truck belonged to Col. Perry Knight ’82, pictured far right, at left, chief of staff for the Deployment Distribution Center (DDC) in New Cumberland. The two had a great chat, Lanier wrote, and took a photo to document their chance meeting. At the time the photo was taken, Lanier was based at Fort Benning, Georgia, and had just returned to the states from a 16-month Iraq deployment. He was visiting New Cumberland to present a plaque of appreciation to a DLA civilian at Knight’s DDC, shown in the photo above.

2008-Issue 2

ALUMNI FRONT ASSOCIATION NEWS 1

Westminster Canterbury 3

Alumni and wives living at Westminster Canterbury in Richmond, Virginia, had a cocktail party and dinner to welcome some new residents, including Judith and John Halsey ’43; Thada Royall, widow of the late William Arch Royall ’37, and Thomas Hupp Jr. ’44. In all, over 30 alumni, wives and widows attended. The event was covered by resident VMI-event photographer Jo Ann O’Hara, widow of the late Robert O’Hara ’35. Photos at left:

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1. Tommy Hupp ’44 and Nancy Crowder Coleman, widow of the late Charles Crowder ’44. 2. Page and Ben Harmon ’49B and Taz Ellett ’44. 3. Julia Goode and Thada Royall, widow of the late Arch Royall ’37. 4. Dick Wight ’30 and Mary Easterly, widow of the late Harry Easterly ’44. 5. Elizabeth Lee, Harry’s wife. 6. Anne and Charles Miller ’42 with daughter Lindsey Miller. 7. Mary and George Hutter ’52. 8. Harry Lee ’47. 9. Tommy Hupp and Julia Goode. 10. Katie and Ed Hensley ’41. 11. Buddy Metz ’45 and Bunny Tucker ’37. 12. Anne and Russell Scott, widow of the late Bud Addison ’54. 13.Judith and John Halsey ’43. 14. Ann Artz, widow of the late Ed Artz ’53; Janet Dennis, widow of the late O.D. Dennis ’43; and Margaret Hotchkiss, widow of the late Nelson Hotchkiss ’40. 15. Buck Bedinger ’46.

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI FRONT ASSOCIATION NEWS Alums Tour Top Military Construction Project

Photo at left: At Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan were Richard Fontanilla ’95, left, resident engineer, Japan Engineer District, and James Bersson ’72, right, senior executive service, director of Regional Business, Pacific Ocean Division. Both are with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Fontanilla hosted Bersson on a site tour of the recently completed program for one of the top military construction projects in the USACE and U.S. Navy, that is, the upgrade of berthing facilities for the U.S.S. George Washington (CVN-73). The Washington will be the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier to be stationed overseas, Fontanilla wrote.

The VMI Alumni Association’s Online Community . . .

VMI Ranks Now’s the time to join the formation of Brother Rats, classmates and friends to share information and 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.

New Cadet Recruiting 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 800/4441839.

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.”

2008-Issue 2

“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

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 46

“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

CLASSNOTES NOTES CLASS

’35

Jim Sherman

It’s Nov. ’08 and we have survived a record length presidential campaign and now have a history making winner. Regardless of party affiliation, our country and the world will best be served by unity and dedication. It’s time to pull out all the stops and pull together as we strive to overcome the enormous challenges we face. Not surprisingly, with each passing year the ranks of ’35 grow slimmer. I learned from the family that Mark Bane, a roommate during our 3rd class year, passed away on Sept. 27th. He had suffered a stroke earlier and was making progress in rehab. He was a bright and friendly BR with a quick mind and wit, and after an impressive career in the Air Force, built a second career in real estate. Currently, we top out at 9 BRs. And just a few days ago, I was stunned to learn George Freeman was in hospital and in very serious condition. After repeated attempts, I finally caught up with son Cliff in George’s hospital room and learned George had inadvertently swallowed a “freshener” present in a bottle of pills, causing two bleeding ulcers in the small intestine. Happily, I learned the bleeding had been overcome; he was improving and had just been removed from intensive care. But I know from past experience that George is a fighter from the word “go,” and when I got to speak with him on Nov. 12th, his strong reply to my inquiry was, “Good, and after four more days, I will be moved to rehab at Atlantic Shores,” where he lives. And then, his thoughts turning to his family, he told me that his granddaughter, Elizabeth Freeman, had entered a Virginia Junior Miss contest and came in 2nd; additionally, she will be attending Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, VA, as an ROTC cadet, recalling VMI’s dedicated involvement in support of this program. Needless to say, these are now very rewarding days for both George and wife Clelia – in the depth of his illness, both thought he “was on the way out.” Not to happen – he’s our youngest at 93! And then I was blindsided upon calling Bob Little in Sun City, AZ, to learn he was

2009-Issue 1

recovering from a seizure experienced a month previously. After several days in hospital, he was recuperating at home, using a walker and rebuilding his strength. OK, BRs, I don’t need anymore shock treatments in ’08. And back east, I found St John Arnold in a less than cheerful mood, continuing his temporary living at Atlantic Shores, Virginia Beach, while son Tom is recovering from recent surgery. Saint’s gimpy knee continues to be a problem, his condition further complicated by swollen ankles, leading to surgical stockings the previous two weeks. He enjoyed several visits by George Freeman before his current illness. Meanwhile, Bob Evans in North Branford, CT, said, “I have got something for which I am taking a horrible diuretic,” which keeps him “on the run.” He will be continuing his work at the Yale Child Study Center but will not be attending the annual scientific conference in London at the Anna Freud Center where he completed his psychiatric training, studying five years under Anna Freud. When we talked, Bob was quite pleased that Ruth Lord, his “significant other,” had recently arranged to have a portrait of him done from a photo taken when he first came back from London following his training; it is currently on exhibition at the Yale Child Study Center. Happily, Al Snapp says he’s feeling “pretty good and can’t complain,” and he does enjoy his walks around his farm. Daughter Linda lives with him and does the necessary driving. But Al loves his native state, Virginia, and at this time of the year, misses the color. Having been unable to attend a family reunion in Roanoke earlier, he is still planning to return to Virginia for a week or so – the magnetic attraction is strong! Leonard Todd in Greenville, SC, is always cheerful, as he should be, with the care and support of his devoted wife, Didda. Leonard remains dependent on his walker but gets his exercise patrolling the hall, needing assistance when going up or down stairs. Nonetheless, he and Didda enjoy frequent outings. And Leonard wanted to hear about his BRs. Earlier when hurricane “Ike” blasted ashore in Texas, I was concerned about Ed Arnold who lives in suburban Houston but too close to Galveston, thinking about the accompanying surge. So, I called at the time

but got no answer and correctly assumed he had previously left for the safety of son Bruce who lives in Long Rock, TX, where he remained for two and a half weeks. Upon his return, he found “lots of houses damaged by the surge, but none to my apartment.” Electricity in the area was not restored for two and a half weeks and water had entered the lower floor of his building, which was vacated at the time. He did not expect that the building elevator would be in service for another two weeks. Obviously, he could have fared a lot worse. I found JoAnn O’Hara delighted with Obama’s election victory and as cheerful as ever. She is a recognized driving force in arranging periodic cocktail and dinner parties for the retired VMI family at Westminster Canterbury, 28 attending a recent gathering. And of course, she continues her reporting and photographic contributions for the local in-house publications, and to remain at the top of her game, attends exercise classes and frequents the swimming pool. Blanche Brown, whose response is always, “I’m fine,” is quite satisfied with her Farmington, NM, retirement home and enjoys the support of daughter Roe whose office is also in Farmington. Roe and husband Sam recently yielded to their long held desire and purchased a BMW. Sam was so intrigued that he “aired it out” on the highway, was flagged by a trooper and ended up in a mutually enjoyable discussion of the trooper’s motorcycle, concluded “sans” ticket – that requires skill and finesse! Perhaps it helped that Sam’s business is selling motorcycles. “B” Holt was on “cloud nine” when I called on Nov. 5th. A staunch Democrat having served 19 years as a representative in the North Carolina Legislature, she had put in hours over the days leading up to the election in support of Obama and her party’s representatives running for office, and all day at Democratic HQs on Nov. 4th along with the faithful in getting out the vote, one woman calling 225 people in one day. Her parting words were, “All kinds of work remains to be done,” and that she “had too many fingers in too many pies!” Although Obama was not his personal choice, our Senator Harry Byrd considers him “highly intelligent,” appreciated his “core consistency” and the manner in which he “kept his cool” throughout the

CLASS NOTES campaign. Harry, who knows a thing or two about political campaigns after 18 years in the Virginia Senate and 18 years in the U.S. Senate, marveled at Obama’s success in raising money, “almost a billion dollars!” As for McCain, Harry observed that his initial strategy was to emphasize his opponent was untested and inexperienced but had to change that approach when he picked Palin as his running mate. We will all agree that the outcome of this election was and will remain a tremendous landmark in American history. It’s always refreshing to hear the cheerful voice of Dora Williams and her assurance, “I’m pretty good!” She has backed off on using the apartment building stairway in deference to her knees but wisely continues attending her exercise classes. As expected, the family had a very nice reunion in late summer at Bald Head Island, a yearly stimulator. Fall is Dora’s favorite season, and she so enjoys the lovely colors of the landscape at Cedarfield. And in the southwest, Barbara Meem in Santa Fe, NM, is enjoying delightful weather and the beauty of the snow in the mountains. Like the majority of us, she has been following the presidential election campaign. As a Republican, she had been favoring McCain but strongly supports democracy and is convinced that our system of government, with its checks and balances, will keep us on an even keel. Finding Jeanette Newman at home is dicey, as she is always gearing up for another outing. Nothing has changed – she was leaving the next day for another shot at the Las Vegas slots which seem to throw in the sponge when she gets off the plane. And she hopes to ring the jackpot bell, as she is considering leaving for Rome on Dec. 5th – bet the mafia will be watching closely to learn her technique. Presently living in a retirement center in Anacortes, WA, she enjoys bridge, trips to shopping centers and dinners out with friends. Jeanette will be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with family. And it’s always reassuring when I reach Ikey Knight in her Solomons, MD, retirement home, her first words, “I’m fine!” And good reason – the day before, she had her entire family with her – a joyful reunion. Daughter Hope remained to take her out for breakfast in the morning. Ikey’s blood

pressure was found a bit high recently, but through exercise and diet control, it has been restored to the satisfaction of her doctor. In the course of conversation, I learned that her son can play just about any musical instrument you can name, including the piano. She says, “He has about 50 in the house and drives his wife wild!” Sounds like he’s a one-man band – too bad he didn’t attend the Institute. Here at Belle Meade, Peggy and I are busy with various committee activities but quite recently had a lovely weekend in the Blue Ridge country, drinking in the beauty of the fall colors. That was followed by three gorgeous days at Peggy’s oceanfront condo at Emerald Isle, NC, the beach a wide golden strand I have walked for so many miles in the past. Now inseparable from my cane, I drink it all in from the ocean end of the walkway and remain extremely grateful. And looking ahead, we will be welcoming eight family members at Thanksgiving. Bless you all … Jim

’36 ’37 ’38

William Todd

Pills! Pills! Pills!, Shots! Shots! Shots! Drops! Drops! Drops! High blood pressure, low blood pressure! Lose weight, gain weight! Injections! Hospitals! Surgeries! Nursing Homes and various and sundry other facilities. Don’t those aforementioned words remind you of our status in today’s age-90s health programs? It sure does for me, unfortunately, but I don’t have much choice. In most respects, I am thankful for all of the above, because I am still walking and breathing!

It is with the utmost regret that I must inform the class of the death of our Brother Rat Harrison Hubard on Oct. 28, 2008. From what I understand from previous letters and conversations with Harrison, he and his family have a long and historic relationship with the Institute dating back to the Civil War years. On behalf of the VMI class of 1938, I sent an e-mail letter of sympathy and condolence to the Hubard family. Incidentally, this leaves us with just 17 survivors of those who matriculated back in 1934. (Editor’s Note: Mr. Hubard’s obituary will appear in the next Alumni Review, 2009-Issue 2.) Kathryn Earnest visited me in mid September with Bert in tow. We enjoyed a luncheon at the Greenspring dining facility where I live. Bert was rather quiet but talked to a degree. All in all, a delightful afternoon. I also spoke with Lee Fosque. Lee’s voice sounds just like when we were Keydets. He obviously has not aged like the rest of us. I also called Jimmy Foust, but he was out doing errands, so I had a long conversation with his wife, Midge. He was supposed to call back but never did. Early last week, I had a short but nice conversation with Jan Smith, Tango’s widow. I also called Ray Long and talked briefly to him and at some length with his wife, Sally, about a snapshot of Ray aboard a horse called “Rosy” at a horseshow in Richmond during our Keydet days. She promised to send a copy of the picture. I also tried to call Matt Beebe but never got an answer. Last but not least, I had a long conversation with Bruce Cameron over the domestic and international situation. He was in the hospital for awhile undergoing some tests. Nothing serious was found, so he is now back in the office working four- or five-hour days. As for me, I am back in the hospital due to fluid retention associated with my diabetes. The doctors say I need to cut out salt and take higher doses of Lasik pills. Not sure this old age thing is all it’s cracked up to be. I dictated the end of these notes to my son, William B. Todd, VMI class of ’68, in order to get them in by the deadline. Will get more information out to all of you when I am released. In the meantime, send me letters or e-mails, because I need the information to keep our remaining BRs and SRs up to speed. … Bill

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES pictures we’re all familiar with were of his second wading ashore. To my knowledge, no one ever accused Gen. MacArthur of not worrying about his image. As you probably know, hurricane Ike came through the Galveston/Houston area. Fortunately, we had only minor damage to our house. Ira N. “Ira” Saxe and Ilbert I received more news this period than I D. “Bert” Brayshaw both live in this area usually do; some better than others. First, also. It took me awhile, but I eventually I’m sad to say we lost two Brother Rats was able to speak with both of them and since I reported last. Ogden “Halsey” Hill found out that they survived without any passed over on Sept. 14th and Harman major damage. Ira continues to nurse his “Paul” Bigler on Oct. 21st. Both gentleleg back to health and is hopeful that some men were very helpful in getting me up to recent nerve treatments may hasten his speed as the ’39 class agent. While I never getting back on the golf course. Bert is still met either one, I communicated by e-mail living in his RV on the bay at Magnolia and phone with them frequently and was Beach and is doing well, although he’s not looking forward to meeting them at the ’39 traveling much; seems all the other crazy class reunion this spring. Our condolences drivers worry him. to their families for the loss of a loved one Out of the blue, I received a call from and our thanks to both of them for lives Col. Nelson W. Tobey. He is currently in well lived. an assisted living community in Las CruEditor’s Note: When she notified us of ces, NM, where he has lived since he rePaul’s death, Roberta Bigler asked that tired from the U.S. Army in 1971. He was we include the following in these class called to active duty in 1942 and spent his notes: “Paul felt strongly that turning over career in the field artillery. He made three the class agent responsibilities to Frank invasion landings – North Africa, Sicily Parker was one of the best things he’s ever and Normandy. During the first day of the done,” Roberta said. “Frank has done “Breakout” from Normandy, while a batsuch a wonderful job as agent, and Paul tery CO of the 5th Infantry Division, 7th wanted to publicly recognize and thank Field Artillery, he was seriously wounded. Frank for all that he has done. He spent a lot of time in hospitals recoverI received a note from Col. Alexander ing from his wounds. VE Day occurred “Alex” Morrison indicating he is doing while he was on leave in the well and still living in his house U.S. He tried to get back to beside the brook in Buena Europe and his unit, but the Vista. He frequently visits with Army offered him the Pacific Col. John W. “John” Chiles, since he had so much amwho lives in an assisted living phibious landing experience. community in Lexington, and He felt he had seen enough suggested that I call him, which invasions for one lifetime, so I did. While John is doing well he left active duty. He actufor 93 and gets a short walk in on ally then spent a year at VMI most days, he has given up drivteaching physics before he ing and relies on his wife, Libby, went back in. He spent tours to do the chauffeuring. When he in Alaska, Ft. Bliss, Ft. Sill, graduated from VMI, he entered White Sands Missile Range, the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940 as well as the Pentagon. He and was ordered to Randolph retired to Las Cruces after 30 AFB, TX, where he received years active duty. His claim his wings. He found himself to fame after retirement was flying B-17s and arrived in the being selected as the wagon Philippines three weeks before Class of 1939: John Chiles, right, with Alex Morrison, master for the Bi-centennial the attack on Pearl Harbor. He left. Photo by Tom Davis ’64. Wagon Train that included 50 spent his WWII time mostly in

’39

Frank Parker III ’64

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the Pacific Theater. His most memorable adventure had to do with Gen. MacArthur. Most of the pictures of MacArthur leaving the Philippines for Australia have to do with his trip from Corregidor on a PT boat. However, as John informed me, MacArthur actually only took the PT boat to Mindanao. There he requested air transport to Australia. He refused to ride on the transport aircraft that were dispatched; he wanted something with guns on it. John and several other B-17 crews were sent to pick him up. They were required to land at night without any field or aircraft lights. To make it worse, the landing approach was over water, and they lost one aircraft in the bay during landing. At that point, they had to refuel their B-17s by hand using five gallon cans (1,500 gallons for each plane). They loaded the general and his staff plus the crew members from the downed B-17 and flew to Australia. The only time John actually met Gen. MacArthur was in the latrine (that place were all men are equal, even generals) after landing in Australia! Apparently, Gen. MacArthur didn’t like to fly, because he chose to complete his trip by rail, even though the train rails changed gauge several times. The other MacArthur story he told me was that on his return to the Philippines, MacArthur did not like the pictures of his initial wading ashore event so, in typical MacArthur fashion, he had them do a retake. Consequently, the

CLASS NOTES wagons and went from Oklahoma to Valley Forge in 1976. They left in February and arrived on July 4th, 10 minutes ahead of schedule! He attributes his experiences at VMI with the horse drawn field artillery for getting him the job. Col. Edward B. Williams sent a note to let me know that he recently made a trip to Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard where he visited a maritime museum that housed lots of history on the whaling industry. He also reminisced about his sailing adventures off Camden, ME, on his converted fishing schooner. He also was a member of the crew on a replica British square rigger that sailed from England to Ireland. Finally, Marcy and I had a great trip to western Turkey. We went to see the seven churches addressed by John in his Book of Revelations. The very size of these cities in the first century AD was eye opening. Ephesus had an estimated population of 400,000, and less than 10% of the city has been excavated today! The other great experience was visiting Troy. Hollywood is probably history’s worst enemy. The ramp over which the Trojan Horse (if, in fact, the war actually occurred at Troy as Homer described it) was pulled into Troy is approximately 15 feet wide and 30 feet long, and the battle probably involved hundreds or maybe thousands, but not tens of thousands of warriors as depicted by Hollywood. Keep the news coming, and I hope to see you at the class reunion in the spring.

’40

Robert Smith

In all three of Edward Fitzgerald’s translations of Omar Khayyám’s “Rubáiyát,” he kept unchanged the verse with the immortal words, “The moving finger writes; and, having writ, moves on,” and so our journey continues inexorably on. As I talk to many Brother Rats, they all seem content – perhaps mellow is a better word –with the writing that is on the wall! A sad note to begin with. We lost David

Patterson Smith on Sept. 8, last. His brother, Quentin Cabell Smith of Arlington, VA, called the Alumni Office with the word of his death. David had an extraordinary intellect, and we remember him fondly. As I have reported often, David had a passion for keeping his mind active through teaching and study. Jack Camp spoke of the superb bluefish fishing in the inlet and other waters near his home on Topsail Island, NC. His stepson, Nelson, a great sport fisherman and hunter as noted in earlier columns, has a gift for knowing where and when to cast a Hopkins lure to catch the blues. Jack also spoke of great hunting trips that ended up with making venison – and even moose –sausage. Jack’s memoirs are at the publisher and may be ready before Christmas. It is called While You’re Up, a phrase often used in his family to get service from another member, and it will include more than a hundred pictures. I hope some of us can savor it when it comes out. Charley Beach is still keeping up with his busy schedule and stays at his office until the end of the work day. He spoke of enjoying his six great-grandchildren, now part of his great family, and of coming home after his work day to his three Irish setters. I told him of the conversation I had just had with Nick Dominick, and he spoke of how much he enjoyed talking to Nick over the years. Charley also referred to conversations with Billie Mac Hoge, BR Charley’s wife, and said how charming she is. Bob Barnes continues to do good works and to look for the humor in things. He led the Halloween parade at his Horizon House retirement community by wearing a costume in which he masqueraded as a doctor! In addition to the shut-in visiting program, he is now into and perhaps leading a spirituality class. Frazier Baldwin and Jinny are keeping on with their gracious and relaxed life on their two acres. They recently spent a week at Tides Inn on Northern Neck in Virginia. They took advantage of the par three golf course there, but for the most part, they have given up the game. Their youngest son, Lou, who worked for GM racing, is a victim of GM’s understandable discontinuance of support for the sport. Joe is in San Jose, CA, but is near retirement age.

Soon after I wrote in the last issue about John Augustine going to a reunion of his 22nd Bomber Group, Army Air Corps, he called with a correction. It should have said “Army Air Force.” Sorry, John. He started out in the Army Air Corps as a flying cadet. The 22nd was in the 5th Air Force. Through John Cowart’s good offices, we received in September the following report from Col. T. P. Golden ’71, director, VMI Financial Aid. “For the 2008-09 academic years, the following cadets receive assistance from the Class of 1940 Memorial Scholarship: Sara L. Hanson ’09, a first classman from Madison, NC, majoring in modern language and culture. This is her second year on the scholarship; Patrick G. Simpson ’10, a second classman from Monument, CO. Patrick is an international studies major, and his father is a 1986 graduate of VMI. This is his third year on the scholarship; Fletcher S. Thompson ’10, a second classman from Mobile, AL, majoring in civil engineering. Fletcher’s father is class of 1981 and grandfather is the late Vester J. Thompson Jr. ’40. This is his third year on the scholarship; James G. Goodwillie V ’12, a new cadet from Richmond, VA, majoring in chemistry. His father is class of 1983 and grandfather class of 1960. This is his first year on the scholarship. This year, the Class of 1940 Memorial Scholarship provided $20,167 in scholarship support to the cadets listed above.” John Cowart wrote in October that his three sons were about to give a 90th birthday party for him with all the Cowart family in the area attending, plus about 70 people from his RWC community. At the time, John was in assisted living as a result of a fall but was recovering. His brother, Lake, died early in August, and John wrote, “He was the third in his family and had carried on the family business and farm operations which our father and grandfather started in 1904. Lake was a truly great person and citizen for this area of Virginia which goes back to about 1640. His son … will carry on the business.” We are sorry for John’s loss, but it is heartwarming to know that John has such a family support group near him. Nick Dominick was reached in his Ponte Vedra, FL, home in November, and he ad-

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CLASS NOTES vised that although he can no longer walk, he gets to his computer daily, reads the New York Times and is carrying on with the writing of his family news report, with pictures, each week. At the time I called, he had started an exchange with family members about their favorite movies and why. Then, he mentioned the movie “Brother Rat” and told me about the encounter with Wayne Morris, late the night of the premiere showing in Lexington, when the actor brought a chained bear into his room. That reminded me that, accompanied by our sub, Capt. W.L. “Peanuts” Lowry ’30, Morris dumped my hay about midnight. I opened my eyes to see that he had stuck out his huge paw with a “No hard feelings, fellow?” but I saw no bear! Nick is a Yankees fan but doesn’t follow baseball much. So, my Phillies World Series victory was not exciting for him as it was for Betty-Jane and me; we had Sunday tickets for years when we lived in Philly. He does follow the Florida Gators and especially the doings of Tim Tebow, Heisman Trophy winner, who came from nearby Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Walt Edens is carrying on in Albuquerque and is finding out that he lives in a very nice neighborhood. His son, Sandy, looks after their needs with great love and devotion. His two daughters were scheduled to arrive for a visit on Nov. 19. A long talk with Doug Cook brought assurance that he is doing fine but not much news. He and family went to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware late in September and had a restful time, except that was the time that the financial market reversal news came out. He was still happy with his broker when we talked in November – so I guess it is OK. The search for Brother Rat Maj. General Sun Cheng-cheng continues with considerable results, but we have not yet found out if he is still alive. The milestone event in this search is that the Thompson family has sent me Vester’s files which included Cheng-cheng’s published book, “My Memoirs,” plus several letters and a paper describing Cheng-cheng’s “Third Tour of the United States” which lasted more than two months after Oct. 4, 1978. I am very grateful to Vester’s son, E.

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Fletcher Thompson ’81, for his great help in locating and sending his father’s file material which will be sent to the Institute for archiving. Surprisingly, the memoir book as Sun’s summation of his entire life and eventful career is dedicated to his Brother Rats of the Class of 1940 at VMI! This shows how much he esteemed his time and friendships with us. Further, immediately after the dedication, he inserts a perhaps immortal quote from Confucius: “There are three friendships which are advantageous. They are friendship with the upright, friendship with the sincere and friendship with the man of much observation.” It is obvious that he attached immense importance to his friendships at VMI, and it therefore seems very appropriate to recognize his devotion by telling you about the VMI related material contained in the memoir. His career highlights, which place him in the context of the history of our time, will be reserved for a future report. Under Chapter 8 titled, “Brother Rats,” Sun wrote: “America is the greatest democracy in the world. American people are so free that they can enjoy all kinds of freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of gathering, freedom of religion and even freedom from want. However, once they join the Army, they observe absolute obedience, for this is extremely necessary for a soldier. But how can a freedomloving citizen be trained and converted into a most obedient soldier? The answer

Class of 1940: Sun Cheng-cheng in 1938.

is not far to find. And I should have no difficulty in answering this question from my personal experience. When I studied in the Virginia Military Institute, we had to go through severe military training under the “Rat System” in the first year. By severe training, I don’t mean that the school or the instructors were severe to us. What I mean is that the upperclass men were the governing body. They set up many strange rules, customs and traditions such as “the rat line,” “resurrection” and “take in,” which freshmen must observe strictly and absolutely. Since all freshmen were in the same boat, they called themselves “Brother Rats.” “Being a freshman, one was supposed to do all kinds of services for the upperclass man. He should wake up the upperclass man in the morning and make his bed in the evening. He should polish or shine the rifle, and send the laundry bag to the laundry for the upperclass man. At the table, he should serve the food.” This chapter goes on to describe the Rat system in greater detail. Under Chapter 9, titled, “The Honor System,” Sun wrote: “‘Nation,’ ‘duty’ and ‘honor’ are closely observed by American soldiers as their motto. Our school (V.M.I.-Virginia Military Institute), the West Point of the South, does everything possible to promote the sense of honor of the cadet. It was a great honor for the cadet to win games and athletic events for the school, and the winners usually had the priority to get promoted as student officers. It was a great honor to keep the spirit of V.M.I and never say die under any circumstances. For the purpose of motivation, an honor roll was posted up on the bulletin board every month. Those cadets whose averages of scholastic results were over 90 would have their names on the roll. Mine usually appeared among those names. All academic works should be done without help from others and without copying from books or other people’s work. Our home work should be certified. We should put the word “Certified” on the bottom of the work sheet before turning it in. If we forgot to do so or we were not really certified, we would be considered cheating. If anyone was found cheating, he would be tried by the Honor Court of the Students’ General Committee. After

CLASS NOTES the final approval of the superintendent, he would be dishonorably dismissed at once. As a rule, at midnight, we were wakened up from sound sleep by the rapid beating of the drum. Putting on pajamas, every one hurried from the bed to the balcony of the four-story barracks building. We all riveted our eyes on the centre of the court yard from the four sides waiting for something unusual to happen. The chairman of the committee led the members of the Honor Court to the courtyard. A certain cadet under escort of guards followed behind. Then, the chairman made an announcement as follows: ‘Mr. so and so was found cheating and has just been tried by the Honor Court. The Court decided that he was guilty. The superintendent has approved our recommendation to dismiss him. His name will never be mentioned again in this Institute’. To climax the dramatic scene, under cover of darkness, this student was virtually kicked out of the main gate, Washington Arch, of the barracks by the guard.” We all cherish these memories as he did, and I thought you might enjoy reliving them through his narrative. His next chapter 10 tells about being “taken in” and becoming an old cadet. This passage concludes with this: “We were thus taken into the Institute. Academically, we should stay four years to graduate. Spiritually, we were accepted as VMI men once we were ‘taken in.’” The riveting narrative, “On My Way Back Home,” in Chapter 14 tells us what Sun did after he left at the end of our third class year. You probably know that he had attended Hunan University before he came to VMI. As you will see, he concluded his pre-career education in England. “When I graduated from the School of Artillery at Salisbury, England was at war with Germany. The LUFTWAFFE started to bomb London on a large scale and thus the so-called ‘Battle of Britain’ began. I heard over the wireless the famous, inspiring speech of Mr. Winston Churchill: ‘Gentlemen, I have nothing to offer but blood, tears, sweat and toil. ... We shall fight in England ... in South Africa ... until Nazi Germany is finally defeated.’ Now, it was high time for me to return to China to play my part. On July 31, 1940,

I went to Birkenhead, a seaport opposite Liverpool. But all hotels over there refused to accept me, for I was an alien. Finally, I had to show my exit permit at the police station and ask the police to assign a hotel to me over night. Next morning, on board Decaleon, a small freighter of 7,000 tons, I made my homeward voyage. The freighter had to run through the German blockade alone without any escort or convoy. It first took a northwest course, past the Isle of Man. On the high seas, it was dreadful to see abandoned ships and sunken warships submerged in the water with masts and bridges still above the water. Drowned bodies and life boats with dead babies in them were floating everywhere. All of these were the victims of the German air attacks, torpedoing and magnetic mines. Passing north of Ireland, the ship continued to go west by north. Then it turned due west, southwest, until it was getting closer and closer to South America. Finally, it changed direction to the east and approached the west coast of Africa. It goes without saying that the defensive power of the freighter was very weak, although it daringly ran the blockade alone. On board were several depth charges for use against German submarines and an anti-aircraft machine-gun for firing against German air activities. Several long cables were wound around the ship to serve as a kind of antimagnetic mine device. The ship, moreover, took a zigzag course, turning 90 at every knot. All of us, the few passengers, took part in the rehearsal for using life jackets and life boats. We also took turns on the bridge to watch for possible enemy activities. We were glad to show the spirit, ‘We are in the same boat.’ The ship did not sail through the Mediterranean but went around the Cape of Good Hope. As it passed the equator, it began to go straight ahead instead of taking a zigzag course. We were no longer required to take turns to be on watch. Everybody on board felt greatly relieved. Being relaxed, we could appreciate the seascape more. We met groups of merchant and supply ships in convoy twice on the Atlantic. Each consisted of nine to 12 ships under the escort of a destroyer.” Cheng-cheng then goes on to describe the sea animals and weather they encoun-

tered and the end of the voyage which took them to Cape Town, through the Indian Ocean by way of Madagascar, to Singapore and arrived at Hong Kong on Sept. 18. “We completed the whole voyage in 49 days. In 1938, I spent only five days sailing across the Atlantic from New York to Southampton on board the Queen Mary, one of the most splendid lines in the world at that time. What a striking contrast it was between the two voyages! However, this was the wartime. Running through the Japanese blockade and going by way of Kwantung, Hunan, Kwansi and Kweichow provinces, I finally reached Chungking, Szechwan, the wartime capital of China during the period of heavy bombardment by Japanese planes. I was most impressed when I saw the slogan painted on both sides of “the Spiritual Fortress” on Victory Road in the center of the city. The slogan read, ‘Bombard! The enemy can never destroy our iron will with bombs! Burn! The enemy can never burn down our determination to fight to the last.’ I was sure the final victory would be ours.” There is so much more of interest in this memoir – especially his account of the end of the Anti-Japanese War and the rise of the Chinese Communist. This report uses up the allotted length, but perhaps further excerpts can appear in the next report.

’41

Walter Richards

Why is it that when you transport something by car it is called a shipment, but when you transport something by ship it is called cargo? Not a lot of news from me. I have received a copy of “Genesis of a Rebel “by Robert B Ragland, M.D. Bob Ragland was with us for two years only. I will give it to the VMI library. It is a work, a chronicle of his childhood, the days at VMI, post graduate studies and his passion as an environmentalist. I believe I told you that Charlie Abbitt now lives in Richardson, TX, in a retirement community. It is near family. He is in good

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CLASS NOTES health and on committees. That is volunteering, you know, and he was in the Army!! Bob and Betty Spear are settled in their new home, but Bob says their cottage is away from things, so they don’t get to know many other residents. Bob has a new computer, and when he gets straight with it, he will get us his e-mail address. Of course, there is always sad news. On Nov. 7, 2008, “Bunny” Baldwin’s wife, “Winnie,” passed away after a long illness. If you knew her, she was one grand lady. Stuart and Virginia Seaton were able to go from Richmond to attend her service. Had a nice chat with Gen. F.C. Booker. Clem is our remaining BR in Florida. We reminisced about the “Good old days” at VMI. He, Nash Strudwick and I roomed together all four years. His health is pretty good, but he doesn’t run anymore. One item we talked about was our next class reunion. Thirty-seven is our number now. Can we make it? Bob and Mila Maling are planning to drive to our 70th in 2011. That gets the ball rolling. Keep the SPIRIT ’41

’42

Richard C. Horne III

There are those of you who have said that Gabe doesn’t need to know anything to write about it! That is not exactly true, but it has some substance. As of this moment, I know very little more about ’42 than I knew when I wrote my last notes. I am in fairly close touch with Jed, as we are co-agents. I suppose he looks ahead, while I also look behind in order to send you these notes by way of alumni publications – a fine group of guardians for a mature group like ’42! Jed’s thoughts, therefore, are always ahead of mine. In the years 1938 through 1942, that was also true; while we were both electricals, I also like history. I think Jed’s thoughts about history leaned more toward making it! That’s why he has run just about the last 20 years of reunions, including minis.

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His thoughts are certainly focused on 2009, and we all will know about it when he has worked out the details. We still number close to 40 and hope we will for a long time. So, do your part. Enough with the lecture. I must call several Richmond Brothers to unleash some “local” happenings. As you know, VMI is in Lexington, but Richmond is our hotbed of Brother Rat informants. Just a thought – if VMI was in Richmond, would Lexington be a source of info? One has to study these subtleties to be a class agent, you know. I just had a most enjoyable chat with Becky Wray. John was out of the house on an errand, not driving himself, I’m sorry to say, but otherwise OK. While not involved in as many activities as before, he is pleasantly in touch with his many friends. Becky says that although their mobility is somewhat affected, they hope to see us in Williamsburg before long. By car, of course, as local waterways are not close enough! I know that some of you dream. Lots of us, probably. Perhaps I do more than many, as Mitzi is one of the world’s best cooks! Last night, I dreamed of being sent to Charlie and Virginia Chewning’s place near Charlottesville to pick them up and deliver them to the Holy City. It was one of those senseless but realistic kinds of dreams that, while senseless, were still agonizing to incur. I’d get Virginia’s things in the car, and Charlie was gone. I’d find him and find that Virginia was checking other possible Charlie locations. It finally woke me up.

Reality is that they’re both still in the Charlottesville locality near their daughter and seeing some lovely horses daily. It reminds me of our “horsey years” in Lexington, which I think were wonderful. I remembered also being allowed to ride Applejack my first class year. The horses are gone, but the ladies more than make up for them! I wish I were more of a political pundit so I could provide President-elect Obama some wisdom attributable to ’42, but he wasn’t alive when we were one of the “older” classes. Does that bother you a little? Just remember: we think young! That’s right, young! So, toddle off, you young rascals!

’43

Jeffrey G. Smith

Three months pass with frightening speed. Two days ago, I received the latest Alumni Review and now, only a few days later, time for a new set of notes. As for the latest issue of the Review, it seemed to me that it might have set a new record for being the heftiest ever. Many pages, many Class Notes. I attended the periodic class agent orientation at 0730 hours on 11 November 2008 in the Marshall Museum facilities at VMI. Thanks to Col. Pat Webb and his team, it was well done. The recurring theme was

Class of 1942: At the Wolf Laurel Country Club in western North Carolina were, from left, Col. Monte Veal, USA (Ret), former faculty; Mary Alice Veal; Jody and Harry Siebert; and Crellin and Bob Byrd ’63.

CLASS NOTES that VMI needs all the help it can get from its alumni to compensate for the deep reductions in the Commonwealth’s support of all Virginia colleges and universities. All of us who can so afford are encouraged to add more to our yearly contributions to VMI. It all helps, be it five, 10, 50 or more dollars. Send what you can to the VMI Foundation. We’ve been fortunate in not having lost any Brother Rats in the past several months, but I am very sorry to inform those who’ve not heard that Waddy Bugg died in Richmond on 7 November 2008. Waddy’s wife died not all that long ago, and Waddy had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Three children and six grandchildren survive him. Another Brother Rat, Lt. Colonel John K. Rogers, USAF (Retired), died 21 September 2008, in Bristol, VA. John left before graduation to fight in World War II. He later received a degree from Emory & Henry before returning to an active duty career and the Korean War. John and Shirley Van Landingham attended Waddy’s Memorial Service on 11 November. Johnny reports that Judy and John Halsey and Dick Catlett were also there. Dick is still hitting golf balls straight down the fairway (just as, I assume, Johnny is) while John Halsey is playing tennis regularly. Also, from Johnny: Langstaff Johnston’s son, Gordon, recently joined the YMCA Staff in Petersburg, VA. Gordon says his mother is well and still residing in Colonial Heights. I’m willing to bet that many of my readers did not know that VP Dick Cheney visited VMI on 8 November 2008, attended a Parade and addressed the Corps on the Parade Ground. All part of a long Veteran’s Day weekend. The Washington Post unsurprisingly ignored the event as did, as best I could determine, much of the major press and TV networks. I caught a brief but good segment on Fox Cable News. These times, too, shall pass. For now, we can only soldier on and hope for better days to come. Speaking of soldiering on, as I write (15 November), VMI has submitted plans for the Corps to march in January’s Inaugural Parade as they have for many years – with a few notable exceptions. When you read

this, all will have been decided. However, some might recall that the Corps was scratched from President Bill Clinton’s first inaugural (1993) because, the story goes, VMI opposed women in the Corps. In 1993, the current White House Chief of StaffDesignate Rahm Emanuel was a key player in determining the parade participants. The big social occasion every fall for many of the VMI family is the Institute Society reception and dinner in VMI’s Cocke Hall (the ”Old Gym”). That’s where we had our hops and Ring Figure. And as best I know, that’s where Ring Figure continues to be held. However, the changing tastes of the young have chipped away at the frequency and character of the traditional seasonal hops we once enjoyed. As has been the case for the past several years, a small but faithful band representing our class attended this year’s black tie affair on the bitterly cold evening of 10 November. Present were Bill Johann and Ann Walls, Jeff and Jane Smith, George and Kitty Snead, Vince and Betty Thomas, John and Shirley Van Landingham, and Betty Haskins. (Betty’s lovely Lexington home remains for sale but no serious offers yet. Meanwhile, Lexington and VMI are fortunate to have her right where she is.) Bill Johann and Ann drove to Lexington a few days before the 10th. The next day, Bill discovered to his dismay that he’d left his tuxedo in Richmond. And Lexington is not the place to rent one. Because of Bill’s macular degeneration, Ann does all the driving; so, good sport that she is, she drove Bill back to Richmond to retrieve the proper uniform. I know the feeling. Last year, as I dressed for the big dinner, I found that I had no black tie. It was home in Alexandria. After an hour’s frantic search, Col. Walt Chalkley ’72 (who lives on the VMI Parade Ground) brought me one of his. Vince Thomas continues to have balance problems and uses a cane, but both he and Betty were in great spirits. Frank Bilisoly, Vince said, is holding his own after several surgical interventions to relieve his water on the brain, but he remains in the nursing wing of the retirement residence where the Thomases, the Bilisolys and the Charlie Willcoxes live in Norfolk. Vince, who was

the long time mayor of Norfolk, introduced me to the current mayor of Norfolk, also a VMI graduate – class of 1971. General Peay ’62 gave an excellent summation of the state of the Institute. All very upbeat, except for the reduction in support the state is providing the colleges. Despite the continuing hostilities in the Middle East, admission requests have increased to record levels for the third consecutive year – and the number of those commissioned last May was an encouraging 52%. As you’ve often heard me state and write, the disappointing statistic is that almost half of today’s VMI graduates are not – and likely never will be – truly citizen soldiers. The entire affair – the reception and dinner – was carried out with aplomb and efficiency. The only problem was that the record attendance and attendant noise level made it, more often than not, necessary to shout when having a conversation. The Color Guard posted the colors, the brass and trumpets and drums of the band played stirring music, and the Glee Club sang delightfully. George Snead, no mean singer himself and a former VMI Glee Club member, remarked that there was a disproportionate number of female voices. All things considered, the cadets and VMI staff did a grand job. The next morning dawned at below freezing temperatures. At 0700, the superintendent called the commandant to have the Corps turn out for the 0900 Parade in grey straight pants and overcoats; whereas, up till that time, white ducks had been the norm. The Corps rose to the occasion and looked very smart. Writing as a former commandant who has gone through my share of last minute adjustments, I tip my cap to the commandant and the Corps. The parade was followed by the dedication of and ribbon cutting for the new Third Barracks. Impressive structure. It seamlessly connects to the old “New” Barracks. There is a new arch, yet to be named. There is a new grass courtyard and a new sentry box and four stoops at and above Parade Ground level. Rooms for 300 cadets are on three sides of the new quadrangle. The fourth (north) side of the quadrangle along with generous square footage below Parade Ground level will house offices, the PX, Book Store, Snacks,

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Trunk Rooms, etc. The north side of the new Third Barracks overlooks an almost precipitous drop to the creek known as the “Nile” by many generations of cadets. The architects took advantage of that steep drop to provide generous labyrinth-like spaces, much of it with windows, below the courtyard level. The new rooms remain typically Spartan. Three major changes: State of the art wiring for all manner of things, modern heating system and no steam radiators. The traditional diamond framed exterior windows have double pane, insulated glass. Cadets will occupy the Third Barracks after Christmas furlough, facilitating modernization of the vacated rooms in the older Barracks (new wiring and heating) on a rotating basis, well into 2010. The Corps will be in for many months of room shuffling and the commandant a bundle of headaches to make it work smoothly. Far removed from the frosty Shenandoah Valley, in deep south Thomasville, GA, our Brother Rats Harry Jones and Jim Anderson carry the VMI torch. As previously reported, Jim’s ambulatory skills (I think that’s a suitable term) are not what they once were, but he is being well watched over by his daughter. Harry e-mailed that he and Jim sit together each Thursday at the meeting of the Thomasville Rotary Club. In addition, the two usually sit together at the Glen Arven Country Club each Saturday at lunch with friends. Harry has been married more than 62 years, two more than I, and has five children and 14 grandchildren, two fewer than I, but way above par. Five grandchildren are in college. The best news is, in Harry’s words: “It is a wonderful time in life. I go to the Thomasville YMCA on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. My wife and I go to the YMCA each Tuesday and Thursday to spend time in our wonderful swimming pool. I have an office and meet with groups of friends on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.” Good class agents never die, and unlike old soldiers, the very best never really fade away. Jim Hodgkin wrote a very encouraging note, adorned with one of his watercolors. I quote, in part: “Just think back and think what the Good One has bestowed on us. A long road from the

2009-Issue 1

Ratline.” Jim reported that “The Triplets” are coming to visit (Warrenton) during the Christmas season. The triplets (two boys and a girl) are, from all accounts, exemplary third classmen at VMI. The two young men intend initially, at least, to serve as Army officers after graduation; perhaps their sister will as well. We can take pride in all three. Speaking of good class agents, I e-mailed Hap Vaughan seeking news of his well being. Hap is one of the few in our class who, as they say, “does” e-mails. As 15 November, no reply, but I know we all hope he is doing well. And Bob Reveley, who occasionally “does” e-mail, recently sent me an acknowledgement (containing no news) responding to a “net call” I’d sent out months ago to check if the e-mail addresses I had were current. In turn, I asked Bob for an update on his status, but no reply as yet. Again, all of us wish him well. Bill Winter called from Austin, TX, for copies of the 65th Reunion Booklet (I still have extra copies should readers want some). We had quite a chat, much of it about his son, Dr. Bruce Winter. Both Bill and Bruce were at our 65th Reunion. To refresh, Bruce graduated from medical school but chose instead to join the Navy and become a fighter pilot. Ten years later, he left the Navy and now practices ophthalmology in San Antonio, TX. Flying remains an active pursuit. Several years ago, he bought and had refurbished a Navy trainer aircraft, vintage 1955. At least monthly, Bruce calls his dad to see if he’s free for lunch, and off to Austin he flies to join Bill. Three years ago, Bruce bought a second airplane, a World War II vintage P-51 (Mustang) from the Air Force of Guatemala. That, too, was refurbished, and Bruce recently flew it to capture the respective grand prizes at both the Oshkosh National Air Show and the Reno, NV, Air Show. Well done! Yesterday I received a welcome letter from Audrey Moyer, Ches’ widow. She was delighted to receive the latest Alumni Review and politely and graciously pointed out an error in my 15 Aug Class Notes regarding her granddaughter. The young lady is married to the SON of Col. Keith Gibson ’77, director of the VMI Museum

– not to Col. Gibson. My profound apologies to all. With her doctor’s blessing, Audrey is continuing in her home despite her concerns regarding her eyesight. She sent her best to Jane and hopes “she doesn’t mind that the widows of the class of ’43 write” to me. I can assure Audrey and all that both Jane and I welcome all letters from our class widows. Please write! My very loyal, able contributor to our class notes, Bill Johann, called a few days ago with some updates. Bill returned from the Institute Society affair at VMI with a stiff neck – which the frigid air might well have brought on – and serious thoughts of getting a dog to replace the one (his long time companion) who died several months ago. Other items from Bill: Keith and Lucy Phillips were disappointed in not being able to attend the 10 November big bash at VMI. Keith’s precarious balance exacerbated by his neuropathy simply made it too risky. (Keith was wisely prudent in my opinion.) Frank Williams recently had a heart attack, fortunately not a severe one. He’s already completed his post-attack therapy and recovering well. Sonny and Georgia Lee Litton are “lucky to have each other, lucky to be alive and are doing well.” They wanted to be remembered to all of us. Charles “Box” Board remains in the nursing wing of the retirement residence in Hockessin, DE, in which he and Barbara reside. Barbara, who occupies their apartment, joins him for most meals. Box’s severe loss of balance continues to plague him. Speaking of retirement or “independent living” residences: In September, Joan and Bruce Suter moved to one in Lakewood, NJ, an hour’s drive from their longtime home in Scotch Plains. They compressed from six to two bedrooms but now live only five minutes from their children – a huge plus. When Bruce called, the Suters were about to depart for Bermuda for a stay at the Hamilton Princess. Lucky them. They’ve been going to Bermuda for 25 years where Bruce had – and still has some – business interests. One of my more gratifying volunteer duties is to serve on the Board of the Army Historical Foundation, which has major responsibilities in the development of the National Museum of the U.S. Army (the

CLASS NOTES nation’s senior service) to be built at Fort Belvoir, VA. Bill Gottwald is in active discussions with the staff of the Foundation to have the VMI class of 1943 recognized in some way in the new museum. As many of you know, Bill and his brother Bruce, class of 1954, are super-generous supporters of VMI. God bless them and the VMI class of 1943! My comrade in arms several years ago in the struggle to retain commissioning for all qualified VMI graduates, Dick Knight ’70, was unsuccessful in his rather exhaustive search for our “missing” Brother Rat, John Bader. As I wrote Dick, thanks, but we should let the matter drop; John apparently prefers it that way. Recently, Dick took his mother to visit her Averett classmate, Frances Young, Eddie Young’s widow in Waynesboro, VA. Eddie, you’ll recall, was the long time superintendent of Fishburne Military School located in Waynesboro. Frances told Dick that she’d recently visited VMI and “had a grand time.” I close with my thanks to Fielding “Doc” Greaves, Chuck Beckham and Hugh Dischinger ’45 (brother of our BR Jim) for their e-mails which have kept me more than amply informed on the political, international and national scene. I share their views and values. Thank you.

’44

Robert P. Jones Jr.

November is here and time once again for me to decipher my scribbles on a few sheets or scraps of paper I have shoved in my “Next Issue” file over the past three months. This brain exercise each quarter keeps me up-to-date on the status of my mental recollection ability or lack thereof. With notes this old, the unrecorded blank spaces may have faded beyond my comprehension. You’ll have to bear with me, I’m sure you are familiar with that problem. In the first week of September, Faye and I headed for Arlington to attend the final formal reunion of my WWII Bomb Group. Of the approximately 2,500 members of our group, about 36 attended. The remainder of the 210 attendees was wives,

widows and family members of veterans including children, grandchildren, cousins and others. After the reunion, Faye and I accompanied our group historian to the Library of Congress for a short ceremony to donate our group records to the Veterans History Project there. Our historian had spent thousands of hours over the last 60+ years compiling a very extensive and complete history of our 29th Bomb Group in the 20th Air Force. The director of the Veterans History Project, who accepted his donation, turned out to be Bob Patrick ’70. I find it often true what Vince Thomas ’43 once said of VMI graduates: “We aren’t very many, but we’re everywhere.” The really threatening experience of the trip was the drive from Newport News west on I-64 and north on I-95 and I-395 to Arlington. Without directions from Larry Cook ’61, a new resident here at The Chesapeake who had lived in Springfield, VA, and the grandson of a deceased member of our Bomb Group (killed in action during WWII), we might still be out there driving. The grandson was the primary organizer and chairman of the reunion and did an outstanding job. As the directions were excellent, we had no trouble finding correct lanes to be in and exits to take. The bad part was the constant terror when driving in that northern Virginia traffic. That same weekend, Jim Doss was in Virginia Beach visiting some of his extended family. While there, he had dinner with Tom Hupp and Juliet Goode and later told me that those two had a future wedding in their plans. On the drive back to Lexington, Jim suffered a stroke and managed to get medical aid safely. He recovered his mobility, but his ability to read and write was in bad shape. Although getting better all the time, it is not quite back to normal. All is going pretty well according to the schedule his doctor told him to expect, and full recovery is just around the corner. A while back, some of Betty Metcalf’s mail was returned to me by the post office. Norma Robinson at the VMI Foundation and I found she had moved to a retirement community north of Houston at the end of June. Betty has all her boxes unpacked and really loves her new quarters and the associated lifestyle. Her new address is

now: 2201 Horseshoe Lane, Apt. 123, Longview, TX 76505 and telephone 903/553-1526. When George Tompkins wrote to thank me for his birthday card, he mentioned a card his son had sent. It showed a golden lab lying on the floor with the message: “You are not getting older. The squirrels are just getting faster.” I liked the thought but can’t convince myself it’s true. In October, Hap and Margaret Irby moved into a retirement community. They sold their house to their son for enough dollars to pay the entrance fee for a cottage there. Still in Raleigh, they were able to keep their telephone number even though they quit AT&T and saved $24.00 a month by doing so. The cottage has a small room for a storage area which Hap latched onto for an office and immediately hung his VMI diploma on the wall to validate his new space. Margaret asked his intentions for hanging all their other pictures. Hap said after they finish unpacking they could start that task. Knowing unpacking is about a month’s worth of work, I said he’d have to be lucky to get away with that. Knowing Margaret, I doubt it. Their new address is: 8723 Cypress Club Drive, Raleigh, NC 27615. When I talked to B.C. Christian recently, I found out that Trudy is now in nursing care at their retirement community. B.C. does plan to attend our reunion next April, as his son has insisted and offered to be his chauffer. After spending two years getting over the chemo treatment that put his leukemia to rest, Harvey Sadow is doing much better, be it a lot more slowly. He and Mary have given up their condo in San Francisco. Not only is it more expensive than it’s worth to them, but flying nowadays is also a pain you all know where. As I mentioned in May, the incoming mail hasn’t been overwhelming by a long shot. Right many of you tell me how much you enjoy hearing news about your Brother Rats. Most of those and many others never send any news about themselves that I think others might like to hear. Therefore, there is little of that news that you say you like. That’s all for now. Take care of yourselves wherever you are. God bless all of you, and God bless America and VMI.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES winter in Florida. Jean Pates has a new address at 7408 Spring Valley Drive, Apt. 119, Springfield, VA 22150. Syd Bradford says that he is slowed down by creaky knees, leaky plumbing and early-to-bedism. At this point, I am sure that all of his problems are over, and he is floating on Cloud 9 after the election of O’Bama. Last week Mary Ballou and I went to Lexington for the Institute Society Dinner. There was a record number in attendance, including Jess Reed, who drives up almost every year. Jess’ only news was that his new golf clubs had cut 10 points off his game. No further comment. After Lexington, Jess was driving on to Pennsylvania to visit two sisters. He did say that the cost of fuel had considerably decreased the amount of time that he is spending with his favorite sport – bill fishing. In late September, Jim Morgan advised that Jim Morrison had gone to the local

Luray hospital in June, been transferred to Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg, later returned to the Luray hospital and then back home. According to Carol, Jim apparently had both a heart attack and a slight stroke. He was at that time undergoing physical therapy to improve his walking I really dislike giving you the bad news ability. first, but during the last quarter we have Bob Allen is my most dependable corlost two Brothers and two Sisters. Phil respondent, and he leads an extremely Read died on Oct. 13th in a Virginia Beach busy lifestyle in Ardmore, OK. He recently hospital from a stroke and Henry Bryan had a write-up in the Charlottesville, VA, died peacefully at his retirement home newspaper about his associations with the in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee on Oct. Malm family from Scottsville, VA. Bob is a 14th. (Editor’s Note: Mr. Bryan’s obituary great influence on the three young boys and appears in the Taps section of this issue, has had them visit him in Oklahoma and also and Mr. Read’s obituary will appear in brought them to VMI. His influence conthe next issue, 2009-Issue 2.) In addition, sisted of helping them prepare a high school Michael Davis advised me that his mother, science project on fossils which focused on Kit, passed away in her sleep on Oct. 4th the geological links between the Ouachita after much suffering and pain. She was the Mountains of Oklahoma and the Appalawife of the late Bill Davis and resided in chian Mountains of Virginia. This project Vermont. Judy Allison Bass advised that her has ended up on display in the mother, Margaret Allison, passed Sarkeys Energy Center at the away on May 4, 2008. MargaUniversity of Oklahoma at Norret was the wife of the late Jim man, OK. The exhibit was also Allison. Bob Gleason’s death the subject of an article in Earth was reported in my last notes, Scientist, an annual magazine at but he was buried on Nov. 7th the university. in Arlington National Cemetery My brother, Tom Williams with full military honors. ’44, fell and broke his upper leg. Many thanks to the BrothUpon evaluation, they found that ers who got in touch about my his 25-year-old hip replacement wedding on Sept. 13, and all had to be replaced. Visiting him went well. However, moving is in his rehab location, I ran into extremely difficult at any age, our Brother, Giles Upshur, who and we will probably be still also had a hip replacement. Giles unloading boxes this time next was well and was being released year. We had a great trip to Las in early November. Vegas and saw two really good We must all start thinking shows and won some money at about our 65th Reunion coming the Black Jack table. We then up in 2010, which isn’t that far went to northern Montana and off. This could be one of our last spent three days on a hunting few get-togethers, and we should ranch. What beautiful country! make an utmost effort to attend. After that, we drove to Rapid In my last class notes, I City, SD, for a visit to Mount remarked that our class was Rushmore. It was a wonderful lagging in both percentage of trip and very good weather. participants and total dollar Joe Gantt reports in from donations as compared to other Lynchburg that all is well with classes in the decade of the 40s. him and Kay but didn’t really This is still the case. Please step have a lot of news. I saw Buddy up and help our class efforts. and Dee Metz’s daughter at the Class of 1945: On Sept. 13, 2008, John Williams marGod bless our Great Class of polls on election day, and she ried Mary Ballou Ballentine. l945 and VMI. said her parents had left for the

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2009-Issue 1

John D. Williams

CLASS NOTES

’46

William A. Eliason

One of the toughest parts of this job of scribe for such a distinguished and discerning class of alumni is getting started. This is largely the result of not having heard from but a few of you in the intervening three months. So, to get my juices going, let me tell you about a delightful rerun of an old talk show the other night featuring four great New York Yankee players: Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Phil Rizzuto and Reggie Jackson. Yogi and Whitey, one of the greatest batteries in all of baseball history, were good friends and roommates on road trips. Whitey said that they were so tired one night they decided to just send out for a couple of pizzas. Whitey got on the phone and in response to the parlor’s inquiry, asked Yogi if he wanted his pie sliced into six or eight pieces. Yogi’s reply was: “Oh, gosh, make it six. No way I can eat eight pieces tonight!” Just a few moments ago, Phil Reitz called me from his posh retirement home in fashionable New Hartford, NY, and among other things we got to talking about VMI values. This took us to musing about the recent election and how the candidates and their surrogates took terms like trustworthy, integrity, loyalty, service, honesty and competence, and used them to throw mud upon each other. Regardless of candidate preference, I think all of us could have done well without such vituperative rhetoric. One of the things Phil and I touched on was “trustworthiness” as a cornerstone of the VMI culture, and we opined that the term implies much more than just honesty. Trustworthiness must also include competence, or it is not worth very much. This world is in a mess because of apparently honest people who didn’t know what they were doing … and that is a betrayal of trust ... like starting wars that can’t be won and forgetting the first rule of holes: “When in one, stop digging!” We talked about the inscription on the parapet that we all had to memorize and

recite on demand. Col. J.T.L. Preston wrote it in 1835 to describe his vision of the institute that he would found four years later on that gosh-awful windswept plain above a desolate state armory on the outskirts of Lexington. Talk about values; those were and have been our values ever since. And they are what sets us apart from the rest of the world then and knit us so closely together now. Reread that inscription, and then go look in a mirror. In my book, every member of the class of ’46 can say, without fear of contradiction, “I am the ‘spirit of VMI,’ and I have fulfilled it nobly.” And please note the prescience of this immortal benefactor of ours. There is not one word in that unforgettable inscription about race, creed, religion or ethnicity; only character, honor and loyalty. No politics, no ego, no bigotry, no jingoism, no piety, no rancor, not even gender, except to describe our country and our state, and for those he uses a feminine pronoun! The first part of my third class year, my roommates were Ben Anderson and Phil, both pre-med students who would go on to become outstanding doctors. You talk about straight arrows! You would have thought that those two guys invented integrity. In fact, Phil told me today that the VMI code of honor was a great handicap to him in med school; he had to study instead of cheating as did a lot of his colleagues. You may be sure that he has no regrets. I am sure that those of us who attended other schools had similar experiences. Enough of views; let’s get on with news. Before I leave Phil Reitz, I must pass on another of his little vignettes of the Reitz clan. Seems that his wonderful wife, Joanne, had to have her left hip replaced last Nov. 12th. I asked him how it had worked out for her. His reply: “Oh, just great! She liked it so much that she celebrated the first anniversary of the operation this year by having the right one replaced.” Great salesman for his profession. Phil also picked up on my comment last time about our Brother Rat Bob Williams not really being too interested in VMI. Seems that Bob did a year at Colgate before VMI and, like many, after six

months, he went into the Army Air Corps and, like Jule Spach, got shot down over Germany and spent the rest of WWII in Stalag 17. Jule relates that Bob got there ahead of him and that he only let himself get shot down to keep Bob company. I have only realized since I took this job that we had quite a few of our Brother Rats who were POWs. To their everlasting credit, not one of them, to my knowledge, has ever bragged about it or used it for personal gain. As one who was not able to serve, I give you my everlasting admiration and appreciation. Mort Mumma checked in with an e-mail last month when the fur started flying on Wall Street. He and Babs had just returned from the U.K. revisiting friends made during his 30-year tour with the USAF. His evaluation at that time was that Europe was in much worse shape than the U.S. Given that they declared this weekend that they were officially in recession, it looks like Mort was right on. He was also finding a silver lining in the increased value of the dollar against the pound and the euro. While we are on the economy, as I watched our very modest investments shrink into the sunset these last months, I quizzed my Wall Street Week veteran roomie, Jim Price, about what was going on. Jim, you will recall, retired as managing director of Alex Brown and Co. – at the time, the nation’s oldest stock brokerage. Jim was in the market for over 60 years, and he told me that he had never experienced anything like this current meltdown and the breadth of its spread. I’ll quote his little ray of sunshine: “Just glad I don’t owe any money and have some cash. Before it is over, there will be some great opportunities. When? I don’t know.” Jim reports that he and Midge are still in good shape and that this past summer he shot an 80 on his home golf course … three years less than his age! And this is a guy whose legs were so bad that P-foot wouldn’t let him back in VMI after the war. Any challengers out there? One of our class agent services for which we are so richly compensated is to generate from our voluminous archives (three old Bombs, an untold number of shoe boxes full of dog-eared papers

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES and about five Registers of Former can’t ignore the fact that we are all about Bill Hallett Cadets) is that we’ll try to answer any 30 years over our life expectancy when questions about our cadetship and the we were born. So, when death comes Institute. Recently, we relayed an e-mail to Brother Rats, as it must to all of us, news release from Lexington noting I try to remember the productive lives the improvement in Big Red’s football that they enjoyed and the joy that they performance this year. I added some brought to their Brother Rats and so many With much happiness, I report that there notes of my own about the transformative others over so many years. are no Taps to report for this edition. differences from football in the old days Nevertheless, as the “hitching post” for Repair Report: His physicians decided when we were a Southern Conference the class, I feel it is my duty to report our that Bill Phillips needed a pacemaker; it power whipping the likes of Clemson, losses, as many of you would not know has been installed and fine tuned. Now, Virginia, VPI, Maryland and NC State. So about them otherwise. Since I last wrote, Sweet William is ticking along just fine. I heard from John Naill remembering the we have lost Jack Senter, Ben Smith, Joe Reynolds no longer suffers the agony thrill of watching the great Joe Muha ’43 Gray Carrington and, just this week of a pinched sciatic nerve; a young surduring our Rat year. He just geon inserted a titanium “spacer” couldn’t remember who we between two discs in Joe’s lower played and anything about spine. The pain is gone and the the scores. So, I dragged out incision is healing very well. Just my ’43 Bomb and answered heard at press time that Elizabeth all of his questions. He was Lee had her “other” hip replaced so delighted, he said he’d let and is recovering at the WestminSally give me a kiss at the ster-Canterbury rehab facility. next reunion! (I wish!) The routines of his youth assure Got an October response that Lucius Dabney continues to my June letter from Ted to be a well-regulated gentleman Watts up in Silver Spring, … “arise at 0515, walk for two Maryland. I don’t recall ever miles, then breakfast, arrive at the hearing from him before. office 0830, lunch from 1200 to Ted retired in 1992 from 1300, back to work, close office what might surely be call a at 1700 hours, home for supper, “checkered” career. He was some TV and perhaps a movie.” I a writer, an editor, ad agency imagine that Allene watches with exec and a part time English ongoing amazement. Hurricane teacher. Whether consecuIke brought medium rain and no tively or concurrently, he damage to Vicksburg. On April didn’t say, but he still gives 15th, Dick Spencer spent the Class of 1946: Elmon Gray with his first great-grandson, an occasional lecture on night at the Dabney house on his Mason Robert Minkler, in his Runnin’ Roos outfit. labor history. He claims to way to TX and did the same on be a “perpetual left-wing his way back home to Franklin, activist.” Ted, that makes two of us, but I (Nov. 11, aptly Veterans Day and VMI TN. No mention of topics discussed but suspect precious few more in ’46. Founders Day), Bill Giesen. They indeed assume they were wide-ranging. Now it’s Well, that about winds it up for this will rest in peace in our hearts, and they time for Spencer to write. In July, while time. Sorry there’s not more to report, deserve to. Gray’s obituary is in the Taps in Oklahoma City, Bill Glass called Ben but my sources (YOU) have apparently section of this Review, and the others will McCarley who lives in Edmond, a suburb dried up. Unless I start hearing from you be in the following Review, 2009-Issue 2. of OK City. Alice joined the “OK twins” guys, these class notes will be little more Please let me hear from you. Give me a for lunch and took the picture that appears than a footnote, as I am running out of call, drop me a note or a card, e-mail, anyin this Review. Bill and Ben were born on philosophical “gas” as “filler.” We are thing. Don’t let the next thing I hear from the same day, Jan. 13, 1926; Bill was born entitled to five pages, and this is only you be your obit. Remember, as Yogi once in OK City and Ben in McAlester, OK. Bill three. Maybe I can sell the other two to told Whitey, who didn’t like funerals: “Ya’ spent two weeks on the eastern shore of another class! gotta go ta all of yer old friends’ funerals the Chesapeake Bay visiting his sons and or dey won’t come ta yours!” their families, a week in Oxford, MD, and I don’t like to end this column on a sad See you again in three months. Hope another in Woolford, MD. note, and I know I told all of you when I you had a great set of holidays! Let me “If pro is the opposite of con then what took this job that I wasn’t going to turn hear about them. is the opposite of progress?” it into an obituary section. However, we

’47

2009-Issue 1

CLASS NOTES On the first Friday of October, Marty and I motored to Lexington – a beautiful day, clear blue sky, comfortable temperature and fall foliage just beginning to turn. Had our favorite sandwiches at The Palms and then on to VMI. Gen. Peay ’62 had invited us to come by his office to see where the four etchings I had given him were hung. Those etchings of VMI buildings (JM Hall, interior and exterior views of Barracks and the old library) were made in connection with VMI’s centennial celebration. Binnie had them hung in the entry way to his office. Years ago, I had those framed, hoping they might encourage at least one of our three grandsons to become a cadet. I failed. We enjoyed front row seats on the reviewing stand for Friday’s parade. A close-up view of the 950+ Corps on dress parade is indeed impressive. A company-size brass and pipe band! I thought of the nine-man Post Band that played for us in 1943. Friday evening at Morris ’53 Manor always a treat. Buck Cavedo, Helen Gillespie, son Tom ’84, Betty Lane and Gus Robbins were there. Saturday’s football game with U of R was not pleasant to watch. Cavedo wisely skipped and went to Goshen, remembering Skip Awalt’s “Goin’ to Goshen” song. We left the game at half-time and went home. In spite of the game, it was a mighty fine weekend! We reminisced about those members of the “Die Hard” gang who now live on in memory. Soon after retiring and putting away his general’s suit, Dan Williamson decided to go back to college and pursue his interest in history. One of his courses required original research. One day during lunch with Ridley Nichol, Dan mentioned the difficulty of locating unpublished sources. Ridley said he had the diary his greatgrandfather had written during his service in the Confederate Army and let Dan use it as a source. Dan said it was a jim-dandy! Following his enlistment at age 18 in Nashville in an artillery battery, he won a battlefield commission at Shiloh, fought at Chicamauga, Missionary Ridge and at Bentonville which was the last battle of the war. Dan got an A on his course, and Ridley donated the diary to the Nashville Historical Society. Dear Readers, believe me, I take no

pleasure in carrying out that part of my job which requires my asking for your continuing support of VMI. The lunatic actions of the financial markets during the past quarters have made considerable impact on our assets. Still the Institute continues to need your support. Please send your contribution and thereby assure that ’47 will be a leader in participation. If you have given since July 1, 2008, many thanks. Please contribute now to the extent you are able to do so; we’re all together in this effort. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, our participation rate was 71%. Well done! In some ways, life is a bit like a roll of toilet paper – the nearer the end of it, the faster it goes. The Sept. 1st edition of U.S. News & World Report again ranked VMI third of the top five liberal arts colleges. And again, USMA and USNA ranked first and second. In determining the rankings, six measures of quality are used; one of those is alumni giving. Of the 112 best liberal arts colleges ranked, VMI’s alumni giving rate was 35%; the annual giving rate for 57 of those 112 was more than 35%. Most Bombs are/were dedicated to a member of VMI’s faculty or staff who influenced the graduating class in a significant way. The class of 1926 took a different tack. Their Bomb was dedicated: TO THE SPIRIT. “That intangible feeling which lives in the hearts of every cadet and alumnus of the Institute, marveled at by others but nowhere else emulated; that feeling of brotherhood and sincerity of friendship that can never be destroyed; that ever-present stimulus in victory or defeat which has always been ours and which, more than anything else, is responsible for our V.M.I .of today.” Most members of the class of 1947 were born in 1926. On Aug. 23, 2008, 447 new cadets matriculated including 39 females; by the end of the following week, 23 had departed. Buck Cavedo decided that a relaxing evening was in order for mid August and invited Bettie Jacobsen and the Halletts for cool beverages and dinner on the patio at his club. Bettie told of her recent trip to Russia; from Helsinki on to St. Petersburg for three days and then a week-long leisurely cruise down the Volga to Moscow.

She certified that she was not involved in the conflict between Russia and the Republic of Georgia. Good report and a mighty fine evening. Talked with Sambo Roddey on the occasion of his and Rick’s 60th anniversary. They were married right after Sambo had “finally” received his diploma. The insurance industry was fortunate that he was a chemistry major. Rick said that she had been, and continues to be, a very tolerant lady. While Hurricane Fay was water-boarding Florida, I called Ding Price and left a message hoping that he remembered all that Herb Patchin had taught us about swimming. Be advised that his answering machine’s message is a pitch for everyone to become a Mason. He called back to report that the 30 inches of rain which fell in Melbourne kept him confined to quarters for four days. Would have called Dick White but am still waiting for him to send his telephone number. Sure hope that all is well and dry for him and Carol at their Jacksonville home. Following Hurricane Ike’s march through TX, I talked with Sam Duff in Houston; he reported “no damage” for him and Betty. Sam said they were “doing OK” but nothing being done at high speed. He asked about John Salley; they had roomed together during our Rat year. I asked Sam if he ever heard anything from Jack Trotter. Maybe Jack will renew contact soon; time is flying by. Jean Salley told me that John’s health is much improved following several problems created by his being wheelchair bound. She said his spirits are good even though he no longer talks; says he still enjoys the cookies that his long-time friend Rives Fleming delivers. An October call from Bill Rudulph telling me that he is now in Richmond living at the Windsor Health Care center. Rudy told me that I had to come to see him and tell him all about his Bro’ Rats. Since the class agent outranks no one, I went. Rudy had gained a few pounds and lost a few strands of hair. He said he was feeling well and being taken care of. His demeanor and attitude are little changed from his Barracks days. How come it takes so little time for a grandchild who was afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES On an August trip through the valley of lated. There are 93 known dead, 17 adopted along with their parents, for two weeks in VA, Sarah Newsom and daughter Boodie the unique class of ’49C and unfortunately, Italy. Visited Rome, Florence, Venice and and her husband Peter McGinnis spent the the drum sent three on their way. Several the Amalfi coast; Bruce declared it “Fannight in Lexington, and they took Helen others asked to be removed from all mailing tastic!” His note closed with the mindGillespie to dinner; much catching up to do. lists; perhaps a dozen. That leaves quite a bending question, “Do you think we can Sarah said Third Barracks was covered by few uncounted for. make it to our 65th?” Bruce, we’ll have workmen and not a student in sight. I beAt least two perks of being over 80: Your until 2012 to get ready. We live in hope … lieve there was no on-Post summer school secrets are safe with your friends, because keep taking those pills. and no students in either Barracks, since they can’t remember them either, and your On Founders Day, my friend Grover C. the courtyard in New Barracks was being supply of brain cells is finally down to manOutland Jr. ’49B was awarded the Founreplaced and much restoration work going ageable size. dation’s Distinguished Service Award. on in Old Barracks where we once lived. Since he didn’t get there during WWII, Both of us served in the same sector north With new heating systems, I guess there’ll Buck Cavedo is making a trip to Sicily to of the 38th parallel during the Korean no longer be need for a window-closing visit his grandson, Brent, a Latin major at War. Grover and Richie Dickson ’50B detail; the place has gone to hell. In fact, it Univ. of Mary Washington; Brent is enjoywere with a Flash & Sound outfit, and I started the day I received my diploma. ing a semester abroad. I seem to remember was a forward observer with an armored A great call from Dolores Gelly; the that quite a few of us spent several semesfield artillery battalion. One night when wonderful colors of fall had arrived at her ters abroad many decades ago – and all at “things” were relatively quiet along the home in Hendersonville, NC. Hated to hear government expense. Buck said he will visit front, Grover and Richie visited with me that her feline Q-Ball was now a pleasant other historic sites including Rome; no menfor late-evening cocktails; a spirited stepmemory. Q-Ball has been replaced by two tion of an audience with the Pope. off. Nine of our Bro’ Rats were graduated Turkish Angoras, now busy re-training their In late summer, Lou Hundley broke a bone with the class of ’49B. master. Dolores said she files her retirement in his wrist and had to endure a splint for Mac Davis called, admonishing me for account statements un-opened with hopes two months. Katherine is recovering from a failing to assure that McCain carried Virginfor much better days. Among the many fractured hip at the Kendal retirement comia. Unfortunately, many years ago, Virginia world problems discussed, we commiseratmunity, and the Hundleys will be moving “gave away” West Virginia instead of northed our recent plunges into Medicare’s drug there in mid December. Lou said he had ern Virginia. The result of the 2008 Federal plan “doughnut” hole. Better, and more notified Santa of their new address and will election was not to my liking, and I fear we expensive, living through chemistry. try to hide from the IRS. Good luck! will not care for the resulting economic and Never drive faster than your Guardian Nice note along with a bit of Internet hu- social results. Mac said that he and Joan are Angel can fly. mor from Bruce Taylor. He and Annamay well, and he is “somewhat” older than his Did you ever wonder how that collection spend most of the year on Hilton Head law partners; however, he still needs a place of rules, regulations and penalties known as Island and try to be in MD from Thanksto sleep in the daytime. the “Blue Book” got that name? Like much giving through the holidays. In April, they Marty joins in sending good wishes to about/of VMI, it is history. The first publicavisited Annamay’s two VPI grandsons, you and your family. Stay well, take care, tion by that name was prepared keep smiling and age gracefully. by Baron deSteuben, a former I’m Bill Hallett, and I approve Prussian army officer who these messages. was the army’s first inspector New addresses: Col. William general. deSteuben published C. Carper, 682 Mountainthe first official regulations of brooke Circle, Stone Mountain, the U.S. Army and entitled them GA 30087-2872 and phone “Blue Book.” In 1778, Gen. 770/564-9304; Mr. William C. Washington gave Baron deSteuHaughton, 1120 Martin Ridge ben the job of training his army Rd., Roswell, GA 30076-2852 at Valley Forge. Do you suppose and phone 770/993-9786; Mr. Col. John Fray (1908) had one William C. Rudulph, Windsor of the first printing? He certified Health Care Center, 3600 Grove that he was not at Gettysburg. Avenue Rm. 9, Richmond, VA After receiving our Aug. 15 23221 and phone 804/353-3881; notes, Ding Price called asking Mr. John A. Steel, 440 East 79th if I knew the whereabouts of St. Apt. 17M, New York, NY Bro’ Rats other than the 64 now 10075-1463 and phone 212/316Class of 1947: Bill Glass and Ben McCarley, class presion our roster. Here’s what I do 0409; Mr. Sam L. Duff, 104 dent, having lunch together in Oklahoma City. know of the 208 who matricuPlum Tree Terrace, Apt. 123,

2009-Issue 1

CLASS NOTES Houston, TX 77077 and phone 281/5588139; Dr. Louis R. Hundley, 160 Kendal Drive #201, Lexington, VA 24450 and phone 540/463-4334; and Mr. Charles E. Schneller, 365 North Keswick Ave., Glenside, PA 19038-4217. Mr. Dick White’s phone has changed to 904/223-9076.

’48A

Dale E. Wykoff

We are extremely sorry to hear of the deaths of our brother rats Graham Powell “Skip” Davis of Franktown, VA, and Bill Sager of Childless, TX. Skip graduated with a BS in electrical engineering and served in the Army in 1945-6. During the 2nd class year of 1948A, he was class president. He later became president and CEO of the Investment Corporation of Virginia. Skip was a successful and much admired Brother Rat who always gave major support to our class. Our hearts go out to his wife, Fleet. Burial will be in the family cemetery in Mill Pond Point, Franktown. Bill Sager attended VMI for one year and then, along with most of the class, entered the armed forces. After service in Korea, he enrolled in the University of Texas. He then worked on several ranches near his home and later owned and operated the Sager Motor Company. His wife, Ray Ann, preceded him in death by five days. The economic turmoil struck home for Dora Meler, Ted’s daughter. She had been working at the Lehman Brothers in New York for some 21 years when it went bankrupt. She, along with many friends, emptied out their desks, without knowing what the employment picture would be. Fortunately, Barclay’s Capital acquired the Lehman’s Investment Banking Division, and Dora was able to continue working. She is involved in IT integration efforts to establish connectivity to Lehman Legacy computer systems. We all wish her the best. Bill Bond has continued his pheasant hunting, this time in Kansas where the hunting was excellent. He said to tell all the Brother Rats that he remains his usual crusty, ornery self! The VMI football games continue to

draw John and Barbara Trumbo, Paul and Sarah Stagg, and Dale Wykoff. While the season so far has not been quite as bad as some we have seen, there is a lot left to be desired. At the Liberty University game on Nov. 8, 2008, Liberty had just outrun us with two quick passes. “Liberty has found VMI’s soft-spot,” I said to Paul. “Yes,” he answered –“Football!” And it is always a pleasure to talk with J.Y. O’Neal. He says he is becoming a senior citizen, as are we all! Ed and Peggy Kritzer are doing well. Their daughter, Peggy Keene, of Herndon, VA, joined them for the annual Institute Society Dinner. Irene Sadler had a wonderful visit “back home” in Hawaii and is already looking forward to her next annual trip there. Bill Whitmore continues to have medical problems, and we all join with Lamar in wishing him a speedy recovery. Gilly Williamson says all goes well in Edinburg, VA, and he and Mary Ann say hello to all. Mike Calhoun has been concerned with the application of the Constitution, which specifies that no individual can serve in more than one branch of the government at the same time. This is widely overlooked, of course, since we all know many lawyers who are doubly employed. Bev Laws and Katie are doing well in Houston and asked to be remembered to all the Brother Rats. Thanks to all who have contributed to the VMI funds and especially to the 1948A Scholarship. At the time of this writing, the recipient has not yet been selected, but I will let you know to whom it was given and the amount in the next Alumni Review. Please keep in touch!

Lee Slayton

’48B With much enthusiasm and dedication, I was happy to accept the suggestion from George Ramsey that I act as the class agent. I then sent notices to all of our Brother Rats

advising them of my appointment. Brother Rat Bob Duke was one of several who sent me a note of appreciation for my volunteering as the class agent, and interestingly, at the same time, he said he was still waiting for a thanks from Lionel Wolford for the bridge lessons that Lionel gave to Bob at a heavy expense to Bob. Buck Ruffin reports that one of the tropical storms dumped six to seven inches of rain in the area raising the H2O in the fishing lakes and affording him excellent fishing opportunities. Buck continues to work at the V.A. Hospital 20 hours a week seeing patients in the post-traumatic clinic, mostly veterans of Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Korea and a few from World War II. On the bad news side, we lost O. Lee Slayton on July 21, 2008, after a long illness. Lee served as class agent and was active in the 60th Reunion. Doug Hamner advised that Patricia Stupalsky, wife of Brother Rat, Al, died on July 28, 2008. Doug Hamner also reports that his wife had a small stroke, and except for using a cane, you wouldn’t notice any change. Esther Smith, the fiancée of our Brother Rat Clifford Church, advised that Cliff passed away on March 5, 2008. Al Loth called me to let me know that Jack Keith passed away on Oct. 10, 2008. Jack was a practicing attorney, and at the beginning of his career, he was an intern for the head of the United Nations Legal Department. He was engaged in real estate law in the Richmond area, represented various European investors, and was very instrumental and innovative in commercial and land development. I also received a call from Paul Applin that our Brother Rat Finney passed away on Sept. 23rd. Also, George Wagner passed away on Nov. 7, 2008. Pat McGiffert, wife of our late Brother Rat, John, sent me a letter enclosing notes prepared by John with reference to a photo of the charge at New Market, and I am now quoting from the article: “For many years as a boy, a signed black and white print of this painting hung on the wall in or near my bedroom. It was, and is, gothic in shape and very dark and ominous looking. I used to go to sleep wondering which one of the charging cadets was Dad and imagining what it must have been like for those young boys in the real 1864 charge to walk

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES into the hail of lead from the Yankee rifles and artillery pieces before them. And years later, as I sat in Crozet Hall at the Institute, now a Rat myself, in the middle of one never-to-be forgotten night amid a foreboding drum roll, I recalled those nights in my bedroom, as I now stared at the painting itself, immense and colorful, and covering the entire front wall of the hall, while a Brother Rat was dismissed from the Institute in front of the entire Corps for an honor code violation. I may have begun there to understand that personal honor, character, strength to face adversity and just plain guts were somehow related.” I suggested to the Alumni Office that we have our next reunion in fall 2010, and plans are now in the process to make this a reality. In this connection, I have received positive responses from Ramsey, Boyd, Hamner, Schwartz, Ruffin, Alberto and Pat McGiffert. My indelible and lasting impression of the VMI experience was the bonding created by the Ratline and the instilled integrity created by the Honor Court, and I am sure that these feelings are shared by all of us. I couldn’t say enough about how important the VMI message was to me and to all of us. In the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, the court noted that VMI was the highest per capita endowed school in America. This observation truly bespeaks the VMI message and experience. While on the subject, 23 out of 78 Brother Rats have made contributions to VMI during the year 2008. We have 25 Sister Rats. Hopefully, 100% can make a contribution regardless of the amount in the spirit of recognition and thanks to the Institute.

’49A

James Harrington

I’m writing these notes on Veterans Day, so I want to remember those of us who can no longer write: Irv, Junior, Wes, Randy, Jimmy, Bob, Johnny, “Meatball,” Tommy and George. As for the Harringtons, we enjoyed a busy summer “Camp Chaos” season, Ann continues her tennis and I continue to try to

2009-Issue 1

make sense of the stock market. She’s more successful than am I. We’re now gathering our strength to undertake the holiday season – Thanksgiving and Christmas visits with our scattered children and grandchildren – to the extent we can. The Alumni Review staff has requested a photo of me, so if they decide to print it, you can see the ravages of time. I hope you will all join me in April so that we can once again stand on the bricks with each other and our fallen brothers. Charlie Tiller writes: “Nancy and I have now entered the college graduationmarriage circuit. This season has been great since we have had two trips to Chicago. The first was to enjoy the graduation of our second granddaughter from college. She plans to go to dental school, and if grades will get her in, she will make it. If we make it that long, maybe we can see that graduation as well. Then, our first granddaughter was married on July 12th. My son really knows how to have a beautiful service. Open check book!!! We were able to make a stop in Indianapolis and enjoy a few days with our youngest son and family. All continues to go well there, because they work at it. Nancy has had trouble with her right knee and our Dr. tells us that we will have to have that exchanged for a newer model before too long. So, she has gotten the travel books out to see where the next trip will be. You can bet I will go along with the plans, as usual. Folkmoot USA kept us busy from the time we returned from the wedding. We really enjoy that time and the association we enjoy with performers from so many different countries. This year, our 25th anniversary was one of the best. We have a full house when our visitors arrive for this two-week program of shows. These are some of the fun and games we use to amuse ourselves. We have enjoyed a relatively quiet fall up to this point. If we pay attention to the Farmer’s Almanac, we had better enjoy what we have while we can. We are looking forward to a trip to Cosumel and Cancun in late January/early February, since Nancy’s fractured knee cap and a few important activities of the grandchildren have kept us here since our long China trip in 2005. Now the weddings, college graduations and other happy occasions are coming to the top of the schedule. My older grandson will receive his Eagle Scout

award in December, and we plan to go to Chicago for that. As our plans are up in the air now, all of this is subject to change. In any case, our best to all, and please try to stay in good health.” Larry Butler’s short note sounds uncharacteristically contemplative: “This is not a period of celebration. It is a time to recollect and pore over the sins of the past and make a firm resolution to do better. It is not too late to correct the sins of the past and do better. Just have to give it time. We are doing pretty good for old folks. Going to Nags Head in November for a timeshare week. Hope to get some good rest and forget about the election. We will have Thanksgiving Day with our oldest son and his family. Should be fun. Our youngest, a Navy surgeon, is on his way to Djibouti, Africa, for about an 8-month assignment. Hope all will go well for him. We don’t have any trips planned for the near future So, if anyone is in the area, please come to see us.” I don’t know if he was bent out of shape after the election or just feeling bad. Joe Fil’s new computer seems to have enabled him to write more extensively and with fewer errors. Here’s his busy letter: “Everything seems to be slipping at a little faster rate [mind, waistline, jowls, etc.]. We received a call from the VFW in Lakeport telling Sue that they have more comfort quilts for the wounded vets. We will get to Lake County and attend their next meeting to pick them up. They are a terrific group, and it’s always an honor being invited to their programs. In fact, Lakeport, the county seat, is very much like a small town stuck in the 50s. They still have yellow ribbons on the trees on Main Street, which are removed when those in the service return from the combat area. Our son’s picture is in the courthouse lobby on their Honor Board – pretty nice. I’m still working on various home improvement [?] projects at the lake house and here in the valley. I started painting our little guest house at the lake and installed a new threshold. Here in Portola Valley, I have installed two new windows in Susie’s room and now have to cover up the rough work with trim, both inside and out. These things take a lot of time on my part, as I have limited skills and am not very good at sticking at things to completion. Our granddaughters have decided to prepare the

CLASS NOTES Thanksgiving dinner. This should be interesting, but Sue is delighted not to have to do it. Fall is coming, and particularly in Lake County. It is further north and at a higher elevation. The vineyards look like a patchwork quilt. All the different grapes seem to have their own colors. I still am involved with the mosquito business which has been expanded to include the entire county and other vectors [rats, squirrels and other disease carrying critters]. Our county is pretty large with numerous cities and extensive rural areas. I also work with the public works group in our town. I have one more building to get rid of, and then I can retire. I don’t make any money with it, but it’s nice to know that I keep some repair people employed and the tax collector in chips. Sue attended the Afghanistan exhibit in San Francisco. They were mostly small things that had been hidden away from the Taliban and other destructive groups. Most of the items were over 2,000 years old and quite beautiful. I didn’t go with her, as I’m not allowed in SF, being deemed politically incorrect. Well, Jim, as you can see, not a heck of a lot is going on here.” This update from Stan Millimet: “We have been glued to the election and the stock market. So we’re in double shock – and there’s a lot more to come, we’re sure. In the meantime, we’re hanging in. There’s still a little fight in us, so we plan to speak up about those things we believe would be adverse to our great nation. Tomorrow is Veterans Day. So, a tip of my hat to all my Brother Rats in arms, and as they’ve heard many times before, ‘Well Done.’ And fortunately, no matter how bad the economy may be, the holidays are coming. So, Sunny and I are flying up to Boston to spend Thanksgiving with our son and his family. The good news is, with what the air fares are now, I predict that Delta/ Northwest will show a profit next quarter. More good news: it snowed here last night which is early for Michigan, so global warming must have ended. Unfortunately, almost everyone has left Michigan, so it will probably take a while for the word to get out. Anyhow, we’re keeping the faith, and we encourage everyone else to do the same. It’s like the Ratline – this too will come to an end. So, happy holidays to each of you, with good health, hope and happiness in the New Year.”

Octogenarian adventures are scarce among the few of us, but Allen Penniman manages to have them, each quarter: “Although the last several months have been rather quiet for the Pennimans, we did have a hurricane named Gustav that arrived in Baton Rouge on Sept. 1st, Labor Day. Prior to the storm, I left Baton Rouge the last week in August and toured the state of Michigan. I had been to Detroit earlier in my life but had really not seen much of the state and was interested in going back. I was accompanied by my friend from Austin who has been my business partner for many years. On the trip to Michigan, we drove up from Detroit along the eastern coast, traveled up to Sault Ste. Marie and then returned down the western side of the state. Beautiful scenery, very, very nice people and an enjoyable trip. He and I try to do this once each year, and it is a perfect time for us to reminisce and talk about the good times we have had together. When we left Detroit preparing to return, I discovered that Hurricane Gustav was heading toward Baton Rouge. I was able to get a flight out of Detroit and arrived in Baton Rouge the day before the storm actually hit. We were able to close the windows and remove most of the articles from outside which present a problem in a hurricane. It was terrible, and we spent the night in the dark trying to control the damage. This is the third storm we have had, and the damage to the state by rising water was nothing like we have had in the past. The winds, however, were severe (95-plus miles an hour) inland and caused a huge amount of damage particularly to the trees which are so numerous in Baton Rouge. We did not have much trouble at the house, but we were without power for 10 days and the difficulties this caused. We did lose a number of mature trees in the back yard which we will probably not be able to replace. Sad, but at least no one was hurt. I really don’t have much to complain about. The skies have cleared, and now Joanie and I are looking forward to Thanksgiving when we will fly to Albuquerque to visit our children, one family who lives there and the other in Amarillo, TX. This will be a nice gathering and, of course, will excuse us from the much larger gatherings we usually have at home at this time of year. Both of us continue to enjoy

good health, and for this, we are so very thankful. With Thanksgiving holidays approaching, Joanie and I certainly send our very best to our classmates and wish for them a joyous Thanksgiving Day. In spite of the current difficulties in our country, we still have the finest place on earth and so much to be thankful for. It is my hope that these difficulties will be short lived.” I spoke briefly (by phone) with Margaret Anne Noftsinger. Bill was in the room but was just making noises in the background, so we make do with Margaret Anne’s news: “The news from here is all about our group. WM III will graduate in Dec. from Auburn, and he will be out in this wonderful economy looking for a job. Our world traveler is now in China, slowly making her way around the world, having been awarded a fellowship from the Watson Foundation last June when she graduated from W&L. After China, she will go to Australia. She stays about a month in each country (she can choose the country). She will complete the tour in June, and then she gives a report to the foundation. She was given $25,000.00 to do this and that includes her food, place to stay, air fare and any other expenses incurred (not souvenirs!). She has learned a lot. I will be glad to have her back home. As for other grands, they are all working or going to grad school. We have all ages and stages of life, from 4 months to 57 years. We will not live to see all of them out of school. Bill and I are still able to put one foot in front of the other, maybe not as rapidly as we once did, but are indeed grateful that we are in good health and still able to function as always. Our best wishes to all, and have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful 2009.” Bill May’s computer broke, so he called me. We had a nice conversation, in which many of you were remembered. He and his friend, Dolores, are well and doing things as usual. Bill wants to remind everyone to make plans for our 60th Reunion – April 20-21, 2009. He’s working with the Alumni Association on plans and will let us know in due time. Finally, Tom Stamey needs a hug! He’s laid up in the hills of California but needs to hear from each of us. Send him a hug at 310 Golden Hills Drive, Portola Valley, CA, 94028-7615.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES

’49B

Dan Smaw

These are the class notes for November 2008. We lost our Brother Rat Joe Hurley 24 Aug. 2008. Joe had been in poor health for sometime. He and I had a lengthy conversation in June which was noted in the previous Alumni Review. Being from Arkansas, he served in the 936th FA Battalion and AR National Guard unit in Korea during that conflict. I was a replacement officer to the 937th FA Battalion which was a sister battalion. He is survived by his wife, Jeannine, four children and 11 grandchildren to whom we offer our sympathy for their great loss. On 8 Sept. 2008, our Brother Rat Lynn Chewning died peacefully. We all remember our Rat year when Lynn gave us reason to be proud of VMI football. The next year he played at the Naval Academy and came within three yards of beating Army. From there, he went to Hampden-Sydney where he was a Little All-American. He is survived by his wife, Averil Booker “Bobby,” two daughters and three grandchildren to whom we offer our sympathy for their great loss. In early August, Ronnie Gault and I had a lengthy conversation in which Ronnie brought me up to date on everything about VMI football and the coaches. He is afflicted with essential tremor which makes writing very hard, if not impossible. In addition, he is short of breath and had had a recent fall. Other than that, he was doing okay and keeping in contact with several of the BRs. Margaret Lee Overton called in August after reading the advanced copy of the class notes. She said she very much appreciated the kindness and courtesy shown her by various Brother Rats since Nelson’s death in January. She and a 15-year-old granddaughter had taken a river, canal and Great Lakes cruise and had a wonderful time. In October, she was to move into a retirement home in Newport News. Her daughter has agreed to bring her to the 60th in April.

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Lon Walter had cataract surgery 26 Aug. When I talked to him a few days later, he was doing fine and seeing a lot better than he had been. Both daughters came to look after him and Doris for a while until he could drive again. In August, Ding and Nobbie Patton took a family cruise to Bermuda for a week and as usual, had a fine time. They had been to Wintergreen, VA, in addition to the cruise, and while gone, a severe storm had hit Melbourne, FL. Luckily, their house received no damage. A short note from Leo Soucek in August indicated he and Evelyn were doing okay. They plan to be at the 60th, and I expect to see them there. Harv Bradley wrote in August and says he hasn’t reached the lofty status of shooting his age, as has Vaughn Maxwell, but he is working on it three days a week. Their son, Colby, now works in downtown Atlanta and has a downtown condo to avoid the commute hassle from the suburbs. Barbara is having fun doing the decorating. You may remember that Colby, as a baby and little boy, attended many ’49B Reunions – in fact, he has come to more reunions than some of you. Time flies, as he now has his MBA. Harv called Mack Van Hook and Bill Sweeney early in the month. In September, I received a letter from Judith Lawes, the widow of our Brother Rat Osborne Lawes. He was at VMI only one year, but she said he had a fondness for the school and took their children there to the museum. He had taken her there when they were dating – 1954-57. Osborne had been in the Regular Army for four years and in the National Guard after that. He died of ALS in 1991, but his death had not been reported. So, she has been on the mailing list all these years and now wants to be removed. She wished us all a great 60th reunion. On 8 Sept., I called Grover Outland to congratulate him on being selected for the VMI Distinguished Service Award. Teancy said he was taking an afternoon nap but had been giving a lot of thought to his speech at the awards ceremony. She said they were planning to go to the W&M game that weekend and hoped to

see lots of people they knew. Greg Nelson contacted Lon Walter about setting up a memorial service at the reunion for our departed Brother Rats. Lon contacted Tommy Bowers and the Post chaplain, James Parks, and arranged the service. Chaplain Parks reserved Jackson Memorial Hall for us, following the traditional parade and assembly in the courtyard on 21 April. Lon will read the names of the deceased, and Tommy will conclude with an appropriate eulogy. On 16 Sept., Grover woke from his nap and gave me a call. We had a fairly lengthy and wide ranging conversation. In June, he and the whole family spent time on the Eastern Shore and had a great time. He and Teancy took a Mississippi River cruise from Minneapolis to St. Louis which he said was a great trip. We wish you well on Founders Day as you receive the Distinguished Service Award, Grover. In September, Betty Lu Stephens wrote a long letter in which she commented on Selden’s condition which is not so good. He is very accepting of his condition and the regimen of care that he requires and takes it all in an accepting and cooperative manner. Betty Lu regrets that they will be unable to make the 60th – you both will be missed. I hope, or strongly suggest, that Clint and Rose Anne Hurd attend, even though it will be strange that the four are not there together. The Stephens’ grandson, Matt, is in his 3rd. class year at the Institute. Ann Bedsole dropped a note in September saying she really enjoyed reading about Palmer’s old friends, many of whom she knows. Ann, we would love to see you at the reunion. Mack Van Hook said he and Inge would be spending about three weeks in October in Germany with Inge’s family. I guess it is no accident that Mack picks the time of Octoberfest to visit. Pat Bridges wrote in September saying he and Betty were well and happy and established in a villa at Atlantic Shores Retirement Community. In the spring, they had gone to Charlottesville and toured Monticello, then to the Institute where they took in a full dress review. From there, they visited Stonewall Jackson’s restored

CLASS NOTES home in Lexington. They hope to make the reunion. Charlie Upshaw called in October to let me know he was going to write to all the ’49B medics to encourage their attendance at our 60th. He said his grandson, Andrew Upshaw ’06, was stationed in Germany following his Iraq tour. Andrew’s parents visited him for a couple of weeks, so they all got in quite a bit of sightseeing. Joe Spitler e-mailed in October with info about his cataract surgery two months earlier and his hip replacement surgery in October. He no longer requires glasses and probably never will – final check by his doctor is 18 Dec. The hip surgeon is well pleased with his progress; he walks with a cane and is following all the many instructions and restrictions following a hip replacement. Joe says he is standing straighter, which improves his walking and gets rid of lots of aches and pains. Don’t push things too fast, Joe. We want to see you ramrod straight and marching in the front rank at the 60th. I talked with Harv Bradley recently. He and Barbara had just returned from trip to Lynchburg and Norfolk. They visited his old home site in Lynchburg and his brother in Norfolk. Benny Harmon e-mailed to say a happy hour and dinner was held for the VMI types resident at Westminster Canterbury in Richmond recently. Present were some names we might remember: Mary Easterly ’44, Taz Ellett, George Hutter ’52, Harry Lee ’47 and Bunny Tucker ’37. Benny said it was a nice evening, much subdued from days of yore. Mary Easterly has a high regard for Tommy Bowers since he came back and conducted Harry Easterly’s funeral. Benny hopes to make the reunion. Our daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter, son, daughter-in-law, niece and her husband came for my birthday 8 Nov. We had a wonderful weekend with dinner at Chequers which was enjoyed by all. I appreciated them coming – some from Michigan and some from North Carolina. They put on a reception after church on Sunday in the parish hall which was well attended. Flowers on the

altar and in the parish hall were naturally red, white and yellow. I hope all of you are planning to attend the reunion in April. Greg Nelson has put in a lot of work to make it the best ever, so be there. You will see lots of changes around Post with all the new construction. Thanks to all who have contributed to Annual Giving. God Bless America, VMI and ’49B

’49C

Stewart Snoddy Jr.

Well, the response to the notice about our 60th Reunion in April has been quite good! At this point, we have acceptances numbering 20 people. The Brothers include Eddie Davis, Bob Ellett, Stock Fleming, Bob Fretz, Heinie Henzel, Cappy Moncure, Bob Patterson, Coleman Rice, Stew Snoddy and Bruce Taylor. The Elletts will only be here for the 21st. The Moncures’ appearance will be dependent upon their daughter, Kate, providing transportation. I hope she will be able to do so, not only so we can see Cappy and Connie, but also because Kate has attended many of our affairs in the past and has done a splendid job of getting the “old folks” jumping. Unfortunately, a negative response was received from Dan Forsyth who indicated that they are having a slow recovery from a minor accident. Let’s hope that healing occurs more rapidly and that they will be able to make it by April. Also, Bev Thompson, Betty Purdy and Emma Deans (Allen) have indicated they will not be able to make it. A piece of good news, especially in these days of financial turmoil: the cost of the reunion will be $125 per couple – not per person! My accountant didn’t listen to what I told him. For those coming as singles, the fee will be $65. Sound better??? Eddie Davis has a new e-mail address to which I sent a note that was not returned. If I understood Eddie’s writing, the address is J F Jake 22 @ yahoo.com.

’50A

William Moore

Several years ago, Dick Mandt approached me about succeeding him as our class agent. I encouraged him to continue for as long as he could, since we needed his dedication and writing ability. We still do. I assured him that if and when the time came that he no longer felt comfortable in the job that I would, health permitting, be willing to succeed him. Well, that time has come, and I’ll do my best, with Anne’s help, to do a good job for ’50A and VMI. I join all of you in thanking Dick and Jeanne for all the years as our wonderful class agent. Don’t be alarmed about my story of Dick’s handing the class agent’s job over to me. His health has NOT taken a turn for the worse. He still drives, takes his walks, goes fishing and watches what he eats. Beyond that, he does about what he pleases and is healthy and happy. Son Richard is presently living with Dick and Jeannie which is a big help. He is an engineering geologist who specializes in road construction. Those jobs are not plentiful in the present economy. Rick Martin recently called, searching for Gene Witcher’s new phone number. Rick and Jackie are planning to escape Spokane’s winter in Apache Springs, AZ, and had learned that Gene was planning to be in nearby Tucson for a large gem show. On their way to Arizona, the Martins are looking forward to stopping in California and visiting Jackie’s son, Ron Grunwald, and granddaughters, Hannah, 8, and Grace 2. All is well with the Martins, but I sense a bit of wistfulness when Rick talks about his decision to quit skiing when he turned 80 last year. Your class agent is facing the same crossroad this ski season. To ski or not to ski. That is the question. I wouldn’t mind giving it up for reasons of prudence, were it not for the joy of skiing with granddaughters Penelope, 9, and Savannah, 5. They inspire me and keep me going. We shall see. Old roomie Gene Witcher and I had a lot of fun rehashing old times, et al, recently.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Gene is enjoying life in suburban Houston, but I believe he also misses country living at his previous home in Buffalo, TX. He and Rick did connect and are planning a “mini reunion” this winter in Arizona. Hey, look, with our class’ size, every time two of us get together its a “mini reunion.” That’s almost 20% of the class! Qualifications enough. Gene sounds great, enjoys his good health and is looking forward to our 60th in 2010. He plans to drive and promises not to lose his pants this time en route to Lexington. Our gallivanting Bro Rat Kenny Stagg and B.J. are still enthused about their trip to Africa last February which Dick has already reported. I’ve a few more interesting details. Apparently, Tanzania is a safe, stable country – at least by African standards. Kenny and B.J. had planned to also visit Kenya but decided against it because of reported tribal violence. Kenny always was good at avoiding violence, and the Mau Mau is definitely good to avoid. B.J. is still working full time doing extremely well in Richmond real estate, despite a challenging market. I enjoyed having time to say more than hi and bye to Kenny. Seems as if every time we run into each other at the Institute, we are all in such a hurry. Nancy Hudgins tells me that she and Elliott have had what she describes as a “quiet year.” No big trips, no exciting adventures and no life-threatening illnesses or episodes. “Adventures make you late for supper” (Bilbo Baggins). Elliott and Nancy’s son, Reed (’90) is a lieutenant colonel and is still stationed near Suffolk, VA, with a joint forces unit. “Joint forces unit” sounds ominous and dangerous. Upside of this is that they expect him to be there for another year. That makes both of the Hudgins’ children (Reed and daughter Corey) within a few hours drive of their New Bern, NC, home. Also, their granddaughter, Elizabeth, is in nearby Conway, SC, at Coastal Carolina University. We’ve been missing Barbara Barnes (Hugh) at the VMI home football games this season. Anne and I often see Hugh and Barbara’s son, Clark (’87), and his wife, Lori, and daughters there. Barbara tells me that it’s still hard to go to the games because of her memories of how much

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Hugh enjoyed them. Barbara misses the contact with all of us that she enjoyed when Hugh was alive. I’m not one to give out my favorite girls’ phone numbers, but hers is 804/897-1958. Barbara’s grandchildren, Sarah and Brooklyn (Brook), are very near and dear to her. She and Brook had what Barbara describes as a wonderful week immersed in a program at the Living Museum in Newport News, VA. She and Sarah had planned a similar trip to Kentucky to enjoy Sarah’s passion for horses. However, a mysterious blood pressure spike caused cancellation of their plans. Although the precise cause of Barbara’s blood pressure spike hasn’t been determined, she is responding well to the treatment, feels perfectly OK and is experiencing no ill effects other than the spike itself. Anne and I had the pleasure of attending the Institute Society Dinner and the dedication of Third Barracks, Nov. 10th and 11th. Yes, Third Barracks is the official name of the new addition to Barracks. I’m glad it got named before the cadets came up with something screwball. We were not so fortunate in getting the big clock in the tower properly named though. Cadets have already christened it “Big Bennie,” obviously in General Peay’s ’62 honor. Come to think of it, it’s probably a pretty good idea. So, now we have Old Barracks, New Barracks and Third Barracks – all one Barracks. You have to see it to believe it. Excellent combination of form (Spartan) following function. Perhaps Anne said it best when she looked across the courtyard (grass) toward the new arch and said, “It looks just like Old Barracks!” Enough said. After the dedication, Anne and I had lunch with Mary (Buck) Buchanan and other Bee Fifties: Fred and Silver, George and Nell Oliver, and Jane (Red) Patton and her daughter, Olivia. Most enjoyable.

’50B

Ralph Warren

’50B turned out strong for the Mini on the weekend of Nov. 7th and 8th with a total of 55 Brother Rats, wives, widows

and guests gathering at VMI. In attendance were John and Gloria Berberich, Red and Ruth Bragg, Mary Buchanan, Carole Sue Coupland, Richey Dickson, Jones and Connie Felvey, Jim and Nancy Flippen, Braxton and Judith Green, Tom and Joyce Handy, Pat Hansen, Joe Kohen and Joanne Roos, Lee and Sally Lewane, Peter and Susan Meredith, Marti Michie, Ed and Jean Oast, Jack and Anne Parrott, Zelma Reynolds, Jane Patton, Bill and Helen Sacra, Sam and Betty Saunders, Dede And Lola Shepherd, Ed and Sarah Smith, Bill and Helen Talbott, John and Ruth Taylor, Bob and Nancy Trinkle, Betty Wagner, Ralph and Marilyn Warren, Thatcher and Patsy Watson, Dick Woodman, and Ann Witt. The class quickly embraced our new “Sister Rats” Joyce Handy and Sarah Smith along with Joanne Roos who came with Joe Kohen. Our special guests, Pat Hansen’s niece Macey Kimsey, along with her son Finney Kimsey ’08 who is president of the class of ’08, Sam and Betty Saunders’ twin grandsons who are in the classes of’09, and Zelma Reynold’s sister, Pam Mills, were all warmly welcomed. Sam says that both Thomas and John Saunders are first classmen. John is the more militarily inclined of the two. Thomas is into so many other things – announcing the parades and he is president of the VMI Theater. John is on a full AF scholarship and so will serve four years. He will be stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB. Thomas will accept a reserve commission in the Army. Many of those attending the mini were treated to an added bonus, as Vice President Dick Cheney visited VMI for the third time and addressed the Corps at the Saturday morning parade. The VMI Keydet Club provided the following update on the status of our Athletic Scholarship fund. The principle as of Dec. 31, 2007, was $432,132.45. The market value (same date) $767,545.18. During the calendar year 2007, the fund received gifts totaling $8,962.50. For VMI fiscal year ’09, $32,220 was transferred to VMI scholarship grants-in-aid. The present recipients of these grants in aid are: Cadet Jacob Morley ’12, Annandale, VA, Economics, Baseball (Red Patton athlete); Cadet Carolyn N.

CLASS NOTES Kenaley ’11, Houston, TX, International Studies, Women’s Soccer; Cadet Jenna M. Pickett ’12, Winchester, VA, International Studies, Women’s Track; Cadet Joakim K. Kiprotich ’12, Eldoret, Kenya, Computer Science, Men’s Track; Cadet Timothy E. Chase ’12, Woodbine, MD, International Studies, Wrestling. Michael Bowman ’12 who was our Red Patton scholar last year was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and is pursuing a baseball career at this time. Tommy Cunningham ’07 and Ania Najda ’08 were graduated last year. So, that is why we have so many Rats on scholarship last spring. See you next Review.

’51

John Ross

These class notes cover the period Aug. 8 to Nov. 9, 2008, and will appear in 2009-Issue 1 of the VMI Alumni Review. The narrative is basically in chronological sequence. Jim Marshall called right after I had submitted my last notes. He had been visiting relatives in Virginia and had been unaware of my multiple inquiries concerning his rehab from rotator cuff surgery. The news was good – Jim reports that four weeks out, he is doing fine. I received a nice thank you note from the widow of Don Gross for our memorial gift to VMI. I tried to reach Jim Evers on his birthday and for two succeeding days but was informed that his number “was being checked for trouble.” I did reach Cooper Kunkel in Trent Woods, NC, to wish him a happy birthday. Cooper was with us for one year and then received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Virginia. He subsequently did graduate work at Duke University. Cooper still practices ophthalmology one day a week in New Bern, NC. He knew that two of his VMI roommates had died – Tom Marr and Gooch Meador – but thought Richard Herrmann was ill. I informed Cooper that we lost Richard in December of 2007. He

mentioned that he had seen Joe Stump at a reunion in Norton, VA, which was their hometown. I spoke with Jim Coley in San Antonio, TX. He certainly has had the multiple health problems but is still hoping to make it onto the golf course in the near future. Jim mentioned how much he and his wife enjoyed the mini reunion in Richmond and how much they appreciated the assistance of Jack and Nancy Hill. Jim inquired about his first class backfield – Joe Stump, Jack Lowden and Fred Anson – and expressed the hope that they could be reunited at our next reunion. Marie received happy birthday calls on Aug. 20 from Duane and Pat Holloway and Caroline McCallum. As a result of the Holloway’s call, we made plans to meet them in Williamsburg for the William & Mary game in September. I had a nice visit with Win Baber on his birthday, which he shares with Jake Wamsley and Marie. Win commented how much he appreciated the job Pete Philp does for the class in running the e-mail network. I concurred. Win had not heard from A.J. Marchand in response to an e-mail. I was not able to reach Jake Wamsley, so I left birthday greetings on his voice mail. I called Paul Shrader in Pensacola, FL, on his 80th birthday. Paul, who is a retired Marine colonel, sounds great. He reports Polly is doing well after knee surgery. We reminisced about out days in the Marine Corps, and Paul observed how young our BR Johnny Recher was when we lost him. I reached John S. Evans in Greenville, SC, on his birthday. After graduation, he served in the Army for a couple of years and then received his medical degree from Duke University. John retired from his medical practice 10 years ago and now enjoys his golf game. I had a nice e-mail from Bounce Carstens and responded with best wishes to Sally and him. Paul Robinson reports from Neenah, WI, that he had very successful hernia surgery and is recovering rapidly. He and Jean expect to return to Florida in October. Jake Wamsley called to thank me for the birthday greetings. He and Eday had just returned home after visiting their son, who is in the Commissioned Officer Corps of

the Public Health Service in Norfolk, VA. Jake also managed to get some fishing in during the visit. I checked on Johnny Gray, and he is doing well and was looking forward to the VMI football season. He and Pat had dinner with Ed and Mary Lee May in Richmond. Pete Philp had to step down from running our e-mail network, after two years, due to his many volunteer activities. We certainly owe Pete our thanks for a job well done. I was really pleased to see Jim Connolly step up and agree to take over the network. I know he will continue the tradition of great service. Ed May called to report that Mary Lee is recovering from a wrist fracture and is now using a walker. Ed mentioned the dinner with the Grays and observed how great Johnny looked. Ed also reported that our BR Burwell Phillips and his wife, Eddy, had moved into Cedarfield, where the Mays live. Burwell left VMI after two and one-half years and received a B.S. from the University of Richmond. He then spent 20 years in the Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. I left birthday greetings for Jim Marshall and Jack Nichols after failing to connect by phone. Homer Ambrose called to thank me for the class birthday card, and we had a nice chat. Marie and he are both doing well, and Homer continues his physio regimen three times a week. I missed connections with Frans Kasteel and left a birthday message on his answering machine. Frans and Shirley are still resident on the Northern Neck of Virginia. I received a very nice letter from Jack Nichols in Asheville, NC. After graduation, Jack pursued a military career in the Air Force, while picking up an M.A. from USC and an M.S. from Oklahoma State. Upon retirement from the military, Jack then became the resident engineer for the local school system. He is now fully retired, walks three miles a day and works out at a local fitness center. Jack enclosed a nice contribution for the Foundation. I also received a thank you note from Jim Evers in Elgin, IL, in which he said that he was packing for Florida, where he escapes

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES the northern cold weather. Jim inquired about Gooch Meador and Johnny Minear. As Jim is not on the Internet and his phone was out of service, I wrote and informed him that we had lost both of these Brother Rats. I reached Fred Watson in Weatherford, TX, wished him a happy birthday and had a nice chat. Fred matriculated from Roanoke, VA. After graduation, he spent a couple of years in the Air Force and acquired an M.S. from VPI. He retired from General Dynamics as a senior engineer. Fred asked about his roommates Johnny Jordan and Bill Nelson, and I filled him in on their status. He brought to my attention the large number of Brother Rats with names starting with the letter “W” who had died. With all the storm activity in the south, I tried to check up on our Brother Rats living in the path of the various storms. Marie called Sally Carstens in Alexandria, LA, and spoke with Bounce, who reported no damage. Jimmy Gonzales in Kenner, LA, likewise had no real damage. However, Doc Laville in Breaux Bridge, LA, had significant property damage, but his house is still habitable. Nevertheless, Doc sounded as optimistic as ever. Earl Patton in New Iberia, LA, was subject to mandatory evacuation and did not find any accommodations until he reached Little Rock, AK. When I reached him on the cell phone, he had just made it back home. I talked to Barbara Ann Guthans in Mobile, AL, and she reported no significant damage in that area. Nevertheless, I was unable to reach Johnny Lyden on his birthday or even leave a message. Jessie Scott reported no significant damage in the Charleston, SC, area. I was unable to reach a number of Florida BRs – Gibson Gay, Beano Graf, Joe Tom Howard and Dick McFarlin – however, their phones did ring. I was able to leave voice mail messages for Rufus Lazzell and Jim Marshall. And I did reach Hap Higby in Bonita Springs, FL, and he reported no problems. He did inquire about a number of our BRs – Joe Dougherty, Bill Ellis, Michael Duggan and Ken Crisp. I confirmed the deaths of the first three and gave him the contact information for Ken. I was unable to reach Gerry Eggleston or George Maxwell to extend birthday greetings, so I left messages on their answering systems.

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I talked with Gloria Cowherd, and she said George was being discharged from his rehabilitation facility, after hospitalization for pneumonia, which was good news. She mentioned how much George appreciated receiving a VMI picture from George Wamsley. When I called shortly thereafter, I was delighted to talk with George, who reports he is doing well. He admits, however, it will be some time before he is back to normal. I had an enjoyable telephone call with Pete Philp. He reports no significant damage to his vacation home on the Texas coast. Pete, who is one of the few remaining EEs (nine in number), is as busy as ever. He works three days a week in a charitable thrift shop as a volunteer, repairing donated electronic items and furniture and functioning as a general handy man. He is also an officer in an organization of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, which demands a lot of his time. Ed May called and reported he had located Clyde Green in Richmond at Brighton Gardens, an assisted living facility. Ed reported that Johnny Blakemore had visited Clyde. Marie and I traveled to Williamsburg for the William & Mary game. On Friday evening, before the game, the Holloways had a dinner, which we attended along with Jack and Barbara Lowden and two other couples. Then on Saturday, the Holloways had a luncheon which we attended with Carolyn McCallum and Nancy Bell. Before the game on Saturday evening we visited with Johnny & Pat Gray, Jack & Nancy Hill, Willard & Peg Hays and Jerry Eggleston. It was great seeing and visiting with all the Brother & Sister Rats. Unfortunately, the game was a rout. Jack Evans called to thank me for my birthday greetings. He reported on a visit he had with Johnny & Robin Jordan at Johnny’s assisted living facility. Robin said Johnny had a minor stroke, which affected his left side. Jim Marshall checked in with an e-mail. He had just returned with Cindy from their fifth Elderhostel program conducted by Niagra University. He proudly announced that one of his six grandsons, Spencer J. Plante, is applying for early admission to VMI. I tried to reach Jim Enochs in Jackson,

MS; Roger Little in St. Louis, MO; and Dick McFarlin in Lakeland, FL, on their birth dates but was forced to leave birthday greetings in voice mails. I subsequently received a thank you note from Jim Enochs. He and Jean had just returned from visiting his brother and then his daughter in North Carolina. Jim reports both he and Jean are in good health. Dick McFarlin then checked in by e-mail and explained that he and Clare had just returned from a Canadian cruise which they enjoyed. Unfortunately, Clare hurt her leg on the trip but now is much better. Dick reported that Charles Shoaf ’52 was seriously injured in a fall but is making progress in his recovery. Dick also disclosed that he and his brother are now working on the restoration of a 1962 Corvette, which must indicate they completed their Jaguar project. I finally reached Betty Little to wish Roger belated birthday wishes. Roger was doing yard work, so I visited with Betty. She reported their basement reconstruction was finally completed. Later in the day, Roger called and we had a nice chat. I reached Bill Caldwell in Roanoke, VA, to wish him a happy birthday. Bill gets around in a motorized wheelchair. He recounted a recent visit to VMI in the second week of October. Bill was very impressed by the new additions to the Post and the ongoing construction. He reminisced how, when he was pursuing his pharmacy degree at MCV, he ran into Joe Dougherty, who was there in an oral surgery program. Joe, you may remember, left us after two years when he was admitted to Temple University Dental School. In any event, Bill recounted that Joe treated him in the dental clinic. Jim Close called and informed me that he is leaving Alexandria for a visit to his Naples, FL, abode. He and Alice had just returned from Irvington, VA, where her daughter was married. The officiating celebrant was our BR Frans Kasteel, who Jim reports did a great job. Jim also reports that Frans and Shirley are in good health. I received a note from Earl Patton in New Iberia, LA, thanking me for the birthday card and enclosing an obituary for Charles A. Wolford ’52, which I forwarded to VMI. In response, I called Earl to see how he is recovering from the hurricane.

CLASS NOTES He reports that his part of Louisiana is fairly resilient and doing well. I had a nice visit with Henry Bryan up in Port Huron, MI, where he reports the weather has turned cold. Henry and Joan are doing well. He recounted that he had recently visited northern Virginia to attend a celebration honoring our BR Henry Baxley for 60 years of service to the Episcopal Church. Henry also noted the prominent medical academic careers of three of our BRs – Henry Pitot, Don Bennett and Jim Hamlin. Ed May called to inform me he had visited Clyde (Abie) Green in Brighton Gardens. Ed said Abie looks good, and they had a nice visit. George Cohen called from Hartford, CT, to let me know he could not make it to the Institute Society Dinner. He and Marty are in good health, although she was recovering from a cold. George is very proud to be an expectant great-grandfather and reports he still has not had any success in selling his Hilton Head house. Gloria Cowherd tells me that George is doing well in his recovery. She takes him to rehab three times a week. George appreciates the notes and cards he had received wishing him well. Gloria also mentioned a phone call from his roommate Dick Cole. John Gray reports Peg and Willard Hays had a luncheon in Lexington before the Coastal Carolina game in mid October. Fred and Rose Anson, Johnny and Pat Gray, and Jack and Nancy Hill were in attendance. Then, they all went on to watch the Big Red win an exciting game. Incidentally, Johnny is doing well in his medical battle, although he does get tired due to his low hemoglobin, which requires periodic blood transfusions. I received a letter from Jim Evers in late October providing me with his winter address in Florida and phone number. I note that he and Hap Higby have adjoining zip code addresses in Bonita Springs, FL. I talked with Glennie Brown, who resides in Cedarfield, where she sees the Mays and Phillips. She sounds great. I had a long chat with John Herring, who still calls Richmond home, although he always seems to be traveling. He has been retired now for 21 years and is in “great health,” as he puts it.

I also reached Scott Underwood in Richmond, who is thinking about downsizing and reports his health is basically “OK.” He inquired about Johnny Jordan, Bill Nelson, George Maxwell and Richard Owen. I was able to provide info on Johnny and Bill but reported that I had not been able to contact George and that I had not heard from Richard. In trying to bring our class records current, I contacted Jimmy Gonzales in Kenner, LA, and was supplied his birth date. I also processed the same information for Lewis Beazlie from his wife, Beverly. I still have not been able to reach Pete Amos in Millis, MS, nor Thomas Twitty in Mobile, AL, or Bob Martin, Henderson, NV, at the phone numbers furnished by VMI. I hope someone can help. I checked up on various recovering BRs at the end of October. Jerry Eggleston feels great and is as active as ever. Hank Quisenberry has completed physio for his hip replacement but is concerned that his other hip is acting up. Jim Smith is doing well after his prostate procedure. Brom Nichol is still seeing his surgeon and oncologist every four months, as they continue to evaluate his melanoma. However, Brom is in great spirits and still has his “faithful companion,” Jack the Parrot. I had a long chat with Harry Bailey at the beginning of November, when I called to wish him a happy birthday. He and Lou still reside in Arlington, VA. Harry reports he is in good health but that Lou is not doing too well. He inquired about Richard Chaplin, and I provided what info I had. We also discussed the problem with the economy without reaching any conclusions. Harry regrets he could not make the Institute Society Dinner due to Lou’s health. I received an e-mail from Ed May also expressing regrets that he could not make the dinner. Donna Raeburn and I had a nice visit. She reports that she is doing well and in the process of downsizing, having sold her apartment. Donna is moving to a P. Johnson designed building in the same area of New York City. She inquired about Jerry Eggleston and is still very interested in VMI. I checked in with Charlotte Marr in Atlanta, GA. She sounds great and said

she is still managing her large house and property. She asked about Johnny Jordan and Jerry Eggleston, and I gave her the current medical status of each. I checked with Ed May, who told me that Mary Lee has a stress fracture of her lower leg. Thus, they could not make it to the Institute Society Dinner. I wished Desmond Wray happy birthday on Nov. 6, a day late. He matriculated from Staunton, VA, and was with us for one year and then received his B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy, followed by an L.L.B. from the University of Virginia. He served in the Marine Corps to the rank of lieutenant colonel and practiced law in Staunton until he retired. Desmond inquired about his roommates Richard Chaplin and Harry Bailey. I checked with Bob Nolley, and both Jeanne and he informed me that the news from Hopkins was great – the tumor continues to shrink. Bob came to the Institute Society Dinner – what a difference a year makes. Marie and I are leaving for Lexington this weekend to attend the Institute Society Dinner on Nov. 10 and then a Class Agents Conference on the following day. I will report on these events in the next issue of the Alumni Review. Inasmuch as you will not receive these class notes until February, Marie and I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and a blessed and Merry Christmas season. Please keep the news coming, and let VMI or me know of any change in your personal data. Semper Fi … Jack

’52

Nutz Navas

It is with deep regret that I inform you of several deaths in the class of ’52 family. Robert Ture Nyman, 79, died Sept. 7, 2008, at Hay-Madeira Hospice House in Stuart, FL. Bob and Marilyn lived in Upper Saddle River, NJ, for 28 years and 19 years in Stuart. Bob was a CE at VMI. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War as a second lieutenant in the artillery

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CLASS NOTES branch. He and Marilyn were childhood lapsed a few months ago when he sustained to the USA, returned home to Winterville, sweethearts. Bob is survived his wife, severe head injuries. His conversations are NC, on Oct. 21 after a long journey from Marilyn; two daughters, Debbie Hollender of short, but he is responding well. He wants China. They flew over Russia to the Arctic Ridgewood, NJ, and Linda and her husband, to know what happened to him. Apparently, Ocean and then far north of Alaska and part Douglas Hollender, of Ramsey, NJ; four he does not remember the incident with the of Canada, landing at Washington Dulles. grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. ladder. Further north in Edisto Beach, Bob From Beijing, China, to Washington took Charles Wolford died on Oct. 2, 2008, Long answered the phone when I called and 13 hours and 4 minutes. It took almost two in Monroe, LA, of congestive heart failure. said he was in the process of taking chemo hours in customs to get through all of Lili’s Charlie was 77. He earned All State honors for his leukemia. Natalie is giving comfort paperwork. The flight to Raleigh took only in football at Jeanerette High School. Upon and care to Bobby. He appeared to be in 40 minutes. Ash has some keen observagraduation from VMI in 1952, he served in good spirits. The VMI Spirit abounds with tions about his exposure to a socialist society the U.S. Army for a couple of years and later both these Brother Rats! in China. Suffice it to say we will get an earned his master of arts degree in English Barbara Welford sent in a newspaper photo extensive briefing in the not too distant fuliterature from Tulane University and taught of Jim Wiley after he found a dead 10-foot, ture. WELCOME HOME, ASH AND LILI at McNeese State University. Charlie is sur1 inch blue marlin along Chesapeake Beach. HARMAN! vived by his brother, Dr. Lionel T. Wolford He called the Virginia Institute of Marine C.J. Brauner sent an e-mail with news ’48B of Monroe, as well as two nieces and Sciences to report his find. Dr. Eric Hilton, about him and Dottie. They live in Madeira one nephew. assistant professor of marine science, veriBeach near St. Petersburg, FL. in a 55+ comWilliam A. Bickerstaff passed away fied its identity. Dr. Hilton noted “that this munity, independent living and gated condo on Oct. 21, 2008, in Richmond, VA. His is a very unusual record for inside the bay.” compound. Every so often, they receive beloved wife, Mary, preceded him in death What was so unusual was that it was found invites to attend a luncheon or a 3-day, several years ago, as well as his brother and some 60 miles upstream from the Atlantic 2-night stay at a retirement community that sister. Abie is survived by his five children Ocean and at least 80 miles from its comfort has all the goodies, including medical care and his dear friend and companion, Gaye zone in the Gulf Stream. The marlin traveled if required. Recently, he and Dottie won a Moran of Adelaide, South Australia. Several a great distance within a time frame that dance contest, the TWIST, and their prize of our Brother Rats attended services at St. prevented total decay. It was apparently in was a rolling piece of luggage. Mary’s Catholic Church in Richmond. good shape. Talked to Weir Goodwin in November, Diane Willoughby Ames, 73, died of lymTed Ball called in late September from and he told me he is moving into an apartphoma on Nov. 4, 2008, in Virginia Beach, Fairfax where he and Kitty were visiting ment near his current home in Houston in VA. Diane is survived by her husband, their son and family. They had just been on order to downsize. His home has just gotten Walter C. Ames III; a brother, Kenneth Wila cruise to Nova Scotia and were heading too much of a chore to maintain just for loughby; a daughter, Elizabeth B. Healy, and home to Tennessee and then on to Las Vegas himself. He moves in early December and her husband Edward A. of Poquoson; a son, to join friends for a couple of days. They hopes to put his current house on the market Bradley S. Bowden, and his wife, Angela, of exchanged a time share for the condo in NV. for sale. Portland, OR; her husbands’ two daughters, Ash and Lili Harman, now an immigrant We spent a week in Williamsburg at our Ann A. Edlemann and her time share condo overlooking husband Van of Virginia the par 3, 16th hole of their Beach and Pattie W. Ames golf course. Lou and Ella of Washington, D.C.; and Delisio joined us for an overseven grandchildren. She was night stay, and we had dinner preceded in death by a son, with Bob and Betty Lambert Judson D. Bowden, in 1977. at their country club on Kings Many of Walter’s Brother Mill Plantation. I got to play Rats and spouses, as well as the River Course of Kings many friends and relatives in Mill with Bob and a friend the Tidewater area, attended which is one of three great memorial services for Diane golf courses on Kings Mill. It at Gallilee Episcopal Church is the course where the PGA in Virginia Beach on 8 Nov. holds an annual golf event on 2008. the tour. Class of 1952: Myles (Hutch) Hutchinson, left, and Zeke Ailing: When I called CharAt Diane Ames’ memorial Finney, who, when he submitted this photo, wrote, “After 60 years, Hutch and I are still together singing in the same choir. lie Shoaf, he was napping at service at the Church of the We were in the same section at VMI and so went through all his Vero Beach home. Mary Gallilee, we got to see almost of our classes together.” The two also sang together in the says that he is making solid all of our Brother Rats and VMI Glee Club. progress after his ladder colwives in the Tidewater area.

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CLASS NOTES The church was almost full of family and friends to pay tribute to a lovely and courageous woman. Walter did a magnificent job in arranging the program and the reception following the service. Johnny Jordan ’51, former pastor of the church, would certainly have participated if he was physically able, but he is in poor health and unable to attend. His lovely wife, Robin, did attend, and we were all glad to see her. MINI REUNION: Hopefully, by the time you receive these notes, you will have also received information on our plans for a cruise from Baltimore, MD, to Bermuda and return in late May 2009!! Keep fit and trim.

’53

William C. Noell Jr.

Brother Rats: There are NO class notes for us in this issue, as, due to travels and other reasons, as well as living in two states, I could not get them written in time to meet the deadline, which is very necessary in order to have the Alumni Review published as fast as now accomplished. Most of the November notes should be in the next set of class notes. However, a complete set is being mailed to all BR e-mail addresses.

’54

Bill Schubmehl

As you read these notes, we will have just had our 55th class reunion, or we are just getting ready to have it. Regardless, I know you either had a good time or you are going to have good time, because a lot of preparation has gone into making this a successful reunion. I’m sorry to begin these notes on a low note, but the month of September was a bad month for the class of 1954. A real bummer! As you all know by this time, I hope, we lost three classmates in that month and all on the same day in different parts of the country. Don Dunlap died of complications of a heart attack in North Carolina while visiting his daughter. John Windle died of cancer in Fort Worth, TX, after a long illness and Venable Barclay, better known as Gus, passed away in Boulder, CO, after a short illness. We have extended our condolences to Kay Dunlap and family, Lois Windle and family, and to the family of Venable Barclay who was not married at the time. The only positive which came out of these unfortunate events is the increase in “chatter” over the Internet from Brother

Rats concerning these deaths. Ollie Hux wrote to tell me that he was distressed to hear about Gus Barclay. He said that Gus had been living only 30 minutes from Ollie in Boulder, and in all the years, they had never run into each other. John Handy wrote to thank me for informing him about Gus, and he indicated that he had called Dave Carson, John Barthelmess and Lou Massad to inform them about the news. The four of them had roomed together our Rat year. Tom Mayo had called to inform me about Don and the various services that were being held for him. Tom is retired from teaching at Hampden Sydney in Farmville, VA, but he still lives on campus and enjoys all the privileges of a full time faculty member. Don, Tom and Tom Webb were very close from their roommate days at VMI, and the Mayos and Webbs attended the services for Don in Christiansburg, VA. On a lighter note. Much lighter! My wife and I had the opportunity to be with Bill Berry and Bruce Gottwald to imbibe a few beverages and celebrate the birthday of their wives, Betsy and Nancy. Mud White and Frannie, plus Hugh White and Mary were also in attendance. I’ve talked to Mud many times recently on the phone, but I haven’t seen him. Mud is retired from the practice of orthopedics but contributes his time and knowledge to a free clinic in his home town of Winchester, VA. They also travel as much as possible while at the same time keeping track of their home and a farm outside of Winchester. The other Whites, Hugh and Mary, that is, mainly stay close to home but occasionally travel to the West Coast to visit their sons. I received a letter from Elinor Wright, and she updated me on the physical condition of Tom. About a year ago, he had a bad fall in his house and caused some major brain damage. It has been a long and slow recovery for Tom, but Elinor indicates that he has been making improveClass of 1953: Standing beneath Jackson Arch at VMI were, from left, Margaret Morison, Tom Hanks, the late Joe Morison, Sherri Hanks (daughter), Ernie and Elizabeth Jones, and Mary and Harry Johnston.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES ment lately. Elinor advises us all to be more circumspect as we move around the house these days. She also informed me that Conrad Via had a serious automobile accident as the result of someone running a red light, but he is also on the road to recovery. Some good news. Don Ferry wrote to tell me that his granddaughter is interested in attending VMI . Don lives in Medford Lakes, NJ, and he informs that if the young lady does not change her mind, she will be the third generation of the Ferry family to attend VMI. John Fischer and Gladys flew in from Colorado to visit and have a mini reunion with Joe and Norma Siler. They were joined by Ed and Ruth Chandler from Augusta, GA. They tell me that they hit the hot spots around Shepardstown and had dinner with Jack and Mary Elinor Huyett. They then took off for Washington, DC, and also had a visit to the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico. By the way, and this is an unbiased opinion, if you haven’t visited this museum, you ought to do it. It is really about the history of the United States! The Siler’s indicated that all three couples would be at the 55th Reunion. Jack Huyett told me that in addition having dinner with the above group, he and Mary Elinor have been doing some traveling .One major trip was to South America where they went through the Panama Canal and then visited Machu Pichu; Jack confirmed that it is and should be one of the wonders of the world. Their next trip was to northern USA to visit the Badlands and Mt. Rushmore. Joe Santa Barbara and I had a day trip to Lexington for the Coastal Carolina game and it turned out to be a beautiful day which, combined with an excellent regimental review and a win for the Keydets, made it even better. Joe is a widower and lives in Hampton,VA, where he retired after a 30-year career in the Army. While we were at the game, we bumped into Len Wagner. Figuratively, not literally! Len was with his very attractive daughter and his grandson. Len is still using a wheel chair but claims he will be walking on his own by reunion time. The new VMI football stadium (Foster Field) has an excellent viewing section for physically challenged individuals.

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Dut Stoy and Pat live in Chapel Hill and recently had Ollie Hux in for a visit. Dut and Pat are also doing some traveling and were able to visit Alaska and the Inland Passage last summer. In addition to traveling, they are completing their 17th year of volunteer work with the Ronald McDonald house in Chapel Hill. Keep it up, Dut. I talked with Don Colwell who lives in Bluford, IL, and has recently retired from teaching and coaching in the local high school. Not long after retirement, Don had some cardiac problems and had a quadruple bypass; he is doing well at the present. Don and his wife, Norma, have two sons, and both of them live in the general area of Bluford and they have three grandchildren. Don matriculated to VMI from Bluford, and he was the first cadet to be given a basketball scholarship or at least a half of a scholarship. Those were the days when our basketball program was designed to keep football players in condition or on training table through the winter. However, it did work because Karl Klinar and Bill Ralph still hold some records which are recorded in the VMI basketball brochure! What the team lacked in skill, they made up in alacrity. Don indicated that he and Norma will be at the 55th Reunion. Leland Bell e-mailed to tell me bad news and good news. The bad news is that his wife, Mary Clare, had passed away after a long illness. The good news is that they had three children and eight grandchildren, and some of his family still live in Lexington. This April, Leland plans to visit them and attend our reunion. I also called Troy Carter in Mobile, AL, to catch up with him. Troy, like most of us, is retired now, and he said that he doesn’t do a lot, except fish and look out for his family. Troy was in the investment business at one time, and as matter of fact, my firm did business with his company in the mid eighties. Troy and Peggy, his wife, have four children and 10 grandchildren. One of his granddaughters has a serious problem with cancer, and Troy himself has been recovering from prostate surgery. It seems like this has been a particularly bad period for discussing illnesses of our classmates. But I guess that is just the way it is, and it is probably not going to get a lot better.

I was finally able to reach Jeff Robertson in Rochester, MN. After a short stint in the Army, Jeff graduated from the Colgate Darden business school, and after graduation, he went to work with IBM in Rochester, and he is still there. Jeff was always an avid warm weather saltwater sailor, and now he is a fresh water sailor and cross country skier. He retired from IBM several years ago, and now stays in shape doing the above sports and travels to Virginia, Colorado and Florida to visit children and grandchildren. In addition to being a cross country skier, he also helps build the trails. Cold weather sports are endemic to the area, and Jeff is right at home being there. Jack Cole was at a cocktail party at a retirement home in Richmond, and it was good to see him. Jack still lives in Roanoke and is retired from his medical practice but does some work with the local veteran’s hospital. Also seen at the party were R.B. Barnes and Maya and Tommy and Camilla Williamson. The whole group was having a good time as well as checking out the facilities as a possible future residence. I did not attend the Institute Society Dinner this year, but my informants tell that it was the usual excellent affair, and our friends in attendance were Billy and Shirley Kingery, John and Beth Knapp, Paul Meyer and Charlotte, Paul and Mona Kuhne, Tom and Elinor Wright, Dick and Peggy Trumbo, and Claiborne and Ann Terry. The Trumbos were very excited about the fact that their son and his wife just had a girl – the first female Trumbo in some time. Lastly, I had one of my special lunches with Bill Turner, and Bill has agreed to work on the reunion by putting together another book of commentary by classmates about their experiences since the last reunion. So, you will be hearing from him. Lunches with Bill are great, and we always discuss VMI days at length. Bill swears that when he entered Jackson Arch for the first time in 1950, the inscription did not say, “You may be what you resolve to be,” but it was a quote from Dante’s Inferno warning him, “Abandon all hope ye who enter here.” He swears that 58 years later, he carries no enmity toward third classmen … not much anyway! That’s it! Stay well, and let me hear from you.

CLASS NOTES

’55

C. Cary Jones

To begin on a euphoric note, the VMI basketball team just (November) beat the University of Kentucky on the Wildcats’ home floor and then followed up a few days later by almost beating UVa in Charlottesville. A great start for the high-speed ’Roos, and it’s all guts, stamina and Spirit that gets it done. On the gridiron, VMI scored a lot of points this year but was plagued by a lot of injuries and the perennial nemesis – big opponents from bigger schools with more scholarships. Several of you asked about the possibility of having a reunion during football season. But more of you expressed some preference to try to get together in the spring, with warmer weather, less crowded hotels in Lexington and a generally more senior-friendly approach. I am thinking about a nice spring day, hopefully a good baseball game, maybe timed so that we see the Corps on parade and a nice dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. Please let me know what you think. If I get a positive response, I will do some planning and ask for help in putting it together. Our thoughts and prayers are with BRs Burt Conway and Ward Johnson, who both lost their wives, Betty and Libby, respectively, in the fall. Since I mentioned BR Tony Russo’s book, “The Silence of Prayer,” in the last issue, George Scherer has read it and gives it high marks. The book, available through Amazon.com, describes the Catholic Church’s work and Tony’s role with the deaf in Philadelphia. It certainly sounds like a worthy ministry, and we’re proud of Tony for his contributions. (Editor’s Note: See the Alumni News section of this issue for an announcement about this book.) Had an e-mail from BR “Tug” Southgate, who just celebrated his 53rd anniversary with Joyce. Congratulations! Tug lives in Lexington, KY. Also was good to hear from BR Leon Cock, who lives in Denton, TX, looking forward to spending the holidays in his

old home town of Meadows of Dan, VA. Leon and Zella will be celebrating their 50th in January and plan to help Jerry Jones open the $2B stadium in Dallas with SuperBowl 45. Based on the latest intelligence from BR Tyler, whose business card IDs him as the Ass’t Vice Chair of the Fred Willard Search Committee, BR Fred Willard celebrated his 69th birthday in September ’08. Happy Birthday, Fred, wherever you may be. And speaking of show business big names, your indefatigable class agent just completed a sold out run of seven performances of Neil Simon’s “Rumors” at the Lancaster Playhouse. I played the part of a bag of wind who is running for the NY state senate. Type casting? I had to miss the annual hoedown in Sandbridge in late summer. A photo was submitted but unfortunately does not meet the tech req’ts for publication. Those attending were BRs Davidson, Wainwright, Bryan, Hill, Filer, Rennicks, McCants, Tait, Bowden, Timms, Valentine and Hogshire. A hardy group of party-goers, if there ever was one. As you can see, I need to hear more news from all of you. Notes, e-mails or phone calls welcomed up to 2300. Sarah and I continue to keep the porch light on for you, so come on down. Happy Hour is 5-7.

’56

Richard M. Smith

As I begin this next “Saga” of the class of ’56, I can’t help but reflect on how far we have come since I took on this assignment from Hoppy Holsinger some five years ago. Maybe it’s time for someone else to step up and take on the pleasant task of tracking everyone’s activities. Anyway, here I go with this segment. Bob Brickner reports from Chicago that in spite of having stitches in his head to repair a number of skin cancer removals and several more root canals to replace teeth knocked out when a motorist hit him, he is doing pretty well. He managed to do an average of 16 min. per mile in

the recent Senior Games conducted in the city. Last month, I relented to leaving my place on lovely Lake Gaston to go with my Lynchburg ladyfriend, Vernelle Lytton, on a Gloubus Tour of the great Rocky Mountains. We visited Calgary, Glacier Lake Park, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper and numerous other scenic places on this eight-day trip. I highly recommend this trip for anyone who hasn’t seen this part of the country. Randy Knipp recently sent me a copy of a 1981 brochure from our 25th Reunion prepared by Hoppy Holsinger with photos and write-ups of many of us as we were back then. I plan to take it with me to the upcoming MiniReunion at Natural Bridge for all to look at. Speaking of the 2008 Mini-Reunion, I can report now that some 40 who attended this function survived the strenuous task of drinking, dancing and taking abuse from some of our BRs! Those who attended were Harry and Linda Jones, Jere Real, Spider and Anne Allison, Doug and Betsy Gottwald, Scott and Ardis Boland, Russ and Lula Mathews, Bruce and Shirley McCreedy, Pete and Annie McCrary, Les Belsha and Pat, Dick Smith and Vernelle Lytton, Fred and Mary Jo Farthing, Motsy Foster, Freda and Lou Anne, Hoppy and Sallie Holsinger, Jim and Frances Dillard, Mac Spears and Carole Mactier, Bill and Dale Salsgiver, Russ and Peggy Quinlan, and Fred and Marge Dreyer. Bill Alexander was there initially but decided to leave after the water pipes broke and water came in from the ceiling of his room. Several car loads visited the World War II Memorial in Bedford and were most impressed with it. Also, a large group of us received a presentation in Alumni Hall on the construc-

Class of 1956: Pete McCrary, left, and Doug Gottwald, right.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES tion underway on Post prior to a bus tour of the projects. They all seemed to enjoy the banquet dinner and dancing to Donnie Cash band. The highlight for everyone was watching Linda Jones and Jim Dillard “boogie” on the dance floor. The weather cooperated, and we enjoyed the fall foliage in the Valley of Virginia. Motsy Foster gave a great party at her home which we attended Oct. 25th along with the following BRs and wives or friends: Hesleps, Gottwalds, Dillards, Manns, Dickinsons, Pittmans, Lamb, Belsha, Nelsons and many other friends of hers. A wonderful article titled, “VMI has become a coaching factory,” in the Potomac News, Oct. 30, 2008, by Brian Hunsicker was sent me by Greg Cavallaro ’84, which should be read by all alumni. It details the

number of current NFL coaches who spent part of their careers at VMI. Others are head coaches at major universities. I attended the VMI/Liberty football game and the following week, the Institute Society Dinner, Class Agents Meeting and dedication of the New Barracks after parade on Nov. 11, 2008. I also signed the contract with the VMI Foundation giving my home to them in return for a Charitable Gift Annuity which allows me to live in it until I die. The address to the Corps by Vice President Cheney prior to the VMI/Liberty game was very impressive – especially the tight security around VMI. The Institute Society Dinner was the largest ever and will be the last to be held in Cocke Hall. Those from ’56 who attended were Gottwalds, Hesleps, Manns, Motsy Foster,

Bernie Bossard, Marshall Mundy and Dick Smith. The following comes from Spider Allison’s notes: Class Notes No. 20; Nov. 4, 2008 Dave Blair writes that he and Anne are fine, but she is still nursing her knee after surgery. He says they fly together on calm days, and his landings are improving. Dave, any landing you can walk away from is a good landing. Tony and Maureen Nicoletti went to their son’s (Lt. Col. Keith Nicoletti) retirement ceremony at the Pentagon after 21 years service in the U.S. Army. At the ceremony, Keith presented Tony with an American flag that had flown over VMI on 1 Oct. 2008.With deep regret, Tony reports the death of Anita MacLeay, daughter of our late Brother Rat Don MacLeay. Anita was killed in an au-

Class of 1956 Mini Reunion

Photo above: From left, Hoppy Holsinger, Donnie Cash and Motsy Foster. Top right: Marge and Fred Dreyer with Fred and Mary Jo Farthing. Middle, right: From left, Scott Boland, Sallie Holsinger, Artis Boland and Hoppy Holsinger. Photo at right: From left, Spider and Anne Allison, Dick Smith and Linda Jones.

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CLASS NOTES tomobile accident on 24 Oct. at age 33.Our prayers should continue to go to Astrid and the MacLeay family. Bob Morris writes that he has had trouble with blood clots in his legs and is on “Rat Poison.” He said he and Jackie are still going on a cruise in late November if his name does not appear on the “Taps List.” Spider and Anne Allison celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends in Colony Hall at the Indian River Colony Club where they live. Attending BRs were Paul and Betsy Bark, Harry and Linda Jones, Tony and Maureen Nicoletti, and Bob and Cathie Spurrier ’58. As I wind up these class notes, I would like to remind you all that our class has fallen short on contributing to the Institute, compared with all other classes from the fifties – only 35 percent give. With this year marking the 75th anniversary of the VMI Keydet Club, I would like to see 75% of our class contribute $75 to support VMI athletics. A generous few alumni have agreed to match every $75 gift. I hope you will support this cause. Yours in the Spirit … Dick

’57

Clayton M. Thomas III

On 13 Nov. at 8 p.m., Dawn and I returned from an eight-day trip to VMI. We traveled via the Auto Train from Sanford, FL, to Lorton, VA, saving nearly 900 miles of driving. The trip was delightfully uncrowded going north, as there were only 55 autos and 101 passengers. Our coach had only us and two elderly couples on the lower level, while upstairs it was equally uncrowded. The seats were super comfortable with loads of leg room. Supper in the dining car was excellent, as was breakfast the next morning. Passing through Richmond at first light, we saw brilliant red and gold leaves to our great delight, as we miss the change of seasons in Florida. From Lorton, we drove west, escaping the traffic mess of northern Virginia. We found a scenic route through The Plains and Marshall to Front Royal and lunch in Winchester and on to Wheeling, WV, to

that the members establish a Bereavement visit a dear and old friend of Dawn’s. We Fund separate from our Class Reunion had a wonderful two-day visit, except the Fund. This idea was accepted, and Don Jacold weather almost did us in. After an mison will set up the fund. The committee eight-hour ride through the mountains of members suggest that Brother Rats write a West Virginia, we arrived in Lexington at check for “1957 Bereavement Fund” and the home of Pete and Nancy Lincoln on mail it to: Col. Donald K. Jamison, 110 Sunday, 9 Nov. Colston Place, Lexington VA 24450-1812. Monday afternoon, 10 Nov., the class of This is a one-time-only appeal and not an 1957 held the first meeting of the Beannual solicitation. Don will give me the reavement Committee. Eleven of the 15 name of the donors, and I will write and members attended. Attending were Dick thank each and acknowledge each in future Collier, Russ Davis, our class president, class notes. Several members of the comWade Douthat, Don Jamison, Howard mittee have already contributed, and my Lawrence, Wally McKeel, Bill Moore, check will soon be in the mail. Paul Muldowney, Jay Musser, George That evening before the Institute Society Sydnor and Dixie Thomas. Dinner, Harry and Sis Warner had a Missing were Bill Huffcut, who lives pre-cocktail party at their home. I cannot in Tallahassee, FL, Buzzy Snyder, who report on this wonderful event or who atis healing nicely after triple-by-pass, Tom tended. Dawn and I tried but couldn’t find Vaughan, who was “under the weather,” the place. We couldn’t see the landmarks and Pete Lincoln, whose health didn’t on Route 60 in the dark, and we finally permit him to come. gave up and drove to the At the meeting, George Institute Society Dinner in Sydnor, produced a Cocke Hall at VMI – I could class of 1957 mug with find that. the name Karl with a “K.” Carl Hellstrom, The class was well repCarl LeBourdais and resented at the dinner and Carl Schladitz all use a attending were Dick and “C.” George wants help Sarah Collier, Clint and in finding the rightful Belkis Glover, Lionel and owner. Carole Lee Hancock, Don Carole Green in The and Priscilla Jamison, Nancy VMI Alumni Association Lincoln, Wally and Diantha produced a ’57 minMcKeel, Ron and Patty Will the correct Brother iature that was found McManus, Bill and Florine Rat please claim this in Virginia Beach by a Moore, Paul and Harriet mug? member of the great class Muldowney, Jay and Brenda of 1955. The message Musser, Ann Spivey, George inside was from Howard and Shirley Sydnor, Dixie to Ginny. Since we have and Dawn Thomas, Armand but one Howard in the and Rita Wagner, Bob and class, Howard Lawrence Charlotte Wagner, and Harry explained that because and Sis Warner, for a total he was not dating anyone of 30. After the banquet, we seriously in November gathered for picture taking, 1955, he gave the miniaand Bob Wagner led us in ture to his sister, Ginny, an “Old Yell” for the class who must have lost it in of 1957, the only class at the the ocean over 50 years banquet to give an Old Yell. ago. What a happy ending for the long lost On Founders Day, we started at 7:30 a.m. ring! in the Pogue Auditorium in the Marshall While Tom Vaughan couldn’t attend, Museum. Dawn came along for the Class he phoned Bill Moore, the Bereavement Agents Conference, because they have a Committee chairman, with the suggestion splendid breakfast bar. There was a good

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Class of 1957

Photo top: At the first meeting of the ’57 Bereavement Committee were, from left, seated, Wally McKeel, Dixie Thomas, George Sydnor and Howard Lawrence. Standing: Paul Muldowney, Dick Collier, Bill Moore, Jay Musser, Wade Douthat, Russ Davis and Don Jamison. Photo middle: At the Institute Society Dinner in Cocke Hall, Nov. 10, 2008, were, row 1: George Sydnor, Bob Wagner, Clint Glover and Dixie Thomas. Row 2: Don Jamison, Paul Muldowney, Dick Collier, Ron McManus and Lionel Hancock. Row 3: Bill Moore, Armand Wagner and Jay Musser. (Not pictured but present were Wally McKeel and Harry Warner.) Photo bottom: Brother Rats with their significant others.

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turnout of agents and their ladies. There were updates from Walt Perrin ’62, president of the VMI Foundation, Adam Volant ’88, executive vice president of the Alumni Association and Greg Cavallaro ’84, executive vice president of the VMI Keydet Club, and closing remarks from Pat Webb, director of Alumni and Reunion Giving. Many of the class braved the cold morning to watch the Founders Day Parade. Dawn stayed in Marshall. I stood in the cold with Dick Collier, Bob Wagner and Bill Moore, who kept urging me to accept a warm sweater. Since Bill is nine inches taller than I, I graciously declined, as I didn’t want to appear to be wearing a wool dress. The Corps on parade was impressive, especially the bank with bagpipes and drums. When the Corps passed in review, we noted the lines were not quite as straight as they were half a century ago. As we watched, one cadet officer dropped his saber, and Dick Collier dashed between the platoons and snatched it up, lest it be trampled. Dick moved “right smartly” on his two rebuilt knees. Bob Wagner sagely noted that this feat makes Dick the last member of the class to be in a VMI parade. At the Third Barracks dedication, we watched the posting of the first cadet sentinel, the unveiling of the cornerstone, and listened to remarks by our superintendent. Afterward, the crowd of 500 surged forward to view Third Barracks. On our three-day trip home, we drove to Radford, VA, arriving by mid afternoon at the home of Russ and Betsy Davis. There we had a delightful visit, and Dawn was impressed by the quality and quantity of Betsy’s art work. Her paintings were beautiful. Russ and Betsy were gracious hosts, and we had a wonderful stay in their home. After a hardy breakfast, we left for a full day driving to Franklin, NC, south and west of Asheville. There we visited with friends and left the next morning for a 12hour trip in rain, clouds and fog on back roads, arriving two hours after sundown. We had a wonderful time, but I am still tired from driving. In September, Martha Batten sent calendar dates for SAT and ACT. Martha thinks I should take up tutoring after a hiatus of 43 years. Bill and Martha also hoped that if we

CLASS NOTES attended a football game this fall, we would come visit. Maybe next year on both. Claiborne and Linda Coupland visited friends from Mexico on the Sea of Cortez. They arrived the day prior to a Cat-2 hurricane which was poor timing. The hurricane struck 100 miles north, and wind and waves were terrific, but they escaped with only minor damage. They are both safely home in Norfolk. Katie and Ken Dickinson from Roscoe, SD, sent two pictures of their new kitten, Puff III. The baby was born in early August, and they got her from the same people that gave them Puff I and Puff II. We will see her when Ken and Katie return to Merritt Island in January. Now they are busy with hunting season. Patti Hammond thanked us for the birthday card and kind message. She also prayed that we weathered those terrible storms safely. As of October, she hasn’t sold her house on Jackson Avenue, and her cottage at Kendal won’t be ready until February or March. We had hoped to see her at the Institute Society Dinner or over Founders Day weekend, but our schedule was too tight. Patti reminded us that her birthday on Sept. 10th was Roy’s birthday also. John and Mary Hughes in Athens, AL, claim that the whole area from Tennessee to Canada is a blaze of color, and we should go see it and stop by their place on the way. Edie Yon in Seattle, WA, thanked us for her birthday greeting. She and Joe’s granddaughter were going through photos and discovered that he was not in the ’57 class picture. I wrote back on Oct. 11th that Joe’s picture is misplaced among the D’s between Dave Davenport and Tony DiCesare. I was glad to be of service. On Oct. 19th, the anniversary of the British surrender at Yorktown, William G. Boice wrote us a letter. Bill matriculated from Lynchburg and roomed with his high school classmate Bill Vaughan. The rest of the room was Charlie Smith and Mike Kivlighan. Bill planned to enroll at Randolph-Macon College where his brother went, when Coach Chuck Noe came calling in the summer of ’53 and offered him a basketball scholarship which he took. He finished out the whole

year and transferred to RMC in September 1954. He liked VMI better than the basketball program, and Bill believed he probably wasn’t the caliber of the Southern Conference at that time. He finished at RMC, went to law school at the University of Richmond, married, had four children, practiced law in Richmond, went to Henrico Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court as a judge, and retired in 2004. Dale and he have been married nearly 50 years and have 10 grandchildren. Bill kept in touch with Harry Warner over the years and lived a few doors away from Ann and Joe Spivey’s son, Jake ’85, who flies the VMI flag high and often. Thank you, Bill, for writing after all these years. Just as I was finishing these notes, Bill Moore mailed photos for me to identify and send to VMI. Let’s hope I get it right this time.

Wes Roberts

’58 Brother Rats, this has been a convoluted quarter: boundless joy over the memories of our 50th Reunion and sadness at the passing of two of our class members. This “crowd of honorable youths” has experienced the loss of both Charlie Best and Steve Delich, Charlie on 8/20/08 and Steve on 10/21/08. I still say, “We’re too young to be so old!” Hurricane Ike visited Texas and left its mark on several of our BRs: Sully Griffin, Jack Boze, Paul Johnson and Jim Poteet. Earl Bennett reported that Jack Boze’ home had a couple of feet of water, damaging wallboards and contents standing in the way of the invading waters. This left a mess that would have to be replaced to avoid mold and mildew. Sully’s home was the least damaged, so I’m told, but is in a coastal area thereafter condemned by city officials. Sully, with a “never-say-die” attitude, obtained a bulldozer and created his own “seawall”

around his home in an effort to thwart officialdom. Results of his efforts are unknown at this date. Paul and Jim are OK, according to Earl, Paul’s only real setback being that he was “confined to quarters” at the VA hospital for a time until the power was restored. Paul reported he had a lot of yard cleanup to do when he finally got home. Should any of you BRs be missing a copy of the 1958 Bomb due to storm damage or whatever occurrence, BR Warren Yaun has a copy which his mother recently gave to him and will make it available if needed. From the northwest quadrant of our U.S. of A, Roy Palmer reported he had visited Florida on a 1-1/2-week trip. His brother lives in south Florida. He missed seeing Billy Thomas at his Naples, FL, address by one day. Roy reports that he is still doing flight testing as a consultant; most of his flying this year has been domestic with the exception of a flight test in South Korea. He will be going to the U.K. for a flight test in Wales. He added that he had flight tests in China and Abu Dhabi, which were cancelled due to the economic downturn. On the bright side, Roy sold his Piper Cub J-3 and purchased a Christen Eagle II, a high performance acrobatic biplane, which, he says, “will do just about anything, from inverted spins to hammerhead turns. It is a two-seater, so if anyone is in the area, we can strap it on for some fun.” Dave Pitkethly reported that he and Mara are leading a quiet, retired life in the Seattle area. He says he sees Roy Palmer quite often at golf and social events. BR Gene Grayson, our newest “literary critic,” rendered a report on One Hundred Years at VMI, by Col. Couper. Gene reported that the four-volume set traced VMI’s history and gave “absolutely magnificent coverage on VMI grads, from generals down to lieutenants.” Gene recommended this to all of us as a “must read.” Healthwise, Gene had five malignant bladder tumors removed – the second time around for him; now everything looks good. BR Ted Henry reported that their daughters have both moved and that he was temporarily in the business of hauling furniture. That having been completed, he

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES

Class of 1958

Above: Ted Henry, second from left, with a few members of the VMI Pipe and Drum Band in Stone Mountain, Georgia, at the Gathering of the Clans.

Left: At a mini reunion in Houston, Texas, were, from left, Lynn and Jack Boze, Agnes and Bill Kump, Paul Johnson and Cynthia, Jim and Peggy Poteet, and Sully and Fran Griffin.

Left: Roy Palmer with his new “toy.” Roy sold his Piper Cub J-3 and purchased a Christen Eagle II, a high performance acrobatic biplane, which, he says, “will do just about anything, from inverted spins to hammerhead turns. It is a two-seater, so if anyone is in the area, we can strap it on for some fun.”

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CLASS NOTES and Becky flew to Belgium for four days, followed by a 15-day river cruise up the Rhein and Mosel rivers, from Antwerp to Basel. Other than the diminished value of the dollar, it was a wonderful trip, with lots of side trips to castles and quaint towns (and good beer and wine). Ted attended the Gathering of the Clans at Stone Mountain, GA, where a few members of the VMI Pipe and Drum Band were present. Reporting from his snowbound quarters in South Dakota, BR Jim Cowan said the snow is waist high, and his snowplow is at his son’s ranch, 11 miles away. He noted that while this sounds like a sob story, it is not, as he has tied a flask around his neck, and he and the dog are breaking trail to the barn to feed the animals there. He has a stockpile of booze and ammunition, as well as food and heating supplies, so he can survive weeks, if necessary. He was sorry he was unable to attend the Institute Society Dinner. Jim is still waiting for Ron Swirk to come help him up there, but Ron claims “you have snow year round” and hasn’t shown up yet. From the Charlottesville, VA, area, BR Howell Bowen reported that he and Janice attended the VMI Glee Club’s concert at the Bowen’s church (St. Paul’s) in Ivy, VA, where they met Col. John Brodie. Howell noted that the glee club was an impressive group of young men and women. Present was James Van Hook ’49B. Col. Brodie had the glee club give an “old yell” for the class of ’49 and one for the class of ’58. Wonderful!! Walter Leach reported that he has cleaned up “Big Red” (his motorcycle), but he doesn’t plan his next odyssey until the coming spring. Walter elaborated on a project initiated by his church, in which they fashioned 650 crosses (5 x 3 1/2”) salvaged from black walnut wood that had been stripped from the church walls during a renovation project. (Note from Wes: Where are you planning to tour next spring? Wish I could join you.) Good news! Bill Kump had his final check up at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Clinic, which he passed with no evidence of cancer after five years. While Bill and Agnes were in town, the Houston ’58 contingent had a mini reunion with Jack and Lynn Boze, Jim and Peggy Poteet, Sully

and Fran Griffin, and Paul Johnson and Cynthia, all celebrating with the Kumps. Paul Johnson was planning to spend a week in November, fishing with an old friend in Key West, FL, and then attending the annual November deer hunt in Georgia. He had a great time in Amarillo, TX, in August with Cynthia and her family. They hiked the Palo Duro Canyon and visited the Panhandle Plains Museum. Paul also reconnected with the alumni of his high school, the Oklahoma Military Academy, in Claremore, OK. On a humorous note, Tony Lash reported that he has plans for his home on Mt. Hood (OR). He said he could “remodel the five bedrooms into barracks rooms, complete with racks and hays, rifle racks, desks and laundry bags, lockers, etc. We could have MEIs SMIs, a cook to fix SOS and other gourmet dishes, landscaping details, PTs up to Mt. Hood and back, and on and on … but no academics. Such Spartan arrangements would allow me to accommodate at least 40 BRs in a style to which we are accustomed. Sorry, no running girls.” (Note from Wes: Any takers??) Tom Nance reported that he was unable to attend the Institute Society Dinner, but that doesn’t mean he was having a quiet time at home. To the contrary, and I quote, “I went sky diving with my kids, along with a buddy and his kids. We went out at 15,000 ft. (tandem), free fell for 10,000 ft., opening just below 5,000 ft. Our jump site was Titusville, FL, which advertises the highest jump altitude available. I believe it! My daughter, Kim, spent the last two years putting her husband through his last two years at the UF, getting an engineering degree. It was a major career change for him and that jump could have been their celebration and entry into a two salary mode.” The Nances have a new puppy, which is almost like bringing a new baby into the house. Thankfully, the puppy, while taking over the house, still allows the Nances to live there. AIRBORNE!! The Institute Society Dinner: BR Howell Bowen reported, ”It was a wonderful affair attended by some 600 guests, who were assigned to designated seats, with the class of 1958 being the honored guests.” In short, Jim Poteet reported the dinner was “GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, and VMI

never looked better. We were wined and dined in wonderful style.” Bill Kump noted, “It was great being with members of so many other classes, all with the love of VMI in their hearts.” Upon leaving, on the parapet, Bill saw a familiar upper class face, to whom he extended his hand, gave his name and class and asked his name and class. The reply: “John Knapp’54. They both chuckled as Bill introduced the “Soop” to his wife, Agnes. Joe Parker echoed that the dinner was a well done affair. He reported that our class was acknowledged and that Sam Witt and Tom Saunders were especially mentioned for their major contributions to the Institute. Hull Negley phoned in a list of our class’s attendees, which was confirmed in the report of Onza Hyatt, set forth below: “Somehow it seemed most appropriate that the sun was setting behind House Mountain, casting a silver lining upon the scene as we approached the Institute across ‘The Nile.’ ’Twas the night of the beloved Institute Society Dinner. We had suspected that the class of ’58 would have more than usual attendance. Wow! Did we ever! The 50th Reunion class had 28 Brother Rats and 24 wives and guests. This turn-out exceeded our normal attendance by more than double. As much as we all enjoyed the gala and renewing old friendships, we may well set an even higher record next year. Cocke Hall was resplendent with hundreds of balloons. The whole affair was well done and the ambiance was only outdone by the keen sense of a ‘brotherhood of caring and sincere men, sharing their goodwill, abundant pride and common bond’ (said Ernie Edgar). Each class member in attendance was asked to comment, and every one of them expressed exceedingly great pride in our class, their sense of togetherness and their happiness to be a member of the class of ’58, who set the new records for the 50th Reunion Fund – new records not only in dollars (over $16 million) but also with 90% participation. When the amount in dollars was announced, the 600 in attendance applauded loudly. When the percent of participation was announced, a raucous cheer reverberated around the elevated indoor track and noticeably shook the building. (A VMI photographer took pho-

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES tos.) The following is a list of attendees: the Howell Bowens, the Hunter Clarkes, the Bill Dunns, the Ernie Edgars, the Joe Grays, the Bill Harshaws, Charlie Hayes, the Bill Holts, the Onza Hyatts, the Bill Kumps, Tony Lash, the Dave Martins, the Hull Negleys, Frank Norvell and Martha Booker, Barney Odend’hal and guest, the Joe Parkers, the John Paynes, the John Peters, the Jim Poteets, the Darryl Rices, Paul Royer, the Howard Savages, the Mike Smeltzers, the Drew Troxlers, the Bill Walkers, Sam Witt, Jan Woodman and grandson, Barrett Barron, and the Warren Yauns. Incidentally, Jan Woodman called me to report on Tuesday’s activities! The parade was very professionally executed, and the tour of ‘Newest Barracks’ was well received. To many’s surprise, cadets are already occupying some nearly completed rooms.” Thank you, BR Onza, for this inspired report and for arranging for the photographs accompanying it. This Institute Society Dinner was a wonderful way to celebrate the success of our 50th Reunion. Many happy returns! GIM: Note that Stirling Williamson was not present on the list of attendees to the Institute Society Dinner. The reason is that on that same day, 11 Nov., Stirling was having surgery to correct spinal stenosis in his lower back. I spoke with him the next day, and he said he was up and about, with minimal discomfort and on the way to recovery. He will not be a GIM Rider. In the Spirit … Wes

’59

Phillip Shepard

Geri and Royall Geis recently returned from two weeks in the I Corps area of South Vietnam after which they spent time in San Francisco, CA, with daughter, Stacey, her husband, Peter, and their two grandchildren. Royall bumped into Gordy Keiser and got a quick update. Gordo’s doing well, still working at the USMC Warfighting Lab, Quantico, VA, as a defense contractor. He’s looking forward to the 50th with great anticipation. Jo Anne Dreelin Anstett wrote that when daughter Erin got married a few months ago,

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she had clippings from a shamrock plant on the church altar that Don nurtured before he passed away. Don’s sister, Eileen, is the caretaker of the plant and shares it with all the relatives at special events, so that Don will always be included in all Dreelin events. Jim McFalls no longer relieves pain, stamps out disease, stems the flow of blood and saves lives; he has finally taken down his shingle and retired. He spends most of his time visiting his kids who accuse him of suffering from “Irish Alzheimer’s;” he has forgotten everything but his grudges. Over the years, Jim has sent me some rather interesting gifts, mostly neckties, which I have cherished and worn with great pride. He feels replacements are necessary every now and again, since the old ones “deteriorate when subjected to post-menopausal drool, plus ample amounts of that fermented, amber-colored adult beverage.” His taste in men’s haberdashery has improved over the years, and his latest gift is one of the nicest and will be a treasured part of my wardrobe for the reunion. Thanks again, Jim. Hal Dayhuff received the Robert E. Burt Volunteer Award for Boy Scouts, the highest award the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution presents to a member for volunteer service to Boy Scouts. He received the award from Georgia State President Charlie Newcomer and President General Bruce A Wilcox. Congratulations, Hal. Penn and Betty Whitescarver live in Hobe Sound, FL, seven months of the year and Bel Air, MD, the remaining five months. Penn runs The National Stormwater Center, a nonprofit organization with a staff of seven. They conduct 40 training events a year to certify environmental inspectors. This keeps Penn on the road and Betty on the golf course. Both enjoy reconnecting with old friends and recently attended a 50th high school reunion. Penn also reunites with guys in his Air Force flight school every two years. Three of the 26 in the class became generals, and one is frequently seen on CNN News. Harry MacGregor does not have anything to do with computers, but thanks to his lovely wife, Terry, who is a computer wizard, I manage to get information from them. Harry and Terry have been “called out of retirement” to return to teaching. Terry taught math for more than 20 years before she retired in ’95, and Harry taught for about 13 years after retiring from the U.S. Army. Rockbridge Christian Academy lost three teachers this year and was struggling to find replacements. Harry told the pastor that he would teach for half a day for just one year. After he got into it, he discovered that they had combined classes, and it was becoming quite stressful. So, he called upon Terry to help him out. They are teaching 5th - 8th grades, math and science. The classes are small, the kids are sweet and they

are extremely busy getting back into the groove. Their plan is to only do this for one year while the academy works on recruiting new staff for the next year, but they are reminded every day why 70-year-olds are supposed to be retired! Waldo Ferony is trying hard to keep in shape, although arthritis of the spine and a prostate operation holds him back a little; it has taken longer than expected to recover. Daughter Laura and her Naval Academy graduate husband have been living in Jacksonville, FL, where he has been teaching new sailors how to fly, but they will be moving to TN soon for a new assignment. The other three kids live close by – Jeff in Bowie, MD, with his wife and three boys; Sharon near Quantico with Citadel graduate and FBI husband, Alan, who has just returned from Iraq and security duty at the two conventions; and daughter Jennifer who is going through a divorce. Waldo can’t travel ’cause he has to take care of his old dog, Katie, and his new house, but he does spend a lot of time helping with the grandchildren as well as being active in the American Legion. Eddie Barnes is still playing as much golf as he has time for, although the scores don’t seem to be getting any better. While playing golf at a Country Club in Danville a few weeks ago, Eddie tried to get hold of Jack Barnett who he heard always plays cards in the Game Room. Eddie kept missing Jack, and when he made the turn at the end of the front nine, Jack was nowhere to be found, and when he finished, Jack had gone home. Eddie left his name with one of the members and got a call from Jack the next evening; they had a nice long telephone conversation. Jack is enjoying his retirement and lives near the Country Club on the 11th hole. Since he has had some shoulder surgery, he can’t swim or play golf anymore. So, he walks six miles a day. Jack says he will see everyone at the 50th. Mel and Jean Anderson accompanied by Bob Haines and Monique Harnetty went on a two-week cruise to Tahiti. They had a great trip visiting Papeete, Rangiroa, Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Bora Bora, Taha’a, Moorea and back to Papeete. They were aboard the good ship Paul Gauguin, a Regent Lines ship, and found it to be the nicest ship they have ever traveled on in terms of size, service, room accommodations and food. Mel is doing great, weathering the near-miss hurricanes in Florida and the VMIRL meetings at VMI, while Jean continues to cavort with her high school girlfriends in Maryland. Bob Haines writes from the Middle East that he is back flying again and thinks he might be the oldest pilot captaining a plane in a combat zone. Bob reports that all is well. He does all his flying at night, but recently, he flew to Balad in the day time and saw the landscape for the first time this tour. It is still desolate land when you

CLASS NOTES

Class of

1959 Photos from top: Bud and Sue Mease, left, and Ann and Shep Shepard enjoying a day in Rome at the famous Trevi Fountain. From left, Rusty Loth, Betty and Phil Sellers, and Penn and Betty Whitescarver enjoying a break at the William & Mary football game. At a mini reunion were, photo above, from left, seated in first row: Patti Myers, Marge Elsarelli, Andrea Loth, Agnes (Inge) Carter, Lucy Gillespie and Sue Kornegay. Standing: Virginia Nowlin, Linda Phillippi, Lucy Thacker, Joanne Fall, Bet Vermillion, Audrey Eggleston, Jackie Baxter, Geri Geis, Bunny Addision, Barbara Pate and Brenda Keefer. Photo below, from left, Jim McFalls, Pete McWane, Dick Trandel, Vern Keffer, Buzz Nowlin, Charlie Carter, Marvin Myers, Jim Vermillion, Royall Geis, Mort Eggleston, Baldy Fall, Ned Addison, Harlee Pate, Rusty Loth, Lloyd Thacker, Dick Phillippi, Jim Sam Gillespie (behind Phillippi), Truman Baxter, Leon Elsarelli, Billy Kornegay and John Trout.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES get away from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to go back to Iraq to finish his tour of duty. Such is er, and Ralph and Janice Rae Lawson. They and gets very sandy when the wind kicks up. the life of a modern day soldier. This is his second micro-mini-reunioned, discussed the 50th and The troops continue to do a great job and all deployment to Iraq, and they anticipate there might had a picture taken. The game wasn’t pretty, have great attitudes. They deserve our support be a third deployment in a couple of years. God VMI 17-W&M 52, but the ever-resounding regardless of our political persuasion. Amen and bless our troops. words of “The Spirit” rang true: “Our battle stay safe, Bob. Skip and Linda White got the experience of cry is never, never die.” Max and Lee Ann Blanchard of Albuquerque, a lifetime as they watched their 19-year-old While canvassing Brother Rats about the 50th NM, had a visit from John and Teddi Martin of granddaughter, Mackenzie, open on Broadway in Reunion, Lee Southard discovered that our Richmond, VA. On their way to a family wedding the play “Tale of Two Cities.” It was an exciting Brother Rat Richard Hein has been suffering in Paso Robles, CA, John and Teddi decided to and extraordinary evening, because Mackenzie from a form of dementia and is in a nursing make it a full western vacation. They flew into arranged a backstage tour after the show where home in Tucson, AZ. I immediately called his Albuquerque and spent a few days with Max and they met the producer, saw props and scenery, wife, Colleen, and she said that Richard has been Lee Ann, drove to Phoenix/Sedona, then on to San and her dressing room. Even though the cast was ill for the past 10 years, but two years ago, he Jose for the remainder of their trip through CA. very nice and pleasant, Skip told Mackenzie to became too much for her to handle, and she had They had a great visit with Max and Lee Ann who sign up quickly for some engineering courses so to admit him to a nursing home. Colleen spends showed them some of the local sights and then she could meet some real men. two hours of quality time with Richard every day took them to the beautiful little town of Santa Fe. Against his better judgment, Rusty “The and passes on all the information she receives John discovered that Lee Ann’s father graduated Bear” Loth ventured down to Williamsburg to from VMI, albeit he does not understand most from the same high school as he did some 30 years attend the William & Mary game. He couldn’t of it. He sometimes recognizes Colleen but not before and was a 1931 graduate of VMI. Her father find any Richmond Brother Rats who wanted very often. As you will recall, Richard spent was a Brother Rat of our own Col. Glover Johns to attend, but at the Keydet Club Bar BQ and many years writing a small business advice ’31. John and Max became VMI roommates by Oyster Roast, he ran into Brother Rats Phil newspaper column called “Business Doctor.” chance simply because they happened to be in line and Betty Sellers, Penn and Betty WhitescarvThe column was written in Spanish and aptogether at matriculation. They spent peared in many newspapers in the many Saturdays during their Rat year Southwest. I then contacted Ivan eating hamburgers and French fries at Galysh, Richard’s roommate, to let Steve’s Diner where Max introduced him know the sad news. Ivan said he John to Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the had talked to Richard a few years ago Line.” Max played it constantly. Just and noticed he was hesitating and goes to show what a small world we forgetting things. Ivan and Oksana live in. Max and John had a great time are doing fine. They have lived in reliving some of these memories. Fairfax Station, VA, a number of Max and Lee Ann, as well as John years, ever since working at the and Teddi, plan to attend the 50th Army Materiel Command. He and Reunion and look forward to seeing Oksana are retired but try to get in all our Brother Rats there. as much travel as possible. They Bill and Susie Kirkland had just returned from a trip out west, planned to follow their exciting trip visiting our beautiful National Parks, to New Zealand and Australia with beginning in the Badlands of South a cruise through the Panama Canal, Dakota, Mount Rushmore, Custer but as fate would have it, his brother National Park, Yellowstone, Grand had a heart attack and Bill had a hip Canyon and ending up in Sedona, replacement, so everything has been AZ, outside Flagstaff. Lee Southard put on hold. Hopefully by next year, tracked down another voice from the they will both be in better physical past, Bob Nicholl. Bob, a native of shape, and they can enjoy a relaxing Virginia Beach, left VMI following and pleasant cruise to the Republic of his Rat year to care for his dad who, Panama and a trip through the Canal. unfortunately, ended up bedridden Bill’s son-in-law, a member of the for the next 16 years. Bob has had Indiana National Guard, recently rean interesting career in municipal turned from Iraq for two weeks R and administration and was city manager R. He was able to hold his daughter for a number of different cities in for the first time, since she was born Virginia, including Glasgow and after he deployed. I know that feeling, Narrows, as well as two tenures as since I experienced the same thing city manager of Kitty Hawk, NC. He during the Vietnam War. I didn’t see was Lee’s city manager when he and my youngest daughter until she was Marilyn had a home there several six months old, but when I did, it years ago but didn’t know it at the Class of 1959: In Albuquerque, New Mexico, were, was a wonderful experience that I’ve time. Bob and his wife, Barbara, a from left, Teddi and John Martin with Max and Lee never forgotten. His son-in-law and school teacher, now live in Dunn, Ann Blanchard. new daughter are bonding, but he has NC, but he works all over the state as

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CLASS NOTES an interim city manager. Bob enjoys receiving all it certainly didn’t seem like it had been two if it takes another year. Needless to say, Lois the VMI information and hearing news about his whole years since their last visit. Tex’s cabin has was not real happy to think about another year Brother Rats. a screened porch that overlooks Lake Martin, of pain. Bob and Lois’ oldest grandson is with It looks like the Houston Gang faired well and it didn’t take Wich long to find the swing the border patrol and just transferred from AZ during Hurricane Ike. Cec MacArthur lost and enjoy the view. Both being from military to ME. Talk about a cultural shock! They, unelectricity for a while, and one large tree fell on backgrounds, they bought some BB pistols at fortunately, took their two great-granddaughters the fence rather than the house. They hunkered Wal-Mart and dealt with the squirrel menace; to ME with them, but fortunately, his younger down in the hallway and listened to stuff clunk did I mention they shot soft BBs? Bill is retired, brother and his wife just announced they are down onto the roof. They had many down limbs but Tex continues to teach at Auburn University, expecting next year. So, that will give them three and 20 bags of debris, but thanks to son Gordon, and they pay him for doing it. Tex plans to pick greats. They married off five grandsons and one they got it all cleaned up. They are doing fine. up Wich on the way to the reunion next year to granddaughter in the past year, so Bob expects Tom and Shirley Hughes and Bob and Ann make sure he finds his way to Lexington. the clan will grow – that is, if he can get them Baillio came through Hurricane Ike intact. Both Ralph and Janice Rae Lawson continue to to focus on great grandkids instead of dogs!! sustained minor property damage but nothing circumvent the globe and visit as many sporting Bob keeps getting pictures of pugs, bulldogs and significant. Jimmy and Linda Johnson had 10 activities in the USA as possible. Recently they huskies. He’s told them to forget the dog pictures hours of hurricane winds but no damage to the went to Philadelphia where Ralph was inducted – send baby pictures!! Bob contacted most of the house, except they had to pick up all kinds of into his high school Athletic Hall of Fame for CA Group, and all are doing well. Ed Sitch tried debris in the yard. They feel very fortunate to basketball. One of the great things about the retirement but is now back with Boeing working only have lost power for two hours. Their house whole affair was that his brother, Jerry, was on the B1 – a project he was involved with previis located in downtown Houston and ously. Jim and Mary Lew Edmunds is a very solid, two-story pier and still live in the Bay Area, and Mike beam building constructed in 1930 and Karen Irvine continue to travel and over the years has weathered a bunch and enjoy visiting their kids many hurricanes. Jimmy and Linda and grandkids. Mike took two of went up to Seattle to visit Jimmy’s his three grandsons to Lexington to brother and while there had the look over the Institute. They also opportunity to have lunch with Don got the opportunity to see an excitand Kathy Ulm. Don and Kathy ing football game where the Keyare doing well, although Kathy dets beat the devil out of Coastal had a hip replacement but seems to Carolina. His oldest grandson has be recovering. All of the Houston decided on one of the academies, Gang feels blessed. Lee and Marilyn but Mike is still hoping he can talk Southard also had their share of him into paying the state of Virginia bad weather. While at their home to take that kind of abuse. They got in Corolla on the Outer Banks, they to stay with Charlie and Karen Orwere hit with a Nor’easter – raining rison who were most gracious with torrentially, house shaking, 40-50 their hospitality. Lee also contacted mph winds, gust of whatever. They Bill Pickering, a ’58 bull rat who named it “Nor’easter Allie,” since graduated with us as a physics mait arrived on their granddaughter, jor and now lives in St. Cloud, MN. Class of 1959: From left, Mel and Jean Anderson with Allie’s, birthday and was the first Bill says his health doesn’t allow Bob Haines and Monique Harnetty onboard the good real bad one since Thanksgiving of him to travel well these days, but he ship Paul Gauguin touring the Tahitian Islands. 2005. Hatches were battened down, and his Scandinavian wife enjoy the and the house got a power wash. They had so much salt spray on the windows, they couldn’t see a thing. They were thankful it was not a full-fledged hurricane. Chuck and Margo Cotton’s family has gotten so big that they have to go on vacations in shifts. Chuck and Margo treated half their family to a weekend at Shades of Green, the military recreation resort at Disney World Orlando. Shelton and Wendy came down with Chuck and Margo from Louisville, Willie and Melissa came from Summerville, SC, and Doug and Ann came all the way from Greenville, SC. Ann and I were able to join them for dinner one evening, and we can report that all is well in the Cotton family. Tex Carr and one-time roommate Bill Wichlei spent the weekend together at Tex’s lake cabin in Dadeville, AL. They had a great time, and

inducted at the same time. What a proud moment for both of them; congratulations, Ralph and Jerry. Bruce and Norma Mackenzie recently completed a cruise up the Hudson River courtesy of American Cruise Lines. The scenery was beautiful, even that place we call the “High School on the Hill” – that place built on a bluff and run on the same principle, or better known as “VMI of the north’s Post,” West Point. It was impressive! Their tour guide was very knowledgeable; it was like she had read and memorized her “Rat Bible”! Bob and Lois Hobson are doing pretty good. Lois continues to struggle with her knee replacement, but the doc assures her it will heal, even

beauty of Minnesota. Baldy and Joanne Fall visited their daughter, Stephanie, and her family recently at Fort Benning, GA, where her husband, Pete, is a brigade commander. Pete just returned from his third deployment to Iraq and is glad to be at Fort Benning where he can enjoy all the benefits of command, the best jobs in the U.S. Army. Pete is a graduate of West Point, and needless to say, they are very proud of him and his accomplishments, as well they should be; only the best are selected to command our precious soldiers. Fort Benning is an exciting place to be these days with the BRAC realignments and the Armor School moving from Fort Knox; who would have ever thought that would happen? Harlee Pate and the boys put together a

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CLASS NOTES mini-reunion in Lexington early November, got a great turnout and saw a pretty good football game with Liberty. Ann and I joined Bud and Sue Mease for a whirlwind tour of Italy. We spent 16 days starting in Rome and headed down the coast to Sorrento and Capri, then back to Assisi, San Marino, Venice, Lugano, Switzerland, back to Pisa and Florence, and ended up back in Rome. Although Ann and I have been to Italy a number of times, we did get to see lots of things we had not seen before, and the company was exceptionally good. Our family, especially the grandchildren, continues to make us proud, and we scratch our heads wondering what we did right to make it all happen. I would like to thank the Houston Gang, especially Bob and Anne Baillio, for helping our family during a health crisis that played out in Houston. The true spirit of “Brother Rats” was shown in spades, and we greatly appreciate all the help you provided our daughter and her family.

’60

L. Edward Tolley

Joe Collins called from Mt. Pleasant, SC, having recently talked to R.R. Hamilton. I had given to Railroad, Joe’s phone number. I think they were roomies; I know they were part of the “Liquid Lunch” bowling team. Joe was telling me a story about his travels upon which he was air bound to some destination and chatting with his seat mate. The subject of VMI came up for some reason, and Joe made a remark that was overheard by the occupant of the seat immediately in front of him. The occupant immediately arose to challenge the statement. Lo and behold, it was none other than Ed Davis! Small world, eh? Big Ed, probably anticipating the remarks as coming from some Hokie or Bulldog puke, was ready to defend the honor and reputation of the Institute. Joe is retired and has a scaled

Class of 1960: John Coughlin and his new wife, Joyce.

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back schedule. However, wife Mary is still very much engaged as a software consultant to the GSA, Dept. of State and others. Joe gave me a new address for Roy Quinn being Summerville, SC, which is north of Charleston, my last address. Joe and Mary’s children are scattered across the eastern seaboard, so he has provisions for overnight guests. Y’all come! Henry and Linda Brown were recently in Florida visiting Herb and Terri Vaughan. A mini reunion was held by the Browns, Vaughns and Linda and Jeep Goodwillie for dinner, cigars and war stories. As the story goes, the three couples had some homeless drunk take a cell phone snapshot for the history books. I hope we can identify them. Another story, confirmed by Tommy Leary (who, by the way, has pictures as confirmation), concerning Mike Pitt and the beautiful Betty Hudgins, the Mrs. Mike Pitt. The picture was taken in 1958 at a Va. Beach party when Mike, Jim Savage and numerous others were giving Betty the rush. Mike and Betty went their separate ways, were each married, divorced and eventually are now happily married to each other! Leary says he has several party pictures and a video (from an old home movie camera film, black and white) of our second class party. If you needed a secondary reason to make the 50th, you may want to come and defend yourself. Leary is loaded with “the goods.” Leary also mentioned that Bill and Sue Knowles, Bob and Lucy Clay, Dave and Imelda Bisset, Mike and Betty Pitt, and he and Angela had their annual ’60 Tidewater mini recently. All were in very good health and enjoyed yet another get together.

’61

Sal Vitale Jr.

August through November has passed by very quickly, and we are now in a new year and with many challenges ahead of the nation and us. Our 50th R.eunion will be held in either the third or fourth week of April 2011, so mark you calendar and please don’t book any trips for that time period. The VMI 1961 Red Book was mailed in October ’08, and if you or any Brother Rat widows have not received the book, let me know. It was sent to the address we currently have on file. The class is very indebted to Jim Bickford and Bill Braithwaite for the fine job they did in bringing together the 128 stories for the Red Book. A special thanks to Karen, Jim’s administrative assistant, and VMI’s David Morris who

packaged the books for mailing. Sue and I especially enjoyed Bill’s “A Meditation: How Did 340 Men Become ’61?” A few e-mails on how others reacted to the Red Book follow: Donna Tyler, Brother Rat Bob Tyler’s widow, said, “Thank you so much for the Red Book. I was so pleased to see the bio on Bob in the back. You made my day!!! Best regards to you and all the BRs.” Hill Browning said, “The Red Book is fabulous. Lots of good stories. I certainly thank everyone involved. Heather did mine, and I didn’t know it was there until I received the book.” Ed Hollowell said, “The book is fantastic; it percolated an e-mail from nowhere from one of my great Rat year roommates, Charlie Henkle, who lives in Winchester.” Marty Caples’ observation: “I have always thought I was a nonconformist and misfit, but from the few get-togethers with BRs and the personal accounts in the book, truly I believe the whole class are nonconformists and mavericks. To the man, they are going to do the right thing regardless [of] consequences and/or misdirection from above. ‘WILL DO THE RIGHT THING, DO IT WELL, EVERY TIME, REGARDLESS’ should be the class motto.” I hope you agree that the book was worth waiting for, and I did forward to Jim and Bill all the “well done” e-mails you sent me. For those who did not participate in this endeavor, and if there is sufficient interest, Jim has volunteered to do an insert to the’61 Red Book. Deadline for new stories is March 31, 2009. Finally, Jim Bickford was featured as chef of the week in the Virginian-Pilot culinary section. Maybe if we are nice to him, he will invite us over for his famous Hampton Crabs, Gravlax, Parisian Eggs or the delectable Poire Poire (Pear) dessert. Joyce Gibbings recently prepared crabs per Jim’s recipe and said it was superior to her secret family recipe. That is saying something! For a week in September, Lynn and Shirley Hartford played hosts to Sue and me at their beautiful new home in Auburn, CA. Every day, deer and at least 20 wild turkeys came on to their property, and at night the coyotes howled. Shirley heads up a cat rescue team, and this keeps her very busy. She is trying to establish a cat sanctuary in their county for rescued cats that can’t find a home. I was amazed how many animals are not well treated. We had a great time traveling to Napa, Sonoma and the Sierra foothills to sample wine. A special treat was a trip to the Hartford Family Winery. Lynn is trying to document the family relationship so that he is eligible for the “family” discount. I do not remember how many bottles of wine we drank, but suffice it to say we had a great time. September was not a good month for Andy Thacker who lives in Seabrook, TX, where hurricane Ike took out about one third of the

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Photo captions: 1. Roommates reunited at the Biltmore Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island. From left, Lou Grazulis, Sal Vitale, Carl Hirsch and Floyd Roberts. 2. At the annual Browning Huddle mini reunion dinner in Natural Bridge, Virginia, were, from left, seated: Hill Browning, Tom Bradshaw and Larry Williams. Standing: Paul Johnston, Mike Bissell, Bob Huddle, Barry Orndorff, Trey Copenhaver’12 (newest Copenhaver “Rat”) and Dude Copenhaver. 3. At the Football Reunion Dinner were, from left, photo above, front row: Wyatt Durrette, William Haeberlein, Lee Badgett, Paul Johnston and Louis Shuba. Standing: George Van Orden, Robert Polk, Hershell Murray, John Woodfin, Stuart Woodcock, Van Langdon, Warren Copenhaver, Donald Kern, Louis Kiger, Richard Weede, Charles Stevens, Larry Wetsel, Donald Rishell, Kenton Patrick, Bill Phillips and Ben Birindelli.

Class of 1961 2

4. From left, Sal and Sue Vitale with Shirley and Lynn Hartford at the Hartford Family Winery in Forestville, California. 5. At the wedding of Larry Dapra’s daughter, Laura, in San Antonio, Texas, were, from left, Larry Dapra, wife Kay, bride and groom Laura and Steve Guzman, and the groom’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. Guzman.

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CLASS NOTES town. Andy’s neighborhood is new, and the houses all met the new windstorm requirements of 150 mile an hour winds. Andy did not leave his home, and even though it blew hard, he only lost a few shingles, some fence and a light pole at his pool, which broke in half. The surge rose into the streets of Seabrook, but Andy is fortunately at one of the highest elevations, and therefore the surge did not reach any of the homes. “LT” Troy Jones left his home in Pearland, TX, during Ike and headed north. Troy knew that power would be out for weeks, and being a realistic person, he opted for relatives. Both Andy and Troy had no power for 12 days. Hershel Murray also had severe damage to a portion of his house in the River Oaks section of Houston, when a large tree limb partially took out a bay window roof that in turn allowed water to penetrate ceilings and floors. Hershel said if he had not remained in his home during the storm, the damage would have been very extensive. Mother nature was not finished with our BRs. Marty Caples experienced a firestorm that took out 10 homes and damaged many others in his subdivision. Winds in excess of 50 mph, near 100-degree temperatures and 8% humidity made what his fire chief called a perfect storm. Winds were so strong that homes were engulfed and gone within minutes. Marty was fortunate not to be in the path, as his home was a half-mile down wind, and he experienced no problems. On the brighter side, Battle Haslam was selected to receive the Founder’s Day Award for service to the Mission Hospital and to the community. The hospital has 750 beds and 600 doctors on staff and is the largest employer in the mountain area. As you may remember, Battle retired 8-1/2 years ago and really thought he had mostly faded out of sight. As many of us will agree, Battle remains a bright life in our lives, as well as others. Gaylia Hudgins has been in contact with Battle and is bravely and energetically carrying on. Gaylia has been in Wyoming, carrying on the volunteer work that she and Bland started several years ago. I was also happy to learn that Ed Hollowell was elected USCGAUX Division Commander and was elected to the board of visitors at Fishburne Military School, Ed’s old school. We are very proud that Battle and Ed are added to the list of citizen soldier contributions by VMI graduates and specifically our class of 1961. Russ Aylor is still living in Culpeper and having fun racing horses. Russ had a three-year-old filly race in Maryland, and the horses lost by a nose. I wonder if Russ races against Jimmy Berger’s horses? Another Aylor surfaced, Edward Randolph Aylor of Harrison, AR. As you may remember, Randy spent one year with us, and as one of those teenagers “who knew it

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all and had a good time,” didn’t return. Randy says that life since has been good, but maybe it could have been better. In any case, it is nice to have Randy back. Paul Thompson is still a senior research associate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, turning out several publications a year on local history. For variety in life, he and Mary have the usual sort of church and civic duties. He is very fortunate that both children (and grandchildren) live within a mile. Dick Hartman’s son, Dean, got promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Air Force and was reassigned from the Pentagon to Elmendorf AFB, AK, as commander of the 3rd Civil Engineering Squadron. Congratulations! Dick drove 4,982 miles to Alaska to help his son with housing, etc., before his family arrived. Dick said he never thought he could sit in a vehicle for eight days. On the way to Alaska, Dick stopped and saw Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, Devils Tower and every kind of critters, bear, moose, elk, goats, sheep and buffalo. Stan Boleski and his mother came down from the mountains of Wyoming, made it east and visited with Joe Lisiecki and Stan’s relatives in northwest Indiana. Joe enjoyed the visit and said Stan’s mom is a sweetheart. Also on the move were John and Irene Gangemi. They visited Scandinavia, Finland, Lapland, cruised the fjords of Norway and then spent time enjoying Bergen and Oslo. They spent time above the Arctic Circle and for days never saw the sun dip below the horizon. The midnight sun was an interesting experience, but John was not sure about living with the long, dark, cold days of winter even with the Northern Lights! Ray and Sally Hanlein took an Elderhostel Trip to Newburgh, NY, and one of the day trips was a visit to the Gomez Mill House where Bill Maurer was the former manager and trustee. Ray said the travel group was so old that he and Sally felt like teenagers. The Hanleins also visited Virginia Beach, and we had an opportunity to have lunch with them and the Gibbings. Tom and Barbara Phlegar lunched with Dick and Diane Stone in Southport, NC. Tom Phlegar regularly sees Barry Orndorff. Barry is still in the church furniture manufacturing business. Tom Phlegar’s son is a partner in an outdoor company that takes folks fishing on the New River and other hot spots. A regular client is Rhett Clarkson. Call or e-mail Tom for more information on fishing. Jim Bickford and Rhett Clarkson managed to get together for a fun and games in Richmond. Larry Dapra recently had a daughter married and was nice enough to send a wedding picture. It has been a long time since we laid eyes on Larry! I talk to John Purner every two weeks. John recently moved to a new apartment in Ormond Beach, FL, and now has a guest room. John sees Buzz Bossart almost

every week, and they often eat together. Dick and Diane Stone visited with Buzz Bossart in Daytona. Dick played golf Buzz and had dinner with Buzz and John Purner. Wyatt Durrette is very proud of his son, Wyatt III. At the end of the half in the Texas Tech v. Oklahoma State football game nationally televised on ABC, the song introduced by name and artist and a video clip and then used as background music for first-half highlights was “CHICKEN FRIED,” Wyatt III’s song. This, of course, is really really big, so Wyatt thought he would share it. A BR poet with a son who is a composer – nice!! There have been several Brother Rat events worthy of pictures. The Annual Browning-Huddle mini reunion was held at Tom Bradshaw’s cabin. Saturday night, they gathered for dinner at Natural Bridge, and the group included: Paul Johnston, Mike and Jan Bissell, Bob and Rosalyn Huddle, Barry and Elizabeth Orndorff, Dude and Kathy Copenhaver, Hill and Heather Browning, Tom and Faye Bradshaw, Larry and Debby Williams, and Trey Copenhaver ’12 (Copenhaver nephew and “Rat”). Should you be traveling to Florida, Hill will be in Naples until at least mid May, where the fishing is always good and all are invited. The very successful ’61 Footballers Reunion held in October was a gathering of all those Brother Rats who played either Rat and or varsity football. Events started with Friday night cocktails and dinner at Cafe Michel. Saturday, an end zone hospitality tent was provided by the Institute for the ’61 Footballers, and between the first and second quarters of the VMI vs. Coastal Carolina University game, the ’61 players were called to the field and recognized. The announcer said: “Fans, please direct your attention to the end zone near the red and yellow tent. VMI would like to recognize this very special group. This weekend, VMI football team members from the class of 1961 and their spouses have returned to the Institute for a special reunion. Coached by the legendary John McKenna, this group has the best fouryear football record in VMI history: 3 0 wins, 5 losses and 5 ties. During their four years in Barracks, they won three Southern Conference championships, two state championships and put together two amazing undefeated streaks. In their Rat and third class years, the Big Red had an 18-game undefeated streak. In their second and first class years, they played 14 consecutive games without a loss. The 1961 football team is pictured on the Video Board. Co-captained by Lee Badgett and Howard Dyer, the football class of ’61 is truly a special group. Ladies and gentleman, let’s give this remarkable class a round of applause!” A post-game cocktail party and buffet were held at Moody Hall and

CLASS NOTES were enjoyed by all. The weekend ended with Sunday brunch at the Badgett’s. Those folks present for the festivities were: Lee and Betsey Badgett, Jim and Blair Bickford, Warren and Kathy Copenhaver, Wyatt Durrette, Howard and Dianne Dyer, Jim and Nancy Gabbert, Bill and Sylvia Haeberlein, Dick Jarvis, Paul Johnston, Don and Ibis Kern, Lou and Jane Kiger, Tom and Jeri Langdon, Ken Legum, Hershel Murray, Ken and Sue Patrick, Bill and Norma Phillips, Bob Polk, Don and Ann Rishell, Lou and Priscilla Shuba, Charles and Ann Stevens, Dick and Anne Weede, Larry and Jerri Wetsel, Stuart and Sylvia Woodcock, John and Ann Woodfin, and George Van Orden. The Brother Rats went out of their way to make George, the only non football team member, feel comfortable and right at home. George said, “I was last at the Institute for the 25th Reunion, so it had been awhile. Some of them, like Lou Shuba, I had not seen since graduation. It felt strange being the only one there without a knee replacement, hip replacement, shoulder replacement or what have you.” It was also a first time back for Charlie Stevens, and he also slid right into the pack like in the old days. I want to thank Sue Patrick for taking the pictures in my absence. Sue did a great job. While the ’61 football weekend was in progress, Sue and I were attending a first cousin’s wedding in Providence, RI. My roommate, Carl Hirsch, and his wife, Becky, were visiting Providence, so we asked our other roommates and spouses, Floyd and Mary Jane Roberts, who live two hours away, and Lou and Nina Grazulis, an hour away, to meet in Providence, and they agreed. Mary Jane Roberts could not attend due to a family illness. The last time we all saw Lou, now retired, was at our 30th Reunion, and he looks (for the second oldest BR in the class) great! We spent a wonderful day together and will try to do it again real soon. The next weekend we went to Fayetteville, NC, where the Copenhaver family and friends celebrated the marriage of “Dude” and Kathy Copenhaver. We enjoyed meeting the grown children and their spouses of both families. Those ’61 BRs in attendance were Mike and Jan Bissell, Paul Johnston, Bill Haeberlein, Dick and Diane Stone, John Miller, George and Edna Henning, Bill and Joyce Gibbings, and Sue and Sal Vitale. The last events that took place before these notes were due were Vice President Cheney’s visit to VMI, the Liberty football game, Institute Society Dinner and the dedication of the Third Barracks, and a Class Agents mini meeting. Ed and Phyllis Hollowell invited Sue and me to stay with them in Waynesboro, and we had a wonderful time. Prior to the parade for the vice president, I tried to carry my beverage

to Alumni Hall for consumption at lunch. At the security checkpoint, I was denied entry and was told to find another way to Alumni Hall, and I did. I was coming between the Alumni Hall and Smith Hall when I had a run in with the secret service agent who wanted to know how I got there. After a quick “certified” discussion with one agent, several other “nice guys” helped me complete my mission to Alumni Hall and then escorted me to the parade. Other than Hollowell, the only BR I saw at the football game was John Woodfin and his family. However, at the Institute Society Dinner we had a crowd that filled four tables. In attendance were: Lee and Betsey Badgett, Jim and Blair Bickford, Rhett and Jan Clarkson, Dude and Kathy Copenhaver, Battle Haslam, Carl and Becky Hirsch, Ed and Phyllis Hollowell, Bill and Marcia Keech, Ben Lynch, John “J.C.” Miller, Hershel and Cinny Murray, Larry and Jerri Wetsel, Stu and Sylvia Woodcock, John and Ann Woodfin, Dick and Judy Youngblood, and Sue and me. It was nice to see Carl Hirsch and Hershel Murray who were first time attendees and to finally meet Hershel’s wife Cinny. I hope we did not overwhelm her. It was also nice to see Rhett at this function. There was a time when we had 33 Institute Society members. Oh, well! At the Class Agents meeting, VMI’s financial situation was discussed and a plea for an increase in participation and if possible an increase in the amount given was requested. The VMI visit ended with the dedication of the Third Barracks, a new milestone in VMI’s history. The construction of Barracks and the other buildings on the Post should make you proud. The superintendent is doing a great job. Health wise, the class is holding its own. Lee Everett is coping with chemo, Sleepy Hollowell had his knee replaced for the second time and is doing well, Barbara Phlegar is home with a new knee, Donnie Wise is improving, Mike Payne is recovering from a heart problem, Buzz Bossart has recovered from his eye problem, and Bill Keech looks and feels great. The Alaska trip is scheduled for Aug. 20, 2009. At this time, the following BRs have signed up: Larry and Dorothy Wetsel, Donald and Ibis Kern, Bill and Sylvia Haeberlein, Ken and Sue Patrick, Ray and Sally Hanlein, Bill and Sandra Fout, Jim and Connie Oliver, Lynn and Shirley Hartford, Sal and Sue Vitale, Roy and Mary Schall, Louis and Priscilla Shuba, Ken and Dorothy Templeton, Robert and Mary Callander, Bill and Joyce Gibbings, Lou and Nina Grazulis, and Andy and Peggy Myruski. Several friends of BRs have also signed up, and the more we have going, the less we will pay for the trip. We will have a great time together, so please consider joining us. For more information, call the travel agent Beth Frolic at

800/849-2027, ext. 225, or me. Please join me in extending our condolences to Pete Roberts who lost his wife Mary Lee. May she rest in peace. Other classes see our class as very close and our activities, contributions, etc. have become a model for others to follow. Let’s keep up the good work. Please stay healthy and write, e-mail, call or visit. God Bless Our Country, Institute and the 1961 Brother Rats and their families. Please say a special prayer for the safety of all those VMI graduates and my enlisted grandson, Doug, who are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hostile areas of the world. Remember the VMI Ccass of 1961 “WILL DO THE RIGHT THING, DO IT WELL, EVERY TIME, REGARDLESS.”

’62

Jerry Burnett

Dear Brother Rats, I start my notes on a sad note. I received an email from Sonny Robbins telling me that Judy Nicholson, wife of BR Nick Nicholson, died Oct. 11, 2008, after a valiant seven-month battle with kidney cancer. She and Nick started dating at the age of 16, and we all remember her dating Nick through VMI. They had two children, Colin and Shelley, as well as nine grandchildren. I have made a donation to the VMI Foundation from our class. Nick is president of Coldwell Banker Commercial Benchmark in Jacksonville, FL. I also received a note from Walt Perrin last night about the death of Linda Candler who passed away on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008, at Duke University Medical Center from complications of a bone marrow transplant. You will recall Linda and John started dating when they were at E.C. Glass High School and had been married 46 years. A memorial service was held on Nov. 15th at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Brevard, NC. At the time of this writing, an online register book is available at www. thosshepherd.com. Thomas Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center handled the arrangements. Randy and Julia Campbell called and told me that Keith Block’s wife, Rocelia, passed away on Tues., Nov. 11th. I’ve been unable to reach Keith. However, Rocelia’s memorial service was held on Nov. 15th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Greenville, SC. Keith’s e-mail address is kblock@charter.net, and his telephone number is 864/963-2917. Incidentally, I do not have an e-mail address for John Candler, but his telephone number is 828/883-2535. Randy

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES and Julia represented our class at Rocelia’s memorial service. Walter and Mary Perrin represented our class at Linda’s memorial service, as well as other BRs from Lynchburg. Many of you have asked also how to reach Nick Nicholson in Jacksonville, FL. His e-mail address is nnicholson@CBCBenchmark.com. His direct line is 904/421-8521, and his fax number is 904/281-0998. Cynthia and Bill Bryant hosted a “minireunion” for a few BRs and spouses at their beautiful home in Williamsburg. Barbara and Dennis Easley drove down from Richmond. Also attending were Williamsburg residents Diane and Mott Robertson (part time residents) and Carol and Jay Beirman (full time residents). Mott and Diane split their time between Lynchburg and Williamsburg. Although Mott stepped away from his practice a couple of years ago, he didn’t retire from the medical profession, continuing as associate medical director for a medical insurance company based in Lynchburg. Jay’s distinguished military career led to an equally impressive second career with Northrop Grumman. He and Carol settled in Williamsburg several years ago. Living right on the river course at Kingsmill sounds like the perfect location for those two avid golfers. Patsy and Bowles Pender also live in Williamsburg but were unable to attend the festivities. Bill’s long career with NASA provided the Bryants with many choices for the “good life” of retirement, and they, too, picked Williamsburg. Both Cynthia and Bill have deep Virginia roots, and their daughter graduated from William & Mary in 2002. Both are very active in local organizations. Cynthia, a master gardener, is very involved with one

of the larger garden clubs in the area, and Bill is on the board of his extended neighborhood association. Their daily activities include many hours improving and expanding their spectacular gardens. As for the Easleys, Dennis is quick to point out that the Germans (in reference to Barbara’s heritage) have a wonderful saying, “I’m retired, I’m healthy and most important, my wife still works!” She continues to enjoy her love of coaching figure skaters, and they travel to many competitions each year. I received recent notes from Bill Ritchie. Bill got back to the Institute in August and missed seeing Binnie by a few days. His son, Bill, took a position at James Madison as professor of business. Bill is still teaching Spanish at two colleges in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, FL, and waiting for his 12th grandchild to arrive in Virginia. Recently, John Mott, Jay Bierman, Bill Bryant and Dennis Easley had a mini reunion in Williamsburg with all the spouses present, as well. John Cooke is living in Stockbridge, GA, with his wife, Linda. He is retired from teaching and coaching high school football. He also says that the mayor of Fayetteville, GA, is a VMI grad and that he and Hal Dayhuff from the class of ’59 plan to lunch together soon. He stated he recently had a blood clot and would like to hear from any BRs. His e-mail address is johndahlcooke@yahoo.com. I appreciate all the nice responses from my Volume V class notes and will try to feed you information as it arrives. Walt Perrin sent me an article that appeared recently in the Asheville, NC, press entitled,

Class of 1962: Recently, John Mott, Jay Bierman, Bill Bryant and Dennis Easley had a mini-reunion in Williamsburg with all the spouses present as well.

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“Candler will be hard act to follow.” John Candler has been president of the Brevard Music Center for over 15 years. John raised a significant endowment, attracted larger paying audiences and increased the center’s nationwide and international profile, all the while retaining Brevard Music Center’s mission as an educational institution that brings talented faculty and students together for an intensive seven-week experience. John joined the Brevard Music Center board of trustees in 1981 while he was the head of Ecusta, a local manufacturing plant. John was credited as having shown the ability to collaborate in reaching high artistic aspirations while managing facilities and staffing within a budget. Congratulations, John, on your retirement, and we hope to see you more around the Institute. Don and Ellen Arey were a welcomed surprise in South Boston several weeks ago. Don is now an expert witness in medical malpractice cases in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and other states. He was in Danville on this visit to talk to the Rotary Club on medical quackery. As I mentioned in my previous notes, Don and Ellen have two sons and a daughter, and their families all live and practice in the Florida area. Don again relived his attending the funeral of Bo Diddley in Jacksonville, FL, this summer. As you recall, Don talked General Shell into letting Bo Diddley come to one of the hops at VMI, and it turned out to be a smashing hit. I had a nice chat with Bob Tyson. He is now married to a lady who was on active duty in Desert Storm. They met at an American Legion function and married shortly there afterward. Bob suffered permanent injuries in Vietnam and in his service career and is now living in Augusta, GA. He will be moving back to his ancestral large farm in south Georgia soon. Bob and Jim Rogan were in Vietnam together when Jim received his fatal wounds. Bob said his health is not well, and he would like to hear from any and all Brother Rats. I received a nice note from Joe Weakley recently. He said he had finally retired from education on July 1, 2008, after 46 years. He said, like VMI, he started at the top, teaching at high school, then intermediate, then junior high, then middle school, ending up at the elementary school level. He said each level had its benefits and drawbacks but most of the time, was most enjoyable. He enjoys playing golf, doing yard work and taking his wife lunch, who teaches at Luray Elementary School. You will recall that Joe volunteered to do a videography of our Brother Rats, and hopefully he will be contacting you to get this rolling. Tony Curtis has issued the “Shake A Leg” for

CLASS NOTES the book he is preparing for our 50th Reunion. You will recall that Tony wants each BR to send him a “this is your life” story from the time you graduated from VMI until the present time. He is getting out a mailer as we speak. Ed Vinieratos has already sent his draft document to Tony and Judy for editing and comments for improvement before finalizing it. Ed wrote me that after a 43-year absence, he had visited VMI last summer and met Mark Graybill. I received a copy of a picture of Ed and Mark on the parade ground which does not have enough pixels to include in the Alumni Review, but thanks anyway, Ed. In September, Bill Mizell and Betsy stopped by on their way back to the beach from his 50th High School Class Reunion in Martinsville, VA. Bill is still recuperating from the fractures in his arm. Betsy has been approved by the Secret Committee to become a Sister Rat at anytime. Betsy is very active in church work at the beach and also has a wedding planner business. Speaking of the beach, Columbus Cartwright told me at the Liberty-VMI football game that Edmund Strickler had been diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer. I called Edmund when I returned from the game Nov. 9th, and he said that his PSA levels had been on the rise. He had biopsies which showed a low grade Gleason prostate cancer and had robotic surgery the last of October; he is doing well. Edmund has joined in a dental practice in Houston and said that the recent hurricanes had damaged the office to the point that he would not be able to return to work until the first of next year. I mentioned the Liberty-VMI game. Vice President Dick Cheney reviewed the Corps along with Binnie Peay and Ware Smith. It was quite an affair. I saw Howard Cobb, Mark Graybill, Bob Miller, Dennis Merklinger, Jerry Wagner, Lewis Graybill, Columbus Cartwright and Buck Bradley and was told that Bobby Mitchell and J.R. Dunkley were also present. I see Doug Marechal and Dave Plageman at most of the games. It has been a real pleasure to sit with Mustard Graybill, Jerry Wagner and Columbus Cartwright, as well as our wives, at the home football games. Mustard and Columbus are regulars at football games and basketball games and know the inside scoop. If any of you BRs are in Lexington on any Wednesday, you are welcome to join them at Alumni Hall at 12 noon for lunch and briefing from the coaches. VMI basketball started Nov. 14th with Kentucky, and I hope to see you at some of the games. I am enjoying being your class agent and look forward to calls, visits and e-mails from you. In the Spirit … Jerry Burnett

’63

Michael J. Curley

If you attended our 45th Reunion in September, you already know what a terrific success it was; if you didn’t, you’ll just have to imagine it! WOW, did we have fun or what? Even the weather cooperated … mild all weekend! We planned to allocate a bunch of time and opportunities for personal visits; time to catch up with your roomies or buddies or whatever. It worked. In fact, we will move even more toward that objective for our time together at the 50th which, if you can believe it, is just a little over four years away. I want to thank everyone on the committee who worked so diligently on the planning and the execution of the festivities from the bottom of my heart. You all were great! For your information, all our future reunions will be held in the spring of the year with no football games which will give us the opportunity to spend more time together, one on one. The VMIAA will be mailing you this edition of the notes along with a brief questionnaire asking for your feedback on the event and any recommendations you might have for the 50th Reunion. Please fill these out, return them promptly and be heard. And thanks for allowing me to serve you as class agent, at least until our 50th Reunion. From Gil Minor: “I am really looking forward to the reunion. I recently caught up with Eddie Shield, with whom Hobbs Goodwin and I roomed during our Rat year. Eddie has been a lifelong friend of mine from our days at St. Christopher’s together. Eddie finished the Rat year, decided to get married, went elsewhere to college and got his MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth and has been a very successful businessman ever since. He stays in touch with Hobbs, Charlie Straub and some others in the class. As I mentioned, we recently sat down and chatted for an hour and a half and sort of relived the good ole days. I told him I hope he comes to the reunion, and he seemed interested in doing that. (mjc: HE DID!) Eddie certainly has a warm spot in his heart for VMI, and it would be good to get him back into our midst on a regular basis.” Si Bunting wrote: “You might say something at the dinner about Steve Riethmiller who has given his whole professional life to VMI and its cadets. He is a remarkable man: kind, wise, selfless, a true link with the great teachers of our time (Doc Carroll, Dillard and a few others). (mjc: Missed my opportunity, but you just gave Steve his just due!) I look forward to seeing you this weekend. Had a nice note from

Pete Ippolito who cannot attend; he lives in San Diego (as you must know), and I remember him vividly.” David Wade wrote to say that “Joanne and I wanted you to know what a good job you did with the reunion. It was very well orchestrated and managed. We appreciate the considerable work that went into it. Well done. I was with the class only one year and stumbled onto the last reunion by chance, and both of us were welcomed into all activities for that weekend at the last minute. So, we planned to attend this one and will do so in the future. We do not know many in the class but still appreciate the bond … . We go to Lexington several times a year and of course, include VMI. For those of you who will be there, we will see you at the VMI Foundation’s Institute Society Dinner on Nov. 11th.” (mjc: Thank you for giving back, David!) Kent McCraney received an e-mail from Rick Ward on Sept. 27 saying, “We are on the road in west Texas. Found out last night that you had called when we talked to our daughter who checked our house. We, too, have had some challenges in the last 90 days. Late May, we took a direct hit from a tornado in Bell County. Tore off the roof and caused extensive water damage, about $32k worth. Thank the Lord for USAA! However, we have not finished all repairs. The day before the tornado, our son’s father-in-law in Austin, 72 years old, was killed in chopper crash about 10 miles from our house. It was a crazy type accident in a two-man chopper. Three weeks later, Carole’s mother passed away in Winchester, VA. So, we had to get there fast and get back. Thus, we decided that the reunion had to go.” Fausto Molinet writes, “We spent the summer traveling in the Pacific, via military space-available (a great way to travel for you military retirees who haven’t tried it). We jumped off at Travis AFB CA to Hawaii, where Fausto III and spouse live and then Andersen AFB Guam, where daughter and grandkids are. Her husband is deployed to Afghanistan through November. Denise will return there in February for grandchild #3’s birth, and we hope to repeat the whole thing next summer. We got to fly on a C-5, a KC-10 and a C-17. Denise experienced her first aerial refueling and is now an honorary boomer. Guam is a great place to visit and live. We plan to see you all at the 50th.” “Thanks for the information,” writes Linda Crowley. “Bob Earle’s been in our thoughts since the reunion, as Dennis had back surgery in 1980 (I am told that if you’ve not experienced back problems there is no way to understand how painful it can be) and felt the difference the moment he woke up. He’s been lucky and has continued to be free of back pain and back problems, so we hope Bob will have the same

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Row 1: Frank Drake, John Mills, Bob Spence, Randy Williams, Bob Earle, Chuck Weddington, Tom Rountree, Beau Walker, Jan Gray, Joe Dellapenta Jr., Art Phaup, Gene Doar, Dave Dibbs, Bill Klobus, Fred Kennedy, Larry James, Dan Ogle and Charlie Peckham. Row 2: Peter Wick, Mike Curley, Leland Caldwell, Mike Warring, Rudy Amos, Anthony Holtry, Preston Holtry, John Jordan, Wayne O’Hern, David Thomas, Jim Key and Lance Bevins. Row 3: Richard Warren, Taylor Ware, Bob Stocks, Bill Wray, Don Hargy, Logan Jennings, Charles Amory, Gary Eifried, Bo Savage, Joe Liberti, Tom Myers, Ken Wilson, Dusty Custer, Bill Moore, Paul Thomson and Walt Kleine. Row 4: Don Prystaloski, Pat Kelly III, Bunny Reynolds, John Reid and Fred Green. Row 5: Hinton Lampley Jr., Andy Anderson, Hobbs Goodwin, Bill Wells, Bob Walton, Paul Clare, Michael Smither, Pete Brunel, Bill Cowardin, Ed Patnesky, Frank Kennedy, John Mitchell, Dennis Crowley, David Wade, Ralph Turpin Jr., Michael Schwartz and John Cockey. Row 6: John M. White Jr., Gil Minor III, Jim Cox, Cliff Miller, Si Bunting, Don Campbell, William Pendleton, Steve Riethmiller, Billy Bell, Abe Patterson, Charles Watson, Lex Knowles, Gary Hermon and Jack Parks. Row 7: James Taylor, John Cloe, James Hoge, Charlie Talbott, Aaron Allison Jr., George Blood, Doug Sterrett, Robert Clark, Bob Byrd, Bob Troxler, Bo Delk, John Yurachek, Harry Redd, Robert R. Baldwin, Ed Shield and J.J. White.

CLASS NOTES

45th Reunion — Sept. 19-20, 2008

Class of 1963

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CLASS NOTES experience and enjoys the same success. (mjc: Bob Earle is recovering ahead of schedule!) The reunion was great. C was going to write and let you know. We both enjoy the reunions. He, in that he’s a BR and you all had so many special (some not so terrific at the time, but memories are built out of our experiences and the passage of time) memories that have bonded you all together. I dated C for three of your four years at VMI, so I was around the Institute often and got to know many of the BRs. Heard many of the stories that are a part of your memory bank; going to the reunion is enjoyed by both of us. We think we are lucky, as we know there are some BRs whose wives have no desire to go and that can take away from their attending and/or the joy of the event, as there is nobody to share the experience with, or if they do, it’s not received well.” On the GIM, Bill Shaner writes, “We received an e-mail from Mike and Betty Smither telling us the reunion was great and one of the best yet. We certainly did miss not being able to attend. Hopefully, nothing will keep us from attending the 50th in five years! My leg surgery on the 17th went just fine, and I am getting along as well as can be expected. I began my physical therapy last week. Each visit to PT gets a little harder and more painful. Betty Ann is a super nurse, and she is taking very good care of me. Our house has lots of steps which makes for somewhat of a problem. When we built this house 30-some years ago, we certainly weren’t thinking about our ‘Golden Years’! We love our home, and we will find it mighty hard to move.” F Company stuff: Mike Smither says, “I want to thank you F Co studs for all your good work before and during the reunion. The time spent on the phone and on e-mail in preparation for the Reunion was truly a work of love. It all made for one of the best times ever, in my opinion, and I am still on cloud 9. I had hoped to get photographs out by now, along with the F Co mailings. Those will be done as soon as I can (having house selling and boat sailing issues at present). Please know that I enjoyed more than you know the short time we were together. The next reunion, and any meetings in between, cannot come soon enough to suit me.” Pete Brunel chips in with, “My feelings are the same and would like for us to somehow consolidate pictures onto a disc. Also, since I am a late bloomer to reunions and we are ‘so old,’ I feel some urgency to do this more often and sooner. Am sure Mike Curley is maxed out about now. (mjc: YUP!) How can we do annual minis in Richmond or some more logistically central location than Lexington? Anybody interested besides me?” Smither says further, “The idea of annual reunions is long overdue. Mini reunions every year or two (in the Richmond or

Tidewater area or elsewhere?) would decrease the shock of seeing everybody after a five-year wait (!). The Richmond and Tidewater BRs are lucky in that they can get together at the drop of a hat. We met yearly in the 80s, but that ended for some reason. Let’s try to get things rolling again. Having said that, I have my 50th high school reunion coming up next year, September or October, which I’m committed to. I’d otherwise like very much to attend reunions more often. Would a more formal two-year reunion be pragmatic, with informal reunions every other year? Let’s everybody weigh in on this. Talking about it does nothing to diminish my enthusiasm for our recent reunion or for the prospects to meet more often. My excitement continues!” “You’re a peachy guy to keep the lads together,” wrote Mike Godfrey to me. “I had a nice call last night from Tommy Rountree and took him to task about squandering so many of the taxpayers’ helicopters. I’ll be looking at your ‘stuff.’” (mjc: He surely lost a bunch of them, didn’t he, Mike? Glad you’re back with us!) Pete Ippolito was in touch with Mike Smither: “Mike, great to hear from you after all these years. I was very sorry to miss the reunion, but I just could not make it work with all of the other things going on around the same time. I am still an active trial attorney, and my time is governed by judges who create timetables that often interfere with important things in my life. As it stands, the state of the economy may require me to work until they plant me! Wow, what a wild ride! I sent an e-mail to Mike Godfrey telling him how surprised and pleased I was to learn he attended our 45th. The photo Curley (mjc: B&W of the 1960 Soccer Club) passed along brought back a slew of memories for me. Wow, was I really that skinny? Actually, we had a pretty good team as I recall and did OK. Mike, I will be at the 50th, you can be assured of that. By then, I will be older than all of the judges I appear before! Best regards. I hope that you will keep in touch, too, since I value contact with my BRs. It is nice to reignite our friendship after all of these years. I have spoken and heard from Beau Walker. Tom Whitford and Tom Snyder are two guys I have not heard of or seen since June 1963. Hard to believe that so much time has passed.” (mjc: How about that Frostburg State game…in the snow?) Out of the blue a recently, I received a call from Tom Snyder who was in Richmond checking on his brother, Buz, who was experiencing some health issues. Although his schedule didn’t permit lunch or even coffee, it was great hearing from him. He followed up with an e-mail which said, “Mike, thanks for your message and the information from the reunion; sounds as if you had a great time that I regret

missing. I can still hear Mike Godfrey’s leg bone crack (break) when he was kicked in the shin in one of our soccer games; maybe that’s why he wasn’t in the picture. I’ll drop Pete a line. I’ve been singing in a community choral group for some years, and low and behold if ‘Shenandoah’ of Battle Haslam ’61 fame isn’t one of the songs we’ll be doing this year. We’ll also be singing in the Michael Haydn Festival in Vienna in July 2009, though suspect I won’t have the time to go.” (mjc: Make time, Tom, and I hear Battle is still singing … in Atlanta!) Ah, how I love to get mail from Pat Kelly! “Many of you may not know it, but I have been very busy over the last two years putting my thoughts and ideas about golf together in a book. I am very proud of the results and need assistance with the marketing. So, I am asking friends and family to help me out. I know I’m no BR James Taylor, but I believe my new book on golf gives the reader valuable playing tips and insider information that I have gained through my years of struggle and experience. I’m hopeful you find this a useful tool to help you enjoy your game that much more as you enjoy the great outdoors.” (mjc: Here are some sample chapter titles. How to Get More Distance off the Shank, When to Implement Handicap Management, When Does a Divot become Classified as Sod … get the idea?) Speaking of Jim Taylor … I sent out an e-mail recently about Jim’s unfortunate argument with his mount, which he lost, by the way, landing him in rehab; well, he’s home now, recuperating and doing well. You’re encouraged to drop him a line or call. Poor Mike Warring, as you can tell from this brief note, just doesn’t get it! “Thanks for your kind words, Dusty (Custer), and it is very true that it was a great pleasure seeing you, Randy Williams and Bobby Spence, wives and significant others, too ... everyone looked pretty good, and the only slightly depressing thought that I had during our weekend together was where the devil did those 45 years of our lives go?” (mjc: No clue yet, Mike?) Don Prystaloski tells me that he had surgery on his back on Oct. 10th. “They did a decompression and fusion surgery. The operation took four hours, and my doctor was very happy with the results; so was I. I am now home enjoying the comforts of my home; rehab is going excellent.” (mjc: Seems to be an epidemic of back problems, Don!) I also received news of Hobbs Goodwin’s great nautical adventure involving transport of his boat to Georgia. I heard, too, from Mike Smither who signed onto the crew saying, “I’m leaving tomorrow (10/23) for Newport News and Captain Hobbs. We will sail ‘Big Toot’ from Kilmarnock to Savannah. Bob and Crellin Byrd and Charlie and Quinby Amory will join the crew along

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES 1

Class of 1963 4

45th Reunion 7

Photo 1: Steve Riethmiller and Bob Troxler. Photo 2: John Cockey and Chuck Weddington led the class into Barracks. Photo 3: Pam Traugott, left, and Betty Smither. Photo 4: From left, Jud Downs, Hinton Lampley and Gil Minor at McKethan Park. Photo 5: Hobbs Goodwin with Charlotte Minor and Lucille Miller.

2009-Issue 1

Photo 6: From left, Jane Lampley, Crellin Byrd, Heidi Senglaub and Peggy Riethmiller. Photo 7: From left, Mike Curley, Mike Godfrey, Mike Smither and Tom Myers. Photo 8: Eddie Shield and Heidi Senglaub. Photo 9: Bill Klobus with his wife and son. Photo 10: Mike Smither and Bill Moore.

CLASS NOTES the way. I return on 11/08. Wish us luck!” (mjc: Received a call from Mike in early November saying they had reached their destination, but they might just keep going to Florida or even Colombia to see Bill Klobus. I suspect some sort of out-of-body experience!) “Have been meaning to e-mail you since I got back,” writes John Cloe. “I thoroughly enjoyed the reunion and the chance to be reacquainted with old roommates and others I haven’t seen in 45 years. You guys did a great job. I headed up several reunion efforts, so I know what you had to do to make things go smoothly. I made it to the top of House Mountain without difficulty and the climb of Kilimanjaro went well. Attached is the summit photo to prove it. The other guy is the head guide, and that’s a glacier in the background.” Pat Kelly writes again and says, “I’ll be in Tacoma next week. I told Bob Modarelli that I’d drop in and say hi to him. Don’t think Annie will be receiving company, but if she is, I’ll say hi. I’m taking him his ‘memorial cups’ from 45th, too. Chuck Weddington and fiancée Christi Kincannon were over last weekend. Weekend after this one, will have Pete Brunel and Diana down from OK for the weekend. Reunions do seem to fire up our comradeship; let’s do it more often! (mjc: Thanks for the “correctly spelled” cups this year, Pat; they were great! It really is a nice, unselfish gesture.) Words from Buff DeLeo, too: “The Army needs the Buffer’s ‘services’ again to help them get some bases ready for the Iraqi Army to occupy so they can come home or go to Afghanistan. Sure is a lot different than when my ‘services’ were needed at Southern Seminary. (mjc: Let me guess how different, Buff!) Whatever. I’m in between semesters, not needed here and our guys and gals need a hand ... It’s really an honor to help them ‘cuz they’re doing an awesome job, contrary to what we’ve been hearing and seeing on TV … almost like folks here are in a twilight zone created by our Media! I’ll let you know when the ‘go’ date comes. Meantime, keep the faith, ‘cuz our guys are keeping us all safe! Love to the guys.” Bunny Reynolds sent me an account of the recent Institute Society Dinner which I had planned to attend but had to cancel at the last minute. “Briefly: In attendance were Johnnie and Maudie Mitchell, Judy and me, Kent and Mary Wilson, Bill and Khaki Wray, Dave and Joanne Wade, Gil and Charlotte Minor, and Bob Troxler. FYI, Sleepy Moore didn’t come; mother died a day or two earlier, and her service was on Tuesday. Gil had his kids with him at the table Monday night … . On Tuesday at the convocation, both Gil and Grover C. Outland Jr. ’49B received the Distinguished Service Award. Gil made a warm, heartfelt, somewhat emotional speech, directed to the cadets. Said he was admit-

ted to the Darden school at UVa only because, as he was told, of the reputation of VMI – not because he was academically qualified. Message to cadets: You have a lot to live up to as VMI grads. Beautiful day, great parade at 0900; sorta’ cool, followed by dedication of the ‘Third Barracks’ and a tour thereof. Gotta run; have to speak to a bunch of 4th grade kids on what it means to be a veteran (don’t have a clue as to how to put it).” A recent Richmond Times Dispatch also revealed that Gil’s lovely wife, Charlotte, was chosen to be the 2008 Richmond Christmas Mother. Congratulations, Charlotte! From beautiful, but somewhat scary, Corpus Christi, Walt Kleine writes, “We’ve been busy since our reunion. After Lexington, Karen and I stopped at New Market for a tour before ‘doing’ D.C. with all the monuments, memorials, Capital building, White House, Holocaust Museum, Smithsonian, Arlington Cemetery and Mount Vernon. Then, while we were in Williamsburg, we visited Ed and Gerry Patnesky at their home in Franklin; had a great visit with them. After a brief stop at Monticello in Charlottesville, we continued west to visit Karen’s brother in Joplin, MO. We met Pat and Gwen Kelly in Louisville, KY for lunch. We visited with two of our nine in Tulsa, OK, and had lunch with Pete and Diana Brunel. Then, after visiting three more children in the Dallas area, we made our way back to Bryan/College Station and picked up our cats from another child before getting home. It was a 33-day trip, and we put over 4,500 miles on the car. Pete called a couple of weeks ago and said he and Diana were attending a wedding in Austin on 11/15 and [asked] how long was it from Austin to Corpus Christi? We had a great visit with the Brunels, ending with a fishing trip today. We did pretty well: I threw back the 25-inch black drum, but we brought home two 17-inch and one 18-inch trout and a 26-inch redfish. We took pictures on our balcony just before they left this afternoon. Pete and Diana are going up to Hamilton to visit with Pat and Gwen Kelly before they return to Tulsa. We really had a great time at our reunion. We’re already looking forward to our 50th!” This may seem to be a powerfully dumb time to talk about charitable giving, but doggone it, it’s part of my job. Since 2003 when I assumed the role of class agent, I’ve concentrated upon building participation in both Institute and class camaraderie with no emphasis upon giving back, at least financially. So now, we have our 50th Reunion coming up in April 2013. That’s right! It will soon be 50 years since we last walked out of Jackson Arch straight into the solid wall of life! And like classes before us, we are expected to pony up at our 50th Reunion as a means of paying VMI back for the values instilled in us that made our lives considerably more successful

and productive, certainly more lucrative. In case you’ve wondered how our predecessors made those tremendous gifts, Gil Minor started the ball rolling for me by securing the ground rules from Buddy Bryan. Here’s how it works. 1) The class receives credit in its Reunion Fund for all contributions to the Institute made by its members and relatives with credit beginning in the fiscalyYear of the class’s 45th Reunion (July 1, 2008, for ’63). 2) Any endowment gift made since the classs’ 25th Reunion Fund (and not credited to that campaign) is included in the total. 3) The class receives credit for all pledges of gifts to be made by June 2018. The class receives credit for any deferred commitments (bequests, insurance, trusts, etc.). The rules seem quite liberal to me, and it seems as if we already have money in our kitty for the 50th gift. In fact, I recently received an accounting of our 45th Reunion Fund from VMIAA, and we will soon be making a gift of several thousand dollars to the Thomas Tucker Oliver Class of 1963 Scholarship fund which will count toward our 50th Reunion contribution. How about that? Enough said … let’s get through this current trying financial time and set our sights on the 50th! Anyone like to volunteer to head up this drive? A final housekeeping note: As you can see, VMIAA is producing a first-rate, four-color publication with the Alumni Review. Consequently, requirements for the photos to be published must be of the highest quality, also. Photos from cell phone and similar devices just won’t work anymore. So, please adjust your camera photo quality to the highest setting for shots that you would like to have published. As an example, in preparing this column, I had to discard about a third of the shots submitted, all of which looked phenomenal in digital form on my PC screen but not of sufficient quality to print. Thanks for your cooperation! That’s all from The Holy City for now. Pray for our troops in harm’s way, our departed and those on the GIM. God bless! Curleyrat

’64

John R. Cavedo

I want to start by encouraging all of you who have e-mail addresses and haven’t added them to my list to do so. You’re missing out on a lot of current information. News on the health issues of your BRs, mini reunions, opportunities to get back in touch with missing BRs, class rosters, etc. At this point, there are 30 of you out there for whom we have a mailing address but no e-mail. I am proud to announce our son, an Army

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES lieutenant colonel, (Special Forces, Airborne, Ranger) has just been selected for command. He leaves for Alaska in May. He’s recently served two years in a covert assignment doing “sneaky pete” things, plus another year in Afghanistan. Sherrel and I just returned from a week in the DC area and at VMI. In DC, we ate dinner one night with Hank and Elizabeth Cronin and another dinner with Bill and Marion Garber. Then, we all met in Lexington and saw the Liberty football game. A great game. Much closer than the score indicated. Also at the game were Hank, Elizabeth, Bill, Marion, Buzz and Jane

Birzenieks, Walt and Karen Sykes, John and Ronnie Thornton, Pete Mazik, Tom and Helen Davis, and Floyd and Donna Duncan. That night, the entire group, plus George and Paula Warren, and Lois and John Ford (Lois is Bobby Watson’s sister), met at the Lexington Golf & Country Club for a nice dinner. In a conversation with Pete Mazik, I discovered that he, too, is experiencing a serious heart complication which is causing him to change a lot of things in his life. The following Monday evening was the Institute Society Dinner, a black tie affair held in Cocke Hall. At the ’64 table were Sherrel and

me, Don and Francis Giles, Floyd and Donna Duncan, Tom and Helen Davis, and Ed and Janice Seager. Ed, who attends most of these events, says it’s the best turn out ’64 has had. The next morning, Ed Seager joined Sherrel and me at the autumn class agent conference. Janice joined us later for the dedication of the Third Barracks. A truly worthwhile and enjoyable week. During August, September and October, we had reports on serious medical issues with Fred Segesman, Harvey Sargent and June MacDonald (Chuck’s wife of 40+ years). As of this writing, Harvey is well on his road to recovery

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Photo 1: Burnell Vincent aboard his sailboat in Annapolis, Maryland. Photo 2: Richard Beatty at the LeMay car museum. Photo 3: Parker and Sandra Duncan on Mount Washburn in Yellowstone Park. Photo 4: Don Jones speaking at the rededication ceremony in Adams County. Photo 5: Rob Thompson ’07, left, John Thornton and dog Clipper pheasant hunting in Pennsylvania.

CLASS NOTES and back in Colorado. Both June and Fred are recovering from really serious and invasive surgery. I know that every one of them received lots of e-mails from their BRs encouraging them and simply remembering them. We also had several BRs affected by the hurricanes. Again, except for some damage to their homes and inconvienance due to power outages, they are all fine. By the time you read this in the Alumni Review, 22 of us will be on a Christmas cruise of the Rhine River. Another 13 of us have signed up for a trip to China in May. Unfortunately, there are no more spaces available for the China trip. If you want to take a trip and want company, give me a call. Sherrel and I, plus W.J. and Laurann Kitchen, plus Bill Rodier and his wife, Karen Walborn, are ready to go almost anywhere, anytime. I can assist you with contacting others and putting together an itinerary. Finally, before getting to specific news from BRs, by the time this issue of the Alumni Review arrives at your house, you should have received your first contact from Carole Green of the Alumni Office regarding our 45th Reunion. Planning is already underway. Get your registration in as soon as you can. Tom Murtha e-mailed, “I’m in the middle of summer in Key West, Florida. Very hot and awaiting hurricanes. I spent the summer playing golf and teaching acting classes and am getting ready to start the school year at the home school high school which I founded and at which I have taught for the past 13 years. We have a Web site, for anyone who’s interested in looking at it. HS2keywest@ aol.com. Hello to all my Brother Rats.” Tom and Yvonne Myers are living in their RV in Hendersonville, NC, for the summer. They were enjoying the “cooler” climate and dodging the high diesel prices. They even went so far as to park their 350 Ford and bought a Prius. They are playing some tennis and bridge (Yvonne learning for the first time) and generally enjoying life in the NC Mountains. Yvonne sent a nice photo of Tom and Kevin MacCarthy at Chimney Rock. Hugh Fuller e-mailed to say that he went to Indonesia in August. He promised to write again when he gets back in early September (that hasn’t happened yet). He retired from the Securities and Exchange Commission after 40 years federal service in June 2008. Bill McVey wrote a couple of times and sent a couple of photos.

“We will be having East Coast family time but also have a cruise scheduled on a 100-person ship visiting the Islands of New England, so our traveling budget is committed. Before and after, we’ll be visiting New England family and friends, then going to the Chesapeake for some crab eating.” Bill went on to say that he was scheduled for sailboat races when the hurricane came. The day it hit Galveston, they were expecting exhilarating sailing in the wind and rain. As it turned out, there was no rain and only 15-25 mph wind. Bill has been sailing and racing most of his life. The proud news at this point is that his 17-year-old grandson has been his great buddy since he was three years old. The grandson has become a very accomplished small-boat sailor and is now winning many races and regattas, some against fleets of adult sailors. “Two years ago, he beat me in tennis, last year it was arm-wrestling and now sailing. I have no other claims of superiority, except age.” Gardner Simpkins e-mailed that he lives in Bedford, VA, and knows the manager at the D-Day Memorial. Gardner spent 16 years in the Army. His little brother is also a VMI grad. Gardner said that if any BR or group wants to gather in Bedford, he will help. “Last week (9/11), we had a prayer breakfast. John Slaughter, a WWII vet from Roanoke, spoke. He went through D-Day and was instrumental in getting the memorial built here. His book is interesting.” Gardner spent two years in the Army and was sent to Germany instead of Vietnam.

Since they had two small daughters, he didn’t complain. He was in the Corps of Engineers. He spent his tour building playing fields and tracks plus rebuilding roads on the German border and at training centers. Gardner is now a semiretired engineer and spends a lot of time on Habitat for Humanity, Christmas in Action and mission trips to the Biloxi area, still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. He has three daughters, and two grandchildren. He is now building a house for the oldest daughter. I got a nice note from Bob O’Hara. He is staying busy serving on boards and committees. He receives e-mails through his wife but doesn’t use a computer to send them. Over time, I have received lots of correspondence from Richard Beatty. He is very busy as a photographer and writer. He sent along a couple of articles which were published recently, plus a couple of photos. As are many of us, he is involved in various charitable and community endeavors. If anyone is interested in copies of his articles, contact him at richardkaren1099@aol.com. In September, Bob Warren came by our home on Hilton Head. We had drinks, went to dinner and returned to our house for dessert. Bob’s wife didn’t join him due to concerns about the hurricanes which were threatening this coast at the time. Bob helps to run TEC, a consulting firm specializing in environmental impact statements. The job does require a good amount of travel. On this particular trip, he had business at Paris Island Marine Base and then at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station. He lives in New Hampshire on 300+ acres. A lot of his leisure time is spent taking care of the property and attending sporting events in which his daughter and son participate. Bob has no plans to retire, at least not until his son finishes college. He hopes to turn some of his property into an income producing campground for RVs, tenters, etc. His part of New Hampshire is a magnet for visitors during the summer. Bob later wrote about his wife, Cathy, and two of their children. His daughter, Kelly, a senior at Lyndon State College, is a two-time soccer All American. She is the captain of the women’s soccer team and has lead the team in scoring all four years with many goals and for a total of 150 career points. Bob also has a son, David, who is a sophomore at Lyndon State College but a freshman for NCAA eligibility. Dave plays on the men’s team and scored his first two college goals this year. Dan DeForrest wrote that he and

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Sandy spent a couple of weeks in Indiana in September and stopped and met Jim and Joyce Brittingham for lunch on their way back. They had a nice visit, and it was a good way to break up the drive. Jim and Joyce seemed to be doing well. They are involved with a “pet therapy” program where Jim and his daughter take their dog to visit a children’s hospital every Tuesday. Joyce makes costumes for the dog. It sounds like the dog is great therapy for the children as well as the parents. Jim and Joyce deserve a lot of credit for doing such a great thing in their community. Jim mentioned that the vision in his left eye has improved to a point where he can almost drive. Joyce has her doubts/concerns, but it was great to hear of such a positive event. Dan went on to say, “Ed Seager called me last week to discuss the investment in GE that Warren Buffet made. We then went on to talk about the Normandy Excursion. Sounds like Ed had a great trip. He happened to meet Bob Slaughter on the beach at Normandy. Slaughter was in Co D of the 29th division on D-day and has been mentioned in several books, documentaries, etc. Ed said that Slaughter was very cordial and approachable.” (Class agent note: This is the same Ed Slaughter who Gardner Simpkins mentioned above.) “Sandy and I came back to Florida early to watch the Tampa Bay Rays play in post season baseball. At this point, we have beaten the White Sox, and now we get to play the evil Red Sox nation. We will give Fred Segesman a call and see if we can meet Char and him for lunch or dinner someday soon.” Chris Gibson reported that he is always interested in “who is still alive and kicking.” He visited VMI recently and said that he and his wife live in Greensboro NC, less than one hundred miles from Lexington. Burnell Vincent wrote, “I’m leaving for the weekend for a sailing trip on the Chesapeake. Life in Annapolis is terrific. We really got lucky – waterfront house and a pretty OK sailboat.” In neither case did Chris or Vincent invite BRs to visit. So, as class agent, I’ll do it for them. Tom Crenshaw e-mailed that after he left VMI after third class year, he finished at Washington & Lee. He played football with Andy Tucker, Chuck Beale, Tracy Hunter, Bill Cole and the likes. “Just had a great conversation with Chuck a few weeks ago, and I am in hopes that we might be getting together in the near future. We haven’t seen each other since graduation. Chuck had a profound impact on my deciding to enter the ministry. After 40 years in four churches – Syracuse, Philadelphia, Greenville, PA, and Rumson, NJ, I went south and served on the staff of Westminster Academy, a part of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. I coached football and basketball for four years before leaving to join a new

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school. I just finished my eighth year at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, which is a part of Calvary Chapel Church. I was athletic director, chaplain and varsity boys’ basketball coach during that time, as well as serving on staff of the 21,000-member church. It was quite an experience being on a staff of 25 other pastors. In June, I semi retired, and Jean and I have spent the last four months at our summer place on Lake Ontario, not far from Watertown, NY, where I grew up. Spent the summer fishing for smallmouth bass, gardening and playing with my four grandchildren. Never planned to retire, but I would like to slow down a bit. Right now, it looks as if I may be serving as interim for a church in Middletown, NJ, starting in November. Hope to make my first reunion next year, and I will look forward to having the opportunity to get to meet you and many of our Brother Rats.” Parker Duncan e-mailed that he and Sandra visited the summit of Mount Washington in Yellowstone National Park. They also stopped at Tetons National Park in September. That’s when Parker celebrated his official retirement, effective Oct. 1. They are planning to spend a lot of time on the road seeing a lot of places they haven’t had the chance to see before. Parker plans to be at the 45th Reunion. W.J. Kitchen caught me up on his doings since June 2008. “Lauranne retired in June after a 25-year career as a speech and language pathologist in the San Dieguito High School district. We are really enjoying her retirement and don’t even seem to have time to do the dayto-day required activities. We were fortunate to have some friends visit us in June who had tickets to the Torrey Pines U.S. Open Golf Tournament. Although neither of us are golfers, it was thrilling to see perhaps one of the greatest golf matches ever. As soon as that was over, we headed back east to participate in the BMW Performance Driving School in Spartanburg, SC. We then went to Columbia to visit some other friends who I worked with during my NSA days. From there, we headed to Richmond to visit friends, then on to the Philadelphia, PA, area to visit my 95-year-old mom and my sister. My mom is really doing well. She has a fantastic memory and walks a mile every day. Upon returning to San Diego, we had some of our Petersburg friends visit. They have a nephew who is a relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres. So, we attended a game and visited with the players in the family lounge. Right after that, we had Lauranne’s middle son and her three grandchildren spend time with us in Green Valley, AZ. Surprisingly the weather was perfect – not as hot as we expected for July. In August, we visited Lauranne’s youngest sister in Bainbridge, WA, and then spent time with

her oldest son in Grant’s Pass, OR. In September, we spent time with Lauranne’s twin sister in San Antonio, TX. In October, we got back east again for me to attend a trustee meeting at the University of Virginia. After the meeting, we were able to look around Charlottesville for a little bit, and then we headed to Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway. I probably have not done this since I was a kid, and this was a first for Lauranne. We ended up in Lexington and spent the night there. We were able to catch up with Tom and Helen Davis for lunch. When we met with Tom, he had just completed a meeting with a first class cadet who was seeking career advice from Tom. It was a real pleasure to see how excited Tom was in meeting with a cadet, even though he is no longer a full-time faculty member. Tom has certainly left his imprint on the Institute and he, as well as the rest of our class, should be proud of his contributions. From there, we headed to Richmond and toured the Civil War White House of Jefferson Davis as well as the Museum of the Confederacy. This was really a treat, and if you haven’t done it, I strongly recommend it. The Jefferson Davis White House was perhaps the best-restored historical monument we have ever visited. Then, we headed up to Pennsylvania to visit my mom and sister, and Lauranne and I got in several runs through Valley Forge Park. Again, the time of the year made the leaves breathtaking. On our way back, we spent several days in Washington, DC. I had never seen the World War II, Korean or FDR memorials. They, along with the Vietnam Memorial, drive home the many sacrifices that have been made for our freedom. Then, to VMI and the Marshall Library. We certainly enjoyed our visit to the library and were impressed with the story it told. It was great having the time to not only visit quite a few of our national treasures but to also observe the wonders of nature. Upon our return from the Rhine River Cruise, my daughter-in-law will be giving birth to my second grandchild, a girl, projected to be born on Dec. 24. My first is my two-year-old grandson.” Don Jones wrote that he will remain involved with car shows for another year but has begun to curtail some activities. He was on the Avanti Owners Association National Board for six years. He’s still involved with the AACA Museum and the AACA as a consultant and will probably accept the presidency of the Lehigh Valley Region of the AACA. Diana stays very suportive of Don’s activities. She and another person basically ran the registration table in Lancaster. She still is managing a Barns & Noble store. Don continues to manage the Restoration Shop during the early a.m. hours. His kids are fine. One son is on the lieutenant colonel list and attending school at Ft. Leavenworth.

CLASS NOTES His other son is on the east coast and Europe as a sales engineer for Good Technology Division of Motorola. Daughter Kathy manages her own business in Green Bay, and Don’s oldest grandson is 16. King von Schilling sent in a photo of him and Wade Houston ’72. They were in a sporting clays shoot for the benefit of the CFC. His office has tried to make it somewhat enjoyable by having a shoot and a golf tourney to make the “voluntary” contributions less painful. Wade works in logistics at King’s office. King’s division chief is Col. Hank Amato ’89. Unfortunately, the photo had too few pixels to make it to publication. Walt Sykes sent in a photo from the VMI/W&M football game. Buzz and Jane Birzenieks invited him and Karen to join them in Williamsburg. Walt wrote, “It was a great weekend. The girls did a little shopping Friday afternoon, while Buzz and I checked into the hotel and kicked off the weekend at the VMI hospitality room. We did a little dancing with the wives to the Rhondels Friday night. Saturday morning was free, and we visited with Jane’s sister and husband. Later in the afternoon, we attended a VMI pre-game party, where we ran into Tom Davis. The team did better than the score indicated.” In closing, please send me personal updates and photos. Try to remember to set your digital cameras to a high pixel setting on the memory card. Also, if you know how, make certain you send them via e-mail and don’t compress them (your e-mail setting may do this automatically without your knowledge). For this issue, I received nine photos, which were too small for the Alumni Review. The Alumni Association has offered to put these on the vmialumni.org Web site. Thanks to all for your support. I am the happiest class agent in our history. You guys are great!

’65

Mickey Finn

Fall in North Carolina, at least around Wilmington, is very different from northern Virginia. Not all the trees lose their leaves, and while we have cool nights, we do not seem to have that cold rain that so characterizes the fall in Leesburg. Yes, Janie and I are very comfortable and settled in here in Porters Neck. The biggest adjustment for me has been the inability to be in Lexington in two and a half hours. Now, a day trip is out of the question. I still am working for a NVA-based firm, but I do like the work and they seem to be comfortable with my being on the road three weeks out of a month.

Jane and I spent a beautiful early fall day at Murels Inlet, SC, visiting with Bill and Dale Donsbach. We visited their beautiful condo just off a golf course, and we all went downtown to enjoy lunch at a local pub on the ICW. Bill has completely retired and enjoys the quiet life with Dale, a time together they both richly deserve. Only 90 minutes away, we hope to get together several times a year. Bill actually has a military museum in his front bedroom, and it is complete with items that he has collected over the years. The closet … well, you just have to see it to believe it. Can you remember the M1? Charlie Russell writes, “Jeff Wilkins, Bob Deaderick and I drifted down to see the VMI vs. W&M game last evening after a stop at one of Jeff’s (aka: Wiggins) favorite places. (I couldn’t believe they actually had BEEF barbecue!) The Keydet Club was out, Gen. Peay ’62 and Donny White sat a row in front and all were excited, BUT we lost the game by a 52-17 margin. It was hot, stifling actually, and W&M came prepared. We gave them a good first quarter, but they turned the tables using a back named Riggins. Also up from a town nearby Savannah was Jack Cook. He states that he goes to one game a year, driving north to do so. Bob and I had a safe drive to Jeff’s house, where he’s rebuilding almost everything while also fermenting some clear liquid refreshment that tasted a lot like sambuca!” Here is the update on the trip to Barbados with the VMI Alumni Association. The boat, the Royal Clipper, will take us on an 8-day tour of seven islands. ’65 will be well represented with Harry and Lynn Bartosik, Jan and Connie Brueckmann, Easley and Alice Moore, Bill and Carol Ryan, Dees and Susan Stallings, and your scribe and Jane Finn. We plan to relax and enjoy moving under the power of the wind, great food and adult beverages. Lots of old times will be covered, many years of stories, and I am sure there will be several new adventures documented for all to enjoy at our next reunion. That’s it for now. Sorry you all could not join us on the cruise, but do join us in an Old Yell for ’65!, ’65!, ’65! God Bless.

’66

Al Carr Albert Conner

Before delving into the latest news, I’d like to begin by calling to your attention the brilliant decision of the governor and other “powers that be” in the Old Dominion and VMI for the selection of our Brother Rat, Tom Slater, as the president of the VMI

Board of Visitors. As you know, Tom has previously served the Institute in the top level positions as president of The VMI Alumni Association (1985-87) and president of the VMI Foundation (1995-97). What a great record of service to VMI! Tom and John Jumper will be sending you a special ’66 letter which I hope will be of interest to you. I had a wonderful time talking (you remember telephones?) with John Turner. We were mainly talking about the scholarship for his young friend, Greg Wright (class of 1995), who was killed in Iraq. I included John’s letter to the class in an e-mail and in my November letter to the class, so I won’t include it here, except to say that I hope you will consider supporting the scholarship if you can in addition to your other annual giving to VMI. In catching up with John, I found out some things that were news to me, so I’m passing them along in hopes they will also be news to you. After graduation, John tried out for the NFL Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans). They tried him out at tight end rather than tackle, during what he said was a physically tough time in incredible heat. As you may recall, John was in Air Force ROTC but wasn’t commissioned due to knee problems. That would seem incongruous but for subsequent events. After the end of his pro-football career, John was contacted about being drafted into the Army. He felt he could and should do more, so he looked into OCS in the Navy. Coming out of the Navy recruiting office, he ran into a Marine recruiter – and some of you obviously know how convincing they can be – and signed up for the USMC. After TBS, he went on the familiar path to Vietnam, where he served as a platoon commander for four months before getting wounded (gunshot – John presenting a fairly large target) in the leg and medical-evacuation to Hawaii. After recovering from his wound (apparently there were no million-dollar-wounds for the gyrenes), he was shipped back to RVN – where he returned to the same platoon. After a short stint back there, he was again wounded – this time by indirect fire – and he then finally saw the last of the late republic. After finishing his USMC service, including staff duty and a brief period coaching football at Quantico, he was promoted to civilian. John has worked in business and construction activities and is now living in Virginia Beach. Glad to hear from Cliff Martin. He states with justifiable pride, “My Susan is a 12-year cancer survivor.” Cliff also reports that he “had the pleasure last week to share popcorn with Lori and Woody Sadler at the Coastal Carolina game. Also ran into Terry Crump at

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CLASS NOTES halftime. Needless to say, it was a very enjoyable game. The Keydets looked very sharp in the second half. Hope they can continue that effort for the upcoming games.” Dale Saville e-mailed me with some news. He recently returned to the USA after 18 months in London as president of Sitel EMEA, a call-center outsourcing company. Apparently referring to the recent economic woes, Dale adds that he’s “too young (and now too poor) to retire, so I’m back on the job market. Our youngest child started at NC State this fall, so Kay and I are empty nesters – more than my former roommate Mark Mount can say – winner of the Strom Thurmond Older Dad award.” Bernie Halloran wrote from Norfolk after spending two weeks camping out as the guest of a young Navy helicopter pilot in a bare room on the second floor, sleeping on a (queen size) air mattress. He was working in Tidewater as a volunteer on the Obama campaign. He adds, “The primary candidate I was working for eight years ago in northern Virginia was named John McCain. Things do change. You can say I’m a recovering Republican, or as my old roommate has described it, I drank the Obama Kool Aid.” I told Bernie he was to be commended for acting on his beliefs and that I’d drink a toast to our BR – with wine but not kool-aid. Well, now the election has been resolved. Because of the mindless precedent set by everyone running for a full two years before the election, the winner now has but two years before the games begin anew!

high school head coaches – Don Maphis, Carroll Reid and Betty Levi – from the late 50s through the mid 60s. All three coaches (now in their middle and late 70s) attended. CCHS classes of 1958-70 were represented during the reunion which had six different events. The events included a luncheon with Sam Huff as featured speaker; a CCHS football game; a pancake breakfast; an Honored Coach Q&A Session at the old high school building; the tribute banquet (Pat Fischer as featured speaker); and a Remembrance Service. The gathering brought people back to Berryville from as far away as California and Montana, and over 300 persons attended at least one of the six events. The tribute ban-

quet had a packed room of over 200 persons. I suspect that, going with the Redskins presence theme, John Riggins-like Charlie was on the sidelines going for the oxygen. Way to go, Brother Rat! Heard from Bobby Cooper with what he termed “a bit of news.” Bobby’s son, Matt (he attended VMI his Rat year with the class of 1997 and then transferred) was married to Kristen Birkenhauer in Charleston, SC, on Oct. 10, 2008. The event was held at The Citadel Club, a Citadel property on the beach in Charleston. “Besides Matt, there were five other VMI guys in attendance: Scott Saunders ‘97, Chris Berger ‘97, John Cooper ‘74 (my brother), John [“Knox”] McEwen and me as

The Institute Society Dinner Class of 1966

Photo above: Nineteen members of the class of 1966 attended the 2008 Institute Society Dinner at VMI. From left, Larry and Carol Wilkes, Al and Jane Conner, Hap and Kenzie Hubard, Bill Gregory, and Parky and Mary Fran Parkman. Photo below: Gen. John Jumper, USAF (Ret), left, with L.T. and Dick Goodall.

Class of 1966: Charlie Ramsburg coordinated a massive, three-day Clarke County High School sports reunion celebration. (See class notes for details.) In the photo above, he is addressing the large audience of participants.

Charlie Ramsburg was the project director for the reunion of a lifetime, the Maphis Reid Levi Reunion (MRLR). Ten years of former Clarke County High School (CCHS) athletes and cheerleaders gathered in Berryville, VA, for three days in October to honor their three

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CLASS NOTES his best man.” Bobby concluded with, “At the 70th Reunion, so I really must see him at member ... it keeps me on my game having to end of my toast, we all gave an Old Yell for more than reunions just to make sure the deal stay up with the young guys.” I’ll bet it does, Matt and Kristen ... which all the guests really is still on. Of course, at our 70th he’ll still be Jim; just remember to duck. liked, especially being in The Citadel Club, fitting into his white ducks and coatee. Me? We also heard from Parky Parkman about which I made a big deal about.” I’ll probably be fitting into Depends.” That’s the trip he and Mary Fran took “out west.” We also heard from Rick Kiernan. Rick OK, Bill, as long as you can still belt out He reports, “We had a great time, and the reports, “I am in my 13th year as spokesman “Shenandoah,” we’ll be there listening. weather was fantastic! We spent the first three for MPRI, an Alexandria-based corporation, I had a chance to catch up with Jim Wildays in Las Vegas and did some sightseeand enjoy the work very much. I maintain liams. His post-Marine colonel’s career has ing in the area – Death Valley, the Liberace my interest in strategic commuMuseum, checking out the varinications and am also program ous casinos, going to a couple manager for 43 instructors at The shows, etc. The next three days Defense Information School at Ft. we spent in Utah visiting Zion Meade, Maryland, where we train National Park, Bryce Canyon all military public affairs officers, NP and Cedar Brakes National journalists and broadcasters for all Monument. The temperature exservices – enlisted and officer.” tremes went from 100 in Death Jim Hannah checked in with Valley to 23 at Bryce Canyon, some news, as well. He relates that with snow on some portions Glenn Michael is in Israel helping of the ground at Cedar Brakes. to modernize the Israeli railroads. Then we returned to Vegas for Then Jim adds, “Mike Burton is the rest of the trip.” now serving on their town council. John Bradley contacted me. Sandy and I visited Peggy and Les He’s settled down where he Rutledge in Smithfield, VA; Ron started from in Abingdon, VA. Clough, Buddy and Pat Green He writes: “I’ve essentially joined us.” been actively flying for the Bill Talman wrote from far-off last 42 years, retiring from the Iowa (that’s Northwest Virginia USAF after 30 years, then flying here) to relate, “I’m writing to charter from Chicago for about let you know that old roomie 12 years. Now, I do a little fillReyn Young and I FINALLY got in with a local Abingdon-based together on one of my many trips company. Pat Kearney always to the DC area about a month ago. said I would never be happy Not only did I get to see Reyn, doing anything but flying, and but Thank God, I also got to see I suppose he was right. Have Virginia. She and Reyn were the kids and grandkids scattered perfect hosts in their beautiful from NY to Texas, so Linda and Arlington home. I couldn’t have I will probably be doing more felt more at home, and when their traveling to visit them … It’s daughter, Gina, her husband, Dabeen quite awhile since Cadre of vid, and the two grandkids arrived, the summer of ’62. Those gray the whole experience was priceless. fatigues and cap-toed boots still Reyn took me to his club, Burning stick in my memory!” Tree. If I ever doubted that our old We received a surprising upBR had done well, that ceased, as date from Ed Guida, who wrote, I got to meet his many companions “I have been over in Singapore at that club, a regular Beltway for a bit over a year helping a Class of 1966: Glenn and Susan Michael in front of who’s who. We only had a day and friend start up a renewable prodthe church carved from stone at Petra, Jordan. Glenn is consulting on railroad matters with Israel. night to catch up, so you can imagucts and energy company. At ine that we talked non-stop. Being least four days out of the week, able to do so made me all the more on my walk to or from ‘home,’ aware how much I value the times we have seen him involved in law enforcement in ColI pass New Market Street. So, I sure get a all shared together. Here’s to ’66.” Bill also lier County, FL. That county, in the southwest lot of reminders, but then I fail to write. I passes on that he has tried repeatedly to reach part of the state, has a year-round population came out of retirement to help, and one thing Wayne Gray on his trips to DC, “but that guy of about 300,000 with an extra 100,000 added I have learned from this experience: I really has to have a lock on world frequent flyer in the winter. Since January 2006, Jim has do like retirement. And while Asia has been a miles. One of these days, I’ll be able to report been the chief of investigations for the Colsecond home to me for most of my life, this on him in a note to you, but that’ll have to lier County Sheriff’s Office, a force with over time I cannot wait to return. Like most new wait. He and I have a pact that we will walk 1,300 members. Jim says it is “a solid profesand some old companies, this financial mess each other down the parade ground on our sional organization, and I really enjoy being a has made operating and selling a company

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CLASS NOTES quite difficult. Consequently, what I thought I would be doing is not what I am doing, which can make for tedious days. Nonetheless, it has been a challenge, and I think this old dog has learned a few new tricks. According to my initial plan, I will be returning back at the end of the month.” I responded with “Hey, Ed, retirement pretty much means what you’d think it means. Welcome home, BR.” Al Carr of Lexington sent me a newspaper article featuring his fascination with model airplane flying. It also had a nice biographic story line on his legal working days and teaching a law class at W&L. The accompanying illustrations showed Moby in various poses with his not-so-small aircraft. Speaking of Lexington, Jane and I attended the 2008 Institute Society Dinner and a class agent get-together on 10-11 Nov. Having missed the last two events due to chemo-related causes, it was a distinct pleasure to be back among the class, alumni and Keydets again. We also dropped in at the real estate office of Lori Sadler and had a great time talking to her and daughter Annie. As it was the 10th, Lori greeted us with “Happy Birthday, Marine!” (Is that good?) Woody was teaching over at the “I” at that time. We had 19 Brother Rats and Sister Rats in attendance, and it sure was great to catch up with them and more importantly, to see them all reunited on such a festive occasion. This year’s Institute Society Dinner featured the largest attendance by society members yet. The ’66 class tables had Dick and L.T. Goodall, Bill Gregory, Hap and Kenzie Hubard, John and Ellen Jumper, Parky and Mary Fran Parkman, Randolph Williams and Priscilla Knight (her son was completing Special Forces training), Larry and Carol Wilkes, and Reyn and Virginia Young. Tom and Scottie Slater were there but seated among the Institute luminaries. They came over after the dinner and hung out with their BRs and SRs. I’ll be sending out an e-mail summary of the material from class agents’ briefings. If you haven’t received that by the time you see this, let me know at the e-mail address above, and I’ll send it along. The Post has never looked better, and the newest, new Barracks were dedicated on Founder’s Day 2008 – the 169th such commemoration, by the way. Not surprisingly, it looks just like the ones built from 1851-1959! So, if you were expecting some new age, Frank Lloyd Wright-looking thing, sorry. The Barracks building also has a tower clock, which the ever-inventive and -humorous cadets have now dubbed “Big Binny” in honor of our superintendent. Like its namesake, may it work continuously and ceaselessly for a better VMI. May God bless General Peay ’62 and all of my dear Brother Rats.

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’67

Jan Abernathy

Hello to all! It is early November as I compile the letters and e-mails and phone call scribbles into some semblance of order. It has been an interesting week. Halloween came and went (only one trick or treater – we live at the end of a cul-de-sac and have a long steeeep driveway), I voted early (took 20 minutes at the library with a photo ID), the DOW was up only slightly just before closing and gas today is $2.15 at Quick Trip and $2.09 at Costco. Three weeks ago, I paid $4.59 for the same gas, because that was what was available. By the time you read these notes, we will have a new government administration. I find that to be exciting and scary at the same time. I can’t wait to see the market activity in the days following the election results, but I am certain I will be glad to not see any more political ads no matter who wins. I ended August notes early, as Joan and I left Atlanta for her company’s health conference in Salt Lake City and some camping in Idaho and Nevada. We camped in City of Rocks, ID, and Denio, NV (It is only 90 miles north of Winnemucca), but most importantly, we spent two days with Ron Lowry in Boise. We saw Patsy only briefly as she left for the Beijing Olympics the morning after we arrived. We spent most of one day with Ron and some of his buds white water rafting on the South Fork of the Boise River. That day was special in the annals of outdoor fun. Of all memories we came away with, there is one that I could have skipped. That water was so cold in mid-August, your feet would go numb in the 30 seconds it took to put the inflatable in the river. If you have been following Ron’s medical challenge in my e-mails, this was two weeks before he had his second hip replacement. Two weeks out, he was still in significant discomfort. He took his annual fishing trip to Mexico’s west coast with friends during the third week. He cut that trip short a couple of days due to a hurricane. Six weeks after surgery, he flew into the northern Idaho wilderness for his annual elk hunt with friends and a guide. After a day on horseback, his hiking ability was limited, so his pals went up the mountain and drove elk by Ron. I don’t know how a trophy bull elk is measured except it is done on a combined point system. Ron’s elk measured 315 total points. Once they got the animal out of the woods by pack horse and plane and had the antler rack tied into the back

of the pickup, people pointed and honked to show their appreciation of his trophy. A policeman even stopped them to have an admiring closer look. Maybe more hip replacement candidates should schedule fishing and hunting trips before their surgery. I need to add that Ann Plentl’s second knee replacement (the one that kept them from being at our 40th) has healed well. Wil says she really gets around better now than she did for years before the replacements. Brenda Ferrell wrote to say, “Since I’m at home with the computer each day, looks like I’m the designated e-mail sender! Best wishes to all who are going through the ‘warranty has worn out on these parts’ conditions. I’m convinced that my original knees were second-hand since they wore out so quickly! The rehab is long and grueling from any replacement, but the results are terrific! Hang in there, as you do the 6-8 hours per day on the exercycle! Actually, we ought to organize these things better and have a Bro-Rat parts replacement group to go in for surgery at the same place! Think of the great card games that could be enjoyed afterward!! (As long as there’s a wet bar nearby!) Jim still works daily at JFCOM in Suffolk. He’s loving the work and may not have to deploy again until early ’09. (Just as I’ve finally stuffed all the ‘deploy gear’ into the attic!) He’s also found his AIRPLANE! It’s only a 2-seater Zodiac, but it’s great fun to fly around southeast VA and see this place from the air. I’m applying all my teacher-learned map-reading skills, since I’m the combo- navigator, first mate and the ‘Hon, where’d I put my sunglasses?’ go-to person. Work seriously cuts into flying time, but that’s what feeds the plane. We’re hoping for longer trips in the fall when the weather is clearer. And I even got my very own headset for my birthday this summer! Sure beats a new Dust Buster!! BTW, on a walk in our neighborhood, I saw a guy wearing a ’67 Reunion hat, so naturally I introduced myself. He is your BR Dave Veazey, who left after second class year and went into the Army. He and his family live nearby. In the Spirit.” Colin Campbell sent me Dave’s e-mail address. They went to high school together. Taras Galysh added his prostate experience with the following: “I received my Alumni Review yesterday and saw the part about prostate cancer and PSA tests. Well, let me tell you what happened with me five years ago. I went in for a routine physical, and the doctor, during the ‘bend over and smile’ part, felt something out of the ordinary. He referred me to a specialist. My PSA was 1.62. The specialist ran another PSA test, and it came in about the same, but then, since he felt something out of the ordinary, he suggested a biopsy. The biopsy came back positive for prostate cancer.

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CLASS NOTES Three out of the six areas checked. I went for surgery and have been clean ever since. Moral of the story: PSA is not the final say so, because the specialist was almost ready not to order a biopsy because of the low PSA results. And who knows what would have happened. As far as colonoscopies, have had two – first found polyps and the second did not. Not as bad as everyone thinks. The worst part is drinking that gross concoction to clean one out prior to the exam. As long as they knock me out, it is OK with me. Other than that, things are quiet here. The wife is great, especially having put up with me after surgery. Our three cats are enjoying life, and I finally will really be retiring at the end of September after doing some consulting work after retiring from civil

service. Take care, and my sympathy upon reading about the passing of John Foret. Taras and Stephanie Galysh” Tom Coughenour writes that since the last notes he sent, “I have decided that part time employment was preferable to full time, so I left Wackenhut Services at the Savannah River Site (13 months) and was immediately offered a part time job working in the new SRS Contractor’s (Savannah River Nuclear Solutions or SRNS) Classification Office doing document reviews/ consulting three days a week!!! Something to do with medical/personnel records and potential medical claims from former employees. NIOSH is footing the bill, so I don’t know how long it will last, but in the meantime, it will pay for more frivolous four-day weekends. I just found

out that tires (‘ultra high performance’) for my little ol’ Miata must be made with platinum tire cord instead of steel and/or kevlar. And any tire that you can get for the car apparently has to be ‘ultra high performance’ or at least ‘ultra high priced’! I guess that’s what happens when there’s no apparent cure for this particular mid-life crisis. Other than that, the grandkids (two boys, 17 and 1; three girls, 14, 12 and 4), keep me on my toes and keeping the pool clean. Still fighting fires for the City of North Augusta Public Safety Department and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new 100-foot elevating platform. Talk about inflation: When I started firefighting in 1970, the department I was with at the time paid $37,000 in 1976 for a new pumper. Two years ago, we

Pictured above: Mel Wright wrote, “It was so cool to actually fly in a B-17. This is me at the tail gun. What a rush after watching old WWII movies for years. I would recommend it to anyone.” Pictured top, right: In Boise, Idaho, were, from left, Ron Lowry, Dan McGrew ’89 and Jan Abernathy. Photo at right: From left, Dan Wells, Don McMenamin, Jan Abernathy, Mike Bagnulo and J.I. Orrison.

Class of 1967 Snapshots Picture at left: At the Annual Physicians versus Civilians Golf Outing at Pinehurst, North Carolina, were, from left, Ted Mervosh, Bob Klink, Bruce Weiner, John Vaughan, Kip Jones, Tom Gillette, Dave Neel, Dave Wilkinson, Ed Maxwell, Dave Fink, Jim Phlegar and George Sanborn.

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CLASS NOTES received a note from Terry Aldrich’s first wife, him taking a check ride in a B-17. A B-17 picked up a new pump for (only) $253,000. The Susan. She and daughter Sandy live near us in ride is one of the things I have on my “bucket new platform is only $1,001,157.00. Maybe by Atlanta, and Sandy attended a reunion some list.” the next notes, I will REALLY be retired. Then years ago. “How nice of you to think of Sandy Not certain whether I get more joke e-mails again …” Jan’s note: Tom came to Atlanta for and me in connection with the VMI picnic and (It is spam, but most of it is funny) from Tom the two days of the Stone Mountain Highland Games at Stone Mountain on Oct. 18th. Sounds Gritzmacher – forwarded from Wayne MarGames in October. The VMI Pipes and Drums like a great way to spend an afternoon and supshall – or Bob Poland. And Bob has even gone put on an impressive performance, and many back to flying! I should add Chuck Krebs in the port VMI. Thanks for extending the invitation. alumni enjoyed the festivities. Marci and Mike mix also, as he spends less time on the water Bagnulo hosted three cadets for the weekend. Sandy completed her first full Ironman in Louand more time on his computer. One cadet, “Stretch Martin, ’06/’09, won the isville, KY, this past Labor Day. She must have Bob Hess sponsored the first annual Blue annual “kilted mile” race and was presented his inherited this gene from the Terry! Warmly, Ridge prostate bike ride in August. He named award by Sir Malcolm MacGregor, 24th Chief Susan” We also hear from Jane Adams, thankit in honor of John Foret. Bill Teveri sent me of Clan Gregor, Perthshire, Scotland. ing us for reminding them of the event. She Chuck Krebs: “Do you know anything added that she had a piper play at her about our BR Bo Traywick? He was the mom’s funeral. skipper of the tug Ellis for a pulp mill, Bob Klink sent in the following anbut I haven’t been able to contact him nual report on the Pinehurst golf outing: for about a year. He was doing graduate “Thanks for the update on Ron Lowry. work at the U of Richmond, but that He is close to Kip (Jones), so I have e-mail site has been closed to him. So, been somewhat informed about all the I assume he completed. He is really an life goals he has achieved. This past Aug. interesting guy we (’67) need to get him 21-24 saw our group return to Pinehurst to tell some of his tales when he did and the Pine Crest Inn for our 14th anhis ‘hobo’ bit on the rails post Vietnam. nual (? we think) golf outing. Joining me Chuck” Jan’s note: Bo, let us hear from was Ted Mervosh, Tubby Wilkinson, you. George Sanborn, Kip Jones, Dave Wharton Ramsey: “I hope you’re Neel, John Vaughan, Ed Maxwell, Jim having a great vacation. I have some Phlegar, Dave Fink, Bruce Weiner and good news I’d like to share with you a new combatant: Tom Gillette. Jim did and my Brother Rats. After being an excellent job collecting all the bets, single for many years, on Aug 2nd, I configuring and scoring the matches, got married to the former Ellen Lewis and awarding the prize money. I know, in Wilmington, NC. Ellen is a second because I was in the money 4/4 times grade teacher. We have lots in common, – only because I got a great partner in of course, but especially enjoy the the blind draw. Tom also paid for his trip. Carolina shag dance. Between us, we We had a nice time. The hurricane that have five sons! My two sons live in was supposed to come through stalled in Montana, and I have one granddaughter Florida. Our weather was great. George and one grandson. My dental practice has the group picture for the Review. He here in Roanoke is doing well, and I will send it to you.” Jan’s Note: Photo enjoy going to work every day. About was forwarded. two weekends a month, I spend soaring Wiley McIlrath asked me for Tommy (gliding) .... sometimes racing, someTomlinson’s e-mail contact. Wiley said times instructing. Soaring is turning his computer imploded and “took most out to be a lifelong passion. Otherwise, of my brains with it.” I heard from I fish, hunt, read and generally try to George Barletta several times. I wish I Class of 1967: Jan Abernathy, center, was present stay in good shape. Ellen loves VMI, so could repeat his anecdote on campaignwhen former VMI pipers, Blair Zaremba ’07, left, and Joe DiDomenico ’04, right, were married. I’m going to try to get her up to some ing and voting here. I was the recipient games and activities soon. Hope to see of e-mail exchanges between Chuck you there.” Shorter and John Forsyth. Chuck’s gorgeous color photos of the new U.S.S. New Mel Wright: “Retirement is going well, if 88-year-old father passed away recently. “He York, partially built with steel from the twin you include a bathroom renovation. I am not had a very full life and LOTS of friends. He tower scrap. Cliff Hedgepeth writes: “Just sure how anyone can survive doing a whole was a Navy veteran of WWII and Korea, so thought I would e-mail to let you know that house. When this is done, we hope to hit the we had a veteran’s service with flag-folding Jean’s surgery went fine and after radiation as road some. Lynn and I are going to start drivand piper playing ‘Amazing Grace.’ We all a precaution, she should be good as new. Been ing for Meals on Wheels next month. This knew it was far more ‘pomp and circumretired from International Paper for two years looked like a worthwhile public service that stance’ than he would have wanted but far now. I work part time at the Franklin, VA, pubwe could do together. So far, we have had less than he was due. He was definitely lic library. It’s nice to have a job because I want two training runs with one of the old pros.” one of the ‘Greatest Generation.’ On our one – not because I have to. Also spend time Jan’s note: You retired guys have too much vacation cruise to Hawaii next April, we’re looking at the stars with BR Bruce Bodner.” I time on your hands. Mel later sent photos of taking some of my dad’s ashes to spread in

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CLASS NOTES Pearl Harbor. He always said he’d like to be ‘buried at sea.’ Chuck” Jan’s Note: Chuck also asked for job referrals, and BR Doug Berry sent both some specific suggestions and a Web site for him to check. Don’t know if Chuck has a new job yet. J.B. Farley sent in an update on Carol’s hip replacement. She is doing well. Perry Ritenour says he will send in a report on the monthlong cruise he and Lee took recently to Alaska and Asia. Neil Schlussel sent photos of his third grandson, Cameron. Neil says “…can’t seem to get any girls ...”. Not to be outdone, Burt Palmer adds, “Nice to hear Carol Farley and all are doing well. Thanks for the update. Got our fourth grandson last week, and he is doing well … why can’t I get at least one girl? Oh well, at least my last three scholarships have gone to VMI women soccer players. Some irony for one who resisted the introduction of women to VMI.” A second message from Burt adds: “I have sent in my full scholarship check to Donnie Ross ’74 for the Nancy Bouis and Nell Palmer fund. Hope other BRs can do the same. Heard from J.B. Farley about Carol. She and Nell were such good friends in high school and college. I have been doing some offshore fishing when weather and bones allow. Youngest daughter Sara got married in July and son ‘Happy’ is due to marry next July. I cannot believe I have children in their 40s. I must be old.” Vance Powell, Jake DeSteiguer, Max Toch and Ray Irvine responded to J.I. Orrison’s baseball commentary and/or the one on the William & Mary football game. Good to hear from all of you. And I will add that Amanda Rose Orrison is settled into her first semester at Hofstra U. J.I. and Brenda are justly proud of her. Don’t know what became of her horse. In closing I found this “old” message from Ron Lowry when re-checking my e-mails: “Hello, Jan and Joan: Thanks so much for your support and for the many BR e-mails I received due to your efforts. It is now 15 days since my right hip replacement surgery, and my recovery is going fine, but with much more pain and fatigue than two years ago when I had the other side done. I got e-mails from many BRs that I plan to answer in the next two weeks as I get more energy. It was great to hear from them all! Keep in touch, and thanks for your friendship and support. Ron” Jan’s Note: I want to again commend those in the ’67 family for taking the time to write and call those within the class who have recently faced health challenges. We may not agree on much among our varied lives, but we are a family in a way that defies understanding by those who have not spent time in Barracks or at least married into our lives. Keep safe.

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Tom Hickey

’68

Ron Gallagher

Right after I posted the August notes on www. vmi68.com, I got a clarification from Jim Polley. He wrote, “(I) was just looking at the class notes on line and saw that you mentioned that I’d left the fast lane and retired from NDAA. The retiring from NDAA is right but just changed lanes. Started a new (third) career with DoD General Counsel. Am working with the judges trying the terrorist cases at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Been there twice already and going back late Sept. for a third ‘visit.’ Interesting stuff.” In late August, I got a package of material containing the minutes of the Foundation Board and of the Keydet Club. Bryan Barton (Oakton, VA) was elected to the Foundation Board and Kevin Henry (Winston Salem, NC) was elected to the Keydet Club Board. This makes VMI ’68 well represented at VMI, with Bryan joining Walt Jeffress (Fairfax, VA) on the Foundation Board and Kevin replacing John Kemper (Richmond, VA). Of course, Bob McDowell (Friday Harbor, WA) is still on the VMI Board of Visitors. The Good to Me’s rule. In late August right after Hurricane Fay came ashore, Wayne Burton (St. Marys, GA) sent the following: “Welcome to sunny South Georgia. We have had rain for two days, at least a foot or more. The causeway to our house had a high tide right up to the edge of the pavement. No damage due to the wind. Still windy. Expect another inch of rain Friday night. We will be fine. The worst is over for us. We don’t need to water the grass until January. The frogs have manned the life boats :-) Stay dry. We’ll be back at the beach by Sunday.” When I called Gordon Van Hoose (Vivian, LA), his wife, Billie, said that he was out on the combine harvesting his crops, and he’d be there until 10:00 pm. Billie, though, gave me a full update. She and Gordon took a two-week trip that touched in Warrenton, VA, for a wedding, at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Six Flags in Jackson, NJ, and Dorney Park in Allentown, PA. Gordon figures he took 87 rollercoaster rides for a total distance of 58 miles. Billie had the good sense to go shopping. Billie also said that she sees celebrities around Shreveport this day. After Katrina, Louisiana gave incentives to movie companies to keep coming to Louisiana. The companies have been coming to Shreve-

port in enough numbers to make Shreveport the third biggest movie making location in the country. Somehow, she says, it is just becoming normal to see stars like Denzel Washington and Kevin Costner on the city’s streets. That same evening, I found a retired Ron Cowardin (Richmond, VA) at his mother’s house – there’s a message here for those of you who don’t update me on phone numbers, mailing addresses and e-mails. Ron said he’d just been down to the Social Security Administration to get his retirement benefits started. Ron says he keeps in touch with John Van Landingham (Eugene, OR), Dick Wise (Richmond, VA – who says he’s going to throw Ron into the truck of his car and drag him up to a home football game), George Walton (Richmond, VA), Howard Donald (Richmond, VA) and George Squires (Richmond, VA). During our conversation, Ron mentioned that George Squires is moving to Richmond in the fall of 2008. I contacted George to confirm, and he wrote, in part, “Yes, my wife and I are moving to Richmond in early Sept. We are moving due to the illness with which I have been diagnosed. We have good family in Richmond and none here and may need more of a support system. I’d like to get in touch with Ron Cowardin after we get settled – whenever that is. There is so much to handle now, and it’s just too crazy to communicate with many folks at this point. I do keep in contact with John Van Landingham, who also has family there (Petersburg), as well as roommates Creigh Kelley (Englewood, CO), Steve Hubbard (Maplecrest, NY) and Phil Lanier (Monroe, LA) from time to time. Have also been in touch with Skip Roberts (Lexington, VA), who sent a large bouquet – in VMI colors, no less – when I had a two-week hospital stay in Billings in April – during the 40th Reunion. It was a bright and beautiful presence in that uncheerful place, which endured through the hospital stay and came back home with us for a while. Skip was out west this summer and hoped we could get together, but it didn’t work out. Our original plan was driving all the way back, which would include passing through Lexington and by VMI, with the traditional and mandatory mooning of the Barracks …” I sent an email to Skip Roberts about George’s prospective change in location. Skip confirmed the missed rendezvous with George and added, “We’re in the Tetons and have been since the end of July. We won’t get back to VA until September 14. We just drive out, and I set up shop out here to enjoy the scenery, warm days, cool nights and low humidity, and also our daughter is out here. We were in Jackson for dinner and ran into John Lester.” I guess Disney has it right: “It’s a small world after all!”

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Also talked with Bob Fletcher (Edgewater, MD) who is active with his own disaster preparedness company with local, state and federal clients. He said he’s moved from Annapolis to a riverfront property with his boat slip 25 feet from his house – sounds great to me. Bob’s daughter, Tara lives in New York with Bob’s three grandchildren, the oldest of whom entered college in the fall. Bob’s son, Robert (Bob) III, is living in Kentucky where he is helping to take care of his mother. Later, Bob gave a more extensive update from which I excerpted, “My wife, Kim, and I bought new Kawasaki Jet Skis recently, and we blast up and down the river with our grandchildren on the back. We are very water oriented here at “Fletchelot,” with a 37-foot Mainship, a 20-foot Wellcraft Center Console fishing boat, two jet skis and a Zodiac inflatable. We call it “the Armada.” With gas prices the way they are, everything stays at the dock except the jet skis. … You know, a recent visit to Lexington, KY, brought back many memories from my days in Lexington, VA, where I met my first wife, Hilda. She was a ‘townie,’ and we first started dating during summer school at VMI. I don’t know how many of our class went to summer school, but I did a couple of times in order to graduate. I got to know many of the Lexington folks and even worked at the Tri-brook Country Club as a lifeguard one summer. I have fond memories of driving my motorcycle around Lexington in the summer with Chuck Avery who also was dating a townie at the time. As I recall, Chuck

coaches field hockey at Cox High School in Virginia Beach. My roommate, John Griffin (Suffolk, VA), said he, Laury and son David took a trip earlier in the summer to London for a couple of days to visit their son, David, and his family who have been living there for the last three years. After a long weekend with the kids and grandkids, John, David and Laurie took the train to Scotland where the guys played golf for five days.” Bill Cobb (Pompano Beach, FL) says he’s enjoying the retired lifestyle: “If it weren’t for church, I wouldn’t own long pants.” He said he’s really looking forward to his annual elk hunt with Bill Bouck (Cazenovia, NY) and Rick Brothers (Steamboat Springs, CO) in November. Apparently “roughing it” is out, as they stay at a hunting lodge with hot water, warm beds, meals and a guide. Buzz Sprinkle (Greer, SC) retired from full time work a couple of years ago but is staying busy with a couple of activities. He’spPresident of his homeowner’s association and on the board of directors of the Greenville Woodworkers Guild. His mother is in a local assisted living facility, and Buzz got talked into working a couple of days a week taking residents to their doctor’s appointments using the facility’s van. Buzz’s wife, Nancy, volunteers at the Greenville Literacy Center where she works one-on-one with an adult student, teaching him to read and write. Got a short note from Joe LeVine (Panama City, FL) who wrote, “Bill Millan (Arlington, VA), Roy Dornsife (Casa Grande, AZ) and I enjoyed our Grand Canyon hike this past weekend.” Late, Bill sent a report on the “three-man assault on the Grand Canyon.” Along with some pictures, he wrote, “It is (I now know by experience) nine miles and 5000 vertical feet down the Bright Angel trail to Phantom Ranch in the valley and another 7 miles and 5000 feet back up on the South Kaibab trail, and worth every pint of sweat.” Sounds like a great trip. In an earlier note, Joe explained his housing situation by writing, “My ‘official’ residence is in Panama City, FL. We have a second home in Roanoke Rapids, NC. I also have an apartment in Brugge, Belgium. Unfortunately, for the past three years Class of 1968: At his home in New Market, Virginia, John Crim held his annual we have been spending more time in gathering to witness and celebrate the New Market Rat Parade, Sept. 7, 2008. Brother both North Carolina and Europe than Rats present were, front row: Chips McCallum, Joe Levine and John Crim. Row 2: Gil we have in Florida.” Piddington, Clay Thompson, Tom Arensdorf and Billy Seargeant. Row 3: Tom Boyd, Also got a note from Mike Malone Mike Smythers, Les Martin and Dave Clark. Row 4: Bill Cloyd, George Sebren, Jim (Bonsall, CA) who wrote, “You Polley, Dion Johnson and Tom Hickey. Also present during the weekend but not in caught me while I was out at my the picture were John Warburton and Dean Kershaw. ranch property near Flagstaff, AZ.

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had a blue Chrysler 440 Magnum, and I had a 1966 Blue GTO that we also took great pride in. A few years ago, my ex-father in law passed away, and I went back to Lexington, VA, for the funeral. While I was there, one of the kids, now a man, walked up to me and asked, “Didn’t you used to have that blue ’66 GTO with the loud pipes? I loved that car!” He didn’t remember me, but he remembered my car!” Talked with Paul Quillen’s (Cartersville, GA) wife, Lydia, who reported that together they have five girls and 11 grandchildren. Buck Miller (Wilton, CT) was just back from the Rowing Masters National Championships in Long Beach, CA, in which he medaled in four of five races as a member of the Saugatuck Rowing Club. Buck says he stays busy with his Alternative Board Franchise in which small and medium-size business owners collaborate through peer advisory boards and business and personal coaching. The highlight of his summer was when he bought a group of small islands in Long Island Sound near Norwalk. He’s planning to upgrade the 8’ x 12’ “shack” on the largest island. Saw Chips McCallum (Norfolk, VA) at John Crim’s (New Market, VA) totally excellent Rat Parade party the weekend after Labor Day. When we talked later in the month, he brought me up to speed on his work and then told me about his children: Cory ’94 working for SunTrust in Nashville but moving to Atlanta; Chris ’96 in the U.S. Navy stationed in Norfolk; and daughter Catherine who teaches math and

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CLASS NOTES My son, Pete, came up from Tucson for a few growth hormone, are now dead, so everything somewhat self-induced, but I can’t really speak days, and we managed to do a lot of needed has a price. Having benched over five hundred from personal experience. I spoke with Bill work around the property, between going to a pounds at 242 lbs of body weight, I probably Paulette’69 about fielding a 4-some (a possible gun show in Williams, AZ, and firing some of could still be of some use, perhaps at middle name, ‘The VMI ’69rs’ is somehow appealing), his recently acquired weapons on a little gun guard for the Keydet Football team today.” and maybe we can get them in for next year.” range that we had previously built for ourselves In mid October, Shirley Maddox (StrasTalked with Curtis Beach (Salem VA) in on the ranch – we have lots of room out there.” burg, VA) held a golf tournament to honor the mid-October. Curtis says he’s working as an Got a couple of e-mails from Bob Berezoski memory of Chuck. John Crim provided this independent contractor delivering Fuji film (Dallas, TX). Here’re some excerpts: “I have news flash: “On Friday, 17 October, Chuck’s and pharmaceuticals to Walmart stores in the not been in touch much over the years and birthday, our Johnny Appleseed Restaurant Valley. He thinks he’ll continue this for a few regret that the passing of my mother prevented sponsored a 4-some (‘The VMI ’68rs’ ) as years and then start substitute teaching. He says me from attending the reunion. I spent 13 VMI’s contribution to the Maddox family’s that his wife, Pa,t has retired from teaching but years in the Air Force, leaving as a colonel first annual Memorial Golf Tournament. The now works as a substitute. His daughter, Erin after earning my M.D. and taking eight years Tournament will provide the seed money for an (who lives in San Francisco), got married in of surgery training which included caring for annual VMI Scholarship. There were a total of the summer of 2008 at Smith Mountain Lake the worst trauma from the Vietnam near Roanoke. Her new husband, War in my general surgery training Lance, is a freelance and wedding at Wilford Hall Medical Center, in photographer. Their son, Andy, San Antonio, TX. I went on to train is in Richmond doing building in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck renovations. Lance is planning a Surgery, followed by my Plastic September 2009 wedding. Surgery Residency at Wilford Hall, Talked with Bob Schmalzriedt Brooke Army and UTHSC there. I (Marietta, GA) in late October. became double board certified and Bob says he’s finishing six years was sent to Wright Patterson AFB in as a claims agent dealing with Ohio, where I was the only certified Masonite siding issues, but that job plastic surgeon for all branches of would be over at the end of 2008. the military covering all 13 states He was looking into brokering in the northeast USA. Needless to contractor work by leveraging the say, seeing thousands of patients contacts he developed as a claims Class of 1968: From left, Joe Levine, Roy Dornsife and with the worst problems known was agent. He says his four children Bill Millan at the rim of the Grand Canyon. Millan, who common place. The tough years at are all doing well. Son Michael is submitted the photo, wrote, “It is nine miles and 5,000 VMI certainly prepared me mentala jeweler in Palmerton, PA, while vertical feet down the Bright Angel trail to Phantom Ranch ly to deal with hardships, including daughter Kelly runs a commercial in the valley and another seven miles and 5,000 feet back dealing with death so very often. and residential cleaning business up on the South Kaibab trail ... and worth every pint of I know other Brother Rats have in Edenboro, PA. His other two sweat. Thanks to Joe for making it happen!” faced challenges, been slandered daughters, Rachel and Anna, are in and worse, while they leaned on the the 9th and 8th grade, respectively, lessons taught at the Institute that this world has 18 teams entered, an excellent day for golf unin Des Moines, IA. Bob is active in a leadership never been a ‘fair’ or just place, but that good folded, great barbecue was provided for lunch role in the Men’s Divisions International. men, trained citizen-soldiers must never give and everyone had a great time. The course was As I was putting the finishing touches on up fighting for what they know is morally right. Jackson’s Chase near Front Royal, VA, which the notes, I got e-mail updates from Jim Burg God certainly has a plan for all of us, but I do was built and owned by Chuck and which was (Prescott, AZ) and Sheila (Mrs. Don) Taylor believe that He had great plans for those who also the scene of Chuck’s tournament last year (Kingwood, TX). Jim wrote, “I keep in touch graduated from VMI, all of whom have made on Rat Parade 2007 day. A Memorial Fund will with Bob Waldron, Jay and Bill Warren. I’m this world a better place. I wish to say hello to be set up with VMI for individual contributions going on my 15th year at the VA, helping others all of my class of ’68 Brother Rats, and hope I for the fund in Chuck’s memory, and I will be in get their lives back together and survive what I will have the opportunity to visit with them all touch with more information on that in the near almost didn’t. Making lots of new acquaintancin the time to come. … One other thing I have future. … Our 4-some included such stalwarts es but losing lots of old ones. It’s crazy – the done of some interest was to get into competi(had to look that one up again, ’cause any word ones that look healthy die from lung cancer or tive power weightlifting, through which, over ending in ‘warts’ is fun, but suspicious to me) some other illness; guess it comes with the territime, I became many times stronger than I ever as Tom ‘Tiger Tom’ Arensdorf (Haymarket, tory. Wife is a sales rep for Cable One, selling achieved in the VMI weight room, twice tying VA), Frank ‘Fast Frankie’ Pinizzotto (Conshotheir numerous cable packages. After real estate and breaking the American and world records hocken PA) , Randolph ‘Big Stick’ Williams’66 went in the hopper, she left and worked in nuin the bench press for my age and weight in (substituting for Chandler Williams) and Bob merous sales jobs. We still enjoy Prescott, AZ, the drug tested group, where the records are ‘Valley League’ Moyers (a New Market friend and after 15 years here, we’ll stay the course. naturally a good deal lower than the organizaof mine) substituting for me. Not surprisingly, I’ll conclude with Sheila’s note: “I have been tions who do not require the type of testing used our ringer spotted a number of other ringers, but in Destin, FL, with a group of friends. All is in the Olympics. However, most of the Senior our team worked hard together to overcome the very well with our family, though we miss Don III Age Class, where I currently compete, obstacles. Well, some of them, anyway. I have it everyday. He was definitely the one we all relied who cheated by taking dope like steroids and on good authority that most obstacles in golf are on, and he never let any of us down. We all laugh

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CLASS NOTES Jeter’s mom had her 90th birthday in Amherst in September, and several BRs headed that way to celebrate her life. The photo I saw had Pat Branch, K.C. Woodroof, Tommy Jones, T.B. Thompson, Jim Chapman and Dick all helping Mrs. Jeter enjoy her day. T.C .Jones’ daughter, associate director of admissions at Virginia Episcopal School (VES), provided the designated driver for the crowd; so all returned safely. At the annual Veteran’s Day Institute Society Dinner, John and Sallie Sebrell and Courtney Welton and friend Ellen – recently back from a trip to Turkey and Cappadocia – joined Knox Hubard and my wife and me for the dinner and good fellowship. Kirk Materne was a no-show for the dinner but was in the program. Knox and his older brother both came for the event for the first time. Knox is enjoying his post-bankretirement job with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and gets to lead groups of VA businessmen seeking contacts with firms in Europe on site visits several times a year. Bunny Paulette, Sebrell and Hubard all joined me at the dedication of the Third Barracks after the morning parade. Bill Ellerman sent this newsy update: “As a faithful reader of the ’69 class notes in the Alumni Review, I always meant to write sooner. For the past 20 years, I’ve worked at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Walter Judd Authority, where I manage and act as contracting officer on $4 billion worth of contracts for all of Operations. In other words, I buy the buses and railcars, as well as everything else to keep the transit system running. I also coached Greetings, BRs and friends of the VMI class youth soccer for 15 years. We won a lot of of ’69. The excitement leading to our 40th championships, using aggressive tactics similar reunion next April is building. The reunion to what the VMI men’s basketball team has committee is hard at work, and it is time for been doing. My wife, Donna, and I have been you to make plans to join us 23–26 April ’09 in married for 35 years. She is an art teacher at the Lexington. local elementary school. She does a lot of yoga, One BR will not make it in person but will be which helps keep her looking and feeling great. there in spirit. Larry Lenz died after a valiant Oldest child Angela (Donna calls her ‘doctor fight with cancer in early Nov. Larry, a longtime daughter’) graduated from George Washington resident of Pompton Plains, NJ, passed away University School of Medical in Washington, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, after a three-year battle DC, and currently works as an emergency room with pancreatic cancer. Having loved history all doctor in Brooklyn, NY. We are very proud of his life, Larry returned to school in recent years her. Oldest son Will was a high school all-star to earn his master’s degree soccer player, holding in history and pursue his his high school’s records second career as a history for goals scored and asteacher at Parsippany Hills sists. His club team was High School. In addition, nationally ranked, their Larry’s book, Power & Polonly loss coming in the icy: America’s First Steps Maryland semi-finals to to Superpower 1889-1922, the #2 ranked team in the was published and released nation. Will was featured this fall, a culmination of in the Washington Post and his deep passion for military on TV as the high school Class of 1969: The “rider” is David Hagan, one of the talented staff history. ‘athlete of the week.’ He at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. With a wry smile, we also played his college soccer and say we don’t make any decision, large or small, without thinking what would Don (Dad) think we should do. Our daughter, Carey, and family still live in Austin and keep very busy with their sons, Taylor, 11, and Ryan, 9. Taylor played tackle football for the first time this year and loved it. He played lineman and asked if I thought his granddad would be proud of him. Of course, he would be, for sure! Ryan played flag football and was the quarterback. Per the other dads, he has quite an arm. They both excel in school, and that certainly makes an ex-teacher very proud. Our son, Scott, and his wife live only 20 minutes away and are always there for me. Scott and Brenda both work for Exxon, and Scott shares the love of motorcycles with his dad. I seem to keep very busy also. I spend much time with my family and have an extraordinary circle of friends. God has blessed me in so many ways. I spend every Wednesday volunteering at MD Anderson Cancer Hospital. They were very wonderful to Don, and I feel this is one way I can give back. I pray that I live to see a cure for this terrible disease. I also am involved with a wonderful church. Though my life is quite different than I planned it to be, I find joy in all that God has provided. Don was my first love and will forever be in my heart.”

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think of another BR who will not join us next spring but who is still definitely part of us. In mid November, I got this short message: “I’m Carol McCrory Leaf, sister of Mike McCrory who died in August of 1975 in a helicopter crash at Fort Bragg. While Mike is gone, his son, Michael Alan McCrory Wilson (Alan), has grown into a fine man. He’s an attorney working for the South Carolina Attorney General. He and his wife, Jennifer, recently welcomed a son, Michael McCrory Wilson. Mike, you’re a grandfather!” From Rawls Williams came these words on Sept. 2: “Finishing up another great summer in Sun Valley, ID. Took one week to travel to CA to see my first granddaughter, Zoe Alexa Gordon. With a 6’6” father and 5’10” mother, she will be playing beach volleyball before she knows it. Got together with Bob and Gayne Slay, who also have a home here in Sun Valley. Had a salmon meal at their home and hit the tennis courts the next day. See all at the 40th.” Jess Powell wrote in early Nov: “Becky and I will be at the reunion. All is going well with me and my family. I retired last Dec. and have been enjoying myself ever since: some travel, some family time with my three daughters and running my transition home for homeless men. I spend time helping to move homeless and disadvantaged men forward in any way I can. I help them with their medical needs, food stamps, disability claims, jobs, court events, etc. For the last few years, I have tried to give back, mentor and guide men back on track, to overcome addictions and give them a safe Christian home to live in.” Good work, BR. Another couple of events are parts of times we face now: John Sebrell’s 93-year-old mom died in October, and John welcomed the support of Gary Mackey, Tommy Thompson and Bunny Paulette at the funeral in Alexandria. And Knox Hubard asked me to thank the following BRs who attended his father’s funeral this fall: John Sebrell, Gary Mackey, Gene Beale, Bob Heely, Pat Branch and Tommy Thompson. Having BRs around at such times is a real comfort. Not all events were so somber, however. Dick

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CLASS NOTES at Elizabethtown College, PA, consistently a top-25 ranked team. He graduated, moved to San Diego where he lived with his Russian girlfriend and two other Russian girls. (He is the envy of my male friends.) He is a webmaster for “eVisibility,” a Top Ten internet marketing company. Young son Jeff was also a high school all star soccer player, a tough defender and also a wrestler. He just graduated from the University of Tampa, where I think he spent his freshman year majoring in scuba diving. He has hair down to his shoulders, and when Donna and I visited him last spring, the three friends he brought to dinner were all girls: one whose father is America’s ambassador to Cameroon

and another whose next door neighbor is Bon Jovi (she and her sister work for David Bowie). Jeff loves the finer things in life and is, appropriately, a finance major.” In late August, I noted in a defense contracting magazine that a company had hired a man named Fred Downey. I wrote to the man I knew with that name and got back the following: “I left the Hill in June after 12 years as Sen. Lieberman’s point person on defense and foreign policy and ended up in the private sector. I’m now the vice president, National Security, at the Aerospace Industry Association. Basically, my charter is monitoring and analyzing national security issues that affect the U.S. aerospace industry’s ability to support

the Defense Department and to compete and cooperate in the national and global marketplace, and to coordinate the activities of the association’s National Security and Technical Operations Councils and their associated committees and working groups to develop industry consensus and responses to national security issues. Not bad having a bigger office, more money and a shorter commute. I still stay involved with the Institute, serving on the International Studies Department Advisory Board. I haven’t seen any of our BRs lately, but Tom Hickman and I usually manage to get in one hunting trip a year when he is back in town from Afghanistan. I’ll soon have my fourth grandson, so maybe one of them will keep the

Class of 1969: “I just returned from a reunion of men with whom I flew and served in Southeast Asia,” wrote Don Mercer, above, far left. “I was one of four selected to participate in our unit’s wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Sept. 30.” Class of 1969: Photo above: A sizeable group of Brother Rats met in October to play golf together. Photo below: The winning trophy went to, from left, Tom Jones, Gary Mackey, Doug Marks and Dick Jeter.

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CLASS NOTES VMI tradition going in the family. Claudia and I are really looking forward to the reunion in the spring. Hope we have a big turnout.” Voices from the past speak out! James (Danny) Gibson, wrote in Nov.: “Just wanted to send you this note to let you know I have finally moved back to Virginia with my wife, Kathy, after over 34 years of moving around the country following my work in the nuclear waste management business. We had a house built in Williamsburg and just moved in a few days ago. Now we can finally attend some VMI events, including our upcoming 40th Reunion, and catch up with some of my BRs. (We just missed the VMI/William & Mary game a few weeks ago, as we were in the process of moving from our home in Knoxville, TN.) It has taken us a long time to get back to our home in Virginia, but I am basically retired now and can finally enjoy spending time with our families in the Norfolk/Newport News area and our daughter who lives in Washington, DC.” Dan is in the Fords Colony community now. Scott Rhodes, in response to the notice about Larry: “Thanks for the update. Sorry to hear about Larry. Sadly, this will be an ever increasing event for our class. Just a quick update from our house. Amy had her knee replaced this summer, so I spent most of the summer playing nurse and chauffeur. Fortunately, the recovery and rehab from the surgery went much better than we expected. Eventually, she will probably have to have the other knee replaced. I’m doing fine. Still hoping for a 2011 retirement. We’ll see. We now have three grandchildren. Levi Daniel Rhodes was born on 9/11/08. We get to meet him when son Jeremy and family come this way at Christmas.” Also responding to the Lenz announcement, Dr. Frank Novakowski sent this message: “As always, thanks for the updates and reminders! I was so sorry to hear that Larry Lenz passed away. I know that pancreatic cancer is very severe ... and can only imagine what he has gone through these past many months. Although Larry and I did not keep up with one another following graduation, I do have very good memories of times I spent with him. It causes me to stop and reflect on the many similar VMI relationships that time and our paths of life have ‘suspended.’ On that note, Shelly and I are looking forward to the 40th Reunion! We’ve made the hotel reservation already. Perhaps it will rekindle many of the relationships we had – OMG, some 40-45 years ago! What an incredible statement of time! All’s well here in MI. I accepted a position as associate dean for undergraduate business management and marketing degree programs with Davenport University – same school I have been with since 2002. In addition to the curriculum, program and course development (and Q.C.), I’m still

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able to teach grad and undergrad business – usually in leadership, strategic management and international business areas. I finally got the dissertation done and accepted, too, so that journey is complete. What on earth will I do with all the free time now? Grandkids are all doing fine – oldest of the 10 is now 14! Youngest is 1 year this month. Lassies are outnumbering the lads though, 6 to 4! Nine of them live within 25 miles of our home, and that makes for a very lively and full house on the holidays – great stuff! Lotsa soccer, b’ball and other sports to see on Saturdays, too. This past summer, I took another group of students to Germany and France for a study abroad experience (third year that I have done this so far). It reminded me about how much I enjoyed the international environment – doing business and living abroad during the USAF and corporate years of my career. It’s always a neat experience to see the somewhat sheltered U.S. students get acclimated to a foreign culture and have those ‘ah-hah’ moments.” First Knox, now Frank: Getting paid to go to Europe. What a deal! On Saturday, Sept. 6, in the Moody Hall library we convened the first planning meeting for the 40th Reunion Committee. Col. Ron Wall led the meeting to get our reunion committee organized. Dr. Dave and Susan Prugh, Betsy Wall, John Sebrell, Jimmy Long, Glenn White, Dr. Chuck Becker and I met for a little more than an hour and made some assignments for things to get done. While we missed T.B. Thompson and Dave Bush, we gave them both assignments anyway. Ron and Betsy had a good idea of what needed to be done and spread the assignments to several individuals. Our class is fortunate to have many competent leaders and go-getters. While some classes depend on one or two persons to be the class leaders, we cultivate the skills and talents of many members and allow many folks to have a role in the planning of the big events. Later at the football game (won by the Keydets 49 – 0 against a bigger but slower St. Francis University of PA), I saw Lee Barnes, John and Sallie Sebrell, T.B. Thompson, Jimmy and Beth Long, Chuck Becker, David and Susan Prugh, and Ron and Betsy Wall. Jimmy introduced me to several current Keydets, parents of cadets and faculty members at his regular pre-game picnic. One Rat was hoping for a low scoring game and when I asked why, he said “more push-ups!” Sorry for him: Each time the football team scored, the Rat mass did one push-up for each point on the board. By the time the game ended the total was up to 49 at one time for the occurrence … Our Rats will be extra fit if the team keeps up this scoring binge. At the annual Pup Cup, played this year on

12 Sept. at Ford’s Colony in Williamsburg, VA, our class had excellent participation in the scholarship fund raiser. Bob Heely, Bob Waldo and Tom Morris joined me on one team; Peyton Brown, Tom Catlett and T.B. Thompson joined Athletic Director Donny White ’65 on a team winning one of the awards, and Bunny Paulette played with some of the ’70 grads. Only the class of ’80 had more players, and Pup (Jeff Morgan ’80) was in their class. As Bob Waldo predicted, a team of older gents (and one younger grad) with low handicaps won the overall competition. Hard to beat “good” at any age. On the next day, VMI’s football team got into an offensive battle with W&M and came out the loser. There were a bunch of BRs at the game, though, and the pre-game parties. Bob Clingenpeel of Arizona came to an Alumni Association meeting on Saturday afternoon and joined Bob Heely at the quarterly board gathering. Clinger joined me in the stands on the stifling hot night. I also saw Ron and Betsy Wall, Bunny Paulette, David and Susan Prugh, WIP and Barbara Priest, Bruce Gregory and John Ishon at the game and met with Bob and Ruth Waldo and Tommy and Nancy Catlett before at a tail gate party led by Drew Brantley and T.O. Palmer. Lee Barnes joined us at the pre-game party that appeared to last the entire game as well. Jimmy Long, roving reporter, passed to me other quick football game reports. At the end of Sept.: “Just got back this AM from golf in and around Charlottesville with Mitch and two other friends. Played Monday at Stoney Creek, Tuesday at Spring Creek and Wednesday at Farmington CC. Three very tough golf courses. Saturday attendance included the Longs, Tom and Elizabeth Jones, T.B. Thompson and daughter Marina, Sebrell, and Weasel and Ruth Chapman. Bruce and Gail Noel were up from Atlanta. Bruce retired from Bank of America in July after 38 years. They tailgated with us, and it was great to have such a good visit with them. They will be at the reunion.” And on Oct 6: “Beautiful day but Richmond was too big for us. Their front line was 315, 300, 300, 288 with backs at 232 and 240, and the QB was 213 and 6’3”. We played a pretty good 1st half and moved the ball reasonably well, and with the exception of pitching an option directly into the hands of one of their cornerbacks who took it in for an uncontested TD, we hung in there. In attendance were Ron and Betsy Wall, Dave and Susan Prugh, T.B. Thompson and daughter Marina, John and Sally Sebrell along with daughter Trez and her husband, AND T.O. Palmer in his pastel madras pants with hot pink and fluorescent green sunglasses that almost matched his pants. It was good to see T.O. since it has probably been the last reunion that I saw him.”

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CLASS NOTES I finish these notes with a couple of interesting notes. I read about candidate John McCain and his time at Episcopal High School in Alexandria and asked Jamie Totten and Bobby Watts if they knew anything about the lore. Jamie: “My older brother, Mike, and two of my first cousins, George Patton Waters and John Knight Waters (all GSP grandsons), preceded me at EHS. Our respective parents felt we needed the structure provided by EHS in our formative years, and we did.” Bobby: “I am aware of Mr. Ravenel and the big shadow that he casts. John McCain was on campus last spring for a ‘town meeting’ when he offered a long soliloquy on his mentor and friend. It was quite touching and heartening to hear.” Don Mercer, 10/16: “I just returned from a reunion of men with whom I flew and served in Southeast Asia. I was one of four selected to participate in our unit’s wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Sept. 30. Cheerie, our youngest daughter who accompanied me, together with my wife, took numerous photos and won first place in the reunion contest for the picture of the four of us saluting.” Time to give my quarterly reminder: Please make your annual giving donation early this year, and help us get our participation numbers up a little higher. See you all at the 40th in April! In the Spirit … Walt

’70

Bill O’Connor

What a great way to start off the November class notes: VMI 111 - Kentucky 103!!! This has to rank as one of the top athletic triumphs that we have ever had. Congrats to Coach Duggar B., his coaching staff and the “Whole Damn Team” for a great win. I don’t know about you all, but the number one all time win for me was the 1967 VMI-VPI football (not VaTech but VPI) 12-10 win. It flat just doesn’t get any better than that. As usual in the fall, heard from and saw a bunch of BRs. Life appears to be good for most, so let’s get started. I have to report that the third annual R-Cities Challenge Golf Tournament was concluded in August and once again, the little R city, Roanoke, was once again able to retain the cup by virtue of a tie with the Big R city, Richmond. The “Roanokers” – Bob Copty, Bill Gearhart, Jim Chapman ’69 and Dave Bush ’69 – overcame a massive first day deficit to tie the team of Herb Braun, Ralph Costen, Bill O’Connor and Bill Paulette ’69 on the final day. The fact that Richmond’s best golfer chose to make

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money over winning, by leaving a day early, clearly had an influence in the outcome – but hey, the fat lady did sing, and the rematch is on for 2009. A special thanks goes to Herb and Susan Braun for providing a super treat for all BRs who attended the first football game. In a summer auction sponsored by the Keydet Club, Herb was the successful bidder for a weekend package that included, among other things, a catered lunch served behind Foster Stadium for all BRs before the game and a cocktail reception in Moody Hall after the game. The events were first class and well attended. The auction was designed to raise money for academic assistance for the athletic teams and was very successful. Attending the lunch were Tom and Jill Cooke who came down, in part, to celebrate Tom’s 60th birthday. Unbeknownst to Tom, Jill arranged to have their two boys, Todd and Brad (both ’98), fly in and surprise Tom. Tommy was totally taken by surprise, and I thought I saw a tear in his eye, but he said that it was just a rain drop. It was a neat event. Thank you, Herb and Susan, for your generosity. Another fun event was the William & Mary football weekend in Williamsburg. Attending the golf tournament, party and game were Bill Gearhart, Ralph and Marsha Costen, Lew and Judy Reynolds, Al and Ann Kirk, Skip and Brownie Carver, and Paula and I. What a great weekend, except for the game. That was just a good old-fashioned ass kicking. Lew continues to teach at NC State (and hasn’t missed a beat in his good old partying ways). Big Al has gone back to work for Delta, teaching pilots how to take off and land on a 1:1 ratio. Al and Ann’s daughter, Katherine, is to be married this spring to a fine young man from Charleston. He passed the Al and Ann sniff test with flying colors, and they are looking forward to the new addition to the family . Skip and Brownie made the trip east all the way from Washington. Skip has retired for Northeast Airlines and continues to hone his golf game. By the way, the parties that the Keydet Club has sponsored have been terrific. The next time they sponsor one, please try to make it. You will see a lot of your BRs, and I guarantee you will have a good time. Speaking of marriages, Peele Dillard’s daughter, Ann, was recently married, and attending the ceremony from ’70 were Herb and Susan Braun and Carl and Julie Strock. Ann is pursuing her PhD at VaTech, as is Carl’s and Julie’s son, Chris ’97. Carl was recently transferred to London with Bechtel. I am not sure how long his assignment will be, but I know he and Julie will eventually return to Virginia and live in the grand old plantation they are restoring. I was delighted to receive a number of notes

from some BRs that we have not heard from in a while. Instead of editing their notes, I thought you all would enjoy reading them. Their notes follow: From Dick “Fitz” Fitzgibbons: Bill – Great to hear from you. Being somewhat removed from VMI territory, my only real link with VMI is through the Alumni Review, primarily through your notes. I appreciate the time and effort that you donate to keep those of us on the fringes of our class informed. My wife usually tries to hide the Review when it comes in, because she knows I will be out of circulation for a couple of hours, as I go through the class notes of ’67 through ’71. I have been living in central Mississippi for the last 12 years, and prior to that, my career in the construction industry took me to Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and then back to Alabama again. I have been working for Yates Construction for the last 17 years, initially commuting weekly from Huntsville, AL, for the first five years until I decided to move here. We loved living in Huntsville, and my youngest daughter was starting her high school years, and I didn’t want her to have to relocate. So, I bit the bullet and lived out of a suitcase for a while. We are permanent Mississippians now, as both daughters married Mississippi boys, and with two grandchildren, I guess we are now permanently fixed here. Life has been very good on the whole to me. I have a terrific wife and two daughters who both continue to make me proud that I am their father. My career in construction has been challenging and fulfilling, and I don’t think I could have enjoyed doing anything else as much. I am in reasonably good health, and although my knees continue to deteriorate (one replacement so far), I am pretty fortunate for the most part. Didn’t realize until later in life that the bonds we formed at VMI were strong and lasting. It makes me immensely proud when I heard that Carl Strock earned three stars, or when Ralph Costen donated the basketball floor to the Institute, or Lee Moon being a major college AD, along with countless other successes that our Brother Rats have attained. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed. Thanks for dropping me a line. I hope you break 80 today. Fitz” From Bob “Fuzzy” Patrick: Bill – Having seen the extensive report from the class of ’70 in the recent Alumni Review, I am compelled to weigh in with an update on my current situation. Since retiring from the Army in 1999, I have been truly blessed to be employed in positions I can be very passionate about and truly enjoy. I think it’s well known that I was a director with the National WWII Memorial here in Washington all the way up to managing its dedication in ’04. As a follow on, I was fortunate enough to get a position as the

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Happy 60th Birthday at VMI

Class of 1970: A happy 60th birthday greeting to Tom Cooke and Paula O’Connor was displayed on the VMI Foster Stadium scoreboard.

Class of 1970: For his 60th birthday, Tom Cooke’s wife, Jill, flew in his two sons to help celebrate. From left, Todd ’97, Jill, Brad ’97 and Tom.

director of the Veterans History Project at the ligence officer, he is off making a good living Had some business on my project with Chips Library of Congress. Who says a BA in history as a spy without another deployment to Iraq. Lanier in the past year. Hear at Xmas from doesn’t payoff at some point? We collect oral As with most of our BRs, I faced turning the Tony Rolfe who is living well in the Great State histories on wartime veterans from WWI all big 6-0 this year and did so without much pain of Maine. Have seen Peter Knowles and Waite the way up to the conflicts of today in Iraq and involved. Val and I celebrated this event along Rawls in the not too distant past. Also run into Afghanistan. It’s the most extensive oral history with our 35th Wedding Anniversary by spendother alum here and there. Well, that’s what is project in world. We rely on volunteers to do ing a week in Venice. I heartily recommend happening with me. Trust all is well your way. these interviews. All the information on how the good food, wine and gondola rides. Being Regards. Bob “Fuzzy” Patrick” to do it is on our Web site, www.loc.gov/vets. in DC, I naturally touch base now and again From Matt Curtis: Hi, Bill – “First, I want to I strongly encourage our BRs to think about with VMI grads. Have noticed Howie DeWolfe tell you how much I’ve enjoyed and appreciinterviewing their family members from WWII speeding through the Springfield metro parking ated your class notes, although my ‘western’ and Korea as well as telling about their own deck but have been unable to catch up with him. BRs don’t appear too often. I guess there aren’t exploits during Vietnam and beyond. that many of us. I have noted that Also recommend anyone coming Snake is the exception, which to DC to check out the Library of doesn’t surprise any of us. About Congress; it’s a beautiful place. I’ll six years ago, I heard from Chareven give ’em a tour. While I love lie Perry and Don Wills, who what I am doing, my best job is being was, indeed, in Australia after PaBob to our two grandkids, Rowan sailing there and (at that time) and Lyla. Valerie and I are spending was running an exotic fruit farm a lot of time in Baltimore with the and guiding scuba trips to ‘the grandkids, our daughter, Molly, and reef.’ Now, for the first time since son-in-law, Matt, who is a cardioloI was at his wedding over 38 gist at Johns Hopkins. Always good years ago, I hear and see Dewy to have a family member to take care George (my roommate for four of the ‘ticker.’ As I am sure all of years). Charlie P. did tell me he those among us who have discovered had run into him once at the Pengrandparenthood have learned, there tagon. Interesting. I’d give anyisn’t much better than being with thing to be able to contact Dewy youngsters who love you uncondiagain, if you can pass the word Class of 1970: As the sign says, Herb Braun, above with tionally and who go home with their on. Myself, well, I retired last wife Susan, was the high bidder and won a football weekparents. We are also fortunate to have year from teaching high school end extravaganza at the Keydet Club-sponsored auction our son, Eliot, in the Baltimore area. science after 25 years in Wyoin Richmond earlier in the year. Part of their prize was a After seven years going around the ming and Arizona (geoscience, catered lunch at the St. Francis-VMI football game. world as an Army military intelbiology, environmental science,

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CLASS NOTES marine biology). My wife is retiring next spring summer home (played golf twice). We then retire and slow down. Your pace is killing me! from child and elder abuse investigations, and left there and visited family at Buffalo Jct. and Waite “Soda’ Rawls sent a nice note regardwe plan on splitting time between fishing and Richmond, VA. While in Richmond, I dropped ing the Museum of the Confederacy which cruising in the Sea of Cortez, studying entomolby to see Judge Steverson and Dee for the is one of my favorite all time museums. He ogy and hiking in southern AZ , and visiting latest on the Richmond crowd. After wearing writes: “The class of ’70 is alive and well at the friends and relatives in Wyoming. Hopefully, out our welcome in Richmond, we drove down Museum of the Confederacy. I get a constant my wife and I will make our 40th Reunion, to Norfolk and spent three days with Margaret stream of out-of-town BRs who come for the since she has never been back east, much less and Charlie Walker, played golf, played cards special ‘Rawls VMI Tour.’ In the past several seen Virginia. I’d love to see the old place again and drank lots of mojitos made by Charlie, with months, Ed Trinkle, John Shackelford (with and old friends I haven’t seen for so long. By the mint from his own backyard! After leaving “Good Bones and Teeth”), Steve Craddock the way, tell Dancing Bear (Sea Cow) hello, if there, we left for the Outer Banks for a week and Roland Vaughan (with his son – just back you get a chance. Well, don’t want to take too with the BRs as noted in the previous e-mail. from Iraq) have all come by. But the pinnacle much of your time. Thanks again (and please When we finally got home, I had to rest up a was reached when I went to Jacksonville to try to contact Dewy for me). Matt Curtis” couple of days before I could play golf. This respeak to a group organized by Stix Chandler. I will tell you that the biggest reward of being tired life is killing me!” On top of all this, Stix Please come see me when any of you come to a class agent is hearing from guys that we spent further writes, “I received a call on Friday night Richmond, and,of course, membership in the probably the four hardest years of our youth (Nov. 7) from Josh Volpe, Tara’s boyfriend, at museum is appreciated.” Soda gave me the with and catching up on their life experiences a restaurant in Manassas, VA, having dinner tour a few years ago, and it is unbelievable the almost 40 years hence. Thanks, guys; it is with BRs Reed Heddleston, John Bailey and artifacts that the museum has stored – I recomalways great hearing from you. mend it to all, and I recommend Ted Durvin writes from his membership in the museum which I retirement casa in North Carolina am going to join. Thanks, Waite, for that he and Barbara are living and safe keeping our priceless heritage. loving retirement. He has become There is a great engineering an avid runner, and he and Barb story that was sent in by five of our continue to show dogs. He sums illustrious civil engineers, those up his current lifestyle by saying, being John Bailey, Gary Weishaar, “Had I known how much fun it Jimbo Mawyer, Stix Chandler and would be, I would have retired Dave Schmidt. Seems like the boys right after graduation and skipped went down to the beach at Corolla, three decades of work.” Spoken NC, and had some issues putting like a true Republican. Thanks, up a tent. It was something similar Ted, for the update. to “How many UVa graduates does Stix Chandler writes, “Being it take to screw in a light bulb?”!! retired from the RR with a steady Eventually, the tent went up and all income stream allows me to enjoy was well that ended well. Their next Class of 1970: Class of ’70 engineers John Bailey, Charthe good things in life, while you project is scheduled this winter – to lie Walker, Sergeant at Arms Jimi Mawyer, Stix Chandler working stiffs are STILL hard at it. make a snowball. and Dave Schmidt at Corolla Beach, North Carolina. This summer was a new experiHad dinner with Steve and Sherry ence for me, because I had the Craddock and Ralph and Marsha opportunity to go to Finland with Costen at both the wrestling auca professor friend of mine from Michigan Tech Warren (Roomie) Grasty. Josh asked for MY tion and scholarship dinner held in September. and assist teaching 15 students from Michigan PERMISSION to marry my daughter. I told him Steve is still threatening retirement, and I think Tech on a summer course, ‘Introduction to RR he didn’t need my permission, but he said it was he is serious. Ralph continues his 10-year retireEngineering.’ I had a blast with the next genera- the right thing to do. (This was before he had ment playing golf and traveling. tion, saw a lot of Finland, took a cruise from even mentioned that he would ask Tara to marry Neil Steverson reported in that he and Dee Helsinki to Estonia, took a cruise from Helsinki him.) He also said I was the first one asked, due attended the annual Institute Society Dinner to Stockholm, rode numerous high speed trains, to no one being at home. I told him I was quite in Lexington. In attendance from ’70 were took a field trip to the Finnish Railways new honored, and I had no idea what Tara would say the regulars, Kent Schlussel, Bob Copty, Bill shop facility, visited old castles, took a tour at a to his proposal. Within 15 minutes, I received Huffman and Tom Zarges and wives. Tom glass blowing factory and drank lots of Finnish a call from Tara giving me the good news and flew in all the way from Idaho to attend. They beer and liquor! Not only that, the trip was saying that she had accepted the proposal. were given a tour of the new Barracks, and paid for by the university, other than my own Whew! They don’t plan on actually getting Neil thought he was at the Ritz. There is a personal spending. Not a bad gig for a month married for about two years due to their career clock tower in the Barracks that the cadets have in Finland! When I came back, Nancy and I development. Nancy and I are blessed to have already named “Little Bennie” – some things took about two weeks the latter part on July/ such a fine young man coming into the family. never change. Thanks guys for representing the first part of Aug. to visit A.C. and Beth Arnn in Nancy said we would now have three sons class and for all that you do for the Institute. Statesville, NC, for a couple of days and manand three daughters … and I concur!” He and As I mentioned earlier, I have seen a bunch aged to get in a game of golf at AC’s course. Nancy are also grandparents-to-be in April, as of BRs at the various football games this year. Next, we headed to the NC mountains near Chris and Tiffany are expecting their first child. Included are Russ Marshall, Gary Weishaar, Boone to enjoy our dinner group friends at their Congrats, Stix. You are going to have to unSteve Craddock, Chuck Wills, Tom Cooke,

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CLASS NOTES Herb Braun, Stix Chandler, Ralph Costen, Lew Reynolds, Bob Copty, Bill Gearhart, Soda Rawls, Al Kirk, Skip Carver, Kent Schlussel, Jimmy Mawyer, John Bailey, Neil Steverson, Peele Dillard and Warren Grasty. If I missed anybody, I apologize; memory is the second thing to go. As all who attend will attest, the Keydets are becoming more competitive with every passing game. Next year should be the break through year. Our 40th Reunion is on the horizon, and a number of people have expressed an interest to participate in the planning. Over the next three or four months, we will be forming various committees regarding the reunion, and all help will be appreciated. The Alumni Office will assist us with respect to the logistics, i.e. lodging, facilities available, etc. I’ll keep everybody in the loop as the time nears for formal planning. That’s about it for this issue. I hope everyone had a happy holiday and will have a great New Year. Please keep the notes coming. Take care, be safe and God bless us all. GO BIG RED.

’71

James Kelly

These notes will cover the period between 15 Aug. 2008 and 15 Nov. 2008. It is hard to believe that winter and the holidays are once again upon us. I hope each of you enjoyed the fall season and had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas. I should make note of the fact that today’s writing is taking place on 11 Nov. 2008 which is Founder’s Day at VMI. We are, of course, displaying the red, white and yellow on Westwood today. Many of you may have heard by now that Jim Adams will be retiring as executive vice president of the VMI Foundation effective 30 June 2009. Jim has served in that office for over 10 years and has provided the leadership that resulted in record growth in virtually every aspect of the operations of the Foundation. In his letter to the president of the VMI Foundation, Jim noted that Donna will also be “retiring” from countless hours of planning and managing the myriad of events and activities that came with the territory. I know each of you join me in extending our sincere appreciation to Jim and Donna for their extraordinary service to VMI. Good luck and Godspeed! In September, Ted Wachtmeister’s son, Erik, was married in Maine. Sam and Spring Kirby attended what they described as a beautiful ceremony and great weekend. John and Brenda Patrick also made the trip. John is still flying international routes for American Airlines

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and says he may retire in another year or so. Sam noted that John has been in some type of uniform since 1967. The Richmond area ’71 luncheon held during September (organized by John Heisler) produced no spectacular news. However, it was observed that none of our stock broker BRs was in attendance. Concern was expressed that they may have all been placed on “suicide watch.” Let’s hope that when you are reading this that everyone’s financial future has become a little brighter. Football season drew many of the ’71 faithful to Lexington (and beyond). Lanny Gault and Sam Kirby have been reporting regularly on the games and BR sightings. At one time or another Mikula, Kennedy, Lindsay, Paton, Metzger, Bryan, Adams, Golden, Strickler, Schelhorn, Gearhart, Walton, Wright and Acuff have been in attendance. I’m sure others were there, as well, and not spotted. Also the roomies of 139 – Wall, Littleton, Lockridge, Morefield and Gault – attended the Charleston Southern game. Steve Price wrote that he and Dianna were planning to visit with John Zirkle and extended an invitation to all who might be able to join them. Steve reported that John’s spirits were good and that he enjoys visits from BRs. Ron and Shirley Lewis have been stalwart supporters of the Zirkles throughout John’s illness. How many grandfathers do you know that are not sure of their grandchild’s name? The answer is one – none other than Charles Lindsey. Steve Fogleman announced the birth of a baby girl to Charlie’s daughter, Christie, and husband Chris Brown on 10 Nov. 2008. Evidently, when Lindsay talked to Steve, the child’s name was a mystery. Congrats to grandpa. Fogie noted that the child was born on the 233rd anniversary of the Marine Corps. That could be an omen of some sort. On the Institute front, the Third Barracks have been completed and dedicated. Cadets will occupy the new space beginning with the second semester. Cadets from the old and new Barracks will live in the new area while those buildings are being renovated. I have not seen inside yet, but I am told that it is quite impressive. The VMI Museum has now moved everything into JM Hall and all of their exhibits should be fully on display by 2010. The storage area is equipped to maintain materials with the same level of care given at the Smithsonian. Crozet Hall now features a wide variety of meal selections for the Corps, and the staff receives monthly input from a cadet committee. I guess the days of “mystery meat” and Saturday night chop suey must be gone. I do miss the smell of freshly baked bread that permeated the air back in ’67. Alas, Club Crozet, we knew you.

That will do it for now. Let me hear from you. Please support Annual Giving in any way that you can. Kathryn, Chuck, Veronica, Lauren, Ryan and I wish you all the best. Let VMI be heard from today … Jim

’72

Larry Houseworth

Brother Rats, Sister Rats, Legacies, Families, Friends: Three days before the deadline for these notes, Mike King and Bill Smith informed me that Bob Woollard died suddenly on 12 Nov. 2008. Tributes, memories and reminiscences poured in – typical were Buzzy Chacey – “I can’t believe it. He was such a great guy…”; Carsten Hillson – “May Bob’s soul truly rest in peace – we will miss him”; and Phil Clayton – “Bob was one of a kind we’ll all miss…” Like several of you, I remember vividly chatting with Bob for the first time in maybe 20 years at our last reunion – he was lively, energetic and clearly happy to be among his Brother Rats. I will deeply miss him, as I’m sure you all will. I have passed along your messages to Brenda and the family. These notes cover mid August through mid November. Fall foliage is spectacular here high above beautiful downtown Bethesda, MD. VMI football has drawn national attention, not just for its improving record but for the amazing numbers posted in rushing offense and scoring – look for the trend to continue as the team loses only four to graduation. VMI baseball’s recruited class is ranked one of the nation’s best by “Collegiate Baseball” – and VMI basketball (only three first classmen on the roster) opened its season with the stunner of the season: a resounding 111-103, old-school, butt-whipping of pre-season, nationally-ranked Kentucky. VMI’s women’s soccer team finished the season with its best record in its history, and each of the three goals scored at the conference championship were scored by fourth classmen. Thirdclassman Josh Wine, heavyweight wrestler, is the highest ranked sophomore in the nation, ranked 15th according to the InterMat/NWCA/ NWMA Individual Rankings. …and a “Sound Adjutant’s Call” ooh-rahh … to BandCo First Classman Ira Gallagher ’09 for his 10th-place finish (age group 20-24) in the long-distance triathlon world championships (4-kilometer swim, 120-kilometer bike race, 30-kilometer run) held in Almere, Holland. He was one of two Americans to finish in the top 10 for his age group. Gallagher is a member of

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CLASS NOTES VMI’s triathlon team, which competed at the intercollegiate level for the first time this year – a very auspicious debut. On the “brains side,” VMI continues its toptier rankings in US News and World Report. Ranked as the No. 3 public liberal arts college in the nation (USMA #1, USNA #2), VMI is solidly in the first tier of colleges nationwide. VMI’s engineering programs are, once again, included in the nation’s best undergraduate engineering programs. 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. Earlier, Forbes ranked VMI as No. 9 in its list of America’s Best Public Colleges, just behind such institutions as the U.S. Military Academy, the University of Virginia and William & Mary. … and the engine that drives this success is fueled largely by Annual Giving … (nice segue, huh?) I want to personally thank each of you who’ve contributed this year – only the classes of ’71 and ’74 (classes ’69-’75) exceeded our percentage of first quarter participation, and our total participation percentage for the year to date is second only to ’71’s. Remember, BRs, it’s not how much you contribute or even how often; what’s important is how many of us choose to contribute – in whatever amount. The easiest method is through the VMI Alumni Association online site, “The VMI Ranks,” at http://www.vmialumni.org and go to “Support VMI” for one-time or scheduled donations. Clean, simple, secure – thank you. And now, the news: At the Keydet Club’s Fall Scholarship Dinner, Mary Martin presented the inaugural “Joseph E. Martin Sr. and Jr. ’72 Track and Field Scholarship” to Cadet Dennis James ’11, a mechanical engineering major from Chesapeake, VA. A fitting tribute to Joe and his father. John Pittenger offered the pithy observation that our notes have migrated to the middle of the magazine; an interesting editorial production metaphor … Dave Hall wrote saying, “Hey, BR, please don’t drop over ... I’m not dying or anything.

Just thought I’d drop you a note, check on how you’re doing and let you know that Sue hasn’t done away with me and is playing both roles when she sends notes!!! For me, I’m spending way too much time on airplanes flying to work, rather than to party places. This being retired is kicking my ass, so I won’t ever do that again anytime soon. Another retirement could kill me!!!!! Chatted with A.J. (Fojt), and he said he was trying to get you and Phil Wilkerson together to go out one night. Sounds super ... great opportunity to ‘remember’ the Ol’ Corps as it was ... yeah, right. When men were men and all that stuff. Oh well, I have the HR director standing outside my door bouncing from one foot to the other and considering how cute she is, I could probably watch her do this for awhile. But it might mean she has to hit the head, and I’d rather she tell me what she needs and press on.” Your Humble Scribe did, in fact, join the afore-mentioned A.J. and Karen Fojt and Phil and Carol Wilkerson for an evening of “Batman ala-IMAX” and the Bonefish Grill. Great fun, fellowship, and the ladies definitely provided the much-needed elegance to an otherwise sad trio of battered old war-liars. Barry Bartley shared this: “Larry, I just finished reading the class notes on the Alumni Web page. What a trip. 40 years ago, the Internet wasn’t even a twinkle in DARPA’s eye, and now we don’t know what to do with it or how we lived without it … Ahead of your notes in the Review were the notes from ’70, which started with a note about my sister, Allen Anderson. She married Phil Anderson ’70 in 1971, and they had just celebrated their 37th anniversary in June when she was taken from us by Scleroderma, an insidious disease too hard to explain but worth researching on the Net. Her funeral was attended by quite a number of VMI grads to include LTG Bob Flowers ’69 and Linda; LTG Carl Strock ’70 and Julie; John Pinner ’73 and my sister, Ann Bartley Pinner; Ed Trinkle ’70; of course, my wife, Margaret, and I, as well as some younger VMI grads who Allen and Phil had sponsored or mentored

The VMI Bookstore Looking around for just the right gift? Outgrown your old VMI sweatshirt? Address: Manager, VMI Keydet Bookstore, 300 Crozet Hall, Lexington VA 24450 Phone: 540/463-4921 114

along the way. While a sad time for my family, VMI’s support was certainly seen and felt that day … On a better note, this past September, Ed and Cindy Murphy, Bob and Glenda MacMeccan, and my wife and I took another whirlwind trip out to the Rocky Mountains for about nine days. We flew into Spokane, WA, and then ventured to Canada to Glacier National Park; back to Montana for the American version of the same; then on to Yellowstone National Park; then to Jackson Hole, WY, to see the Grand Tetons; ending our trip, more or less, in Salt Lake City. From there, my wife and I flew home, and the Murphys and MacMeccans took Amtrak to Denver to see relatives, after which they flew back to the East Coast. Two weeks later, we met again at VMI to see Richmond’s outstanding No. 6 ranked Spiders put on a clinic with our Big Red team. My wife laments that in all the years we have been coming up to homecoming football games, she has only seen VMI win once, against Georgetown a few years ago. I guess we’ll have to cancel homecoming from now on … by the time the next Review comes out, I will probably have changed jobs. I’m staying with the Army but moving from our Installation Management Command to the Corps of Engineers at their Headquarters in DC … I recently went to Hawaii and while there saw Jim Bersson. He loves Hawaii and like me, plans on working a while longer. I just love to work. He has kids who haven’t made it to college yet, and I know what that is like. I had been to Alaska this past January on business and was actually at the Alaska District office of the Corps of Engineers. I did not know that Bo Wierzbicki was working there at the time, and of course, he passed away within a month of my visit. I saw some of his Corps associates the next month in Alexandria at a conference, and you cannot believe how sad I felt having missed an opportunity to visit with a BR when so close. I have decided that after 36 years since graduation, we may not have too many reunions on the five-year cycle left, and we all need to take the time to strengthen or renew the bonds of brotherhood the Ratline thrust upon us. I, for one, know that every five years is not often enough, which is why I try to make at least an annual visit to Lexington to visit with BRs, see the improvements and watch at least one good team on the gridiron (you can pick which one). Believe it or not, as I get older, VMI feels more and more comfortable on me as I walk around the Hill before a Saturday parade or tailgate after a game. It will never be our VMI again, as it’s changed too much since ’72, but we still belong to it, and that is a comforting thought …” Beautifully put, BR. “Captain Jack” Miller sent a powerful montage of reasons to be grateful for the sacrifices

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CLASS NOTES of the men and women who serve in our nation’s defense – while we’ve all seen many of these, Jack’s was particularly moving. Thank you, sir. Your shared memories on the 40th anniversary of our matriculation really struck a chord. Bob Ward sent a beautifully written piece that I will forward to Robbo Murray for him to incorporate into his continuing chronicle of our life and times. Bob says, “As you requested, here’s my recollection of the 22nd of August 1968. I’m sure it’s riddled with factual errors, but you can chalk it up to the passage of 40 years and a memory that wasn’t all that good, even when I was 18. I certify that I received no help on this report (although I did look up the inscription on the parapet to make sure I had remembered it correctly).” Tom Moncure: “I certainly remember that hot as #!%#!%# day … record-breaking 103 … of course, no one cared about hydration and other now-common sense precautions. They just gave us salt tablets! Lucky they didn’t really hurt someone.” Also, he reminds us that “we were the first class of the ‘August to May’ schedule, as opposed to the ‘Sept to June’ schedule.” Bob Patrick: “40 damn years? Seems like only last night’s nightmare. We had Cadet Sergeant Phil Anderson (’70) in personal attendance. Phil happened to be a civil engineering major who was VERY happy to see the son of his faculty advisor and chief tormenter squirming under his personal tutelage. Anyway, thanks for bringing up that rush of memories.” Rob Murray: “… Still plugging away with the book … too bad I did not get it finished by this auspicious date !!! I remember seeing a picture of some long -haired hippie-type in an Army fatigue baseball cap who bore a striking resemblance to you! He did not appear to be enjoying himself! I immediately endeared myself to Cadre Sergeant ‘Tag Scott’ (’70) by sweating on his spit shined low quarters while pushing the sacred soil of Virginia away from me! All the best to you and the other august members of seven-deuce!!!” Carston Hillson: “… Thanks a lot – really ... I enjoyed your mention of old Cadet Captains Hitchcock (’69) and Kesey (’69). They could be some ‘mean dudes’ when it came to straining, as I recall. My special memory of what seemed, up to that time, to be ‘the longest day of my life’ on that Thursday, the 22nd of August 1968, was my Cadet Cadre Sergeant Anderson (’70) marching us all over the darn place and personally ‘straining’ me into shape. And he also gave me the ‘privilege’ of being strained by none other than Cadet First Captain Henry C. L’Orange (’69)! I also remember being personally affected by our retreat ceremony that day, as our flag came down. We’d made

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it through the very first day of our cadetship! (Smile, BRs!)” Denny Traubert (this is classic): “The memories you mentioned were indeed vivid. My addition is one of situational expedience (only at VMI) and the proper use of the sinks. On day one, we were told not to wear our good looking green hat in the sinks. On day two, we were awakened early with much screaming, maggot like insults and imparted with a sense of urgency about getting down to somewhere fast. Also existed an urgency to eliminate one’s bladder after a night’s sleep. I was in the sinks with maybe 10 other guys performing, when one of our Brother Rats – who will remain anonymous – came in with his hat on. On his own, he realized that he should not have it on, so he reached up to take it off but knocked it off in the urinal where a flood of urine hosed his hat. Without blinking, he reached in pulled it out shook it off and put it on his head and took off. I will never forget the look on his face.” Norm Worrell: “I second Carsten’s comments. What still bugs me is that I bought a VMI red comforter and never got it, because I did not know what the heck a comforter was in 1968 when they were issued. I think now it must be Joy, my wife. A little joke there. I remember those days very vividly. That night in my rack, thinking what have I gotten myself into? I wonder if I should have gone to UVa. Naaaaawwwwww. I think of our departed Brother Rats often and hope and pray that their families are at peace. God Bless. Norm” John Pittenger: “Thanks for the e-mail and the memories. Hard to realize it’s 40 years ago, until we think of those who are gone (Chip Spyker, Joe Martin, Joel McGrady, etc.) I distinctly remember: Gleaming white cue ball heads/haircuts; three minutes to change and fall out fully dressed in fatigues (yeah, like it was possible); Dewey George ’70 (my Rat DI), who I learned later was my cousin’s (Charles Perry) roommate; telling Bob Ferguson he was going to tear off his arm and beat him to death with it. It sure looked like he meant it; 4th stoop was the only “safe” place, not to be left unless absolutely necessary; 3 AM parties in rain gear; etc. Nevertheless, it was, as they say, a character forming experience.” Quick but pointed, Pete Grojean: “Thanks, Larry, for reminding us … Wow! What a funny and significant remembrance;” John Freiermuth: “By now (1430), I was ready to go home!;” Rick Wilson: “I think I forgot my camera that day … Wonder if anyone took any pictures during our ‘rush’ week …;” His Honor (and newly re-elected, running unopposed) Jim Pagones: “Thank God I loved it so much!!!;” Chris Arey: “Thanx for the reminder ... now I know why, for years, I thought my wedding

anniversary was Aug. 22 (it is Aug 26) ... one event was seared in my subconscious more than I knew!;” Skip Duncan: “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings. Until then: Hold the line, keep the faith, for all that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing! Happy anniversary, BRs!;” and “Buzz” Chacey: “… 40 years .... that kind of scares ya ...” Moving forward 40 years … from the “found” file: “Moon” Mullen appeared from the mists, courtesy of Facebook. Corresponding with George Williams, Tom Hathaway and me about a potential Hathaway visit to DC, our boy writes, “I worked for a bunch of loser companies … so I struck out on my own in 2005. I’m the manager, and my wife (Michelle) is an employee for health insurance purposes, but I pay her not to work (she has the ultimate cushy job). So, for the first time in my life, I am making good money, although Michelle and the kids try to spend it all. As for the future, I think that I will need to keep working until the number’s up. Josh, 28, my oldest, got married two years ago and is a surveyor in NC. No grandkids yet, as they wanted to buy a house first. This coming Friday, they settle on a new house with me as a co-signer … Matt and Sean, 25, the twins, are in Texas – finally out of school with master’s. They are still single and trolling the bars. I remember those days. Samantha (Sam), 21, is going to Radford – ssecond year. She is the typical American Jewish Princess. Another college loan for me to pay off. That’s about it. I wake up, shower … work, eat and sleep. I don’t get out very much, but it’s a routine I’m used to.” Professing a redneck heritage, he espouses the virtues of Bud Light, having maintained total abstinence from Southern Comfort since a certain weekend in 1971 … I received a warm note from the Griffiths passing along their appreciation for your thoughts, prayers and messages following the tragic loss of their family members and their family dog in a house fire in Lynchburg over Parents Weekend. On a happier note, Emily said “… I thought you would like to know that Ring Figure is next weekend, and our son James ’10 is escorting Powell Hughes’ daughter, Michelle, to Ring Figure. So, the class of ’72 will be well represented. As always, I will send a few pictures for you to have a glimpse of the legacies of ’72 as one gets his ring and the other gets to be a princess for the evening.” That’s a misty moment for you, BRs … And one more ’72 legacy story … Mary Martin wrote me in early September saying she, her 7th grade son, Donald, and other members of the family would be visiting Lexington for the fall Scholarship Awards Dinner and asked if anyone would be available to give Donald a personalized tour of the Institute. A quick

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CLASS NOTES note to Vern Beitzel, Tom Moncure and Walt Chalkley indicated that, while none of them were available that weekend, there are three ’72 legacies in the Corps. Quick notes to the Griffiths, Colliers and Woloshuks resulted in two volunteers. So, on the weekend of 20 Sept., Donald and his entourage got a personalized tour of the Institute from James Griffith ’10. So, there you have it, BRs; the Spirit is alive, well and manifested in each and every one of us and our legacies and shines through those we hold close. Proud to be your scribe – God bless you all … Larry

’73

Mike Kelly

“Wow! Awesome!! Fantastic!!!” Those are just a few of the words used to describe our 35th Class Reunion. Mark Skupien wrote that this was the “best reunion ever.” Glenn and Renee Younes talked about what a “great” time they had. Scott McCarthy wrote to say that the memorial service we held for our fallen Brother Rats was very “moving” and something he would remember the rest of his life! If you weren’t there, you really missed out on a wonderful weekend. We had 61 BRs registered, 59 “significant others,” and over the weekend another half dozen or so attended some of the activities. We started out with registration and an open hospitality room on Thursday. On Friday morning, there were two different sporting activities. Dave Woody made golf arrangements at the Lexington Country Club, and there were 18 guys who played. Ed Hall arranged a sporting clay shoot

at McKethan Park. Scott Lingamfelter was the winner, and his partner was none other than CSM John Neel from VMI. Hmmmm ... After the Friday afternoon parade, we had a semi-formal event at Moody Hall with lots of food and great music. Dave McCown arranged to have the VMI jazz band play for us. His son, Allen, is a third classman and a member of the band. They were fantastic! On Saturday morning, we had our class picture followed by a memorial service “on the bricks” for our 16 fallen Brother Rats. The Rev. Chris McGreer led us in a very moving memorial service, which included the reading of the names of all of our deceased BRs followed by the playing of Taps. One important piece of information: Just prior to our reunion, I had an e-mail from Mrs. Norma Romm, mother of Bob Romm. Bob died in 1998, and Mrs. Romm wanted us to know that she had gotten a brick each for Bob and her husband, who was in the class of 1943. Most importantly she said that Bob’s son, Robert Jr., is a Rat this year at VMI. I was able to contact Robert, and he attended our memorial service and read his dad’s name. What a great addition to our service. Mrs. Romm told me that Robert Jr. steps on his father’s brick every time he comes and goes through the arch! She also said that her husband’s brother was in the class of 1931. Following the memorial service and usual parade, the class formed up to pass in review and entered the court yard for an Old Yell. Most of the guys remembered how to march. There was a barbecue lunch in Moody Hall followed by a football game. Doug Huthwaite, who was unable to attend the reunion, sent me a note to say that based on the score of the game, we must have had a fantastic weekend! (Even Pat was impressed, because she said this was the first time she had seen the Keydets win a football game!)

On Saturday night, we tried to duplicate a little of the old Zolloman’s days by having a cookout and barbecue at McKethan Park. There were plenty of refreshments and a super DJ. It was a lovely evening. Bill Midkiff came to the event and brought Bob Romm’s son with him. Bill has kept up with Robert Jr. over the past few years. It was wonderful getting to know this fine young man! Bob would be very proud. We wrapped up Sunday morning by having a brunch in Crozet Hall before heading home. It was truly a wonderful weekend, and I thank all of you that came and especially those of you that worked so hard to make it happen. I’m sorry that it didn’t work out for many of you to come, but I hope that you can attend in the future. Please check out the photos in this issue of the Review, and thanks to Tom Jennings for contributing to this gallery. Dave Sutherland sent a nice note about the reunion, indicating that these events seem to occur more frequently – as we get older, the time goes faster. I think there’s a subtle hint in there for some mini reunions! Danny Williamson had planned to come, but a week before the reunion, while on his way to Williamsburg to join Stuart Seaton and others for the W&M game, he had to return home for what turned out to be a very painful kidney stone. He spent most of that Saturday night in the emergency room. I had a follow-up note from his wife who said he was getting along fine now. We really missed you guys! Doug Payne made it to the reunion; however his wife, Libbie, was not able to come. They luckily escaped a lot of damage from Hurricane Dolly in August. However, Hurricane Ike did cause some damage in September. All of the schools in the Corpus Christi area had been closed for several days, so Libbie was required to stay home to get their computer systems back on line and running so they

1973 Photo Captions (photos opposite page) Photos 1 & 2: Some members of the class of ’73 got an early start on Thursday in the hospitality room. Below: The crowd grew as more folks arrived.

Photo 5: Everyone had a lot of fun Photo 8: The class still remembered and enjoyed the fellowship. Photo by how to march! Photo by Tom Jennings. Tom Jennings.

Photo 9: On Saturday morning, the class gathered on the bricks for a memorial service in honor of the class’s 16 fallen Brother Rats. The names of the deceased were Photo 4: At dinner on Friday night, Photo 7: Leading the Old Yell for the read, and the Rev. Chris McGreer the class was entertained by the VMI class were Billy Stephens, Mike Kelly conducted a service, followed by the playing of “Taps.” Jazz Band. Photo by Tom Jennings. and Rich Lykins. Photo 6: Former roommates Roland Tiso, Mike Kelly and Terry Howlett Photo 3: There was a lot of catching got together for the first time in many years. up to do at this reunion.

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Row 1: Rob Bowman, D.C. Martin, Scott Lingamfelter, John DiGiovanni, Chad Brown, Corey Regelin, Mike Kelly, Ed Hall, Scott McCarthy, Doug Payne, Webb Tyler, Klaus Worrell and Mike Burke. Row 2: David Woody, Pete Walters, Charlie Havasy, Bill Stephens, Roland Tiso and Terry Howlett. Row 3: Bob Bushnell, Ned Carlson, Dale Kitchen, Rick Gribling, Glenn Younes, Tom Jones, Bill van Deusen, Bob Vanderspiegel and Hank Weatherford. Row 4: Hugh White, David McCown, John Sterrett, Malon Updike, Rich Lykins, Yerry Kenneally, Jim Chalkley, Jim Davidson, Hap Reisch, Willie Wells, Bill Boland and Mike MacKenzie. Row 5: Larry Mays, Matt Tignor, Art Pendleton, George Tisdale, Mike Smith, Jim Gundlach, Tom Napier, Darrell Rickmond, Paul Jalbert, Chris McGreer, Frank Joyce, Mark Weiss and Tom Linn. Row 6: Milt Salter, Gary Shope, Tom Jennings, Dave Sutherland, Joe Wyatt, M.B. Adelson, Mark Skupien, John Pinner, Stuart Seaton and G.G. Gray.

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CLASS NOTES could open up again. Libbie, we missed you, MG R.B. Newman and his wife, Becky; Rich for a deer that turned out to be a lot smaller on as well! Lykins; Scott McCarthy; and LTC Ed Hall the ground than it looked running through the Doug and Beth Basham had planned to and his wife, Lynsie. This is always such a woods! John said they were big enough, howattend the reunion, however Doug’s father great function and a wonderful time to be at ever, as he went to Stu’s and picked up a nice became ill, and they did not get to come. the Institute in celebration of Founders Day. share of meat. John indicated he had been to Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Gary One of the highlights of this year’s celebration Minnesota in October to go pheasant hunting. Shope brought his son Alex with him. You was the dedication of the Third Barracks. This He had a great time and highly recommends may recall from my last notes that Alex had new addition will allow the Corps to expand to putting this on your “Bucket List.” been seriously injured in a boating accident 1,500 cadets, and it will also provide a new PX Michael Smith said he attended the Liblast summer, but he is recovering well. It was and bookstore. Some of the space will be used erty game on Nov. 8 where he ran into Scott great to have him visit with us. right away, and other areas are opening follow- Lingamfelter, Rich Lykins, Chris McCurdy, Rob and Carolyn Bowman sent me a quick ing the Christmas break. State Representative Darrell Rickmond, Bill Stephens and Dave message to say that they had gotten back home Scott Lingamfelter was also present for the McCowan. Michael said that day was also from the reunion and were settling in at their dedication. Scott continues to be a huge adMilitary Appreciation Day and Vice President place in south-side Virginia, but they were al- vocate for the Institute in the state legislature. Cheney reviewed the Corps at the parade and ready looking forward to our next function. Chad Thanks for your continued support, Scott. made remarks to the audience. In his remarks, Brown likewise said he really enjoyed “reconEd Hall came to the Society Dinner this Vice President Cheney said, “Those who hate necting” with all the guys at the reunion, and he year, in spite of it being the Marine Corps’ America can never defeat those who love was now really busy teaching a new course in birthday. After 11 consecutive years of hosting America.” I think that says a lot for us all! personal finance at Grace Christian This month’s “lost BR” award School in Staunton. He has had goes to Wes Carr. Wes sent me a several guest speakers come in note before the reunion saying that and feels that this group of young he had a conversation with one of Christians has really enjoyed the his roommates, Barry Robertson, exchange of ideas. It has been a who gave him my address and said real blessing for him. he needed to “get back on the mailHere is a little trivia for you – ing list.” Wes and his wife, Ivonne, this question came up during the live in Spring, Texas. Although they reunion, and we all had several have lived there for more than 30 “answers,” but none of us knew years, he said Virginia is still home! for sure: How many matriculated Wes is a senior manager in Process in the class of ’73, and how many Systems Integration with AT&T. actually graduated? Thanks to Great hearing from you, Wes! He Norma Robinson at VMI for proalso told me that he runs into Gary Class of 1973: At the Institute Society Dinner on Nov. viding the answers. There were Lape ’74, quite often on Friday 10, 2008, were, from left, Maj. Gen. R.B. Newman, Mr. 327 who matriculated and 197 that nights during football season, as Rich Lykins, Mr. Scott McCarthy, Col. Michael Kelly and graduated. they have kids in the same high Lt. Col. Ed Hall. As part of the memorial service school band. “on the bricks” during our reunion, I also had a really nice note this Ed Hall made a “Last Man Standing” challenge a huge birthday party, he and Lynsie decided week from Robert E. Lee “Boots” McNeely. to the class. You should have received a special to come to the dinner and be a part of the Boots just got back from a national convention mailing from me before Christmas on the annual Third Barracks dedication. Of course, we had in Reno of the Society of American Forestgiving campaign as well as a letter on the chal- a couple of toasts to the USMC during the ers, which is the international professional lenge. The challenge basically was for each of us dinner. society for forestry. He was the recipient of to contribute to VMI with one of the goals being I also had a note from Doug Brown who said the President’s Award for Field Forestry for to reach a level of giving that would provide a he saw Tom Linn headed into the Pentagon his region (the Gulf states). This is a very brick with our name on it to be placed outside on Mon., Nov. 10th with a USMC birthday prestigious award, and Boots was proud to of Jackson Arch. The “Last Man Standing” in cake. Ed said he thought Tom taught there and have received it. He said that VMI certainly our class would ensure all members of our class was probably celebrating with his class. As Ed had laid the groundwork for this achievement were memorialized as a class with these bricks. would say, “Semper Fidelis!” and that a lot of the guys at VMI helped him Please let me know if you have any questions on John Pinner gave me an update on some of get his start in the business. Boots started his this challenge and if you need additional details. the news from the tidewater area. While the forestry career with the Texas Forest Service The VMI Web site also has a lot of information real estate business has been slow and requires in 1980 and has received numerous other on the bricks. As a class, we have already started a lot of hustle, he and Ann have made it to sev- awards for his hard work and leadership for this by dedicating a brick for Walt Bowden. eral of the football games this fall. He said he innovative stewardship programs and his work You will recall that Walt was murdered at Fort recently talked to Stuart Seaton who had been in the sustainable forestry industry. He is also Benning in 1974. hunting this year and already had shot a couple well known nationally for his hard work on I just returned from VMI this week. Pat of nice deer. John also said that he had the imawareness training of the dangers associated and I went to the Institute Society Dinner and pression from Mark Weiss and Darrell Rickwith wildland fires and has had numerous fire attended the Founders Day celebration on mond that they were “small” deer? Hope they suppression assignments in Texas and other Tues., Nov. 11. Also attending the dinner was weren’t too small –I paid a $50 fine one time states. He has worked diligently with property

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CLASS NOTES owners in high risk areas and has promoted the use of defensible space around homes. Great job, Boots! Thanks for sharing. (Editor’s Note: See more about McNeely and his award in the Alumni News section of this Review.) Roland Tiso sent me a quick note to say that things were going well at CENTCOM and that the Tiso clan was doing well. He and Judie were planning to sneak off to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on Nov. 26th. Roland did say, however, that he most likely would be leaving in February for five months or so in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We’ll be thinking about you and keeping you in our prayers! I mentioned that I had just returned from VMI this week and again want to tell you that if you haven’t been to Lexington for awhile, you’ll really be surprised. The Institute is growing and changing every day, and I can promise you it is for the betterment of all. It was so exciting to be a part of the Third Barracks dedication and knowing that the Corps will be expanded to 1,500 cadets. There is so much energy and activity going on, it will blow your socks off!! We had a short Class Agents meeting on Tuesday morning before the parade and listened to talks from various people about the current financial situation with the Institute. As you can imagine, like many of our own personal finances, the Endowment funds have really taken a hit this year, and its value is down nearly 25 percent. Expenses are up, and VMI just had nearly a million dollars cut out of its budget by the governor. State employees have had their two percent raise put on hold until July of next year. So, the economic crunch has hit home as well with the Institute. Because of the economic crunch, you may not see a lot of “special” fund-raising projects taking place; however, rest assured that the needs are there. One continued concern is with the need to increase our athletic funding, and there is a need to add two additional sports to remain active in the NCAA. This year is the 75th anniversary of the Keydet Club, and our own BR Bill Stephens is the president. You will be seeing some information on requests for $75 donations, especially from new donors, and that many alumni have pledged matching gifts as part of this birthday celebration. Please consider being part of this initiative. And please consider giving back to the Institute as much as you can, even if it means starting small. Christmas will have come and gone when you read these notes, and we’ll be in the middle of winter. I wish each of you a very Happy New Year. This is going to be a year to remember! Take care, be safe and stay in touch.

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Snookie Parker

Greetings, Brother Rats. Block your calendars: Reunion Dates: 4 and 5 Sept. 2009. Looking for volunteers to help plan/execute. Wife suggestions/input desired/preferred. Don’t be shy. See you there! I am composing these notes while basking in the glory of a 111-103 basketball victory over Kentucky in the storied Rupp arena. Wow!!! Bailey Hurley had sent me a heads-up on a breaking sporting news story, but I did not learn of this historic event until I met Charley Banning, Charlie Gardner and Jim Weyant the morning after at the Silver Diner, the breakfast club’s regular haunt for cakes and jo. What a pleasant surprise – bragging rights on Kentucky until we meet again. Regardless of what happens the rest of this season, this win will go down in history as one of the high marks for the VMI basketball program. Following breakfast, Charley Banning and I launched for Moore’s Church Cemetery, Amelia County, VA, to attend Roy Heiderman’s burial service (on Route 360, 20-some miles west of Richmond). Roy’s lovely wife, Barbara, had worked hard to have a special service to honor Roy for their family and friends. It was a superb service, well attended and highlighted by the rendering of military honors, and supported by a VMI cadet bugler, John Judge ’08. BRs attending: John Valenstein, Bob Cunningham, Paul Vandoren, Clint (and Cheryl) Anderson, John Judge ’08 (bugler), yours truly, Snap Carlock, J.W. Simms and Glenn Greene (volunteer photographer for the service). Charley Banning was there but for some unknown reason was not in the picture. I have to tell you that it was obvious that VMI had played a significant role in Roy’s life and had profound influence on Roy’s immediate family and friends. Barbara and family (son Stephen and daughters Lauren and Kristen) were extremely appreciative of the support provided by Roy’s Brother Rats. Following the service, Snap, J.W., Charley, Glenn, Paul, Clint, Cheryl and I gathered at Mario’s in Amelia to catch up. Some tidbits: Snap Carlock is trying to work around a wedding in Tampa to attend a portion of our next reunion. J.W. Simms has found his calling teaching special needs kids and working hard on his golf game. Charley Banning is on the preferred list for substitute teachers in Fairfax County and is being courted by several school administrators to consider teaching full time. Brig. Gen. Clint Anderson is spending more time on his boat, General’s

Quarters, with first mate Cheryl. Other sad news – Several Brother Rats responded to the news that Ronald S. Cottrell, Jim Cottrell’s father, had passed away in early November. The Institute was well represented at the memorial service. Don Kilcullen and Bobby Cunningham shared their feelings about Jim’s father with the congregation at the service. Also attending were Bill Minor, Gene Rice, Charlie Gardner and Mike Andriani. Steve Fogleman ’71 and Chris Schinstock ’90 were there, as well. In addition, notes/ cards were received from Bob McFarland, Bill Shumate, Steve Orr, Chip Beaman, Paul Vandoren, Bob Trost, Arnie Leonard, Glenn Greene and Red Undercoffer. The true depth of our brotherhood always surfaces during difficult moments such as this. In Jim’s own words, “I cannot begin to express what a comfort it is to have such remarkable friends.” A couple of days ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time with BR Bob (Turtle) Frank. Bob is a very successful engineer/scientist/ businessman. After a master’s degree from MIT and a short stint in the Air Force, Bob joined Applied Research Associates (ARA), a small employee-owned defense company formed in 1978 and headquartered in New Mexico. I believe Bob was employee number “single digit” – not sure which one. The company is now 1,500 employees strong and growing. Bob’s operation is headquartered in Raleigh and employs about 200 really, really smart folks doing some sophisticated cutting edge stuff for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, among other clients. Bob lacks a little bit of course/dissertation work to complete his Ph.D. from NC State University but does not appear to be in any hurry. He and Susan have two sons who have graduated from NCSU and are now working at ARA with Bob. I have to tell you that it is impressive to see what Bob has accomplished and to understand what he is currently doing for the defense of our country. Well done, Bob. By the way, Bob and Susan have built a very, very nice home on the water in North Topsail Beach, NC, and spend as much time as they can at the beach. I did not tell Bob this, but I am looking forward to spending some time down there as well. Ha! Was in a passionate discussion about the best BBQ in the world (a national pastime in eastern NC) when ribs from Montgomery Inn in Cincinnati were mentioned. I had never heard of the place and never thought of Cincinnati as a BBQ town – chili, yes, but BBQ? Several in the discussion concurred with the claim. I wanted a locals’ opinion, so I contacted Alan Vicory. Al confirmed the claim and was just as passionate about the quality of this BBQ. Al says these ribs were so good (and famous) that Bob Hope used to routinely have the ribs shipped to his house

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CLASS NOTES in CA. Al, thanks for the locals’ assessment. I’m shipping some ribs to the house here to assess for myself. Received a note from Phil Parker. He and Randy were at Ft. Sill for the birth of their granddaughter, Grace Marie, one day and the next day were taking their son, Brian (Grace’s father), to Ft. Riley for his 13-month deployment to the Iraq/Iran border. A stark realization of the sacrifices being made by families directly related to service members. Keep Phil, Brian and the rest of the Parker clan in your prayers. Spoke with Mike Andriani the other night. Proud papa moment: Son Mike is up for command of the junior ROTC battalion and has received early acceptance to VMI for next year. Hooo –aaahhhh!!! Brother Rat Dennis Keegan has recently published the book, Reality Check: The Unreported Good News About America. It has received some outstanding reviews. I have read the book and highly recommend it to any one who is interested in the global economy and American politics. The book has good structure, is well documented and supported by “hard data” analysis. Well done, Dennis!!! I understand Roland Lazenby has two books in the works – one to be published by Random House due out in January on Jerry West, followed by a book on VMI’s own John McKenna. Kent Wheeless notes that he and Brenda had a pretty uneventful summer (as opposed to a remodel on the house last spring – kitchen, dining room, living room and master bath) … with the exception of taking their church senior youth group to Disney World for a week in June. According to Kent, “Everybody should travel with seven teenagers.” Kent’s parents (in their 80s) are doing well and are both pretty active. Kent is the senior IT guru for Barton College in Wilson, NC. Barton is up for reaccreditation, so Kent is quite busy with requests for information relating to reac-

creditation. Kent says it is almost as much fun as going to the RDC as a Rat. Received a note for Mike Fisher. Mike and Sarah are enjoying the breathtaking vistas as the sun sets over the Blue Ridge Mountains in Uno, VA. Mike says significant rains have left the valley lush and green … but the leaves were just beginning to turn (in October). Mike and Sarah saw Ken and Betsy Terry and Gary and Alison Trinkle at the VMI vs. William & Mary football game. While staying with Ken, Mike and Sarah were treated to a ride on Captain Ken’s new boat. It is alleged that Captain Ken does as well with his boat as he does with his Jet Blue aircraft. What do the “land lub’n” Fishers know about boats? I’ll have to send Tom Parker, a real boat captain, to give Captain Ken the ultimate check ride in his boat. Mike and Sarah are planning to attend the annual Montpelier Horse Races. Understand Ken and Betsy, Gary and Alison, and Craig Smith are also planning to attend. I might have to notify the local magistrate … but that might be Mike???? Heads up for a repeated message: Block your calendars: Reunion Dates: 4 and 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 snookieparker1974@earthlink.net, Charley Banning cbanning@cox.net or Kevin Nettrour (our Web master) 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: Welcome to the somewhat abbreviated version of the quarterly notes. I can only presume that the third quarter of 2008 represented an extended hiatus from most worldly activity for the class of ’75. Maybe we all just needed a rest. Still, I am overcome with gratitude to all of those who actually did something between August and November and were kind enough to let us in on what that something was. Emily and I had the occasion to witness some rather vigorous activity first hand, as my old Rat roommate, Danny Penny, took his place in the crease as goalkeeper for the annual VMI alumni lacrosse game back in October. The courage and agility that Danny displayed attracted almost as much attention as his antique wooden lacrosse stick, which the more youthful participants regarded with a mixture of fear and awe. Danny’s defensive exertions were matched by the offensive prowess of my son’s classmate, Steve Long ’07, who engaged in some arduous pre-match preparation by matching me beer for beer up at the Southern Inn immediately prior to face off. Regrettably, our alumni brethren fell in a valiant effort that was no doubt impeded by the absence of Charlie Collins, Ben Vanderberry, Danny Dell’Osso and other lacrosse legends from a bygone era who were unable or unwilling to participate. Fred Edwards sends greetings from Houston, TX, where he serves as a local district attorney keeping the Texas streets safe for democracy. Chris Smart has been working as a chief petro physicist for BP in North Africa. When not working deep in the Sahara Desert in his laboratory, Chris spends time with his family in the

Class of 1974: At Roy Heiderman’s burial service were, from left, John Valenstein, Bob Cunningham, Paul Van Doren, Clint Anderson, John Judge ’ 08, Snookie Parker, Snap Carlock, J.W. Simms and Glenn Greene. Not pictured but present: Charley Banning.

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CLASS NOTES U.K. where they have lived for the past years. Their cottage is on two and a half acres in Virginia Water which borders the eastern portion of the Wentworth Estate, a sylvan refuge heavily festooned with rhododendron and azaleas and occupied by a menagerie of deer, hedgehogs, foxes, badgers, squirrels and ravens. Famous golfers, Ernie Els and Darrin Clarke, are his neighbors and live less than a three wood away and up the hill. Chris has taken the opportunity to tour all of the ancient and renowned U.K. courses, such as Eden, St. Andrews, Carnoustie, King’s Barns, Castle, etc. Chris says he almost keeled over when they called his name at the old course of the Royal and Ancient at St. Andrews, where approximately 40 of the locals were on hand to watch him tee off into a 30-mile-an-hour gale that blew the rain sideways. Chris was so impressed with his opening drive that he asked his venerable old caddy if he thought the green could be reached with a five iron. The wizened old veteran’s sage reply: “AI dunno, laddie; I’aven’t as yet seen ya hit ya blades.” Lea and Chris and their two girls will be moving to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates in the first of the year where Chris will serve as chief petro physicist for Capitol ADCO, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. No doubt he will find conditions on the links a little less damp but no less challenging in his new abode. Also laboring in Africa is Rob Low, the program manager for Northrop Grumman’s ACOTA Program. He was able to take some time off when Kenya declared a national holiday to celebrate the U.S. presidential election. Rob would like everyone to know that he is in serious need of qualified French speaking trainers to assist in his efforts and has so far been successful only in recruiting Rusty Rahm, who recently returned from Ethiopia. Lamentably, my French is mostly limited to requesting beer, wine, directions or the check. Still, it is nice to know that what actually resembles stability in this unstable world is at least due in part to the efforts of the far flung members of the class of ’75. Assisting in those efforts will be Jim McCriskin’s son, Brendan, a captain and flight surgeon with an aviation squadron that has recently been deployed to Afghanistan. You all may recall that Brendan is Guy Conte’s godson. Guy checked in to say that he had only recently gotten together with Bernie Cobb in Atlanta and that he had been enjoying tailgating with

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Allen Morgan, Mike Hunter, Tom Baur and Chip Louthan for the Liberty football game where Guy was accompanied by his daughter, Holley. Unfortunately, son, Chris Conte ’11, was not able to suit up for the football game, having broken his wrist in practice. Ollie and Bonnie Way’s son, Barrett, has had no such impediments in his field goal kicking duties with Ohio University. Barrett tied the school record with four field goals in an October win over Kent State connecting from 42, 47, 23 and 37 yards. This was enough to get Barrett named as special team player of the week in the MidWestern Athletic Conference (MAC). A number of our Brother Rats continue to participate in the growing predilection of many Institute men, that is, the management of the profligate numbers of edible winged creatures abounding in the wild. Charlie Hoon recently started out on a pleasant Wednesday hunting pheasant in North Dakota wearing only a t-shirt. By Thursday the winds were howling at 40 miles per hour, and by Friday, he was snowbound with drifts of up to four feet. The answer to his predicament? Goose hunting. One must never underestimate the value of ingenuity to the sporting lifestyle. Charlie has been in touch with Art Sigsbury and Mike Garten and was planning to see both of them in the near future. Andy Dearman is similarly involved in population control – in this case, the deer population of west Texas.

True to his name, Andy and six other marksmen shot 51 deer, all of which required gutting, skinning and quartering in order to be distributed to the hungry populace of west Texas who were suitably grateful for such magnanimity. Not to be outdone, Mary Love Dearman and Sloan Hunter indulged in their own outing to Kiawah Island in South Carolina in a corresponding effort to influence the local economy. Both have been uncharacteristically tight lipped about the details of their activities and were reported to have returned home bearing headaches and a large number of credit card receipts. Andy’s daughter, Bentley, a practicing nurse, is applying to graduate school, and young Drew has just completed his junior year of high school football and is being recruited by various venerable institutions of higher learning and gridiron renown – Alabama, Auburn and Duke, to name a few. Jim Mesnard and Dave Mund also get together every year for a duck and goose hunt. Jim has 16-year-old twins who are juniors at St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, MD. He overhead the twins talking about their new algebra teacher, whom one of them had been astute enough to discover was John Digiovanni, class of ’73. Heather Marie Janes has entered divinity school and reports that her mid-term grades were uniformly excellent. Charlie Collins’ wife, Kathy, is completing her master’s degree in Houston where Charlie reports that his company, Roche Pharmaceuticals, has begun to acquire Genentech. Charlie was hoping to avoid any “right sizing” that might follow such a merger but is consoled by the fact that he may have more of an opportunity to watch his son compete against Bill Turpin’s boy in high school lacrosse. Charlie had the opportunity to visit with Kyle Nikmard ’10 during the summer break. Charlie had recruited Kyle, a high school classmate of his daughter, Meghan, to play linebacker for the Keydets. Charles and Lynn Kaune traveled from Stuttgart to New Orleans in November to celebrate the nuptials of their youngest child and promised a photograph upon their return to their home in Germany. Charlie was a bit relieved that his wedding duties are now complete, and he can move on to less costly pursuits. Tim Parker, director of Workplace Environment for RTI International in Raleigh, frequently gets together with his

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES brother, Snookie Parker ’74, who is starting a new management company with his Brother Rat Pat Flynn ’74. Tim also sees Pete Shelly ’74 at swim meets and says that Pete is one of the premier swim officials in the research triangle of North Carolina. David Sadowski is the Supply Chain and Production manager for Allegheny Ludlum Steel in Pennsylvania where they make a wide range of personal and vehicle armor for the military. David would like to hear from his old Rat roomies in 436 at DSdowski@ AlleghenyLudlum.com. I was glad to see Kimo and Melanie Wong with Tom and Judy Baur and Michael “Rico” Soares at the William & Mary football game in September. It turns out that piloting the ferryboat in Newport, RI, was not exciting enough for Rico, so he has taken up bartending instead. There are some rumors of a videotape with Rico standing on the bar and flipping bottles like Tom Cruise – so look for that on You Tube. Kim and Melanie Wong are looking forward to the alumni cruise on the big sailboat in March and hope that others will join them. Professor Tom Baur has been having fun playing around with exercise physiology and recently got to experiment on Sandy Morgan who spent the morning before a football game taped up with electrodes and breathing into various measuring devices while peddling an exercise bike. Sandy was so inspired by the results of her fitness evaluation that she signed up to run in the 10 K race between Lexington and Buena Vista. Sandy reports that Mike and Slone Hunter’s son, Budge ’10, has become enamored of the new game of “cornhole.” This is a contest played on flat surfaces which involves hurling beanbags back and forth into a hole in a set of wooden boxes which are especially designed and built for this purpose. Big Al Morgan was kind enough to volunteer his woodworking skills to construct a custom cornhole set for Budge’s use, and this was decorated by Al and Sandy’s daughter, Blaire, with some very impressive art work featuring a distinctive Institute theme. This game is sanctioned by the American Cornhole Association which sponsors tournaments and events throughout the country. Given the level of interest, it must involve drinking, but the specifics of that are unclear to me. Rick “Dawg” Law and Pario Lee have just returned from Germany to visit their son and his wife at Ramstein Air Force Base where the two stalwart travelers set out on a quest to locate a bottle of beer or wine that was less than superb but were fortunately unsuccessful. Rick’s daughter, Whitney, is a full-time assistant girl’s basketball coach at the University of Missouri, and Rick says that following the Miller/ Coors merger, a Miller Light is an acceptable alternative to a Silver Bullet. Rick laments that

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he doesn’t run into very many VMI types in Colorado. It sounds as though he needs a visit. I might have to pack up my ski boots and help him out with that one. Lt. Gen. Danny Darnell reports that his family is doing well and that he has just returned to his home in Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC, after a trip to Iraq and Afghanistan. He also had a chance to fly an F-15 I with the Israeli Air Force and spent some time with his counterpart, the Israeli Air Force Chief of Operations. This brought him into close geographic proximity with Oscar Richardson who was visiting southern Lebanon to assist in some mission work, as well as the inspection of local orchards. Oscar says the most exciting part of this portion of his trip was seeking security clearance from the local militias. Afterwards, Oscar joined his wife, Anna, for a prayer journey down the Ganges River which culminated in a visit to Varanasi, the spiritual capital of the subcontinent, where Oscar ordained six female acolytes on the banks of the Ganges. After a visit to his in-laws in Pune, India, Oscar and Anna returned and have promised Ben Vandberry, Rob Slaughter and me a true home cooked Indian repast by the close of the year. David Hensley broke his decades-long code of silence to report that he is the deputy aviation director for design and construction with the City of Phoenix Aviation Department. Dave has been with the city for 21 years and has enjoyed building runways and constructing terminals. David’s oldest son, Adam, is also a civil engineer working in Phoenix and his youngest, Alex, is a sophomore at Arizona State University majoring in biology. Alex is also an eagle scout. David will be remarrying in February and keeping two homes, one in Glendale, CA, and the other in Scottsdale, AZ; he will commute between the two. He invites Kent Wood, Gibson Houser and Alan Hansen to e-mail him at hensley.david1@gmail.com. Ben Vanderberry has apparently overcome his sordid past to be elected president of the board of trustees of Norfolk Academy. This is Virginia’s oldest secondary school, founded in 1728, and despite its ancient origin and considerable prestige, not too awfully particular about the thoroughness of the vetting process. Oh, well – history will judge. John Young reported in from the green mountain state that he has been gainfully employed at General Dynamics working on the digital fire control system for the new, light-weight 155mm towed howitzer. In addition to the challenge of managing a 170 million dollar program, John had the satisfaction of knowing that the soldiers and marines are delighted with his equipment, particularly his eldest son, who is serving as an artillery officer in Iraq. John and Joyce celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary, and

John is delighted that she still puts up with him, despite occasional bouts of awkwardness. John got a little careless with his footing on his icy driveway and needed a titanium plate and 10 screws to cobble his shattered wrist back together. All is healed now, and he is back to raking his yard like a champ! Rick and Suzanne Hening are doing well with their business, Front Porch Marketing, which assists various companies, individuals and enterprises of various types with gift giving for any occasion. They have just celebrated their 25th anniversary and still marvel at the fact that they actually met in Ankara, Turkey. Rick was preparing for another season of officiating basketball and had taken some time out to travel to Atlanta to see the Braves play the Phillies. Rich Mines completed his 56th marathon in Anchorage, AK, back in August with a time of 3 minutes, 51 seconds. This leaves only 25 remaining states before he completes his goal of running a marathon in all 50! Rich has also finished a textbook for Prentice Hall Publishers entitled, Introduction to Environmental Engineering. Doug Harvey, the director of Utilities for Goochland County, is also getting ready for his year of football officiating and hoping to get a college playoff game. Doug has a new granddaughter and his son, Scott ’07, is working with Herb Barun ’70, Gary Weischaar ’70 and Roger Hart ’72 at Malcolm Pirnie. If any of you all make it up to Lexington, look for Doug at the basketball and football games. Your humble correspondent just returned from a visit to see my daughter, a senior at Columbia in New York City. We had a great time at the Metropolitan Opera, assorted jazz clubs and a dance performance at the school with a little shopping thrown in. It just went by too quickly. I hope that everyone had a festive holiday, and until next time – stay young, and stay in touch!

’76

William Bhatta

Brother Rats: Thanks to everyone who participated in Hunt and Annette Ozmer’s golf tournament and the mini reunion on 19-20 Sept. last year. Thirty-five BRs with many of their families attended. Everyone had a great time. Special thanks to the Ozmers for organizing a great tournament and fundraiser and to our BRs on the planning committee: Ray Brooks, J.C. Coleman, Dyke Davies, Rocky Glass, Doug Hines, Jim Joustra, Andre Koneczny and Jim Mallon. Events started Friday at 0800, erecting a Base-X tent next to the golf clubhouse. The

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Dexter Gilliam and John Schroth ready to play golf at Hunter’s Hope Memorial Golf Tournament.

Class of 1976

At the Coleman’s following a September football game were, from left, top photo, seated: Dyke Davies, Jim Mallon, Andre Koneczny, Jim Delisio, Bill Bhatta, Kevin Pardus and Mark Sculley. Standing: Wayne Eastham, Kavie Thrift, John Swain, Rocky Glass, Steve Savage, Doug Hines, Ray Brooks, Jim Joustra, Pete Friesen, David Bass and Ted Trout. Center photo: Andre Koneczny, Annette and Hunt Ozmer, and Jim Mallon. Bottom photo: Lillian Swain, Dave Lowe, Bill Ryals and John Swain. tent was used for the golf tournament HQ, but it also provided overhead cover for the post-golf barbeque dinner and auction. The tent (actually three separate tents secured together) went up easily. J.C. Coleman and two Base-X employees gave direction and ensured we did not break anything (or ourselves). Hunt Ozmer, Doug Hines, his son, David Heatwole, his sons and several tournament volunteers did all of the lifting. For anyone out there who has wrestled with GP mediums and larges, tent technology has come a long, long way. Ray Brooks, J.C. Coleman, Dyke Davies, Hank Dean, Dexter Gilliam, Rocky Glass, Doug Hines and his son, Jim Joustra, John

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At Hunter’s Hope Memorial Golf Tournament were, from left, row 1: Jim Mallon and Dyke Davies. Row 2: Hank Dean, Doug Hines, Jeff Munsey ’77, Ray Brooks, Wayne Eastham, John Coleman (the group is standing under Coleman’s giant Base-X tent), Rocky Glass, Hunt Ozmer and Dexter Gilliam. Row 3: Kavie Thrift, Andre Koneczny, Bill Bhatta, David Heatwole, Ron Wilkosz ’77 and Jim Brown.

Schroth, Andre Koneczny, Jim Mallon, J.R. Mott, Mike Tate, Kavie Thrift and I played golf (or something resembling it) at the tournament. Dave Bass, Jake Berberich, Jim Brown, David Heatwole, Mark Sculley and Wayne Eastham were also there. I am not sure who travelled the farthest: David Heatwole and his family from Washington or Jim Brown and his wife, Lisa, from southern California. Had great weather when we started playing golf at 1:00pm, but it got cooler as the day passed. The course provided super views of the surrounding mountains. It also had some good hills. A couple of times, I was going to make Jim Mallon (my golf partner) get out and push the

golf cart so we could drive up some of the cart paths. Mike Tate was so impressed with the golfing skills of his team members – J.R. Mott, Jim Mallon and myself – he cannot wait to play with us again next year. Kudos to David Heatwole’s sons who managed the beverage carts – perhaps the most critical component of any golf tournament! Early Saturday morning, Andre Koneczny, his daughter, Kristen, and Jim Mallon set up tailgate operations opposite Moody Hall. They set a high standard for class reunion tailgate hospitality. The ’76 flag and reunion sign provided the rallying point for everyone: In addition to most of Friday’s golfers,

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Charlie Aycock, Marshall Coyle, Jim Delisio, Jay Foertsch, Pete Friesen, Cindy Mullen (Grigg was in England), Kevin Pardus, Steph Savage, John Swain and Ted Trout joined us. Everyone had plenty of time to greet and meet one another before we watched the parade – it’s always great to watch a parade. The Corp of Cadets looked great, although sometimes we tried to figure out how the Rats could march worse than we did. After the parade, everyone went to the football game and watched VMI spank Chowan 69-20. Following the game, about 70 BRs and family members traveled toward Rockbridge Baths to the Coleman’s for dinner. Their house sits on 16 acres of land along the Maury River, so it provided a great setting for everyone to continue the weekend. Dinner was catered by the Southern Inn, which has transformed itself in 32 years. Dave Lowe and Bill Ryals joined us there, as well as John Coleman ’05 and Julian Sculley ’09. Special thanks to the entire Coleman family – unforeseen circumstances prevented J.C. from attending, but Teri and her family did an outstanding job hosting the event. If you want to look at pictures from the weekend’s events, go to http://www.flickr.com/ photos/vmi1976/ or http://www.snapfish.com/ home/otsc=SYE/otsi=PASS In other BR news, Charlie and Ellen Archer bought a house (with a boat slip) on King’s Creek just outside Cape Charles, VA. No boat yet, but Charlie said he is “boat-ready.” Charlie said the slip is not deep enough for a sailboat and that he might have to settle for “one of those noisy things.” Kurt Luckenbill came down to help the Archers move, but Kurt’s wife, Cindy, remained in Pennsylvania to host a baby shower for their youngest daughter, Cindy. By the time you read this, the Luckenbills will have their fifth grandchild. In November, Charlie and Ellen tail-gated behind Smith Hall with Kurt and Cindy and attended the VMI-Liberty football game. (The parade ground was cordoned off for Vice President Dick Cheney. He gave a Veterans Day speech during the parade.) Charlie’s daughters, Virginia and Margaret, are doing fine at college. Lt. Shirley Archer spent the summer on a TDY assignment at Ft. Knox, KY, evaluating ROTC cadets. After that assignment, she managed to get a slot in Air Assault School. She was the only female in her class to complete the training and now has air assault wings to wear with her jump wings. Charlie passed on information from Dan Commerford: Dan has lived in Dumfries, VA, for the past 20 years and works for Calibre in Springfield, VA, doing logistics management for U.S. forces in Iraq. Dan’s and Christine’s kids are mostly grown and out

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of the house, but his youngest is in 7th grade. Dan had a daughter in the same Manassasbased National Guard Military Police unit that Lt. Shirley Archer served in. Dan’s daughter was a medic, has since married a Marine and is living in Quantico, VA. Dan recently welcomed his sixth grandchild. So, between three roommates – Charlie, Dan and Kurt – there are 11 grandchildren. Razz Warf had to miss the mini-reunion so he could move from Pittsburgh as the deputy commander, 99th Regional Readiness Command, to Alexandria, VA, as the first-ever deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Human Resources Command (effective 1 Oct. ’08). It is a brigadier general slot, and he will be on active duty for a year, splitting his time between there and St. Louis. Razz said his aide had never been to New Market or VMI, so it was one of the first things he had to fix. Mike Conley is still at NASA serving as the deputy chief of the Avionic Systems Division at Johnson Space Center. He is busy with the Shuttle and International Space Station Programs as well as the new Constellation Program which will be taking us back to the moon. Mike’s daughter, Bridget Conley ’12, is the most recent 1976 legacy cadet. When Mark Conley ’05 graduated, Bridget decided she wanted to go to VMI also. She set her mind to it and did well in high school. She received a three-year Air Force scholarship which will start this year. That will certainly help Mike with out-of-state tuition. Mike said Bridget seems to be doing well, and she has settled into the “battle rhythm” of VMI. Mike sent me some pictures of himself with Bridget skydiving. I will post them in the next class notes. Last October when Bridget turned 18, they decided to get a skydiving license. Currently, she has made 50 jumps, and Mike has 105. Mark is stationed in Japan as a C-130 navigator. He is on his second tour in the Middle East, flying into Iraq and Afghanistan. His flight crew had the privilege last summer to fly we-did-not-know-then-hewould-be-President Obama to Iraq. Andre Koneczny started his own business last November, called Global Timber Direct. After 31 years, Andre and his wife, Lois, decided to start working for themselves. Global Timber Direct will represent several lumber mills and manufacturers throughout the world. Besides the current customer base Andre has sold to for many years, there are even more customers that will deal with him, now that he is representing lumber mills and not a middleman or wholesaler. The opportunity comes at the best time, when the industry is slow, but the Konecznys will grow into the new business and watch as things turn around. Andre said he was really excited about the future and

had many projects on the drawing board. J.R. Mott married Mei Han last year on 18 Oct. in Lexington at the Saint Paul’s Anglican Catholic Church on Nelson Street in Lexington. J.R. met Mei in Germany 2-3 years ago while he was working in V Corps. Mei was at the golf tournament with J.R. and despite all of the stories she heard about him, they still got married one month later. The wedding was a VMI affair: the VMI chaplain, Chaplain Jim Park, presided over the ceremony; the VMI Regimental Band director, John Brodie, provided music before the ceremony; and there was a cadet saber arch for Mei and J.R. to walk through when both arrived for the wedding reception at J.R.’s home. J.C. Coleman, Grigg and Cindy Mullen, Mark and Bernadette Sculley, Michelle and I were able to attend the wedding. Jack Christy wrote and said, after 30 years with Boeing and travel all over the world, they finally sent him last November to Washington, DC, on business. His wife, Charlotte, joined him and they spent four days site seeing. They took Andre Koneczny to dinner at the Capitol Brewing Company at Union Station in DC, and Andre gave them a quick nighttime drive around all of the DC sites. In October, Henry Foresman had a two-week assignment at Fort Lewis, WA. Hank’s wife, Debbie, flew out for the weekend, and they visited the Christys. Jack gave them a short guided tour of Seattle, which included buying a King Salmon at the Pike Place Market from the Flying Fish Company for dinner – the same folks you see on TV throwing fish all over the place. Jack said Hank and Andre were the only VMI men Charlotte has ever met, besides him, and now she knows most VMI men are normal. And now, the 76 BR minute: By now, Ron LaGrone should be back from a 90-day visit to Finland. Bill Brown’s son, Carter Lee ‘10, is doing remarkably well at VMI and has decided to seek a commission in the Air Force. Mark Sculley’s son, Julian ’09, graduated from VMI in December. This just in: first basketball game of the season on 14 Nov. ’08, from the Richmond Times Dispatch: “Take that, Goliath! VMI hangs on, stuns Kentucky 111- 103. The Keydets – who hadn’t beaten a Southeastern Conference team since 1976 – shot 31 3s and drilled 14 of them to tie the Rupp Arena record.” Hopefully, by the time you read this, the Keydets will have won the Big South Conference. Flashback – do I hear NCAA Basketball tournament? Until next time, take care! I hope you have sent your $19.76 pledge to VMI. I will buy all the beer for the 35th Reunion weekend if the class ever hits 100% Annual Giving participation between now and then.

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CLASS NOTES at the 30th. Things for the Spencers are still hard, as they continue to come to grips over the death of their daughter. Many BRs expressed sympathy at the reunion, and their words all helped Gary a lot. Our prayers and thoughts are with you, Gary. Alec and Sheila Earl recently moved to San Antonio, TX. Both are Rah, Super ’77, Rah, Rah, Rah, Department of the Air Force civilWell, you might think Moe ians. Sheila is the executive director has writer’s block, brain cramp at the Air Force Personnel Center, or a very senior moment. No Randolph AFB, TX (her assignment such luck … he missed the notes brought them to Texas), and Alec deadline. As some of you already works at the Air Force Center for know, your notes were sent to Engineering and the Environment. you via e-mail. If you haven’t They are not yet settled but will be sent Mo your e-mail address, moving into a house on Randolph now might be a good time. For AFB by mid-Dec. Alec and Sheila those of you who are interested, were assigned at Randolph AFB in you can still get those notes off the mid-80s ... so it’s like old home the VMI Ranks Web site class week for them. They have seen Ralph notes section, print them out and Mary Williams several times. and paste them in this Alumni Ralph has a growing collection of Review. (Don’t we just love Class of 1977: Tommy Cole’s son, Andrew, and football three classic Cadillacs, with more on projects?) The notes must go on, coach Bobby Ross ’59 following the Clemson vs. NC State the way. even if Moe is having more fun football game at Clemson University in September. Coach Tim Berkhimer checked in and than a kangaroo should have. Ross is an analyst with CBS college football radio and said that, with his work in the world Rah, Rah, VMI whole damn had just completed the game broadcast. Cole said that of disaster response and recovery, class. his son has always been a fan of Coach Ross. he visited Garry Brumback in his In the Sprit of VMI, Never Say role as city manager in Baytown, Die! Moe TX, just after Hurricane Ike struck that area. Tim says Garry seemed to have a Rich Bartosik checked in just after the last Tom Brown good handle on the situation – he was sitting deadline. Rich was moving to New York. He in the Emergency Management conference had been up there for about four months as of room wearing shorts and flip-flops. Gotta love August. No details on where exactly or what that! Jim Mackin and Tim are making plans brought him up that way. Mike Eaton also to ski Colorado in February, something they checked in from Augusta, GA. Mike said that have been doing for 15 years (except the past Greetings to the Class of ’78: he is getting closer to retirement and to his two years). Tim says it is just a boys’ trip, with “The Change We Need” has taken place. BRs. Bob Simpson sent a short note to let it be some extreme skiing and snowmobiling and a Glenn Dallinger is enjoying the free and easy known that he is now living in Williamsburg. few shots of Rumpleminz schnapps and Patron life of Class Agent Emeritus. I, on the other Paul Mitchell and Steve Oddi met up at the tequila thrown in for courage and fortitude. Tim hand, continue the effort of bringing you the ACAC in September for an aerobic machine has taken surfing back on and gets to Cocoa latest updates from our great class. One of the workout followed by a 50-meter freestyle Beach several times a month. Tim says he needs first BR sightings to report was by way of a “sprint” in the pool. Despite Paul’s mile-long to look up Tim Pishdad, as Tim thinks Phisdad meal at the local Cracker Barrel. I chatted with swims 2-3 times per week this summer, Paul is living there now. And wouldn’t you know it, Drew Faulconer. Drew is doing well. Jay Hutt reports his time was 46.41 seconds, and Steve’s Tim’s longboard is white with a red and yellow sighted him, as well. Drew was one of the brave was 41.81 seconds. (In Rat Swimming class, stripe on the rails, and he added a small spider souls running the Virginia Ten Miler through they swam the 50 freestyle in 29 sec!) Paul and logo to the nose. Tim’s goal is to one day soon the hills of Lynchburg. Jay spotted Drew from Steve have established a baseline to improve have “Participant” tee shirt from a local surfing the comfort of his own driveway, which is right upon. Paul, I know what you mean about times competition. I hope you get some big waves to on the route. Jay was enjoying the sights; Drew not being what they used to be. I swam in a ride, Tim. was setting the example for the rest of us. I couple of masters meets this past year, and I Terry Dorn sends word that he is still active think Jay’s driveway is the safer place for those felt I was doing well if I just made the distance in his goal to document the resting places of of us who were never thrilled by those jogs without any assistance from the local EMS. all the New Market cadets. Terry and Sue were from our Rat days. Speaking of Oddi, I was in Richmond and up in Philadelphia for the memorial service for Speaking of Jay Hutt, I had the chance to chat bumped into Steve at the Celtic fest. Steve was Cadet Private Nathan Tiernan Walton, class of with both Jay and Jim Cure at the Garlic Fest serving brews as a volunteer for the event and in Amherst County. The name of the fest is just was gracious enough to take my order. He said 1867. Terry noted that this New Market cadet a cover for a wine fest. Both were enjoying the that work keeps him quite busy and not much had been in what was essentially an unmarked lovely autumn day with their spouses, savoring else to report. He did make sure I got a full one. grave for many years until hours of research the music and I believe, sampling some of the Gary Spencer was really glad to see everyone and the wonders of the Internet helped find him.

’77

Bland Massie

free flowing spirits. Jim is enjoying the less stressed status of not having to run a practice but working with Centra Health. Jay continues to be a man on the road, with his customers being spread far and wide. Jay also said that he saw Bill Robertson at the fest.

’78

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CLASS NOTES

’79 Class of 1978: In Lexington for the VMI-Liberty football game were Don Robey, Bruce Gitchell ’81, Danny Thornton, Stu Gitchell, Rick Wolffe, Tom Brown, Bert Loflin and Glenn Dallinger. We will make a history major out of you yet, Terry. The VMI / Liberty football game saw a large gathering of classmates. I meet up with Mike Moore and family while waiting to watch the parade. They were enjoying the warm November day and a chance to see Vice President Dick Cheney. The Corps looked good and really enjoyed the extra challenges of the VP’s visit. After the parade, I met up with Class Agent Emeritus Glenn Dallinger and Stu Gitchell. Glenn had enjoyed the accommodations at Stu’s en-route to the game. We all made our way over to the hospitality area behind the football stadium and met up with Don Robey, Danny Thornton, Bert Loflin and Rick Wolffe. All had a great time and even made it to the game. Glenn also made it around Post and ran into Tom Sliwoski, Tom Ferguson, Drew Faulconer, Sam Saunders, Scot Singletary and Ned Riester. Ned was working the chain gang for the football game. Following the game, several BRs headed over to Moody Hall to check out the plaque that Brad Baker had requested as part of his estate giving to the Institute. Keeping with Brad’s keen sense of our class, the plaque has been placed in the bar. The VMI Foundation’s Institute Society Dinner also saw a gathering of Brother Rats. Stu Gitchell, Glenn Dallinger, Danny Thornton, Kevin Callanan and Sam Saunders were all in attendance. We had a very nice time and enjoyed the opportunity to visit with fellow alumni from some of the other classes. I had a nice chat with fellow swimmer Bart Pasco ’77. Bart is still swimming long distance. Tim DeSalvo checked in. He is still working as the asset management administrator for the City of Newport News Public Works Department. Last year, Tim achieved his certification as a geographic information systems (GIS) professional. Tim is quite proud of it, as the process is much

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like a professional Ratline breakout. This year was a banner year for Tim, as his department won the ESRI Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) award, which is not an award for which you can submit. The company (the preeminent GIS software in the world) selects the users they feel exemplify the very best of what GIS is throughout the world. They were the only Public Works, GIS award given this year. They were one of 160 awards selected out of over 100,000 companies, institutions and colleges. Way to go, Tim. Tim has been working for some time with Dave Lucado’s Timmons Group, which provides additional resources where needed in support of Tim’s Enterprise GIS and Cityworks Asset Management System. Tim and Laurie are fine and still living in Norfolk, and they are looking forward to retirement in the next three or four years. That about does it for this round. I hope all are well and that the holiday season treated you kindly.

Michael Ogden

November 2008. Hope this finds everyone well. Work continues on our upcoming 30th Reunion (April 24-26, 2009) to be held at the Natural Bridge Hotel. We will start out with golf on Friday afternoon, for those who can make it. All are invited to the Friday afternoon parade, followed by Happy Hour and formal dinner Friday evening, with the commandant as our guest speaker. Standard parade and Barracks Old Yell Saturday morning, followed by lunch at the commandant’s newly refurbished quarters. 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 as several athletic events. 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. You can make hotel reservations now by calling the Natural Bridge Hotel, 540/291-2121, and identify yourself as a member of “Reunion Class of 1979, event 6165.” We currently have a block of rooms, and the sooner you make your reservations, the sooner we will know if additional rooms will be needed. Thanks. Mohammad Reza Zeinali checks in and is looking to hear from some of you guys, specifically Jay Virtue, Chappy Lucas, Mike

Class of 1978: Danny Thornton, Sam Saunders, Kevin Callanan, Stu Gitchell, Tom Brown and Glenn Dallinger at the Institute Society Dinner.

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CLASS NOTES Mendez, Wilton Holmes and Jim Faist. He and his family are living in his hometown, Tabriz, in the northwest of Iran. His two daughters, who are both 26 years old, just got married after graduation. One of them is a high school teacher, and the other is a computer engineer. His son, who is 17, is in the last grade of high school. “Reggie” is working for a construction company since he retired from the Navy. Dave Taylor and wife Carrie plan to attend the reunion. He was deployed during the 25th, so he is looking forward to seeing everyone! He runs into Tim Bridges in the halls of Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command. Dave reports that he thinks Tim could still fit in his coatee!!! He, Carrie and daughters Rachel, Sarah and Noelle were planning to meet up with Dave Jeter and wife Jeter for a tailgate bar-b-que at the VMI-Liberty game. There should be some great pictures from that get-together (HINT). This will be the first visit for his daughters. Carrie graduated from Ohio State University, and they have been to several games with 105K fans. Dave told them to drop about 100K from their expectations for the VMI-Liberty game! I heard from Mark Perrin via John Arthur. That would be Brigadier General Perrin, USA! Congrats, Mark! Mark and wife Annie’s daughter, Nikki, has three boys in Charleston, SC, and other daughter Katie just had her first child in July, a daughter, in Austin, TX. Annie and Mark have four grandchildren now: three grandsons and a granddaughter. Good hearing from you, Mark. Speaking of John Arthur ... He is still running his own consulting firm out of the home office, given all kids are gone now! On a trip to DC, he bumped into Charlie Sachs in Crystal City. Evidently, Charlie hasn’t aged at all, looking quite young for an O-6. Charlie works in the Pentagon on the Air Staff/A5, as the deputy director, Irregular Warfare Requirements Office. John’s and Jess’ youngest son, John, graduated and was commissioned in the Army this past May. Jay Gede’s son graduated, as well. Son John finished at VMI with academic stars. However, John notes that he did it on the “Scott Shipp side” of Post (international studies) versus Nichols Engineering Building. John attended the commissioning in “greens” …. He looked pretty good after retiring in 2001. They turned right back around there in Lexington and married him off a week later to a super young lady from W&L. The wedding was in Lee Chapel. John Jr. is now at Benning finishing up Infantry Officer Basic, then Ranger School, en route to Fort Lewis, WA, in June. John mentions seeing Pete Underwood, Asa Page and Frank Jester at the annual Western Tidewater Alumni Chapter back-to-school get-together

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Classs of 1979: Paul Lachmanek, his wife, Amy, and their daughters, Barb and Vicki, were pilgrims in the 23rd World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. in August. Pete is now retired from the Marine Corps and has established operations in the Virginia Tidewater area. He is doing consulting out of his house. (I am noticing a pattern here.) Not sure if his wife, Anita, has adjusted to him working at home! Paul Lachmanek, his wife, Amy, and their daughters, Barb and Vicki, were pilgrims to the 23rd World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, joining hundreds of thousands of young (and

not so young) pilgrims from 170 nations around the world with Pope Benedict XVI in attendance. It evidently was quite the event and an exciting trip. That’s all for now, BRs. Slim pickings this time out. Please keep me up to speed with happenings, etc., along with pictures for class notes and the Alumni Review. Renee and I are looking forward to seeing everyone at our 30th. Stay well.

Class of 1979: Asa Page, left, and son Brandon Page ’10 on a reef in the Cayman Islands. The photo and flag were courtesy of Jim Leavitt, who led the dive.

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CLASS NOTES Gelles. Tom’s son, Nick, is a Rat who is doing well and living in Tom’s Rat room – 427. Andy Brown’s son is Nick’s dyke. Tom said that he had dinner with Al Berenbrok. Jeff Washington sent an e-mail noting that our class notes are moving toward the middle of that section of the Alumni Review. Jeff wrote that all is going well in Richmond and that Hello, Brother Rats: Renee and the girls, Ashley and Breana, are These notes cover the period Aug. 15, 2008, all healthy. Ashley is a high school senior and through Nov. 15, 2008. I hope you’ve all had an a terrific tennis player who is still considering enjoyable summer and fall. college options. Breana is a high school junior Let’s assume that you decide to visit VMI on a who runs track and works out with Gene Scott. beautiful fall weekend. Further assume that you Jeff also wrote that Gene and Zymora Scott’s checked into the Keydet General and that V. Dunn oldest son, Eric, is a third classman playing and Sarina checked into the room next door. If, on the VMI football team. Finally, Jeff was at 5:00 a.m., you awoke to the violent banging selected as one of Dominion’s Volunteers of of the headboard in V. and Sarina’s room against the Year. Jeff serves as a student mentor and your wall, what would you assume was going program leader of the Lunch Buddy program. on in their room? Perhaps this was the question He’s also an active member of the Mount Olive Mike Luning was discussing with Rob Quarles’ Baptist Church, and he serves on the board of mother when they missed their exit while driving the East District Family Resource Center. in her car from Richmond to Lexington for their Dennis Jacobs sent an e-mail from Iraq. annual rendezvous at VMI. More later. Dennis is a colonel in the Army serving at Bob Hillard sent a Happy Anniversary e-mail Joint Base Balad where he heads a team of on Aug. 18 asking if it’s really been 32 years. Civil Engineers supporting the Army and the Independently, Dave Gleason sent an e-mail Air Force. Dennis commands a 15 person also marking the 32nd anniversary of our Field Engineering Detachment implementing entering the Ratline. Dave also asked if anyone construction projects involving force protection, knew the whereabouts of Wayland Paterson. buildings, roads, fuels, water, power and airfield Dave copied several of our BRs who in turn operations. This is Dennis’ second commented on the anniversary, Iraq deployment and, according to including Tom Bersson, Mickey his wife, Becky, his last. (A photo of Cole, V. Dunn, Mike Luning and Dennis appears in the OEF/OIF secTony Zoetis. tion of this Review.) V. Dunn added that he and Bruno Loefstedt sent a note with Sarina moved back to Virginia photos and an update. Bruno and from Colorado. They live in Janet live in Massachusetts with their Chesapeake where V. recently nine-year-old daughter, Grace. Janet attended a chapter meeting. In is an O-6 in the USAR. Their son, attendance at the meeting were Arthur, is a Rat as mentioned above. Tom Bersson, Andy Brown, Josh Bruno was in attendance with John Priest, Dixon Tucker and Bob Alerding and Rob Dalessandro White. Since then, Andy Brown when the Rats took their oath at New has relocated to San Diego. V. Class of 1980: Photo Above: From left: Robert DalesMarket in August. has also been in touch with Kirk sandro, John Alerding and Bruno Loefstedt. Frank Galgano reported that all is Berkheimer, Gary Levenson well at his new home in Pennsylvaand Jay McConnell. Photo Below: From left: Tom Gelles, Bruno Loefstedt nia. Frank retired from the Army last Mike Lunning also sent an and Robert Dalessandro. year and is the chair of the Departe-mail reminder about an annual ment of Geography and the Environvisit to Lexington, scheduled for October. Included in Mike’s mesment at Villanova University. sage as possible attendees were Thanks to Tom Wilson, Russ Phil Altizer, Don Bradshaw, Early, Dave Hageman and Steve Marty Fedenko, Mike Flinn, Andrews for sending both humorous Larry Hupertz and Rob Quarles. and patriotic e-mail messages during Matthew and Tanya Keys are the election season. now the owners of an apartRob Robinson sent an e-mail ment in lower Manhattan. They with a photo taken at a meeting that relocated from Staunton, VA, last Rob hosts each year in his role as year. This coincided with Matan AVP of Short Line Marketing thew’s 50th birthday. and Commercial Development at

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John Gibney Jr.

Larry Hupertz and I had a long phone conversation in August. Larry and Vera live in the Cleveland area. Their oldest daughter, Monica, is a sophomore at Mt. Union College and an accomplished volleyball player. Their youngest daughter, Alex, is a junior at Dennison who studied in Bath, England, this semester. Chal Glenn also called and left a message saying that John Shuman’s son was a preseason selection as a 1st team center on the all ACC football team. Brig. Gen. Joe Brown sent an e-mail from Turkey where he commands the NATO Combined Operations Center. Joe wrote that he planned to attend the W&M football game in September and to visit his daughter, Emily, who is following in her mother’s footsteps as a freshman at W&M. Larry Avery sent an e-mail with photos from Baghdad. (See a photo in the OEF/OIF section of this Review.) Larry, a colonel in the Air Force, was scheduled to visit Dayton, OH, and Washington, DC, in September and to return to the U.S. in December. He is being assigned to Eglin AFB in Florida beginning February 2009. As August ended, Gary Levenson called, noting that four of our BRs have children who are Rats. They are John Alerding, Rob Dalessandro, Tom Gelles and Bruno Loefstedt. September began with a phone call from Tom

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CLASS NOTES Norfolk Southern Corporation in Roanoke. In September, coincident with the football game at William & Mary, the Pup Cup was held. This is an annual golf outing that supports the Jeff Morgan Scholarship Fund. Our class was represented by Frank Bell, John Blankenship, John Caplice, Dusty Boyd, Hugh Fain, Tolar Nolley, Al Ramer and Craig “Wiennie” Wilson. Josh Priest was unable to play but caught up with the guys at the game. The Morgan family, Jody, Jake, Hannah and Cameron, attended the post-golf festivities. (Editor’s Note: See more about the Pup Cup in the Keydet Club section of this Review.) John Alerding sent a message noting that his son, Johnny, is a Rat. John is retired from the Air Force and lives in Lexington. He teaches high school math and physics in Buena Vista. His wife, Anne, is an assistant professor in the Biology Department at VMI. John mentioned seeing Rob Gearhart and Andy Ludlum at a football game in September. Annually, a group of our BRs gathers in Lexington for a so-called “mini reunion.” This was explained to me by Rob Quarles when he visited NYC last spring. This year, the group chose to get together over the weekend of Oct. 9-12 which was also Parent’s Weekend at VMI. The weekend includes a round of golf, tailgating before the game on Saturday, and an evening of eating and drinking at Gary Levenson’s house on Post. This year, the e-mail messages communicating the weekend

plans began in August and continued through October, led by Mike Luning, Rob Quarles and Don Bradshaw. On Friday, golf began at Lexington Golf and Country Club at 0800 hours. Included were Rob Quarles, Don Bradshaw, Jay McConnell and John Gibney, the victorious foursome, Preston Vock, Dixon Tucker, Marty Fedenko, Mike Luning and V. Dunn. The round was followed by a liquid lunch and a nap. On Saturday, tailgating began at 0630 hours on the parade ground (not the parade deck). Planning for the tailgate was so complex that, at one point, an Excel spreadsheet was being circulated to keep everything coordinated. Several vehicles with canopies created a 1980 area in front of the superintendent’s house. Tony Zoetis, Larry Hupertz and Tom Gelles joined those listed above, as did numerous family members. Food and drink flowed on a beautiful day in Lexington, a testament to the coordinated efforts of those involved. Ed Baker, Dennis Hackemeyer, Tuck Masker, John Alerding, Ed Bower and Gene Scott were also in attendance at the game. Gary Levenson hosted all comers at his house on Saturday night. In advance, he smoked a turkey and a brisket, and Karen and Tyler drove up from Richmond to help with the arrangements. Attendees at the party included those mentioned above with their families, Forrest Marion, Bruno Loefstedt, Ken Trotman, Tim Hodges and Rob Dalessandro. Before leaving on Sunday, I played golf with Tim Hodges.

My apologies to anyone who may have been inadvertently omitted above, especially family members of our BRs. And this was the best weekend I’d ever spent at VMI. So, what were V. Dunn and Sarina doing in their hotel room at 0500 hours that made their headboard bang violently against the wall? Making salsa!!!!! Thanks to Jay and Marge McConnell for sending the photo that appears with these notes. Following the weekend, Larry Hupertz sent an e-mail noting our BRs with children in the Corps of Cadets and hoping that they share the same good time 28 years after they graduate. Larry also wrote that he’s making plans for the fall of 2009. Tuck Masker sent a message saying how great it was to see everyone. And Ed Baker sent a message noting that he, Dianna and their son, Charlie, enjoyed seeing everyone throughout the weekend. In October, Elliott Wolffe visited his parents’ home in New Jersey from New Orleans and invited me to play golf at Baltusrol. Thanks, Elliott. In November, Elliott plans to visit VMI on his way back to New Jersey for Thanksgiving. In Lexington, he plans to see Kent Oelrich and Eli Alford. Also in October, Tom Wilson sent a message with a photo of the championship cross country team he coaches. Finally, in October the VMI Cadet Investment Group visited NYC. One member of the group is Matt Allen ’10, the son of Beth and our late BR Dan Allen. Matt is a second classman who wears academic stars and looks just like his dad. As the period ended, Dan Conn forwarded an e-mail from Tom Kelly with a photo that will appear in the Alumni Review. Tom is a colonel in the Marine Corps stationed in Iraq. And on Nov. 15th, Patti and I attended the VMI football game against Stony Brook on Long Island. Also at the game were Phil Munisteri and Matthew Keys. Finally, Dennis Quinn has relocated from Atlanta to the New York metropolitan area. We exchanged voice messages, but I owe Dennis a return call. Thanks to all for your continued support. Hope you had Happy Holidays!

’81 Class of 1980: About the above photo taken during Parents Weekend at VMI, Class Agent John Gibney wrote: “Why is Alerding in the front row, why is Hodges the only one looking at the camera and does the look on Quarles’ face explain why Levinson is smiling?” Gibney said that more than 20 BRs were in Lexington that weekend.

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Gerald Manley

Dear Brother Rats: I am writing this update about two weeks before Thanksgiving and am simply amazed at how this year has been flying by. Lest I forget, let me start out by saying that I hope you all

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CLASS NOTES had a happy and blessed holiday and Christmas season! It has been a tough time for many of our BRs and our respective families, but please know that none of us is alone! There is no greater earthly support than what we hold so dear as Brother Rats. With that, I hope I do you all justice with the write-up below. Regretfully, as I have found myself doing all too often, I must share in this edition further loss in our extended ’81 family. It is with great sadness that I relay news of the August passing of Mr. Ronald Knesal, beloved father of our Brother Rat, Doug Knesal. Doug, while I have little information to share with our BRs, please know that you, your mother, Irma, sister Cindy and all the rest of your family are in our thoughts and prayers. You have our sincere condolences, Brother Rat, and we are here to support in any way we can.

I also report the passing of Col. John W. Ripley, a highly decorated Marine Corps officer and demolitions expert during the Vietnam War, whose destruction of a strategic bridge was credited with helping repel a Communist-led armored advance during the Easter Offensive in 1972. Col. Ripley is the uncle of Beth (Ripley) Owermohle, loving wife of Kurt Owermohle. Col. John Ripley was one of three Ripley brothers who were all Marines. Many will remember from our cadet days Col. George Ripley, Beth’s father, who passed in 1988. Both George and John served in the role as VMI’s Senior Marine. The third brother, Maj. Mike Ripley, was a Harrier test pilot who passed in the 1970s. All three brothers served proudly in Vietnam. For Beth and Kurt, you, too, have our sincere condolences. Our country owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the Ripley brothers.

Where there is the sorrow of loss, there is also the joy and blessings of new life! I am very happy and proud to share news from Dave Loduca that he is now a grandfather! Dave shared that, while he has never passed along news for the Review before, he was so very excited over the birth of his new granddaughter, Madeline, that he had to spread the news! Madeline came into this world on 7 Oct. 2008 at 8lbs.-3oz. and 22 inches (about the same size as a “Grover Outland Maintenance Burger!”). Our sincerest congratulations, Dave (aka “Grandpa”), to you and especially your daughter, Rachel! Dave also said that he was going to smoke a Macanudo Maduro for every BR, and I think we need to hold him to that, unless, of course, he prefers to hold off and pass them out at our 30th! I received a great e-mail from Ray Lawson. Ray reports that he found himself in a situation

Class of 1981 Photos clockwise from top left: Dave “Grandpa” Laduca with his new one-month-old granddaughter, Madeline. Lt. Col. Adrian “Bogey” Bogart, third from left, at a Jubouri tribe engagement in the Diwaniyah Governorate of Iraq, October 2008. Gathering for a mini-reunion during Parents Weekend were Marc Barthello, Fletcher Thompson, Rob Costello, Mark Brumenschenkel, Chet Thompson and Dave Openshaw. At the Norfolk Naval Base retirement ceremony for Col. Jim Waring, USA (Ret), were, from, Jim’s father, Col. M.L. Waring Jr. ’56, USA (Ret); Jim Waring; Col. Rick Gribling ’73, USA (Ret); and Jim’s brother, Maj. Matt Waring ’83, USA (Ret).

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CLASS NOTES that only our government could make happen. He had to quit his job in order to be re-hired for the same job but with a promotion and pay raise – all due to a change in the prime contractor at the facility where he works. (Not a bad way to go, Ray!) Ray is running a program to test, stress and validate the performance of high-end security systems. On Ray’s family front, his oldest son, Ray J., started his college career as a biomedical engineering major at the University of South Carolina (his wife, Gale’s, alma mater). Ray J. was accepted to VMI, but a fullride to Carolina combined with their biomedical program won him over. Ray’s youngest son, Brandon, and his daughter, Savannah, will be participating on the local FIRST Robotics team this year. Ray has been serving as the team’s software/programming mentor for the past several years. Ray suspects that Gale will also join the family efforts in some capacity unless she decides to stay home and enjoy a little peace and quiet. (I would opt for the latter, Gale!) Ray runs into BR Bob Eakle from time to time, as well as some VMI grads from the 60s and 70s who work with him down in Citadel territory. Funny comment from Ray is that if you have a blue “C” on your vehicle’s rear window, it means you can park in a handicapped spot! :-) Thanks for the updates, Ray! Military Retirements and Changes of Command/Duty Assignments: - Jim Waring held his retirement ceremony on 7 Nov. at the Vista Point Club, Norfolk Naval Base. It was a great way to finish his 27-1/2 honorable years in the Army. Virtually all of Jim’s family was in attendance, including his father, M.L. Waring Jr. ’56, his mother and all his siblings, to include brother Matt Waring ’83. Jim’s wife, Catherine, and two of their three children were also there: son, Ben, who is a senior at USC, and daughter, Kailey, who is a junior at USC. Jim’s deputy at U.S. Joint Forces Command, Capt. Tony Califano, USNA ’86, put together a tremendous ceremony that included quite a bit of Navy tradition to make it a true Joint affair (Go Navy!). One of the most cherished of Navy traditions is the “shadowbox” – which Capt. Califano bestowed upon Jim – that included a set of U.S. Colors that was flown over VMI on 15 Aug. 2008, the 31st anniversary of the class of 1981’s matriculation date. Jim and Catherine plan to remain in the Hampton Roads area where Jim plans to continue work in the defense industry. Jim did go to the VMI-William & Mary football game in Williamsburg back in September with his son, Ben. Jim and Ben spent time talking with Maj. Gen. Tom Tait ’55, USA (Ret), who was a friend of his folks and who actually promoted Jim to captain at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, back in 1985.

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- Col. Mike Shupp retired from the Marine Corps in a well attended ceremony on 17 Sept. Mike landed well and is now vice president for Van Scoyoc Associates here in Washington, DC. Mike, we thank you for your tremendous and dedicated service, BR! Will try to get some pics of the ceremony from you, Mike, to share in next edition! - Brian Quisenberry is going to turn over command of the Military Sealift Command Expeditionary Port Unit 107 in Raleigh, NC, on 14 Dec. and will be picking up another command, the Naval Ordnance Safety and Security Activity, at Indian Head, MD, on 10 Jan. Congratulations on your past command, Quiz, and best of luck on your new! You continue to do us proud in your Reserve capacity but also serving at the Institute as associate director of Financial Aid. - Col. Paul Brier wrote that he is now in Guam as the USMC liaison to help coordinate the movement of over 8,000 Marines and their families from Okinawa to the Joint Region Marianas in Guam. This is a huge tasking with tremendous challenges in logistics, construction, environmental protection and engineering, cultural resources, the political arena, and much, much more. This initiative will be well served with Paul in such a leadership position. Congrats, Paul, and I look forward to seeing you on my next trip to Guam! - Lt. Col. Adrian “Bogey” Bogart is still very active in Special Forces as the deputy commanding officer, 2nd BCT/4th INF DIV (MECH). I have received many tremendous pictures from Bogey but unfortunately cannot post them all. I continue to find myself in a state of awe at all he does for God and Country. With these notes, there is a picture of Bogey where he is with members of the Jubouri tribe at a tribal engagement in the Diwaniyah Governorate of Iraq in October 2008. The meeting was to gain an appreciation of local views on national politics, discuss the dramatically improving security situation and ongoing collaboration between military and local leaders with what appeared to be an interesting looking lunch! In true Bogey fashion, he reported that there was a security detail surrounding the house and that he had his M4 tucked away behind him, close at hand, just for his own sense of security. Other updates: Ken Pierro was visiting the DC area in November. Ken was attending a training class at the Foreign Service Institute. Efforts to connect with Ken this visit met with a comedy of errors and several of us missed him completely. Ken, we owe you a celebration on your next visit, BR! Grover and I were able to spend time on the phone with Ken during his visit. (Was good talking with you, Ken, and look forward to my next visit to Hawaii to see

you and John Cawthorne again.) Dave Taylor completed his MA in Christian leadership last December at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary though their Distance Learning Program. Having accepted a call to ministry in the Church of the Nazarene, Dave will continue working with CSC but now as a bi-vocational pastor at his home church in Mechanicsville, VA. Dave’s middle daughter, Jackie, graduates from an undergrad program in the spring, and they will walk together at commencement. Congratulations, Dave! John Dixon is always a great one to stay in touch. All is well with him and Patti on Gwynn’s Island where they are both enjoying renewed health and continued happiness! Crabbing season has passed, but Johnny D reports that the oysters are fat and tasty and that this fall’s fishing holds promise. Patti is enjoying success with her shop, “The Island Dog,” and John is working for a construction management company in Williamsburg, responsible for maintaining a couple hundred lane miles of interstate highways in Virginia. Their son, Nathan, is in Army Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and their other four children are all doing well. BR Douglas Blowe shared some great e-mails with me. Doug, like so many (I include myself in this grouping!), had been out of touch for a while, but I am so very glad that he, like Dave Loduca and a few others, have recently reached out to share a few words. Was great to hear from you, Doug, and please extend my well wishes to your bride, Phoebe, and sons, Galen, Ian and Owen. I wish your entire family God’s blessings. Greg and Ann Wolven report that they have done little more than run with the kids and work lately. Their daughter, Katie, is finishing her senior year of high school. She was one of the varsity captains and rode in Ann’s Mustang GT during her Homecoming Parade in September with Greg as the driver. Homecoming is a huge event in their neck of the woods, with the entire town, businesses and all, shutting down for the high school’s Homecoming Parade. Like many of our kids, Katie’s been looking at colleges and narrowed it down to three – we are waiting to hear of her final choice! Their son, Chris, is playing football (defensive lineman) at Trine University in Angola, IN. Trine is ranked 25th in the nation for DIII colleges! Thanks for the update, Greg and Ann! Rob “Cos” Costello reports that his son, Ian, is doing well as a 1st this year. If all goes well, his younger son, Tim, will be a Rat next year. Cos, Dave Openshaw and Marc Barthello all reported on a small class of ’81 gathering at a cabin they rented for Parents Weekend in October. Mark and Laura Barthello, Mark Bru-

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CLASS NOTES menschenkel, Dave Openshaw, Chet and Terry Thompson, and Fletch and Karen Thompson joined Cos and Jen. By all reports, it was a great time! Opie and Brumie were conducting their own “Man Weekend” and came to the cabin after a harrowing mountain-bike outing. Mark and Laura came up for the football game and the rest of the BRs were visiting with their Keydets. Ian Costello and Drew Thompson (Chet’s oldest) are both 1sts, Fletch Jr. is a 2nd and Wade Thompson (Chet’s youngest) is a 3rd. Dave Openshaw shared more on the “Man Weekend” that he and Mark Brumenschenkel shared. It is their annual fall getaway to the Valley; this year it was over Parents Weekend where they were able to hook up with the BRs mentioned above. Dave seemed to be most excited as he shared “… and we had a great time catching up on another year’s events AND ACTUALLY WITNESSING VMI WIN A HOME FOOTBALL GAME (my first since 1980). Instead of the usual Friday golf outing, we went mountain biking outside Lynchburg. After the trail riding, we rode the Blackwater Trail into town where we ill-advisedly knocked down more than a few beers and a couple pizzas! The ride back was interesting – yet another chapter in the book of bad judgment by the guys from Room 118.” (Dave/Brumie, you guys live the good life!) Received separate e-mails from Tom Albro, Grover Outland and Dave Openshaw, each sharing that they all met up with Mike Shupp and Jim “Bimbo” Hart to attend the Annapolis Power Boat Show. Primary purpose of the gathering was to honor Bimbo for the audio visual work he put into a yacht owned by Mr. Buddy Bethea, a well-respected physician in the Tidewater area who was a Navy flight surgeon during Vietnam. This was actually a huge honor for Bimbo, as his work was part of the yacht manufacturer’s showcase. Opie sponsored all for dinner at the Annapolis Yacht Club, and then Mike took the gang on a short walking tour of the academy. On the subject of the academy, Mike is likely one of the only military officers to have the honor of owning a class ring from both VMI and the Naval Academy. Mike was made an honorary member of the Academy’s class of ’89 for his service as a company officer. I am told that Mike’s bride, Sherrye, played chauffer and drove the small “Band of Brothers” from bar to bar in the Annapolis area. Dutch Holland reported that he ran the Marine Corps Marathon in October with an outstanding time of 3:22:42 (3 hours, 22 minutes, 42 seconds). Dutch didn’t see any VMI runners (because they were all BEHIND you, Dutch!), but he did see a group of about five West Pointers just behind him for several miles. People kept yelling, “Go West Point,” until Dutch got

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tired of hearing it, stretched out his gate and put a bit more distance between them. Dutch also reported passing both Citadel and USAFA grads at about mile 22, then seeing some other Army cadets as he breezed by at the 23-mile point. Amazing, Dutch! You are truly an inspiration! Another running story of a different sort came from Marc Barthello. It is a classic, so I will share in its entirety. From Marc: “I was working the Susan B. Komen 3-Day walk in DC last weekend. Part of the Moto Crew team riding our motorcycles around, providing traffic support at intersections and keeping the walkers safe. Basically, 2,600 women and a few guys were walking 60 miles, and they would all pass me at least a few times a day as I rode from intersection to intersection, then got off the bike for a while to control walkers and traffic. And you have to understand, we got on site at 4 a.m. and went home at 7 p.m., so I was pretty tired for most of the weekend. I was wearing my VMI baseball cap and got [comments from] a few folks related to VMI. Then the following conversation [happened]: Woman in the crowd: Did you go to VMI? Me: Yes Woman: What year? Me: ’81 Woman: Do you know Grover Outland? Me: Of course! Woman: I was his Ring Figure date!” … This could only happen to Grover … Quick Hitters: Dan Dorsey shared that he has seen John Munno ’84 a few times at JFK. They are both with American Airlines. Dan also overnighted at Moody Hall in late September with Gator Underwood and Rob Costello. Bob Munno shared with many of us that he was getting engaged on his birthday, 9 Nov., to which Joe Provenzano responded with a classic, “3rd sign of the apocalypse...” We wish you well, Bob, and hope to have a great showing at the wedding! I hear Mark “Sloppy” Gonsalves plans to host the bachelor party (… just the rumor on the streets, Sloppy!). Gene Loving and Ken Herbert have both sent me many quick e-mails to check in or simply share fellowship and prayer. Very much appreciated, BRs! Wirt Shinault wrote that he has been back to the “I” as guest speaker at a senior engineer event. Dan Gallagher and Glen Zaramba have both sent quick notes to extend greetings. Thanks, BRs! John Driscoll extends greetings from Belgium. I hope to make an excursion to see you in Belgium, John, when my travels next take me to Naples. Grover Outland and I met up with Johann

Cooper for breakfast late this past summer as he was taking his daughter through the area to look at colleges. I am blessed to see Rick McCue quite often, as we work in the same building at the Washington Navy Yard. Rick and I are committed to getting with Gary Morgan, Clarkson Meredith and many other local BRs for a regular gathering. That is all for now, BRs. As always, please stay in touch and keep me updated on e-mail and street addresses. I welcome any and all feedback – the good, the bad, the ugly – on my Review writings. My intent is to simply serve each of you. To that end, keep the updates coming! Stay healthy, happy and well, BRs! Rah! Virginia Mil! Personal note: I want to share my sincere thanks to so many of you and your families for the support and prayers you have offered for my brother, Jack Manley ’83. As of this writing, Jack continues his fight against pancreatic cancer. This past year has been an extremely long, emotional and exhausting battle for Jack, his loving wife, Anne, and their three kids. Jack has been hospitalized for the past several days, and we are all praying for his ultimate peace. To Jack, Anne, Emily, Lillie and Miles – we love you all, and our prayers are never-ending!

’82

Charles Kause

William Allingham in his Autumnal Sonnet wrote: Now Autumn’s fire burns slowly along the woods, And day by day the dead leaves fall and melt, And night by night the monitory blast Wails in the key-hold, telling how it pass’d O’er empty fields, or upland solitudes, Or grim wide wave; and now the power is felt Of melancholy, tenderer in its moods Than any joy indulgent summer dealt. Dear friends, together in the glimmering eve, Pensive and glad, with tones that recognise The soft invisible dew in each one’s eyes, It may be, somewhat thus we shall have leave To walk with memory, -- when distant lies Poor Earth, where we were wont to live and grieve. But this autumn finds me neither dewy-eyed nor tenderly melancholy; though Mrs. Kause and I have exhausted ourselves raking our perpetually falling and melting leaves, as well as those from our deciduously gifted neighbors. In fact, compared to my last post, I am downright chipper. My gait has returned to full stride with-

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CLASS NOTES out making any noise, and I am now working in is a submariner doing in the nascent world of be a grand place to hold a mini reunion. The a new position within the vast Northrop Grumbiometrics?” John asks that question, too, but wives’ mafia heartily agreed. The wives will man Empire. My new gig is the subject matter he does say he is learning all sorts of new stuff. glom onto shows and shopping, and the guys expert for the Intelligence Community Officer John kept Brother and Sister Rat Heltzel and me will … I don’t know … maybe find a sporting Course, a professional development program in stitches over lunch on Founders Day, as he event to attend? Steve helpfully mentioned the for mid-grade government employees within regaled us with stories from his stint as a factory possibility of securing the Mickey Mantle box the various agencies and services that make up manager in Opelousas, LA. For a refined Virat Yankee Stadium for a game. When Steve is the Intelligence Community. Ten, two-week ginia gentleman, John has nailed a Cajun accent. not siding with the wives, he is in the midst of classes a year keep me from being bored. Also, And speaking of the Heltzels, Emmett and his real career, which is chauffeuring his son with a change in administration, the subject Lynn were playing hooky from work to show on crew practices and competitions. Steve has matter may significantly change to make things up for the Institute Society Dinner and Foundbecome intimate with every lake and river on even more challenging. ers Day ceremonies. Emmett is still in the the East Coast. He grumbled that his son is I accepted an invitation to attend the Institute VDOT Central Office as a location and design beginning to look at colleges. The ones that Society Dinner in November. The dinner was engineer. Lynn is still teaching school. They keep appearing on the short list are Harvard and held in Cocke Hall, and I was amazed at how a both mentioned they packed their youngest University of Pennsylvania … because of crew few strategically placed balloons and soft lights daughter off to Sweet Briar this year. programs, of course. could turn that wooden firetrap into a ballroom. But now, BRs, I am giving you fair warning Chuck Fanshaw was in a good mood at You could tell the place was professionally about events that will come to pass. For whilst I dinner. He had just retired from the USNR as decorated. Balloons beat out papier-mâché was enjoying the company of my BRs at dinner, a captain. His wife, Hope, just retired from rings and streamers hung by a bunch of knowI was set upon by Sister Rat Heltzel and Mauthe USNR as a commander. So, according to nothing BRs, as was our Ring Figure decorating reen Hickey. It seems I have been measured Chuck, that makes them an O-11. We’ll see if adventure. Brother Rats in attendance at the against the standard set by my predecessor, Will the Navy thinks that, come retirement disburseInstitute Society Dinner included John Boyd, Council, and once again have been found wantment time. When I asked him about his day Steve Checca, Chuck Fanshaw, Jim Hickey, ing. This time, the wives’ mafia declared I was job, Chuck mentioned he does facilities work Emmett Heltzel, Carl Tremaglio and David not communicating enough, like on the Internet, at George Mason University. Now, Chuck is a Wagner. Regrettably, I was unable to talk to and especially not to them. Guilty as charged, modest man, so it took some digging on my part Dave for any great length, though I did observe ma’ams. Further, they want to hold more mini to discover Chuck is the director of Facilities, he brought his family, including his father from reunions between “authorized/official” class Project Management and Design at GMU. He is ’57, to the Founders Day ceremonies. reunion weekends. The Homestead in Hot supervising all the major construction projects You may recall Carl Tremaglio left VMI Springs kept coming up. Being an intelligence at the university, to include a major expansion before graduating in order to attend Cornell Uniprofessional, here is how I predict things will of its Arlington Campus. versity’s Hotel Management School. Apparently, shake out. We will plan a mini reunion at Another BR doing expansion work is Cookie he excelled there, as he and his wife Tori, also the Homestead sometime around 2010. The Jarvis, except he is doing engineering at VMI. present at dinner, are now successful entrepreinterested BRs and their significant others will We saw Cookie at the Founders Day ceremoneurs in the catering business in Charlottesville. arrive for a weekend of golf, spa treatments and nies dedicating the New New Barracks, or as They operate Festive Fare Rentals, which supfine dining. All will return to their homes happy the current Corps of Keydets calls it, “Cell plies party rental equipment for refined catered at seeing one another and relaxed from a fun Block C.” Cookie looked all strack and official events throughout central Virginia. Tori remarked weekend. Did I say that correctly, Lynn? in his Virginia Militia (unorganized) dress to Carl at dinner that she believed the chairs we To throw gas on the fire, Steve Checca blues, but he was beaming with pride over were seated on belonged to their company. states that a weekend in New York City would the building and dedication of the New New Jim Hickey, now safely home from yet another tour in Iraq, is paying for all his fun command and educational tours of duty by performing his first Pentagon assignment in the purgatory of the Army staff. Lucky Jim is currently the executive officer for the deputy chief of staff for Operations. Lucky, indeed. Jim works six and sometimes seven days a week. And being the exec, he is always at the mercy of his boss’ schedule. But on the sunny side, he is usually home every night, which makes his wife, Maureen, happy. Capt. John Boyd, USNR, who is currently assigned to the Secretary of Class of 1982: At the Institute Society Dinner were, from left, Capt. John Boyd, the Navy’s staff, joins Jim in the PenUSNR; Emmett Heltzel; Col. James Hickey, USA; Capt. Chuck Fanshaw, USNR (Ret); tagon. John is developing the Navy’s Steve Checca; and Chuck Kause. Dave Wagner and Carl Tremaglio were present but biometric policies and standards. are not pictured. Now, you may ask yourself, “What

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CLASS NOTES Barracks. When asked what his next mission was, Cookie replied he would be supervising the modernization of New and Old Barracks, to include the disposal of the “beloved” radiators and replacing them with a modern, thermostat controlled heating system. Thermostats in all rooms and no more 2 a.m. metallic clanking? I tell you, the Corps has gone candy! Another BR on the Institute’s payroll is Willy Funkhouser, the deputy commandant. We did not see Willy at any of the official events surrounding Founders Day, so John Boyd, Brother and Sister Rat Heltzel, and I decided to crash his office to pay our respects. Willy was found, kicked back in the commandant’s office, making official phone calls and looking all serious. While the commandant was hobnobbing with all the dignitaries and celebrities, Willy was left to run the Corps and administer discipline. He could not give us much time, as he had a miscreant cadet in his office who was about to face Willy’s swift and sure justice. Willy is powerful, yet fair. Away from the Institute, I received a note from Terry Belden, announcing major changes in his life. In one fell swoop, he relocated north of the Mason-Dixon Line, changed jobs and got married. Terry is now a Six Sigma LEAN Supply Chain Performance Engineer with Caterpillar. He is amused to find the term “engineer” in his job title, as he was a most strident denizen of Scott Shipp Hall. He now lives with his new wife, Robin, in Springfield, but works out of Cat’s Aurora, IL, office. Terry wants to know whether there are any BRs in Illinois or the Midwest for that matter. Will Council, my most loyal correspondent, dropped a note before deadline announcing his midlife crisis. He has finally forsaken his Slacker Stay At Home Dad lifestyle for the pleasures of rejoining the modern workforce. Will just got hired by McKee Foods, maker of Little Debbie Snack Cakes, and will join their management trainee program. It must have been an easy interview for Will, as he has been eating Little Debbie Snack Cakes since Jeff Modisett’s mom always brought them up with the care packages she dropped off after football games. Of course, Will will have to start out on the line … during the second and third shifts, but he has enough confidence in his abilities that he believes he will get a front office job after doing his time in the trenches. However, Will’s adult soccer league playing days may be numbered … especially if he consumes too much of his product line. Will passed on some great news from Rob Rambo. Rob has joined the Kentucky Humanities Council to perform in their Kentucky Chautauqua, featuring historically accurate impersonations of 18 intriguing characters from

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Kentucky’s colorful past. Rob’s living history character is Atta kul kulla, the peace chief of the powerful Cherokee nation from 1758 until his death around 1780. Called the “most important Indian of his day,” Atta kul kulla learned English ways (and met King George II) during a visit to London while still a teenager. He developed into a skilled and sophisticated diplomat whose ability to build alliances and treaties caused the English to dub him The Little Carpenter. Many of his policies and actions are still controversial, but he did manage to unite his people, a difficult political feat that laid the foundation for the long-term survival of the Cherokee nation on a continent that was rapidly filling up with European immigrants. Atta kul kulla played a key role in the famous land transaction known as the Transylvania Purchase. He negotiated an agreement with Judge Richard Henderson of North Carolina and the Transylvania Land Company, which Henderson used to claim purchase of nearly all of what is now Kentucky and north-central Tennessee. Although the governments of Great Britain, Virginia, North Carolina and the Continental Congress all annulled the document, Virginia still used it to claim state ownership. Kentucky was lost by the Cherokee forever and sold to a flood of settlers from the east. You can learn more about The Kentucky Chautauqua and contact Rob at this Web site: http://www.kyhumanities.org/chautauquacharacters.html That is all the news that is fit to print. Let me know if you did not get a holiday card from me. Start saving up for a mini reunion. Your spouse will tell you to do it, anyway. Cheers to all … Chuck

’83

Jim Outland

It was terrific seeing so many of you during our 25th Reunion in September, and it was a grand time reconnecting face to face. As the class of ’83’s reunion weekend concluded on 20 Sept., our 25th Reunion Fund drive had raised $4,000,0083.83 for VMI and had 59% of our BRs participating. Since the drive continues through Dec. 31st, I’m hoping these numbers may yet improve by year-end 2008, but regardless, it is a testament to how so many of us have come together and recommitted to this very unique institution which is our alma mater. The class of ’83’s reunited bonds were evident throughout the weekend starting on Friday with the golf event held at the Lexington CC and the skeet shoot at VMI’s McKethan

Park. Our golf coordinator, BR Owen Peery, tells me we had 31 duffers in attendance, and the Lexington Country Club was a perfect venue for them. Our skeet shoot coordinator, BR Doug Wainwright, also took the lead out at McKethan with assistance from Joe Irby ’85 in corralling 20+ shooters. While visiting the shooting event, I especially enjoyed watching Mary Amato, Linda Dodge and Pam Horan stepping up to the firing line to shoot with their men. Mark Pruden and Breck Gorman also have sons who shot well. All money raised during the skeet event, as well as the left over clays and ammo, were donated by our class to the VMI deButts skeet club. I ask all BRs and other alumni who enjoy shotgun shooting to build upon the class of 1983’s lead of approximately $883 worth of donated support and continue to assist this new and growing activity at VMI. On Friday evening, our class “Welcome Back” social at Lexington’s Sheridan Livery was well-attended and a terrific mixing opportunity. We were also able to have several cadet sons of our BRs join us for the evening. One thing I enjoyed was speaking with so many of you directly after having exchanged so many e-mails. During the social, I also was able to engage in a round of funny Rat boxing memories with several BRs, including BR Mike Devens, now of Colorado, who I believe told me he once had the pleasure of boxing my brother Grover ’81. As I’ve noted in previous class notes, “Beating and Bleeding,” hosted by Dr. Virgettes with his demand for more blood (more cowbell?) is one activity that still holds searing memories for many of us. In fact, the discussion and reminiscing about this activity continued on throughout the weekend and for several days thereafter via e-mail. BR Mark Waters provided one colorful example of boxing memory: “I got popped in the nose hard enough to cause a deviated septum ... some doc at Stonewall Jackson hospital cracked it back in place, packed both nostrils full of codeine-soaked cotton and wrapped my head and face with an ace bandage. I thought sure that that would get me out of parade that Friday, but nope. I looked like a walking mummy. I remember Steve Shea’s nose bled so much and so often that he eventually had to have his nose cauterized.” Ahh, the memories … Thankfully, the Friday night social did not end when the Sheridan Livery kicked us out of their building. We were still able to continue the socializing after-hours at the hotel’s hospitality suite, where I enjoyed continued catch up with a number of BRs, including Andy Jones, who had just awakened from his nap after having traveled from Thailand to join us. Saturday morning shake-a-leg had us forming

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Class of 1983: To celebrate launching Creekmur Wealth Management of Scottsdale, AZ, owner Will Creekmur recently visited family and friends in Virginia. While in Richmond, he got together with BR Southall Bowles. up on the steps of Preston library with a nattily dressed Mark Pappas exiting his vehicle right on cue, right in front of the building, thanks to Heather’s driving. Mark has recently been very active in seeking to arrange summer internships for VMI cadets, and I thank him for taking the lead on this. If any of you have such openings or know of ways you can help cadets in this regard, please let me know, and I will hook you up with the right people at VMI. Thanks again, Mark, for pursuing this. After numerous “hats on” and “hats off” pictures on the steps of Preston, we then held a rousing old yell for Jack Manley and settled in for a review of the Corps’ marching prowess. After reviewing the Corps at parade, the class of ’83 then showed off our own marching style which is more than a little rusty – probably because we were formed up by a tennis permit holder (John Dodge), and we are all old and just plain out of practice. I thought Stefan Melitz might want us to form up all over again for refresher training or perhaps get the rankers together for one more “Officer’s Call” but decided not to ask him about doing this. Our subsequent old yell in barracks was augmented by none other than Joe “The Missing” Link who seized the day and the opportunity to show everyone that he had been filling up with the Spirit since well before BR Don Komara met him for their drive to VMI earlier that morning! My thanks to all BRs for hoisting Teddy Gottwald and me up on the sentinel box for the ’83 Old Yell. I may have struggled a bit to get to the top, but I’m still convinced Link-O could have flown up there instead of using the ladder. After the Old Yell and mingling in the courtyard, many of us were able to see our old rooms and marvel at the changes. Regrettable

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some of you all’s rooms are now cadet powder rooms, which is probably an improvement, and some folks that lived in Ghetto Corner lost their room to urban renewal when a new hallway was installed. Thankfully, the middle (and heart) of Ghetto is still in place. So, Room 142 roommates Hannabass, Heslep, McCusker and I were able to get a photo and speak with the cadets currently inhabiting our space. These guys were OK with having us barge in on them, probably because I told them I had heard that the new “Third Barracks” currently under construction and available for move-in after Christmas will offer a karaoke bar, tanning salon and sushi. Another photo opportunity in Barracks was the class of ’83 lacrosse players attending the reunion. As I recall, we had BRs Hudgins, Fox, Ayers, Mednikov, Jamison and Laughon present, among others.

Class of 1983: Col. Brent Dunahoe, USMC, and David Via met at The Citadel in South Carolina where Dunahoe is a professor of Naval Science. When not vacationing in Charleston, Via lives in Glen Allen, Virginia.

Spirits continued to soar later in the day during VMI’s fabulous win over Chowan, and it was especially nice to have the beautiful weather stay with us into our Saturday evening dinner at the Lexington Country Club. Jodi and I enjoyed driving BR Steve Godwin and his fiancée to the banquet and having Steve tell us about his recent relocation from Newport News to Scott AFB as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) initiative. He is currently with the Military Surface Deployment & Distribution Command Transportation Engineering Agency. Having BR Chaplain Caudill conduct the invocation at the banquet dinner was special. His remarks concerning Jack Manley were very moving and hard to describe, but anyone who was there could feel the moment and knows what I mean. Thankfully, the postdinner remarks by Mr. Rich Lykins ’73, president of The VMI Alumni Association, and myself were brief. This enabled the Skip Castro Band to start the music and take us all on a trip down memory lane – a lane that many have us have not traveled in a long time and rightfully so. The vision of Disco Dunlap wearing his Wet Beaver T-Shirt on the dance floor was a great kick-off to general fun and mayhem. Leading the charge were our two cardiac kids, BRs Cottrell and Edwards, who did not miss a (heart?) beat despite both of their questionable medical histories. An equally enthusiastic pair were evident in Hudgins and Horan who showed there is no lack of energy as we draw ever closer to the big 5-0. BR Daughtry kindly offered his back on several occasions for the distinctive “air keyboard” and many

Class of 1983: With their cadet sons after the New Cadet Oath Ceremony in New Market, Virginia, were Cadet James Goodwillie ’12 and his father, Skip Goodwillie; Cadet Cameron Murray ’12 and Cadet Carter Murray ’09 with their father, Calvin Murray (fourth from left); Charlie Luck and his son, Cadet Richard Luck ’12; Teddy Gottwald and his son, Cadet Thomas Gottwald ’09; and Joseph Munno ’12 with his father, John Munno ’84.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Row 1: Dan Martin, Chris Caudill, Kevin Caulfield, Steve Schaaf, Hugh Daughtry, Jay Williams, Clayton Wagner, Joe Link, Mark Roltsch, Vernon Perdue, Jon Hunt, Paul McCusker, John Rice, Phil Hubbard, Trent Boggs, Stephen Ross, Bruce Hazelgrove, Graham Nuttycombe, Richard Hewitt, Tim Craul and Owen Dunlap. Row 2: Pete Kattmann, Mike Laughon, Martin Curry, Bryan Henderson, Doug Wainwright, Ivan Marcotte, Mark Heslep, Keith Hannabass, Whitney Owens, Skip Goodwillie, Scott Gines, Gray Carter, Mark Waters, Alan Toler and Dan Mason. Row 3: Scott Belliveau, Don Komara, Mark Pappas, Matt Berardi, Lynn Seldon, William Cornett, Jamie Call, Mark George, Jim Outland, David Via, Steve Godwin and Tim Doody. Row 4: Frank Tifford, Gregg Brinegar, Tom Winckler, Scott Horan, Cal Murray, Bobby Edwards, Franklin Hudgins, John Dodge, John Kendall, Chip Shirley and Paul Karafa. Row 5: Eddie Vaughn, Jim Henry, Mark Pruden, Gene Warren, David Warriner, Mark Jamison, Ben Cottrell, Owen Peery, Teddy Gottwald, Tray Adams, Bruce Cohen, Borden Ray and Dave Clarke. Row 6: Mike Hamlin, Jamie MacDonald, Mike Devens, Andy Whitson, John Geis, Tom Jewett, Charlie Luck, John Lashley, Mark Sykes, Chris Harris, Chris Eversmann, Bob Mednikov, Glenn Harmon, Steve Amato and Joseph Campisano. Row 7: Mike Gleason, Matt Waring, Mark Benvenuto, Andy Jones, Peter Van Scherpe, Kevin Keilty, Jon Hanna, Malachi Mills, Scot Thomasson, Cubby Fox, Jim Ayers, Brett Allen, Mark Coan and Stephan Melitz. Row 8: Todd Miles, John Manning, Stephen Goddard, Beau Cook, James Sinnott, Warren Groseclose, Ed Kluckowski, Chris Peta, Bob Zilhaver, Danny Chu and Michael Dieter.

CLASS NOTES

25th Reunion â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Sept. 19-20, 2008

Class of 1983

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CLASS NOTES of you helped fan guitarist Bo Randall’s fingers as needed. Additional back-up support for the band also came from members of the class in the form of audience vocals, group conga line, various “air guitarists” and a slew of “interpretative dancers.” BRs contributing to the above included Gottwald, Arnold, Peery, Hazelgrove, Dodge, Jamison, Hewitt, Cook and McCusker (among many others). A special honorable mention also goes out to the class of ’83 Wives Auxiliary Dance Troupe who provided support (and/or understanding) with all of the above. Unlike the class of ’82 in the fall of 2007, our return trip back to the hotel after the dinner dance was uneventful. Thanks to Rockbridge County Schools, we all got back on the bus without a hitch, even enjoying a rousing chorus of “The Wheels on the Bus” while en route. This smooth transition enabled continued socializing at the hotel hospitality suite and included BRs and/or wives, such as Keith Hannabass, Bryan Henderson, Clayton Wagner, Bruce Hazelgrove, Al Toler, Malachi Mills, Dan Martin, Jim Henry, Tom Jewett, Lynn Selden, Richard Hewitt, Teddy Gottwald, Dave Warriner, Pete Kattman, Marty Curry, Franklin Hudgins, Bobby Edwards, Andy Jones, Bill Cornett, Ben Cottrell and Hugh Daughtry among others. Highlights included Kevin “Buzzsaw” Keilty’s retelling of the night he earned his nickname at The Coffeepot in Roanoke and Beau “Toe” Cook removing shoes and socks to show one of his big toe nails (the green one) which still bears witness to an eventful Spring Break ’83. The next day, I had fun catching up with Rich Hewitt and Tray Adams while Rich was kind enough to drive me cross-town on an errand. Rich, as I recall, was never an early riser and always had an issue with those morning formations at VMI. My ride confirmed he is unchanged in this regard, as he still takes issue with rising before the crack of noon. His non-stop filibuster concerning the wake-up call has me wondering how he ever managed to make even one shake-a-leg. Even as we were celebrating during the reunion weekend, I know we had a number of BRs who were unable to attend for a variety of reasons. Col. Scott “Rock” Donahue (USA) sent his regards (“Will be with you all in the Spirit”) and well-wishes from Iraq where he is currently deployed. “Rock” is stationed at Fort Bragg with XVIIIth Airborne Corps which was his family’s 17th move in 24 years! He arrived in Iraq at the beginning of Feb. 2008, serving as corps engineer/ Multi-National Corps Iraq C7. He and Nancy

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have four children: son Eric is an infantry second lieutenant in the 82nd Airborne Division, married an Army aviator on 27 Sept. and is expected to serve in Iraq by end of 2008; oldest daughter Jenna is a college junior and will commission into the Army Nurse Corps in 2010; and identical twins Taylor and Morgan recently turned 14. Also in Iraq is Col. Tim Fitzgerald (USMC) who is with the First Marine Expeditionary Force as deputy assistant chief of staff G-3, Operations. Tim sent me reunioneve e-mail that included a caution against “keg bowling,” which was well-received advice. Col. Dave Hall (USMC) was also unable to attend and is scheduled to replace BR Fitzgerald in Anbar province during their next rotation. Col. Brent Donahue (USMC) also sent his regrets, having just settled into the NROTC detachment at The Citadel “where things are different.” Steve Evans with contractor SAIC was called away at the last minute to work in some upstate New York lab “on government business.” Despite the absence of these guys, several active duty BRs were able to join us, including Marty Curry (Dr. USA, Fort Sam Huston, TX), Mark Waters (director, Joint Force Land Component Commander Course, Army War College, Carlisle, PA), Steve Brinegar (commander, Marine Air Group 31, South Carolina), Steve Amato (USAF Detachment VMI) and Andy “Slim” Whitson (deputy air wing commander CVW-17, Oceana), among others. Another BR on duty during our reunion weekend and unable to attend was Capt. J.J. Costello (USN). J.J. has since announced his intention to retire effective 1 Jan. 2009, after 26 years of service. Having been stationed in Norfolk since 2001, J.J. has had two deployments within three years to the Arabian Gulf, first as CO, U.S.S. Donald Cook (DDG 75) in 2002-03 and second as assistant chief of staff operations for Commander, Carrier Strike Group Ten (embarked Harry S. Truman) in 2004-05. For the last 42 months, J.J. has been ashore as the director, Fleet Operations (N3) for Commander, U.S. Second Fleet, and responsible for coordinating and directing all U.S. Navy operations on the East Coast. I know we all wish J.J. well as he transitions and look forward to seeing more of him in the future. Many thanks for serving and sacrificing for our country, J.J. Well, that’s all for now. Please stay in touch, and keep the e-mails and phone calls going. If you are feeling the economic pinch, then please circle up the wagons and get your chins in. This too shall pass.

’84

Hank Selman

Greetings, BRs. Well, the countdown has officially begun. We are now less than one year away from our 25th Reunion. I met with Cav recently in Lexington to get some preliminary planning out of the way. We are going to have a great reunion, but it is going to take some effort for us to get there. Please send any ideas you might have to me ASAP. The most important thing to remember is to mark down Labor Day weekend 2009 as our reunion date. The date is 4-6 Sept.! Now for some news. I wrote Eric Jolly and asked him to give us an update on his son, Kyle, who plays left tackle for UNC. Eric was kind enough to send me the following: “Kyle is doing well at UNC. After a rocky start (redshirted his first year and his head coach and staff got fired his second year), he has come into his own under the new coaching staff. He started 12 games last year and every game this year at left tackle. He really likes the direction of the team and thinks Coach Davis will keep this program moving in the right direction. Right now, he is 6’6” and tips the scales at 305. I’ve been looking up at him for quite a while. My other son, Mason, 15, now has me looking up at him, too. At 6’ 3”, he is two inches taller than I am. Mason is cutting his own path in the basketball arena. Playing for Blessed Sacrament Huguenot JV; he hopes to have a successful season. Following Kyle and Mason has kept Joan and me very busy. We have been fortunate enough to make it to every UNC game for the last four years. Unfortunately, it leaves very little time to make it back to the ‘I’ to see any games. We hope to make it up for at

Class of 1984: Jerome Brinkley recently hosted a party at his home to celebrate his graduation from The Citadel’s MBA program. At the party were, from left, Anthony Brinkley ’92, sister Sabrina and Jerome.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES could have used our fifth roommate, Bruce ‘the too fast. My eldest is just shy of 11 but seems least one basketball home game this year.” Viking’ Hauck, but he is committed to doing like a little lady already. My ‘baby girl’ is 8-1/2 Eric, we let Kyle go to UNC, but I expect his entire food gathering on land. Mark truly but seems every bit of a 12 year old. Was able to see Mason suiting up for the Keydets in a distinguished himself. In spite of wanting to be to take the family on a nice trip to Chicago couple of years. ‘green,’ he held it down for the entire trip. On this summer to visit my younger brother. We Barry Coceano also answered a plea from me a past fishing trip, Mark went ‘green’ before it stayed for about a week and had a great time. for news with the following info: was cool to be green. Although we were bottom If you have never been, then go. Lots of things “Hope all is well. Just finished my two-year fishing, Mark insisted on casting, thinking it to do with the kids, and it is really a clean tour out in San Diego and returned to northern would give him an edge. On one cast, he mantown. Great time had by all. In a few weeks, I VA. I am now back in the Pentagon for purgaaged to come up short on the sling and cracked am heading up to north Georgia to my friend’s tory tour number two. Guess I can’t complain; one of the windows of the boat. What can one cabin to do some Whitetail hunting.” at least I am back home with my family after expect from a guy who spent the first 21 years Glen “EP” Parrish is still in charge of the doing the San Diego tour as a ‘geo-bachelor.’ of his life on Post? During a ‘come clean’ U.S.S. Nimitz. He wrote in with a really funny Had the opportunity to go back down to VMI exercise, Mark admitted that he had received note, but it required so much editing by the for the VMI vs. Coastal Carolina game. Cav, not one but two 10-6-30s during his second ERB that most humor was lost due to censorJohnny Munno and I were able to get in some class year. He had kept that a secret for all those ship. If any want to view Pig’s masterwork, golf. Cav was on fire ... hitting puts from all years. Jamie and I – who almost never served send me an e-mail, and I will forward it to you. over. Saw Mo Khandan-Barani at the game a day on confinement, marched PTs or were on I did receive a brief note from Steve Reardon also. Mo had his family in for the game; he was conduct probation during our illustrious cadetstating that Col. Pete Watling’s Reserve unit spending time with his son who is a Rat. I think ships – were shocked and appalled. We had has been deployed to Afghanistan for one year Mo has aged the best of anyone in the class. He always wondered why we were not given rank starting in October. I do not have a lot of info doesn’t look a day older than the day we graduduring our first class year. I had attributed it to yet about Pete’s deployment. I will try to get ated. Wish I could say the same about you and some Dave Pastorius cartoons that I allowed some contact info on him before the next “AR.” me. Also in the Rat ranks is John Munno’s son. to be included in the Cadet newspaper. Jamie OK, guys, that does it for this edition. Please Believe that brings us to four legacy members had received anonymous letters saying that his call me with any reunion ideas you might have. (Collie, Khandan-Barani, McManus and association with the Hop and Floor Committee Munno). Looking forward to the 25th Reunion. would always limit his upward mobility. Alex Time flies when you are having fun.” John Eckenrode Barry, I am glad that you got back to the “I” swore me to secrecy about something he did recently and even got to see a Keydet football during our Rat year, but it did include a ‘direct win. You are right on target regarding our 25th hit’ with a water balloon. Jamie and I had no Reunion. It is going to be great to get together secrets. We made it back to the dock early in the again. For those of you who have not seen afternoon and then displayed our bounty. The VMI in a while, you are not going to believe citizens of Hampton, VA, were amazed.” RAH VA MIL!! the construction projects and improvements to Thanks, Frank – way to come in strong with a BRs: I recently returned from Lexington infrastructure. great update! where I attended the Institute Society Dinner, Continuing along with the reunion theme, Carl Romano recently sent in a note as well: Founder’s Day Ceremonies and dedication Sam Browne checked in with a quick note to “So far, things are going well in south Florida. of Third Barracks. It was an exciting and say hi and to let me know that he can’t believe Still practicing law in West Palm Beach with historic time to be on Post. The class of 1985 that our 25-year reunion is so close at hand. Broad and Cassel. My girls are growing up way only had one table at the Institute Society Former class agent great, Frank Dinner this year, but we had Kollmansperger, recently he had a grand time nonetheless. Athis annual fishing trip with his old tendees this year included Matt roommates (Mike Locher, Mark and Paige Hamilton, Joe and Morgan, Jamie Shoemaker and Alex Cindy Irby, Jack Emerson, Thompson) and penned the following Jim Spellman and the lovely after action report: “OK, Hank, here Miss Carissa Schofield, and they are. As Jim O. ‘Outland-83’ J.J. and Cathy Wranek. would say, a good time was had by all. Joe, J.J. and I, along with We set out in Jamie’s boat about 20 Clint Hubbard ’86 and Adam minutes late. We lost Morgan after he Volant ’88 (Joe, ever the excused himself for a bathroom break. softie, let both Clint and Adam After we dragged him to the boat, we out of the Ratline) toured Third headed out. Being extremely advenBarracks – and we can assure turous, Jamie took us way out, almost you that the new accommoda20 minutes from the dock. Morgan tions are just as luxurious as caught a toad fish, Alex tussled with what we enjoyed during our a 14-inch blue fish and Morgan cadetships. swore that he dragged a red drum up LaMont Toliver dropped a Class of 1984: Proudly displaying their “catch” on a to the boat before it got away. Jamie quick line to report that the recent fishing trip were, from left, Bob Chapman, Mark and I unselfishly gave our time to entire Toliver gang – Lisa and Morgan, Alex Thompson and Frank Kollmansperger. help these two other guys. We really their four boys – are doing

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CLASS NOTES great, still living in Silver Spring, Jerry Brooks recently during a MD. LaMont has been positively visit to the Victory Base Complex impacting young minds for the (VBC) in Baghdad – Jerry is also past 17 years at the University on his second tour as a command of Maryland, Baltimore County. historian. Lt. Cmdr.-Chaplain John Time flies when you are having Shimotsu is rumored to be heading fun! to Kuwait for a tour by the end of Globetrotting Jake Spivey this year as well. ventured to San Diego, ostenHandsome and photogenic Mike sibly for work but in reality, Wooten sent in a picture of him in looking to hoist a few cold ones action at the Cotton Bowl … check with Marine Col. Jay Malik it out!! stationed at Camp Pendleton. Since I’ve been writing this, Fate would have it that Jake had about 4,376 leaves have fallen in to drink alone, because Jay had my yard, and we all know what ventured east for a conference at that means … As cadets, we didn’t Class of 1985: Mike Wooten in action at the Cotton MARFORLANT. have to rake leaves. What an easy Bowl. Matt “Sanka” Carter was life we had … !! banished from Hawaii (well, not Gents, I hope your holidays were he has a pretty neat job as the director of Inreally, but I’m sure it felt like it) to be sent great, and best wishes to you and yours for the stallations and Mission Support (engineering, to Scott AFB in the corn fields of Illinois ... New Year. Keep the cards and letters (e-mails) security forces and contracting) for 13th Air Ever the one to keep things in proper percoming … Eck Force. Marvin stays busy with humanitarian spective, Matt allows as “its all good,” since assistance/disaster relief, security cooperahe has a great job and a great boss to work Clint Hubbard tion with the other countries in the neighborfor. The “down side” is that Scott is about a hood and other non-kinetic roles. Last year, 10-hour drive to the “I,” so visits will be few Marvin got to visit the South Pole as the Joint and far between. The good news is Matt has Task Force Engineer for the National Sciacquired a taste for corn unlike anything that ence Foundation. Marvin said it was a great Crozet Hall has seen before … trip and an example of some of the atypical On the subject of transitions from Hawaii This edition of the class of 1986 class notes things his command gets to do in the Pacific. … or perhaps polar opposites, Marvin Smith is being submitted on 15 Nov. ’08, and you will Marvin’s looking forward to maybe one more probably be reading it in early February or so. dropped me a nice note and an update. Marv To quote Gordon McKinley, “a tip of the old is still in the Air Force and currently stationed assignment, and then he’ll try to make his way back to ‘ole Virginny to retire (and find a steel pot” is in order for the dedicated staff of at Hickam AFB, HI. To quote Marvin … job!).Marvin says there are a handful of VMI the Alumni Review. You may not be aware of “Yep – certainly no complaints.” Sounds like folks out in HI “but not too many” … Mike this, but this wonderful magazine is put together Chang recently returned from Iraq and is staby a staff of three very dedicated ladies. You tioned nearby at Fort Shafter, so he sees him probably have noticed that the timelines for occasionally. Ever the gracious host, Marvin delivery have tightened up considerably, and and his wife would certainly be glad to host that is a testament to their diligence to the task any VMI-ers who happen to be travelling to/ of getting it edited, laid out, printed and mailed. through Hawaii! I’m sure y’all might agree, that is an impressive Speaking of Iraq, tours of duty and rotations, performance. Moe Gissendanner recently threw us for a Speaking of impressive performances, loop. If you recall from last quarter’s notes, Mike and Karen Corwin’s oldest son, Kyle, your faithful scribe reported that Moe was prois turning out some impressive performances moted to “Civilian.” After being promoted to in cross country track as a high school junior. “Civilian” with all of the privileges and authorKyle qualified for the state-wide Virginia High ity that go with that position, Moe went to Iraq School League cross country meet held in Warrenton, VA. According to his proud mom, … Most folks are doing it the other way, but this is the second year in a row he will run the “hey”… who am I to say anything? I enlisted in VHSL state-wide cross country meet. He has a the Marine Corps Reserve at the tender young few school records already under his belt and age of 27, so I guess I’ve been known to do a few more in his sights. With another year to things backwards, too. go in high school, the Corwins are hoping for Another BR “in the Sand” is Chris Smith. some cross country and track scholarships. As Chris is finishing up his second tour and is Class of 1985: Marvin Smith at they contemplate his college destination, Sister scheduled to be home in early January. Chris is the South Pole proudly displayed Rat Corwin shared that they went to their first currently supporting the Iraqi Security Forces the VMI Spider before announcing, college fair in October. Kyle is considering (ISF) and the 5th Iraqi Army Division to assist “I’m from Hawaii!! The Iditarod up VMI, so they stopped at the VMI table where them in the transition of maintenance, supply in Alaska is for wimps!” the admissions representative was a female. and support operations. Chris ran into Lt. Col.

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CLASS NOTES Now, many of you may recall that Mike and Karen dated while we were cadets, and I believe Karen was Mike’s Ring Figure date. (If she wasn’t, I guess I have just assured that BR Corwin’s house is not going to be a healthful and pleasant abode for a few days!) Karen said, “It was a weird feeling talking to a woman about sending our son to VMI.” Thanks for a super update, Karen, and best wishes for Kyle’s continued success. From the Baltimore, MD/Wilmington, DE, corridor, Mike Castaldi checked in with an update. Mike is still in the military (I’m pretty sure he was called back in at some point) and awaiting five more years until he can retire. Presently, BR Castaldi is a squadron commander with the Delaware Air National Guard. At the time of his update, Mike said he and his boys were off to Alpena, MI, for war games exercise. Earlier in the fall, Mike attended the VMI-Chowan game and reported the presence of one, each, Inman, J.P., and Chambers, J.R. Mike also reported seeing his former Rat company commander, Steve Amato ’83, as well as former First Captain Stephan Melitz ’83. BR Castaldi’s parting thought was, “It sure is great to be a graduate.” Here, here. In the corrections department, Remi Thompson asked for clarification on the Matt Baker sighting story. BR Thompson acknowledged that while he had gained weight since his days of wearing the cadet grey (haven’t we all?!?), the figure quoted in a previous edition by your dedicated scribe was the amount of weight gained since MATRICULATION and not since graduation. My bad, Remi. No sense in artificial inflation of waistlines or reduction of hairlines; they change fast enough on their own, right? Things are evidently quite tame out in the world. It has been months and months since I have heard anything about a sighting of Bob Cabell’s infamous yak. Surely, that beast is out there somewhere. Perhaps the news of AC/ DC’s new album will be cause for Moquin, M.D., and Aycock, J.E., to go on one of their world class benders in search of Cabell’s yak. Please respond with details of any sighting of the aforementioned yak to your class agent posthaste. The next time you see Dave Grimm, feel free to call him “grandpa;” there are at least two little ones in the world who have that privilege. Dave and Janelle, of course, were married soon after our graduation and commenced their family shortly thereafter. Fast forward to 2008, and their eldest daughter, Alex, is by now a mother in her own right – two times over, no less, giving the Grimms two wonderful grandchildren. If the news that one of our BRs is already a grandparent doesn’t make you feel old, nothing will! The grandchildren are one of each gender;

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both are loved equally, but I think BR Grimm has some big plans for a golf prodigy in his two-year-old grandson. Look for them on The Tour in about 16 years. Just down the street from where the Grimms are celebrating their new grandchildren, their neighbors, Todd and Donna McCullough, are commencing step one of the empty nest maneuver. Todd and Donna’s eldest son, Tyler, signed on to a full lacrosse scholarship to the U. S. Air Force Academy and matriculated in Colorado Springs last summer. By all reports, he seems to be doing well, and obviously, his folks are as pleased and proud as punch. BR McCullough reported that Parents Weekend at USAFA was quite an event and a rousing good time. There is a rumor, although unsubstantiated at this point, that Jon French’s son, Brye, might be spending a year at the U.S. Naval Academy Prep School as a prelude to Brye’s matriculation at the USNA in the summer of 2009. Let’s hear it for these outstanding ’86 progenies who are making us look good! Speaking of looking good … undoubtedly you have heard by now of the mighty Keydets’ fabulous basketball win over the University of Kentucky AT Rupp Arena no less. On the Sunday following that great Friday night win, the Keydets traveled to Charlottesville to take on the University of Virginia. A group of BRs converged on Mr. Jefferson’s University for that game including: Stew Barnes, Eddie Barnes ’59, Paul Burch, Phil Howard, Clint Hubbard, Bobby Rainer and Scott Wagner. The Keydets lost a close one, and we all agreed we’d gladly trade a win at UK for a win at UVa. Despite the loss, a good time was had by all. You know, sometimes, you just get a softball … a big ol’ cantaloupe comes floating across the plate, and you can’t help but smack it out of the park. We all got our tickets together for the basketball game in UVa’s mammoth John Paul Jones arena. As we’re walking in the front door and getting our bearings, BR Howard starts off down the hall, turns back toward the rest of us and (certified) says, “C’mon, guys; it’s down this way. Haven’t you ever been here before?” Well, no, none of us had, but thankfully, we had Brother Rat Howard – Mr. Wahoo – to show us the ropes. In the Alumni News section of this magazine (Book Announcements), you’ll be reading about Dave Benhoff. BR Benhoff has been serving as USMC PR officer and compiled and edited a photography book about the USMC efforts in the Middle East from the eyes of the ordinary Marines. Mark Thompson got a copy and reports it is quite impressive. Well done, Dave; not bad work for an old boy from Prospect, VA. Well, that’s a wrap for this edition. Let me throw out a few more names of some BRs whom we

haven’t heard from in a while: Tim Armstrong, Doug Brennan, Jim Harcarik, Rob Hess, John Pitcock, Kenny Spain and Dan Whalen. If my calculations are accurate, you should be reading these notes in the heart of the dark ages. There won’t be much else to do, so take a moment and shoot me an update; your BRs want to hear about you. Take care, Brother Rats.

’87

Ernie Edgar

Brother Rats, as I write this for submission to the Alumni Review, this week marks Founders Day. As the pictures elsewhere in the Alumni Review illustrate, Founders Day weekend was another glorious Virginia fall weekend, highlighted by the addition of Third Barracks to the VMI Post. I hope that you all have an opportunity to celebrate the occasion wherever you are with other BRs and VMI graduates. Speaking of pictures, Dean Kratzenberg sent a shot of all the ’87 guys they could round up at the Founders Day game against Liberty on Nov. 8, including Todd Burdette, Matt Sutton, Jeff Temple, John Eubank, Dean and Macon Snowden. Not shown in the picture because they could not find them at the time were Keith Coffey and Ricky Cruze. Dean said that even though we lost, they had a pretty good weekend. As I mentioned in our last class notes, this past Aug. 18 marked the 25th anniversary of our matriculation. We ultimately gathered five guys in northern Virginia for dinner and war stories at Maggiano’s: Ronnie Robinson, Macon, Steve Owens, Renny Renshaw (who got the whole thing started) and me. And from Carolina, Scott Jewell hosted his annual Field Party which added another few BRs this year, including Mike McDaniel, Tracy Porter, Scott and Rock Hudson. Rock says they enjoyed “skeet shooting and other target practice,” good eating and plenty of camaraderie at the Jewell’s beautiful homestead. Rock’s picture of Scott’s gathering appeared in the last issue of the Alumni Review. By the way, Rock posted these pictures to the Facebook group that Ronnie Robinson created (“VMI Class 1987 Matriculation 17 August 1983 - Brother Rats! Are You Ready?”). You can find the page here: http://www.new.facebook.com/group. php?gid=21047832374 Finally, Mike Maxwell passed on the picture of Keith Washington in his full NFL officiating regalia. From the Army, great news about Al Pantano, Vernie Reichling, Dean Kratzenberg

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CLASS NOTES and Bill Wanovich. Al was selected by the Eustis is a nice change of pace from Fort Bragg. Tracy pointed out that we are a kinder, gentler most recent O-6 command board to command He recently cycled from Eustis up to Walter Reed Army, and Advanced Camp is now held only at Jacksonville District of the Army Corps of in support of fundraising for the Army’s Wounded Fort Lewis, WA, where it is a comfortable 83 Engineers. And Vernie, Dean and Bill were Warriors. Ed has run into Tim Snyder and Col. degrees. selected by the most recent colonel’s promotion Mark “Duke” Ellington ’86 recently. Tim is in Also recently retired from the Army is John board. Congratulations to all of you! Norfolk working with SAIC, and Duke is in the Chicoli. Although he had been selected for The Army has assigned Dean to the Department Pentagon working at the Horn of Africa desk for O-6 and the War College, he had also been a of Energy (again) where he is the OPS manager the Joint Chiefs of Staff. geographic bachelor for the last three years in for emergency response. He expects to stay there Now retired from the Army, Tracy Porter has Huntsville, AL. So, it was a tough decision, but for three years and says it is a good with a bunch of moves on the hojob and a mission in which he berizon and two kids in high school, lieves. Through Dean, Bill says, “I it was time to settle down with his wish I could tell you that I earned family, which had remained in St. this, but I’m pretty sure it was just Louis. So, now John is working as my rugged good looks.” The real a DA civilian on the Army’s Future story is that he is on month 10 of 15 Combat Systems Program as the of his deployment to Camp Victory system integrator for the Manned in Baghdad. He has commanded the Ground Vehicles. John is really Special Troops Battalion (STB) for happy with how it has all turned XVIII Airborne Corps since June out. 2006 and now also commands Task Also happily settled in St. Louis Force Dragon (Special Troops Batis John Barnard. He says it’s “all talion for the MNC-I and MNF-I the same as Virginia. Same trees, Staffs). He changes command in June same grass, but the weather is a 2009 and will head to the Army War day earlier, and the taxes are better, College at Carlisle Barracks, PA. too.” John retired from the Navy Class of 1987: Keith Washington in NFL officiating full Pretty studly! Meanwhile, he has Reserve in January and now works dyke with arms. seen both Lt. Col. Bob Merkel, who for the National Geospatial-Intellicommands the 192nd EOD Battalion gence Agency (NGA). in his “neighborhood,” and Lt. Col. John Eubank is now a project Mark Bartholf, activated from the Army Reserve accepted a DA civilian position as the senior engineer for ATK Tactical Systems Tactical as a LOGCAP Liaison officer to the MNC-I C4 tasking officer for the deputy chief of staff, Propulsion & Controls Division in Rocket (Logistics) section. He reports that all is going G-3, HQs, U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Center, WV, as their product engineer-medium well and that he is looking forward to getting Monroe. He is responsible for the command’s caliber. “So, if anyone needs any HEI am“back to the world.” Also, through Dean, Vernie current operations, special events and ceremomunition for their M-230 chain gun, let me reports that, back from Afghanistan and having nies, taskings, its anti-terrorism program, and know!” He left Euro-Composites Corporation changed out of command, he has completed the ammunition coordination for 273 host senior after four years as their plant engineer, having move to northern Virginia and will report into ROTC battalions, among other things. To me, worked on such projects as the Kevlar core the Pentagon shortly. Vernie got a call from his the very mention of Cadet Command brings details for the in-flight doors on the F-35 Joint roommate, Steve Cade, “who is doing a HARD back fond memories of 100+-degree-days in Strike Fighter (JSF), manufacturing composite tour over in Italy as the Garrison commander. the sand and chiggers of Fort Bragg, but then honeycomb parts for the Predator and Reaper Life is good, and he has lost about 30 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) pounds – almost back to his college and the Kevlar details for the X47B days. It’s probably the house full of Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle girls that’s helping him.” (UCAV). Last summer, he and his Ed Ledford also checked in from family traveled to Niagara Falls Fort Eustis. He’s had a wild ride the for vacation. Along the way, they last couple of years, too. He returned visited with Kurt and Carol Hauk from a 15-month deployment to Bain Watertown, NY. He said, “It was gram Airbase in Afghanistan with the kind of surreal for a couple of guys 82nd Airborne Division and CJTF82 who probably spent more time headquarters, where he worked in shooting pool in Estelle’s than they the Key Leader Engagement Cell. spent studying in NEB to sit and He moved from Fort Bragg to Fort watch their teenage children play Eustis in August and now works at together. We did spend the evening the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics proving that we can’t drink like we Class of 1987: At the Founders Day football game School. Now that he is closer by, he used to.” against Liberty were Todd Burdette, Matt Sutton, Jeff is looking forward to getting back to Scott Jones is also doing the deTemple (front), John Eubank, Dean and Macon Snowden. VMI more often. He and his wife, fense contractor thing as a program Keith Coffey and Ricky Cruze are not shown but were Marian, have a daughter Jane, 3, manager for Lockheed, where he present. and son Henry, 2. Ed says that Fort has been for the last 10 years. He

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CLASS NOTES and his wife and son live in northern VA. part-time at a Christian radio station in Churchreunion committee has been formed, and we are John Johnson checked in from Roanoke where ville. Thanks for the update, Adam! meeting every other week to plan a fun-filled he is a partner in his law firm. Between a teenBrian Hatheway wins the “long distance” weekend in Lexington. age son with a learner’s permit and a teenage award with this update: “I’m still out here at OK, onto the updates. I heard from Dan daughter, he and Gwyn have plenty to keep them our embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. I’ve been McGrew. Dan and his family have moved to busy! This past summer, John and Boise, ID, after living in southern his son, Thomas, backpacked out Florida for 11 years. Dan asked me in New Mexico for 12 days at the to pass along his e-mail and hopes Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron. anyone visiting Boise would look They stayed between 7,600 and him up. Dan’s e-mail is mcgrew. 12,441 feet in elevation. John says, dan@gmail.com. “It was an incredible experience Tom “Buzzard” Spivey is very good and one of the high points of recent about sending updates a few times history for me.” a year. In the early fall, he was able Most recently, I ran into Matt to send another one. Here is what Martin ’84 and Lee Wimbish ’84 he said: “I just finished up another at a local elementary school fun run. busy lacrosse season. I got to referee Matt’s daughter won the 7-year-old some high school games with my girl’s division, Lee’s daughter took brother, Tim Spivey ’86, and my old third in the 8-year-old girl’s division roommate, Kent Doane. Then, I was and my son took third in the 9-yearchosen to referee one of the Old Doold boy’s division. Must have been minion Athletic Conference first round good karma from VMI beating playoff games at the college D3 level. Kentucky the night before! Also, I teamed up with Cubby Fox ’83 Finally, I must report with sadand officiated the VISAA Div. III high ness the passing of Mike Moore’s school lacrosse championship game in Class of 1988: Lew and Susan Sigmon in France at a site mother, Pat, after a tough fight with Charlottesville. While I was there, I where the Germans coined the term “Devil Dogs” to describe the Marines. (Editor’s Note: This photo was intendcancer. John Johnson and I were ran into Kevin Helmick ’91, who had ed to accompany the last set of 1988 class notes (2008-Issue both able to attend her memorial guided his Highland lacrosse team to 4) but was inadvertently omitted. Our apologies!) service in Richmond. John and I the VISAA Div. II finals. I also ran echo the sentiments of those who into a bunch of former VMI lacrosse spoke there. Pat was a lovely, enerplayers during this year’s Richmond getic, dynamic person who was a great friend to here just over two years with one more to go. Summer Lacrosse league, including Bill Mcher son’s college roommates. Please keep Mike After all these years, I finally got hitched this Carthy ’87, Dave Hope ’88, Ted Wilkinson and his family in your thoughts. ’88, Charles Ayers ’97, Mason Ayers ’99, Matt past year. My wife, Kristina, with stepson and Thank you again for all the e-mails, photos Gallienne ’00, Cregg Burns ’01 and Derick baby boy are here with me now in Tashkent. and news that you have sent, and please keep Swenck ’02. My other brother, Jake Spivey ’85, I don’t see anyone from VMI out here, but them coming! … Ernie is now the coordinator of RSLL. This fall, I’ll be I did see Michael McGraw along with Ob referring the VMI alumni lacrosse game on Oct Noonpackdee and Arm Vaijai in Bangkok 3rd. Things here at Circuit City are still holding while pulling my USAR time early this past Drew McKone on. I’ve been with the company for over 12 years, summer. I’ve got my 20-year letter from the and the department I moved to last year is the best Army Reserve now, so I figure I won’t be doing of all the sections I’ve worked in. I just finished up too much Army stuff anymore. That’s just fine a project which required our team to conduct onwith me. Besides, DoS tends to keep me more site surveys of every one of our stores nationwide, than busy.” Hope everyone is making it through the “Dark of which I went to about 25. Back in May, I ran Now, sit down and send me a quick e-mail Ages” and getting ready to enjoy spring! Not into an unlikely character here at Circuit City HQ. with your update! Enjoy spring! much news to report for this issue. Notes for Steve Boyd, who was featured in last quarters’ the next issue are due on Feb. 15th. Do you reAlumni Review profiles, was at the Circuit City Andrew J. Tunnard member what we were doing on Feb. 15, 1985? headquarters promoting the new company that While you’re trying to figure that out, sit down he works for. We figured it had been close to 20 and write a quick note for the next issue! years since we had seen each other. I also traded Adam Volant checked in to let me know e-mails with Tom Henning, who is running his he saw Mike Pannell, Dave Carter and Ted own construction company here in Richmond. I Greetings once again, Brother Rats, Cusick at a football game. They spent the Another edition of our class notes. I am sitting also see Ash Fairchild every now and then, as weekend in Lexington as part of the traditional we usually get together with Doane for some in a BOQ room in Norfolk, VA, performing one annual long weekend. Chris Goerner and Dave of my drill weekends with the Navy. I am think- Mexican food every other month. I haven’t had Williams were also at the game. Dave’s oldest a lot of time for WBTS reenacting. However, I ing of how long I’ve been doing this … almost daughter was just awarded the citizen scholar20 years, just like many of you. By the time did get a chance to participate in Pamplin Park’s ship at Liberty – a four-year award. She intends you get this, we should be quickly approachCivil War weekend in June, where we galvanized on majoring in communications and has worked ing the 20-year reunion on April 26 and 27. A as Yankees. (You’d love to see me dress in blue.)

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CLASS NOTES I also attended the Battle of Standardsville back cially to the good Mr. Stoneman)! I did the Mia I recently reached Kevin Wood through the in September and am looking forward to events Hamm interpretation in the living room, scaring alumni directory and had a good chat with him. this fall in Buckingham County and Fredericks- all, including the dog and cat, as the boys got He’s living outside Detroit. I also made contact burg. Back in August, my wife, Mary Hart, and that last one in the end zone.” with my Rat roommate, Steve Valack, recently Awesome update. Thanks, Brian. Al StoneI took the kids to Boone, NC, for a week where after 17 or so years. (He graduated from U of we vacationed a couple of years ago. This fall, man, sorry; it looks like you are still under the R and lives in New Orleans.) I spoke to Bill daughter Mary Moncure, 11, started 6th grade, bus, BR. In the summertime, I heard from one Miller several times recently, as I was hoping while her little brother Thomas Jr., 6, started 1st of our politico Brother Rats – Jason Gray. Here to catch a Nationals game with him on my grade at Collegiate Schools in Richmond. Well, is his update: “I have not written in a while and trip, but it didn’t work out. I did have dinner that’s all for now. Looking forward to the 20th thought I should send an update for you. Not with Clifford Foster ’93 while in Richmond Reunion next April.” and even ran into Tom Spivey just Thanks for the update, Buzz. In outside the Circuit City offices – the early fall, we heard some great small world. I tried to reach Peter news from Mike Murray. Mike was Kelley when in Boston but only had promoted to major in the Marine his parents’ old phone number, and Corps. Here is what he said: it had apparently changed. Lots of “Through some act of God, I changes for me within the last few was promoted today. I just want to years: I went back to school and got thank all of those family members my MBA from Pepperdine Univerand Marines who have molded me sity in Malibu, CA, and I finally left into the man I am, for without you I Giant Bicycle in fall 2006 after 13 would not be where I am today. If I years of handling sales and markethave forgotten anyone, I apologize. ing. I went to work for one of my This was a spur of the moment ocbusiness school classmates running casion, and I did not intentionally her law firm! Quite a change being not invite anyone. Thank you for the executive director of profesthe opportunities and/or support you sional services after all those years have given me.” in specialty consumer products, but Congratulations, Mike. Well it was interesting, and I learned a deserved. lot. It was temporary by nature, and Class of 1988: On the flightline at MCAS Camp Pendleton, BR Brian Duffy checked in for once we accomplished what was California, were Jim Mumma and Craig Streeter ’91. this edition. Here is what Brian is on the project list after about 16 up to: “Just got the latest Alumni months or so, I left to go to work Review today, and realized it’s for a consumer electronics company much has changed with me. My wife, Wendy, been a bit since I’ve checked in. First of all, named BenQ. They hired me as the channel and our son, Harrison, still live in Chester, VA, congrats on your non-descript assignment to head for retail with the task of launching the and I continue to work for Congressman Randy a Jersey City high rise! Mary and I have fond brand in a major national retailer, which exForbes as his district representative/military memories of toting NYC shopping bags around plains why I was outside the Circuit City offices liaison. One new event in my life is that I am Jersey City, as we looked longingly across the and ran into Tom. On the home front, Wendy in the Department of Distance Education at the water to Liberty State Park (where our car was is great, and we celebrated our 8th anniversary U.S. Army War College, have just finished my parked) and the local boys fired guns in the air on April 1, 2008. (Yes, we got married on April first year and expect to graduate spring ’09. The at the local watering hole. Ah, memories ... In Fool’s Day.) Samantha turned 6 and is finishing fact, so strong, we took Austin there for his 16th Army War College is a very challenging but rekindergarten, and Cooper is 3 and is all boy – warding experience, and I am fortunate to have birthday ... Anyway, I successfully completed quite a change after his big sister wrapping me this opportunity. I run into some BRs every my second command tour as commander, around her finger! That’s it for now – hope all is now and then, mostly Bob Bradford, who lives 316th Civil Engineer Squadron, Andrews AFB, well for you and your family.” around the corner from me, and Mike Biliunas MD, on 24 July ’08 ... passing off command Another good update. Gentlemen, that is all and I talk frequently. I have been in e-mail conresponsibilities to a good friend, Lt. Col. Mike for now. Take care and enjoy 2009! tact with Ken Krynski and Matt Tederick on Saunders ’90, USAFA, who’ll undoubtedly business matters; they seem to be doing great in do exceptionally well, albeit with an inferior R. Hunter Trumbo their line of work. Ken is out in Las Vegas, and undergraduate upbringing! Here is a quick Matt is still living in Front Royal, VA. That is update on Mary and the boys. As I said, Austin, about it. Sorry not that much news but should who is 16 (and driving), and Connor, who is 10 help fill out some of your class notes. Hope you (going on 30), are both doing well after a total and your family are doing well. Jason Gray” of eight years in the northern VA area. Next for Finally, I got a nice update from Steve “Oil me is National War College at Fort McNair, Can” Boyd. Here is Steve’s note: “It’s been DC ... starts in Aug. ’08 and should end around Hello, Gentlemen, Christmas feels like it’s some time since I gave an update, but after a June/July ’09. Uncertain as to what’s after that just around the corner, and since the Alumni recent trip to Virginia, nostalgia set in. Then I .... we’ll see. BTW – Was certainly wonderful Association has shortened the time it takes to got the recent donation letter from you, and I to exclaim the huge accomplishment of the NY publish the Alumni Review, these class notes felt compelled to write. After eight or 10 years, Giants in front of all these Redskins fans (espewill arrive in your mailbox fresher than ever.

’90

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CLASS NOTES (USACE). He runs into alumni occasionally I got a little more information about our BR Great Wolf Lodge near Williamsburg. They but not many BRs are down that direction. He, Greg Sandway through his wife, Janet. We scheduled the trip to coincide with Laurence’s too, connects with Laurence Farrell and Dave all know that Greg is modest, so I asked Janet leave from Iraq, and now he’s the district Kaulfers on occasion. Dave let him know that to help me find out what he was really up to. engineer in San Francisco. Weedon says that Pat O’Leary was working for the USACE in Cmdr. Sandway is now the commander of USN he can count on running into Dave at Fort Dix Afghanistan. He had tried to contact Pat but Riverine Squadron. The primary mission of the about once a year when their training overlaps. got an “out of office – I’m out processing” squadron is to conduct maritime security operaDave is doing well and is on an AGR tour with reply. If any other BRs are with the corps out tions along rivers and other inland waterways. the VA NG, taking leave from VDOT. With there, Daren said to touch base with him in the The Navy recently stood three commands Weedon in Afghanistan, he’s grateful that famback up after doing away with them after the ily and friends are making sure that his wife, Mobile district. Vietnam War. Greg deployed his unit from Anne, and their boys are doing well. He said Mitch Stockwell, Esq., and I e-mailed briefly, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown to Iraq, and that this deployment has been very different for because he had been up in the DC area a bit him, as he’s working with a team that’s heavily during the last year working on a case that Janet sent a number of pictures of him looking civilian and he’s working with Coalition Partlasted more than a year. Opposing counsel very commander-like. To see them, log into ners more than U.S. forces. (Editor’s Note: See included an old friend of mine, but I’m sure www.vmialumni.org and click on the “My VMI Mitch didn’t beat up on her too Links” menu. You’ll find them much. While he and his family are in the photos section of our class doing fine in Atlanta, his son Davis, Web page. Before the cold weather had 10, is not giving him any indications set in, I managed to get together that he might consider VMI a future with a few folks from the NCIS option. Mitch thinks he might have crew. (They say it’s just like the a chance to convince his daughter TV show.) Kelly Musick and Amelia, 7, that it’s a good place to I were joined by Chris West go and believes his nephew is leaning that way, too. Mitch isn’t just an ’91 and Macon Snowden ’87 at attorney, but he’s also a recruiting Murphy’s Irish pub in Old Town, machine working to create his own Alexandria. We participated in legacy! the normal alumni activities of Jefferson Kaster dropped me a complaining about the “I” not line to advise that he has left Fort being what it used to be, had some Belvoir and has joined the Office of bangers and mash, fish and chips, the Staff Judge Advocate for U.S. and tossed back a few pints. Mr. Musick also tracked down Marine Corps Forces, Central Class of 1991: Newly promoted Lt. Col. Flip Secrist, our BR Rob Forgie who’s back Command (MARCENT) at MacDill second from left, is the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Diviin Montvale, VA, these days. Rob AFB in Tampa, FL. His legal portsion Rear Detachment commander at Fort Hood, Texas. said life is going well for him and folio covers military justice and opIn the photo above, taken after his pinning ceremony, sent his greetings to everyone. erational issues coming out of Iraq. are Secrist’s son, Jackson, wife Lavonda and sons Kyler With each set of class notes, I Jefferson’s family hasn’t moved to and Gabriel, as well as Flip’s parents, Betty and Phil Secrist, far right. At the far left is Col. Ted Martin. try to hunt down someone who Florida yet, but it seems like we’ve hasn’t been heard from in a long got enough BRs down that direction time. I managed to reconnect that he’ll bump into someone and with Mike Camp, who hadn’t been in contact feel like he’s home before too long. the OEF/OIF section of this Review for a photo with anyone from VMI since the 90s, except Guys, that’s it for this set of notes. Please of Gallagher.) for Bob Pedigo. Mike and Bob talk a couple keep the info coming my direction, and I’ll Hopefully, many of you received my e-mail times a year and get together every once in a continue to keep you updated … Hunter that a Combat Ring from the class of 1990 had while. Mike lives in Fort Lauderdale, where he been found at Fort Riley, KS, and returned to Matt Schwarzmann at the Alumni Association. has resided off and on since graduation. At that George Petty III Since combat rings are so hard they cannot point, he jumped on a sailboat and never looked be inscribed, it’s been a challenge to find the back. He’s been sailing as a Merchant Marine original owner. Matt let me know that he had officer for some time with the American Mariconnected with Mark Dick, Bill Ator, Tim Featime Officers Union. His last ship was a car gans and Jeff Moushegian during their annual carrier trading between Northern Europe and pilgrimage to the Palms this fall. I am happy to report that I now have 27 BRs U.S. East Coast. Mike is a recently renewed Daren Payne touched base to let me know as friends on Facebook. Andy Apostle started bachelor, living near the beach and finally that both Andy England and Todd Jacobs a group on there for us to join, VMI 1991. getting to hang his surfboard on the wall. He were stationed at Fort Riley right out of school Most of the following is from messages passed splits his free time between Florida and Taipei, and might be the rightful owner. Daren is very around on Facebook, so this looks to be a great Taiwan, where his girlfriend teaches English. happy with his job and the part of south Alaplace to keep in touch. Those of us on Facebook Weedon Gallagher dropped me an e-mail bama he lives in. The weather and beaches are await your friend request. update from Afghanistan where he found himgreat, and he’s enjoying being a deputy district Founders Day at VMI was an historic one this self this past summer. Last year, he got together commander with the Army Corps of Engineers year. Third Barracks (aka the New, New Barwith Dave Kaulfers and Laurence Farrell at

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CLASS NOTES racks) was dedicated after the review parade. basis. They live in Pflugerville, TX, just north see his teacher’s face when he said that. Lorraine and the young ones joined me on Post of Austin with their three children: Mary, 7, Matt Childs sent an e-mail saying that he that morning for the parade, dedication and tour Hanah, 5, and Daniel, 3. had been resettling his family in Florida before of the Third Barracks. I spoke with Andy Tate Chris Nunn earned a new position recently heading to Afghanistan. He hopes to meet with ’92 at length. His brother, Sam Tate ’88, was with BE&K Engineering in Richmond, VA, as the USCENTCOM guys. Those include Omar my dyke. Andy tells me that Sam was selected the Electrical and Instrumentation Department Land, Tony Marro, Tom Heffern and a few for captain, USN, and is serving another tour manager. This is an improvement for him, as others. If you join Facebook, you must see at the Pentagon. The Corps will move their it requires less traveling and more at home the pictures of Omar training with his carbine. belongings into Third Barracks Omar has became so buff, he makes during Christmas furlough, then the thing look tiny. He jokingly live there on their return in Jan. refered to his weapon as a Lil’ Tykes ’09. At that time, the portions My First Carbine. Thanks to all servof Barracks vacated will be ing and to those who have served in modernized with new wiring and the armed forces for your sacrifices. environmental concerns. During Hans Peeders now lives near the dedication, it occurred to me Annapolis in Arnold, MD, and that 20 years ago was our first provided the following via Facebook Founders Day ceremony – yikes! (hint, hint): “I am living in Arnold, This note arrived from Don MD, and was married to the former Cribbs: “Recently, Kyle Bryan, Ashley Ayres from Fort Worth, TX, Tom Heffern, Kai Torkelson in February [’08]. In attendance were and Donald Cribbs got together Rich Coupland and Scott Smith and for lunch at the Pentagon. All are their wives. I spent 10 years in the stationed in the Capitol region Marine Corps before (miraculously) and are doing well. Kyle is the landing a job at Southwest. I am newest arrival and is serving on still in touch with Omar Land, Cliff Class of 1991: Photo above: Ashley and Hans Peeders the Navy staff along with Kai. Porter ’89 and Todd Eckloff ’90 celebrated Hans’ 40th birthday at Brennan’s in New Tom is stationed in Quantico at (who was recently portrayed in the Orleans. Photo below: The Peders, second and third MCCDC, and Donald will be HBO special “Generation Kill” as from left, with Luther Peeders ’95, Scott Smith, Richard leaving shortly to start language the XO of 1st Recon). One thing of Coupland and Lupio the burro. school. Jon Milner is at the Pennote: Last week I had the privilege tagon but could not make it. Also to attend the funeral of Col. John W. in the northern Virginia area are Ripley at the Naval Academy … His Dan Kelly and Sean Boyle.” son Tom Ripley ’93 gave an address Thanks Don, I hope to get up at the funeral that provided a very to northern Virginia in early 2009 personal glimpse into the life of a and join everyone for another living hero that both lifted and chalgathering. lenged all in attendance. Tom’s selfRob Townend sent a picture less recollection of his father’s life of his wife, Marie, and daughter was truly a gift, and I hope that in Lenna in their Halloween outfits. the future the message can be shared Rob has weathered the financial with cadets at VMI.” (Editor’s Note: turmoil thus far, but American Col. Ripley’s obituary appears in the Express has had a significant Taps section of this Review.) Hans “workforce adjustment” (my also sent a couple of pictures – one term). Let’s hope we all weather is of Hans and Ashley celebrating this crisis. his 40th birthday. (Are we all really Ray Dotterweich says he keeps in touch with time. Boy, can I relate to that one, Chris. Life getting that old?) alumni from ’87-’94. “Pretty cool because one has been so different since leaving the contract J.T. Mistr just wanted everyone to know they is my Ring Rat, and my Rat was my Ring Rat’s work and taking a full-time position at the hosshould get on Facebook and join us. He doesn’t Rat ... sort of like one big West Virginia (or pital in Fishersville. I hope Chris is getting as have any exciting news, but it has been cool Tennessee) family tree (ha,ha,ha).” He doesn’t much enjoyment from his three children as I am seeing everyone on Facebook. For example, see many BRs since Chad Kunkel moved to from my two. Chris and Jenn have now been Bill Smith posted, “I went up for the Liberty Houston. married 17 years. Their children are Jordan, 14, game this past weekend (Nov. 8). I ran into Col. Flip Secrist sent a picture taken after his Brittany, 12, and Andrew, 9. “Andrew is set on Caulkins at the game. He didn’t look any older. lieutenant colonel pinning ceremony. Flip is the going to VMI ... He’s doodling the VMI Spider I saw George Hale but was only able to talk to 1st Brigade 4th Infantry Division Rear Detachin all of his school books and folders. He’s him very briefly, enough to get his e-mail adment Commander at Fort Hood, TX. His wife, decided that when he grows up … he wants to dress.” Steve Kostoff said, “I work at JFCOM Lavonda, and he have three rambunctious boys: be an Army sniper... Fun conversation with the as a civil servant now – so, guess who I saw in Jackson, 6, Gabriel, 4, and Kyler, 1. Flip sees teachers and counselors at elementary school.” the halls of my building recently? Lt. Col. Steve Pat Womack and his wife, Susan, on a regular I so wish I could have been a fly on the wall to Neery ’88, USMC. “Is that ... ?” *RC flash-

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CLASS NOTES back* He’s not so intense these days ...” Steve and his wife, Andrea, live in the Virginia Beach/ Norfolk, VA, area. John Hale wrote on the group wall: “Chris Eubank is the 82nd ABN Division Special Troops BN CDR, J. Wano is still in, at an undisclosed location. Neither are on Facebook. Bucky Williams and I worked together in 2005, he goes by Marshall now. I have not run across many others in our class.” There ya’ go, John, I hope I plugged Facebook enough as J.T. and you requested. Thanks for all the info, guys. Fortunately, enough information arrived at the Fall-In that I didn’t have to resort to how now is the best time to set your garlic bulbs and tater-onions, then layer them with some shredded alfalfa hay and leaves ...

Chris Bergen

’92

Andy Tate

Editor’s Note: There are no class notes from the class of ’92 in this issue.

’93

Bill Cox

Editor’s Note: The following paragraphs were submitted by the new, incoming class agent, Bill Cox. Following his remarks are Paul Ackerman’s last class notes submission. As many of you know, Paul Ackerman will be stepping down as class agent, and I will be taking his responsibilities as the new class agent. I want to thank Paul for the tremendous job that he has done over the past five years. I think the 15th Reunion was a spectacular success, and it would not have been possible without Paul’s organization and efforts. As I am quickly learning, there is a lot more to being class agent than just writing out the class notes. I applaud Paul for the time he has committed over the past years to VMI and the class and ask each of you to thank him personally the next time you see him at the I. I also have some saddening news. Tom Ripley’s father passed away at his home in Annapolis at the end of October. Col. John Ripley had served as a professor of Naval Service while we were cadets from 1990-92. I offer the class’s condolences and sympathies to Tom at

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this difficult time in his family’s life. (Editor’s Note: Col. Ripley’s obituary appears in the Taps section of this Review.) As I get settled in the role of class agent, I ask each of you to make a conscientious effort to make sure your contact information is up to date. You can either contact VMI to update, or send it to me directly. This information is extremely important in order to keep everyone up to date about events, etc., that will be old news by the time the Alumni Review comes out. I had a lot of people bounce ideas around with me during the reunion, and most of them had a common theme. The theme is that five years is too long to go without getting together. I agree wholeheartedly and am roughing out ideas about so-called mini reunions. Many of the older classes have regional get-togethers every other year or so, and I think it is a grand idea. Also, with our careers and families, sometimes it is difficult to get away for a weekend and get back to the “I,” regardless of how much we want to. As I get a better idea of events that can be planned, I will keep everyone up to date. Feel free to drop me a line with any updates you want to share. My contact info is as follows: Bill Cox, Careby Farm, 2742 Booth Rd, Concord, Virginia 24538; Home phone: 434/993-1937; Work phone: 434/286-1821; e-mail: bill@carebyfarm.com or bill.cox@ us.hyosung.com Editor’s Note: The following class notes were submitted by the outgoing class agent, Paul Ackerman as his final submission: Below are the last notes I will submit as Bill Cox takes the reigns as the new class agent. I first want to thank you all for giving me a great five years. I have gotten to know at lot of BRs even better than when we were cadets. There have been some sad times but many more happy times during the last five years, and I would not trade the experience of this job for anything. I look forward to continuing to be active with the class and will assist Bill in his many duties when called upon. I think many of you had a great time during the reunion. My only regret is not having more time to talk to everyone who attended. As many of you may have already known, I would always try to tailgate during the home football games. This eventually grew into an unofficial mini-reunion for at least one game each year. Just several weeks before the reunion, I moved on Post and am renting a house next to the football stadium. The address is 501 Brooke Lane, Lexington, VA 24450. So, Goggle it, if need be. I will not be tailgating in the future but instead have moved the festivities to the front porch. As always in the past with tailgating, I extend an open invitation to any

BRs and their families to come to the house on game day. The house is located on the scoreboard side of the stadium, just behind Kilbourne Hall. We have a great view from the porch and plenty of toys to keep the kids busy in the yard. If any BRs visit VMI anytime, just e-mail me or call me at 540/463-7576. My number is also in the phone book. Below I have included the class notes provided to me before the reunion. As for the reunion, I could not begin to record all the details and names to do everyone justice for their efforts and support. I would just like to thank everyone for coming and having a great time. I especially want to thank BRs Matt Eads, Dan Crawford, Mike Wallace, Lincoln Swineford, Tom Kent, Charles Leggett, Matt Williams, Sills O’Keefe, Bill Cox and Sean Farley for their help in organizing the events, helping me collect information or just herding the cats to make sure everyone had a great time. I am sure I failed to mention several BRs due to still coming out of the decompression chamber. I will blame any details I forgot on Matt Eads and Sean Farley, due to their part in organizing the bar on Friday and Saturday nights. But to those I failed to mention, thank you all. All the news is below: Charles Leggett is still deployed, and I have a reunion shirt and package going out before Thanksgiving. Charles and his staff did a lot of work to help serviceman send CDs back home to their children. The work was featured on CNN, and an article about it appears in the OEF/OIF section of this Review. I also asked Charles for some brief words to share about Tom Miller at the memorial service the class attended on 5 Oct. I had a hard time reading it all due to the emotion of the event but wanted to repeat Charles’ words: “Thanks for asking for some thoughts on Tom. The thing I remember most about Tom is that he never did anything by half. Everything he set his mind to do, he did it at 120%. Whether that was covert night ops during our Rat year with Vic Tran and myself or rappelling from the W&L bridge at 0200 with Dave Timma; joining the VMI Rangers – everything he did, he put everything he had into it. After his brother, Patrick, had already served one tour in Iraq and his sister had been mobilized to serve in the treatment facilities around Washington, Tom felt wholeheartedly that it was his duty to serve. When he found out that no Michigan National Guard unit was deploying, he volunteered to go with a Mississippi unit and put his infantry training to use, helping to shape the Iraqi National Guard around Iskandariyah. Even in his death, Tom taught his soldiers that greater love has no one, than to lay down their life for their friends. Tom was my co-dyke, my roommate, my Brother Rat. I stood as his Best Man in 1993 when he was mar-

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Class of 1993 1

Fall 2008 Reunion Snapshots 2

Photos on this page: Photo 1: Bill Cox and Tray Petty. Photo 2: Sean Fisher and Ken Feeley. Photo 3: Matt Gill and Lincoln Swineford. Photo 4: Vic Kane, Matt Williams, Kevin Roop and Taylor Chance. Photo 5: Marron Hak and Phay Xayavong. Photo 6: Kirby Smeltzer, Sean Farley, Lou Petrillo and Bill Cox. Photo 7: Paul Meadows, Lou Petrillo and Mitch Copenhaver. Photo 8: Phay Xayavong and Jim Richards. Photo 9: Andy Joyner, Kirby Smeltzer, Tray Petty and Paul Ackerman. Photo 10: Darin Ramsey, Mike Howard, Joe Moxley and Lincoln Swineford.

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Row 1: Joe Aldrich, Paul Ackerman, Brian Cox, Matt Gill, Tony Scales, Kevin Lloyd, Hans Pauley, Thomas Michalow, Scott Eanes, Sills O’Keefe, Guy Berry, Lincoln Swineford and Kevin Roop. Row 2: Bob Matson, Richard Goodman II, Maximillian Swoboda IV, Vic Tran, Kevin Morris, Darin Ramsey, Richard Barnes, John Perry, Dan Crawford, Benjamin Lilly, Matt Eads and Harry Oldfield. Row 3: Steve Thrasher, Ken Feeley, David Hoy, John Morbitzer, Rusty Smith, Mike Howard, Mitch Copenhaver, Bill Cox and Lou Petrillo. Row 4: Lorenzo Carpenter, Dale Johnson, John Harper, Craig Eubank, Rod Turbak, Jason Denham, Matt Williams, Casey Cox, Don Spears and Tim Ervin. Row 5: Thomas Nelson, David Hurst, Tom Kent, Patrick Thompson, Rich Nevitt, Michael Zamalis, Kevin Morello, Steve Grim, Andrew Joyner and Eric Plogger. Row 6: Keith McGee, Sean Fisher, Kevin Barnes, Michael Wallace, John Barefoot, Mike Tuck, Tray Petty, David Youngclaus, Paul Meadows and Joe Moxley.

CLASS NOTES

15th Reunion — Oct. 3-4, 2008

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CLASS NOTES ried. I traveled to Michigan in 2005 when he was laid to rest. I will never forget his charm, his wit, nor his never-say-die attitude toward everything. He will always be deeply missed and forever remembered. It is said that all the dark in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle. The light of our fallen Brothers, Tom and Paul, will shine in our hearts and lives forever.” Charles’ address is CPT Leggett, HHC / 168th BSB, Camp Liberty, APO AE 09344. Phillip Walker could not make the reunion, but his wife, Kristen, let me know that Phil was “in the bush doing peace keeping missions in the northern part of Uganda. He seems to enjoy this type of work much more than sitting at a desk at the Pentagon all day. He is driven in an open-top truck with guards who drive facing out, holding guns, ready to shoot. He says it is a very peaceful country, and the folks are nice, though. I think he is just trying to keep his wife from panicking. He is supposed to be home no later than the end of February 2009.” Phillip’s forwarding address is: LCDR Phillip Walker, CJTF-HOA, 2190 Kampala Place, Dulles, VA 20189-2190. Chris Kemper could not make the reunion due to some last minute changes. “On 10 Sept., I transitioned to an AGR position within the state of Georgia. I am going to take command of a recruiting task force for the state and will not be able to come since the change of command is 28 Sept.” I think Chris mentioned this position is for 12-18 months, and the other big news is Mollie is pregnant with their second child. Chris was disappointed he would miss the plaque dedication. Chris’ brigade was in the area just north of where Tom was when he was killed while assigned to 155 BCT from Mississippi. Lora Devarona e-mailed me some new news: “Just wanted to say hello and give you an update on the DeVaronas. First a HUGE thank you for all for your prayers and support. Alex has been home for five months – can you believe how time flies – and we have really enjoyed our time together. The boys are doing great! Eliot’s baseball season is over; it is always bittersweet, as much as we love it, we have really enjoyed our time at home, regrouping in our family weekend routine. … We love our Friday night/movie night. Grant is excited about school and absolutely loves 2nd grade and will start swimming in a few weeks; he wants to join a swim team. Take care, and we will be in touch soon. We are going to taking some trips this fall. So, hopefully, we will get around to seeing most everyone.” The Perry family moved to Tennessee. John and Adele Perry are now only a half-day away from VMI. So, the Ackerman family is looking forward to more visits from the Perry family.

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The Vincis have also moved from Key West to Virginia Beach. As for the Ackermans, we are still doing well in Lex Vegas. I am still working in facilities but get to teach surveying lab and will be teaching construction management. We get to see Van and Maury Hardenbergh in town. Van’s law office is one-half a block off Main Street. When you come into Lexington via Rte 60, look to your right as soon as you pass the new courthouse. We also get to see Mitch and Joy Copenhaver often. Mitch usually comes over the mountain and has box seats on the Ackerman porch. So, please come and join us. Harold and Amy Stills ’92 make it to several games. The Stills are expecting their third child. So far, the class of ’96 has found where I live, and Jason and Leah Lantz ’96, Bill Stearman ’96 and Jim Tinguely ’96 have all visited. I need some BRs to show up before I get strained in front of my kids. I had to work a lot during the last football game due to VP Cheney’s visit. It was well worth the lack of sleep. I was up early in the morning with the all the setups, security sweeps, parking issues, etc., and I bumped into to Neil Hennigan ’92 guarding the VP’s podium. Neil and I got to catch up, and he came over to the house after the VP left. We enjoyed laughing about some stories of Neil’s great foot speed and me unknowingly acting as a great Neil look-a-like. Neil is working in the Pittsburg office for the Secret Service. Neil said he thinks Eric Eversole now works the manpower assignments for the Secret Service and may be the reason why Neil got to come back and visit. Thanks, again, for all your support and I look forward to many future visits. In the Spirit … Paul

’94

Christopher L. Doyle

We are less than a year away from our 15th Reunion. We will meet up in Lexington on 4-5 Nov. If you are in regular contact with any BRs, please ensure they are aware of the dates. I look forward to seeing you all there. Chris Demetriades is in Iraq for his fourth time. He is the commanding officer of Tango Battery, 2nd Battalion 10th Marine Regiment. He is very excited and proud to be there. This is his fifth deployment (4 to Iraq, 1 to Africa) since 2003. Curt Crowder and his son, Ray, recently spent the weekend in Lexington with Chris Coolidge and his son, Brodie. They ran into John Campbell and ended up going back to his

house for dinner. John and his wife, Pam, have a house under construction. They are building it out of an old 1800s barn. It has hand-hewn exposed beams throughout and incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountains! Curt also reported that Steve and Elaine Ward were married on Oct. 18th. Steve and Elaine are both nurses at UVa. Curt and Steve have known each other since nursery school. Curt is particularly happy that Steve found a great woman to marry. Also in attendance at the wedding were Brian and Christine Froehlich (along with sons Baron and Cole), Mike Phelps, Rob and Katie Brumley, Paul Curley, Dan and Melanie Price, and Mike Nagao. This past September, Curt and his son went to Idaho to visit his sister, Cathy, and his former roommate/now brother-in-law, Mike Weaver. Mike and Cathy have been married a few years and now have two little ones, Riley and Ryan. Mike is an F-15 pilot in the Air Force, stationed in Mountain Home, ID. While there, Curt was able to attend the base air show. While the highlight of the show was the Blue Angels, Curt’s favorite was a downed pilot search and rescue demonstration that included F-15Cs, F-15Es, Apache helicopters and some other helicopters. Bill and Elizabeth Leighton (formerly Sweeney) and their four children Sariah, 13, William, 6, Chase, 3, and Samantha, 5 months, recently moved to Port St. Lucie, FL, after being in Orlando for almost eight years. Bill is working for Florida Builder Appliances. He manages two locations: West Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie. They are doing well but eventually hope to move back to Virginia to be closer to family and old friends. Eric Ensley is still in Lima, Peru. He started a job teaching 8th grade English and humanities at the American School of Lima. Eric said that Shogun visited VMI a few months ago. He is in the states for Air Command and Staff College. This past April, Scott Cole married Kate Lyons. The Coles are expecting their first child in May. Scott is working in Air Operations for United States Air Forces Central (AFCENT) at Shaw Air Force Base, SC. Scott received an e-mail from Glenn Light, who is stationed at Buckley Air National Guard Base in Colorado. Glen has two young boys. Jimmy and Tiffany Bratina sold their house in Missouri and are moving to Charlotte, NC. Geoff Voorhees is heading up the project that Jimmy is working on, so they see each other about once a month. Jimmy also recently had dinner with Mike Grippo. Please update me if you haven’t written to me in a while. Hope you had a great holiday season.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Rick Killmeyer

’95

Dan Williams

Shortly after I wrote the notes for submission in August, I received a phone call from Special Agent Sean Joseph Burke. Sean completed a three-month tour working with U.S. intelligence agencies and military in Afghanistan. He returned in January and then it was back to his old job finding bad guys in Chicago. By the time you read this, he and Erin will have had their third child. Three kids under three! Sean was back at the “I” in April for Brig. Gen. Mike Bozeman’s retirement and got a tour of the Third Barracks construction project by Dave Tillar. As I mentioned last time, Brian Kellner and his wife recently moved to the Chicago area, and the Burke family is looking forward to having dinner with the Kellners. I recently spoke with Ed Randall. Ed, Joy and the kids packed up in Houston, TX, and moved to Jackson, WY. The Randalls are getting settled into their new home and love living in the Grand Tetons! Lizann and I are looking forward to visiting the Randalls! I received an update from Billy Kelly. Billy and his wife, Rachel, have two boys, Kenan and Jack, and are living in Natick, MA. Billy was recently promoted to regional sales director at American United Life Insurance Company (AUL) where he was responsible for their retirement services sales in six New England states. Bill began his career at AUL in 1994 and has worked out of their Boston regional sales office since 1997. He was a six- year member of the “Society of 1877,” an elite group of AUL’s top sales professionals. Well done, Billy! Congratulations, and keep up the good work! I apologize for not including this important news in the last notes submission. Matt and Vicky Reiner had a baby girl. Emelyn Grace Reiner was born on Aug. 9th at 5:50 p.m. She weighs 7 lbs., 10 oz. and is 20 inches long. Both Vicky and Emelyn are doing great! Also, Matt reports that he met up with Thom Brashears, Chip Rex and Stu Mallory for a home football game this fall. For those who have not been back for a football game yet this year, you might recognize the stadium play call voice. It’s our very own Thom Brashears. Thom loves the new post and is looking to also support the baseball and basketball programs this year. Thom and Jill are also expecting their first child

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in the spring. According to Matt, he passed along a new parent perspective that the first couple of months is like long-term guard duty. More good news on the baby front: Matt and Jen Russell had a baby girl. Marion “Mimi” Russell was born 8 lbs. 8 ounces. Mom and daughter are well, and Matt says he has some pictures for the next Review. Also, I received a great update from Aaron Buss. He and his wife, Tara, moved to New Jersey about two years ago. They have two children: Jacob Reagan (provisionally appointed to VMI class of 2028), and they just welcomed Kennedy Lynn this past summer. Aaron started his own business called Creative Solutions Consulting. Despite the economy, his business is strong. Then, he and Tara found out that they are expecting twins in the summer of 2009. Wow! Three children under 1! Congratulations to the Reiner, Russell and Buss families! I had dinner with Jeff “squirrel boy” Wright a few weeks ago. We had a blast telling VMI war stories. Jeff lives about 20 miles north of Philadelphia and currently is employed by AMEC as an engineer and project manager. He and his wife, Michelle, are looking to buy a house soon. Jeff and I are planning on meeting up after the first of the year. Co-class agent Daniel Seymour Williams was on a trip to Fort Monmouth, NJ. He turned west instead of east off of Interstate 95 and dropped in on Ryan and Melissa Feeney and their twin daughters. The Feeney’s were taken by complete surprise, and all enjoyed catching up on new developments and the trauma (sleep deprivation, diet, etc.) of new kids. Dan also spoke with Rich Hauben who has taken a position at MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL. Rich was hand picked for his tour at SOCOM and loves his new house. Rich reports that the Haubens are doing well after a full family move. Dan and I received a note from Ben Bird. Major’s Ben and Amy Bird are stationed in Korea. Ben is the Operations Actions officer for the 8th Army in Korea. Not much to report, other than he and his family are doing well. BR Derek Secrist e-mailed Dan and me to say that his wife, Heather, had another baby. Sydney Elizabeth Secrist was born on Nov. 5th and weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz. All are doing well, and her brothers adore her. Finally, John Turner ’66 wrote a letter to his class to recognize Greg Wright and to encourage his BRs to contribute to Greg’s memorial fund: “Dear Brother Rats: “I am writing to you about a special young man I knew, who we lost too young. I had the honor of knowing Greg Wright, VMI class of 1995. He was my neighbor’s son, my friend and my son’s close friend. We watched him

grow up during his teenage years and enjoyed his contagious zest for life. I was surprised and proud when Greg announced that he was going to VMI. Since Greg was somewhat of a free spirit, I was not sure it was the right decision for him. Predictably, he struggled with the Ratline. Greg was not a star athlete or a dean’s list student, and he did not hold a high rank in the Corps. However, if cadets were ranked by the number of close loyal friends and for loyalty to VMI and his country, he would have ranked at the top of his class. He was the kind of person that you would have been proud to refer to as Brother Rat. “Upon graduation, Greg received his commission in the Marine Corps and served honorably with distinction. After his discharge, Greg led the security detail for Steve Case and his family. As the war on terror heated up, he felt a need to serve his country again and joined the CIA in their efforts in Iraq. The story of his last fight is not well known, but is in his father’s account which you can get from me. Greg died serving our country, as too many of our Brother Rats have done. He was a true citizen-soldier. “An endowed scholarship in Greg’s name has been established in the VMI Foundation, the Gregory R. Wright Jr. 1995 Memorial Scholarship. The first recipient is Cadet Elizabeth Dobbins ’10, an international studies major from New Jersey who is commissioning in the Marines Corps. Greg’s parents want to increase the scholarship’s endowment so that it provides enough annual support to fund a full scholarship. When you are planning your next gift to the VMI Foundation, I hope you will also consider adding a little more for this special fund, designating a portion of your gift in Greg’s name. This will ensure that other good men and women can continue to have the advantage of the unique education that only VMI can provide. This is a fitting memorial to a good alumnus who made the ultimate sacrifice. “Thank you for your consideration. Yours in ’66, John” I think we will agree that John’s letter is a fitting tribute for a great friend and BR. That’s it for now, keep the updates coming.

’96

Rusty McGuire

What a great and exciting time for VMI. Third Barracks was dedicated on Founders Day, and Christian Hoff, Turner Perrow and John Adams were present for the dedication. While the presidential election did not turn out how I wished, I am pleased to let you all

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CLASS NOTES know a third ran the block and drove four hours to vote. Imagine my surprise when I saw a cadet uniform walking into the polling place. Ann and I are pleased to announce the birth of our son, Joshua Lawrence McGuire, who was born on Sept. 25, 2008. He is named in honor of my Iraq battle buddy, Maj. Larry Bauguess who died on the field of honor. Recently, I heard from Smitty, aka Jason Smith, who told me that he is living in Wilmington, NC, with his wife, Tamara (’96 Mary Baldwin grad). They have a 5-year-old daughter, Vivian, 2-year-old daughter, Martha, and are expecting their first son, Tucker, soon. He is also an attorney (solo practitioner) focusing on tax and business law. (I know it seems like half of our class are attorneys.) Tamara is strictly a domestic law attorney. (She has her own firm.) Jason deployed with the Army Reserve (chemical officer) to Iraq from April 2003 to July 2004. Of course, he was handed around the theater to whoever needed base security or convoy security. When he got back, he got out after nine years (as a captain). They recently moved into their house they had built on 20 acres. So, between working, raising kids and tending to the acreage, they keep pretty busy. They talk with Jeremy Johnson periodically. He was up in DC when Jason last spoke with him (working for the government). Ben Venning wrote to say that all is well with him and his wife, Shelia, and daughter Jordan. He is finishing a tour on Capitol Hill in the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs and will soon head down to Little Creek, VA, for inspector-instructor duty and grad school in January. He often speaks with Barron Mills who is doing well and currently serving as the S-3 of the Weapons Field Training Battalion in Quantico. Ben told me that he had a chance run in with Scott Shropshire. He had been on his way home from DC, when he got a frantic call from his wife. His daughter had an unexpected allergic reaction and needed to get to a hospital. Traffic on I-95 was backed up with a VDOT repaving project, and he was doing his best to get home as fast as possible. That included driving on the shoulder to get to his exit. Out of nowhere, a VDOT truck stopped him. It was dark, but he could tell that driver was ready to kill whoever was driving on the shoulder of the road to get to a nearby exit. He then noticed that it was Scott and told him what was going on. To make a long story short, Scott helped Ben and his wife out in a big way that night. He called for an ambulance and took Ben to the hospital and back to his car, once everything settled down. Ben’s daughter quickly recovered that night and is doing fine. Ben said, “It’s always great to run into a well placed BR when you are in a pinch!!!” Ben said that his roommates, Holm Ankoma-

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Sey and Carlton Mason, are doing well also. Holm is currently working in Washington, DC, as a professional fitness trainer and is a great dad to his son, Najee. Carlton Mason is doing very well also and lives in Charlotte, NC, with his wife, Dawn, and daughter Savannah. Shannon Hume is at Quantico attending Marine Command and Staff. John Di Dio is attending a course at DIA with a follow-on ILE at Belvoir. Brad Reese ’95 and Brad Wineman ’99 are at Quantico, as well. Shannon should PCS this summer, unless he is picked up for SAW, which is the Marine version of SAMS. Chris Powell is living in DC with the family. His wife’s got a reasonably recession-proof job in IT, and he is back to work for Uncle Sam – right where he belongs. The civilian thing just didn’t work out at all, and he said he is “guilty of realizing almost too late – as I see once in a while in the Alumni Review – that a lot of what we learned at school gets stuck in our heads and doesn’t go away; it just takes separating from the service to drive the knowledge home. You miss it, and just making a buck doesn’t do the job. So, I was fortunate, with a lead from a Citadel buddy, no less, and am back doing my little bit for the country and all.” He bunked over at Mike Reed’s for a few months in the beginning while he sold his house in GA. Chris said, “Patience is a Mike Reed virtue, and it was a good way to start the next chapter – especially when you can drink beer with your buddies and not get in trouble.” Chris ran into Tom Bello – one of his Rat roommates – in D.C. and said he’s doing great. Tom has earned a few parts as an extra in a few films we’ve all seen and decided after a while he needed to do his bit, too. (Sound familiar?) Chris was happy to send in a picture with his roommates, Mark Townsend and Jay Stutts, from the day before graduation. Now weighing in with a combined five kids total, 16 aggregate years or so of follow-on education and – unfortunately – a few hairs back. Dave Tran told me that he and Jeni welcomed their third daughter. Reilly Mary-Ayleen Tran was born on Oct. 29 at 8:23 a.m. She weighed 6 lbs. 2oz. and was 19 inches long. Reilly joins big sisters Brittanie and Brianna. Chris Kavanaugh told me that he is taking his last R&R with KBR for this go-around by looking for apartments in Berlin, Germany, for school next year. He plans to leave Afghanistan in early December to come home for Christmas and then head to Berlin for a certified brewmaster course with the Versuchs and Lehranstalt fuer Brauerei, a school and research institute for the brewing industry in Germany. (www.vlb-berlin.org). The course will be five months in Berlin for classroom instruction and then a three-month internship with a small brewery on the island

of Bornholm, Denmark. That should last until around September/October 2009. After that he said he “may get back with KBR or may take a break from world travel to actually come home for a bit ... still trying to figure that one out.” Karl Renne said that he and his wife, Jennifer, had their first child in March 2008. Kira is 7 months old and doing well. They are preparing to move overseas to Africa next summer, as well. His wife is a foreign service officer with the State Department and has convinced him to leave DoD and work for State. They will be moving to west Africa for a few years. He is learning French so he can speak the local language in many west African countries. Spike Solovey is in Command and General Staff College with BR Ryan O’Connor, Ralph Ragosta ’95, Mike Peacock ’94, Bill Percival ’95. Spike is working on his master’s in military art and recently submitted the watercolor titled “Brotherhood” to the U.S. Postmaster General for consideration to become an official U.S. stamp. He completed “Brotherhood” in 2007 in Bagram, Afghanistan. Additionally, he is working on seven future, official U.S. Army recruiting posters. Thanks … Rusty

’97

John Duckworth

Gentlemen: I hope you and your families have been well the last few months. We certainly do live in interesting times. Dave and Sara Short are still in Utah. Dave is still on active duty but Sara separated to be a full time mom. Billy Edmunds just got back from Afghanistan and is glad he joined the Air Force. He has moved all the way from Eglin to Tyndall and took command of a detachment there. His family is enjoying it, and the kids are happy to still be around the beach. Billy reports that B.J. Grinage has plans to get re-married next year. Brett Thompson is still living in Virginia Beach with his wife, Tiffany, daughter Briana and son Brock. Brock is one year old. Brett is still practicing real estate and corporate law in Norfolk and teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to the SEAL teams there. Jim Rodgers is living in Murfreesboro, TN. Though he’s theoretically an IT consultant, the National Guard (he joined back in 2003) takes up most of his time. He transferred over from Armor, finished the MP Captains Career Course a few months ago and just took command of an MP company. Jim will be heading out later this month to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Jim reports that he saw Jamie Jeter, Oliver Johnson, Andy Clark and some others at Jeremy King’s wedding. He also spent a couple of months back at “The I” coaching swimming last year. Jason Middough was just named to the board of Northern Virginia Community College. Stock Dinsmore wrote in for the first time since graduation. He has moved around the Tidewater, VA, area about six times since we graduated and currently lives in the Pungo area of Virginia Beach with his wife, Amy, and two daughters, Kaylin and Holly. He is still working for the Navy as a (civilian) construction management supervisor. His team handles all renovation and construction work on the waterfront side of the Norfolk Naval Station. There are a lot of alumni in his organization, with four in his office alone, so there is usually some VMI story being told, at least weekly. Stock is also still in the Air Force National Guard in Virginia Beach, 203rd Red Horse. He was deployed once in 2003 and again in 2006. He had just been mobilized when he came to the 5-year reunion and not long returned before the 10-year.

Stock went to see Allen Williams about a month ago. Allen is now a sergeant with the Virginia State Police and is living in Smithfield with his wife, Lourie, and daughter Kate. Ed Ramatowski has been with the Missouri Air National Guard as a chaplain for over a year now. He was given a direct commission as a first lieutenant and is being promoted to captain. He is still teaching at Rosati-Kain High School and just recently finished being “Daddy Warbucks” in the musical “Annie.” He said it was a lot of fun. Ed is also still serving as a chaplain to both St. Louis County and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments. David Zirkle is still living in Charlottesville. His sister is taking care of his daughter full time while he teaches at her alma mater, Randolph Macon Woman’s College, where it looks like he’ll be teaching for the next couple of years. Steve Strachan thinks that if I don’t get enough submissions for the class notes, I should start making stories up and let you all guess which ones are real. Mike Belenky is happy to announce that his

wife, Blythe, is four months pregnant with their third child, and they are expecting a son! They are still living in Raleigh, NC. Mike will graduate next May with a master of health administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They don’t know where they will be assigned next but are hoping for either Fort Bragg or Fort Campbell. Chris Strock is at Virginia Tech working on his Ph.D. Chris says that Tim Moore is still there, as well. They both recently passed their preliminary exams making them official “Ph.D. Candidates.” As a general note, Chris says that we have a solid group of young alums in several programs there and that he and Tim recently made a presentation to the first class civil engineering cadets. “These young men and women are extremely bright and talented, and it is good to see such great people representing the I”. Chris has been busy away from school, as well. In spring 2008, he was awarded the “Outstanding Graduate Service Award” VT for his volunteer work in Haiti, Nigeria and Belize. Joe and Erin Kmiecinski are still doing great,

Class of 1997

Family Photos Photos clockwise from top left: George Edwin Gaulding III and IV. Jared Wood’s new arrival, Elizabeth, and her big sister, Isabella. Will Tong, his wife, Shannon, and daughter Paige on a recent trip to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Makayla Keslick in her Halloween costume. Matt Spencer’s daughters, Cassidy and Campbell.

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CLASS NOTES Class of 1997: Then-Captains Donnie Hasseltine, left, and Jon Riggs, right, after returning from a firefight on March 13, 2007, in Zaidon, Iraq. Hasseltine and Riggs spent the last two years serving as rifle company commanders in 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines in 29 Palms, California. Through two deployments in Iraq, they commanded Fox and Echo Companies, respectively, in 2/7. Both were awarded the Bronze Star. Hasseltine is currently serving as the commanding officer of Marine Corps Recruiting Station Albuquerque, and Riggs is currently serving as the inspector and instructor for Company E, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines. They were promoted to the rank of major on 1 July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, respectively. living in Warrenton, VA. Erin is teaching at Osborn High School in Manassas. Joe’s team did the renovation work on the outside of the Supreme Court building last summer, and he is currently working at the Chevy Chase Club in Chevy Chase, MD. Matt Spencer and his wife, Jennifer, are adjusting to life with a new baby. Campbell Elisabeth was born on June 6, 2008. Jennifer wasn’t able to attend our 10-year reunion last October but surprised Joe with news of the pregnancy when he got home that Sunday. Win Gaulding’s wife, Stacey, is 5-1/2 months pregnant with their second son and due March 1st. Win is still with Northrop Grumman on contract to DOE in the CIO’s office. Stacey is still practicing law part time (business planning and estate planning.) Win has been traveling a lot recently with work. He’s been in Las Vegas a few times and tried to link up with Taylor Edwards but hasn’t been able to find him. Win was back in Texas in September and saw Chad Neely. Chad’s doing great ... still climbing mountains every couple of years. He’s going for the “7 summits” (highest peak on each continent). He’s done Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt. Aconcagua in South America and Mt. Elbrus in Russia (his most recent climb). Looks like Mt. Vinson in Antarctica is next. Chad lives in Austin but travels a lot for a new company that he started. Win talked to Tony Spevak the other day. All is well with him, too. He’s still in northern Virginia and just ran the Marine Corps Marathon. Stephen Cengeri started working on a master’s at Columbia International University. The program is for a seminary degree for the advancement of ministry. He and his wife still live near Detroit, MI, where they are beginning to establish a restoration ministry. Eventually, he will quit his job with the government and do that full time. His brother Ryan ’00 is deployed now with the Army, even though he is in the Air Force, supporting the Rangers at Benning. Stephen reports that Eric Patterson recently had his second little girl. I’ve seen Joe Klapatch a few times over the fall. He has little new news. Last weekend, he was in New Orleans at Donnie Hasseltine’s parents’ house and reports that they are doing well. Joe recently played in the VMI Alumni Hockey Game in Lynchburg. Will Tong wrote me a note to say that he has

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been keeping in touch with several BRs through “Facebook,” which I have also recently discovered. Take a look, if you haven’t yet. It’s a great way to keep tabs on your friends, and we even have a VMI Class of 1997 group. Keith Peterson sent me a Founders Day greeting to let me know that its duck hunting season and that he’ll be chasing ducks all over Texas until Jan. 25th. Happy hunting, Keith. Ed Bonham was promoted to lieutenant in his fire company recently. Ed will also be on the staff of the 2009 Virginia Fire Officers Academy. Jared Wood is still serving as reverend for two Methodist churches in Elizabethton, TN. He and his wife, Tanya, welcomed their newest addition, Elisabeth, on Aug. 14th. Paul Bickford’s wife delivered their new baby girl, Cecilia Grace, on Nov. 9th at 8:01a.m. On a sadder note, Cliff Shifflet’s “Uncle Bill” Parkins recently wrote in to say that he has been diagnosed with cancer. He has been undergoing treatment at UVa and seems very upbeat and optimistic about his prognosis. Scott McCormick, Oliver Johnson, Brad Pickelsimer, Steve Strain, Greg Reynolds, Addison Hagan and Andy Clark took a road trip up to New York to see the last game between the Boston Red Sox and the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Much to their chagrin, the Sox lost, but it was still a fabulous time. They stayed the first night in the home of Greg Reynolds who demonstrated his skills on the grill by serving up a fantastic meal. The next day, they hopped the train into the city. It was a weekend of baseball, sight seeing, good food, good Irish music, good beer and good friends. My former roommate, Mike Renn, recently made the 24-hour flight back to Virginia from New Zealand for his mother’s funeral. Brian Keslick and I drove down to Petersburg to be with him for the weekend. Brian and his wife, Christy, are still living outside West Chester, PA, where Brian has been named the head of the History Department at CFS, The School at Church Farm. I had a long chat with Donnie Hasseltine recently, as well. Donnie is adjusting well to life as a Marine recruiter in the Midwest. He surprised me with news that both he and Jon Riggs were decorated with Bronze Stars for their achievements in connection with combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom. That’s all I have for this edition. Please continue

to write and keep in touch. Stay Safe. In the Bonds … John

’98

Hamel Reinmiller

GREAT JOB, CLASS OF 1998!!! It was an unprecedented 10-year Reunion at VMI. The class of 1998 delivered the highest attendance, highest dollars and almost the highest participation percentage in history. The check we presented on Saturday morning for $367,331.98 was the largest in the history of 10-year Reunions at VMI. Thank you so much for your support. I hope that each of you enjoyed the weekend as much as I did. Catching up with each of you was so rewarding for me personally, and as your class agent, it was great to see that lasting VMI bond in action. I would like to personally thank each of you for coming back for the reunion and giving so generously. I encourage each of you to look at the contact information in the back of the Reunion Book you received at registration

Class of 1998: Jason Mitchell and his two new twin boys.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES 1

Class of 1998 6

7 3

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2009-Issue 1

Photo 1: The Baumgardners, the Pembrookes, Paul Moosman, Emily Bertsch, Matt Bertsch and Chris Craft. Photo 2: James Blandford, Kris Dietrich, Tim Berry, Avi Hopkins and Nick Wilk, all holding Dave Nash. Photo 3: Todd Boykin, Mike Lorence, Matt Bertch, Hamel Reinmiller and Matt Baldwin. Photo 4: Jimmy Duncan, John Cocke and David Bates enjoyed the class dinner with Brother Rats and wives. Photo 5: Kelly Cooke, Avi Hopkins, Andre Thornton, Mike Rogers and Al Lester with dates. Photo 6: Steve Nichols, Lee Guill (Mad Texan), Marc Schweigert and John Greaf. Photo 7: Todd Boykin, Hamel Reinmiller, Kevin Thomas and Matt Baldwin. Photo8: Mike Lorence (RFC chairman), Jeff Taylor (REC co-chairman), Hamel Reinmiller (class agent) and Gardner Mundy (RAC co-chairman).

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Row 1: Brian Lyerly, Carl Hallen, Derek Poore, Russ Sweitzer, Joe Sieler, Michael Upshaw, Stephen Schwanke, David Bates, John Cocke IV, Mike Lorence, Jason Fye, David Nash, Rob McGrath, Marc Schweigert, Dan Dunn and Jeff Meade. Row 2: Dave Killian, Brian Kurtz, Eric Smith, Tom Barnhill, Paul Balassa, Mike Kelleher, Hamel Reinmiller, Dan Gibson, Jim Duncan, Alex Blanton, Mike Bauman, Brad Vier, Mike Gorman, Jimmy Epps, Robert Bopp, Steve Nichols and Tony Ezell. Row 3: Aaron Sims, Matt Baldwin, Sean Williams, Bill Beard, Tyler Shelbert, Jimmy Stanley, Brian Bowes, Kevin Thomas, Keith Lawhorn, Matt Bertsch and Langston White. Row 4: Paul Sakellariou, Todd Boykin, Greg Ellen, Brook Barbour, Kwabena Gyimah, Ernesto Sampson, Mathew Guise, Christian Craft, Neal Salmen and Michael Rogers. Row 5: James Blanford, Todd Cooke, Gardner Mundy, Brad Cooke, Demetri Poulos, Tom Warburton, Michael Runyan and Avi Hopkins. Row 6: Patrick Roberts, Brian Culver, Timothy Berry, Kris Dietrich, Paul Moosman and Jeff Taylor. Row 7: Jesse Holmes, William Stann, Edward Allen, Cesar Perez, John Dewey, Howie Lowden, Michael Harris, Ben Schultz, Charles Houk and Chad Flansburg. Row 8: Jason Dickerson, Mark Cox, Dennis Claytor, Tom Wirth, Bobby Heely, Torrence Rogers, Joshua Metcalf, Pete Pembrooke, Mike Baumgardner, J.P. Morris, Dale Paxton and Sean Hicklin. Row 9: Al Lester, Jordan Clark, Simon Macioch, Jimmy Peay, Aaron Edmonson, Dave Benedick, Joey Bates, John Strock, Daniel Smith and Andre Thornton.

CLASS NOTES

10th Reunion â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Oct. 3-4, 2008

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES on Friday night. If you notice that your contact information is out of date, PLEASE take the time to update your profile on the VMI Ranks at www.vmialumni.edu, and check out our class Web page. It is through this Web site and the contact information in that database that I am able to get updates to everyone on the details of coming events for our class. There is also a tutorial on how to do this in your Reunion Book. If you did not receive a Reunion Book or would like another one sent to you, please let me know. I have some extras. We have set up a VMI Class of 1998 Endowed Scholarship Fund that will be available to anyone who wishes to contribute to it, and it has received over 70K in pledges and contributions so far. Just so that everyone is aware, the fundraising campaign technically ended on Dec. 31, 2008. I hope you were able to contribute something (ANYTHING) before the end of the year, so that we could surpass the participation percentage record, which is the only one we narrowly missed. If any of you would like to serve on the VMI Class of 1998 Scholarship Committee, please let me or Todd Boykin know. For those of you who have not had a chance to heckle Mr. Pat Roberts, please take the time to do so. Back in June 2008, Pat was appointed as the deputy city manager for Suffolk Virginia and slowly began his takeover of Virginia!! He and his lovely wife, Kate, along with their two girls are doing well settling in Suffolk. In the spirit of wives toddling on their husbands, it appears that Chad Flansburg was selected by a panel of judges at the Daily Record as one of western New York’s ninth annual “Up & Coming Attorneys.” I would also like to recognize Chad and his wife, Chrissy, as “Up & Coming Reunion Organizers” following their stellar performance at our 10th Reunion in October. Thanks for all of your help! When we saw Bobby Heely and his lovely bride, Johanna, at the reunion, they had celebrated their first anniversary in February. Bobby informed me that he is still in the Navy

Class of 1998: Dave Killian delivered a moving memory of Ryan K. Betton during the Plaque Dedication Ceremony.

2009-Issue 1

and serving as the chief engineer on the U.S.S. Lake Champlain, and he’s looking forward to seeing anyone who is passing through San Diego! He also updated us on Max Krumpe who wrote recently to say that Krumpe’s Donuts was recognized as one of the top donut shops in the country by virtue of making the “Baker’s Dozen List.” Max lives in Hagerstown, MD, with his wife, Amy, and their two children. Furthermore, Bobby passed along that Mike Violette and wife Courtney recently added Maryellen Elisabeth into their family, and brother Charlie is stepping up to his role quite nicely. The Violettes live in Jacksonville, FL, where Mike is still in the Navy. Although Maj. Brett McGinley was unable to make the reunion, he wrote in to alert us all that he is living the dream in Southern California at Camp Pendleton. Brett is serving as the operations officer of an infantry battalion and will deploy again in early 2009. Brett and his wife, Nicole, are expecting their first child soon. Brett, you were missed at the reunion, and the class sends their regards and best wishes for a healthy delivery and a safe return. Keep us posted! Speaking of childbirth, Jason Mitchell was also unable to make the reunion due to his recent return from Iraq which came just days before the birth of his identical twin boys. Congratulations, Monk! We all look forward to seeing you at the 15th. I also heard from Tim Obryant who has relocated from southern Georgia, where he has been stationed with the 3rd ID since 2004, up to Alexandria, VA, for his next assignment at the Pentagon. Tim married Morgan Gallo in May 2007. He also enlightened us that Ed Allen, the chairman of our golf course etiquette committee, is “toiling” away for the Army down at Fort Monroe. It was great to see Ed and Greg back to their old antics on the golf course during the reunion. Since the reunion, I have heard from Mat Staton, Chuck Fullam, Dennis Claytor, Kris Dietrich, Joe Seiler, Brendan Toolan, Eddie Hidalgo, Ben Schultz, Russ Sweitzer, Marc Clemente, Nick Wilk, Jason Fye, John Morgan, Nate Stoehr, Andy Beaman, Jason Doucette, Brian Bowes, Neal Salmen, Travers Clemons and dozens of others commenting on the reunion, and it sounds as though everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. I would like to thank those of you who came out to our first annual Ryan K. Betton Charity Golf Outing. A day on the course with the “Mad Texan” is always a priceless memory. Pictures from the reunion are on our class Web page and can be viewed through the www.vmialumni.org Web site. It is so important that each of you update your contact information regularly on this Web site, so that I can reach everyone with updates on our class. I think that is all for now. Through the

planning of our reunion, I have been in touch with so many of our BRs that I am hoping and praying I didn’t leave anyone out. If I did, please forgive me, and re-send an update, so that I can include it the next edition of our class notes. Thanks to everyone who has gotten in touch with me to provide an update on their lives. I hope that each of you has a chance to update your contact info on the alumni Web site at www.vmialumni.org, and I look forward to seeing you all soon. In the bonds … Hamel B. Reinmiller

’99

Brad Wineman

Greetings, all. Hope all of you had a good autumn. I am still adjusting to my new situation here in northern Virginia, working in Quantico. I owe a great deal of thanks to Jochen Dunville and Jason Berg for helping me get settled in. I am looking forward to getting back in touch with everyone who is living in this area. The Admiral Troy Denison reported in from his station in Norfolk where he is the operations officer on U.S.S. Normandy (CG 60). He is still married to Rachel and has a three-year-old son. He also was promoted to O-4 and completed a NATO deployment recently and went to Greece, Turkey, Seychelles-Africa and “some other places.” Also stateside is Dale Durlach who is working Navy intelligence at the Pentagon. He and his wife are expecting their first child (a boy) in March. Carl Trask sent a nice note from Kailua, HI. He is finishing his last year as the weapons officer on the U.S.S. Cheyenne and just finished a WESTPAC deployment, and wife Amy is finishing law school at the University of Hawaii. Both are enjoying the sunny climate with their three-year-old daughter, Grace. And finally a naval officer posing as a land-lubber is John Holmes. John is now deployed to Camp Victory in Iraq, serving as an economics officer for Iraqi reconstruction projects. In other naval service news, I have a handful of Marine updates. I heard from Eric Marshall who is finally back stateside with his family at Camp Pendleton after multiple deployments. He lives just down the road from Cliff Ford who, he reports, is doing just fine. And finally, the Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps Reserve, Sgt. Jay Witt, is preparing to deploy with the engineers from Lynchburg. Leaving the Marines, unfortunately, is John Bolt who is now working sales in Los Angeles with his wife, Sacha, and doing his best as a blue-blood New Englander to adapt to the West Coast. Eric East checked in from the newly renovat-

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CLASS NOTES ed confines of Kilbourne Hall as he continues his tour for Army ROTC at the Institute. Also on a similar tour at the VMI of the North, Mike McDermott is continuing as a tactical officer at West Point where he allegedly had a Seamus Toolan sighting but gave no details. Out at Fort Campbell, Barry Williams is preparing for another Iraq deployment. He and Fatina just welcomed their second child, Morgan, into the world on 9 Sept. And from the Air Force, I got a quick note from Charles Faulkner who proudly announced the arrival of son Charles Stephen the Fifth on 30 Sept. Charles will be reporting to AFSOC sometime in February. Got a good update from Bill Steinbach who is still in northern Virginia. Bill says he sees Tom Hanifen on a semi-regular basis. He is still E Company (Honor Guard) commander for the 3rd U.S. Infantry (Old Guard) at Fort Meyer. He is due to leave there in February. Bill also says that Rob Hardee has enlisted in the Army Reserve and is in basic training as an MP at Fort Leonard Wood. Bill keeps in regular phone contact with Jake Abell and Jake Britt, as well. They are both well but rather busy. Also keeping on the pulse of northern Virginia, I got a great update from Jason Trubenbach. Trube is working as a civilian for the Army at the Pentagon. He frequently runs into Patrick Forrest, Jeremy Obenchain and Jamie Campbell and keeps in contact with Randy Eads, Mike Wright, Alex Marrone and J.P. Pesare. Just down the road, I heard from Hunter Phelps. Skippy is still living in Alexandria, VA, working for the CFO at US DOT. He still keeps up with Lyle Camblos, Robin Huckaby and, of course, Jeff Snyder. Skippy apparently has grown both a gut and a bushy civilian beard, but I heard that from other sources (cough, McDermott …). In Richmond, I got an update from Chris Magee. He and Kim have now been married ten years. Powell Harrison’s clothing business continues to thrive in the city, as he splits time between work and his commitments as a thespian in the Richmond theatre scene. Wes Barrow checked in to say all is well with work and family. He actually got to return to VMI as a guest speaker to the EC/BU Department to discuss careers in public accounting and life after VMI. Wes keeps in close touch with Brannon Howle who is also living in Richmond. I heard from Roger Hart who just received a promotion to sales representative for Medtronic’s cardiac rhythm management division, where he sells implantable pacemakers and defibrillators. Also in Richmond, Will Romm sent me a note to report that he is managing his own homebuilding company. He and wife Holly welcomed a new daughter, Hallie,

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to the family in March. He keeps in touch with Jamie Meyer, who is doing well. He also reports that Will Sarsfield is living in the DC area doing medical sales, and Sager Marshall is still living it up in Orange County, CA. Outside of Virginia, I received an update from Pat Geoghegan. He and Virginia had planned on returning to the DC area, but plans fell through and instead they remain in the Detroit suburbs for now. Out in the desert, I finally heard from Kevin Azar who now owns his own business in Scottsdale, AZ, called Executive Command, a company providing advanced strategic business programs. I also received a call from Russ Roselle who is still up in the Philadelphia suburbs, but I was not able to call him back. Two final notes. First is the Lost Sheep winner for this edition of class notes. I received a detailed update from Kevin Duhaime. Kevin left VMI after Rat year but wanted to keep in touch with everyone. He is married with two kids in Greensboro, NC, and is coaching soccer on the side. Great to hear from you, Kevin. Please keep in touch. Lastly, I want to thank Matt Hart for this round of notes. Matt is a very busy man with the expansion and demands of his ministry here lately and has been dealing with great personal loss in his family. Regardless, he has spent countless hours keeping up the class “Facebook” page, tracking down lost BRs and keeping me up to date on folks he has found. We have nearly 100 BRs who are now connected through this page, and it is mostly through his work. Thanks, Matt, for everything. I hope you all take care and that I hear from more of you for the next set of class notes due in February!

’00

Christian Arllen

John Downs will finish his internal medicine residency at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI, in June 2009. After that, Uncle Sam will assign him as a unit medical officer somewhere in the Army. His wife, Jackie, is currently a graduate student in library science, and their daughter, Brigid, is two years old. John has run into a few BRs since arriving in Hawaii and reports that Jeff Rhodes is currently a battery commander in the 25th Infantry Division. Tony Cerella told John that Jeff found him in Iraq this past week. Tony is working on a MITT team in Tikrit, and his wife, Bethany, had twins recently. Luke Hale and his girlfriend joined John for

dinner earlier in the year. Luke has since moved to the DC area with the Army to get a master’s degree in military intelligence. John said, “Last week, I saw Jason Cole and his family at Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania. Jason just moved from Fort Lewis, WA, and is assigned to the Army ROTC detachment at VFMA, which is commanded by Lt. Col. Tertychny ’87. Lt. Col. Tertychny was assigned to the VMI Army ROTC detachment when we were cadets. I know many of the Army guys will remember him. Jason also reported that his brother, Justin, recently got out of the Army and has moved back to Virginia Beach to work as a Navy contractor in their anti-IED program. I actually ran into their younger brother, Army Specialist Josh Cole, while I was working at the Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany this past spring. Jason also said that Matt McKee and Ed Clarke are still in Special Forces at Fort Bragg, but he hasn’t heard from them in a while.” Colin Mahle is currently a general officer’s aide in the 4th Infantry Division after having recently completed an extended company command. He’s been talking about going to graduate school for history after this tour in Iraq is complete. The word on the street is that Colin is married now. Matt Vordermark is working for a building supply company in North Carolina. Micah North is still working in the avionics industry in Ohio and is apparently doing well. He and Nadia had a baby a few months ago. Nate Friedline is a neurosurgery resident at the University of Utah. Col. “Doc” Jones ’70 (chemistry professor) told John Downs that Ross Fuller has a thriving dental practice now in Williamsburg after fulfilling his Air Force obligation. Frank Jackson finished his last tour with the Army and transitioned to the civilian work force in Orlando, where he works for Johnson & Johnson. An alive or dead check smoked Joe Poppa out of hiding a few months back. He is alive and well out in Hawaii with the Army as a MX test pilot flying Kiowa Warriors. He and Shannon now have two children, Carsyn, 4, and Jake, 1. They are scheduled to transfer to Fort Riley before too long. He keeps in touch with Jimmy Sheldon and Jason Maslow who are also doing well. Jason Maslow is in the FBI, and his wife is expecting again. Lee and Jessica Nelson welcomed their new daughter, Linda Anne, into the family in late October. They are doing well in Raleigh, NC, where Lee recently changed jobs. Our daughter, Sydney, is now 10 weeks old and sleeping through the night; what a blessing. All is well in the Arllen household, though I am a bit slower in my e-mail responses these days.

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CLASS NOTES For some reason, playing with my daughter is just more fun than geeking out now. That is all for this round. Take care, gents … Christian

’01

Jason Whitaker

Martin, Drew Dickinson, Brian Ferguson, Adam Stanley-Smith, Brady Daniels, Jamie Dillon and Chris Copenhaver ’99 were all in attendance for the wedding at Jackson Memorial Hall. Following the wedding, everyone partied hard at the reception in Staunton at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel. In true Parker fashion, he and Jenni were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Reeves to the tune of the “Star Wars” theme song. John Parson and I are planning to go to the ACDC concert in Washington, DC, on Nov. 15, which should be an awesome experience. For more good news, our class continues to grow, as several classmates have had children or are expecting children in the coming months. Dan Schindler’s wife, Jessica, gave birth to their first child, Abigail

Fall has gone by quickly here in northern Virginia, but I was able to catch up with a lot of Brother Rats over the past few months. I was able to spend Labor Day weekend in Folly Beach, SC, during a gathering of the infamous Class of 2001: Ryan Cates and his New Barracks “DS-9000” which included son, Ryan, born Oct. 28, 2008. Fred Hair, Chris Simpson, Jim Bourie, Parker Reeves, Justin Harber, Josh Elizabeth Schindler, on Nov. 5, Berk and Nate Charles. We had 2008. Dave is happy to report a great time down there; nothing Abigail is doing well, and they like talking about VMI stories were able to bring her home on that just get better and better Nov. 8. Dan stated Ryan Cates each time you tell them. Needles and his wife, Becca, had a son, to say, our wives and girlfriends Ethan, born on Oct. 29, 2008. kept themselves occupied to Todd Anthony and his wife avoid hearing the stories again, have settled in Connecticut and and now can probably tell them are expecting to have a baby better than we can. In early girl in April. October, I traveled for work Mike Judge is currently to Cleveland, OH, where Nate serving in Iraq at Al-Asad Air lives, and he showed me around Base as the Headquarters and the city. In mid October, we all Services Company commander gathered again for Parker’s wedfor a security battalion. Mike ding to his wonderful fiancée Class of 2001: Kevin Fromm taking command of Charlie Bathas also run into Russ Savatt, and now wife, Jenni. In additery, 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery at Fort Bragg, North who’s the Headquarters and tion to the crew above, Adam Carolina. Services Company commander Belmont, John Mazur, Greg for the 1st Recon Battalion. Mike’s Battalion S-3 officer is Geoff Brooks ’92, and he has also seen Ron White ’00 and Melissa Ward ’03 who are both captains in the Marine Corps and are currently serving in Iraq. John Turner is in his second stint as a company commander at Fort Bragg, NC, and his wife, Michelle, is serving our nation as a nurse in Mosul, Iraq. Kevin Fromm took command on Oct. 2, 2008, of C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery at Fort Bragg, NC. Kevin stated John Turner and Brandon Bowman were present for the change of command. Kevin believes he will deploy again around late summer of 2009. Howie Cook is a warrant officer 1 and still in flight school at Fort Rucker, AL. God bless you all and your troops! Tom Sebrell was in England for Remembrance Day. For those who are not aware of this day in England, Tom explained it best by saying “on Class of 2001: At Songho Pak’s wedding reception in Richmond, Virginia, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, were, from left, Joe and Kelly Wunder, April Morgan, Andy Duncan, Songho the armistice was signed between the Allies and Pak, Janet Pak, Francis McCabe, Heidi Nagel ’02 and Dave Nagel. the Central Powers in 1918. Therefore, every 11

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CLASS NOTES Nov. since then has been used to celebrate Remembrance Day, and Americans should understand that both World Wars affected the British far more than the Americans (the U.S. entered both wars late). Britain was bombed during both World Wars (first one with zeppelins, the second one in “The Blitz,” which saw London bombed nightly for eight months with the exception of one night).” Tom planted two crosses in the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey – one for each side of his family who fought in the two great conflicts. Tom, we thank your family and all families whose loved ones served during those wars, which defeated evil and defended freedom and liberty. John Koubaroulis is working for the federal government. He enjoys living in Washington, DC, since moving back in 2007 after completing his active duty service in the U.S. Army. John and his wife, Eleni, celebrated their third wedding anniversary in July 2008 and planned a trip to Cancun over Thanksgiving to celebrate. Charlie Bunting reported that the Washington, DC, get-together in August at Buffalo Billiards was a great time and represented by several of our classmates. Charlie stated the group included Aaron Mitchell, Jack Dempsey, James Shircliffe, John Koubaroulis, Mike Gantert, Teray Frost, Aaron Yarbough, Natasha Miller, Nic Pomaro, Brian Frank and a few others. Charlie said they cheered on Michael Phelps and all our American Olympians and raised many a glass to our brothers and sisters from the class of 2001 serving overseas. Charlie wanted everyone to know that we will try to do this once a year for any and all who can make it. In personal news, Charlie is in Los Angeles with the Department of Defense working with the aerospace companies in El Segundo. Charlie invited any BRs living in or traveling to the area to contact him if they need a place to stay and/or have a couple of beers. Dave Russell is working on offshore oil and gas projects with KBR in Houston, Texas. Dave stated he was able to catch up with Wil Boulware who was going to be in Houston with the wife and twin baby girls. Justin Prior informed me he will begin a career in federal law enforcement in December 2008. Justin happily informed me that his wife will give birth to their second son in January 2009. Finally, I want to thank all of you for the increase in submissions, photos, wedding announcements, births, etc. You all should be proud of what you have accomplished and for what you will accomplish in the future. To ensure your great work and wonderful days of joy are shared with our class and the VMI community, I ask that you continue to update me with your e-mail addresses and please help me get the word out to others to update their mailing

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addresses with the Alumni Association online (www.vmialumni.org) via the VMI Ranks Web site or contacting the Alumni Association directly. I have had several class mailings and other VMI mail for classmates forwarded to me by the postal service because they were no longer residing at the address on record with the Alumni Association. I ask all classmates to update your profiles with the Alumni Association. Do this now so when important things are approaching like our 10-year reunion, we can ensure everyone knows about it and can make plans for it. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your class agent. May God bless our classmates and all members of the armed forces serving abroad. I hope you all had a joyous time during the holiday season and a Happy New Year as we enter 2009. Respectfully … Jason

’02

Salmaan Khawaja

Brother Rats, I hope that this edition of the Alumni Review finds you and yours well as we enter into the new year. For those of you who have not visited Lexington lately, VMI posted the first cadet guards of the newly opened Third Barracks on Founder’s Day. The Third Barracks is an interesting combination of cadet rooms as well as houses what used to be contained within Lejeune Hall. I recently visited Post and remain amazed at the progress of all the construction and watching General Peay’s Vision 2039 come to fruition. With regard to class notes, I have the pleasure of providing you with some wonderful news about some of our brother rats as well as the sad duty to report the unfortunate death of one of our BRs. I have had a difficult time determining where to begin regarding these notes, and I hope and trust that you all will agree to the order in which I present our BRs’ information in this edition of the Class Notes. With regard to wonderful news and new beginnings, James Richard Masters Burket, of Petersburg, Virginia was married to Miss Gilda Ramos Pagarigan of Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines on July 19, 2008, at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia. Father Adrian W. Harmening officiated their wedding. James and Gilda both work for Royal Caribbean International, where James works as chief security officer. Our best wishes to you both for a life together of happiness and joy! Wedding bells were also ringing again for Steve and Amanda Sessoms Ward, who renewed their vows and had a blessing of their marriage on June 28, 2008, in Wilmington,

NC. They were originally married on April 27, 2007, on Bald Head Island, NC, prior to Steve’s deployment to Afghanistan. Attending were Steve’s VMI roommates Joe Williams with wife Brianne and Jared Conrad, as well as Brother Rats Devon Miller, Dan George, Chris Donnelly with wife Joyce, and Nick Barcheski. Also attending was Steve’s Dyke Ian Bobbitt ’99, his wife, Lisa, and son Mitch, and “Parky” Parkman ’66, a former neighbor in Beverly, MA, with his wife, Mary Fran. Steve is now the executive officer of Delta Company, 97th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Spec. Ops at Fort Bragg, NC. He and Amanda just bought a house in Fayetteville, NC. Congratulations and best wishes to Steve and Amanda! I also happened upon Maj. Corey Stavinoha braving the long lines and rain at O-Dark-30 on Election Day. Corey reports that things are going well for him in Richmond and that he has been in contact with many VMI alums over the past few years. Jim Cowardin has returned safely from Iraq and is working hard in northern Virginia. Also, John Fuller wrote me to (1) razz me about pro bono dream analyses and (2) let me know that he’s started his postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. On July 12, 2008, Shawn Lacks married

Class of 2002: Steve and Amanda Ward renewed their vows and had a blessing upon their marriage in June 2008. In attendance from VMI were, row 1: Nick Barcheski, Amanda and Steve Ward, and Ian Bobbitt ’98. Row 2: “Parky” Parkman ’66, Chris Donnelly, Dan George, Jared Conrad, Devon Miller and Joe Williams.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Katherine Snyder at Sunset Beach Resort on the their memories of Matt, expressing deep sadWilliam Talley V Eastern Shore, Cape Charles, Virginia. Shawn ness about this unfortunate tragedy. Throughout and Kate reside in Virginia Beach, VA. all the messages were fond memories of Matt’s In attendance from the class of 2002 were Edwonderful sense of humor and the tremendous die Anderson, Joey Gibson, Joel Meeks, James value he placed in his friendships. Our deepest Howard and Abe Hughes. We wish Shawn and sympathies and condolences are with his family Phil Kerns Katherine a lifetime of happiness! during this difficult time. Among many of the Devon Miller wrote in to let me know that thoughtful e-mails and messages that I received after two years teaching through the VMI regarding the loss of Matt, I thought that Heidi program at the Chinese Military Academy on Mason’s idea of reprinting Matt’s first class enTaiwan, he attended the University of Kentucky try for the 2002 Bomb would be an appropriate where he earned a MA in national security in way of honoring him. I agreed with her idea and Greetings, Brother Rats! At the time of this December 2006. Since then, he’s been a defense leave you with the following, taken from Matt’s writing, the Dark Ages are upon us, and its analyst at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center. 2002 first flass Bomb entry: only two weeks before Thanksgiving. I hope Devon let me know that Mike all of you were able to get out Hughes ’08 just recently started and enjoy the fall season this work there also. On Oct. 4 ,2008, year. It was great catching up Devon married the former Whitney with everyone who was able to Elizabeth Havens in a wedding make it back to “Mother I” for attended by Magnus Nordenman, our 5-year reunion this past OcMr. and Mrs. Joe Williams, Mr. and tober. My hat is off to Brother Mrs. Steve Ward, Nick Barcheski Rats Bill Talley, Blake Traina, and Ryan Consaul ’04. The happy Andy Biesterveld, Kyle Haire, couple now resides in Alexandria, Doug Warner and anyone else VA, and they attended the most who put a lot of effort into the recent Institute Society Dinner and preparation and execution of the the dedication of Third Barracks. events – thank you! As far as I Congrats and best wishes to Devon could tell, the events went well; and Whitney! the flow of adult beverages was Alex Martin checked back in with steady and constant; and noone Class of 2002: Above: Katherine Snyder married Shawn me to let me know that he and Audra was arrested (to the best of my Lacks at the Sunset Beach Resort Eastern Shore in Cape are still in Minneapolis, MN. Alex knowledge). That being said, I Charles, Virginia. Below: At the wedding were, from left, stills enjoys working for Toll Brothhope many of you had the opseated, Joel Meeks, James Howard and Abe Hughes. ers, Inc. (residential luxury home portunity to walk/stagger/crawl Standing: Eddie Anderson, Shawn (groom) and Joey builder and developer) as the MN to Waffle-House, East-Lex, and/ Gibson. senior project manager overseeing the or Lee High Truckstop at some company’s operations in Minnesota. point during the weekend. To Alex also very kindly sent me some those of you who were unable to updates on other BRs as well. He attend, you missed a good time, let me know that Mike Escobar is but we hope you can make it to stationed in Oceana, VA, with the the next one. My only complaint Navy, and he is training to fly Super for the entire weekend was that Hornets. He and his wife, Christine, it went by too fast – there were had their first baby on 10/6/08. They so many people to catch up with had a baby boy that they named and not enough time for me to Austin. Congratulations, Mike and hang out as much as I would’ve Christine, and welcome to the VMI liked. family, baby Austin! As for myself, I’ve been quite Alex also let me know that on busy since the last edition of 9/13/08 Pat Khattak married his long our notes. Most importantly, time girl friend/fiancée, Samantha, I proposed to my beautiat VMI in JM Hall. Mike Escobar, ful girlfriend of two years, Kevin Zirkle and Alex were at the wedding. Pat Angee, on Labor Day weekend. I must be “It’s only when you lose everything can you works as an engineer for Proctor and Gamble in the luckiest man alive, because she said yes. gain anything. Albany, GA. Congratulations to Pat and SamanI knew she was a keeper after I told her all “Anytime you are faced with making a decitha, and best wishes from the class of 2002! of my VMI stories up front (yes, even the sion in life, know that the harder decision is As I mentioned earlier, it is my sad duty to bad ones!) and she didn’t run. We’re now in most likely the right one. report the death of Matt Serra, who passed the midst of wedding planning, date to be “I bow my head to no man, nor do I come on away in his sleep on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008. There determined. I also finished the Marine Corps bended knee, but if you come to me a-smiling, has been a very large outpouring of support, Marathon in Washington DC a few weeks a-smiling I will be.” and I have heard from many BRs who shared after our reunion, which resulted in another In the bonds … Salmaan

’03

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CLASS NOTES VMI-related encounter: With two miles remaining in the marathon, I glanced over my right shoulder and saw someone dressed in gym dyke (grey shirt, red shorts, etc). At this point during the race, my legs were cramping badly, and I needed something to distract me, so I struck up a conversation with the cadet. As it turns out, he was one of my grand-rats. We both used each other to keep pace for the remainder of the race. The incident was totally random, but with his help, I was able to beat my time from last year. For a moment, I felt slightly bad for the kid, since he had to report back to Barracks that evening. I bet he had fun during mil duty and parade practice the following week! Needless to say, I’m looking forward to a less-physically-demanding winter, where my sport of choice will be curling 12-ounce weights and watching football. And now, on to the updates: Angee and I were able to catch up with Brandon Matthews and his girlfriend, Rachel, for the Redskins/Steelers game at the beginning of November. We had great weather for Monday Night Football and were able to tailgate a bit before the game. Although only one couple left the stadium with smiles on their faces, the tailgating took the edge off the Steelers’ victory. The good news is that Brandon was able to make it back home in time to vote the next morning. And speaking of presidential elections, I heard through Matt McQueen that Will Ragland is serving on Presidentelect Obama’s transition team! I received an e-mail from Dermot Gavin, who said that Bill Netherton was deployed with the Army infantry to Afghanistan. Dermot said that F-Troop was well represented at the reunion. Those in attendance were Marco Midence, Brandon Turner, Alex Samms, Jeff Dame, Jason Annis, Chris Green, Nicole Kramer, Flavin and Stipic. Dermot sent me the update while he was in the field. So, he apologized if he left anyone off the list, although he admitted his memory might not have been as accurate due to the festivities of the weekend. I also received an e-mail from Blake Traina, who gave me the down-and-dirty on Mad Dog Delta. Chris Kim has been lucky enough to visit the great country of Iraq again. Dan McNair is still attending grad school but has now switched jobs and is working for the U.S. Air Force as a program analyst. Christ Mision recently accepted a job working for Col. Hank Amato in the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington, VA. Right now, Chris is doing alot of traveling between NJ and VA but is hoping to move permanently to the northern VA area in December. Cullen Monk started his master’s

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this fall and is still working for DoD. Cullen sees A.J. Schmaus every so often, now that A.J. has moved up to Alexandria, VA. Andy Onello just hit his one-year mark working for Booz Allen Hamilton. Andy is contracted out to the Department of Homeland Security in the Information Security Division, where he is doing certification and accreditation work. On a sad note, Andy’s father passed away Nov. 4th after a long battle with lung cancer. I am sure that I speak for the class when I say our thoughts and prayers go out to Andy and his family. John Roche is still in Iraq until February. John said that he has run into his dyke, Bubba Massie ’00, a few times. Blake is still working for CALIBRE as a contractor supporting the Department of Army G-3. On a funny note, I can report with confidence that Blake is putting the investigative skills he learned serving as a GC committee member to good use. Recently, I walked into the Best Buy here in Sterling, VA, and saw Blake working the security cameras, trying to catch some teenage shoplifters. Blake picked up a side job at Best Buy as a hobby, but we really know he is using that as an excuse

for discounts on all those electronic gadgets he’s so fond of! Blake asked me to pass on the word to send him e-mail addresses and update info on any Delta company BRs, if you have them. Jared Swanson provided me with an update on Band Company members. Curtis Nieboer is off the submarine, on a shore tour with the Navy in DC, and living in Fairfax. He just started graduate work in history at GWU. Brandon Naughton is heading to Iraq. Mihaela Froehlich lives in Fayetteville, NC. She is teaching mathematics to Duke students, while finishing her Ph.D. research, which has to be done by April when she moves to Heidelberg, Germany. She is planning trips to Switzerland to visit her sister and see her family in Croatia this coming summer. Jordan Fox recently became engaged to Michelle Van Oss. Greg Shpunder is getting his MBA from Mercy College, focusing in marketing and sales management. Steve Nakazawa lives in Arlington, VA, with Marco Midence (F-Troop), now a civil engineer for VIKA in Tyson’s Corner. Steve is a management consultant and part-time

The Heritage Captain’s Chair and

Heritage Boston Rocker Solid hardrock maple chairs and rockers bearing the VMI seal on the crown of the chair are now available. The seal is engraved by a laser, and your chair can be personalized under the seal with your name and class year. These chairs must be purchased directly from the manufacturer and are not available in Lexington through the Alumni Association. VMI Engraved Captains Chair .................. $350 PRICES VMI Engraved Boston Rocker ................... $350 Optional personalization per chair ............ $25 Shipping and handling per chair ............... $29 * * For Texas, Rocky Mountain States and West, add $10.00 per piece. To order by American Express, MasterCard or Visa, please call the manufacturer at 978/632-1301. Call weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. (eastern time). Credit card orders can also be sent by mail. Please include full account number and expiration date. To order by mail, write to The VMI Alumni Association, c/o Standard Chair of Gardner, 1 South Main Street, Gardner, MA 01440. Include check or money order, payable to “Standard Chair of Gardner.” Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. For rush service (2-3 weeks delivery) add $25.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Row 1: Ronald Ingram, Rob McLean, Garth Best, Derek Overstreet, Michael Lipari, Chris Green, Slobodan Stipic, Joe Darin, Chris Mision, Andy Biesterveld, Bill Talley V, Brandon Matthews, Dan McNair, Spence Robbins, Christopher Adams, Sam Newsome and Sean Griffis. Row 2: William Johnson, Daren Williams, Sam Lagrone and Nick Foster. Row 3: Curtis Nieboer, Jim Kuhn, Brendan Kearney, Dermot Gavin, Rollin Steele, Douglass Bahrns, Matthew McQueen, Pang Tu, Alex Rizzato, Jeff Dame, Aaron Campbell, Blake Traina, Douglas Warner and Phil Kerns. Row 4: Taylor Goodall, Branden Turner, Justin Sayko, Kyle Haire, Greg Shpunder, Jared Swanson, Steve Nakazawa, Phil Hampton and Mike Haag. Row 5: Scott Trask, Will Gentry, Aaron Fegley, Brian Desautels, Nichole Kramer, Lara Tyler, Stuart Chambers, William Schaller, Thomas Baldwin, Derek Brown and Brandon Naughton.

CLASS NOTES

5th Reunion â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Oct. 3-4, 2008

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CLASS NOTES MBA student at George Mason University. He is serving on the VMIAA Board of Directors and was recently appointed the chair for the Young Alumni Committee. Steve is still serving the Potomac River Chapter as the VP of Communications. Anyone interested in helping with the committee or chapter, please get in touch with Steve. Rob McLean wrote in to say that he and his Hotel Company BRs had a good showing at the fall reunion. Among those in HardCharging Hotel that showed up included Will Johnson, Ben Booth, Daren Williams, Derek Overstreet, Jason Boncher, Garth Best, Mike deMayo, Joe Pederson, Tom Bliss, Cliff Cook and Rob. Rob wanted everyone to know that the “Hotel Alumni of the Quarter” goes to Daren for hosting an awesome tailgate party during the football game. Rob said that Daren’s truck also made for some great latenight tailgating in the Best Western parking lot so their dates/wives could get some sleep. According to Rob, Matt Keck was noticeably absent from the reunion but was excused because he was on his honeymoon in Hawaii with his new wife, Komal. Doug Warner e-mailed me with an update on our BRs from Golf Company. Doug caught up with Josh Gonzales, who said he is planning on becoming a federal law enforcement agent. Bill Schaller is doing well and is really competitive

Class of 2003: Jason Harr was married in June 2008 in Rancho Santa Fe, California, to Elizabeth Ann Bogdanski of San Diego, California. The couple lives in Key West, Florida, where Jason is stationed in the Navy.

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in mixed martial arts. Kyle Haire is back from his overseas deployment and is now at his home in Beaufort, South Carolina with his wife, Julie, and their son, Taylor (a future Keydet, I’m sure). Chris Walsh and his wife are the proud parents of two children. Chris finished his graduate degree in Georgia and is doing very well for himself now. Jim Kuhn has moved to Oklahoma with his wife, Holly. He plans to attend seminary while she completes her medical school residency. Tommy Baldwin and his wife, Tammy, were there, and they have a child on the way – congratulations to them on a wonderful addition to their family. Taylor Goodall told Doug that he is living and working on the Northeastern Shore (somewhere in Delaware or Maryland – sorry, Taylor; Doug couldn’t recall). Andy Reel and his wife and son were there. Many of you have probably seen the picture of Andy’s wonderful son in the most recent edition of the Review. Wes Swank finally made it to the reunion after some airport delays (missed, flights, etc) but in true Keydet fashion, managed to arrive just before the bugle ended! He is now living in Texas, continuing to work in the financial industry. Slade Levenson is out of the Navy and is now married, but I’m not sure where he is living/working. Mark Carr passed on the word from Alpha Company. Besides working at W.M. Jordan, Brian Andrew is finishing up his first semester of the William & Mary MBA program. Rollin Steele is serving as the platoon commander for the USMC Silent Drill Platoon, stationed in Washington, DC. Doug Bahrns e-mailed Mark from Wilmington, NC, and said that he is the company commander for Bravo Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp Lejeune. Doug is looking at deploying in the spring for his 4th deployment, scheduled for Iraq. Brian Desautels informed Mark that he is living in Valdosta, GA, where he became a pilot, flying the HC-130P which is a combat search and rescue (CSAR) aircraft. He bought a house with a study and in-ground pool, living the American dream. If anyone is passing through GA and needs a place to stay, let him know. He told Mark that Aaron Fegley is out in Hawaii with the Army. His wife is pregnant with their first child, which is going to be a girl. He also said that Scott Trask is out in Hawaii with the Navy where he is attached to the Marine Corps. His wife is pregnant with his first child, which is going to be a boy. Lars Wagner is still up in NJ, and over a couple beers, he told Mark that he recently had a successful elk hunt with his bow in Colorado. This quarter’s update is a little shorter than usual, as everyone must be busy. Keep the updates coming, and I hope to hear from everyone soon! … Phil Kerns Phil Kerns – kernsPD@aol.com; Mark Carr (Alpha) – carrmarka@hotmail.com; Bill Talley (Bravo) – wht5@whts.com; Brandon Mat-

thews (Charlie) – matthewsbr@yahoo.com; Blake Traina (Delta) – coltran03@yahoo.com; Matt McQueen (Echo) – Matt03notes@gmail. com; Dermot Gavin (F-Troop) – GGHR@ aol.com; Doug Warner (Golf) – douglas.warner1@gmail.com; Rob McLean (Hotel) – rob. mclean03@gmail.com; Jared Swanson (Band Co.) – Jswan03@gmail.com.

Ryan Shealy

’04

C. Justin Roberts

Brother Rats: I hope that this issue of the Review finds you all doing well. It seems that these days we are celebrating Founders Day all over the world. We have a lot of notes, so I won’t take up much space here. Just let me remind you that our 5th Reunion is coming up next fall. I spoke with the Foundation, and they said that tentatively our reunion is scheduled for October 2009. Back in September, I got to see Chip Satterlee who was on his mid-tour leave from Afghanistan. Chip is spreading the good news to his unit and has become quite the popular chaplain. Chip should return home at the beginning of the year and has run in to Rob Metz, who is working as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan. Several of Chip’s friends from Liberty threw him a party and so graciously invited several of us. In attendance were John and Lauren Casper, Drew Wade ’07, Mark Miller ’07 and myself. John and Lauren Casper are still living in Lexington. They just added to their family by becoming foster parents to Alex and Avery, who are two-year-old twins. They both continue to serve at the chapel, while John joined the Character Counts Program this year as the assistant program director and development manager. Back in October, Jim and Scarlett Bean participated in a “Run for the Fallen” in Baghdad. Jim ran for Josh Hurley ’01 and Scarlett ran for Luke Mercardante ’07 [Honorary BR]. Shortly after, they went on a cruise in the eastern Caribbean for a little R&R. Jim always does a great job of keeping us informed on several of our BRs. Rich Connaroe is currently deployed with a MiT Team at FOB Falcon. He will be attending law school after he redeploys next August. Mike Scott is at Fort Sill for the Field Artillery Captain’s Career Course. George and Melissa Cushman are expecting a baby that

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CLASS NOTES is due in February if memory serves correctly. Kit Rauh redeployed back to the states from here in Baghdad on Founders Day/Veterans Day. John Rushin is a battalion S2 with Sadr City as his AO. Dave Jennings is working his engineer magic from over in Al Faw Palace on Camp Victory. Noah Diehl is work at VMI in the AFROTC Department. Glenn Walton also celebrated Founders Day at COB Speicher in Iraq with Capt. Jeff Rhodes ’00. Josh Montero got married to Kari Dickerman in Dallas, TX. In attendance were Capt. Eric Damon and Grady Orr. Josh is stationed in Fort Worth as the liaison officer for 14th Marines. Ross Garnett just returned from a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ross is enjoying being back home with his wife, Marissa, and his daughter, Tori. Roderick James just got back from an AEF rotation in the Pacific. Rod, aka Brick, is flying F-15Es at Mt. Home AFB, ID, and got married in Oct. 2007. Rod got to hang out with Staci Rostorfer when he flew his Apache into Boise for training. Chipper Woodruff is currently serving as a

C-17 pilot in the 183rd Airlift Squadron of the Mississippi Air National Guard. He is entering his second year of an activation that supports both OIF and OEF. After he finished Air Force Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training in Feb. 2007 at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, Chipper and his wife, Amanda, moved to Jackson, MS, and bought their first house. Porter Brawley is living in Tampa, FL, and works with Ferguson Waterworks, selling underground utilities and fishing and hunting as much as possible. Doug Goodall and Mariah Green Goodall were married on Oct. 11th. From what I hear it was a mini reunion, and several members of the class joined to celebrate their special day with them. Mariah’s bridesmaids consisted of Libby Olson, Erica Ardolino and Sarah Johnson. Other members of the class who attended were Bree Adams, Natasha Davis, Vinny Laorenza, Mauric Pipkin, Terrell Jackson and Porter Brawley. Terrell is getting married in April to his fiancée, Jessica Ronan (that was in the last class notes). Natasha and Vinny are as happy as ever. Libby just recently

got engaged to her fiancé, Nick. Vinny actually caught my red and yellow garter at the wedding and made quite a performance with the single lady who caught the bouquet (Doug’s sister). Doug and Mariah are living in Havre de Grace, MD, on Bulle Rock Golf course. Chad Martin and his wife, Heather, have celebrated three years of marriage this past June. They have a beautiful baby girl, Olivia Grace Martin, who was born Jan. 24, 2008. Chad is the building modeling coordinator for Colonial Webb Contractors in Richmond, VA. Chad, Heather and Olivia reside in Chesterfield County, VA. Harley Jennings is currently a company commander with 3HBCT, 1CD at Fort Hood, Texas. Harley just returned from a 15-month deployment in Dec. 2007 and is deploying again in Dec. 2008. Harley married Sarah Richards of Chesapeake, VA, and they currently live near Fort Hood with their 11-month-old daughter, Addison Kay Jennings. As a hobby, Harley likes to build custom bikes out of his garage and customize stock bikes. After his next deployment, he plans on attend-

Class of 2004 Photos clockwise from top left: Roderick James (with friend) after returning home from deployment. John and Lauren Casper with their foster sons. Avery, left, and Alex, right. Josh and Kari Montero’s wedding party included, from left, Chris Kethley, Capt. Bryan Kelsey, Capt. Eric Damon, Grady Orr, Hector Montero (Dad and best man), the bride, the groom, Anna Bukovich (matron of honor), Autumn Norris, Jennifer Montero, Jessica Montero, Loren Massey and Taylor Hensley.

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CLASS NOTES ing the Career Course out in Fort Lee and has been working on his graduate degree. Jimmy, Sanja and Kristianna Palmer are now back in the DC area. Jimmy wrapped up the Captain’s Intelligence Course at Fort Huachuca, AZ, at the end of September. He has now left the NSA and is working for the Office of Naval Intelligence. When I last heard from Jimmy, he was preparing to travel to Japan to conduct some joint training for a few weeks. John Ginder is still working in Florida and occasionally trades e-mails with Drew Hardin in Iraq. He was recently promoted to captain, and he is projected to come home for his two-week leave in the middle of November. Dan Hall is still in the Air Force and is currently stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base in Boston. Josh and Sarah Wright are now living in Saratoga Springs, NY. Josh is an instructor at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa. Jason Dorn graduated from law school in July and is now living in Alexandria and clerking for a judge at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, while studying for the February bar exam. He was recently married to Miss Ryan Brady on Oct. 18th, and in attendance at the wedding were BRs: John Berg, Sean Duggan, Landon Winkelvoss, Jarrett Brown and Eric Damon. Justin Bierens is currently in Afghanistan finishing his tour with the 101st Pathfinders. This is his second deployment, the first being in Iraq with 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry. Kari and his daughter, Madilynn, are anxiously awaiting his return. Once Justin returns from his deployment, he plans to get out of the Army, move back to Grand Rapids, MI, and work in law enforcement. Tim and Lisette Price are still living in beautiful Fort Mitchell, AL. Tim is finishing up his command at basic training company and preparing for a change of command. After the New Year, he will be going to Ranger School and the Captain’s Career Course. Lisette’s photography business is really doing well – keeping her very busy. Brent Banks just returned from a seven-month cruise onboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. During the deployment, he flew H-60 helicopters and was deployed to the Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea in support of OEF and OIF. Brother Rat Rob Serig was also on the same deployment, flying the F-18E. Brent has seen Joe Montagna and Josh Montero while stationed out in San Diego. I believe Joe is still deployed. He also ran into Mike McLaughlin, who was recently married and recently returned from a deployment on the Truman. That about wraps up our class notes. We appreciate the great participation. Unfortunately, I couldn’t send in all the pictures. We are only allowed five pictures each time. Look forward to hearing from you all soon. In the Spirit … Justin Roberts and Ryan Shealy

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Timothy Johnson

’05

William Ray

Brother Rats: I hope you enjoyed the last set of class notes and are encouraged to write in and send me your updates. I am here to tell the story of the class of 2005 to the VMI family, and I cannot do so without your correspondence. As I write this set of notes, it is the middle of November with cold winter air forcing its way over the great commonwealth of Virginia and chilling and whisking away any signs of life that sprung forth from the Old Dominion’s lands in previous months. I was at VMI from Nov. 7th-11th and witnessed this act in only a matter of hours, as I tailgated under beautiful blue skies and 60-degree weather, only to awaken the next day to freezing temperatures, blistering winds and cold, dark, grey misery that can only be found at the Mother I. Such a magnificent disappointment and turn of events reminded me of a time in 3rd class year when I returned from an incredible four-day weekend only to find a special report on my desk with “See me – L” inscribed across the top. The next day, I woke up to a rain soaked, bitterly cold Morning Inspection and the scheduled appointment with Lt. Col. Levenson during which he awarded me the privilege of 10 demerits, 30 penalty tours and four weeks of confinement. Despite the harsh change of season, I had a pleasant time visiting VMI and catching up with some of the Brother Rats, attending the Institute Society Dinner and witnessing the dedication of the Third Barracks. These are exciting times at VMI, and I encourage each of you to make a return to Post to see the many wonderful changes occurring on Post. At the VMI-Liberty game, I caught up with a number of our Brother Rats. Initially, the members of C-28 were all to come, but due to scheduling issues, Ryan King and Greg Shakespeare, who is currently in his third year of medical school in Chicago, could not make it. However, Lawton Way, Andy Karnes and Nate Gilbert ’04 were able to make the trip up. Lawton is in his second year of law school and is pursuing summer work with Hunton & Williams in Richmond. Andy recently separated from the Army and is living in Newport News, VA, while he seeks employment. Also in attendance at the game were Josh Sullivan, Greg Van Pelt, Ben Melton, Duke Acors, Richie Litwin, Jeff Smith and Aaron Childers. Josh

recently moved with his company, Griffin Pipe, from Roanoke, VA, to Knoxville, TN. Ben is in the middle of the Captain’s Career Course at Fort Benning, GA, and will start the Q-Course in January. Greg was on medical leave for the month of October due to foot surgery for bone spurs and should resume the Q-Course at Fort Bragg sometime in November. Duke is still working for APM terminals in Charleston and is considering seeking employment in the Richmond area. Richie is still loving living and working in Charlotte and is still rooming with Marc Lyons who could not make the game due to pressing china pattern issues. Jeff is in his third and final year of law school at Washington & Lee and plans on getting a job with his father’s lobbying firm in Richmond following graduation in May. Aaron and his wife, Christine, are living the life of the 82nd Airborne in Fort Bragg and are looking to decide on future moves, as Aaron’s first term will be up in May. Aaron was not at the game but was in town for Bill Angle’s wedding. Bill married Christian Griesemer, a Washington & Lee graduate, in a ceremony held at Lee Chapel. After some serious tailgating, we eventually descended on the Palms to have some more drinks, catch up, get thrown out sober under preposterous pretenses, only to be readmitted after walking around the block. If you’re ever in Lexington, the Palms has only gotten more observed, and I believe a boycott in the mold of the Great Palms Prohibition of 2005 is in order … except it’s one of two bars left in town. So, when you do head up, just repeat this mantra and you’ll be okay: “The Palms: Where else you gonna go?” At the Institute Society Dinner, I had the opportunity to catch up with Brother Rats Paul Bryan, Scarlett Collins Bean and Chris Perry. Paul is still working for Froehling & Robertson, and if you run up to him at VMI, he can give you an insider’s tour of the Third Barracks, as he was very involved with the construction process. Scarlett is still in the Army and is starting the Captain’s Career Course at Ft. Lee soon. Jim Bean ’04, her husband, is still on deployment, so she is eagerly awaiting his return. Chris is still working with the commandant’s Cadet Life office and seems to be enjoying Lexington, as he is very involved on the Hill and with his church. During some downtime before the dinner, I stopped by Barracks to see Lt. Col. Rivers. Unfortunately, his friendly face will no longer be seen in the concourse of Barracks, as he left VMI during Thanksgiving break to take a position as a helicopter pilot instructor at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He says while he’s happy to be getting back into the cockpit, he will miss the cadets and all the friendships he’s made with the classes over the years and with his Brother Rats in 2005. We wish you the best of

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CLASS NOTES luck, sir. If you’re ever in the Virginia area, be sure to contact one of us, and we’ll have a little get-together for you. Garrett Brickner could not stay away long from the Institute, as he recently accepted a position as the assistant track and field coach for VMI. He comes to the program after spending a year as an assistant coach for the Washington & Lee track and field program. Garrett sends word that Rory Page just got deployed to Kuwait and is headed to Iraq. He is a ranger with the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Stryker Brigade Combat Team stationed out of Fairbanks, AK. He also says Steven Bryan is working at VCU in a biology lab and taking classes toward a master’s. Austin Williams is living in the northern Virginia area in the IT industry for a large reseller, DLT Solutions, Inc., on the Autodesk

Photos clockwise from top left: 1. Ken Williams and Phil Shapiro shared a questionable drink during Phil’s visit to see Ken in Colorado. 2. 1st Lt. Mark Conley and his flight crew with Gen. David Petraeus, third from left, and Barack Obama, third from right, during the senator’s visit to Iraq. 3. Tim Johnson and Jon Proctor enjoyed pregame cocktails in the Grove before the Ole MissSouth Carolina game in Oxford, Mississippi. 4. Ted Henderson and his wife, Rachel, took

team. The company sells IT products, such as hardware, software, storage and peripherals, but he specifically sells Autodesk products which is most known for its AutoCAD software. The software is geared mainly toward design, architecture and civil engineering, but the firm also has products used for creating renderings and animation used in the film and video gaming industry. It is also used by the military to create simulation training programs to prepare our soldiers. Previously, he started out doing some facilities management for a law firm in DC. From there, he moved to project management, providing litigation support and support on business proposals for government contracts with Accenture and other large government contractors. He then ran a litigation support business for a company called Document

Technologies for a few months before deciding to pursue a career in IT sales. John Sakaleros is pursuing his insurance license and was studying for the exam on Nov. 1st. I have not received word on whether or not he passed, but he has been quite busy, as he is also responsible for running the family business since his father recently had major back surgery. Despite the hard times, Sak invites any Brother Rats in the vicinity of Greece to stop by for a few drinks. As mentioned in the last set of notes, Jamaal Stafford recently graduated from the University of Virginia Law School, and he has passed the Maryland Bar. He is currently clerking with the chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals in Baltimore, MD, where he lives with his wife, the former Rachel E. Cobbs, who is a 2005 graduate of the Washington & Lee School

Class of 2005 time out from medical school to do some hiking last fall. 5. Tailgating at the November 2008 VMILiberty game in Lexington were, from left, standing, Ben Melton, Greg VanPelt, Duke Acors, Lawton Way, Josh Sullivan, Tim Johnson and Richie Litwin. Kneeling: Andy Karnes and Jeff Smith.

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CLASS NOTES of Law. Ted Henderson is in his second year of medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, happily living with his wife of three years. Ted and Rachel were married two weeks after graduation from VMI (having dated for six years) and moved to Charlottesville, VA, where Ted worked at UVa doing research for two years, while Rachel finished her undergraduate studies in education. Having moved back to the city of his birth, Ted is enjoying medical school in Philadelphia while also leading PCOM’s Christian Medical Association and the soccer team. Rachel is teaching pre-school-aged children with Autism in an Early Intervention Program. Find Ted on Facebook, if you want to get in touch. We have some great news of new little ones to welcome the VMI and class of 2005 family. Josh Lyles checked in from northern Virginia to send word that he is engaged to the “wonderful” Jeanette Monarez. On Sept. 12, 2008, Josh and Jeanette became the proud parents of Riley Angel Lyles. Congratulations to the both of you! James Hayes has been quite a busy man since graduating from the Institute and commissioning in the Army in May 2005. He married his college sweetheart and Ring Figure date, Jill Nester, a graduate of Meredith College. James just returned from a 15-month deployment to Iraq. He spent the first eight months in Baghdad and the last seven in the Diyala Providence with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. On April 6, 2008, Kemper Maddux Hayes was born to Jill and James. Unfortunately, James was on deployment at the time but is really enjoying being back home with his wife and new son. He adds, “It’s so great to be home with both of them and be a normal family.” The Hayes family is currently stationed in Vilseck, Germany. Sean Matson sent a quick note while on deployment to inform the Brother Rats that he and his wife, Casey, are expecting their first child, a girl, on March 30, 2009. Congratulations, Sean and Casey! Chris Muller sent greetings from FOB Summerall in Iraq, where he was serving with the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. He returned stateside to Fort Campbell shortly before Thanksgiving. He will be remaining with the same unit until its next deployment, working as a Battalion S2. Gerrid Gall was winged as a Marine aviator on Oct. 10, 2008. After receiving his wings, he headed to New River, NC, for the CH-53E FRS. After New River, he will be stationed in Miramar, CA. Alex Boykin recently became a first time home owner. As previously mentioned in the last class notes, he transferred out to Dyess AFB in Abilene, TX, where he is flying C-130s. His flights focus on the Central and South American operations with SouthCom, and he will deploy again in

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February for operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. Andy Miller is in the same wing as Alex and just returned from Iraq from a four-month deployment. He is married and has a child. My apologies go out to Mark Conley who sent me an update that I accidentally lost. He is in the Air Force as a pilot and had the opportunity to be on the crew that flew then-Senator Barack Obama around on his tour of Iraq and Afghanistan in July 2008. Tim Riemann recently got back from his first tour in Iraq and is proud to say that all of his Marines came back, as well. He currently lives in Oceanside, CA, with his beautiful wife, Ashley, and their son, Timothy Jr. (VMI class of 2025+3). While in Iraq, he ran into Lev Pobirsky, who was conducting patrols just north of where he and his Marines were operating and bumped into Brian Gorski during a brief stop at Al Asad. He was recently selected as a Marine Corps Olmsted Scholarship finalist and if selected, hopes to be living and studying in Brazil in 18 months. Currently, he is preparing to be the AAV platoon commander attached to the 31st MEU that will be deploying sometime in January. I spoke with Brian Duncan over the phone in November. Not much has changed since the last notes. He is still living in Culpeper, VA, working for the co-op. He has been considering a job change in the last few months and is looking for work in the Richmond and northern Virginia area to areas as far away as Wyoming. He caught up with Matt Lloyd at Andy Stribling’s “Big Man Bonanza” in Warrenton to this past October. Matt recently separated from the Army and is taking a management position with Wal-Mart in Chicago, IL. At the beginning of November, I went down to Charleston, SC, to see the VMI-Charleston Southern game with Chris Johnson and Andrew Troy. At the game, we ran into John Baber and Randy Wainman. Randy still resides in Orlando working for Lockheed Martin, and John is still in the nuclear program with the Navy in Charleston awaiting his first assignment. Chris is in his first semester at medical school at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and still enjoys his time despite the workload. Andrew just returned in October from a 15-month deployment to Iraq and Kuwait. He is currently stationed at Fort Bragg and is waiting to start SFAS in December. Despite the poor performance by the Keydets, a great time in downtown Charleston was had by all, whether remembered or not … until the credit card bill arrives. At the beginning of October, I went down to Oxford, MI, to visit Jon Proctor, who is in his second year of law school at Ole Miss, and to take in the Ole Miss-South Carolina football game. Jon is doing quite well at law school

and is on Moot Court, making quite a name for himself. This summer he should be holding an internship with a maritime law firm in Oxford. If you have never been to Ole Miss, I highly encourage it. When at Ole Miss, you tailgate in a place known as the Grove. The Grove is a sight to behold. If you are a true lover of college football and all that a true college football experience entails, especially college football in the South, the Grove is the Mecca. Red, white and blue tents as far as the eye can see, a mass of humanity all converged on one spot, most dressed in their best, conversing, laughing and breaking bread, sorority girls at every turn in sundresses and pearls and the smells of some of the best food ever brought to a tailgate swirling through the air. If that’s not convincing enough, talk to Jon or Lt. Col. Rivers, and let them convince you. As for your class agents, nothing new to report for the most part. Will was recently selected for the Honor Court of UNC’s graduate school. I continue to work with my friend’s fitness company, and I am coaching a high school swim team this winter. Due to space constraints on the last set of notes, I was unable to send out a special thanks to Kirk Stokes for creating and administrating the VMI class of ’05 Facebook page. For those on Facebook, please stop by and join, as many times I send out correspondence to the class through this group. By the time you will read these notes, it will be February. So, I hope each of you had a wonderful holiday season, and I wish you all the best of luck in 2009. Please keep in touch and let the class know what you are doing. As I used to write in my old Cadet column, Chin up! I’m rooting for you. We’re all in this together. Until next time … In the Bonds … Tim Johnson

’06

Will Davis

Greetings, Brother Rats: I hope this finds everyone happy and healthy. I have had a lot of good responses from people this quarter, and I look forward to hearing from everyone again after the holiday season. I encourage people to check out the VMI Alumni Web site to register and sign in to the Class of 2006. There, you can update your personal information, stories and pictures from your crazy shenanigans. On to what the class is up to … Tom Wilson is the intel officer at the 19th FS up at Elmendorf AFB, AK, and got married at VMI this past summer. Jackson Todd and Brad Steidle were the best men. Wilson says Jackson

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CLASS NOTES is still doing well, proudly serving Maryland as a state trooper, and Brad is still stationed in Jacksonville, FL, in the Navy. Chris Foltz was also there. Tom says he is doing well at Langley and has a deployment coming up soon. Boyd Worley is currently living in Raleigh, NC, and finishing up a law degree at Campbell University. Once he passes the bar, he will be going into the Marine Corps JAG program. Nathan Parsons is in Little Rock for C-130 qualification and is then going to pope AFB in NC in April. Clark Moncure will be there soon, too, but Nate’s not sure where his assignment will be. Nate says he has been hanging out with Rob Lydon there, who is doing CE stuff. David Bhatta was on his way home from Iraq in mid November. Once he gets home, what he will be doing is all up in the air. Christopher Gathmann is an instructor pilot at Columbus AFB and is getting married to Lindsay Dowd in April 2009. John Diehl is currently in infantry school down at Benning. He says he was one of those grads who, after working in the civilian sector for a year and a half, decided to go through OCS and get a commission after all. He is a second lieutenant in the VA Guard and will be coming back to the Charlottesville area where he has a job with Ferguson Enterprises. He has recently run into Dave Kimsey ’07 who just graduated Ranger school and then Airborne and who is also headed to Alaska for his first assignment with 25th ID. They met up with Rholfs who is flying Hueys at Rucker. James Wicker is also down there and went through OCS and is finally going to his first assignment with 2nd ID at Fort Lewis, WA. Here is an update from Diehl for his roommates: Brad Bascope has been married a year to his long-time girlfriend, Holly. They live in Burke, VA, where he works as a federal air marshall (like Mike Carney does in NYC). Matt Hill left for a teaching assignment in Bangkok, Thailand. He teaches English and lives like a king in Southeast Asia on their weak currency. He hasn’t been back to America since he bought a one-way ticket in 2006. Henry Zhang is finally deploying to Iraq after waiting around with Clint Edwards at Fort Riley, KS, where they are both cav officers with 1st ID. Andy Wagner is doing well for himself, working in commercial real estate in DC. Ken Rhee is a ROK SEAL ... serving in the Republic of Korea Naval Special Warfare Flotilla as a company commander and operation team leader. Right now, he is in maritime counter-terrorism training until December. Then, he’ll be getting deployed to waters off Somali in January to counter hijacking of South Korean vessels by Somali pirates. Michael Pasquale is a platoon leader in

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1BCT, 4ID(M) in Baghdad, Iraq. He’s running combat patrols throughout Baghdad. Lots of stuff has happened to them, but everyone is OK. He is engaged to Kathryn Pesto and plans on getting married in 2010, a few months after getting back from Iraq. He is deployed with Ben Chovanec, Nolan Maxwell and Gabby Canceran. Ben Chovanec is a battle captain, was a platoon leader for awhile who earned a CAB. Nolan Maxwell, who’s an IO officer, and Gabby Canceran is his company XO. Frank Dolberry is in country, too, was a platoon leader in 3ID and earned a CAB. He’s moved to a staff position now. Mark Searles is across the river as an infantry platoon leader – works with the Iraqis a lot. John Kennedy is operating in the same AO as Pasquale, and they see each other a lot. He was a tank platoon leader until tanks became unauthorized to use in Baghdad. Now, he rolls in MRAPs. Sean Wolfe is in Iraq, getting ready to move to Afghanistan as an Intel officer. Jon Kelton is in Afghanistan, and Pasquale hasn’t heard much from him, but he’s in the middle of nowhere. Chris Stolle is still in the Navy, doing things that Navy people do. Jonathan Tibbs is currently working as a project executive in northern VA for Clark Construction. His current project is a 25 million dollar faculty housing development for George Mason University. He also recently purchased a townhouse in Ashburn, VA. Derek Behney is still at Fort Rucker, and he’s in the AH-64D course right now. Dan Rogers just moved to Norfolk, and he’s flying MH60S’s for the Navy. Dave Raser just got back from a 15-month deployment from Iraq, and he’s still stationed in Germany. Chris Brandriff is in his second year at UVa’s Darden School of Business and has accepted a full-time investment banking offer at Citi in New York. After Nick Mazzenga finished up grad school at UVa last spring, he spent the next two and a half months traveling around the country on his motorcycle. He said it was an amazing experience, and he basically drove through every state (minus Hawaii and Alaska, of course). By the

Class of 2006: Keun Rhee during a “direct action” mission in South Korea.

end of the trip, he had a total of 15,000 miles + and had been to just about every major national park in the country. He also visited a number of our BRs, to include Greg Quillen, Kyle Fricke, Chris Back, Dan Rogers, Phil Hahn, Dave Mercera and Shawn Hogan. And while he was sitting at a bar in Las Vegas with Dave Mercera, they were talking VMI, and the guy next to them was an ’89 alum. He met tons of people and saw some pretty amazing places, and while on the trip, he kept a Web site with a blog about the journey. After getting back from the trip, he is working on writing a book about his adventure, as there are countless stories. He is currently working as a transportation consultant for Kimley-Horn and Associates in northern Virginia and is living in Arlington VA. He also recently attend Greg Quillen’s wedding where he served as his best man. Colleen Logan Thompson is still in Virginia, going to nursing school and still working at GEICO. Phillip Lacey just moved to Chesterfield, VA, is still studying for his MA and will be in the BIDS course in Dec. ’08. Dave Kimsey is at Fort Benning, GA, finishing up Ranger school and is heading to his first duty station in Fort Wainwright, AK, in two weeks and then deploying. Grant Harris is doing pretty well. He is still consulting in DC for the Army. He just created his own company called Harris Capital Group, LLC, and is trying to get that off the ground. He says there are no kids and no wife yet. He hangs out with Todd Wilson a lot since he works and lives in the same area. He also heard from Kyle Rosch and Gary Price recently, and they seem to be doing well. Frank Dolberry is at CSC Scania, Iraq, and is leaving this toward the end of November. He should be back in Georgia by 3 Dec. Brenton Underwood has been working for Exxon Mobil Research and Engineering in Fairfax, VA, as a heat transfers and combustion engineer. Brent married the former Jessica Paige Green on 28 July 2007. In this wedding were Tim Helmick, Jason Frazer and Trip Pumphrey. Brent is also a first lieutenant in the Virginia National Guard, 229th Military Police Company, and is scheduled for deployment in July 2009. Exxon is planning to move Brent to Baytown, TX, which is just outside of Houston, in the spring of ’09 to work with a refinery there. So, he will transfer to the Texas Guard. Brent has run into Trip Pumphrey several times in DC while Trip is brown-nosing some “big wigs.” Jason Fraser lives about seven miles from Brent, and he has been busy with his master’s degree from UVa. According to Brent through Trip, Tim Helmick married his girlfriend from Hungary; they are back in Virginia, and Tim is a teacher. Mike Yeo is in Iraq at Rutbah and Al Assad and

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CLASS NOTES will be there until late April. He is with RCT-5, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, and is doing pretty well doing a lot of berming missions and constructing some traffic and entrance control points for cops and FOBS out there. Tom Zager is down in Jacksonville, FL, flying the P-3. He is getting deployed right after Thanksgiving for six to seven months. He said he eats, dreams and sleeps the Navy (joke). Tom said that John Sheckells is stationed up in Camp Lejuene and finished his first deployment in May and is getting ready to go on another one. Also, Tom said that Clint Edwards was deployed to Baghdad in October for a year. Dan Osborne is getting married the day after turkey day. He was an ABM in the Air Force but really wanted to be a cop, so they gave him his wish, and he is heading out to F.E. Warren AFB in early January. Ben Chovanec is in south Baghdad with 7-10 CAV, part of 1st Brigade Combat Team 4th Infantry Division. Incidentally, he is in the same brigade as Nolan Maxwell, Mike Pasquale and Gabby Canceran. He has also run into Frank Dolberry and John Kennedy who are in 3rd Infantry Division. He says that things are going good, and he has been the platoon leader of a scout platoon for about 18 months. Believe it or not, he is transitioning over to a staff position within his squadron’s S-3. Ben, Mike, Nolan and Gabby have been there since March, and although they are hoping for a return to the states in March ’09, they are on a set of orders that puts them back around June. Chris Stolle has received orders to Japan as the navigator on DDG 62. He will be leaving the states in late November. He has been hanging out with Dan Rogers and Bobby McGraw who are both helicopter pilots stationed in Norfolk. He also talks to Todd Wilson who is still undefeated in his professional boxing career 5-0. Heck Yes!! Will Maddox is in Wichita, KS, at McConnell AFB as a navigator on the KC-135 and is dating a towney, which he says is not serious. He is schedule to deploy to Al Udied in January. For Thanksgiving, Will and Tom Bradford will be down in Austin, TX, and Barry Hammond’s aunt’s home. Mike Hiltner is working as a mechanical engineer for a design/build firm that does security contracting for the government. Since graduation, he has spent 18 months in Beijing, China, and a few months in a handful of other countries overseas. Steve Bechtel got back from Garmsir, Afghanistan, with BLT 1/6 and the 24th MEU. He knows that Terry Slack is somewhere in Afghanistan. Steve also said that Phil Johnson was activated from the Reserve and is in Iraq now. As for myself, I just got my ABM wings

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when I finished IQT on the E-3, and I start MQT 2 Dec. I hope to talk to some of my Air Force brethren on the radio one of these days. My wife, Ashley, graduates pharmacy school in May from MVC/VCU. That wraps it up for me. If anyone is ever passing through or gets a layover in Oklahoma City, let me know and you have a place to stay. Well, this concludes this edition of class notes. I thank everyone who I heard from and look forward to hearing from again, along with many others. Keep up the good work in everything that you do; you bring credit to the class and to the Institute. I have had several compliments from older Alumni reading our notes saying they are proud to see that the younger classes are still producing strong men and women to conquer the world’s issues. Have a safe and happy holiday season, and I look forward to hearing from you all again with plenty of pictures to share! Rah VA Mil … Will Davis

’07

Sally Coffman Arciero

I received a lot more information this time from you guys. It was great to hear from everyone who contacted me, and I hope you all enjoy reading these notes as much as I enjoy putting them together. So, onto the notes ... Adam Reel recently moved to Houston, TX. He passed on to me that Michael Rice should be returning from Iraq in November. Laura Hash is living in Washington, DC, and will graduate from grad school at American University on May 10. She recently applied to the Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program, which is a program promoting GermanAmerican interactions on a governmental and private-sector scale. She should receive word back sometime in December. Rob Jacaruso has settled in Montgomery County, MD. He will be starting police academy for the Montgomery County Police Department in January. I heard from Dana Daly, as well. He is stationed at Fort Sill, OK, while he completes BOLC II. By the time this prints, he will have completed that and moved on to Fort Eustis, VA, for transportation school. He should be there until about mid March. After that, it looks like he’ll be headed to Korea for a year. Whitney Matthews is in her second year at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. She is currently conducting an externship at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoeniz, AZ. She should be graduating in Sept. ’09.

Stefan Dietrich is currently stationed in Pensacola, FL. He is undertaking primary joint training with the Navy. According to Stefan, Brandon Kelly, Sean Day, Matt Upchurch, Matt Williams and Taylor Zahm are all down there with him. He said that Clay Piersall had been his roommate but had moved on to Corpus Christi, TX, for training. Raevon Pulliam is living in Philadelphia, PA, and is in her second year of study for a master’s in engineering at Villanova. Good luck to her with that! Rich Meredith is in his second year of teaching middle school math in the Mississippi Delta with Teach for America. Last summer, he even taught summer school in a jail to gain more experience. J.D. Eanett was married on Sept. 7 to the former Ms. Jill Hartley. He said there was a good turnout of BRs there to help him celebrate. Congratulations to Minkus! Ryan Young is working with the Peace Corps in Ecuador. He is helping to educate the people there about HIV, AIDS, leadership and small business. He told me that Kaiyu Shih is living in Taiwan and working as an artillery officer with the Taiwanese army. Shih may be coming back to the states soon for more training. He also shared that Will Doyle is living in Alaska and is engaged. He may be deploying within the next few months. Ryan said also that he was fortunate enough to enjoy a visit from Pete Relyea in Ecuador recently. Jeff Fusick passed on that he was married to Melisa Fusick on May 24. Now, they are living in Southern California at the El Centro Naval Air Station. Ryan Ernst became engaged in March ’08 to Ms. Nicole Terrio. They are still working on wedding plans, but other than that, Ryan is going through navigator training at Randolph AFB in Texas. He should be graduating in July ’09. Catrina Helsel is doing the Navy thing in Norfolk. She gave birth to a baby boy named Travis Kane on Aug. 15, 2008. Both Mom and baby are doing great! Congratulations, Catrina! Tommy Lloyd is a registered representative for Securities America but is starting his own business on the side. It is an investment company that also deals with insurance. He is hoping on catching the attention of alumni, and I’m sure he would be willing to answer any questions about his new business if anyone is interested. If you don’t know how to contact him, you can ask me for his information. Wes Thomas will be finishing grad school at Virginia Tech soon, and he says that he and Dave Riedel are planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail in its entirety before moving into the work force. Good luck with that! Casey Grey is working as a contractor and

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES recently bought a house in Radford. He says he doesn’t do much but play rugby for Blacksburg. Corey Bafford is currently in Iraq at Camp Nukhayb. He is with the 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liason Company which is based in Japan. He is working with a military transition team there. Justin Blanks is stationed at Vandenburg AFB in California. He is completing missile training for the Air Force. He will be relocating to Minot AFB in North Dakota sometime around the first of the year. He says he is stationed with Jen Farkas, and they are doing the same training. So, they should be moving on together after this. I heard from Jen that Paul Issler is also doing missle training at Vandenburg with her and Justin. Quincy Washa says she is stationed at Camp Pendleton in California with the Landing Support Company there. Ryan Smith and his wife, Megan, recently welcomed their first child, Emma Marie Smith. Ryan said that he is recently deployed to Afghanistan, and his wife will be finishing med school soon. Good luck to both of them! Rob Payne is currently stationed with the 437 Logistics Readiness Squadron at Charleston AFB, Charleston, SC. He said that he is filling the position of material management flight commander ... sounds prestigious, but I don’t know what it is, exactly. Jason LaCerda said that he will be deploying to Iraq soon with the 82nd Airborne Division but that right before that, he will be the guest speaker at our Rats’ Ring Figure class dinner. I heard from Eri Kamura, as well. She said she is studying for her master’s in genetics at VCU in Richmond. She should only have a semester left with that. She said that Mike Peranski is a cop in Henrico County. She talked to Mike Cornell and says that he is in Hawaii with Steve Turner, and they are “living the life.” She runs into Brian Welch from time to time. He is working in Richmond not far from where Eri lives, apparently. She said that Josh Copes lives with Brian. Graham Forbes is in dental school at VCU with her, and she says he is doing well. Eri also told me that Karen Bill is doing research at VMI and is also teaching a class there. Thanks to Eri for all the info! Scott Lutterbie is a grad student at the University of Kentucky. He is

2009-Issue 1

working toward his Ph.D. in chemistry. Matt Williams married Ms. Sarah Sides on June 7, 2008. He is in the middle of Air Force pilot training in Pensacola, FL. He hopes to be done around May. Mike Golike is in Corpus Christi, TX, in pilot training for the Marine Corps. He said he is working with Clay Piersall and Patrick Magno. He is working toward getting his wings with Training Squadron 27. He said that before he left for flight school, he took a vacation to Paris with Michael Doughton and Oliver McElroy. He also says that Jessee Kopczynski was in Army Engineer School and should be heading to Afghanistan in Jan. ’09. Justin Chetney is working in Fredericksburg, VA. He recently bought a house and is looking into starting his own business in the near future. Matthew Leary works for the Air Force in Cheyenne, WY, at FE Warren AFB. He says he lives in the same apartment complex as Anthony Raffaele, who is working as a CE at the same base. Matt is a missileer there. Matt Kania is in advanced flight training for

the Navy for helicopters in Milton, FL. He will finish the training sometime in the summer. Chris Chang-Lo is still living in San Francisco, CA, as an investment banker. Danny Plitnik says that he is a Navy Medical Corps officer. He is attending med school at the Uniformed Services University at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. He shares a house with Laura Hash, and they have a cat named Butterz. He managed to speak to Matt Schreibfeder, as well, and passed on to me that Matt recently finished the Navy nuclear power and prototype schools and will be stationed in Georgia. He says that two of our Brother Rats left behind at the “I” will be graduating soon. Nate McCall will graduate at Christmas, and Chris Webb should be graduating in May. Congratulations, guys! Wes Hopkins graduated from Armor OBC in August and is stationed at Fort Hood in Texas as the XO for the HHC of the III Armored Corps. He starts studying for a master’s in military history through Norwich University in March. Elizabeth Gauthier is working with Northrop Grumman as a MCSELMS analyst supporting Marine Corps Systems Command. She says that Josh Gauthier is working for SAIC, and they just bought their first house in Lake Caroline, VA. I heard that Matt Davis is stationed in Iraq as a platoon leader for the Army MPs in Kalsu, Iraq. He should be returning before Christmas. I received an e-mail from Drew Curtis as well. He enlisted in the Air Force but did the “blue to green” program and switched to the Army. He was selected for Special Operations, and after that, he attended warrior leader course/ basic non-commissioned officer course (WLC/BNCOC) and SOPC II. He then completed small units tactics training (SUT) and SERE level C school. He then began training for special operations engineer sergeant and then studied Arabic for the army. He is currently an E-6 assigned to the 5th Special Forces group at Fort Campbell, KY. He also married Ms. Cari Mueller during that time. He sent me a picture to put in the Class of 2007: Above: Review. He would love to hear Drew Curtis and family from some of the BRs. at his graduation from And last but not least, Mike WatSpecial Forces Qualison married Laura Ann Kallick fication Course. Left: Curtis and wife. on Dec. 29, 2007. He is the safety manager for Clark Construction

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CLASS NOTES Group and is living in Herndon, VA, with his wife and their dog, Lucky. He says that he lives across the street from Brian Renaghan and his fiancée, Dara Young. And that wraps up the notes for this issue. Don’t hesitate to contact me with any updates. I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you. Also, it has been brought to my attention that many of you are not receiving the Reviews because of outdated contact information. If you have a change in address, let me know, so I can pass it on to the people who can fix it. Keep in touch, and I look forward to hearing from you guys.

’08

Robert Hill

These past few months have really flown by. It seems like just yesterday we still inhabited the 1st stoop. I hope everyone had a good holiday season and things are going well for you and your families. I must say, it was great to see a story on ESPN’s homepage about VMI basketball in early November with the “upset” of Kentucky. Hopefully, by the time you read these notes in February, the basketball team has enjoyed a successful season. I apologize, as these notes may seem short. I got caught in the pre-Thanksgiving academic rush here at Penn State. It seems as if every teacher thinks they need to schedule a test in this short time period – reminds me of VMI. I thought I mentioned it in our last class notes, but it was right around the deadline. One of our Rats from S-16 was killed in a tragic car accident in which he was hit by a drunk driver. Robert Knight’11 passed away on Aug. 16th. Knight always challenged Matt Mitchell and me to a game of Madden whenever he had a free minute. His funeral was well attended by the VMI family, including Mark Miller ’07, Michael Werle, Dan Simpson, Carter Murray ’09, various members of the class of 2011 and members of the commandant’s staff. Rest in Peace, Robert. Over the past few months, a couple of marriages have been

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brought to my attention. Mike Wilson was married to the former Jessie Thompson. The two were married at Tuckahoe on Oct. 4, 2008. Andy Czaplicki and the former Nicole Labuda of Climax, NY, were marred on June 8, 2008. In attendance for the wedding in Greenville, NY, were James Shambley ’05, Dan McKeegan, Teddy Davis and Patrick Terhune ’11. When I talked with Andy, he was going through Chemical OBC with the United States Army at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. In mid October, as Penn State was still undefeated, Nick Cutting and his girlfriend, Christina, and two other friends came to State College for the weekend. They arrived Friday night, only to have their car towed on Saturday morning. After Nick and company enjoyed the game, we finally had a chance to go out Saturday evening after Penn State victory. It was a great time. As Drake Watts finished his last semester in the fall of ’08, the VMI Rugby Club enjoyed a very successful year. The club finished the regular season undefeated with a tie against Mary Washington. The team lost in sudden death overtime on a penalty kick for the state championship. Their second place finish qualified them for the MARFU playoffs which will begin on March 21st @ St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia. Alex Menas and I had a chance to catch up as I was writing these notes. He and I were trading

shots about the upcoming Pitt-West Virginia football game in Pittsburgh. Alex is enjoying the life in L.A. While State College was dealing with a blizzard from lake effect snow, he was on the beach in shorts throwing a football. Seems like a tough life in the Air Force – just kidding. He’s working with the Greater Los Angeles Alumni Chapter on a formal dinner for mid spring. Glyn Phillips sent me an e-mail from Thailand. He is currently in Wang Chan teaching English to the local high school and “spreading the Southern drawl to the masses.” I can only imagine. He’s been spending time with Whuttisan “Alphabet” Luangjinda ’07, who is serving in the Army in Thailand. Ty Anthony was quick to e-mail me after Penn State lost to Iowa. (How soon he forgets Penn State beat Ohio State.) Ty, along with Scott Sanders, Jake Widrick, John Douglas and Jed Messina are in TBS “and will be for a while.” Matt Mitchell is currently finishing up BOLC II with the Army before heading to Ft. Knox. Matt, along with a few others, are rumored to be in Lexington for the final home football game, which I will also attend. Justus O’Connor has finished OCS and was commissioned in the Navy in Oct. By the time this is published, he’ll probably be in Bahrain for a few months. I forgot to mention that I was fortunate enough to find two other civil engineering graduate students here at Penn State from VMI. At the CE orientation, I ran into John Fox ’06 and Tom Timmes ’92. We’ve all been able to catch up over a few lunches. John was also kind enough to show me around town my first night here. Again, I want to apologize as these class notes only include tid-bits about a few people. I got behind the eight-ball with establishing a more solid contact list, but that is something I plan to accomplish over Christmas break. Anytime you run into another alumnus or have something you would like to share with me and the rest of our class, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an e-mail. I understand some would rather keep their distance at the moment from VMI, but hopefully, down the road we can include notes about a majority of the class. Also, as you can see, we don’t have any pictures submitted with this article. As a class, we can submit up to five high resolution photos, and I’d be willing to put in any that I receive. One last thing: The Alumni Review is now available to be read online by visiting the Alumni Associations Web site (www. vmialumni.org). Take care and God Bless.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES LYLES – A daughter, Riley Angel, to Jeanette and Joshua M. Lyles ’05 on Sept. 12, 2008.

BIRTHS MCCOY – A son, Ty Walker James, to Tracy and Kenneth L. McCoy ’96 on Oct. 30, 2008. ATKINS – A son, Finley Liles, to Allison and Jonathan D. Atkins ’98 on Sept. 1, 2008. CATES – A son, Ethan, to Becca and Ryan C. Cates ’01 on Oct. 28, 2008. COLLINS – A son, Hudson Riley, to Erin and Sean J. Collins ’01 on Aug. 27, 2008. SCHINDLER – A daughter, Abigail Elizabeth, to Jessica and Daniel A. Schindler ’01 on Nov. 5, 2008. ANNIS – A daughter, Kiersten Jean, to Theresa and Jason W. Annis ’03 on Sept. 11, 2008. HAYES – A son, Kemper Maddux, to Jill and James E. Hayes ’05 on April 6, 2008.

MARRIAGES MOTT – Mei Han to John R. Mott Jr. ’76 on Oct. 18, 2008. KOSTOFF – Andrea Finley to J. Steven Kostoff ’91 on Oct. 18, 2008. MAZUR – Jessica Lynn Hickey to Jonathan E. Mazur ’01 on Sept. 22, 2007. BURKET – Gilda Ramos Pagarigan to James R.M. Burket ’02 on July 19, 2008. HARR – Elizabeth Ann Bogdanski to Jason R. Harr ’03 on June 21, 2008. ANGLE – Christina Griesemer to William P. Angle ’05 on Nov. 8, 2008. HANSEN – Amanda Haidenthaller to Daniel J. Hansen ’05 on Nov. 1, 2008. HAYES – Jill Elizabeth Nester to James E. Hayes ’05 on July 8, 2006.

HERZOG – Laura Dantoni to John R. Herzog III ’06 on June 14, 2008. CZAPLICKI – Nicole Labuda to Andrew J. Czaplicki ’08 on June 8, 2008. WILSON – Jessie Peyton Thompson to Michael W. Wilson ’08 on Oct. 4, 2008.

DEGREES David G. Taylor ’81 M.A. Christian Leadership Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Lynchburg, VA December 2008 Steven D. McKone ’88 M.A. Leadership Executive Master’s in Leadership Georgetown University Washington, D.C. December 2007 Andrew J. Lewis ’98 M.B.A. Business Michael G. Foster School of Business University of Washington Seattle, WA June 2008

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 John A. Chambliss Jr. ’31 Howard J. Bell ’33 William R. Landrum ’34 James Heine ’34 E. Lane Whitley ’34 2009-Issue 1

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. 21, 1910 Nov. 25, 1910 Dec. 3, 1910 Mar. 18, 1911 April 1, 1911

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 Oscar E. Roberson ’38 Leonard M. Todd ’35

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 Nov. 13, 1913 Dec. 10, 1913

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PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENTS APPOINTEE’S NAME Class of 2013

Robert Fusco Aaron Scott Harris

Class of 2014

William Houston Lee Dodson John Hammond Geis IV Ellen N. Reynolds

Class of 2018

Nicholas R. Tremaglio

Class of 2019

Riley Clare Amato Samuel Krumma

Class of 2021

Connor Duffy Michael William Harbula Frank Garrett Louthan V

Samuel Paul Marsenison

Class of 2022

Hannah Nichelle Holtzmann William H. Tremaglio Frederick Morrison Werth IV

Class of 2023

Blake Christian Brantley Stephen Lamar Fitton Nicholas William Leggett Jackson Frank Marsenison

Class of 2024

Alison Rayeann Stoehr

Class of 2025

Caroline G. Tremaglio

Class of 2026

Sebastian Ibarra Gibb Mark Allen Kincer Jr. Andrew Van Voorhees

Class of 2027

Cole Matthew Husson Patrick Lars Larson Simon Erik Larson

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ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

John Jaworski ’84 Larry W. Platt ’77

Uncle Uncle

Paul A. Faulconer ’78 Andrew L. Faulconer 2010 John H. Geis III ’83 David R. Reynolds ’89

Cousin Cousin Father Father

Ralph J. Tremaglio III ’85

Father

Steven Amato ’83 William Dean ’57 William S. Dean ’25 Leonard Y. Dean ’25

Grandfather Grandfather Great-grandfather Uncle

Brian P. Duffy ’89 Scott R. Harbula ’86 Frank G. Louthan III ’66 Frank G. Louthan Jr. ’41 Bernard R. Hill ’68 Charles M. Louthan ’75 Robert P. Louthan ’82 Frank G. Louthan IV ’91 Michael R. Louthan 2010 Paul R. Marsenison ’85

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

Raymond Ihlenburg ’69 Ralph J. Tremaglio III ’85 Frederick M. Werth III ’95 Frederick M. Werth Jr. ’70

Grandfather Father Father Grandfather

Andrew M. Brantley ’69 Stephen P. Fitton ’90 John N. Hester ’60 Paul R. Marsenison ’85

Great-uncle Father Grandfather Father

Nathan J. Stoehr ’98

Father

Ralph J. Tremaglio III ’85

Father

Withers Moncure Jr. ’76 Withers Moncure III 2002 Mark A. Kincer ’95 Joe Voorhees 2003 Joe Voorhees 2003

Step-grandfather Father Father Uncle Uncle

Raymond Ihlenburg ’69 Dave Prugh ’69 Raymond Ihlenburg ’69 Dave Prugh ’69 Raymond Ihlenburg ’69

Grandfather Uncle Grandfather Uncle Grandfather

APPOINTEE’S NAME Thomas James McMurtrie Theodore Charles Rodriguez

Class of 2028

Henry Edward Bogen Ledford Meyers Joseph Louthan

Thomas John Schwartz Tyler Foster Shelbert

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

Dave Prugh ’69 Bryan J. Rodriguez 2002

Uncle Father

Edward C. Ledford ’87 Howard Dyer III ’61 Frank G. Louthan III ’66 Frank G. Louthan Jr. ’41 Bernard R. Hill ’68 Charles M. Louthan ’75 Robert P. Louthan ’82 Frank G. Louthan IV ’91 Michael R. Louthan 2010 Eric A. Schwartz ’95 Tyler M. Shelbert ’98

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

Class of 2029

Charlotte Louise Fitton Stephen P. Fitton ’90 Robert Christopher Holtzmann Jr. Raymond Ihlenburg ’69 George Waller Moncure Withers Moncure Jr. ’76 Withers Moncure III 2002 Gary Alexander Rodriguez Bryan J. Rodriguez 2002 Benjamin Jacob Schwartz Eric A. Schwartz ’95

Class of 2030

Finley Liles Atkins Reed Wescott Bott

Ashlyn Grace From Richard Emmerson Goodman III Cole Harold Gray

Reed Hart Jones

Gray Allen Kincer Charles William Land Kai Alden McMurry Towles English Melton Mason Robert Minkler Withers W. Moncure IV Grant Thomas Mountcastle Daniel Jacob Nall Belzer II Landon Todd Raymer Abigail Frances Stoehr Edward Harrison Stuart Lexi Anukea Wong-Barbosa

Class of 2031

Cameron Brody Schlussel

Father Grandfather Grandfather Father Father Father

Jonathan D. Atkins ’98 William B. Bott ’70 James A. Bott ’36 Charles B. Bott ’96 J. Wescott Bott ’99 Neal Callaham ’60 Richard E. Goodman II ’93 Richard L. Goodall ’66 Douglas K. Goodall ’67 Richard B. Goodall ’31 Richard T. Goodall 2003 Douglas B. Goodall 2004 Roger Hart ’72 Roger Hart Jr. ’99 Bill Long ’72 Clyde Long ’78 Chuck Story Jr. ’91 Mark A. Kincer ’95 William R. O’Connor ’70 Richard McMurry ’61 Carter Melton ’67 Elmon T. Gray ’46 Withers Moncure Jr. ’76 Withers Moncure III 2002 John C. Mountcastle ’94 Daniel J. N. Belzer 2004 Raymond Ihlenburg ’69 Nathan J. Stoehr ’98 Withers Moncure Jr. ’76 Withers Moncure III 2002 Kimo Wong ’75

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

Neil Schlussel ’67 Kent Schlussel ’70 Jeremy Schlussel ’93

Grandfather Great-uncle Cousin

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS TAPS Harrison H. Finlayson ’34

William H. Kulp ’34

Col. Harrison Hines Finlayson ’34, USA (Ret), of Jacksonville, Florida, died on June 29, 2008. He was 97. Finlayson matriculated from Lake City, Florida, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he was a D Company corporal. He was a member of the cross country and track teams for three years. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1940-62, retiring with the rank of colonel. He was the first professor of military science at the University of Southern Mississippi, where ROTC was activated in 1950 and grew, under his leadership, to 232 cadets by 1952. He attended the Command and General Staff College and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Following his retirement from the Army, he did postgraduate work at Kansas State and Florida State, and then taught high school mathematics until retiring again. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Coughlin Finlayson of Jacksonville; and several nieces and nephews. His first wife, Louise A. Finlayson, to whom he was married in 1936, died in 1998, and it is believed that his son and only child, James A. Finlayson, also is deceased. His uncles, both of whom are deceased, were Clyde Taylor, class of 1900, and James Taylor, class of 1918.

William Hill Kulp ’34 of Lenexa, Kansas, died on Aug. 9, 2008. He was 96. Kulp matriculated from Roanoke, Virginia, and held a bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts from VMI. Kulp began his career with Western Auto Supply Company, for which he worked for 43 years, retiring in 1977. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in Texas from 1942-46. He served at Camp Bowie and Camp Hood, where he was the assistant adjutant general of the post. He then went to Dallas, where he was the assistant military personnel officer. Following the war he continued his military service in the Army Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Kulp, who was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, was a graduate of the associated course of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and was a member of the Retired Officers Association and the Military Order of the World Wars. He was also a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Alice Amelia Varner Kulp of Lenexa; three daughters, Pam Peffer and her husband, Charles, Christa Voorhees and her husband, Rox, and Susan Stolle and her husband, Cal; and five grandchildren, Molly Peffer, Clayton Peffer and his wife, Megan, and Ellen, John and Michael Stolle. He is also survived by a cousin, Charles G. Kulp Jr. ’55 of Beavercreek, Ohio. His brother, James Minor Kulp ’35, died in 2006; his nephew, James Minor Kulp Jr. ’69, died in 1994; and his cousin, Herman K. Kulp ’27, died in 1930.

Louis L. Jones Jr. ’34 Louis Lindley Jones Jr. ’34 of Atlanta, Georgia, died on Aug. 25, 2008. He was 94. Jones matriculated from Canton, Georgia, and attended VMI for one year. He later graduated with a degree in engineering from Georgia Tech, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity. Following graduation from Georgia Tech he returned to Canton to work with the Canton Textile Mills, where he served in various positions until he rose to the position of chairman of the board and CEO. He is survived by three children, Louis III, Frank and Nancy; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, J. Turner Jones; and two sisters, Sarah Jones Cheatham and Peggy Jones Smith. His wife of 69 years, Peggy Mitchell Hendrix Jones, died in 2007.

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George R. Sledge Jr. ’34 George Robinson Sledge Jr. ’34 of Princeton, West Virginia, died on July 26, 2008. He was 94. Sledge matriculated from Parksley, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he was a member of the cross country and track teams. Following graduation he worked for Kingston Pocahontas Coal Company in Hemphill, West Virginia, as a mining engineer for three years. In 1937 he worked for the American Bridge Company at

Ambridge, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore, Maryland. That same year he moved to Welch, West Virginia, to work for Tug River Lumber Company and Ashworth Motor Sales. He was a civil engineering instructor at VMI from 1942-43 before leaving to serve from 1943-46 in the U.S. Army’s antiaircraft artillery. He last served at Tarawa in the South Pacific and separated from the Army holding the rank of captain. Following the war he returned to Welch, where he opened Auto Parts Sales and managed it for 38 years. While in Welch he served as a city councilman for 10 years, during which time he was instrumental in helping Mayor W. B. Swope provide natural gas for the city of Welch through the establishment of the Welch Gas Co-op. He was a member in Welch of the First Baptist Church, which he served as treasurer, deacon and trustee. He was a member of the McDowell Post #8 of the American Legion for over 50 years, and was also a member of the Rotary Club and served as president of the Chamber of Commerce. He and his family moved to Boynton Beach, Florida, in 1973 but returned to Princeton for the summer months. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Verla Ashworth Sledge of Princeton; a son, George Lee Sledge; two sisters-inlaw, Ruby Morice of Boynton Beach and Opal Ashworth of Wytheville, Virginia; two nieces, Pam Blake and Sandra Heath and her husband, Ralph, of Boynton Beach; and a nephew, David Alan Ashworth of Bastian, Virginia.

Mark C. Bane Jr. ’35 Col. Mark Curtis Bane Jr. ’35, USAR (Ret), of Tallahassee, Florida, died on Sept. 27, 2008. He was 94. Bane matriculated from Pulaski, Virginia, and attended VMI for two years. He was a D Company corporal. He worked as an engineer on the Skyline Drive before entering the military. A veteran of World War II, he served on active duty in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1934-68, attaining the rank of colonel. Among other assignments, he was stationed at Maxwell Field, Alabama, where he was commandant of cadets. He was also stationed in Tokyo, Japan; Washington, D.C.; Wiesbaden, Ger-

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TAPS many; and, finally, at Robbins Air Force Base in Georgia where he was chief of staff, Continental Air Command. Bane attended the Air Command and Staff School in 1946. He was secretary of the Air War College from 1949-52 and a student and instructor at the Industrial College from 1952-58. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Army Commendation Medal and two Air Force Commendation Medals. Following his retirement from the Army, he moved to Tallahassee, where he had a long career as a realtor. He is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth Bane Drew of West Point, Virginia, and Helen Bane Roth and her husband, Tom, of Tallahassee; nine grandchildren, Tiza Garrett, Tim Drew, Ned Drew, Susan McGowan, Nate Drew, Kerry Roth, Jennifer Roth, Sara Roth and Kimberly Roth; 14 great-grandchildren; two stepdaughters, Connie Church-Brady Bane ’35 and Betty Church Jr.; and a brother, Jeff C. Bane ’53 and his wife, Jane, of Richmond, Virginia. His first wife was the late Elizabeth Harmon Bane and his second wife was the late Betty Church Bane.

James A. Bott ’36 James Arthur (Art) Bott ’36 of Jamesville, Virginia, died on Oct. 6, 2008, at the Hermitage in Onancock, Virginia. He was 91. Bott matriculated from Mappsburg, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he graduated with distinction at the age of 19. He was a C Company corporal. Following graduation he was hired by the DuPont Company. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theatre from 1942-45. He served as commander of a battalion of landing craft stationed in numerous locations in the south Pacific and retired holding the rank of captain. After the war he returned to DuPont, where he worked for 38 years. Following

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his retirement he returned to Jamesville in 1974. He is survived by two sons, James A. Bott Jr. and his wife, Nancy, of Jamesville and Chincoteague, Virginia, and William B. Bott ’70 and his wife, Brigitte, of Jamesville; four grandchildren, Chris Bott and his wife, Christy, of Chincoteague, Kate Bott Boardman and her husband, Jeff, of Harborton, Virginia, Charles Bott ’96 and his wife, Caroline, of Lexington, Virginia, and J. Wescott Bott ’99 and his wife, Anne Marie, of Eagle River, Alaska; eight greatgrandchildren, Parker, William and Nathan Bott, Sarah and Audrey Boardman, Owen and Connor Bott and Reed Bott; one sister, Leah Bott Main and her husband, Glenn, of Timonium, Maryland; four nephews; and one niece. His wife was the late Margaret Gillis Bott.

H. Paul Bigler ’39 Harman Paul Bigler ’39 of Roanoke, Virginia, died on Oct. 21, 2008. He was 92. Bigler matriculated from Troutville, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. A veteran of World War II and Korea, he served on active duty in the Army from 1941-46, attaining the rank of captain, and from 1950-53, attaining the rank of major. During World War II he was stationed in China, where he was assigned to the YForce, 14th Air Force, and the OSS, and he was also sent to the Far East during the Korean Conflict. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Between the wars he practiced civil engineering in Cleveland, Ohio, and Lynchburg, Virginia. In 1953 he joined the architectural and engineering firm of Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern in Roanoke as a structural engineer. He retired as associate partner in 1987. A Registered Professional Engineer, he participated in the design of many structures, including the U.S. Post Office and Community Hospital in Roanoke and the Madison Building and Division of Motor Vehicles Headquarters Building in Richmond, Virginia. He was a life member and Fellow in the American Society of Civil Engineers. He served as a Presbyterian deacon, elder and clerk of the session and was a member of

the Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Roberta Kinzie Bigler of Roanoke; three daughters, Elizabeth Yates and her husband, Joe Yates, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Barbara Colonna of Roanoke and Nancy Matolak and her husband, David Matolak, of Athens, Ohio; four granddaughters, Kristin and Lauren Colonna of Roanoke and Miranda and Madeleine Matolak of Athens; a niece, Carolyn Sandler, and her husband, Harold; a nephew, Samuel Kephart; a son-in-law, Edward Colonna; and numerous cousins, including his second cousin, Talmage Lee Dillon ’72 of Charlotte, North Carolina.

O. Halsey Hill ’39 Ogden Halsey Hill ’39 of Roanoke, Virginia, died on Sept. 14, 2008. He was 92. Hill matriculated from Roanoke and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he was a member of the wrestling team for four years, the football team and Monogram Club for three years and the Officer of the Guard Association for one year. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1942-47, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. While in the service he first was stationed with the mounted cavalry at Fort Clark, Texas, after which he was stationed in North Africa and Italy with the 88th Division. He was awarded two Purple Heart Medals and the Bronze Star Medal for valor. Hill was a general insurance agent in Roanoke for over 40 years. He was involved with his church, Little League and Meals on Wheels. He is survived by his wife, Emily Blake Hill of Roanoke; three sons, Halsey Hill Jr. and his wife, Brenda, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlie Hill and his wife, Genia, and Cameron Hill and his wife, Tammy; a daughter, Katie Vaden and her husband, Roger, of Lynchburg, Virginia; nine grandchildren, Bo Vaden and his wife, Suzanne, Bryan Hill, Hill Vaden and his wife, Jen, Cameron Hill and his wife, Tammy, Blake Vaden and his wife, Amy, Jett Vaden, Halsey Hill, Blake Hill and Henry Hill; and two great-grandchildren, Morgan and Jack Vaden.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS Hill’s VMI relatives, all of whom are deceased, were his grandfather, Archibald G. Hill, class of 1859, his great-uncle, Edward Carmichael Hill, class of 1859, his cousin, Jeremiah M. Halsey, class of 1872, and his brother, Archibald G. Hill III ’33.

David P. Smith ’40 Lt. Col. David Patterson Smith ’40, USA (Ret), of Sebastopol, California, died on Sept. 8, 2008. He was 89. Smith matriculated from Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, and held a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI, where he graduated with distinction. He was a member of the Glee Club for three years and the track team and Rifle and Pistol Club for one year. While a member of the Glee Club, he participated in the 1938 Lexington premiere of the VMI-based movie, Brother Rat. He was called to active duty at the outbreak of World War II while attending a graduate program at the University of Maine. He subsequently completed a 22 year Army career. His first assignment was in Niagara Falls, New York, and he was also stationed in Denver, Colorado; in Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland; at Headquarters, Far East Command, Tokyo, Japan, as military interpreter in Japanese and Russian; and in Mannheim, Germany. While in Denver he studied voice and sang in the Bach Society Chorus there. He was active in Episcopal church vestries and choirs for many Smith ’40 years. After his retirement in 1962, Smith earned a graduate degree in religions from the University of Texas and a graduate degree in education from Stanford University. He taught high school physics and later was a contract translator of technical material for the United States and other governments, exercising his training in multiple languages. He aided in several California political campaigns, was instrumental in saving a stand of ancient California redwoods and also conducted astronomy observation

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outings, spearheading the establishment of any observatory near Sonoma, California. He and other activists saved the leases of their fellow retirement home residents from planned negative changes by a new management. He is survived by a daughter, Anne Lee Oostdyk and her husband, Charles Anthony Oostdyk III of Santa Ana, California; a son, Cass Smith, and his wife, Barbara Tobin Smith of Sebastopol; a sister, Betty Brewster Abramson of Walnut Creek, California; a brother, Quentin Cabell Smith of Arlington, Virginia; a niece, Rachel Etta Dacus, and her husband, David Dacus; a nephew, David Lee Abramson, and his wife, Jennifer Helbraun-Abramson; three grandchildren, Cora Smith-Tobin, Charles David Hubble Oostdyk and Jenny Oostdyk; and a grandniece, Felicia Destiny HelbraunAbramson. His wife, Anne Marie Jenny Smith, to whom he was married in 1949, is deceased, and his brother-in-law was the late Max Frederick Jenny ’43.

Thomas R. Jones Jr. ’42 Thomas Ralph Jones Jr. ’42 of Wichita, Kansas, died on Oct. 4, 2008. He was 88. Jones matriculated from Norfolk, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he was the F Company captain. He was a member of the baseball team for four years and the football and basketball teams for one year, and was a member of the Monogram Club for three years. He was also a member of the Hop and Floor Committee. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942-45, attaining the rank of captain. He was commissioned into the field artillery but shortly thereafter transferred to the Army Air Force. He graduated from flight training school in Smyrna, Tennessee, as a B-24 airplane commander, and was retained at Smyrna as a flight instructor and check pilot. His request to transfer to the Eighth Air Force bomber squadron was pending when the war ended. After the war he joined Alcoa as a sales engineer in Richmond, Virginia, where he worked for 13 years before being appointed branch manager for Alcoa’s Wichita Sales Office in 1959. He held that position for 17 years before retiring from Alcoa and becom-

ing a project and sales manager for George C. Christopher and Sons. He worked there until retiring in 1991, and then turned his attention to volunteer projects. Jones was a volunteer worker, committee chairman and member of the board of directors of the Episcopal Social Services at Venture House of Wichita. He was a vestryman and a senior warden of St. Stephens Episcopal Church, where he was a member of the Parish Council. He served on the board of directors and as vice president of Crestview County Club, where he was a member for almost 50 years. He is survived by a daughter, Ann Nellen, and her husband, David, of Tucson, Arizona; a son, Thomas R. Jones III, and his wife, Gloria, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and his son’s stepchildren, Stacey Huckaby of Tulsa and Eric Huckaby and his wife, Kimberly, and their daughter, Ella Marie Huckaby, all of Morris, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Martha Claiborne (Clay) Willcox Jones. Jones’ father was the late T. Ralph Jones, class of 1905, and his uncle was the late William Carlton Jones, class of 1910.

Charles M. Young ’42 Brig. Gen. Charles Morton Young ’42, USA (Ret), of Richmond, Virginia, died on Oct. 11, 2005, at the age of 85, and his obituary was published in the Winter 2006 issue of the Alumni Review. We subsequently have learned that he was interred on Aug. 14, 2008, at Arlington National Cemetery, with his wife of 61 years, Dorothy (Dotty) Ruth Young, who was 82 years old at the time of her death on Nov. 27, 2007.

John K. Rogers ’43 Lt. Col. John K. Rogers ’43, USAF (Ret), of Bristol, Virginia, died on Sept. 21, 2008. He was 87. Rogers matriculated from Bristol and attended VMI for one year. Following World War II he earned a bachelor of arts degree from Emory and Henry College in 1946, and then briefly taught economics at the University of Virginia. A veteran of World War II, he became an aviation cadet in 1942, after which he was on active duty as a navigator with the 8th Air Force. He then returned to Bristol and was with the Central Warehouse Company

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TAPS and Holston Builders Supply for many years. He was recalled for the Korean Conflict and served as a navigator-bombardier in the 3rd Bombardment Wing, flying 50 missions aboard a B-26 “night intruder” fighter bomber. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal. He served in the Air Force Reserve as a navigator on nighttime reconnaissance missions during the Cold War era and during the Vietnam War. He retired from the Air Force in 1981. He worked for many years on the island of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, with the National Park Service and the St. John Historical Society. He was a lifelong member of the State Street United Methodist Church in Bristol. He is survived by his children and grandchildren, Kathryn Rivers Jacaruso and her husband, Tom, and their daughters, Rives Rice Jacaruso and Kathryn Rogers Jacaruso, of Denver, Colorado; William Russell Rogers and his partner, Stuart Anthony, of New York City; Richard Rice Rogers and his wife, Terri, of Millsboro, Delaware, and their sons, Evan Kelly Rogers and his wife, Laura, of Laurel, Delaware, and Christopher Jared Rogers of Millsboro; Nancy Dulaney Schley and her husband, Mike, and their son, Samuel Chase Schley of Santa Barbara, California; and numerous nieces and nephews. His wife, to whom he was married in 1952, was the late Ruth James Rice Rogers.

Bernard J. Bandish ’45 Capt. Bernard Joseph Bandish ’45, USN (Ret), of San Diego, California, died on July 18, 2008. He was 84. Bandish matriculated from Plymouth, Pennsylvania, and attended VMI for one year before transferring to the U.S. Naval Academy, from which he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1947. He earned a master’s degree in business management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and spent most of his 28-year career in the Supply Corps, specializing in fuel supply and the Navy Exchange System. In 1970 he was sent to San Diego, where he served as officerin-charge of the Navy Exchange Service Center until his retirement in 1974.

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He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal. Following his retirement from the Navy, he spent 12 years as distribution director for the 13 Walker Scott Department Stores in southern California. He established a credit union for Walker Scott and served on the board of directors for the North Island Federal Credit Union. At the time of his death he was vice president of the board of the Disabled American Veterans. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Rosemary Anne Bandish of San Diego; four children, Bernard J. Bandish Jr., Andrew J. Bandish, Paul J. Bandish and Stephanie J. Root; and a grandson, Nicholas B. Root.

Henry T. Bryan III ’45 Henry Thomas Bryan III ’45 of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, died on Oct. 4, 2008. He was 85. Bryan matriculated from Lookout Mountain and attended VMI for two years before being sent to the University of Delaware and subsequently to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for combat training. He then served with the 104th (Timberwolf) Infantry Division, and on Oct. 29, 1944, he earned a Bronze Star Medal when he voluntarily crossed 150 yards of mined terrain to save a comrade’s life while under intense enemy small-arms and mortar fire. He later earned a Purple Heart Medal when he sustained a bullet wound in his back. Following the war he joined his family’s business, Beautiful Bryans Hosiery, covering sales throughout the Southeast. He later became president of that company. Later in life he successfully showed his Pleasure Driving horses around the Southeast under the direction of the Mountain Shadow Stable trainers. He was a member of the Mountain City Club, the Lookout Mountain Fairyland Club and the Lookout Mountain Golf Club. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Nancy Black Bryan of Lookout Mountain; his children, Mimi Bryan Kyle and her husband, Kyle, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, William McNair Bryan and his wife, Linda Bryan, of Denver, Colorado, and Sarah Bryan Robbins and her husband, Wes; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Ashley Trotter,

Henry Westphal Robbins and George Haller Robbins; his sister, Sara Bryan Glascock of Lookout Mountain; and numerous nieces and nephews. Bryan’s VMI relatives, all of whom are deceased, were his grandfather, Henry Thomas Bryan, class of 1889, his father, Henry Thomas Bryan, class of 1913, and his brother, William McNair Bryan ’53.

Elmer M. Pusey Jr. ’45 Elmer McMaster (Mack) Pusey Jr. ’45 of Easton, Maryland, died on Aug. 29, 2008. He was 84. Pusey matriculated from Chevy Chase, Maryland, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he graduated with distinction. He was a member of the Glee Club, the equestrian team, the track team and the fencing team for one year. A veteran of World War II, he served as a master sergeant in the U.S. Army field artillery from 1943-46 and as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force from 1948-49. He was an advertising production manager for the National Geographic Society magazine for 18 years, and completed his printing career at the American Chemical Society. He was a 50-year member of the Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., were he served as a deacon, elder, trustee and Sunday school superintendent. He had also served on the Planning and Zoning Board for Queen Anne’s County. He was a past president and board member of Stronghold Inc. at Sugar Loaf Mountain, Maryland, and was an active member of Centreville United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Betty B. Pusey of Easton; two daughters, Janet Finucane and Carol Roman and her husband, Bruce; three grandchildren, Andrew Roman, Cameron Finucane and Erin Finucane; a brother, Bradford Pusey; five nieces and nephews; and several great nieces and nephews.

R. Gray Carrington ’46 Robert Gray Carrington ’46 of Charlotte, North Carolina, died on Sept. 24, 2008. He was 84. Carrington matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year. He

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS was an F Company corporal and a member of the swimming and track teams. He entered the V-12 Program at the University of Virginia in the summer of 1943 and graduated from U.Va. in 1947 with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. While at U.Va. he was captain of the track team. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant aboard a minesweeper in the Pacific from 1943-46. After the war he entered the electrical business and formed the Carrington Electrical and Carrington Engineering Sales Companies from which he retired in 2003. He was a volunteer and pole vaulting coach for 13 seasons at Charlotte Latin School, where his teams won numerous state championships. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jean Newcombe Carrington of Charlotte; two sons, Robert Gray Carrington Jr. and Steven Cabell Carrington; a daughter, Jean Carrington Jr.; two grandchildren, Christine Carrington Carothers and Robert Charles Carothers; a brother, Cary Ambler Carrington of Richmond; and a sister, Page Nelson Gryder of Atlanta, Georgia.

W. Alexander Stuart Jr. ’46 William Alexander (Zan) Stuart ’46 of Rosedale, Virginia, died on June 28, 2008. He was 85. Stuart matriculated from Abingdon, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year. He was a C Company corporal and was a member of the football, wrestling and track teams for one year. At the end of his fourth class year he left VMI to go into the Marine V-12 Program at the University of North Carolina. He went from there to Parris Island Boot Camp, and then went to New River and Quantico where he graduated in April 1945. He was discharged from the Marine Corps holding the rank of first lieutenant in August 1946 after spending a year in Guam. He then entered the University of Virginia, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1948. He did graduate work at Virginia Tech. Following the war, he took charge of the Stuart cattle business, which encompassed more than 16,000 acres in southwest Virginia. Originally granted to the family by Governor Patrick Henry in 1774, it is the

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oldest continuously operating cattle ranch in the United States. Stuart was a national leader in his profession as a cattle breeder, specializing in Herefords. He was the recipient of many awards and commendations for his innovative breeding and herd management programs. He was the first president of the board of trustees of the Southwest Virginia Community College and chaired the Russell County Fair for a decade. He served on the board of trustees of his church. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Lynda S. Stuart of Rosedale; a son, William A. (Sandy) Stuart III and his wife, Betsy, of Wayne, Illinois; two daughters, Elizabeth (Bee) Stuart of Marble Hill, Virginia, and Catherine Stuart Partrick and her husband, Neal, of Washington, D.C.; a brother, George Rogers Clark Stuart and his wife, Mary, of Abingdon; a stepson, Todd Harold Sevick and his wife, Jimme; a stepdaughter, Joan Sevick Baumann and her husband, Ed; and 13 grandchildren, Anne Colston Stuart Carr and her husband, Jon, James Ewell Brown (Jeb) Stuart, Alexander Stuart Breimann, James Preston (Jay) Breimann, Catherine Greenway (Kate) Breimann, Cornelius Theodore Patrick III, Cynthia Stuart Patrick, Morgan Kathryn Sevick, Kelsey Lynn Sevick, Bryce Joseph Baumann, Abigail June Baumann, Laura Joan Baumann and Eric Walter Baumann. His first wife was the late Cynthia Bemiss Stuart, and Stuart was a great-grandnephew of Gen. James Ewell Brown (Jeb) Stuart, CSA.

Joseph C. Cosby ’48B Joseph Conway Cosby ’48B, M.D., of Huntsville, Alabama, died on Aug. 13, 2008. He was 79. Cosby matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and attended VMI for three years before earning a bachelor of science degree and a medical doctor degree, both from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and was awarded three Air Medals. He is survived by his wife, Cathy Gail Cosby of Huntsville; five children, Sally Cosby Kirby of Saucier, Mississippi, Phillip Lee Saunders, M.D., and his wife, Jamie, of Huntsville, Joseph Conway Cosby Jr.

and his wife, Amy, of Franklin, Tennessee, David Taylor Saunders and his friend, Lisa, of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, and Nikki Cosby Herring and her husband, Travis, of Huntsville; seven grandchildren, Daniel J. Peavy of Mobile, Alabama, Madeline Cosby and Silas Cosby of Franklin, Jackson Herring, Wylder Herring and Wyndham Herring, all of Huntsville, and Shelby Kirby of Saucier; a sister, Barbara Katzenberger Bratkowski and her husband, Don, of Salisbury, Maryland; and a niece, Michele McNally of Hanover, Pennsylvania.

John W. Keith Jr. ’48B John William Keith ’48B of Richmond, Virginia, died on Oct. 10, 2008. He was 81. Keith matriculated from Richmond and attended VMI for two years and two months, majoring in civil engineering. He served as vice president of his class and held the rank of B Company sergeant, and was a member of the Honor Court, the Executive Committee and the General Committee, and was a cheerleader. His education at VMI was interrupted by World War II. He served as a first sergeant in the U.S. Army’s 155 MM Artillery, 86th Division, in the Philippines from 1946-47. Upon his return to the United States from active duty, he earned a bachelor of science degree in commerce in 1949 and a J.D. degree in 1951, both from the University of Virginia, where he served as president of Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity. He was admitted to the Virginia Bar in 1950. Keith served as an intern in the United Nations Legal Department in Lake Success, New York, in 1950. He began the private practice of law in 1951, specializing in real property and related matters, including corporate and all types of litigation involving real estate, particularly zoning litigation. From 1988-91 he was Of Counsel with the Richmond law firm of Taylor, Hazen & Kauffman. As a real estate attorney, he represented various European investors and was instrumental in commercial and land development. Two of his more notable projects were Riverside/Briarwood and Hathaway Tower. He served as the first general counsel of the Home Builders Association of Virginia

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TAPS from 1958-61, and was a guest lecturer from 1972-89 at the University of Virginia Law School. He served as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Panama in Richmond from 1960-70. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Gloria Conte Keith of Richmond; two daughters, Diane (Di) Keith Jones and her husband, Ambrose, and Judy Keith David and her husband, Arthur; seven grandchildren, Brian and Michael Jones and Matthew, Christin, Nathaniel, Caitlin and Mark David; and six greatgrandchildren.

Lynn P. Chewning ’49B Lynn Purcell Chewning ’49B of Wallingford, Pennsylvania, died on Sept. 8, 2008. He was 82. Chewning matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year and three months. He was a member of the football team at VMI and earned All State and All Conference honors during his Rat year. He then received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was an integral part of the infamous 1946 Army-Navy football game during which he carried the ball for Navy on the last play of the game. He gained 25 yards but was stopped three yards short of a touchdown, and Navy lost the game, 21-18, thus keeping alive Army’s 28-game winning streak. After a year at the Naval Academy, Chewning transferred to Hampden-Sydney College, where he was named a Little All American running back. He was drafted by the New York Bulldogs – later the Baltimore Colts – and later starred for the Richmond Rebels. He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1991. Chewning served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean War and had a career in the sale of janitorial supplies and equipment. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Averil Booker Chewning of Wallingford; two daughters, Sally Chewning Little and her husband, Lewis, of Richmond, and Booker Chewning Deakyne and her husband, David, of Harvey Cedars, New Jersey; three grandchildren, Lewis, Tyler and Mollie; and a sister, Marie Chewning Hancock.

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Joseph B. Hurley III ’49B Joseph Boyd Hurley III ’49B of Crossville, Tennessee, died on Aug. 24, 2008. He was 80. Hurley matriculated from El Dorado, Arkansas, and attended VMI for one year. He was a member of the Glee Club at VMI. He also attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, from which he received both master of science and J.D. degrees. He was a veteran of the Korean War, during which he served with the 936th Field Artillery of the Arkansas National Guard. Hurley was a newspaper editor and lawyer who was licensed to practice law in Arkansas and Minnesota, as well as before the United States Supreme Court. He served as a senator in the Arkansas State Legislature, representing Union County. While living in Arkansas he was a volunteer on the Salvation Army Advisory Board and the District and Council boards of the DeSoto Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, as well as with the State Mental Health Association. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club in El Dorado and served as an officer of the Lions Club in Edina, Minnesota, and Brentwood, Tennessee. He was a Mason and a member of the York and Scottish Rites and of the Scimitar Shrine. A Baptist, he attended the Fairfield Glade Community Church. He is survived by his wife, Jeannine Mulkey Hurley of Crossville; four children, Cynthia Louisa West and her husband, Walton, of Huntingdon, Tennessee, Boyd Hurley IV and his wife, Diana, of Atlanta, Georgia, Frederick Hayward Hurley and his wife, Sandra, of Bradenton, Florida, and Karen Jeannine Pearcy and her husband, Bob, of Columbia, Tennessee; 11 grandchildren, John West, Joe Boyd V, Casey, Peter, Rebecca, Patricia and Hannah Hurley, Sam and Ashley Pearcy, and Fred and Lexi Jewell Hurley; a niece, Kelley Beasley; and three nephews, Gene, Ron and Kerry Lambert.

William H. Blackwell Jr. ’50B William Harding Blackwell Jr. ’50B of Wicomico Church, Virginia, died on Aug. 3, 2008. He was 79. Blackwell matriculated from Rehoboth Church, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He was a member of the wrestling

team for four years and served as its captain during his first class year. He was a member of the Monogram Club for three years. He joined Virginia Electric and Power Company in Richmond, Virginia, in 1951, and after serving in various locations of Vepco’s system he was promoted to manager-Portsmouth in 1968. In 1973 he became district manager of the Portsmouth District. His last position with Vepco before his retirement in 1990 was division vice president in the Hampton Roads area. He was a member of the boards of the Greater Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Opera and the Virginia Stage Company, and a past president of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of the Wild Turkey Association of the Northern Neck and the Portsmouth Rotary Club, and a member of the boards of directors of the Portsmouth Area United Fund, the Portsmouth Industrial Foundation and the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce. He was chairman of the Craney Island Study Commission and commissioner of the Portsmouth Industrial Authority. He is survived by his first wife, Catherine Patricia Wells Blackwell; their children, Carter Blackwell and his wife, Susan, Jason Blackwell and his wife, Karen, and Claudia Blackwell Haun and her husband, Jake; six grandchildren, Luke and Cayleigh Blackwell, Aidan and Kaitlyn Blackwell and Elsa and Lilly Haun; and his second wife, Patsy C. Blackwell.

Frank F. Fergusson Jr. ’50B Frank Fitzhugh Fergusson Jr. ’50B of Asheville, North Carolina, died on Aug. 9, 2008. He was 83. Fergusson matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and attended VMI for one month.

Charles A. Wolford ’52 Charles Arthur Wolford ’52 of Monroe, Louisiana, died on Oct. 2, 2008. He was 77. Wolford matriculated from Jeanerette, Louisiana, and held a bachelor of arts degree in English from VMI, where he was a member of the track team for four years. He served in the U.S. Army in 1953, after which he earned a master of arts degree in English literature from Tulane Uni-

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS versity. He then taught at McNeese State University. He is survived by his brother, Lionel T. Wolford Jr. ’48B, Ph.D., of Monroe; two nieces, Marie B. Wolford of Monroe and Ann M. Wolford of Longmont, Colorado; and a nephew, L. Thomas Wolford III of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Joseph S. Morison ’53 Col. Joseph Smith Morison ’53, USAF (Ret), of Monroe, Louisiana, died on Aug. 30, 2008. He was 77. Morison matriculated from West Palm Beach, Florida, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he was an F Company sergeant. He was a member of the Bomb staff for two years and served as vice president of the Officer of the Guard Association during his first class year. A Vietnam veteran, Morison served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953-81, attaining the rank of captain. After attending flying school, he participated in advanced flying training in F-86s. As a junior officer he served as flying training advisor for the Royal Saudi Air Force, and as a major he became a command pilot and flew 121 missions in Vietnam as an F-4 fighter pilot. As a senior officer he served as commander of the 96th Bombardment Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. In addition, he served on the staff of the Air War College for four years. He was awarded three Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, seven Air Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Morison was the physical plant director at Northeast Louisiana University for 10 years. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Margaret Wood Morison of Monroe; two daughters, Sue Morison of Monroe and Sherri Morison Hanks and her husband, Col. Tom Hanks, USMC (Ret), of Huntsville, Alabama; a special niece and nephew, Leesa and David McMillin of Monroe; numerous additional nieces and nephews; six great nieces and nephews; a sister, Anne Carver, and her husband Jimmy, of Leland, Mississippi; and an aunt, Rachel Ambler of Richmond, Virginia.

2009- Issue 1

Benjamin V. White ’53 Benjamin Viers White ’53 of Cambria, California, died on Aug. 27, 2008. He was 76. White matriculated from Waterford, Virginia, and held a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI, where he was a member of the Cadet newspaper staff and the tennis team for one year. He served in the U.S. Air Force in Iceland and Charleston, West Virginia, for two years, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. Following his service in the Air Force he earned a master’s degree in accounting from New York University and became a certified public accountant. He worked briefly as an accountant for Price Waterhouse in New York City before beginning his career with Inter-Continental Hotels. He spent 10 years abroad in South America, Europe and Asia before returning to New York City, and by the time of his retirement after 30 years of service he had become a financial director of that worldwide hotel chain. A longtime resident of New York City, in 2000 he relocated to Cambria, where he was a member of ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out). He is survived by a sister, Esther T. White Laver of Cambria; a brother, Elijah Heath White of Miami, Florida; a sister-in-law, Maria White; two nieces; and three nephews. His father was the late Benjamin H. White, class of 1917.

Charles S. V. Barclay ’54 Charles Scott Venable (Ven) Barclay ’54 of Boulder, Colorado, died on Sept. 15, 2008. He was 75. Barclay matriculated from Leesburg, Virginia, and held a bachelor of arts degree in biology from VMI, where he was a member of the wrestling team for four years, Virginia Academy of Science for three years, the International Relations Club and the Timmins Music Society for two years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955-57, attaining the rank of captain. Barclay earned a master’s degree in geology from the University of Arizona, and continued his education in geology at the University of Colorado. He was employed as a geologist for 27 years with the United

States Geological Survey in Lakewood, Colorado. He was a member of the Geological Society of America, the Colorado Scientific Society, the Colorado Mountain Club and the Chautauqua Association. He is survived by two children, Dulaney Barclay of Littleton, Colorado, Laura Shove of Lafayette, Colorado, and Anne Barclay of Boulder; four grandchildren, Barclay and Madison Shove and Lafayette and Daniel and Lydia Barclay of Littleton; and a brother, Julius Preston Barclay of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Donald J. Dunlap ’54 The Rev. Donald Jordan Dunlap ’54 of Christiansburg, Virginia, died on Sept. 15, 2008. He was 75. Dunlap matriculated from Christiansburg and held a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI, where he graduated with distinction and was designated a Distinguished Military Student and named to Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges. He held the rank of cadet captain and Regimental Adjutant, and was a member of the Honor Court for three years. During his first class year he was managing editor of the Cadet newspaper, a member of the Advisory Council to the Superintendent and president of the Religious Council. Following graduation from VMI, Dunlap entered seminary at Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. He was ordained into the gospel ministry at Main Street Baptist Church in Christiansburg in 1957 and graduated from Andover Newton the following year. He did post-graduate work at New College, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, from 1959-60. He was a Reserve chaplain in the U.S. Army for a brief period of time, and in 1982 he received his doctorate of ministry degree from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He was associate pastor of Franklin Baptist Church in Franklin, Virginia, from 1957-59; pastor of Conway Baptist Church in Conway, North Carolina, from 1961-66; pastor of West End Baptist Church in Suffolk, Virginia, from 1966-85, and pastor of Freemason Street Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia, from 1985 until his retirement in 1999.

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TAPS Following his retirement, he served as interim pastor at Churchland Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Virginia, from 1999-2000, at Franklin Baptist Church in 2001, and at Freemason Street Baptist Church in 2002. He celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination into the gospel ministry in August 2007. Throughout his ministry he was a participant in many interdenominational, interfaith and interracial causes. He was president of the Virginia Baptist Pastor’s Conference in 1970, and served on the board of trustees of the Religious Herald, on the Tidewater Community Services Board, and on various committees of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. He was a Rotarian for over 30 years. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Kay Francis Dunlap of Christiansburg; two daughters, Laura Kay Flick and her husband, Gregory, of Norfolk and Rebecca Kent Glander and her husband, Michael, of Summerville, South Carolina; four grandchildren, Olivia Kay and Alana Donald Flick and Donald Edward and Virginia Kay Glander; a niece, Elizabeth Tisdale Armstrong and her husband, George, of Hilliard, Ohio; a nephew, Richard Tisdale and his wife, Susan, of Williamsburg, Virginia; three great-nieces; a great-nephew; and several cousins. His uncle was the late Grover C. Summers, class of 1909.

John W. Windle Jr. ’54 John William Windle Jr. ’54 of Fort Worth, Texas, died on Sept. 15, 2008. He was 76. Windle matriculated from McComb, Mississippi, and held a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He worked briefly for Westinghouse Electric in 1954 and he served in the U.S. Air Force from1954-56, attaining the rank of lieutenant. From 1956-58 he attended Georgia Tech, where he completed a bachelor of science and a master of science degree in industrial engineering. (Windle, who earned a Ph.D. in industrial psychology from Texas Christian University, did not, according to his obituary, “complete his residency, therefore [he] did not use ‘Dr.’ before his name.”) From 1958-62 he worked for Procter and Gamble, and from 1962-67 he worked for Lifson, Wilson Ferguson and Winick, Inc.

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He was a self-employed independent consultant from 1967-70. Beginning in 1970 he was president of Management Control Systems/Texas Direct Inc. for 32 years. He was a member of Ridglea Country Club and a member of the Senior Men’s Golf Association. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Lois Leche Windle of Fort Worth; a brother-inlaw, Karl Leche, and his wife, Beverly; and two cousins, Claiborne Dugas of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Barbara Armstrong and her husband, Lou, of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Charles W. Best Jr. ’58 Charles William Best Jr. ’58 of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died on Aug. 20, 2008. He was 72. Best matriculated from Norfolk, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI, where he was an F Company sergeant and was a member of the Officer of the Guard Association. He served in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command from 1958-63, attaining the rank of captain. He was a navigator on B-52s. He worked for the Ford Motor Company at its Norfolk assembly plant before entering law school in 1968 at the University of Virginia, where he graduated with a J.D. degree in 1971. He began his law career with Kaufman & Oberndorfer (now Canoles), which he eventually left to form the firm of Wilks & Best. In his last years he was in solo practice. In 2001, Best underwent a successful lung transplant at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital’s Transplant Center. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Ewing Fears Best of Virginia Beach; a son, Michael Allen Best, and his wife, Morgan Stone Best of Charlotte, North Carolina; a sister, Virginia Best Platt, and her husband, Phil, of Overland Park, Kansas; two nieces; and a nephew.

Stephen M. Delich Jr. ’58 Stephen Michael Delich Jr. ’58 of Lehighton, Pennsylvania, died on Oct. 21, 2008. He was 72. Delich matriculated from Palmerton, Pennsylvania, and held a bachelor of sci-

ence degree in chemistry from VMI, where he was a member of the Bomb staff for one year and was an athletic trainer for two years. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1958-80, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He closed out his Reserve career in the position of chief, Traffic Division, 1185th Transit Control Unit, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was awarded two Meritorious Service Medals and two Army Commendation Medals, and attended the Command and General Staff College. He was a past president of the Reserve Officers Association, Lancaster Chapter. He was a chemist for Silberline Manufacturing, in Hometown, Pennsylvania, for more than 17 years, retiring in 2002. He worked previously for Armstrong Manufacturing Company in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Congoleum Manufacturing Company in Trenton, New Jersey. He was a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Lehighton and of its Holy Name Society. He was formerly active in the Democratic Party, Lancaster Area, where he designed the Democratic logo used in its advertising. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Yvonne M. Fedock Delich of Lehighton; a daughter, Cynthia A. Owings, and her husband, Frank, of Hanover, Pennsylvania; three sons, Joseph M. Delich and his wife, Donna, of Furlong, Pennsylvania, Michael T. Delich and his wife, Tawny, of Palmerton, Pennsylvania, and Benjamin I. Delich and his wife, Julie Ives, of Marietta, Pennsylvania; and six grandchildren.

Edward J. Hayes Jr. ’62 Edward Joseph Hayes Jr. ’62 of Delmar, New York, died on July 22, 2008. He was 72. Hayes matriculated from Troy, New York, and attended VMI for one year. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1958-67 and in the Army National Guard from 1981-83 with the rank of sergeant E-5. He was employed by the former National Commercial Bank and Trust Company, which became Key Bank NA. Among the positions he held were teller, branch man-

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS ager and assistant vice president. In the early years of his career he was a driver and teller on a mobile bank bus, and he later managed branches in Ravena, Elsmere and Westerlo, New York. He retired with 30 years of service in 1994. He was a communicant of St. Thomas Church in Delmar. He was president of the Kiwanis Club of the Helderbergs, Berne, in 1987-88, and most recently was a member of the Bethlehem Kiwanis Club. He had been a member of the New York Air Force Association (AFA) since 1979 and had been treasurer of the Albany Chapter AFA #197 since 1979. He was New York State AFA state vice president from 1988-93 and received the AFA Exceptional Service Award in 1998. He was a life member of the Empire State Aero Sciences Museum in Scotia. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Long (Ginny) Hayes of Delmar; a daughter, Sarah Lynn Hayes; two grandchildren, Edward J. and Alicia of Delmar; two sisters, Patricia A. Honecker and her husband, Carl, of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and Linda M. Mainwaring and her husband, John, of Guilford, Connecticut; a brother, Robert K. Hayes of Center Brunswick, New York; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Robert S. Silverman ’81 Robert Steven Silverman ’81 of Syosset, New York, died on June 21, 2008. He was 48. Silverman matriculated from Malverne, New York, and held a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI, where he was a member of the Glee Club for three years. He was also a member of the fencing team, the equestrian team and the Tanker Platoon Club. He served in the U.S. Army from 198186, attaining the rank of captain. Following his service in the Army, he worked for Raytheon and for Global Computers. He is survived by his mother, Bea Silverman; an aunt, Arlene Silverman; a sister, Naiomi Silverman; and a cousin, Michael Silverman.

Jonathan R. Kindred ’93 Jonathan Robert Kindred ’93 of Olathe, Kansas, died on May 19, 2008. He was 39.

2009- Issue 1

Kindred matriculated from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and attended VMI for five months. He held a bachelor of science degree in political science, a master’s degree in finance and a J.D. degree, all from the University of Denver, and had worked for the Sprint Nextel Team for the past eight years. Among his survivors are his wife of 20 years, Jennifer G. Kindred of Olathe; and a son, Jordan Kindred of Olathe.

Steven J. Stafford Jr. ’98 Steven James Stafford Jr. ’98 of Frostburg, Maryland, died on July 24, 2006. He was 30. Stafford matriculated from Cumberland, Maryland, and attended VMI for two months and worked for ATK. Among his survivors are his wife, Alicia Arnold Stafford of Frostburg; and two sons, Liam Stafford and Ayden Stafford, both of Frostburg.

Matthew F. Serra ’02 Matthew Francis Serra ’02 of Largo, Florida, died on Oct. 3, 2008. He was 28. Serra matriculated from Seminole, Florida, and held a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI, where he was captain of the swimming team and president of the Pre-Law Society. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Rita and George Sinn; his father and stepmother, Mark and Laurie Serra of Clearwater, Florida; a sister, Kimberly Purcell and her husband, Jeffrey; a brother, Stephen Serra; two stepsisters, Emily Allenbach and her husband, Mark, and Jessica Tibbetts; three stepbrothers, Matt Sinn and his wife, Holley, Mark Sinn and Michael Tibbetts; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Robert R. Knight ’11 Robert Ricks Knight ’11 of Carrollton, Virginia, died on Aug. 16, 2008, in an automobile accident near his home. His car was struck on U.S. 17 by a man who has been charged with driving under the influence. Knight was 19 years old, and was scheduled to leave home the next day, August 17th, to begin duties as a Cadre member at VMI as well as to start his third class year.

A history major, he had been selected to serve as a corporal in H Company and was enrolled in the Army ROTC program. Knight was an honor graduate of Smithfield High School, where he lettered in football, track and wrestling. He was an Eagle Scout and had been inducted into the Order of the Arrow. He is survived by his mother, Terri Ricks Knight of Carrollton; his father, Richard Lee Knight Jr. and his wife, Kathryn; three sisters, Traci Lynn Shoffner and her husband, Ryan, Amy Lee Fulton and her husband, Scot, and Virginia Grace Knight; a brother, Richard Samuel Riley Knight and his wife, Knight ’11 Riley; his maternal grandmother, Betty Roper Ricks; his paternal grandparents, Richard Lee Knight Sr. and Margaret Knight; two uncles, Tom Ricks and his wife, Priscilla, and Tom Knight and his wife, Janet; three nephews, Braeden Looper, Tristan Shoffner and Zack Fulton; and four cousins, Lindsay Chapman Lauren Schouten and her husband, Josh, Stephanie Knight, Michael Lee and his wife, Valerie, and Kevin Lee.

Deaths in the VMI Family Lt. Col. David E. Hess Head of Media Services Lt. Col. David E. Hess, the head of Media Services in VMI’s Preston Library, died on Oct. 21, 2008. He was 40. Hess joined VMI in 1998, and was responsible for assisting faculty and staff in the use of instructional technology for teaching. He was the recipient of VMI’s Distinguished Service Award in 2004. After earning a bachelor’s degree in geography with a minor in library media from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, he earned a master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

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TAPS He worked at that university prior to coming to VMI. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve and was stationed in Landstuhl, Germany, during Operation Desert Storm. He is survived by his parents, David Hess Sr. and Gloria Davis Hess of Burlington; a sister, Gretchen Turzanski, and her husband, Lou, of Erie, Colorado; and two nieces, Tavia and Tasha Turzanski. A service in Hess’ memory was held on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008, in VMI’s Jackson Memorial Hall.

William E. Graybeal Purchasing Officer Military Store Manager Lt. Col. William E. Graybeal of Buena Vista, Virginia, died on Oct. 22, 2008. He was 89. Graybeal was the purchasing officer and military store manager at VMI for 34 years prior to his 1984 retirement. Graybeal entered the U.S. Army in 1941. Before overseas duty, he was stationed at Camp Wallace, Texas, Camp Hulan, Texas, and Camp Irvin, California, where he was part of an aircraft crew. He served in the southwest Pacific at New Guinea and at northeast Manila in the Philippine Islands. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Following the war, he attended Washington and Lee University, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1949. He was associated briefly with Mountain Trust Bank in Roanoke, Virginia, before returning to Rockbridge County, where he had lived as a child and had attended high school. He was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Buena Vista. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Margaret (Peggy) Moore Graybeal of Buena Vista; and a brother, James T. Graybeal of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Col. John W. Ripley USMC (Ret) Former Naval ROTC Head Col. John W. Ripley, USMC (Ret), of Annapolis, Maryland, who served as head of the VMI Naval Science program from 1990-92, died at his home 184

in early November 2008. He was 69. and was shown on Nov. 12, 2006, on Ripley is credited with creating the Fox News. largest, most productive Naval ROTC In 2002, he was the first Marine unit in the country. Coincidentally, officer to receive the Distinguished his brother, the late Col. George H. Graduate Award, the highest and most Ripley ’52, USMC, was the VMI profes- prestigious award given by the Naval sor of naval science when the unit was Academy. In May 2004, Marines of the founded in 1974. 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit named Ripley, a 1962 U.S. Naval Academy a forward operating base after him (FOB graduate, earned a master’s degree Ripley) in south-central Afghanistan, from American University in 1975 and and in July 2006 the Naval Academy graduated from the Army War College Prep School in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1982. He completed the Airborne, dedicated its new dormitory as “Ripley SCUBA, Ranger and Jump-master Hall,” honoring its former graduate. courses, the Amphibious Warfare On June 11, 2008, Ripley became the School, the Royal Marine Commando first Marine to be inducted into the U.S. Course in England, the Mountain and Army Ranger Hall of Fame. Arctic Warfare courses in Ripley was a former Marine Norway and the Joint Warfare Officer Instructor at Oregon course. State University and a former A Vietnam veteran, he held Senior Marine at the U.S. the Navy Cross, the Silver Naval Academy, where he was Star, the Legion of Merit, the also director of the English Bronze Star Medal and Gold and history division. Star in lieu of a second Bronze Prior to coming to VMI in Star, the Purple Heart, the 1990, he was stationed at Defense Meritorious Service Camp Lejeune, North CaroMedal, the Navy Commendalina, where he was the comRipley tion Medal, the Vietnamese manding officer of the regiArmy Distinguished Service mental landing team that was Order and the Vietnamese Cross of sent to Operation Desert Shield in Saudi Gallantry. Arabia just days prior to his arrival in During his third tour of duty in Lexington. After leaving VMI in 1992 he Vietnam as senior advisor to the 3rd was named president of then-Southern Vietnamese Marine Battalion, he de- Seminary Junior College in Buena Vista, stroyed the bridge at Dong Ha on Easter Virginia. During his tenure, the school morning, 1972. Hanging under the changed its name to Southern Virginia bridge by his hands and pulling himself College. He served as its president until along the steel beams, he worked for 1996, when the college was acquired by several hours to position 500 pounds a group of business people with ties to of explosives, rigging fuses and crimp- the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ing detonators with his teeth. He was Saints. He served as chancellor of the under enemy fire the entire time he school briefly before leaving later in the worked beneath the bridge. His exploits year to become president of Hargrave in Vietnam inspired John Miller’s book, Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia. The Bridge at Dong Ha. He is survived by his wife, Moline B. A large diorama of the action titled Ripley of Annapolis; three sons, Stephen “Ripley at the Bridge” was installed in Ripley of Annapolis, Thomas H. Ripley Memorial Hall at the Naval Academy as ’93 of Annapolis and John M. Ripley ’96 the single act to represent actions of all of West Palm Beach, Florida; a daughAcademy men who fought in Vietnam. ter, Mary Ripley; eight grandchildren, In October 2006, Ripley returned to Aslan Ripley, Tiger Ripley, King Ripley, the site of the Dong Ha Bridge to film a Scout Ripley, Race Ripley, Lily Ripley, documentary of his exploits. The docu- America Ripley and Starr Ripley; and a mentary was hosted by Oliver North, sister, Susan Goodykoontz. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

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

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

The VMI President

Immediate Past President

James L. Adams ’71

Keydet Club, Inc.

William H. Stephens Jr. ’73

Historian

Thomas W. Davis ’64 davistw@vmi.edu

Executive Vice President

President

Walter C. Perrin II ’62

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

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

Term Expires June 30, 2011 Kenneth Herbert ‘81 kherbert81@cox.net

Directors at Large

Region/ Director

Chapter Name

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

Fred Lehman ’91

Fredrick.Lehman@ morganstanley.com

Region III Northeast

John Gibney ’80 jgibney@ actuary.nyc.gov

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

Robert R. Costigan ’70 Jeffrey L. Minch ’73 Jeffrey T. Golden ’99 Jeffrey D. Vordermark ’79 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 B. Reinmiller ’98

bcosti@mindspring.com jminch@littlefield.com

Greater Rhode Island New England NY City - Long Island North Jersey

Patrick L. McGuire ’85 Matthew L. Camfield ’94 John R. Gibney Jr. ’80 Will C. Adams ’76

magsvmi@email.com matthew_camfield@msn.com jrgvmi80@nyc.rr.com vmikeydet76@msn.com

Patrick L. McGuire ’85 John W. Wainwright III ’82 John R. Gibney Jr. ’80 Will C. Adams ’76

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 Charles C. Schoen IV ’86 John R. Savage ’74 Richmond P. Lykins Jr. ’73 Parker W. Duncan Jr. ’64

tbowers68@comcast.net tomdaniel60@charter.net ccschoen@comcast.net

Raymond R. Lawson ’81 Campbell C. Hyatt III ’65 Charles C. Schoen IV ’86 John R. Savage ’74 Richmond P. Lykins Jr. ’73 Charles S. Sanger ’82

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

Guy Conte ’75 guyconte@ gmail.com

2009- Issue 1

Chapter Representative

takatar@earthlink.net mrhemenez@cox.net william_johnson@nmcourt.fed.us tearris@gmail.com seattlefarmer@comcast.net

Region IV Mid Atlantic

Region V Southeast

President’s E-mail

Russell Shun Takata ’74 Matthew R. Hemenez ’90 William P. Johnson ’81 Todd E. Arris ’87 James R. Farmer ’68 Charles G. Decher ’00 Jay C. Wegrzyn ’66 Andre J. Gibson ’78 Trent L. Boggs ’83 Joseph S. Howard III ’97 Kenneth S. Krynski ’89

Region I Far West

Region II Midwest

Chapter President

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

jcwegrzyn@yahoo.com andrejg@aol.com tboggs@gci.com jhoward211@cox.net kenkrynski@aol.com

vordermark@juno.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

vmi73agent@aol.com pd2@att.net

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

Chapter Name

Region VI Carolinas

Chapter President

President’s E-mail

Chapter Representative

Club of the Triad Cape Fear Central NC - Raleigh Charlotte SE N. Carolina/NE S. Carolina Palmetto, South Carolina Coastal Carolina, SC

John R. Fisher ’89 Charles L. Toomey ’74 Michael J. Tutor ’96 James A. Sharp ’93

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

Donald P. DeLuca ’62

dpdl123@aol.com

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

New River Valley Lynchburg Roanoke

William A. Madison ’90 Thomas R. Kent Jr. ’93 W. Ware Smith Jr. ’62

bmadison@themadisonfamily.net William A. Madison ’90 tr6kent@juno.com John T. McCarthy ’87 ware.smith@ubs.com W. Ware Smith Jr. ’62

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

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. Fridley 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

James R. Smith III ’93 William H. Talley IV ’77

rrsmith@bbandt.com wht4@whts.com

Michael C. Denton ’81 Augustus Robbins III ’47

Fredericksburg - Quantico Rappahannock Williamsburg

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

Region XIV Pacific Rim

Thailand Taiwan

Vaipot Srinual ’72 Ching-Pu Chen ’85

chingpu@saturn.yzu.edu.tw

Vaipot Srinual ’72 Ching-Pu Chen ’85

Europe

Italy

Steven G. Cade ’87

steven.cade@us.army.mil

Lane Toomey ’74 toomeyl@ pinehurst.net

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

Region VIII Southwest VA Turner Perrow ’96

tperrow@ perrowconsulting.com

Region IX Shenandoah Valley Ted Jenks ’67 The4jenks@ adelphia.net

Region X

Eastern Shore Hampton Roads J. Sills O’Keefe ’93 Norfolk sokeefe@ Peninsula norfolkacademy.org Virginia Beach Douglas Burdett ’82 Western Tidewater douglasburdett@yahoo.com

Region XI Metro D.C.

Sean Boyle ’91

George C. Marshall Potomac River

John R. Fisher ’89 Charles L. Toomey ’74 Jonathan D. Atkins ’98 E. Hugh Daughtry III ’83 Karl L. Klinar ’54 William H. Cather Jr. ’65 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

Robert Louthan ’82 rpl@aocp.com

Richmond Tri Cities

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

Region XIII Rappahannock Eric Nost ’79 enost@cffc.copm

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI NEWS President Bush Awards 2008 National Humanities Medal to Saunders ’58 and greater understanding President George W. Bush of American history. They awarded the prestigious Nationhave enriched our culture and al Humanities Medal for 2008 ensured a lasting legacy for to philanthropists Thomas A. future generations.” Saunders III ’58 and his wife, The National Humanities Jordan Horner Saunders, during Medal, first awarded in 1989 a ceremony held in the White as the Charles Frankel Prize, House East Room. In total, nine honors individuals or groups distinguished Americans, one whose work has deepened museum, and a philanthropic the nation’s understanding foundation were honored for of the humanities, broadtheir exemplary contributions ened our citizens’ engageto the humanities and were ment with the humanities, recognized for their scholarship, or helped preserve and exliterary works, philanthropy, pand Americans’ access to and preservation efforts. In adimportant resources in the dition to Thomas Saunders and humanities. Jordan Horner Saunders, the The Humanities Medal is president presented National Thomas A. Saunders ’58 and wife Jordan at the November the most prestigious award in Humanities Medals to Gabor 2007 New-York Historical Society annual History Makers the humanities. Over the last S. Boritt, scholar and Civil War Gala at which he was honored. Photo by Don Pollard. decade, including the 2008 historian; Richard Brookhiser, recipients, the National Hubiographer and historian; Harold Holzer, scholar and Civil War historian; Myron Magnet, manities Medal has been awarded to only 107 individuals and nine journalist and author; Albert Marrin, children’s book author; organizations. Among those recognized during this time period Milton J. Rosenberg, radio show host and scholar; Robert H. were Bernard Lewis, Judith “Miss Manners” Martin, Madeleine Smith, philanthropist; John Templeton Foundation; and Norman L’Engle, Harvey Mansfield and John Updike. Medal recipients do not compete for this award but are seRockwell Museum. Saunders and his wife were recognized for “… wise leadership lected by the president for their life-long achievements in their and philanthropy on behalf of higher education, the study of art, diverse areas of expertise. The National Society Sons of the American Revolution has presented Charles Hal Dayhuff III ’59 with the Robert E. Burt Boy Scout Volunteer Award, which is the society’s highest award for volunteers in the Boy Scout movement. Dayhuff, who has been involved in scouting for over 63 years, is an Eagle Scout and a recipient of the coveted Silver Beaver and the La Orden de Espiritu de Las Buenas Obres. Dayhuff matriculated from Arlington, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in history. William L. Traylor Jr. ’59, president of Orlando, Florida-based Traylor Chemical & Supply Co. Inc., has received the prestigious Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical Association (FFAA)

2009- Issue 1

Lifetime Achievement Award during FFAA’s 76th annual meeting in Palm Beach, Florida. This award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary involvement, leadership and contributions to the association and the Florida fertilizer and crop protection industry. As the organization’s Annual Meeting Committee chairman, Traylor was instrumental in increasing participation in FFAA, and his expertise in chemistry and micronutrients has made him a key Photo at right: FFAA Chairman Brent Sutton, left, presented Bill Traylor ’59, right, with the association’s highest honor, the FFAA Lifetime Achievement Award, during FFAA’s annual meeting.

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ALUMNI NEWS figure in negotiating a heavy metals regulation for Florida fertilizers. He was also chairman of FFAA’s board of directors from 1995-96. Traylor, who graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, joined the family business founded in 1952 by his father. Today, the company is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers and distributors of micronutrients and chelates used in the fertilizer industry. Headquartered in Orlando, Traylor Chemical has operations in Georgia, Indiana and Texas and has expanded internationally with exports to Central and South America and Canada. According to an article in the Fredericksburg, Virginia, Free Lance Star, a suggestion from Billy M. Seargent ’68 is saving Spotsylvania County millions of dollars on future road projects. His proposal will prevent the county from having to pay property owners additional compensation when roads in front of their homes are widened, the article stated. This was not the first cost savings that Seargent initiated. As a Dominion Energy site manager in 2003, he saved the company $2 million on a 600 megawatt natural gas project in northern Virginia, the Star article said. Seargent, who matriculated from Petersburg, Virginia, graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. William D. Warren ’68, the chief compliance officer of Empire Equity Group, Inc. and 1st Metropolitan Mortgage, has received the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators (AARMR) 2008 Distinguished Service Award. Warren was recognized for his service to the association and the industry, including teaching in the AARMR examiner school and licensing school and for serving as an AARMR affiliate member for more than 10 years, with six years on its industry advisory council. Warren has been the chief compliance officer for 1st Metropolitan since 2001. Prior to that, he was the chief compli-

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ance officer for another major national mortgage company based in Houston, and before that, he was a compliance officer for a law firm in Dallas. Warren, who graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in history, served for 10 years as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer and is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. In November 2008, Robert E. Lee McNeely Jr. ’73 was presented with a Presidential Field Forester Award from the Society of American Foresters (SAF) during a ceremony at the SAF National Convention in Reno, Nevada. The award recognizes forestry professionals who have displayed uncommon talent and innovative methods in the art and science of forest management. McNeely is an urban wildlife interface forester with the Texas Forest Service. His work with landowners, consultants, developers and public service departments has resulted in stewardship programs that have improved the productivity of average to marginal forest sites and transformed them into showpieces of sustainable land management. Additionally, McNeely works with landowners in rural and wildland-urban interface zones to foster a greater awareness of wildfire danger and to develop community partnerships to help mitigate it. To that end, he has taken an active role in wildfire prevention efforts in Texas and other states and has been instrumental in the development of two nationally recognized Firewise Communities. McNeely is a certified wildland fire fighter, an SAF certified forester and Project Learning Tree facilitator. In 1988, he received the American Tree Farm System’s Gold Hard Hat Award, which honors tree farm inspectors who give of their time to inspect tree farms and work to educate landowners and the public on the benefits of sustainable forestry. He matriculated from Danville, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in history. Norfolk Deputy City Attorney John Y. Richardson ’75 has received three

appointments by leaders of the Virginia State Bar, the first of which is a threeyear term appointment to the bar’s Professionalism Course faculty by Chief Justice Leroy R. Hassell Jr. The course is mandatory for all new Virginia lawyers and provides training in professional conduct, ethics and the fundamental values of the profession. Additionally, Virginia State Bar President Manuel Capsalis appointed Richardson to the Virginia State Bar Professionalism Committee and the Public Protection Task Force. The Task Force addresses misappropriations by lawyers and evaluates strengths and weaknesses of the Bar’s public protection efforts, and the Professionalism Committee focuses on improving legal services to the public, improving the legal profession and improving the judicial system. For the past 10 years, Richardson has served as deputy city attorney for Norfolk. Prior to that, he was in private practice focusing on civil litigation. Richardson graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and earned his law degree from the University of Richmond. According to an article in The Olympian (Olympia, Washington), U.S. Army Brig. Gen. John D. Johnson ’77 has been nominated for promotion to the grade of major general. Johnson is serving as deputy commanding general of operations, I Corps and Fort Lewis (Washington). Johnson's previous assignments include that of commander, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. While in that position, he deployed the brigade to Iraq in 2003 to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon returning from Iraq, he served on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon as the chief of Strategy Division in the Deputy Directorate for the Global War on Terrorism, followed by duty on the Army staff as the deputy director for Strategy, Plans and Policy. He was then assigned as the assistant division commander, Maneuver, for the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. After returning from Korea, he assumed

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI NEWS tion Inc., which is owned by Jesse P. Waltz ’85, has been named the 2008 Small Business of the Year in Chesapeake, Virginia. The family-operated company is dedicated to residential and commercial basement waterproofing, crawl space repair, foundation and strucBarton C. Pasco ’77 has been tural repairs, moisture and elected president of the National wood replacement. It began in Association of Insurance & 1993 and now has locations in Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Chesapeake, Chester and Maof Virginia for 2008-09. Pasco nassas, Virginia. A team of 35 has been an active member of employees, including licensed NAIFA-Virginia for nearly 30 and professional engineers, years, serving as regional vice specialize in structural repairs president, secretary-treasurer in the Hampton Roads region. of the Executive Board, vice In the Richmond area and president and now presidentnorthern Virginia, they concenelect. He has also chaired sevtrate their efforts in basement eral committees including those waterproofing and refinishing, dealing with building, finance, the Pilot article states. membership, programs and To be eligible for the award, David Gallalee ‘82 has accepted a position with the professional development. a business must meet the folUnited Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan as the lowing requirements: fewer provincial justice coordinator for the eastern region. James V. O’Connor ’80, than 250 employees, gross Delaware Valley College asrevenues of less than $10 milsistant professor of English, lion in 2007 and in business has completed the requirements for Tribal Councils, the International Security more than three years. his doctorate in mass media and com- Assistance Force (ISAF/NATO) and U.S. The companies were judged on financial munication from Temple University. government agencies in strengthening performance and business history, staff His dissertation, titled “Resisting the Afghan rule of law. Based in Jalalabad, training and motivation, community inmelting pot through ethnic newspapers: Gallalee manages justice sector develop- volvement, customer service, and business History and function of the Irish Echo,” ment in Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman and plan or strategies and goals. examines the function of ethnic media Nuristan provinces. Waltz, who also runs JES Basement through the prism of the Irish Echo Prior to this appointment, Gallalee had Systems, graduated from VMI with a newspaper in New York. been in Afghanistan since 2007 as the U.S. bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Before joining the college in 2004, Treasury advisor to the Central Bank of O’Connor was a newspaper reporter Afghanistan on financial intelligence, as Robert A. Eaton ’87 has been appointed for 15 years. He served as a general well as an advisor on financial institution chief executive officer of the Appalachian assignment reporter for The New York supervision for the U.S. Agency for Inter- Blood Services Region headquartered in Times and a writer for Investor’s Busi- national Development (USAID). Roanoke, Virginia, as announced by the ness Daily. He reported on the civil war Before arriving in Afghanistan, Gal- Heritage Division of the American Red in Bosnia for The National Catholic lalee was based for two years at the U.S. Cross Blood Services. Register and has worked as a freelance Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, as the deputy Eaton joined the Red Cross following a writer for a variety of sports, travel and senior consultant for Financial and Fis- 21-year career in the U.S. Army in which business magazines, including Crain’s cal Affairs with the Iraq Reconstruction he worked within the Army’s healthcare New York Business, Porthole, Caribbean Management Office. system, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Life, Skiing and Field & Stream. Gallalee, who graduated from VMI with His most recent Army assignment was O’Connor, who graduated from VMI a bachelor’s degree in English, served as chief of operations at the Tripler Army with a bachelor’s degree in English, also in the U.S. Army field artillery as a first Medical Center in Honolulu. In that posiholds an M.B.A. from Manhattan Col- lieutenant. tion, he was the principle staff member lege Graduate School of Business and a for medical operations, training, planning, master’s degree in journalism from Iona According to an article in The Virginian- security and readiness for over 5,000 College in New Rochelle, New York. Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia), JES Construc- hospital staff supporting the multi-state the position of deputy commanding general for the Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command. Johnson, who matriculated from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was commissioned as a second lieutenant (infantry) after graduating from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in history.

2009- Issue 1

J. David Drewry Gallalee ’82 has accepted a position with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan as the provincial justice coordinator for the eastern region. In this position, he is responsible for coordinating efforts between the government of Afghanistan,

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ALUMNI NEWS hospital and clinic locations in Japan, Korea and the state of Hawaii. Eaton graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He also holds a master of science degree in management from Troy University. He and his wife, Tyler, live in Roanoke. Robert D. Staley ’95, Ph.D., has been appointed director of secondary education for Hanover County (Virginia) Public Schools (HCPS). In this position, he is responsible for directing and coordinating the overall middle and high school instructional program. HCPS consists of 10 secondary schools: four middle schools, four high schools, The Hanover Center for Trades and Technology, and The Georgetown School. Prior to this appointment, Staley was the principal of Stonewall Jackson Middle School from 2003-08 and assistant principal at Lee-Davis High School from 2000-03. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia Richmond Center. Staley graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in English and earned a doctorate degree in education from the University of Virginia in May 2007. Joshua B.Y. Strickler ’95 has been named Hawaii’s first energy facilitator, as announced by Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle. In this role, Strickler will work to help increase the use of renewable energy and decrease Hawaii’s dependence on imported oil. The new post was proposed this year by the Lingle-Aiona administration and approved by the state legislature. As renewable energy facilitator, Strickler’s duties include assisting renewable energy projects with the existing permitting process; working with federal, state and county agencies to streamline the permitting process for new renewable energy facilities while preserving the authority of the agencies to review and approve permits under their respective jurisdictions; and coordinating energy projects. Strickler is a registered professional engineer as well as a licensed attorney. Before taking the state job, he was an attorney with the legal firm of Kobayashi

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John R. (Jack) Herzog III ’06, left, graduated from the Baltimore City Police Academy in March 2008. While at the academy, he was the class commander and received the prestigious Commissioners Award for the highest academic, defense tactics and weapons average. Herzog is shown above with Baltimore City Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefield. He is currently a patrol officer in the Baltimore city northern district. Photo courtesy Amanda Herzog.

Sugita & Goda and worked principally on construction litigation. Prior to launching his law career, he was facility manager for Raytheon Services where he helped with the building of a new oil field in Kazakhstan. Strickler earned his law degree from the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and is pursuing a master of business administration from the UH Shidler College of Business. He graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Bronzie R. (Trey) Fain III ’08 has been accepted into the Peace Corps and departed for Tonga in October 2008 where he is being trained as a business education volunteer. Upon graduation from training, Fain will be advising schools and local government on business matters. During the first three months of service, Fain is living with a host family to become fully immersed in the country’s language and culture. After acquiring the skills necessary to assist his community,

he will serve for two years in Tonga, living in a manner similar to people in his host country. The Kingdom of Tonga is a cluster of 171 islands, 48 of them inhabited, in the South Pacific Ocean, stretching over a distance of 500 miles. The islands lie south of Samoa and are about one-third of the way from New Zealand to Hawaii. Tonga is the only sovereign monarchy among the island nations of the Pacific Ocean, as well as being the only island nation never to have been formally colonized. The Peace Corps has sent over 1,479 volunteers to the Kingdom of Tonga since the commencement of its program there in 1967. Volunteers in this South Pacific Ocean nation work in the areas of youth and business development, education, environmental preservation, information technology and health and HIV/AIDS awareness. There are currently 31 volunteers serving in Tonga. Fain, who matriculated from Bassett, Virginia, graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI NEWS Bill ’07 Returns to Teach Karen A. Bill ’07 returned to VMI last fall to teach CE412, a senior-level lecture course on environmental engineering chemistry. Bill filled in for Col. Charles B. Bott ’96, who is on a faculty development leave during the 2008-09 academic year. Since she graduated from VMI, Bill has spent a majority of her time working with Bott on a project funded by the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority. Bott tapped Bill for a program that allows VMI alumni to apply for graduate studies in Virginia Tech’s civil and environmental engineering department and to work with him at the Institute on their master’s thesis research projects. Funding for Bill’s stipends and tuition is provided from research contracts. Bill began her project the summer after graduation and plans to defend her research in March 2009. Bill has been evaluating alternative external carbon sources that could be used in place of methanol for attached growth post-denitrification processes. These and similar processes are being considered by the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington, D.C., and other wastewater treatment plants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed that are facing more stringent effluent nitrogen limitations.

“The program has been a great way for me to advance my education, and teaching on Post was a good opportunity for me to see if teaching might be in my future,” said Bill. “At first, it seemed a little weird to teach among my former professors, but they were really very welcoming.” According to Col. R. Wane Schneiter, professor and head of the civil and environmental engineering department, Bill is the first woman to teach a VMI civil engineering class and the first alumna to teach at the Institute. He said he’s quite pleased with the job she did and was glad to have her continue the pioneering tradition by sharing her expertise with students in his department. “I think in some respects it was easier for my students to ask questions, because they could relate to me in a different way than a professor,” said Bill. “I got to know some of my students doing research over the summer, and one of them was a fellow VMI soccer player. All in all, it was a great experience; however, had I known two years ago that I would be teaching this course, I would have taken better notes.” Having been a student for six years, Bill plans to take time off next summer before pursuing a civil engineering job in the public or private sectors.

... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements... Book Announcements ... Book Announcem ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcement Food Water Energy and Human Survival by Daniel J. Myers Jr. ’49B, Elderberry Press, 2008. Available online at http://stores.foodwaterenergy.net. In Food Water Energy and Human Survival, the author, Daniel Myers, takes a close look at already existing technologies that could be brought to bear on some of the world’s greatest challenges – everything from global warming and sky-high gasoline prices to eliminating water and food shortages. In the book, you can learn: 2009- Issue 1

• Why you might want to put a solar stove on your shopping list. • The promise of Tesla Motors’ lithiumion battery-driven car. • How global warming could be drastically reduced if we used nuclear reactors and geothermal generators to produce electricity. • The feasibility of establishing a U.S. Food Corps to eliminate starvation by teaching Africans how to farm. • How we can create all the palatable water the world needs by desalinating ocean water. (Continued on next page.) 191

ALUMNI NEWS ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ...

About the Author: Father Anthony Russo ’55 grew up in Clifton, New Jersey. In 1955, he received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from VMI, along with a commission in the U.S. Army. Ordained by Cardinal Spellman of New York in 1965, Russo was sent in 1967 to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where he has dedicated his life to working with and for the deaf.

About the Author: Daniel J. Myers Jr. ’49B attended VMI but is a 1951 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. He also earned a master’s degree in nuclear physics from Tulane University. Myers is a decorated Korean and Vietnam War veteran. As a member of the Defense Atomic Support Agency, he was responsible for the research, development and testing of nuclear warheads. After retiring from the Army, Myers was a vice president at Merrill Lynch until his retirement. He lives in Kapolei, Hawaii. In Silent Prayer by Anthony Russo ’55, C.Ss.R., Square One Publishers, 2008. ISBN 978-7570-0238-0. Available from amazon.com. In 1847, at the invitation of Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick, Mother St. John Fournier – a nun who had been trained in France to teach deaf people – a was given a position in a Philadelphia parish. Thus began well over a century and a half of tireless ministry to the Archdiocese’s deaf Catholic community. Written by Father Anthony Russo ’55, who has devoted himself to the deaf community for over 40 years, In Silent Prayer traces the history of this special ministry in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Through insightful text, as well as historic documents and photographs, Russo tells the story of the great men and women who have provided this important service over the years. Outstanding memories are also highlighted – not only moments of triumph but also moments of difficulty and change. This book also looks forward

to the coming years and considers how service to the deaf community can be further shaped and improved. Specific examples of how to establish an effective ministry are included along with a discussion of the ideas and attitudes necessary to effect change and progress in ministry today.

Among the People, U.S. Marines in Iraq by Lt. Col. David A. Benhoff ’86, Marine Corps University Press, 2008. Stock Number: 008-000-01013-7. Available from the U.S. Government Book Store at http://bookstore.gpo.gov. Among the People, U.S. Marines in Iraq is a photographic essay of images taken by Lt. Col. David A. Benhoff ’86 during his deployment in 2005. The images capture the day-to-day efforts of the Marines in their civil affairs work with the Iraqi people. The first section of the book depicts activities occurring at one of the civil-military operations centers. The second section covers civil affairs group tactical teams, and the final section focuses on Marines interacting with the Iraqi Security Forces. Each section begins with a descriptive lead-in providing details on the missions and activities. Along with the photographs are quotations taken from interviews with some of the Marines that Benhoff encountered. The book includes a foreword by retired Marine Gen. Anthony C. Zinni. About the Author: Lt. Col. David Benhoff ’86 matriculated from Prospect, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in history. He received his master’s degree in education from Lynchburg College.

... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announce Book Announcements ... Book Announcem ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcement

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

INSTITUTE INSTITUTE Cheney Addresses VMI Corps of Cadets

Vice President Dick Cheney with Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent.

One ring rose among the puffs of smoke as the VMI Cadet Battery fired a 19-gun salute and the Regimental Band played “Ruffles and Flourishes” in greeting to the vice president of the United States. A crowd of an estimated 3,000 watched as Vice President Richard B. Cheney strode onto VMI’s Parade Ground just after 10:30

2009- Issue 1

a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, which was also VMI’s Military Appreciation Day. Introduced by Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, and apologizing for his laryngitis, Cheney began his address to the Corps by noting its “immense contribution in defense of the nation,” calling its tradition of honor “unshakable.”

Cheney quickly turned his attention to the current war, which, he said, began with a “heartless attack on our nation.” In a brief nod to the recent election, Cheney said the nation remained “resolute” and that the transition of power to President-Elect Barack Obama would be “smooth and graceful.” Applause from spectators punctuated his final remarks, including the declaration, “We will never give in to the Jihadists” and an assessment of the Corps of Cadets: “At VMI you follow the same code of honor known to General Marshall. … You order your lives in the same manner. “I am pleased,” he concluded, “to give you the respect of your fellow Americans. May you always watch over the United States of America.” This was Cheney’s third visit to the VMI Post. He spoke on Post in 1993 and in 1996. Remarks by Peay in introducing Cheney had noted that VMI’s annual Military Appreciation Day was particularly “fitting in this time of war.” He urged the community to be mindful of the more than 1,200 VMI alumni who are or have been deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and especially the 11 who have died in action. He noted that 63 members of the Corps and nine members of the VMI faculty and staff have been deployed. Peay also acknowledged the recent election, noting that the VMI Corps wished to

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INSTITUTE thank Cheney for his service “as his last days in office near.” Cheney and Peay took review of the Corps, and Cheney lingered afterward to talk to the cadet regimental officers. During the parade, the VMI Pipes and Drums and Regimental Band played favorites, including “Shenandoah,” as well as the national anthem and “VMI Spirit.” After the parade, Cheney was the guest of Peay in the superintendent’s quarters. There, regimental commander Cadet First Capt. Zachary Youngsma ’09 presented Cheney with a crystal bowl on behalf of the Corps of Cadets. Cheney joined Peay for lunch and then toured the Marshall Museum before departing Post in the afternoon. Military Appreciation Day continued on Post with a pregame flyover of a B-2 bomber before the afternoon football game against Liberty University in Foster Stadium. The U.S. Army Silent Drill Team performed at halftime.

Vice President Cheney met members of the regimental staff after the morning parade. All Cheney visit photos by Kevin Remington, VMI.

Photo at left: More than 400 members of VMI’s Rat class took the oath as cadets during a ceremony at the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park. After taking a tour of the historic grounds and reciting the Cadet Oath, the cadets charged across the battlefield, as the New Market cadets did in 1864, and later marched through the town of New Market before boarding buses to return to Post. The Rat battalion staff on parade is pictured Editor’s Note: Unless stated in the photo at left otherwise, the articles and photos in taken by Col. Louis the Institute section of the Alumni VanLoan (Van) NaiReview are provided by VMI sawald ’42. Communications and Marketing.

Deployed Cadets See Close Encounters, Delayed Graduation With the nation at war, a steady stream of VMI cadets returns to Post each fall or spring to resume their education after serving their country in the time-honored tradition of citizen-soldier. Recently, seven have resumed their academic studies after being deployed with their Army National Guard or Marine Corps Reserve units in Iraq or Kosovo. They often bring back experiences that no training manual or textbook can adequately describe. For instance, Cadet Albert Bowker ’07 (Company A, 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, out of Fredericksburg, Virginia) had a close encounter with an “explosively formed penetrator,” or EFP, while his combat vehicle was operating as part of a quick reaction force and recovery team to help convoy vehicles in distress along embattled Iraqi roads. As he recalled, “My head was under a foot from the glass right behind the shattered section [of the truck]; had it penetrated, I would have been taking the full slug to my head. Thank God for ‘Pope Glass,’ as it’s nicknamed.” Other than smoke inhalation and headaches from

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the concussive wave, Bowker and the truck’s commander and driver suffered no injuries. Although their vehicle had “random armor damage,” they were able to push on to complete their recovery mission. Bowker, who expects to serve in the Army as an enlisted soldier after completing his VMI education, said, “Whether going in as an enlisted soldier or as an officer, duty in Iraq gave me a little of the experience of how things are out there. It is better than trying to learn all about it on paper.” His unit was targeted by a type of sophisticated armor-piercing weapon that shoots out fist-sized wads of near-molten copper. Another recently returning cadet, David Downing ’09, worked with his National Guard unit in Kosovo as part of a liaison monitoring team under Task Force Red Dragon. “My primary responsibilities,” he said, “were to establish rapport with the local nationals, both Serbian and Albanian, and gather any overt information they were willing to convey. This was an outstanding multinational learning experience for me as I was a team leader for two Polish soldiers.” On the down side, long

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

INSTITUTE deployments for this mission took Downing away from the Institute for two years, and he says, “It has been a struggle re-integrating into the Corps.” He is taking a heavier-than-normal academic course load in an effort to graduate as close to “on time” as possible. “Overall,” Downing said, “I believe the good outweighs the bad, because I plan on commissioning into the active Army, and I have always heard the best officers have spent time enlisted. Also, this goes along with the VMI tradition of being a citizen-soldier, as many VMI men have done before me.” Cadet Steven Huffman’09 also served in Kosovo as a team leader of an infantry unit with such multiple duties as running vehicle checkpoints and occasionally conducting house searches to confiscate weapons, drugs or other contraband and operating as a quick reaction force. Huffman also expressed thoughts about the trade-off of costs and benefits as a result of deploying in the middle of the college years. “I will be in Barracks at least a year and a half after my Brother Rats have left, which isn’t exactly when I hoped to graduate when I came here. But all things considered, I can’t say I have room to complain, especially considering the sacrifices others make overseas, which I was spared. “Returning to the rigors of VMI has been a big challenge after spending so much time out of the system and away from academics. Some of the habits that aid us here are lost when we spend time away in a different culture. “Many of the habits we form here aid us immensely elsewhere – particularly the ability to squeeze 40 hours of work from a 24-hour day and not freak out when we are forced to cut things close.”

In addition to Bowker, Downing and Huffman, those returning from active duty this semester are Cadets Christopher Webb ’07 and Kyle Francis ’05, both of whom served in Kosovo, and Donald Glass III ’08 and Jonathan Faff ’03, both of whom served in Iraq. Cadets currently deployed are Ryan Spahr ’09, Army Reserve; James Bowman ’11, Marine Corps Reserve; and Brendan Walmsley ’09, Army National Guard. All three are in Iraq. Also, at the time of this writing, Emily Fritts ’10 is deploying to Iraq with her Army National Guard unit.

Photo at lower left: Cadet Steven Huffman ’09 training an Austrian soldier while deployed in Kosovo. Photo at upper left: Cadet Albert Bowker ’07 was saved by ballistic glass when an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) struck his vehicle in Iraq. Photo above: Cadet Ryan Spahr ’09, who is deployed to Iraq, took advantage of the final photo opportunity with Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, then commander of Multinational Force Iraq. While in Iraq, Spahr met his “uncle dyke,” Matt Plant ’06, and Mike Pasquale ’06, along with other alumni. In addition to finishing three semesters at VMI before deploying to Iraq, Spahr spent one semester at the German Armed Forces University and completed a summer study-abroad program at Oxford University. “My study abroad opportunities have been one of the most rewarding experiences that I have had from VMI,” said Spahr, who expects to graduate in December 2009. As for the preparation VMI gave Spahr for active duty, he remarked, “I think that every little bit of training, whether it is physical or mental, helps out.”

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INSTITUTE room. “We plan to tell the VMI story here, from the founding of VMI right up to the year 2001, when the first female cadet graduated,” said Gibson. Currently, the cases house temporary displays. “These cases are high security, yet allow for great flexibility in installation,” said Gibson. One exhibit is devoted to the work of the It’s surprising to be greeted by a full-size or her] child in a coatee and take a pho- sculptor Moses Ezekiel, who fought in the horse inside a museum. tograph, that is absolutely fine,” Gibson Battle of New Market and graduated from In the VMI Museum’s current configu- said. “Of course, we are not putting any VMI in 1867. Gibson recently published a ration, which took shape after its move irreplaceable pieces in the room, and biography of Ezekiel. For scholars like Gibson, the museum over a year ago to its permanent location we are ready to make some allowances contains a reference library and conference in Jackson Memorial Hall, Little Sorrel is for shrinkage. We feel that the overall room where classes can meet and artifacts deservingly one of the first things to catch experience will outweigh any losses that visitors’ eyes as they enter the museum. we might incur,” Gibson added. There are can be used to enhance lectures. The exhibitions lead out “Little Sorrel is the oldest through the gift shop, which mounted horse in America has preserved the striking views and one of only about six hisinto the Memorial Gardens. “We torically significant mounted now have direct access to the horses in the world,” said Col. Memorial Gardens, and there Keith Gibson ’77, museum is handicapped access by way of director. The famous battlefield charthe elevator,” said Gibson. ger shares his display case with Eventually, when the PX Stonewall Jackson’s uniforms moves into New Barracks, the and a battle flag, as well as Jack100 level will house the VMI son’s field desk, which is also Alumni Story, illustrating the believed to have been his desk lives of VMI’s citizen-soldiers on when he taught at VMI. the upper level and displaying “Basically we want to offer a the Henry M. Stewart antique Col. Keith Gibson ’77, executive director, Museum Opchronological exploration of firearms collection on the lower erations, in front of the new VMI Museum exhibit about VMI’s heritage,” said Gibson, level. Sir Moses Ezekiel, class of 1867. who has been responsible for The 100 level also houses some the museum’s design, from its of VMI’s 12,000-piece collection overall layout down to the detailed display even cadet-issue rifles, though for security in a secure, state-of-the-art storage area. “If cases. “However, since the material related reasons, these are actually movie props. you go into the Smithsonian, objects will to Stonewall Jackson is so popular, we “And when school groups visit,” Gibson be stored this way,” said Gibson. “It is very brought it out front.” continued, “a cadet can go into the room impressive for a museum of this size to have The museum’s construction and renova- and explain how it functions; in this way, a facility of this caliber.” tion began four years ago, and the museum it becomes a living theater.” All the objects have been cataloged was housed for a time in the Marshall The main exhibit gallery is a unique faux with accession numbers that are stored Museum while Jackson Memorial Hall limestone octagonal room. “This reflects in a computerized database. The artifacts was renovated. “We hope to have to the the original Barracks built in 1851,” themselves are stored in acid-free boxes museum fully complete by 2010,” Gibson explained Gibson. Near the ceiling is the under climate-controlled conditions with a added. same inscription that goes around the par- high security system. Scholars have access Since the museum moved to its perma- apet. A VMI class ring exhibit is displayed to the material by appointment. nent home in JM Hall more than a year in the center of the room in an octagonal “We are professionally accredited by the ago, the cabinetry on the 200 level has case faceted like a gemstone, which Gib- American Association of Museums. It is been finished, and several permanent and son also designed. There are spaces for all unusual to have a museum of this quality temporary exhibits have been installed. the class rings until the bicentennial year at an institution of this size. It speaks to Directly across from the Jackson display 2039. “The earliest ring is from 1848, and the unique character of VMI in a very real is a full-scale furnished replica of a cadet’s since 1913, we have an unbroken lineage,” way,” noted Gibson. room. Keeping up with today’s interactive said Gibson. “We’ve left spaces for all the Perhaps this is why the museum welmethodology, visitors are allowed to enter missing rings and have great hopes we will comes over 40,000 visitors per year. and explore the room, which is complete eventually acquire them. The 1869 ring For additional information, visit the from toothbrushes to racks, books and came in only two months ago.” museum’s Web site at www.vmi.edu/ uniforms. “If a parent wants to dress [his An outer octagon surrounds this central museum.

Museum Exhibits Take Up Permanent Residence at JM Hall

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ATHLETICS ATHLETICS VMI Wins 2007-08 Big South Institutional Sportsmanship Award VMI has been named the winner of the Big South Conference annual Institutional Sportsmanship Award for the 2007-08 athletic season. The Institute received the honor for the third consecutive year and has claimed the honor all three years of the award’s history. Big South student-athletes vote on the team awards following each conference championship. To determine the overall winner, league officials calculate the maximum points possible for each team award and then compare that number to actual points achieved. VMI, which was honored with four team sportsmanship awards in 2007-08, was tops among the Big South membership with a 40.76 percentage of the maximum points received in its sponsored league sports. Big South student-athletes voted for VMI as the top sportsmanship team in women’s soccer, men’s soccer, football and baseball in 2007-08.

Cadet Goodwillie ’12 Named Swimmer of the Week Cadet James Goodwillie ’12 earned the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association swimmer of the week distinction by placing in four events, two as an individual, in the first meet of his intercollegiate career. He is the first Keydet swimmer to achieve this honor. Goodwillie is the grandson of James G. (Jeep) Goodwillie III ’60 and the son of James G. (Skip) Goodwillie IV ’83, both of whom are former class agents.

Editor’s Note: Due to the fact that publishing deadlines for this issue preceded the end of the sports season, the VMI Sports Information Office was unable to submit season wrap-up articles. These articles will appear in the next Alumni Review, 2009-Issue 2.

Basketball Schedule - 2009 Mon. Feb. 02 Wed. Feb. 04 Sat. Feb. 07 Mon. Feb. 09 Sat. Feb. 14 Mon. Feb. 16 Sat. Feb. 21 Tue. Feb. 24 Sat. Feb. 28

UNC Asheville Winthrop Gardner-Webb Charleston Southern Coastal Carolina Presbyterian Radford Liberty High Point

Lexington, VA at Rock Hill, SC Lexington, VA Lexington, VA at Conway, SC at Clinton, SC Lexington, VA at Lynchburg, VA at High Point, NC

7 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

Wrestling Schedule - 2009 Thu. Feb. 05 Sat. Feb. 07 Wed. Feb. 11 Thu. Feb. 19 Mon. Feb. 23 Sat. Mar. 07

2009- Issue 1

The Citadel All-Academy Championships Appalachian State Liberty Chattanooga Southern Conference Championships

Lexington, VA Lexington, VA Lexington, VA at Lynchburg, VA at Chattanooga, TN at Charleston, SC

7:30 p.m.

9:30 7:30 7:00 6:00

a.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.

All Day

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. VMI FOUNDATION, INC.

The Institute Society Members Provide $1.8 Million to VMI In Fiscal Year 2008, the members of The Institute Society provided VMI more than $1.8 million of what the Institute’s academic and co-curricular programs always need: unrestricted money. Created in 1973, The Institute Society’s ranks are made up of alumni and friends of VMI who are leaders in providing unrestricted private support to VMI through the VMI Foundation’s Foundation Fund. “For decades now, private financial support has been a critical component of VMI’s finances,” said Jim Adams ’71, executive vice president of the VMI Foundation. “This year, for example, private money will make up more than 30% of VMI’s operating budget. With current economic conditions threatening the revenues of the commonwealth, it is almost certain that the importance of private financial support will only increase. “Of course, all gifts and commitments to VMI are most welcome,” continued Adams. “Unrestricted money, such as that raised

through the Foundation Fund, however, is especially appreciated, because it gives VMI the ability to take advantage of opportunities to improve the education of the Corps of Cadets and to give vital support to important programs.” Alumni and friends of VMI become members of The Institute Society by donating at least $1,500 to the Foundation Fund. (Younger alumni – those whose classes have not yet celebrated their 15th reunions – qualify at lower giving levels.) Annually, for the past three and a half decades, members of The Institute Society have given the majority of donations to the Foundation Fund. In Fiscal Year 2008, the 908 members of the society continued this legacy of generosity; their gifts to the Foundation Fund totaled $1,873,554, or 67.4%, of the record-setting $2,780,291 given to the Foundation Fund. Furthermore, members of the society gave a grand total of almost $17.9 million to VMI during FY 2008. “The leaders in support of VMI who make

During the reunion parade on Sept. 20, 2008, the class of 1983 presented the proceeds of its 25th Reunion Fund to VMI. Accepting the facsimile check for more than $4 million were the superintendent, General J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, U.S. Army (Ret), far right, and Richmond P. Lykins ’73, president of The VMI Alumni Association, far left. Jim Outland, class of ’83 Reunion Fund Committee chairman, center left, and Teddy Gottwald, class of ’83 president, center right, made the presentation. The fund accepted further gifts and commitments until Dec. 31, 2008. Photos by Kathryn Wise.

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up The Institute Society are highly regarded by everyone on Post and, indeed, within the entire VMI family,” Adams said. “For VMI to thrive, however, it will need more unrestricted financial support, and, for that to happen, more people need to enter the ranks of the society. So, I ask all members of the VMI family to think about how important VMI is to the commonwealth and the nation and take stock of their personal financial situations. If they have the ability to give $1,500 a year – $125 a month – to VMI, I hope they will make the commitment to the Foundation Fund and become members of The Institute Society.” For more information on The Institute Society – including how younger alumni can become members at lower giving thresholds – please contact John Wranek ’85 at the VMI Foundation, or visit the VMI Alumni Agencies’ Web site at www. vmialumni.org. (Information on The Institute Society is under the VMI Foundation heading.)

On Oct. 4, 2008, during the Second Fall Reunion Weekend at VMI, the class of 1998 presented the initial results of its 10th Reunion Fund to the Institute: $367,331.98. Presenting the check were Michael Lorence ’98, Reunion Fund Committee chairman, and Class Agent Hamel Reinmiller ’98, center left and right. Accepting for VMI were the superintendent, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III, USA (Ret), right, and Randy Blanks ’67, first vice president of The VMI Alumni Association.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC.

Foundation Executive Vice President James L. Adams ’71 Announces Retirement In September 2008, James L. Adams ’71, Ed. D., announced his retirement as the executive vice president of the VMI Foundation, effective at the end of the current fiscal year (June 30, 2009). Adams became the Foundation’s executive vice president, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Foundation including fundraising and endowment management, in summer 1998. Adding the four years he spent working as the public relations director for VMI from 1977-81, Adams will have devoted 15 years of his professional life to VMI and its advancement. During Adams’ tenure, the VMI Foundation raised more than $280 million in gifts and commitments to the Foundation and VMI Development Board, including more than $22 million in unrestricted annual gifts to the Foundation Fund, and provided VMI almost $195 million in support, including more than $41 million in scholarship aid to cadets. In the past five years, the Foundation also has emphasized increasing the numbers of alumni who make a gift or commitment to VMI, and its efforts have enjoyed success with annual alumni participation increasing 29% at a time when, nationwide, alumni giving has endured a downward trend. In Fiscal Year 2008, alumni participation stood at 35.7%. “For many years now, private financial support has been absolutely critical to VMI and its Corps of Cadets,” said Walter C. Perrin II ’62, current president of the VMI Foundation. “Since 1998, Jim Adams has structured an impressive team of development professionals who have worked tirelessly to engage the VMI family in order to increase the support its members provide to VMI, and the record of fundraising success enjoyed by the Foundation demonstrates that the VMI family has responded magnificently. Thanks to 2009- Issue 1

Jim’s leadership, the VMI Foundation has admirably fulfilled its motto, ‘Excellence in Service.’” Reflecting on his time at the helm of the VMI Foundation, Adams described it as “a privilege.” He continued, “The vast majority of alumni dream of doing something positive for VMI, of giving back something of what the Institute has given them. I have been blessed to have had my dream fulfilled by leading the VMI Foundation and increasing its capacity to support the Institute of today and tomorrow during these past 11 years.” In October, Perrin announced the formation of a search committee that will work with the selected search firm in finding Adams’ successor. VMI Foundation trustee Hugh M. Fain III ’80 will be its chairman. Joining Fain on the committee are Foundation trustees Gen. David M. Maddox ’60, U.S. Army (Ret); Kent R. Carrington ’76; and William H. Keech ’61; members of the VMI Board of Visitors James E. Rogers ’67 and Mike W. Maxwell ’87; the VMI Keydet Club’s second vice president, U. “Buzz” Birzenieks ’64; and former president of The VMI Alumni Association, C. Douglas Marechal ’62. Serving as non-voting ex-officio members of the committee are Perrin; Robert Copty ’70, the Foundation’s vice president-fundraising; and Walton M. Jeffress Jr. ’68, the Foundation’s vice president-administration. The search firm selected to assist the search committee to handle the initial screening of candidates is Atlanta, Georgia-based Boardwalk Consulting. Information on the position can be found at the firm’s Web site, www. boardwalkconsulting.com. “Throughout VMI’s history, private

Adams ’71

financial support has seen VMI through some tough economic times,” said Perrin. “The continuing strength of the VMI Foundation, therefore, is of paramount importance to VMI today and in the future. Certainly, then, the new executive vice president of the Foundation must be a world-class fundraiser who also is deeply familiar with investments. He or she also must firmly support VMI’s unique culture and mission and be resolutely dedicated to ensuring that the Institute retains its singular place in American higher education. I am sure that we will find such a candidate and, thus, ensure the VMI Foundation builds upon its current strengths as it strives to serve VMI,” Perrin concluded.

Editor’s Note: Unless stated otherwise, all articles in the Foundation section of the Alumni Review are provided by the VMI Foundation.

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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 Aug. 1 through Oct. 31, 2008.

Col. William J. Buchanan ’50B Mr. Joseph J. Rizzolo ’75

Dr. Chester F. Burgess Jr. Mr. Robert R. Sparks Jr. ’69

Mr. Inslee Burnett Jr. Mrs. Inslee Burnett

Mr. Paul D. Camp III Col. Oscar H. Adams ’36, USA Isabel and Mac Bates Ms. Ann K. Berryman Ms. Lucy B. Del Cardayre Mr. William H. Hoofnagle III ’67 and Mrs. Hoofnagle Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Roffman Mr. and Mrs. Paul N. Rogers Ms. Elizabeth A. Shutt Mr. and Mrs. William A. Young Jr.

Mr. Alfred S. Aldrich Jr. ’67 Mr. John J. Sheeran ’67

Mr. Carter R. Anderson Jr. ’67 Mr. John J. Sheeran ’67

Mr. C.S. Venable Barclay ’54 Henry G. White Jr. ’54, MD and Mrs. White

1st Lt. William B. Bell ’67, USA Mrs. Celestia Dillard Forepaugh Mr. John J. Sheeran ’67

Mr. Charles W. Best Jr. ’58 Class of 1958 Mr. John T. Cunningham III ’58 and Mrs. Cunningham Lt. Col. Theron A. Henry Jr. ’58, USAF (Ret) Mr. Thomas A. Saunders III ’58

Mr. William A. Bickerstaff ’52 Mr. Charlie D. Pack Jr. Edward J. Wiley Jr. ’52, MD

Mr. W.H. Blackwell Jr. ’50B Mr. Charles W. Bragg Jr. ’50B Mr. Wadsworth Bugg Jr. ’43 and Mrs. Bugg Mrs. William C. Overman Jr. Mr. David B. Stuart Sr. ’53 Mr. William P. Talbott ’50B

Mr. William H. Blair Mr. Donald M. Giles ’64

Mr. R. Tyler Bland Jr. ’42 Mrs. B. Claiborne Christian

Mr. Henry A. Bruno Jr. ’72 Col. Christopher R. Jones ’72, USCGR

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Pat Hickerson, BOV and Dennis Fogarty

Mr. Joseph F. Carfora Mr. Stephen J. Carfora

Kenneth W. Carrington ’50B, MD Mr. William P. Talbott ’50B

Mr. Edward G. Casazza The Reverend William S. Glazier II

Ms. Theresa M. Casazza The Reverend William S. Glazier II

Mr. Lynn P. Chewning ’49B Mr. William M. Noftsinger ’49A and Mrs. Noftsinger

Mrs. Nancy Crowder Coleman Ms. Jennifer L. Crocker Mr. and Mrs. Richard V. Hughes Mr. Robert P. Jones Jr. ’44 and Mrs. Jones Ms. Sallie A. Leys Ms. Sherry B. Oelkers

Mrs. Edwin Cox Mr. William H. Cox ’93

Mr. Edwin Cox ’20 Mr. William H. Cox ’93

Mr. Edwin Cox III ’53 Mr. William H. Cox ’93

Mrs. Edwin Cox III Mr. William H. Cox ’93

Mr. Robert H. Deaderick ’40

Col. John A. Augustine III ’40, USAF (Ret) and Mrs. Augustine

Deceased Brother Rats Class of 1968 Class of 1968

Deceased Brother Rats Class of 1972 The Honorable James D. Pagones ’72

Mrs. Elizabeth F. Dillard Mrs. Celestia Dillard Forepaugh

Col. Herbert N. Dillard Jr. ’34 Mrs. Celestia Dillard Forepaugh

Mr. Carson L. Tucker ’70

Sgt. Ryan E. Doltz ’00, ANG Mr. Matthew K. McQueen ’03

Mrs. William A. Doyle Mr. W. Thomas Hawkins ’49C

Donald J. Dunlap ’54, DMin Lt. Col. J.D.P. Fuller Jr. ’54, USAF (Ret) Mr. John L. Rowe Jr. ’66 and Mrs. Rowe Henry G. White Jr. ’54, MD and Mrs. White

Mr. Charles E. Early ’47 Mr. Thomas R. Culler Jr.

Mr. Ralph Echols ’21 Mr. Gordon Echols

Mr. Ralph E. Eckert ’66 Mr. Howard M. Lloyd Jr. ’66

Mrs. Anna H. Eggleston Mr. David H. Kennedy ’71

Mr. Wayne R. Eggleston ’88 Mr. David T. Hart ’91

Mr. Russell H. Ferrey ’39 Mr. and Mrs. Lewis L. Jennings

Mr. John B. Foret Jr. ’67 Mr. L. Jan Abernathy ’67 Mr. Howard M. Lloyd Jr. ’66

Lt. Col. Fleming M. Fox IV ’67, USAF Mr. John J. Sheeran ’67

Mr. Kenneth M. Frick ’68

Mr. Richard H. Knight Jr. ’70 and Mrs. Knight

Lt. Arthur L. Galloway Jr. ’69, USA Mr. Russell S. Evans Jr. ’65

Mr. Benjamin R. Gardner ’64 Pat Hickerson, BOV and Dennis Fogarty

Mr. James E. Gates Mr. Damon E. Gates

Ms. Frances B. Gill Mrs. Isabel H. AtLee

James Samuel Gillespie III ’94 Mr. George W. Inge ’91

Mr. Steven Wayne Good ’71 Mrs. Steven W. Good

Lt. Col. Carroll B. Guthrie III ’67, USA Mr. John J. Sheeran ’67

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mr. Lomax Gwathmey Jr. ’58 Mr. G. Brooke Doggett ’58

Mr. Richard A. Harris Jr. ’46 Mrs. Richard A. Harris Jr.

Lt. Col. David E. Hess Jr. Mrs. Frances W. Arehart Ms. Nina Milbauer Col. Douglas E. Taylor and Mrs. Taylor

B. Richard Hill ’68, DDS James C. Burns ’68, DDS

Mr. O. Halsey Hill ’39 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71 Mr. G. William Gearhart Jr. ’70 Mr. James D. Gearhart ’71 Mr. Michael K. Smeltzer ’58 and Mrs. Smeltzer

Mr. Thomas B. Inge Jr. ’59 Mr. George W. Inge ’91

Mr. James P. Irby ’81 Carneal-Drew Foundation

Col. Kurt W. Iversen ’85 Mr. Matthew K. McQueen ’03

Cmdr. Arthur J. Johns ’51, USN Mr. John J. Ross III ’51 and Mrs. Ross

Mr. T. Ralph Jones Jr. ’42 Mr. Wortham A. Spilman Jr. ’42 and Mrs. Spilman Mr. Charles P. Wilson ’42

Mr. Dan L. Jordan ’67 Mr. John J. Sheeran ’67

Mr. Thomas A. Joynes Mr. Warren J. Bryan ’71 and Mrs. Bryan

Mr. John W. Keith Jr. ’48B

Mr. Charles Dedian Mr. Donald G. Edel Dr. Joseph R. Gazala and Mrs. Gazala Dr. Halcott T. Haden and Mrs. Haden Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Hoxsie Mr. Douglas Lynn Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lynn Mr. and Mrs. Randolph C. Raine Sr. Mr. Charles J. Schaefer ’48 and Mrs. Schaefer Mr. Donald B. Vaden Mr. Winfrey T. Wade Dr. Herbert Wiesinger

Mr. Arthur C. Knight Mr. Robert R. Fair

Cadet Robert R. Knight ’11 Mr. John H. Hackney

2009- Issue 1

Mr. and Mrs. John E. Melius Col. Steven L. Turner ’71, USAF (Ret)

Mr. William H. Kulp ’34 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Doughty Mr. and Mrs. Allan S. Eidson Dr. Robert V. Jackson and Mrs. Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Patrick M. Loftus Mr. and Mrs. Douglas C. Miller Mr. and Mrs. Donald W. Trotter Kristie and Fred Wolferman

Col. Mell J. Lacy Jr. ’63, USAF Anonymous

Col. A.M. Lipscomb Jr. ’34 Mrs. Arthur M. Lipscomb

Capt. Donald J. Mattaro Jr. ’66, USA Mr. Howard M. Lloyd Jr. ’66

Mr. C. Irvin McClelland ’55 Mr. Ronald M. Bryan ’55

Mr. William G. McClure Jr. ’43 Mr. and Mrs. Montzeree C. Blakey

Col. Joel L. McGrady ’72, USA Sarah A. Liddle and Martin E. Maples

Mr. Thaddeus J. Meler ’48A Mr. Thomas R. Meler ’62

Mr. Zebulon V. Mitchell Jr. ’68 Mr. David H. Kennedy ’71

Col. Joseph S. Morison ’53, USAF Mr. Phillip L. Lanier ’68

Mr. Alexander H. Morrison II ’66 Mr. Howard M. Lloyd Jr. ’66

Mr. Benham E. Morriss Jr. ’49B Mrs. Benham E. Morriss Jr.

Mr. Halcott L. Moses ’69 Mr. Donald R. Barrett ’66

Mr. H. Albert Nance Jr. ’67 Mr. John J. Sheeran ’67

Reverend and Mrs. A.N. Pappas Mr. Mark A. Pappas ’83

Mr. Elmer M. Pusey Jr. ’45 Ms. Lisa Polisar and Mr. Stephen Roberts Mr. Daniel C. Walser Jr. ’45

Mr. James G. Reid Jr. ’50B Col. J. Robert Nolley Jr. ’51 USAF (Ret)

Mr. Reley B. Roberts ’44 Mr. Robert P. Jones Jr. ’44 and Mrs. Jones

MGYSGT Edward Schnug Old Dominion Chapter of the First Marine Division Assoc.

Mr. Helmut Schrader ’51 Henry G. Bryan ’51, MD

Mr. William A. Scott ’68 Mr. Scott B. Thompson

Jay R. Sculley ’62, PhD Eugene M. Bane Jr. ’62, OD Mr. Howard E. Cobb ’62 and Mrs. Cobb Mr. Theodore C. Cooley ’62 Mr. Donald R. Fang ’61 John R. Hayes Jr.’73, PhD Mr. Thomas W. Howard ’65 Mr. Walter H. Hylton III ’62 Mr. A. Lee McCown ’58 Mr. D. Kent McCraney ’63 Mr. Irvin Michelson ’36 Mr. Daniel J. Ogle ’63 Mr. Edward M. Plucinski ’86 Mrs. Jay R. Sculley Mr. Andrew M. Tarr ’77 Mr. James R. Thrasher ’82 John E. Traynham III ’62, MD Mr. Robert C. Wilson ’77

Mr. Jack Sidney ’55 Col. Knute F. Lawson ’55, USAF (Ret)

Mr. O. Lee Slayton Jr. ’48B Mr. Joseph W. McCarthy Jr. ’52 and Mrs. McCarthy Mrs. O. Lee Slayton Jr.

Mr. S. Strother Smith Jr. ’37 Mr. William S. Church ’37 Mrs. Joseph H. Sherrard IV

Capt. Rodney H. Stone ’66, USAF Mr. Howard M. Lloyd Jr. ’66

Mr. Robert E. Strauss Jr. ’63 Anonymous

Lt. Col. Raymond R. Tamalis ’50B, USAF Mr. William P. Talbott ’50B

Mr. Robert L. Tannen ’67 Mr. John J. Sheeran ’67

Unit 397-L Buddies Mr. Donald R. King

Unit 925-B Buddies Mr. Joseph A. Rotundo

Col. J.E. Wales III ’35, USA Ms. Rebecca W. Andersen

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mr. Charles P. Walthour ’49B

The Boeing Company

Mr. Larry W. Wertz ’67

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation

The Reverend Thomas D. Bowers ’49B Mr. John J. Sheeran ’67

Mrs. Charles S. Whiting F. Allen Cavedo ’47, DDS

Lt. David L. Williams ’91 Mrs. Alexander Casimes

Mr. John W. Windle Jr. ’54

Mrs. William K. Gordon Jr. Henry G. White Jr. ’54, MD and Mrs. White

Capt. Luke C. Wullenwaber ’02 Mr. Matthew K. McQueen ’03

Mr. Robert L. Young ’43 Mrs. Robert L. Young

Col. James Zimmerman ’37, USA Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Bingham

Mr. William H. Zimmerman ’37 Mrs. William H. Zimmerman

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 Aug. 1 through Oct. 31, 2008.

3M Foundation Mr. Charles H. Sawyer ’64

Abbott Laboratories Fund Mr. Clinton T. Glover ’57

Aetna Foundation Inc. Mr. Joseph P. Petitta ’68 Col. Douglas A. Stephens ’65, USAR (Ret)

The Allstate Foundation Mr. John T. Pool Jr. ’69

Altria Group Inc. Mr. William K. Bhatta ’76 Mr. and Mrs. Michael Duffy Mr. John R. Munno ’84

American Electric Power Mr. David T. Bush ’69 Mr. James G. Tapley ’43

American International Group Inc. Mr. John W. Frazer Jr. ’65

AT&T Foundation Mr. Edward G.S. Maxwell Jr. ’67 Mr. James M. Outland ’83 Mr. Joseph J. Reynolds III ’47

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Mr. Roy E. Palmer Jr. ’58 Mr. Christian F. Daniels ’91 Mr. Eric S. Plogger ’93

ChevronTexaco Corporation Mr. Gary E. Pittman Sr. ’52

CNA Foundation

Mr. John K. Whitmer ’78

DaimlerChrysler Corporation

The Northrop Grumman Foundation Lt. Col. Timothy A. McGreer ’78, USAF Mr. Edward D. Wagner ’88 Lt. Col. John H. Whitworth ’75, USA

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.

Mr. Easley L. Moore Jr. ’65

Pfizer Foundation

Mr. Bradford A. Burns ’82 Mr. Thomas H. Selman III ’84

Procter & Gamble Fund

Mr. Van E. Jolissaint ’71

Mr. John P. Noon ’71 Mr. Philip A. Read ’45

Dominion Foundation

Raytheon Company

Mr. Wadsworth Bugg Jr. ’43 Mr. Kevin M. Cordray ’80 Mr. Robert A. Harris III ’55 Mr. Harrison Hubard ’38

Eaton Corporation

Mrs. Marshall Wright

The General Electric Foundation

Mr. Christopher L. Haney ’00 Col. John W. Lowden Jr. ’51, USA (Ret) Mr. Edward G.S. Maxwell Jr. ’67

GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Mr. Robert D. Clingenpeel Jr. ’69

International Paper Company Foundation

Mr. Robert E. Buxton Jr. ’87

Invensys Systems Inc.

Mr. William F. Holzgrefe ’77

Johnson & Johnson Company Mr. James B. Adams ’88

The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Mr. Philip A. Galgano ’85

The Medtronic Foundation Mr. Thomas F. Reimann ’88

The Merck Company Foundation Col. Michael A. Ceroli ’85, USA

Merrill Lynch & Company Foundation Inc.

Mr. Willard D. Hoskins III ’61 Lt. Col. F.W. Shirley ’62, USA (Ret) Mr. Conrad K. Wharton ’84

Nationwide Foundation

Mr. Wymer W. Manning Jr. ’54

Norfolk Southern Foundation Mr. James D. Gearhart ’71 Mr. Phillip R. Ogden ’63

Northern Trust Company

Ms. Francine C. Fitt-Mundy

Mr. Fredrick L. Jones ’77 Maj. Hubert G. Schneider III ’80, USAF (Ret)

Rexnord Foundation

Mr. Michael S. Crotty ’89

Rockwell Automation Mr. Kevin Pavlish

Sanofi-Aventis

Mr. Timothy I. Macaulay ’86

Scitor Corporation

Col. David R. Honeywell ’71, USAF

St Paul Travelers Foundation Mr. Paul G. Dunn ’72 Mr. and Mrs. Larry W. Hurd Mr. John Pittenger ’72

State Farm Companies Foundation Mr. Robert B. Allen ’83 Mr. J.G. Goodwillie III ’60 Mr. John D. Greene ’75

SunTrust Mid-Atlantic Foundation Mr. Vincent A. Wood III ’81

The Sallie Mae Fund

Mr. Jason D. Nicholls ’94

Turner Construction Corporation Mr. Richard J. Falcone Jr. ’92

The UPS Foundation Mr. Hugh R. Hill ’85

Wachovia Foundation

Mr. James D. Holden Jr. ’95 Mr. Robert B. Powell ’63

WellPoint Associate Giving Campaign

Mr. C. Timothy Gundlach ’73 Mr. Ronald K. Milligan ’78

Wells Fargo Foundation Mr. Daniel R. Owens ’97

Xerox Corporation Mr. Kenneth E. Dice Jr. ’64

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

KEYDET CLUB KEYDET CLUB Keydet Club Celebrates 75th Anniversary In December 1934, The VMI Alumni Association created a special scholarship fund, called the Alumni Educational Fund, to provide scholarship aid for cadets. The first football scholarships were granted in fall 1935. Two years later, when the VMI Foundation was created, the Alumni Educational Fund was directed to provide scholarship aid for cadet-athletes. The guiding factor in the granting of aid was that each athlete “must want to come to VMI, and he must be VMI material.” That was the beginning mission of the VMI Keydet Club, and it remains the same today. VMI is unique in that its athletes must be student-cadets first and foremost. The football billboard signs put in place around Roanoke by Ware Smith ’62 say it best: “Game day at VMI is unique.” Generations of cadet-athletes have benefitted from the generosity of VMI Keydet fans since that time, and many of those former cadets are supporting today’s cadet-athletes. In 1948, Hobert E. Doyle, class of 1909, led an effort to expand interest in the Alumni Educational Fund, and the Sportsmen’s Club was formed. Within five years, the 1,200 members of the Sportsmen’s Club were providing $37,000 for football scholarships. As membership grew, it was decided in 1958 to grant scholarships for basketball athletes. In 1971, with a membership of over 2,300 and an annual budget approaching $100,000, the Sportsmen’s Club adopted a new name, the VMI Keydet Club. By the end of that decade, scholarships were being awarded for most all other Division I sports programs in place at VMI. Today, the Keydet Club supports all Division I programs with either scholarship grant-in-aid or operations expenses. As quoted in The Corps Roots the Loudest by Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64, Brig. Gen. John S. “Buzz” Letcher ’24 wrote in 1957 to the president of the Sportsmen’s Club, “To give up football at VMI would take something out of the school that could never be replaced. So I feel that a subsidized program is the only course to follow, and

as long as subsidization is made to bona fide students, who take all the required courses and have to keep up the same standard as other cadets, then the system is all right.”

The 75th Anniversary Challenge (75 x 3) With a budget ranging from $768,000 in 1985 to $3,550,000 this year (FY2009), the Keydet Club has been able to provide the Institute with the funds necessary to field quality Division I athletic teams with “bona fide” student-athletes. On the other hand, membership is not what it once was: over 4,000 in 1985 and only 2,451 in 2008. To celebrate its 75th anniversary and increase participation in support of the VMI Keydets, the Keydet Club is announcing a 75 x 3 fundraising drive. The catch phrase “75 x 3” describes the goals of the drive, which are: 1) to enroll 75% of the alumni body in the Keydet Club; 2) with a gift of $75 this fiscal year; and 3) for the Keydet Club’s 75th Anniversary. Over 8,000 alumni on the active rolls did not make a gift in support of VMI last year. Everyone has been affected by the economic downturn that started last summer, including VMI, which has seen major cuts in state funding. But, as in all times of trouble, a group of generous and passionate alumni is “challenging” the VMI alumni body and everyone in the VMI family. For every gift of $75 from a new Keydet Club member or an increased gift of $75 from a current member, these “challenge” donors will make a matching $75 gift in support of VMI Division I athletics. If 5,000 alumni join the Keydet Club with a gift of $75 this year, VMI will see alumni participation soar to 75%, which would rank VMI #1 in the nation for alumni support. There is strength in numbers – our cadet-athletes and coaches are counting on everyone.

Just $75 for the 75th Anniversary! Contact the Keydet Club at 800/444-1839 or visit its Web site at www.vmikeydetclub.com to find out how you can help make this 75th Anniversary Year a memorable one for VMI Division I Athletics.

Keydet Club Developing Network of Class Representatives To assist with fundraising and the communication of Keydet news and event information, the Keydet Club is developing a Class Representative Network. Donnie Ross ’74 is the staff contact for VMI classes up to 1983, and Doug Bartlett is the staff contact for VMI classes 1984 and forward. Watch future editions of the Alumni Review for a list of the class representatives. The Keydet Club Board of Governors is excited at the prospect of involving a number of former athletes in this effort to help reach out and engage other athletes in their class to support VMI’s athletic program.

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KEYDET CLUB Academic Advising Department Appreciates Keydet Club Support

In the Alumni Review 2008-Issue 3, you read about a very successful Keydet Club auction held in Richmond, Virginia. That event in spring 2008 raised over $100,000 for the Athletic Operations Fund (AOF)-Academic Support, such as academic advising. At VMI, academic advising is a four-year development process in which the advisor helps cadets to explore and clarify their academic, career and life goals; to develop the skills and strategies that will contribute to academic success; and to master a balanced engagement in co-curricular and academic activities. Upon entry into VMI, each cadet is assigned an academic advisor who, unless the cadet subsequently changes academic major, will work with the cadet until graduation. In October 2008, Assistant Athletic Director Sherrie Baucom, who is an academic advisor, wrote the Keydet Club the following note: “Stephen [Ross ’83, academic advisor] and I wanted to say thanks again for the support of the Keydet Club and all that is being done to support Academic Advising. Our four new computers and a new printer for running our mass reports were installed yesterday [October 2008]. The tutoring program is continuing to grow, as we have just hired five new tutors in the last two weeks. We could not survive or do what we need to do to help athletes without the help of these terrific folks! Thought you would want to see some

pictures of what things look like in the busiest part of our days. Thanks again for what you, your staff and the Keydet Club are doing to help us.” As you can see from Mrs. Baucom’s words and the photos on this page, the money raised at the Richmond auction is being well spent to assist our cadet-athletes in academics. Two more auctions are planned for 2009: one in Norfolk, Virginia, in April and the other in Richmond the weekend of Sept. 26 (the VMI vs. Richmond football game), with proceeds benefiting AOF-Academic Support. More information is forthcoming. In the meantime, if you are interested in donating auction items, including vacation homes, please contact Eleanor Angle, auction coordinator, at 804/288-0323 or eleanor.angle@verizon.net.

VMI Wrestling and the Keydet Club Team Up for Successful Event On Oct. 10, 2008, Coach “Rocky” Trudgeon, in conjunction with the Keydet Club, hosted the 8th Annual Parents Weekend Wrestling Golf Outing and Dinner/Auction at the Lexington Golf and Country Club. Over 140 cadet-athletes, parents, Keydet Club board members, former athletes, alumni and friends participated in what turned out to be the best event ever for VMI wrestling. With over 20 items up for auction – ranging from dinners, lodging, rounds of golf, VMI wall hangings and quilts to a week’s stay at a 4,000 square foot home in Nags Head, North Carolina, and a cabin on the March 2009 VMI Cruise – there was a lot of excitement for the crowd who attended. Greg Cavallaro ’84, executive vice president of the Keydet Club, once again served as the auctioneer and soon had the crowd laughing, bidding and enjoying a fun evening in support of VMI wrestling. Several of the smaller items were auctioned off first, but it didn’t take long for the generous bidding fever to spread. With a little over half of the items gone, the money raised was already twice as much as last year’s event. When all was said and done, nearly $17,000 had been raised in less time it than takes to win a few wrestling matches in the Thunderdome. Thanks to the generosity of the wrestling parents, family members, alumni and friends, the day’s and night’s events netted $22,000 for Athletic Operating Fund Wrestling.

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One of the items donated for the Wrestling Auction was this beautiful quilt, handmade by Mrs. Cathie Ostermann of Daleville, Virginia, mother of alumnus Jonathan Ostermann ’08. The winning bidder for the quilt was Mrs. Lois Ford of Lexington, Virginia.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

KEYDET CLUB

Minor ’63 Receives Keydet Club’s Highest Honor G. Gilmer Minor III ’63, known to most as “Gil,” received the Keydet Club’s Spirit of VMI Award during halftime of the VMI vs. Chowan football game on Sept. 20, 2008. The award recognizes outstanding support of VMI’s intercollegiate athletics program and was presented to Minor by William H. Stephens Jr. ’73, president of the Keydet Club Board of Governors. The immediate past president of the VMI Board of Visitors, Minor has been one of VMI’s most loyal and generous sons. He has served as president of the VMI Foundation Board of Trustees and as a member of the Keydet Club Board of Governors. He was appointed by the governor of Virginia to the VMI Board of Visitors in 2000, was reappointed in 2004 and was elected as president of the board in 2005. Athletics were an important part of Minor’s VMI experience. As a cadet, he played football all four years of his cadetship and co-captained the 1962 Southern Conference championship team. He played baseball all four years of his cadetship, was named All-Conference catcher in his second class year and co-captained the team his first class year. He also played Rat basketball. He served on the Athletic Council for two years, and was president of the Monogram Club. Cadet Minor also helped found the Pioneer Investment Club, served on the Ring Figure Committee and was a member of the Political Science Society. He graduated from the

The Spirit of VMI Award, presented by the Keydet Club in recognition of outstanding support of VMI’s intercollegiate athletic programs.

2009- Issue 1

G. Gilmer Minor III ’63, far right, addressing football fans upon receiving the Keydet Club’s Spirit of VMI Award. Looking on were, from left, two cadets holding the award; Greg Cavallaro ’84 and Billy Stephens ’73, representing the Keydet Club; Mrs. Charlotte Minor; Gen. J.H. Binford Peay ’63, superintendent; Donny White ’65, athletic director; and Moe, VMI’s mascot.

Institute with a bachelor of arts degree in history. Minor has supported VMI Athletics throughout his adult life. He co-chaired the campaign for the Coach John McKenna Scholarship Fund Drive in 1999-2000, which raised over $1.2 million, and was a challenge donor for the Athletic Operations Fund that was established in 1999. He is a long-time full scholarship annual giving member of the Keydet Club and was a key contributor to the renovation and expansion of the Patchin Field Locker Room Project completed in 2004. He and Senator Elmon T. Gray ’46 underwrote the renovation of the baseball field; the new complex, Gray-Minor Stadium, bears their names and is one of the best facilities in today’s college baseball world. He and his wife, Charlotte, established the first women’s soccer scholarship at VMI. Cadets Celine M. Ziobro ’09 and Gabrielle M. McCarron ’12 are recognized this year by the Keydet Club as the beneficiaries of this fully endowed scholarship. Minor is the current chairman and former chief executive officer of Owens & Minor, Inc., a $4.5 billion Fortune 500 distributor of medical and surgical supplies to hospitals, nursing homes and physicians. He has spent his career with Owens & Minor and served as company president from 1981-99. He was named chief executive officer in 1984 and in 1994 was elected chairman of the board. Greg Cavallaro ’84, executive vice president of the Keydet Club, said: “At this time in the history of the Institute, there can be no one more deserving of this award. Gil has not only given generously from his wallet, but his moral support for our cadet-athletes and coaching staffs is tremendous. But make no mistake – he loves all things VMI and truly epitomizes the Spirit of VMI. We are so proud to be able to recognize everything he has done for VMI and to honor him with this award.” 205

KEYDET CLUB

Pup Cup 2008 Pup Cup 2008 was held at Ford’s Colony in Williamsburg, Virginia, on Sept. 12, 2008, prior to the VMI vs. William & Mary football game. Annually sponsored by the Keydet Club, Pup Cup honors the memory of Jeff Morgan ’80, former executive vice president of the Keydet Club, who died tragically in a plane accident on April 14, 2000. It was an honor to welcome to the tournament Jeff’s widow, Jody Morgan, and their children, Jake, Hannah and Cameron. The net proceeds of more than $6,200 for this year’s event went to the Jeff Morgan ’80 Scholarship of the Keydet Club. The scholarship is awarded to a VMI football player who emulates the traits and character of Jeff Morgan ’80. Morgan was a standout defensive lineman for the Keydets from 1976-80. The cadet-athlete recognized in the name of the Morgan Scholarship this year is defensive lineman Josh Wine ’11 from Massaponax, Virginia. In addition to his football skills as a defensive lineman, Josh was last season’s Southern Conference heavyweight wrestling champion as a Rat. A field of 68 participants (17 teams) competed on the links of the pristine Blue Heron Course at Ford’s Colony. Winners were determined by total team scores gross/net. Prizes were awarded to the top three teams gross/net and to individuals for longest drives and closest to the pins. Winners are listed below.

The winners of the 2008 Pup Cup Golf Tournament were, from left, Jim Wood ’74, Karl Quinn, Ben Wiggins ’57 and John St. George ’57.

Specifically, the Keydet Club would like to thank Tournament Sponsor, Rich AtLee ’66, of Hall, Fox & Atlee PC; lunch sponsor, VMI class of 1980; Gil Minor ’63; and hole-in-one sponsor, Tom Anderson ’74, McGeorge Car Company, Inc. of Richmond. Additionally, the Keydet Club greatly appreciates the support from hole sponsors Mark McLean ’80, Chal Glenn ’80, Rick Gilbert ’80, Harley Duane ’67, Steve Thacker ’86, Doug Burton ’80, Doug Hines ’76, Hugh Fain ’80, Allen Ramer ’80, John Blankenship ’80 and J.J. Marshall ’77.

Scores Net 1st Place: (58) Al Kirk ’70 Fred Carver ’70 Bill Gearhart ’70 Jim Gearhart ’71 2nd Place: (58) Donny White ’65 Peyton Brown ’69 Tommy Catlett ’69 Tommy Thompson ’69 Rich AtLee and the firm of Hall, Fox & AtLee PC were the 2008 Pup Cup Tournament sponsors. Pictured above with AtLee, second from right, are his teammates, from left, son Rick AtLee, brother Mike AtLee and son Mike AtLee. The team is standing behind the Mercedes C-Class Sport 2009 provided by McGeorge Car Company (Tom Anderson ’74) for a hole-in-one prize.

Editor’s Note: The articles in this section of the Alumni Review were provided by the Keydet Club.

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3rd Pl;ace: (62) Irwin McCumber ’65 Jack Cook ’65 Clyde Bragg ’65 Brian McNeil ’65

Longest Drive: # 2 Donny White ’65 #16 Irwin McCumber ’65

Gross 1st Place: (68) Karl Quinn Jim Wood ’74 Ben Wiggins John St. George ’57 2nd Place: (69) Mike AtLee Rich AtLee ’66 Rick AtLee Mike AtLee 3rd Place: (70) Massie Meredith ’79 Buzzy Northen ’77 Buster Pace ’77 J.J. Marshall ’77 Closest to Pin: # 6 Karl Quinn # 8 Massie Meredith ’79 # 14 Rich AtLee ’66 # 17 Bill O’Connor ’70

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

KEYDET CLUB

Scholarship Banquet a Huge Success Over 530 cadets, parents, scholarship donors and representatives, VMI administration staff, and others attended the Keydet Club’s Scholarship Athletes Recognition Banquet on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008, in Crozet Hall. Gen. J.H. Binford Peay ’62, superintendent, opened the banquet with remarks that emphasized the importance of athletics in the education and development of every cadet attending VMI. Cadet Kelsey Stafford ’09 (women’s cross country and track) next welcomed the guests on behalf of the cadetathletes and gave the dinner blessing. Cadet Stafford is a recipient of the Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Keyes Jr. ’82 Annual Scholarship. Following dinner, the board presented a Board of Governors Resolution to Cadet Mervin Leon Barrow ’09, a VMI wrestler. Barrow, who is a mechanical engineering major and recipient of the J. Peyton Moore ’56 Wrestling Scholarship, was elected to serve as Honor Court president this year, after serving as an assistant prosecutor in his second class year. The resolution allowed the board to recognize Barrow’s leadership and character in being entrusted with the position of Honor Court president by the Corps of Cadets. Eagerly awaited by all in attendance, the next presentation was the coveted Three-

Keydet Club President Bill Stephens ’73, right, and Executive Vice President Greg Cavallaro ’84, left, congratulated Cadet Barrett Luxhoj ’08, recipient of the Three-Legged Stool Award.

2009- Issue 1

Legged Stool Award, presented by the VMI Keydet Club to Cadet K. Barrett Luxhoj ’09. The award recognizes the first class scholarship athlete who has the highest achievements in academics, leadership and athletics. Cadet Luxhoj was attending the banquet as the recipient of the H.E. “Hobie” Doyle ’09 Memorial Scholarship, as represented by Mr. and Mrs. Harry G. Lee ’47. Luxhoj, a midfielder letterman and three-year starter for the men’s soccer team, served as team captain both his second and first class years. In his third class year, he started all 18 games of that season, being only one of two athletes to do so. Last year, Luxhoj was named to the Big South Academic Honor Roll. He is a Dean’s List student, majoring in international studies, with a double minor in Spanish and science and security. The Naval ROTC cadet also serves as vice president of the class of 2009 and was his class’s Ring Figure Committee chairman. Penn State assistant basketball coach Lewis Preston ’92 was the featured speaker at the banquet. Preston, who played in Europe after graduating from VMI and whose coaching career includes positions at Notre Dame and Florida (2007 national champions), described how his VMI experience had equipped him with the skills that have enabled him to have a very successful career. Preston also spoke about his relationship with his coaches and recognized former VMI basketball coach Joe Cantafio, who was in the audience. (His son, Joseph Cantafio Jr. ’11, is on the VMI basketball team.) He inspired the many cadets in the audience with the need – today, more than ever – to have honorable, ethical leaders in all walks of life – the type of leaders VMI has been producing for nearly 170 years. Fund representatives who attended the banquet included: Mrs. Patricia Affronti (for Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Thomas H. Tait ’55); Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin L. Angle III ’55; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Y. AtLee ’66; Mr. and Mrs. Mike AtLee; Mr. and Mrs. U. “Buzz” Birzenieks ’64; Mr. Bernard B. Bossard ’56; Dr. and Mrs. Paul A. Bouis ’67; Mr. and Mrs. Ronald M. Bryan ’55; Mr. and Mrs. James H. Chapman III ’69; Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Richard E. Collier ’57; Mr. Jonathan A. Collins ’92; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph L.

Photos from top: Jack Collins ’92, center, with Cadets David Padgett ’10 and Brennan Buell ’12, both lacrosse athletes and recipients of Collins’ annual athletic scholarship. From left, Bernard Bossard ’56, center, with the recipients of his two endowed scholarships, Cadet Austin Kenon ’11 and Cadet Joseph Cantafio ’11. Both cadets are basketball athletes. From left, Steve Hupp ’84; Cadet Christopher Oterson ’11, recipient of the Stephen E. Hupp ’84 Annual Scholarship; Cadet Bryan Barnson ’11, recipient of The Hupp Family Scholarship; and Thomas Hupp Jr. ’44. Both cadets are football athletes.

Costen Jr. ’70; Mr. and Mrs. Steven C. Craddock ’70; Mr. and Mrs. John W. Cure III ’52; Mr. and Mrs. Terry H. Davis Jr. ’53; Mr. Gerald F. Eggleston ’51; Mr. and Mrs. Don E. Ford; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Frank; Mr. and Mrs. Jim Sam Gillespie Jr. ’59; Mr. Roger A. Godin; Mr. William R. Haeberlein ’61; Mr. and Mrs. Donald B. Heslep ’56; Mr. H. Thomas Hupp Jr. ’44; Mr. and Mrs. Stephen E. Hupp Sr. ’84; Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Iaderosa ’84; Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Jones ’80 (for Mr. and Mrs. Chalmers L. Glenn and Mr. Chalmers L. Glenn IV ’80); Mrs. Margaret McKenna Houck;

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KEYDET CLUB ’73; Mr. J. Knox McEwen ’66; Mr. Stephen McKenna ’79; Mr. and Mrs. C. Frederick Minnigerode ’90; Mr. and Mrs. G. Gilmer Minor III ’63; Mrs. Jeffrey J. Morgan (VMI class of 1980); Mr. and Mrs. G. Marshall Mundy ’56; Mr. and Mrs. William R. O’Connor ’70; Mrs. Claude H. Patton ’50B; Mr. and Mrs. Christopher M. Perry ’77; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth M. Perry ’53; Mr. S. Waite Rawls III ’70 (for Mrs. Brantley Bolling Knowles and Mr. Peter I.C. Knowles ’05); Mrs. Jay R. Sculley (VMI class of 1962); Maj. Gen. Stephen S. Sewell Jr. ’60; Mrs. Janie Smith; Mr. and Mrs. W. Ware Smith Jr. ’62; Mr. and Mrs. William H. Stephens Jr. ’73; Mr. and Mrs. William P. Talbott ’50B; Ms. Martha Ann Talman; Mr. and Mrs. Howard Timmons; Mrs. Allan S. Wagner Jr. (VMI class of 1950B); Mr. and Mrs. Allan S. Wagner III ’77; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph A. Warren Jr. ’50B; Mrs. DeWitt S. Worrell (VMI class of 1962). Enjoying dinner before the program were, from left, Cadet A.J. Yoder ’09, recipient of the James L. Rutherford ’67 Annual Scholarship; Ms. Stephanie King; Coach and Mrs. Marlin Ikenberry ’95; John Cure ’52; Cadet Michael Devine ’12, recipient of Cure’s annual scholarship, Mrs. John Cure, and Mrs. Lewis Yoder and Lewis Yoder. Both cadets are baseball athletes.

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Jones ’69; Mr. and Mrs. W.F. (Rick) Kastelberg ’74; Mr.and Mrs. Joseph W. Keyes Jr. ’82; Mr. and Mrs. John E. Krovic ’77; Mr. and Mrs. Harry G. Lee ’47; Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Louthan Jr. ’41; Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Luck IV ’83; Mrs. Joseph E. Martin Jr. (VMI class of 1972); Dr. and Mrs. Bland Massie Jr. ’77; Mr. Scott F. McCarthy

Coach Lewis Preston ’92, the featured speaker for the banquet.

Heslep Family Football Scholarship Established Donald B. Heslep ’56 and his son, Mark C. Heslep ’83, have created an endowed scholarship in their family name that will benefit a cadet who is a member of the VMI football team. The endowment was funded and credited in conjunction with Heslep ’56 the younger Heslep’s 25th Class Reunion, held in September 2008. Donald Heslep matriculated at VMI from Fairfield, Virginia, and graduated with the class of 1956, earning a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. Following graduation, he served two years in the U.S. Army (1956-58) and then in the U.S. 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 (founded in 1972) – Blue and Gray Self Storage – which is now the largest in the Richmond area. He also developed and owns The Oasis Sports Park – a golfing and baseball practice facility located in Chesterfield County. A construction arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association for 23 years, Heslep 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. Heslep

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currently serves on the Keydet Club Board of Governors and previously served on this board 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 Heslep ’83 three grandchildren. Mark Heslep matriculated at VMI from Richmond, Virginia, and graduated with distinction with the class of 1983. He received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI and later earned a master of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia. During his cadetship, he played Division I lacrosse for two years. He is currently an engineer for Mitre Corporation, a not-for-profit corporation that combines systems engineering and information technology to develop solutions for national purposes. He, his wife, Catherine, and their son, Will, live in McLean, Virginia. Both father and son are leadership members in the Keydet Club. Greg Cavallaro ’84, executive vice president of the Keydet Club, thanked the Hesleps, saying, “We appreciate all that the Hesleps do for VMI and hope their benevolence will inspire other families to consider their own endowed athletic scholarship in the Keydet Club.”

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

75th Anniversary Challenge A group of passionate, generous and supportive alumni have joined together on the occasion of the VMI Keydet Club’s 75th Anniversary to challenge the VMI family to support the Institute’s Division I Athletic Program. WOW --- what loyalty! Currently, 1,826 out of 12,803 VMI alumni (14.26%) support their Keydets. Where’s the SPIRIT in this trend? If all those who love VMI and want to see and experience the pride of winning would provide support, we could reverse the trend and give our coaches and cadet-athletes all they need to compete, win and graduate! Every gift of $75 from a new Keydet Club member or an increase of $75 from a current member will result in a $75 match from the challenge donors. This could be huge! 1,000 $75 donations = $150,000 this year 3,000 $75 donations = $450,000 this year If 5,000 alumni (who are currently not giving to VMI) donated just $75, our percentage of alumni participation would soar to 75%, ranking VMI #1 among all colleges and universities in America! Please show your VMI Spirit and VMI pride today with your gift of $75 for the Keydet Club’s 75th Anniversary. There is strength in numbers --- Your support WILL make a difference! Join today! Call 800/444-1839, or mail gifts to the Keydet Club at PO Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450 (credit card or check).